Is God in Your Boat?

~~~Hebrews 11:1-2, 8-19~~~ (Psalm) Luke 1:69-70, 71-72, 73-75 ~~~ 

~~~ Mark 4:35-41 ~~~

The disciples followed Jesus into the boat...

a boat that belonged to one of them.

They followed him into a familiar space 

which is often not the case.

As Jesus got into a boat, his disciples followed him.

Jesus was with them in this familiar place 

when a violent storm arose.

So many times I heard asked, 

'Why would God allow ___ or ___ to happen?'

But here he is leading the way into the boat...

into the waters they had fished in many times.

Is God in your boat of life?

Suddenly a violent storm came up on the sea,

so that the boat was being swamped by waves;

Jesus was there with them but still

 the storm descended upon them.

Why did he not wake up immediately?

Jesus was asleep.

They came and woke him, saying,

“Teacher, do you not care that we are perishing?”

Jesus waited for them to come to him.

He was awakened by their desperate cries for help.

Their cries rose above the stormy winds.

“Lord, save us! We are perishing!”

Perishing is a strong word...this was a violent storm...

they were in a fragile vessel on the open waters.

Perish...to suffer death in a violent, sudden way...

complete and utter destruction.

He said to them,  “Why are you terrified?

Do you not yet have faith?”

Jesus calmly responds to their terror 

with questions about their faith.

He was by their side...in their boat...

a place they had been together many times before,

but they were still afraid for their life.

Trust the Lord in all things great and small, good and bad.

Then he got up, rebuked the winds and the sea,

and there was great calm.

Have you ever seen the waters completely still?

A 'great calm' on the water reflects the surrounding

beauty and the blue sky above.

It is during the violent storms in life that we are faced

with the depth of our faith and the trust we have in God.

Is your faith strong enough?

How will you know if it is never put to the test?

Being put to the test is also and opportunity

 for God to Bless us.

~~~Peace~~~

Energy from the Bow

~~~ Hebrews 10:32-39 ~~~ Psalm 37 ~~~ Mark 4:26-34 ~~~

We are not among those who draw back and perish, 

but among those who have faith and will possess life.

We have been strengthened
through the power of the Holy Spirit
to have the courage to move forward.

Just as an  arrow is drawn back across
the bow to be released into the air.
We must draw back to God.
He is the bow of our faith that will send us out.

It is God who possesses all life.
He alone gives life to us.

When we have drawn back to God...when we have
 come to completely trust in God...
He will send us forth to flourish.

We have the potential to become
mighty in the hand of God,
just as the tiny mustard seed grew
 into the large bushy plant.

Just as the bow provides the arrow with momentum
God provides us with the momentum of his love.

We must allow God to draw us fully toward him.
It is only in this surrendering that his energy
can be transferred into us.

The mustard seed was able to grow because of God's
energy being pushed into its tiny being.

Blessings come from allowing God
 to draw us completely unto himself.

~~~Peace~~~

Leaving the Body Behind

~~~ Hebrews 10:19-25 ~~~ Psalm 24 ~~~ Mark 4:21-25 ~~~

...let us approach with a sincere heart and in absolute trust, 
with our hearts sprinkled clean from an evil conscience 
and our bodies washed in pure water.

Sometimes life throws out a curve ball
and you are not fully prepared so it hits you
in the head and then you see stars.
Here is where I find myself...a dying father in law,
a husband who just retired along with many other responsibilities
A sincere heart is the only way I know how to function in life.
Trusting that all will be well is something that I diligently practice.

So why am I finding myself being smacked in the head?
I must keep reminding myself that if I am doing
the will of God he will do more than his part.
God will provide...I need to make this my mantra fro the next few days.
I did answer his call...I did say here I am Lord.
But I did not bargain for this curve ball of hospice.
I am not afraid of death. I have had many such experiences in my life;
it is the timing this time that has me so distraught.

My dear father in law's body is distorted beyond what anyone person
 should have to endure, but I see within him a person that I want to
extend my love and kindness.

To lift his head gently from the pillow
 so he can take a tiny sip of water.
To stroke his forehead with a gentle touch.

Soon the Lord will take away his pain...heal his body...
reunite him with the love of his life, whom he has been missing
 for more years than he cares to count.

Lord, this is the people that longs to see your face.

While he is not a religious man I believe
 he does long to see the face of God.
I believe he longs to leave his wretched aged body behind...
to finally be free of this world.

We have been Blessed to have this man for 93 years,
may God take him home in a loving calm manner.
May we, his family, be granted peace
in letting him return to his heavenly home.

