A Poem by my friend N. Fabienne Lemoine.

PATIENCE--A poem about my journey in accepting the Lord and facing my past realizing He was always with me I just needed to accept Him and His word and ways.
by N.FABIENNE LEMOINE


Click the link below to see the video:
http://www.godtube.com/view_video.php?viewkey=153325926c6afd1eaf10

Living Together and God's Word

The Bible tells us to Flee this Sin. We have counseled Catholics of the opposite sex who share an apartment and they told us they were not having sex so this surely wasn't wrong. The Bible declares these words in 1 Thessalonians 5:22-23:

"Abstain from all appearance of evil. And the very God of peace sanctify you wholly; and I pray God your whole spirit and soul and body be preserved blameless unto the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ."
Our lives as Catholics are a living witness to others and we cannot break the laws of God without hindering others from coming to Christ. We must live our lives in purity before a sinful and wicked world. We should not be living according to their standards but according to God's standard in the Bible.

No couple should live together outside the bonds of marriage.
Many say they live together before marriage to see if they are compatible as they don't want to divorce. This may sound like a justifiable reason for committing the sin of fornication, but in God's eyes it is still sin.

Statistics however, show that those who live together before marriage are more likely to get a divorce than those who do not. Living together shows a total lack of trust in God and a failure to commit to Him the choosing of a mate.

Catholics who are living in this situation are out of the will of God and need to repent and seek God as to whether this person is the right one for them. If it is God's will for them to be together they should marry. Otherwise, they need to change their living arrangements.
As Catholics, the goal of any relationship should be to cause the people in our lives to love and know the Lord better. Living together is shameful and selfish as the parties do not care what others think or how they might affect their families and others. They are living to please their own lust and selfish desires.

This type of life style is destructive and especially so for children whose parents are living a bad example before them. No wonder our children are confused about right and wrong when parents degrade the sanctity of marriage by living together out of wedlock. How can living together cause children to love and honor God when their parents break the laws of God before them because they are lustful?

Useing the gifts of the Holy Spirit.

But the manifestation of the Spirit is given to each one for the profit of all . . .
- (1 Corinthians 12:7

Part of our human nature is to think we are an exception. For some reason, even though a law or principle applies to everyone else, there's something inside our hearts that persistently cries out, "But not me!"
Unfortunately, this can even work its way into the arena of our spiritual gifts. We read about all the ways God gifts His people corporately, but inside we feel that this doesn't apply to us personally. We even know plenty of people who are obviously operating in their spiritual gifting and serving as they should. But when it comes to us, we feel like we've been passed over and forgotten. And as a result, we never get off the ground in our service because we live according to this exception perception.
But this exception perception is a false perception, and the Bible busts this myth by specifically telling us that the gifts of the Spirit have been given to "each one." In other words, nobody has been left out. God doesn't play favorites, and He imparts a gift to each and every person who belongs to Him. -No exceptions and no excuses.-
If we aren't serving others by the gifts of the Spirit, the fault doesn't rest with God but with us. He has done His part in gifting us, but we need to do our part in discovering and cultivating the gifts we've been given. Like a seed that's been planted in the soil, the gifts are there within us. But unless we water those seeds, they'll never grow and emerge in our lives.

This is Your hour of Mercy.

BEFORE the Blessed Sacrament, the Lord communicated a word so powerful, so pregnant with Mercy, that I left the church exhausted: Dairy of Saint Sister Faustina .

To those lost souls bound in mortal sin:

THIS IS YOUR HOUR OF MERCY!

