If we guide our decisions/lives by God’s love “…all things (will) work for good.”  We believe that in the end God will triumph!  Our calling, our responsibility is to listen [obey] the Lord and do His Will.

 

In Les Miserables Marius says, “There are thoughts which are prayers.  These are moments when, whatever the posture of the body, the soul is on its knees.”  We should strive to live our life with our soul on its knees so that we live a life of prayer.

St. John of the Cross said that God will judge us “… by the manner in which we perform…” our deeds, our actions.

How can we know whether or not new are doing God’s Will?  Maybe this prayer by Thomas Merton can help us,

“My Lord God, I have no idea where I am going. 

I do not see the road ahead of me. 

I cannot know for certain where it will end. 

Nor do I really know myself, and the fact that I think I am following your will does not mean that I am actually doing so. 

But I believe that the desire to please you does in fact please you. 

And I hope I have that desire in all that I am doing. 

I hope that I will never do anything apart from that desire. 

And I know that if I do this you will lead me by the right road, though I may know nothing about it. 

Therefore I will trust you always though I may seem to be lost and in the shadow of death. 

I will not fear, for you are ever with me,

and you will never leave me to face my perils alone.” 

(Merton - Thoughts in Solitude, p. 81)

May God Be Praised!

Today we reflect on thoughts from three saints who remind us to live as Disciples of Christ by our actions and our words.

 

"The deeds you do may be the only sermon some people will hear today."  [St. Francis of Assisi]

Live each day as if it were your last day on this earth, and two things will happen.  First, you will live a more meaningful and spirit-filled life, and second, one day you will be right.

de Sales said, “In ordinary acts of kindness, we have a chance to practice virtue more often, with greater humility and with greater holiness.” (Every Day with St. Francis DeSales)

“The Lord measures our perfection neither by the multitude nor the magnitude of our deeds, but by the manner in which we perform them.”  [St. John of the Cross]

Share the glimpse of God that you have been given, it may be the glimpse that helps someone looking for God in their life find the Lord.

May God Be Praised!

           

Today take a few deep breaths and allow the Holy Spirit to fill you with peace and grace.  With those gifts from the Holy Spirit you can make the world a better place today.

 

St. Mother Teresa of Calcutta said, "Everybody today seems to be in such a terrible rush, anxious for greater developments and greater riches and so on, so that children have very little time for their parents. Parents have very little time for each other, and in the home begins the disruption of peace in the world."

 

 St. Thomas More said, "You must not abandon the ship in a storm because you cannot control the winds . . . What you cannot turn to good, you must at least make as little bad as you can."

As you go about your day try not to rush or be anxious, don’t worry about the storms around you, instead enjoy the life that God has given you, and allow others to sense the peace of God in you.

May God Be Praised!

Jesus reminds us to “Come away by yourselves to a deserted place and rest a while.”  When I was growing up each day seemed to have 30 hours in it.  Today each day seems to have 15 hours in it.   

Jesus invites to be aware of God’s presence in our lives and in our world.  Come away to a deserted place and rest for a while.

A deserted place is a symbol for learning to be fed, to be tamed by God!  Some call it “Sabbath Rest” and some call it “Solitude.”  The Lord Who wants to TAME us gave us the Psalms and one of the most beloved Psalms is: “The LORD is my shepherd; I shall not want. 

In verdant pastures he gives me repose; beside restful waters he leads me; 
he refreshes my soul. 

He guides me in right paths for his name's sake. 

Even though I walk in the dark valley 
I fear no evil; for you are at my side with your rod and your staff 
that give me courage….

Only goodness and kindness follow me all the days of my life; and I shall dwell in the house of the LORD 
for years to come.” 


You and I are the BELOVED of God!

Take a few minutes today to thank God for loving you, allow God’s presence to sink deep into your being, be TAMED by God and it will enrich your life.

May God Be Praised!               

We were very fortunate to spend a week in Sunset Beach, N.C. and Laurie and Brian were able to join us for two days there in the warmth of the sun and the family.  Below is a picture of the ocean from our porch, one of our grandchildren [including Brian and Laurie’s children] and pictures of Laurie exercising her right side.

  

God’s blessings are falling upon her and Brian like soft steady rain, your prayers and support are that gentle rain preparing them for the sunshine of recovery under the God’s healing wing.

My son Brain offered these thoughts on his wife Laurie’s continued progress, his update highlighted Laurie’s doctor’s appointment at Shepherd on July 23, 2019 Laurie saw a doctor in the multi-specialty facility.  The appointment was set before we discharged from Shepherd back in November. 

It seemed so far away at the time it was scheduled. As we returned a few different times, the message was the same, whatever you do, don’t miss the appointment with Dr. Taubin she’s the best.

They were not wrong, she was incredible. She was absolutely blown away at where Laurie was in her recovery. She educated Laurie about her injury. She told her that she is in a very, very small percentage that survives, and while the early part of the journey is the toughest, her injury has the best outcomes.  She attributes that to the bleed and how in a lot of other strokes there are definite deficiencies that are certain and don’t come back. 