God Bless, Homer.
~~~Peace~~~

Sowing and Hearing

~~~Saint Thomas Aquinas ~~~

~~~Priest and Doctor of the Church~~~

~~~Hebrews 10:11-18 ~~~ Psalm 110 ~~~ Mark 4:1-20 ~~~

 “Whoever has ears to hear ought to hear.”

Hearing is such an important sense, yet when
we experience loss it often happens gradually.

Because the progression is slow we do not realize
we no longer hear as well as previously.

As hearing loss progresses we miss
much of what is happening around us.

We misunderstand what is now only being partially being heard.
Our brain is desperately trying to make sense
 of what we are able to hear.

Problems arise between us and our loved one.
We both become frustrated because communication is sketchy at best.

The seeds in today's gospel is like one who looses their hearing.
It happens without any forewarning.

The sower is confused as to where he is sowing his seeds.
The results are very mixed...some were eaten by the birds...
some were scorched by the sun.

When we loose our hearing much of the message
 is lost or misinterpreted.

Hearing and listening are not the same nor
does either one guarantee understanding.

We are Blessed to have the grace available to us.
Through grace we are able to hear and understand.
~~~Peace~~~

The Relationship Ladder

~~~ Hebrews 10:1-10 ~~~ Psalm 40 ~~~ Mark 3:31-35 ~~~

And looking around at those seated in the circle he said,

“Here are my mother and my brothers.

For whoever does the will of God

is my brother and sister and mother.”

At first the words of Jesus are shocking.

His initial response when told his mother and brothers 

are waiting to see him catches us off guard.

He says, Who are my mother and brothers?

Certainly Jesus knew his family members.

Why would he respond in such a manner?

Why would he seemingly be discounting his mother?

Those who had come to listen to Jesus 

were sitting in a circle.

When you sit in a circle it is a 

very intimate seating arrangement.

Jesus was surrounded. 

He was teaching to those he considered his 'family'.

If you are willing to hear his message...

then you are part of his family.

Those seated around Jesus were in effect saying...

 Here am I Lord; I come to do your will.

Jesus tells those in his circle

if they do his will each one of them

 is his mother, brother, or sister.

Notice he does not consider them his Father.

Jesus never put anyone above or equal to the Father.

The question we may ask ourselves...

Does Jesus consider me to be one of his brothers or sisters?

How do we feel about that role?

Would I treat Jesus the same way

 I treat my earthly brothers and sisters?

That is surely food for thought.

We are commanded to love our neighbor as our-self.

What about our brothers and sisters,

are they included? Are they on a higher rung 

of the relationship ladder?

The words from Jesus are far 

more inclusive than a typical family view.

Following the will of God you are seated

 in the circle surrounding Jesus.

Following the will of God allows you to move up 

to the next rung on the relationship ladder.

Blessings abound for those who do the will of God.

He Blesses us as we follow his call.

~~~Peace~~~

"Pep Talk"

~~~ Saints Timothy and Titus, Bishops ~~~

~~~ 2 Timothy 1:1-8 ~~~ Psalm 96 ~~~ Mark 3:22-30 ~~~

I yearn to see you again, recalling your tears,

so that I may be filled with joy...

Paul was a real person, who had sincere loving friendships.

Paul was not afraid to share his emotions.

Paul gives generous compliments to Timothy

including his kind words about his mother and grandmother.

...stir into flame the gift of God...

Paul was encouraging Timothy to stay motivated.

Let the gift of God burn brightly in your life.

Jesus knew that sometimes we get discouraged; 

we need a little pep talk.

This was Timothy's 'pep talk' from his friend Paul.

God did not give us a spirit of cowardice

but rather of power and love and self-control.

Paul has complete trust in Timothy and in Titus

 to continue what they had learned from him in his absence.

To be completely trust to do what you have been 

sent to do is a wonderful feeling.

The danger that Paul was trying to avoid 

was that in his absence 

Timothy and Titus would drift away 

from the path they had been called to walk.

At some point in our life we all could use someone 

sending us words of encouragement and love.

Whenever you are in need of a good 'pep'talk' open your bible

 to any letter from Paul to Timothy or Titus.

Sit quietly and as you read place your 

name into Paul's letter.

Paul would have been the first person 

to give you his kind words of encouragement.

Find the ones that mean the most to you and claim for your own.

That is what Paul would have wanted for us to do.

...stir into flame the gift of God...

You will be forever Blessed.

~~~Peace~~~

With gratitude for Timothy and Titus.

Pray for us.