To those enslaved by pornography,
Come to Me, the Image of God

To those who are committing adultery,
Come to Me, the Faithful One

To prostitutes, and those who use or sell them,
Come to Me, your Beloved

To those engaging in unions outside the bounds of marriage,
Come to Me, your Bridegroom

To those who worship the god of money,
Come to Me, without paying and without cost

To those in witchcraft or bound in the occult,
Come to Me, the Living God

To those who have made covenant with Satan,
Come to Me, the New Covenant

To those drowning in the abyss of alcohol and drugs,
Come to Me, who am Living Waters

To those enslaved in hatred and unforgiveness,
Come to Me, Fount of Mercy

To those who have taken the life of another,
Come to Me, the Crucified One

To those who are jealous and envious, and murder with words,
Come to Me, who am jealous for you

To those who are enslaved by love of self,
Come to Me, who has laid down His life

To those who once loved me, but have fallen away,

Come to Me, who refuses no soul…. and I will blot out your offences, and forgive your transgressions. I will remove your sins, as far as the east is from the west. In the name of the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit, I command the chains which hold you to be broken. I command every principality and power to release you. I open my Sacred Heart to you as a hiding place and refuge. I will refuse no soul who returns to Me trusting in My infinite Mercy and Love.
THIS IS YOUR HOUR OF MERCY.

Run home to Me, my beloved, run home to Me, and I will embrace you as a Father, clothe you as My child, and protect you like a Brother.
To the one in mortal sin,
*Come to Me! Come, before the last few grains of Mercy fall through the hourglass of time…
THIS IS YOUR HOUR OF MERCY!


Prayer:- STEPS TO HEALING for a soul REPENTING OF MORTAL SIN:
Pray Psalm 51 right now:
"Have mercy on me, God, in your goodness; in your abundant compassion blot out my offense. Wash away all my guilt; from my sin cleanse me. For I know my offense; my sin is always before me. Against you alone have I sinned; I have done such evil in your sight That you are just in your sentence, blameless when you condemn. True, I was born guilty, a sinner, even as my mother conceived me. Still, you insist on sincerity of heart; in my inmost being teach me wisdom. Cleanse me with hyssop, that I may be pure; wash me, make me whiter than snow. Let me hear sounds of joy and gladness; let the bones you have crushed rejoice.Turn away your face from my sins; blot out all my guilt. Create in me a clean heart, O God and put a new and right spirit within me. Cast me not away from your presence, and take not your Holy Spirit from me. Restore to me the joy of your salvation; sustain in me a willing spirit.I will teach the wicked your ways, that sinners may return to you. Rescue me from death, God, my saving God, that my tongue may praise your healing power.Lord, open my lips; my mouth will proclaim your praise. For you do not desire sacrifice; a burnt offering you would not accept. The sacrifice acceptable to God is a broken spirit; a broken and contrite heart, O God, you will not spurn."
AMEN.

Our Lady's Medjugorje Message of January 25, 2009

Dear children! Also today I call you to prayer. May prayer be for you like the seed that you will put in my heart, which I will give over to my Son Jesus for you, for the salvation of your souls. I desire, little children, for each of you to fall in love with Eternal Life which is your future, and for all worldly things to be a help for you to draw you closer to God the Creator.

*I am with you for this long because you are on the wrong path.*

Only with my help, little children, you will open your eyes. There are many of those who, by living my messages, comprehend that they are on the way of holiness towards eternity. Thank you for having responded to my call. January 25, 2009

Jesus is our Anchor.

ANCHOR-MAN"- Like a sure and firm anchor, that hope extends beyond the veil through which Jesus, our Forerunner, has entered on our behalf." —Hebrews 6:19-20 Picture a sailing ship several miles offshore being battered by stormy, raging seas and buffeted by high winds. The captain, prevented by the storm from getting into the safe harbor, lowers the anchor to the sea floor to prevent the wind and waves from sweeping the ship away. On the ship, conditions are stormy and dangerous. At the bottom of the sea, however, conditions are quiet. The anchor holds "sure and firm" (Heb 6:19). Though the ship is caught in a storm, it is "solidly set on" the anchor which keeps the ship from being lost.

