Ash Wednesday 2016

Ash Wednesday again! I love the season of Lent! it is a time when I retreat from the world a little and try to grow closer to the Lord. this Lent I hope to become a more loving, caring person. I want to be pleasing to the Lord by doing his will. I want to decrease and let Him increase. This is a challenge in the very busy distracting world around me. I am so thankful that I have an amazing husband that helps me when I lose my way. I pray that you will seek to deepen your relationship with our most precious Lord. He loves you and desires a relationship with you! I pray that you will seek Him and love Him, and have a holy Lenten journey!

Where did the last two months go?

It's been a couple of months since I've made time to write. Too many things have kept me from writing a new post. I'm afraid that includes laziness and too many things that turn my head in other directions. Work has been particularly challenging and I have found myself getting caught up in the demands of everyday life.

It's ten days into Lent, my favorite time of year. I love that it's time renew my walk with God. It's a time when I am challenged to grow a deeper relationship with our Lord. It is something that I try to improve year after year. Again I find myself seeking just that with my whole heart.  I have improved my prayer life dramatically over the last six months or so. I have made a routine of setting particular times of the day for more focused prayer. I've also learned to do the examine, which is an Ignatius practice of examining your conscience and a penitental act. I have also made sure to make gratitude to our Father for every blessing every day.  Still I can't get close enough to Him! I suppose that won't happen until my time on earth is done. Until then I pray that I can learn to love and serve Him the way He deserves to be loved and served.

I hope and pray that you are resisting the temptations of the world and finding great love and joy in seeking and pleasing The Lord. Remember,that all will pass away, except your everlasting soul and the love of Our Father. There are many things on earth that bring us instant pleasure or satisfaction. None of those things will last, and they don't bring true joy and peace. Only He can bring us those things. Seek Him above all things in your life and you will find true love, joy, and peace! Desire to  love and serve the The Lord and you will have eternal salvation.

May the peace and mercy of Christ Our Lord be with you the Lent!

gg

The Season of Waiting

   

  I believe that I shall look upon the goodness of the Lord in the land of the living! Wait for the Lord; be strong, and let your heart take courage; wait for the Lord!

Psalm 27:13-14

It's Advent, the season of waiting. I had always though of this season as a time we await the birth of Our Lord Jesus. Of course Jesus was born over two thousand years ago, so is baby Jesus coming. I know that Jesus is coming again at the end of time. That is what I'm waiting for. I'm waiting for His return.

Advent is a time of great joy. It is a time when I focus more on Our Lord not unlike Lent. There is a joy and happiness all around.us. I am praying more and I find myself singing beautiful songs to The Lord. Even if I don't have a great voice, I give Christmas songs my best effort for Him. I am happy! I'm happy because in spite of my shortcomings I know that Our Father desires me! He loves me! He loves and desires you too!

This Advent I hope that you will spend more time with Our Lord, loving Him, and trying to please Him. Remember that He is coming again and prepare yourself to meet Him. Will He be happy with what you have done in your life?  Are you living the golden rule, and helping your fellow man? Ask yourself "How can I live a more holy life, one that will please Him?" When your life is over and the world passes away that is all that will matter.

Enjoy Advent. Let it be a time filled with faith, hope, and charity. As Psalm 27:13-14 says "Wait for the Lord; be strong, and let your heart take courage; wait for the Lord!"

What Are You Thankful For?

And also that every man should eat and drink, and enjoy the good of all his labor, it is the gift of God.  -   Ecclesiastes 3:13

Thanksgiving day came and went in the shadow of Christmas preparations. Hopefully you took time to give thanks to Our Lord for the abundance in your life. I made a list of the top ten things that I am thankful for. Maybe you can make a list and then praise and thank God for them.

1.  The Holy Trinity and Our glorious Lord's love for me!
2.  My wonderful God loving husband, I am so blessed to have such an amazing love.
3.  My children, they are each so different and the loves of my life.
4,  My grandchildren, they give me pure joy and fill my heart like nothing else.
5.  My parents. They gave my life and taught me humility.
6.  My extended family and friends, they are so supportive and loving.
7.  My health. You don't appreciate it until you understand what it is to lose it.
8.  The great abundance God's given me; my home, job, food, clothing, everyday comforts
     that so many don't have.
9.  This great nation that I live in and for all of my freedoms.
10.The earth and all of God's glorious creation!

Your's in Christ,
gg

Thanks to our Veterans and Active Military!

