Tag Archives: Prayer

Could YOU befriend Paul?

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My sweet friend sent me a small booklet to read a little bit ago and for a gagillion reasons I’ve not been able to get into it.  Until this morning.  You see, I had a wedding to go to last night in St. Augustine for two former co-workers (just seriously the sweetest couple) and this morning I awoke before my friends did and had 2 HOURS OF TOTAL QUIET.  Unheard of, people.  Unheard.  Of.  Just me and my coffee and after working on my 1000 Gifts book I dove into the booklet:  Uniformity with God’s Will by Saint Alphonsus de Liguori.    

I can see why I couldn’t get into it initially.  God wanted my full and undivided attention.  Focused.  Small bits.  It is powerful.  I’ll share with you my insight this morning…all 2 pages in.

Some back story:  in talking about Saul, who persecuted Christians for their faith.  Not only persecuted, but hunted down and killed Christians, routinely.  Until…….God got his attention with a little episode of blindness.  Enlightening Saul and converting him to Paul.  (God often likes to change your name when He drafts you to His team).

Paul asks God, “Lord, what wilt thou have me to do?” Acts 9:6

The Lord calls him a vessel of election and apostle to the Gentiles:  “This man is to me a vessel of election, to carry my name before the Gentiles.”  Acts 9:15

So, Paul, previously Saul, is a huge player in the Bible and on Team God.  He’s a huge instrument of God in spreading the Word, instructing Christians in how to live and love according to God’s will.  And….Paul has a past.  A really bad past.  Yet, God USES him.  Mightily.  Over and over again.  Amongst the very people he previously persecuted.

Think about it.  We ALL know a modern-day Paul.  People who have failed us, who have fallen, who have a past.  Shoot, realistically we ALL have our Saul-seasons.  With God’s grace we can ALL enjoy our Paul-seasons as well.  The best thing is, God can and does use Paul.  Mightily.  Over and over again.  Among the very people they have wronged.  However, how many of us fail to see the Paul and only see the Saul?  How many of us fail to see the blessings and instructions of the Paul because we can’t move beyond the Saul?

God forgives.  God moves on.  Beyond the “Sauls”.  God uses ALL things.  May we be more like God and focused on the “Pauls” in the world,  God’s new creations and let us let go of  the “Sauls”.

 

 

Parents, keep fighting the fight!

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I have several friends with teenagers who are struggling, and struggling mightily with a wide variety of teen angst and issues and I’ve been praying for and with them pretty regularly now.  It’s heart wrenching.  It’s terrifying.  It’s real.  It’s life.  It’s a time of exercising Trust and Faith in the One who these children ultimately belong to.  Hoping and praying we’ve built that solid foundation.  Praying we’ve planted that mustard seed on fertile soil.  With 4 kiddos of our own and two who are currently teens, I have full expectations that we too, will face our own struggles in these hormone-laden years.  We watch and we wait and we live each day in trial and error, learning as we go and gleaning wisdom and example from those around us.

Teenagers.  Hormones.  Frontal lobe nerve myelination.    These are the days where we must. pray. without. ceasing. (really, every day is)   I came across this quote during my readings this morning:

The faults of children are not always imputed to the parents, especially when they have instructed them and given good example. Our Lord, in His wonderous Providence, allows children to break the hearts of devout fathers and mothers. Thus the decisions your children have made don’t make you a failure as a parent in God’s eyes. You are entitled to feel sorrow, but not necessarily guilt. Do not cease praying for your children; God’s grace can touch a hardened heart. Commend your children to the Immaculate Heart of Mary. When parents pray the Rosary,at the end of each decade they should hold the Rosary aloft and say to her,”With these beads bind my children to your Immaculate Heart”, she will attend to their souls.

— St. Louise de Marillac

There is hope, parents.  There is grace abundant.  Keep fighting the fight.

Happy Papal Inauguration Day!

Ash Wednesday

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“All are from the dust, and to dust all return”  

Ecclesiastes 3:20

And so it is the time of year where “we” will sacrifice, pray and serve.  All three take many forms and there is no “wrong” way to do any;  it is a HEART choice and a active decision in seeking a closer relationship with Christ. 

