Lent

Lent begins tomorrow (Wednesday, February 22) and lasts for six weeks. Lent begins on Ash Wednesday when we are reminded that we are dust and to dust we shall return. I see Lent as an opportunity to draw closer to Jesus by my sacrifices and prayers. These prayers in turn will help others as I pray each day for whoever is placed on my heart. Lent is an opportunity to actively do good things for others. It may be in the form of a monetary offering or it may be calling someone that is lonely. It is a time to study my beliefs and attend church more often. As a Catholic, I am fortunate I can go to Mass every day. This is an opportunity to offer up the Mass for that day's intention. It may be someone I know or heard of that is suffering from a severe illness, having emotional problems or marriage troubles. It may be someone that is in need of a job or just needing to pass a test in school. I pray often for healing, for it seems there is always someone who needs to be healed. Lent is also a great time to reflect on all that Jesus did to redeem us. It is a good time to praise and worship him and thank him for the many graces and blessings he showers us all with each day. It is also a good time to fast along with prayer. I pray you all have a good Lent and on Easter morning you will rise up and be thankful for the six weeks you had to renew your faith.

Heal our Land!

My husband and I have been crying out to our God to heal our land! So many problems in recent years have invaded our land. I do not have to name the problems because they are broadcast on the news daily, in fact we are bombarded with it! This brings about stress and concern in our lives even if we don't dwell on it or talk about it. What is the solution? I would suggest to you that the answer is in II Chronicles ch 7 vs 14 "If my people upon whom my name has been pronounced, humble themselves and pray and seek my presence and turn from their evil ways, I will hear them from heaven and pardon their sins and revive their land." I believe that is a promise from our God and if we do what he says, he will heal our land! Sounds very simple, however how many of us actually do what the verse in Chronicles tells us to do? Something to think and pray about! Have a good week.

How is your New Year's Resolution going?

I am beginning to think it is best not to tell anyone about your New Year's resolutions, not alone publish them on my blog! Some of the areas I wrote about are going very well, but the one thing I really wanted to work on has become harder than I realized. I proclaimed I would eat healthy and exercise and the weight would just fall off! I forgot to factor in the times we would find ourselves eating out at a restaurant or invited to someone's home for a delicious meal! Don't get me wrong, it is always on my mind and yet when that delectable piece of pie or cake is served, I forget about all of my resolve to lose weight and there goes the diet! St. Paul in the book of Romans has a similar dilemma when writing about sin. He writes, "I cannot even understand my own actions. I do not do what I want to do but what I hate." So, it is a very human condition to fall, yet I know with the Lord's grace I can do all things in Christ who strengthens me. Today is a new day and a new beginning, so back to working on the healthy diet! I sincerely hope all of you are having success with your New Year's Resolution. God Bless!

New Years Resolution!

Christmas has come and seemed to be over in a blink of an eye! Now I am making a list and checking it twice for New Year's resolutions. I have discovered from my many years of making lists that I am better off if I stick to one good New Years resolution instead of trying to work on a miriad of things. So here is my plan: I write down everything that comes to me that I feel I should change in the year 2012. Then I choose the one that glares out at me with a red blinking light that says "work on me". The following are some of the areas I would like to improve on or change: Lose weight, eat a healthy diet, exercise, don't ever judge anyone, think positive, restore a lost relationship, make out a budget and stick to it, pay only with cash and leave the credit cards at home, watch less tv, read more, etc.
The above are all worthwhile resolutions and most of them I am already working on but would like to improve, so the one that glares out at me with the blinking red light is: Eat a Healthy Diet!
If I resolve to eat healthy and leave all sugars and carbs alone then I will lose weight and feel all around healthier. I will then have a more positive attitude about the things that come my way and cause me not to judge anyone or indulge in shopping. I will have more energy so I will want to exercise more and get out of my lazy boy and watch less t.v. Isn't it amazing how choosing just one resolution and sticking to it will reverberate and bring about changes in the other areas of my life and help me to accomplish the many goals I wrote down in the first place. How do I know this? Well, two years ago I began a healthy eating plan and all of the above took place, but then I began to indulge in sweets a little here and a little there and soon put on ten pounds. Then I didn't have the energy to exercise and that caused me to sit more and watch more tv than I know is good for me, etc. So if you like my plan I urge you to give it try and see what wonderful results will come about. I plan to keep you informed on this blog how it is working for me! Stay tuned and have a Happy New Year!

Whiter than Snow

In the early morning, it is such a beautiful sight to pull up the shades on the window and look out to freshly fallen snow! It reminds me of the scripture in Isaiah 1:18 "Come now, let us set things right says the Lord. Though your sins be like scarlet, they may become white as snow" What a beautiful promise from our Lord that we too can have that purity we see right after the snow has fallen and can pray like the Psalmist in Ps 51:9 "Wash me and make me whiter than snow". God is such a forgiving God and all we need to do is ask for his forgiveness and he grants it. Are we that forgiving with one another? I believe if we truly desire to be pure and white as the new fallen snow, we must forgive as Jesus forgives. We can still be ourselves, but we will be transformed into a much more caring, loving and kind person if we strive to be whiter than snow! The following is from my book "Living Waters: Writings from the Heart of a Christian" and is found on page 19. "Your sins are forgiven. Your guilt is covered over by the blood of the lamb. You are set free from past sins and burdens. I remember them no more and neither should you. Be free my child! Be carefree and happy! Let my spirit soar within you, filling you with my love and grace". May the Lord Jesus bless you and help you to become whiter than snow!

A Time to be Thankful

This is definitely the week to pause and think about what you are thankful for. In fact one should give thanks to God everyday and not wait until Thanksgiving Day. I thank God each morning for another day to live for him and to do whatever he asks of me. I thank God for the day whether it is warm or cold, sunny or snowy. I thank God for the food I have to prepare and eat and the way it is provided. I thank God for family and friends and whatever the day offers. I thank God for good health and the ability to move about and come and go as I please. I thank God for a warm home and my husband that shares it with me. I have many many more thanks that I offer unto God and I know that you do too, so together let us praise and thank the Lord for all that he has provided and for the love that he showers us with each and every day! Have a wonderful and thankful Thanksgiving Day!

Heavenly Light

Are you aware that Jesus wants to fill you with his living waters? He also wants to fill you with his Heavenly light so that you can dispel the darkness around you! Jesus is the light of the world and as his disciples we can bring light to areas that are groping in the dark and stumbling and falling. When a person sees the light, they can then begin to see the path ahead of them more clearly and begin to walk the straight and narrow road. During these times of turmoil and uncertainty it is more important than ever to be able to see spiritually; so my advice is to call upon God to come and help you and he will deliver you from the darkness. Remember also that angels are round about you protecting you. You cannot see them for they are spiritual beings sent by God to watch over you. Call upon the Lord and he will answer you! Repent and believe the Good News that Jesus died for your sins so that you might have life, life aboundant. Be ready my readers for you know not the hour or the day that you may be called to leave this earth! I invited Jesus into my heart when I was 33 years old and have always been so happy that I made that decision. God loves you more than you can ever imagine!