Time is Running Out!

~~~Third Sunday in Ordinary Time~~~

~~~ Jonah 3:1-5, 10 ~~~ Psalm 25 ~~~ 1 Corinthians 7:29-31 ~~~ 

~~~ Mark 1:14-20 ~~~

Jonah and Jesus had much in common.
They both were sent by God the Father to deliver a message.

...time is running out...
The kingdom of God is at hand.
Repent, and believe in the gospel.

Jesus and Jonah spread the same message of repentance.
We are still weeks away from Ash Wednesday,
yet we are already hearing this message of repentance.

Jonah, you may remember,
did not want to go to Nineveh at all.
He tried to resist God. He tried to ignore
 the mission God commanded.
But it did not work out the way Jonah had hoped,
so in the end he reluctantly agrees
to follow the orders from God.

Jonah was spit out of the fish to become one of God's fishers.
When you go fishing it always a thrill to catch a fish,
because there is never any guarantee you will.

Jonah was totally surprised to find
the people of Nineveh actually did listen to him.

His message from God had been taken seriously...
the people did repent in time.
With only forty days left the sprang into action
and God spared them from his wrath.

Jesus called fishermen to leave
 their boats behind and come with him.

They had fishing experience, but they never would
 have imagined what it was like to fish for men.

Jesus may have initially chosen fishermen
because they had patience.
You cannot be in a hurry if you are casting your net for a catch.
Fishermen know the importance of mending their nets.
Fishermen know the importance of keeping
their boats in good repair.

All of these skills would be useful in accomplishing the task
 Jesus was calling them to do with his guidance.

Jonah resisted but in the end
was able to save the city of Nineveh.
Those chosen by Jesus were able to insure
 his message would ultimately be passed on to us.

Now it is our turn.
God is always in need of more fishers...
today that is you and me.

If we believe than we must also agree to be fishers.
We must keep out nets and boats in good repair.
We must be patient.
We must continue to cast our nets.

...Time is running out...

We are called and Blessed to continue fishing.
~~~Peace~~~

“...Out of His Mind.”

~~~ Saint Francis de Sales ~~~
~~~ Bishop and Doctor of the Church ~~~

~~~ Hebrews 9:2-3, 11-14 ~~~ Psalm 47 ~~~ Mark 3:20-21 ~~~

“He is out of his mind.”

By most anyone's standards what Jesus
did while he was on earth was most surprising,
maybe not even logical.
So as a bystander, it would appear
that he was out of his mind.

First of all he chose men he barely knew, if at all,
with no qualifications to come and follow him.

He appeared to act in defiance of most of the ancient Jewish laws...
he ate with sinners and worst of all he 'worked' on the Sabbath.
He healed the sick, crippled and possessed on the assigned 'holy' day.

Jesus never tried to belittle all of the prescribed rules
he just knew what he came to offer was so much better...
What he offered was so beyond all of their numerous restrictions.

When Jesus came so much changed that it was
overwhelming for those who were steeped in the old ways. 

This is not a difficult concept to grasp; just ask any
person today over seventy five
their view of technology is too different
 for them to grasp.

So it was with Jesus...he was now the sacrificial lamb.
His blood would be shed to atone for all sins
throughout all of eternity.

This idea is like believing today
 that one little bunch of broccoli is all
the nutrition you need for the rest of your life.
If you did believe that we might consider
you to be 'out of your mind'. 

...how much more will the Blood of Christ, 
who through the eternal spirit offered
 himself unblemished to God,
cleanse our consciences 
from dead works 
to worship the living God.

Jesus was the final living sacrifice.
He shed his blood so that we would no longer
 live in the darkness of sin.
His blood would cleanse our consciences
 from the dead works of sin.
The works of sin will never bring life;
Jesus was determined to bring life
physical, mental and spiritual.

Even still some turned and walked away.
Some refused the life he offered.
Some could not risk making the transition.

Many did make the leap of faith
even when those around them believe
they have lost their mind.

We join together in community
 to worship our living God.
If we are 'out of our minds' at least
we are in good company.

If what we believe about the blood of Jesus
having the power to save us is wrong
 then he must have something better in store for us.
On the other hand if it is true, which I do believe to be the case,
then we will be rejoicing together.

If following Jesus means we must be 'out of our mind'
then let's make that leap of faith
with our mind, body, and spirit.

Blessed...we have nothing to lose
if we believe in our living God.

Saint Francis de Sales, pray for us.
Have patience with all things, but first with yourself.
Do not wish to be anything
 but who your are, and try to be that perfectly.