The author of Hebrews likens our hope in Jesus to the ship's "sure and firm anchor.When we have hope in Jesus, even though circumstances in our life are stormy, our hope resembles an anchor that extends from the turmoil of life on earth into the perfect calm of heaven. Our interior life is one of peace, not chaos. We know we won't be swept away by the turmoil of the world. Connected to the anchor of hope, we live lives of "sure and firm" faith, hope, and love."Seize the hope which is placed before you Cling to Jesus and never let go. Be "fully assured of that for which you hope.
"This hope will not leave us disappointed." Jesus, encourage those who are losing hope. Jesus Send Your Holy Spirit on me so I can lead others to hope in You. - " Come Holy Spirit"

Call on the Holy Spirit.

Calling on the Holy Spirit
I began preparing for this article by praying to the Holy Spirit for inspiration. This is not unusual. The Holy Spirit has heard a lot from me over the years in my search for wisdom and understanding, from my days in school when I used to pray for help on tests, to the present day when I search for a cure for writer’s block.

As I was praying tonight, I began to reflect on how little we actually think about the Holy Spirit. We reference the Holy Spirit as we make the “Sign of the Cross” or pray the “Creed” or “Glory Be.” We talk about the Spirit at Pentecost and at Confirmations and imagine the Spirit as a dove hovering over Jesus’ head at his Baptism in the Jordan. Some may recall being told that our bodies are “Temples of the Holy Spirit.” But how much do we actually know about this mysterious Spirit? Who is this third person of the Holy Trinity?

The Catechism of the Catholic Church teaches that “it belongs to the Holy Spirit to rule, sanctify, and animate creation . . .Power over life pertains to the Spirit, for being God he preserves creation in the Father through the Son.” The Holy Spirit leads us to Christ who in turn leads us to the Father. The Holy Spirit “comes to meet us and kindles faith in us.” The Spirit has no voice unto himself. Rather, he enables us to hear God’s word and welcome Christ in faith.

St. Gregory of Nyssa tells us that “the term ‘Spirit’ translates the Hebrew word ‘ruah,’ which in its primary sense, means breath, air, wind. Jesus indeed uses the sensory image of the wind to suggest to Nicodemus the transcendent newness of him who is personally God’s breath, the divine Spirit.” The Holy Spirit provides us with our very breath. Jesus also referred to the Spirit as “Paraclete” which translates “he who is called to one’s side.” The Spirit walks with us, providing support and counsel as we travel through life.

The Spirit also provides the life for the Body of Christ, the Church here on earth. The Holy Spirit bestows upon us our gifts to be used for the benefit of the whole Church. “The seven gifts of the Holy Spirit are wisdom, understanding, counsel, fortitude, knowledge, piety and fear of the Lord. . . .The fruits of the Spirit are perfections that the Holy Spirit forms in us as the first fruits of eternal glory. The tradition of the Church lists twelve of them: ‘charity, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, generosity, gentleness, faithfulness, modesty, self-control [and] chastity.’The symbols of the Spirit are many, from the waters of baptism that cleanse us and bring us new life to the tongues of fire that hovered above the Apostles at Pentecost signifying the“transforming energy of the Holy Spirit’s actions” to a cloud that covers and overshadows as in the Transfiguration and the conception of Jesus. Each of these symbols has value and helps to illustrate the many ways the Spirit works in our world.

The Holy Spirit, like the wind which he is often compared to, is known by what he does. We cannot see the Spirit, but we can see the effects of living life in the Spirit. We can call on the Spirit to aid us as he has helped countless Christians before us. The Holy Spirit is much too important to be left as an afterthought in our image of God.

The following prayer, attributed to St. Catherine of Siena, is a good place to start for inviting the Spirit to play a more active role in our lives: - Prayer to the Holy Spirit - Holy Spirit, come into my heart; draw it to Thee by Thy power, O my God, and grant me charity with filial fear. Preserve me, O ineffable Love, from every evil thought; warm me, inflame me with Thy dear love, and every pain will seem light to me. My Father, my sweet Lord, help me in all my actions. Jesus, love, Jesus, love. Amen.