I’ll take my annual sabbatical from Facebook (and this year, Twitter).  It’s generally a little weird the first day or so, but absolutely freeing and by Easter I contemplate deactivating it all, except that I love the pictures too much;  kids grow so fast!!!

I’ll also spend more time in Adoration.  Feel free to send my your prayer requests in comments, anon or otherwise 😉

We will serve.  Wherever a need arises, it’s not a hard and fast decision.  It’s not black and white.  The opportunity to serve others is always present, we will just be more mindful of that during these 40 days.

And so, even though it is a not a holy day of obligation, we will receive ashes tonight as a reminder……visible….tactile….spoken

He died for us, so we might live. 

2 Corinthians 5:15

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New Driver…Y’all pray for us!!

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Last week I missed the Quick Takes with Jen and the ALMOST 200 HUNDRED people who link up with her @ Conversion Diary…so if you got some time honey….get on over and check ’em out!  Without further adieu….here’s MY wrap up:

  • Sunday I joined in at Fine Linen and Purple for a fashion show of Church-lady (and men) clothes on REAL PEOPLE!  It was so fun, I’ve really enjoyed seeing what people where, how they accessorize, and most of all….WHERE they get their digs.  It’s so girly and holy canoli….my biggest traffic EVAHH from it.  Cray, cray….almost bringing me to 100 followers.  Cool.
  • Our oldest son got his learner’s permit two weeks ago and the kid is ALL about it. Dad is the more patient driving instructor meanwhile mom feels new grey hairs sprouting ever time he gets behind the wheel and I’ve learned a few new things.
  • Apparently no…there is NOT a brake on the passenger side floorboard in our vehicle.  I can’t seem to remember this when I ride with him.  Every time.  We probably WILL have a hole there shortly, so maybe we can put a brake in then.
  • Screaming “STOP” is counter productive.  I realized this the first time, now I just crescendo up…”you want to let up on the gas and start slowing down now….yes, start slowing down….slow down.  slow.  down.  …brake….Brake..BRake…yes.  NOW.  Good job, next time let’s not climb up in their trunk business, K?  K.”
  • The door handle seconds as a security blanket and with repeated kneading is beginning to bear my clawmarks handprints nicely.
  • The St. Michael prayer has become a new addition in our repetoire:                        Saint Michael the Archangel,
    defend us in battle.
    Be our protection against the wickedness and snares of the devil.
    May God rebuke him, we humbly pray;
    and do Thou, O Prince of the Heavenly Host –
    by the Divine Power of God –
    cast into hell, satan and all the evil spirits,
    who roam throughout the world seeking the ruin of souls.

    Amen.
  • Having a kid who drives makes me THAT much older.  THAT’s the hard pill to swallow.  Indeed.

Off to curl in a ball and suck my thumb.  Have a great weekend and be sure to visit Jen!!

sniff, sniff…my baby is growing up!

Election Day…finally an end to the campaigning!!

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If you live in the US you’ve been swamped with campaign mail, telephone solicitation, Facebook opinions, mudslinging, debates, tweets and so on and so on and can I get a HUGE “AMEN” that this glorious day brings an end to it all (because if you voted early you continue to receive all of the above stated).

My eyes are burning and I’m ready for bed, however…..my “practice” ballot is ready and come lunch time, my cheat sheet and I will whip through those little booths with sticker readily displayed.  Hopefully by tomorrow at this time we will have a clear answer as to who the winners are, until then… a prayer my precious former neighbor emailed to me and I will now share with you.

Dear Beloved God in Heaven
Please give us a president that loves this country and everything it
stands for.
Please give us a president who respects you as the one true God.
Please give us a president who will, with your help, restore this
nation to its former glory, the way you created her.
Please help us to respect what you have given to us and not take
anything for granted ever again.
Please God weaken the evil and strengthen the good both without and within.
May our eyes be opened.
In Jesus’ name, Amen
God Bless America