~~~Peace~~~

Truth and Kindness

~~~ Hebrews 8:6-13 ~~~ Psalm 85 ~~~ Mark 3:13-19 ~~~

Kindness and truth shall meet.

Jesus is the the truth and he expresses it
 best through his kindness.
It is his kindness that gives credence to the truth.
In Jesus there should have been no reason
 to question his intentions concerning the truth.
Everything he said and did was rooted in the truth.
His kindness far surpassed anyone's expectations.
And yet in spite of truth and kindness many still did not believe.

I will put my laws in their minds

and I will write them upon their hearts.

I will be their God,

and they shall be my people.

Jesus called all of his disciples to the mountain with him.
They had to work to climb up to where he would
single out twelve to be his apostles.

He took care to give those twelve his truths.
He took time show them his kindness.
He wrote upon their hearts his one law...his law of love.
Most of them took this truth into their hearts,
one did not. He chose to squander the truth
and the kindness he was given.

One chose to turn away from the truth.
One chose to deflect kindness in exchange for selfishness.

Where are you when it comes to truth?
How much kindness is in your heart?

I hope that you allow God to write his truth
and his kindness upon your heart each and every day.

You are Blessed with one undeniable truth.

God loves you.

Let him write it on your heart.
~~~Peace~~~

Our Fragile Hearts

~~~ Hebrews 7:25—8:6 ~~~ Psalm 40 ~~~ Mark 3:7-12 ~~~

Jesus is always able to save those who
 approach God through him,
since he lives forever to make
 intercession for them.

It is obvious to me that if Jesus died on the cross
 for us there is nothing he would not do for us.
If we stand at the foot of the cross and look up
we can see Jesus is the one who is our connection to the Father.

His arms are open wide inviting him to come to him.
He is the one who will intercede on our behalf.
He is the one who will bring our prayers to God.

Jesus is the one who knows us best because
he became one of us.

He understands our fragile hearts.
He understands our weak bodies.
He understands our broken spirits.

Because he understands his care, love
and compassion for us will last forever.

He knows our struggles he knows we fall down.
He wants us to know that he is always here to help us get up...
to try again...to start over...to be strengthened
by his promises and his presence.

He is always able to save we should hold that close to our heart.

...whenever unclean spirits saw him 
they would fall down before him 
and shout, “You are the Son of God.”
He warned them sternly not to make him known.

These unclean spirits were somehow able to see
 who Jesus truly was beneath his human bodily form.

They were able to sense his power over them.
They knew, even deeper than their evilness,
 when they were in the presence of the 'Son of God'.

Truly nothing is impossible with God.
We must first humble ourselves by admitting
 we do indeed need Jesus to intercede for us.

We must come to Jesus and trust that he will never let us down.

May the Blessings of Our Lord Jesus Christ
be with you always.

He is the source of deep peace for our fragile hearts.

Hands and Hearts

~~~ Saint Agnes, Virgin and Martyr ~~~

~~~ Hebrews 7:1-3, 15-17 ~~~ Psalm 110 ~~~ Mark 3:1-6 ~~~

“Come up here before us.”

Jesus uses every opportunity as a time for teaching.

We are in the synagogue, Jesus is 

preaching, the Pharisees are present.

Jesus does not call up one of the elders to come forward;

he calls the man with the crippled hand.

This man came to hear the 'teacher' he had 

accepted the loss of his one hand. 

Imagine his surprise when Jesus 

calls him to come before the whole community.

Imagine his shock when Jesus asks him

 to stretch out his crippled hand.

Was he embarrassed? Was he afraid to be made

 fun of...to be humiliated?

Of course Jesus does none of those things 

instead Jesus heals this man's hand.

If you were given a choice between

 a withered hand with a humble heart

or perfect hands with a hard heart,

which would you chose?

Jesus took every occasion to get the Pharisees 

to open their eyes...to see that 

he was the Messiah.

The Pharisees instead refused to let their hearts be softened.

Physically they appeared to be perfect specimens of man,

but their hearts were more like the stones

they kicked aside on the road.

Their hard hearts kept them from having

 the ability to identify with Jesus.

For if your heart is hard you

 cannot feel compassion for another person.

A hard heart is impermeable, nothing can penetrate it.  

It is safe to say that not even love 

can truly be experienced when 

one has a hard heart.

I pray that if my heart ever becomes hardened

 that the grace of God will lead me to seek counsel.

The Pharisees had Jesus standing before them.

The Pharisees had Jesus to point out where they needed change.

They became even more resistant...their hearts became even harder.

What if they had actually been allowed to feel the pain 

in their chest of their hard heart?

Would that have made a difference?

We will never know, because God does not work that way.

Jesus gave them many reasons to change, 

but they kept their hearts hard

on purpose...

It was their choice.

Saint Agnes, pray for us.

May we receive Blessings so as 

to never have a hard heart.