You are looking at a Miracle

What we are looking at here is a Miracle. No one died.

God was with them.

January 18, 2009-Sanctity of Human Life Day

A Proclamation by the President of the United States of America: National Sanctity of Human Life Day, 2009

Contact: White House, Office of the Press Secretary, 202-456-2580
WASHINGTON, Jan. 15 /Christian Newswire/ -- The following text is A Proclamation by the President of the United States of America: National Sanctity of Human Life Day, 2009:
All human life is a gift from our Creator that is sacred, unique, and worthy of protection. On National Sanctity of Human Life Day, our country recognizes that each person, including every person waiting to be born, has a special place and purpose in this world. We also underscore our dedication to heeding this message of conscience by speaking up for the weak and voiceless among us.
The most basic duty of government is to protect the life of the innocent. My Administration has been committed to building a culture of life by vigorously promoting adoption and parental notification laws, opposing Federal funding for abortions overseas, encouraging teen abstinence, and funding crisis pregnancy programs. In 2002, I was honored to sign into law the Born-Alive Infants Protection Act, which extends legal protection to children who survive an abortion attempt. I signed legislation in 2003 to ban the cruel practice of partial‑birth abortion, and that law represents our commitment to building a culture of life in America. Also, I was proud to sign the Unborn Victims of Violence Act of 2004, which allows authorities to charge a person who causes death or injury to a child in the womb with a separate offense in addition to any charges relating to the mother.

America is a caring Nation, and our values should guide us as we harness the gifts of science. In our zeal for new treatments and cures, we must never abandon our fundamental morals. We can achieve the great breakthroughs we all seek with reverence for the gift of life.
The sanctity of life is written in the hearts of all men and women. On this day and throughout the year, we aspire to build a society in which every child is welcome in life and protected in law. We also encourage more of our fellow Americans to join our just and noble cause. History tells us that with a cause rooted in our deepest principles and appealing to the best instincts of our citizens, we will prevail.

NOW, THEREFORE, I, GEORGE W. BUSH, President of the United States of America, by virtue of the authority vested in me by the Constitution and laws of the United States, do hereby proclaim January 18, 2009, as National Sanctity of Human Life Day. I call upon all Americans to recognize this day with appropriate ceremonies and to underscore our commitment to respecting and protecting the life and dignity of every human being.
IN WITNESS WHEREOF, I have hereunto set my hand this fifteenth day of January, in the year of our Lord two thousand nine, and of the Independence of the United States of America the two hundred and thirty-third.
GEORGE W. BUSH

On the Eucharist

SPOTLIGHT ON THE EUCHARIST"At present we do not see all things thus subject, but we do see Jesus." —Hebrews 2:8-9

I walked to Mass today amid dark clouds and a blustery wind. Because of the cloud cover, the Church was relatively dark for a noon Mass. As the priest lifted the Holy Eucharist at the moment of consecration, a shaft of bright sunlight shone through the stained glass directly onto the altar, flooding the Eucharist in brilliant light. The beam of light continued during the elevation of the Precious Blood. Following the consecration, the clouds again covered the sky. The sun broke through once more, at the instant the host and cup were lifted at the doxology to close the Eucharistic prayer. After the priest lowered the host and cup, the clouds covered the sun the rest of the day.

We often "walk in the dark valley.We know "all things" are subject to Jesus, but often we can't see this. (Instead, what we see is that at least half of the registered Catholics are so uninspired by His eucharistic presence that they can't manage to spend an hour with Him at Sunday Mass. If we aren't diligent, we might soon join this "other half.