The first two years are the most important and need to be therapy heavy (which Laurie’s continue to be), Laurie then showed the doctor how she could grip and release with her right hand. The doctor was floored, and she held Laurie’s right hand and looked her in the eye and let her know that the grip typically comes back, but what is important is the release and that’s what Laurie can do. The doctor reduced some of her meds and wrote orders for Laurie to head back to out-patient rehab in October (Phase 7).

The hope would be to get into the day program at Sheperd, Laurie would be a great candidate for that program, but that is based on timing and availability. The fact that a Shepherd doctor wrote the orders should help her case, and that is well beyond our control so we will focus on getting better each day.  We are still in the midst of Phase 6, making an effort, working and preparing for Phase 7, and when the time is right, He will show us the way.

As we continue to pray for Laurie’s full recovery we thank you for your prayers, love and support and humbly ask that you continue them.   For all that God has given us and done for us – thank you, for the God’s grace yet to come – thank you.

With a grateful hearts,

Deacon Kelly and Family

May God Be Praised!

Our culture is infatuated with celebrity and with materialism.  The Scriptures tell us clearly and directly that HUMILITY will bring us closer to God! 

Humility is Truth!   

We are what we are in God's presence, no more and no less.

Humility comes from the Latin word meaning “on the ground”, so when we are advised to be humble – to be grounded.

Grounded in the sense that God is all-powerful and we are but a spec in the Universe of God’s love.  Specs that we are, God loves each of us with care, devotion and tenderness that are beyond measure.

“Ralph Waldo Emerson said three qualities marked true success: ‘the ability to discern and appreciate beauty, the ability to see the best in others, and a commitment to leave the world a better place.’

Success wasn’t having the best seat in the house, belonging to the best clubs or having plenty of material possessions.  Rather success comes with appreciating God’s world, developing loving relationships with God’s people & working to improve God’s world.”

(R. Robert Cueni, Sermons on the Gospel Reading, Series I, Cycle C, CSS Publishing)

In Luke’s Gospel, Jesus teaches us to do good deeds for those who really need it!  He teaches us to reach out not from our excess, but from the blessings that we have been privileged to receive.

My Mom (God bless her soul) told me many times when I was growing-up, “the world doesn’t revolve around you!”

Cultivating a heart filled with gratitude is essential for humility.  Christian humility reminds us that we are not the center of the universe.

One of my favorite prophets Micah tells us “…the Lord requires of you: only this to do what is right … to love goodness and to walk humbly with God.” (Micah 6:8)

We are called to see one another as children of God, as people made in the image and likeness of God.  Consider for a moment that the Heaven has had an entrance exam: write an essay explaining how you used the blessings that God gave you to build up His Kingdom.  The blessings of life, family, relatives, friends, job, home, Church, etc. - all blessings whether spiritual, material or personal.

What would you write?

How much of your essay would center on your humility?

How much of your essay would focus on your use of your God given gifts in the manner that God wanted?

Heaven does have an entrance Exam - the life we live on earth.

Jesus Christ is waiting for us to do what is right,

to love goodness and to walk humbly with Him.

What are you doing to prepare for the most important exam of your life?

May God Be Blessed!

 Today we are reminded of three things:

1.  Heaven exists

2.  Hell exists

3.  We have to do our part to get to heaven.

Jesus taught us to go through the narrow gate, what does  the narrow gate means!  In ancient times cities were protected by a main gate through which passed material goods, supplies, etc.

In addition, to the main gate there two “narrow” gates through which a man or woman could pass but without anything.

Jesus wants us to know that the worldly things we acquire here on earth stay here when we die.  Nothing we amass except our good deeds will go.

Hopefully our heart and soul will be filled to overflowing with good deeds when we meet our maker.

Remember when you receive the Eucharist – you are carrying the Lord of Lords, the King of Kings, in your being.  Let Jesus live in your heart with the joy and the comfort afforded a best friend.

The “narrow gate” that Jesus tells us about is realizing that life is not about us accumulating stuff, it is about us finding God!  The “narrow gate” is about us realizing our littleness before God, yet realizing God’s immense love for us.

The “narrow gate’ demands total commitment, unconditional forgiveness, selflessness, and sacrifice.

The gift of God’s love gives us the opportunity to enter through the “narrow gate” into God’s eternal banquet!

Teihard de Chardin said, “We are not human beings on a spiritual journey, we are spiritual beings on a human journey.”  Luke reminds us our lives here are temporary, we are pilgrims on a journey to eternity.

If you were to decide to run a marathon and someone gave you sneakers, running shorts, a shirt and a training regimen.  You must train - the more closely & faithfully you train – the better you will do in the marathon.

de Sales said, “You make spiritual progress by continually beginning again and again.” (Every Day with Saint Francis de Sales, p.238)

The Greek word for “strive” means – supreme effort!  Jesus calls us to give our best effort our supreme effort, in following Him!