~~~ Peace ~~~

Anchor of the Soul

~~~ Hebrews 6:10-20 ~~~ Psalm 111 ~~~ Mark 2:23-28

 ...hold fast to the hope that lies before us.

This we have as an anchor of the soul,

sure and firm, which reaches into the interior behind the veil...

The anchor keeps the boat from drifting off course.

The anchor keeps the boat secured in one place.

The anchor is the one thing connecting the boat to a certain location.

The anchor keeps the boat firm and secure as it needs to be.

Once the anchor is cast into the water it is no longer visible, 

but the captain knows it is there.

Rough waters may rock the boat, but the 

anchor holds the position.

The anchor is designed to dig itself into the sandy ocean floor.

The anchor can get rusty and dirty, but it still performs its role.

Have you ever noticed that an anchor is usually shaped like a cross?

Where would our spiritual life be without hope?

It is our steadfast hope in the Lord that 

sustains us in difficult times.

Placing our hope in the Lord is the only true anchor.

If we place our hope in others there can be no guarantee.

Hope keeps us grounded in the truth.

Hope keeps us anchored in the promises of the Lord.

Without hope we are doomed to be tossed 

about in the turbulent waters of life.

Without hope we loose our way...we drift into uncharted waters.

Without hope the future looks murky and too daunting.

We have this HOPE as an anchor for the soul
firm and secure.

We are Blessed with the anchor of Hope
in our Lord, Jesus Christ.
~~~Peace~~~

The Perfect Life

~~~ Hebrews 5:1-10 ~~~ Psalm 110 ~~~ Mark 2:18-22 ~~~

Son though he was, he learned obedience 

from what he suffered;

and when he was made perfect,

he became the source of eternal salvation for all who obey him.

There is one phrase above that puzzles me...

... when he (Jesus) was made perfect...

Wasn't Jesus perfect from the beginning of time?

Certainly he was the Word made flesh...

He came down from heaven to live among us, 

to be with us, to be one of us.

Just what needed to be perfected in the person of Jesus?

In order for Jesus to be fully human he had to experience 

all of the wonder and the ugliness of what it means to be human.

Jesus had to know what it meant to be hungry, to be rejected, 

to be misunderstood, to be accused, to be homeless, 

to be loved, to be cherished, to be mocked, to be betrayed, 

to be tortured and finally to be crucified.

Jesus was made perfect through all of these various aspects

 of being human because he overcame all of them.

 He was the one who was able to come out unscathed.

He was the one who would be victorious,

 just to save us.

He was the one who was made perfect 

through his sufferings;

suffered for you and for me.

Jesus showed us the way.

Jesus showed us that it is possible 

to endure for something greater.

Jesus showed us that there is

 no way to escape suffering.

Jesus showed us that we must carry our cross

 to be made perfect with him...

to reach our eternal reward of salvation.

We too are made complete through our suffering.

Our sufferings may not be as 

monumental as being nailed to a cross,

but nevertheless they are our sufferings.

How are you facing the struggles in your life today?

Jesus gives us sufficient grace to emerge from our sufferings

 just as he came out victorious.

Someday we too will share in the glory

 of Our Lord Jesus Christ.

Perhaps there is some truth to the saying

no pain no gain.

Jesus does not want us to suffer,

 but he knows first hand that suffering is part 

of what it means to be human.

Jesus is the perfect vision of hope.

Without his suffering we might be asking

 a very different question today...

we might be asking if he really was God.

We may long for the perfect life, 

but the truth is not even Jesus had the 'perfect life'

he drew upon his relationship with the Father to keep going.

Our 'perfect life''

is achieved through our life long relationship with God.

Blessings bring us through our sufferings.
Peace

Just Show Up

~~~Second Sunday of Ordinary Time~~~

~~~1 Samuel 3:3B-10, 19~~~Psalm 40~~~

~~~1 Corinthians 6:13C-15A, 17-20~~~John 1:35-42~~~

Here am I, Lord; I come to do your will.

As it is still early in the new year it is fitting
 that we be reminded
through young Samuel
to renew our personal commitment to the Lord.

As the weeks and months go by we tend to be less and less
 enthusiastic about our desire to make changes in our life.

Not only does Samuel acknowledge the voice of God
 he tells God he is listening.

“Speak, for your servant is listening.”

If we do not open our ears to hear
and listen to God how can we possibly do his will?

God not only blessed Samuel he put a song into his heart.
This song of love was God with Samuel.
This song of love came to life in every word he spoke.

Samuel truly became one Spirit with the Lord.

Do you not know that your body
is a temple of the Holy Spirit within you,
whom you have from God, and that you are not your own?

Samuel did not need to understand the theology of God
dwelling within our body.

He only needed to allow God to lead his life,
which he did as we see in the book of Samuel.

God just wants us to show up and he will do the rest.
He will place the question in our hearts...
What are you looking for?
He will invite us to simply Come and See/

How many times have you called out to someone
to Come and See?

Perhaps it was a beautiful sunset,
 a hummingbird feeding at your window,
a spider spinning her web, a blooming rose,
or the first tomato on the bush.

We are excited to share
these moments with our loved ones.
Imagine how much Jesus wants to share his
exciting things with you.