"The Eucharist is a "mystery of light" (Ecclesia de Eucharistia, Pope John Paul II. "We do see Jesus" in the Eucharist, yet we must fix our eyes ever more earnestly on Him. The more we look at Jesus present in the Eucharist, the more we are able to see His brightness.
The less attention we pay to Jesus in the Eucharist, the more we focus on the darkness and forget Him. Go to Mass frequently, daily if possible, receive Jesus in the Eucharist. Devote your life to Jesus in the Eucharist..Jesus, Bread of Life fill me with "eucharistic amazement" Pope John Paul II

Lord, we want to see

Lord, Have Mercy
"As Jesus and his disciples were leaving Jericho, a large crowd followed him. Two blind men were sitting by the roadside, and when they heard that Jesus was going by, they shouted, 'Lord, Son of David, have mercy on us!'"1Down the hot, dusty Jericho Road, leaving with his disciples and a host of followers thronging around him, Jesus was trying to move on from Jericho.

Farther down the road two blind men (probably beggars) were sitting by the wayside. Wondering what all the commotion was about, they inquired about what was happening."I think it's the man they call Jesus—that unorthodox religious fellow," they heard someone say. "They say he goes against many of our religious traditions and the leaders hate him because of it. But he also heals people of all sorts of ills. It will be great to hear him. He's coming this way."The blind beggars knew all about Jesus but they'd never "seen" him this close before.

"Now's our chance," they said to each other. Somehow they knew that this might be their only chance to ever come anywhere near this man they call Jesus. He would be passing right by them. As the crowd neared them and they sensed that Jesus was somewhere near, they yelled at the top of their voice, "Lord, Son of David, have mercy on us!"The crowd rebuked them and tried to shut them up, but with dignity thrown to the wind, they shouted all the louder, "Lord, Son of David, have mercy on us!"And Jesus stood still! Amazing words. Amazing action. The Son of God stood still.

***Imagine! - The winds and the waves couldn't stop Jesus. The crowds couldn't block him. The Roman soldiers had no power over him without his permission. King Herod failed to have him killed when he was just a baby. And the religious leaders couldn't silence him. But the cry of two blind, lonely beggars caused the Son of God to stop dead in his tracks. And listen!And Jesus called to them, saying, "What do you want me to do for you?""Lord," they answered, "we want our sight."And Jesus, being moved with compassion, touched their eyes. Immediately they received their sight and followed him."Lord, have mercy on me," is one cry that God always hears and for which Jesus always stands still and listens, and says to you and me through his Word, ---"What Do You Want ME To Do For You ?"---

Gracious Gifts of the Holy Spirit.-- The Lord wants us to use the gifts he has given us.

*Having then gifts differing according to the grace that is given to us, let us use them . . .
- (Romans 12:6

Gifts of the Holy Spirit
There's a powerful connection between the gifts of the Holy Spirit and the grace of God. This connection is even witnessed when we look at the very language that the New Testament was written in.
In the original Greek, the actual word for "gifts" is the word "charisma." What's interesting about this is that the word "charisma" comes from the word "charis," which is the Greek word that we translate into English as "grace." So in the most literal sense possible, the gifts are an extension of God's grace.
Why is it so important for us to see this connection between the gifts and grace? It's important for a couple of reasons.
First, grace is undeserved and unearned. And with this understanding, we realize that the gifts of the Holy Spirit are also undeserved and unearned. We can't point to our spiritual gifts and boast or brag about them because we haven't earned them. In fact, as with grace, we don't even deserve them and we should be humbled and awed that God has entrusted something as precious and valuable as His gifts to us.
We also understand that grace has an active influence upon a person's life. Grace is not lifeless; it works. When it comes to spiritual gifts, they too have an active influence because they're meeting true needs in people's lives that are both spiritual and practical. They work in ways that make a measurable difference, just like grace.
In using our gifts to serve others, we are demonstrating and declaring the grace of God. As our spirit-filled service abounds, God's grace abounds, which is something that this world needs more and more of. - " Come Holy Spirit, come by means of the powerful intercession of the Immaculate heart of Mary, your well beloved spouse."

Salvation Promised

Salvation is promised to those who Presevere to the End......