"…Have I not commanded you? Be strong and courageous. Do not be frightened, and do not be dismayed, for the LORD your God is with you wherever you go."

 Joshua 1:9

Today is Veterans Day. I am so thankful for those that have served and are currently serving in our military. They that have sacrificed so much to insure our freedom and protect others across the world. They are selfless and courageous, They are heroes!

 

Many in my family have served in the military, sacrificing so much for this great nation. My son is currently serving in the Navy. I am so proud of him! He is brave beyond words and has a deep appreciation for this country we live in. I am so thankful to have a son that is dedicated and strong. A son that has grown to be such a good man giving so much of himself for the good of others.

On days like today take the time to give thanks to God for the brave men and women that have served our country. Offer up a prayer for those currently serving. A prayer of protection and divine guidance.

Dear Lord,

Please let your heavenly angels watch over all of the men and women serving in our military. Protect them from the dangers and evil that they may encounter. Guide them in their actions. Grant them strength to endure, courage, and peace. Let us never forget them and please Lord always keep them and their loved ones in the palm of your hands.

Amen!

Busyness of Life!

So, whether you eat or drink, or whatever you do, do all to the glory of God.  ~ 1 Corinthians 10:31

It's as though I dropped off the face of the earth! No, not so, her I am! The business of life has kept me from making time to blog. I'm a terrible blogger I know! I do it only when I feel moved to do so. I am not a slave to social media or technology. I'm one of those that likes experiencing life in real time with real people. Old fashioned? Maybe, but I like it that way.

So what have I been doing? My daughter got married a little over a month ago and It was beautiful wedding. She was a stunning bride and we have beautiful memories that will last a life time. I am also taking a class studying the Bible. We meet once a week and just finished Genesis. We are now  studying Exodus. It's an amazing four year program that will encompass the entire bible.

Once a week I also help with my church's RCIA program. There are about 16 candidates, so excited to  learn all they can about the Catholic Church. I am equally excited for them.

Anyway, my life is full, sometimes stressful, but always full of love and joy. I may be a little busy but I do it for the glory of God!  I give thanks and praise to our Lord for the blessings of health, family, faith, love, and so much more. I pray that your life be filled with the same!

Yours in Christ,
g

Twenty Eight Years and Crazy About Him!

Then the Lord God said, "It is not good that the man should be alone; I will make him a helper fit for him." ... So the Lord God caused a deep sleep to fall upon the man and while he slept took one of his ribs and closed up its place with flesh. And the rib that the Lord God had taken from the man he made into a woman and brought her to the man. Then the man said, "This at last is bone of my bones and flesh of my flesh; she shall be called woman, because she was taken out of Man." Therefore a man shall leave his father and his mother and hold fast to his wife, and they shall become one flesh.

Genesis 2:18, 21-24

My amazing husband and I just celebrated our 28th anniversary. I am so honored to be married to this wonderful man who knows what it is to truly love with your whole heart and soul. I can't help but love him back in the same way. As a young woman I never imagined that love could be as wonderful as it has been for Ernie and me.

My parents were salt of the earth people that worked so hard to provide and care for twelve children. What I never really saw was affection and tenderness. I know that they were of a generation that didn't express their emotions, but I wish so much I could have witnessed expressions of love between them.

My brother Ruben, who was their caretaker in their final years told us of the most tender moment he ever witnessed between our parents. In my dad's final year of life, he was in the hospital. We knew that he had chosen to stop treatment for his heart condition and that he would pass away, it was only a matter of time. They released him to go home with the knowledge that he only had so much time. When my brother brought him home and my dad saw my mom, they went straight into each others arms and wept. That was the love that I wish they would have expressed growing up. This was such an emotional moment for them and for my brother who had never seen them demonstrate that kind of affection. The thought of that still brings tears to my eyes.

I, on the other hand have had the great blessing of being married to a very openly affectionate man. A man that is God loving, protective, generous, caring, and romantic. He has not a selfish bone in his body. He is the whole package. My kids will never have to wonder about our relationship. They have always been blessed with witnessing our love for one another. A love that is unconditional and an extension of the love that Our loving Father in heaven has for us.

I pray that our children always cherish the covenant of marriage as Ernie and I have. In their own marriages they never forget that they become one body one spirit. Marriage and family is an extension of the relationship with the Father, Son, and The Holy Spirit. I pray that they understand that God joins them together to bring forth life and above all, to love! I know that with a passion to love and serve Our Lord they will have marraiges as beautiful and blessed as Ernie and I have!