God invites us to Come and See.
It is with him that we will find what we are looking for.

Come and See how he Blesses you.
Peace.

Are We Using Words?

~~~ Saint Anthony ~~~

~~~ Hebrews 4:12-16 ~~~ Psalm 19 ~~~ Mark 2:13-17 ~~~ 

Your words, Lord, are Spirit and life.

We have numerous examples of the words
 of God and from Jesus
attesting to their Spirit and Life.

Jesus does not need fancy speech.
He does not speak in some exotic language or dialect.
Jesus speak the words of the people.

The words of Jesus inspire people
 to drop everything and follow him.
The words of Jesus quiet wild demons.
The words of Jesus offer forgiveness to the sinner.
The words of Jesus heal the sick and lame.
The words of Jesus teach us he is our Savior.

How are we using our words?
Do our words extend life to suffering souls?
Do our words offer hope to those in pain?
Do our words bring the joy of the Lord to those in exile?

Jesus says I am the way the truth and the life.

Paul writes this about Jesus...
The word of God is living and effective...
...penetrating even between soul and spirit,
joints and marrow,
and able to discern reflections and thoughts of the heart.

Jesus is Spirit and life because he is the Word made flesh.
It was with his words that God created all of creation.

Words have the power to motivate or destroy others.
Words are one way we convey our love for one another.
Words can also be used as weapons to instill
 fear into our hearts.

We must use our own words wisely
with care and love.
Our words can also be filled with the Spirit of the Lord.

May God Bless your words.
May they be used in a life giving manner.
~~~Peace~~~

Guard the Goodness

~~~~ Hebrews 4:1-5, 11 ~~~ Psalm 78 ~~~ Mark 2:1-12 ~~~

Jesus immediately knew in his mind what 

they were thinking to themselves...

Jesus had the ability to internalize everything
about what being human meant.
He was able to see each person as an individual.
He was able to get past whatever was in their past;
he was able to offer them more.
He was and can be today for us the personification of hope.

As the crippled man was lowered down to Jesus from the roof,
Jesus was intuitively aware of what the authorities were thinking.

Mind reading is something found in amusement
 parks...at traveling carnivals.
This was Jesus who knew what they were thinking.

Imagine for a minute if the next time you entered
 into a room full of people you were able to know what
 they were all thinking about you.
Would you be totally freaked out? I would.

Why are you thinking such things in your hearts?

Jesus heals the man and forgives his sins
while he also dealing with the negativity
 in the hearts of some in the room.

Jesus could sense the darkness in their hearts.
Jesus could sense their jealousy and hatred.

Most of us can not be up to our best
 when we are surrounded with negative
 thoughts and words.

Jesus asks them 'why', because
he knew that all things first begin within the heart
whether they are good or bad.

Whatever we nourish and cuddle
within our heart is what will be manifested in our life.

We must be careful to guard
 the goodness in our heart.

Thank goodness we do not have the ability
 to know what others are thinking.

Even if we try or think we know we are
wrong much of the time.

Jesus knows what we are thinking.
He knows what is in our heart.
He knows that what comes from him is goodness.
He also knows that what is not good in our heart
originated outside of his love.

Guard all that is good within your heart.

We are Blessed to have a God
who knows what we are thinking,
who knows what is in our heart
and loves us even more.

~~~Peace~~~

"Today"

~~~ Hebrews 3:7-14 ~~~ Psalm 95 ~~~ Mark 1:40-45 ~~~

 If today you hear his voice, harden not your hearts.

How can we live in the present?

It is so easy to dwell on the past and

 to worry about the future.

When we focus on the past or the future

 we are robbing ourselves of today.

The many people who came to Jesus to be healed 

decided that their past was not working.

The people who came to Jesus to be healed 

were claiming the present moment in their life.

The people who came to Jesus to be healed

were not willing to wait one more day.

Jesus lived his life as a fully present human person.

We do not see Jesus dwelling in the past.

Jesus is present to each person who comes to him.

Why don't we believe that is true now?

So often we act as if God was not with us, 

when in reality he is with us always.

Encourage yourselves daily while it is still “today,”

so that none of you may grow hardened by the deceit of sin.

The voice of God speaks to each of 

us deep within our hearts.

But too many times we let the past get in the way.

We let our former shortcomings keep 

us from being better at living in the present.

Our self talk becomes more about how many times

 we have failed or how unworthy we are of God's love.

Today we must encourage ourselves to begin again.

The leper presented himself before Jesus.

The leper said to himself 'today'

is the day I will ask for healing.

Jesus saw this man, heard this man, 

touched this man, and healed this man that very day.

I am not implying that all things with God 

happen within the 'now' timeline.

Every day is worth our time and effort to become a better person.