Then shall they deliver you up to be afflicted and shall put you to death: and you shall be hated by all nations for My name's sake. And then shall many be scandalized and shall betray one another and shall hate one another. And many false prophets shall rise and shall seduce many. And because iniquity hath abounded, the charity of many shall grow cold. But he that shall persevere to the end, he shall be saved." (Matt. 24:9-13)

THE GRACE OF PERSEVERANCE: "He that shall persevere to the end, he shall be saved. The death of individuals, is, as far as the time of it is concerned, quite as much a secret as is the end of the world. Blessed is he whom death does not come upon unawares, in a State of Sin.

As a man dies, so will he appear before the judgment-seat of God at thS Last Day. We ought to pray very earnestly for the grace of Final Perseverance; for this most important of all graces can only be obtained by prayer..... http://deaconjohn1987.blogspot.com/

Only Jesus, there is no salvation in anyone else.

ONLY JESUS" God gave us eternal life, and this life is in His Son." —1 John 5:11

Some people maintain we have many ways to reach God, although Jesus may be the best Way in their viewpoint. However, Jesus did not call Himself the best Way but the Way, the only Way to the Father (Jn 14:6).

"The testimony is this: God gave us eternal life, and this life is in His Son. Whoever possesses the Son possesses life; whoever does not possess the Son of God does not possess life" (1 Jn 5:11-12). God's life is in Jesus His Son, and only in His Son. "Through Him all things came into being, and apart from Him nothing came to be" (Jn 1:3).

Jesus Christ is "our only Master and Lord. There is no salvation in anyone else, for there is no other name in the whole world given to men by which we are to be saved" (Acts 4:12). Any saving work in the world, even in the lives of those who haven't heard the gospel, is done by Jesus.

**Therefore, We Exist To Evangelize, To Tell The World About Jesus. We want "to bring all things in the heavens and on earth into one under Christ's headship because Jesus is the only Way, Truth, Life, Savior, Lord, and God. - "We must be His witnesses even to the ends of the earth."

Waiting for the Spirit.

WAITING FOR THE CHRISTMAS SPIRIT" The Spirit of the Lord is upon Me; therefore He has anointed Me." —Luke 4:18 - Sometimes our hearts just break.

We wish we could wipe out starvation, set all the captives free, reconcile every broken marriage, and evangelize the world within twenty-four hours. However, before we try to do anything and everything, we must wait for the fulfillment of the Father's promise, the release of the Holy Spirit (Acts 1:4-5).

The Christmas season will end Sunday with the celebration of the baptism of Jesus. When the Spirit descended on Jesus at His baptism, He began His public ministry. We too can receive the stirring up of the Spirit at the close of this Christmas season. Then we can begin ministering "glad tidings to the poor, to proclaim liberty to captives, recovery of sight to the blind and release to prisoners" (Lk 4:18).

Jesus didn't move into ministry nor was the Church born until the Spirit was poured out. We desperately need to end Christmas with the release of the Spirit. In the next three days, we should grow thirstier for the Spirit and go to Confession. Then we should wait and pray in the upper room for Power from on high, the Holy Spirit.

"Come, Holy Spirit, fill the hearts of Your faithful, and kindle in them the fire of Your love. "Everyone begotten of God conquers the world, and the power that has conquered the world is this faith of ours."

COMMENT: Fr. John Randall's new book titled, "No Spirit, No Church" should be available in March 2009.

The Year of Saint Paul

And the Lord spoke to Paul in a vision. Do not be Afraid, keep on speaking, and do not be silent. For I am with you. Acts 18:9..."The Lord calls us all to Evangelize." These words were not just for Paul, but also for us.