Take a moment to think about your efforts as a follower of Jesus Christ.  Are you giving Jesus your best effort, are you striving to enter through the “narrow” gate?

May God Be Blessed!

Today I want to share a poem called “About the Irish”,

“What shall I say about the Irish?
The utterly impractical, never predictable
Something irascible, quite inexplicable Irish.
Strange blend of shyness, pride and conceit,
And stubborn refusal to bow in defeat.
He's spoiling and ready to argue and fight,
Yet the smile of a child fills his soul with delight.
His eyes are the quickest to well up in tears,
Yet his strength is the strongest to banish your fears.
His faith is as fierce as his devotion is grand,
And there's no middle ground on which he will stand.
He's wild and he's gentle.
He's good and he's bad.
He's proud and he's humble.
He's happy and he's sad.
He's in love with the ocean, the earth and the skies.
He's enamored with beauty wherever it lies.
He's victor and victim, a star and a clod,
But mostly he's Irish in love with his God.”

Jesus asks us to think about where our treasurer is?  Is it in things or in God?  St. Francis deSales wrote the Introduction to the Devout Life, “There is a difference between possessing poison and being poisoned.  Pharmacists keep almost every kind of poison in stock …, yet they are not themselves poisoned because it is merely in their shop, not in their bodies.  So, too, you can possess riches without being poisoned by them if you keep them in your home, purse or wallet, but not in your heart.”  (Part III, Chap. III)

Wealth, riches, possessions can lead us away from a God-centered life, not because they are bad in themselves BUT they fool us into thinking the wealth we have is ours.  Our wealth is a gift from God, what we do with our wealth is our gift to God!

In the book of Ecclesiastes we read, “All things are vanity.”  The author is writing about the purpose of human life – enduring happiness is only found in God.  St. Paul urges us to set our goals on the things “above the earth.”

Jesus teaches us to “Take care to guard against all greed, for though one may be rich, one’s life does not consist of possessions.”  The quality of our lives will ultimately be measured in how we reflect God’s love, mercy and compassion to the world; on how we reflect God to God’s people.

How well are we passing on the Gospel values, to our families, friends and others?  The real purpose of life is to find out what God wants us to do and then to do it to the best of our ability! 

“Possessions create an illusion that we have control over our destiny ….  The secret of life is finding out what God wants us to do and then enjoy doing it.”  (Connections, Aug. 2007)

Decided today to live your life for Jesus, after all He lived His life for you.

May God Be Praised!

“Lord, You call us to bring Your mercy and Your truth to our family, our friends, & our world, but also ourselves; send Your grace upon us so we can be Your healing heart here on earth.”  (Deacon George Kelly)

Psalm 85 - Our salvation is near

God blessed the land when our Savior came to earth (Origen).

O Lord, you once favored your land
and revived the fortunes of Jacob,
you forgave the guilt of your people
and covered all their sins.
You averted all your rage,
you calmed the heat of your anger.

Revive us now, God, our helper!
Put an end to your grievance against us.
Will you be angry with us for ever,
will your anger never cease?

Will you not restore again our life
that your people may rejoice in you?
Let us see, O Lord, your mercy
and give us your saving help.

I will hear what the Lord God has to say,
a voice that speaks of peace,
peace for his people and his friends
and those who turn to him in their hearts.
His help is near for those who fear him
and his glory will dwell in our land.

Mercy and faithfulness have met;
justice and peace have embraced.
Faithfulness shall spring from the earth
and justice look down from heaven.

The Lord will make us prosper
and our earth shall yield its fruit.
Justice shall march before him
and peace shall follow his steps.

Today as you reflect on Psalm 85 allow God’s peace to permeate your heart and guide your actions.

May God Be Praised!

"God does not fit in an occupied heart."  [St. John of the Cross]

Bobby McFarrin’s song, “Don’t worry, Be happy!” provides a good summary of the Gospel message not to worry.  Jesus, clearly, tells us “… do not worry ….”  Easy to say; Hard to live!

We all know that there is no value in worry or anxiety.

 

Do not fear what may happen tomorrow, the same understanding Father who cares for you today will take care of you then & every day.… Be at peace, & put aside all anxious thoughts ….”  (St. Francis deSales, Be at Peace)

A Worry Table: Some of us would do well to emulate the woman who realized that her fears were ruining her life, so she made for herself a "worry table."  On tabulating her worries she discovered that 40 percent will never happen; 30 percent were all about decisions that cannot be altered; 12 percent were about others' criticism, most untrue; 10 percent were about my health, which gets worse as I worry; 8 percent were legitimate since life has some real problems to meet.  [Thomas Kepler from James Cox, The Ministers Manuel For 1996]

Jesus taught us not to worry, so give your worries to God one at a time, one minute at a time and one day at a time, before long Jesus will have your worries and your heart, your will, your entire life and you will have a deeper relationship with Jesus, and your worries will no longer dominate your life.

May God Be Praised!