We cannot be satisfied with telling ourselves

 when I have more time I will spend more time with God.

Today is really all that we have...

all that we know...all that we can experience.

Today is when we can share 

God's love and mercy.

Today God is with you.

Today God is Blessing you.

Today God is loving you.

Today God hears you.

Today be a better person than you were yesterday.

~~~Peace~~~

His Healing Touch

~~~ Hebrews 2:14-18 ~~~ Psalm 105 ~~~ Mark 1:29-39 ~~~

He approached, grasped her hand, and helped her up.

The woman healed today is Peter's mother in law.

Jesus goes to her bedside.

Jesus takes her hand with his hand.

Without saying anything he helps her up from her bed.

Jesus came to heal us in mind, body, and soul or spirit.

Yesterday he cast out the demons with his words;

today he extends his healing touch.

There is not one preferred manner in which Jesus heals.

Everything is at his use to accomplish his healing.

It is good for us to consider the many ways

 in which he is capable of healing us too.

We hear his words in Scriptures and we feel

 his touch each time we receive Eucharist.

As one of our blessed saints says...

Christ has no hands but ours...no feet but ours...

We may not have the gift 

of the healing power of God,

but he does work through us more

 often than we may know.

The words we speak to another person

 may be just the words

 they needed to hear at that exact time.

Sometimes I have actually felt the nudge

 to speak to something to a complete stranger.

It did feel awkward at first, but the person's reaction 

was one of delight.

Sometimes giving a hug or a touch on the shoulder

 can bring peace and comfort to another.

There is one woman I know who takes 

great comfort from hugging others.

God uses the words we speak and the touch we extend.

God may allow the person to experience

 his compassion and love.

We too can be Blessed as we reach out to others

 with our words and gentle touch.

We are the hands and feet and voice 

of the living God.

What an awesome inspiring task;

 he has allowed us to be a part of...

spreading his healing love and compassion.

~~~Peace~~~

No Lightning Flash

~~~ Hebrews 2:5-12 ~~~Psalm 8 ~~~ Mark 1:21-28 ~~~

Jesus was a man, lower than angels as Paul points out,
yet all things are subject to him in heaven and on earth.
God sent Jesus to us hiding his divinity within his humanity.
While his divinity was never diminished
its visibility was cloaked by his physical body.

What is man that you are mindful of him,

or the son of man that you care for him?

You made him for a little while lower than the angels;

you crowned him with glory and honor,

subjecting all things under his feet.

In their synagogue was a man with an unclean spirit;

he cried out, “What have you to do with us, Jesus of Nazareth?

Jesus exercised control over this unclean spirit

 with a few peaceful words.

Jesus rebuked him and said, “Quiet! Come out of him!”

All things are subjective under the feet of Jesus.

There was no need for force...there was no need

 to restrain the man with the unclean spirit.

It only took a few words spoken by Jesus

 with the authority he received from the Father.

The words of Jesus compelled 

the unclean spirit to immediately leave his host body.

It convulsed the man's body and departed with a loud cry.

The unclean spirit did not argue his case to stay.

Nor did it try to defend itself for being there.

Through the words of Jesus his connection with the Father
 becomes evident even to the evil spirit world.

There was no lightning flash of power,
Jesus simply stood before the man
and commanded the spirit to vacate the man's body.

Jesus exhibited his power many times
 through the use of his words.

Perhaps we should pay more attention to these words.
Jesus can also cast out the demons from
our soul through his words.

Jesus can dispel and put to rest
 all that is roaring within your heart.

He will Bless you with one word...
Quiet.
~~~Peace~~~

He is Seeking You

~~~ Hebrews 1:1-6 ~~~ Psalm 97 ~~~ Mark 1:14-20 ~~~

After John had been arrested,

Jesus came to Galilee proclaiming the Gospel of God:

“This is the time of fulfillment.

The Kingdom of God is at hand.

Repent, and believe in the Gospel.”

John's imprisonment marks the end of his role as the one 

who would come before to make the way.

He had successfully accomplished his goal

right up to and including the baptism of Jesus.

Jesus was now here to assume his

position as preacher, teacher, and healer.

He announces the Kingdom of God and repentance.

Jesus never intends to accomplish his mission alone.

From the very beginning we see him begin 

to choose others to join him.

As he passed by the Sea of Galilee,

he saw Simon and his brother Andrew casting their nets...

Jesus was not a loner

 he surrounded himself with others.

He did not wait for his 'helpers' to come and find him.

He went out into the streets of the towns.

He himself sought out his disciples.

Jesus continues to seek out 

those who would spread his gospel of repentance.

He continues to populate his followers with 

those who would believe.

When Jesus chose his first followers he knew 

there was much he would have to teach them.

Jesus knew that some day his death would take him away.

He knew that he had precious little time 

to teach them enough to keep his message alive.

And now all of this history has been passed on to us.

We cannot sit back and expect someone else 

to keep the teachings of Jesus alive.

We too have been chosen.

We have been called by God.

It is now up to you.

If you could only share one thing

 about God or Jesus to a non believer;

what would it be?

I invite you to take some time as you read this.

Practice your answer now, so that when 

the time comes you will be prepared...

you will not need to hesitate...

you will not need to stop and research.

Your answer must come

 from the strength of your inner beliefs.

Your answer must be genuine and real...

spoken from your heart.

Blessings of a convicted heart

for Jesus.

~~~Peace~~~

The Beloved Scene

~~~The Baptism of the Lord~~~

~~~Isaiah 42:1-4, 6-7~~~Psalm 29~~~

~~~Acts of the Apostles 10:34-38~~~Mark 1:7-11~~~

On coming up out of the water he saw

 the heavens being torn open 

and the Spirit, like a dove, descending upon him.

And a voice came from the heavens, 

“You are my beloved Son; with you I am well pleased.”

The only other time Jesus is referred to as the beloved

 was at the Transfiguration. 

It is such an endearing statement...my beloved Son, 

with whom I am well pleased. 

Every child longs to hear that they are loved by their parents. 

Many times, as parents we say words 

that do not project accurate emotional content. 

In some cases the words 

do not even match the emotion; 

they are simply empty words. 

The letters of the words are only outlined with nothing inside. 

Children have this uncanny ability to see through 

hollow words and often reject the person.

In this passage God saturates our senses with vivid details. 

Visually we can picture the clouds billowing apart

swirling about until a clearing is revealed. 

We are given one more beautiful image

 in the Spirit descending like a dove. 

We can easily picture a beautiful white dove, 

wings outstretched, fluttering down upon Jesus. 

God gives us this image so that we have something tangible

 to identify the Spirit. God wants us to be able

 to accept what is taking place.

 He gave us eyes so that we can see and believe. 

Sometimes the Spirit comes like a wind, 

but this time it is a dove.

...the voice of the Father came from the cloud.

If you are intently watching a movie and all of a sudden

 there is a loud voice it is natural to be startled or even frightened. 

So when the invisible voice came unexpected 

it must have made a huge impact.

I invite you to place yourself into this scene and confidently 

hear the Father speak these same words to you. 

This is my Beloved daughter/son 

(add your own name here too),

 in whom I am well pleased. 

Isaiah records in chapter 42:1 the Lord saying, 

"Here is my servant whom I uphold, 

my chosen one with whom I am pleased, 

upon whom I have put my spirit...". 

He continues in verses 6-7 with a beautiful image

 "I have grasped you by the hand". 

If we place our hand in the hand of the Father

 we will only want to do what pleases him as we walk together.

Through the Baptism of Jesus

all of the waters are made holy...the Spirit descends 

upon Jesus and the voice of the Father is heard.

The Trinity is present in the way our senses

 are touched in this scene.

Blessings as we reflect upon the

beauty of the Beloved Scene

of Baptism.

~~~Peace~~~

Sabotaging God's Plan?

~~~ 1 John 5:14-21 ~~~ Psalm 149 ~~~ John 3:22-30 ~~~

Today we hear from John the Apostle about John the Baptist.

John is speaking to some members of the community
 who had strong doubts; questioning whether Jesus
 was both the Christ and man.
In this letter he has written about God as the light and
the importance of loving one another.
Now we are hearing his closing remarks...his final arguments.

“No one can receive anything except what has been

 given from heaven. 

You yourselves can testify 

that I said that I am not the Christ,

but that I was sent before him. 

He draws our attention to how God sent John the Baptist
 to prepare the way for Jesus.
John the Baptist, from the beginning,
 acknowledges that he is not the Christ.
If we recall John the Baptist leaped in the womb
 of his mother when Mary came to visit.
The intimate relationship between John the Baptist and Jesus
 was established by God from the very beginning.

We know that we belong to God...

When we are connected to God in an intimate personal way
we open ourselves to being used by God.

John was more than willing to be
the messenger preparing the way for Jesus.

It seems this was his main purpose in being alive.

Not discounting our free will, God has a plan
for our lives as well.

How many times have we unintentionally
sabotaged God's plan for our life?

I say unintentionally because we make choices every day
 without including God into the equation.

Knowing that we belong to God
does not insure our decisions will reflect that knowledge.

John closes his letter with words of caution...
Children, be on your guard against idols.

These words are necessary for us to hear even now.
Those who belong to God
have the challenge to act accordingly.

Blessings from God sustain us
in our intention to live
like we belong
to God.

~~~Peace~~~