Saint Paul
By June Klins
Last June Pope Benedict XVI proclaimed this the year of St. Paul. The following month when Redemptorist priest Fr. John Murray spoke at our annual St. Ann Novena, he used as his theme the life and writings of St. Paul. I would like to share some of the highlights that compare to Our Lady’s messages.
St. Paul was born about the year 8 A.D. in Tarsus. He lived there till he was 13 and then he went to Jerusalem to study, and when he was done with his studies he was designated to be a Pharisee. Paul was about 26 years old when he had his conversion experience. After his conversion he spent 3 years doing penance for his past sins. (Does not Our Lady ask us to penance?)
St. Paul is best known for his letters which take up more than half of the New Testament, and are the oldest writings in the New Testament. Although St. Paul was small in stature, he had a strong personality and was very passionate. His mission was not to baptize, but to preach. He was the greatest evangelist of all times. Although St. Paul never witnessed the life of Jesus, he called himself an “apostle” and used the word “apostle” 56 times in his letters. He has been dubbed “the apostle to the Gentiles.” At that time Gentiles were not allowed in the temple, but were permitted in the synagogue, so that is where he preached. Fr. John said that we are called to witness what God has done in our lives (likewise, Our Lady has asked us many times to witness), but like Paul we should go to “fertile ground” and not to just anyone.
Paul saw himself as a Christian Jew who had met Jesus. He converted from his Pharisee attitude, in which it was thought holiness could be earned. In his conversion experience Paul realized that he had done nothing to merit it, and the focus of his theology after that became grace, a gift which cannot be earned or merited. Paul saw everything as God’s gift and would praise and thank God. The fact that grace builds on nature is an axiom of theology. Grace fulfills us and completes us, and never suppresses us. Self-fulfillment is about cooperating with God’s grace. Grace is recognizing God acting in your life 24 hours a day. Sometimes God comes to us through other people, especially those in need and those who love us. Grace always comes as a response to prayer. (Is that why Our Lady tells us to pray, pray, pray?) Grace can be targeted too, for example, you can say a little prayer when being tempted to gossip, and then cooperate with that grace.
Fr. John said that St. Paul can teach us much through his conversion story. So significant is it, that his conversion story is told four times in the Scriptures. The Church even sets aside a day every year to remember St. Paul’s conversion, January 25, which also just happens to be “Medjugorje message day.” Father said that a conversion experience is an experience of loving forgiveness, often experienced in a special way in Confession. Father said that conversion is a lifelong process. (Have we not heard the visionaries tell us that?)
Father said that in any conversion, like in Paul’s, God takes the first step. It is up to the person to recognize the grace and respond and cooperate with that grace. Herod chose to refuse the grace, and we do the same thing when we respond a little bit or miss it altogether.
Paul’s conversion was a “metanoia,” a Greek word which means to change your life, to change your way of thinking. (This is what Our Lady asks us to do too – a conversion of heart.) This is opposed to the Greek word “paranoia,” which means to be obsessed with fear. Paul put aside his fear, in following Jesus, who says 33 times in the Gospels “fear not.”
Fear is the opposite of trust. Conversion is not so much about changing your behavior, but learning to trust God.
St. Paul wrote twelve letters with his name attached to them, and most of them dealt with problems of the communities to whom he was writing. The only letter that does not deal with problems is his letter to the Philippians. This was a letter of gratitude. Paul is the most consistent model of gratitude in the Bible. We can learn much from him. We should count our blessings, starting with our families, and thank God for everything. We should even thank God for the difficult people in our lives. One of the keys to holiness is to slow down and be grateful for our blessings.
During this year of St. Paul, it would be a good time to read his letters, in fulfillment of Our Lady’s request to spend time daily in reading the Scriptures. St. Paul, please intercede for us in our conversion of heart.

A Living Hope

A LIVING HOPE -On those who inhabit a land overshadowed by death, light has arisen." —Matthew 4:16

The Christmas season is a time when a greater number of people commit suicide. Many others are more discouraged than normal because of family breakdowns that intensify at Christmas. At the very time the Hope of the World has come to us at Christmas, greater numbers of people are "without hope...in the world because they cannot see the light.

Some difficult situations have persisted for so long that it's hard to believe the situation will ever change for the better. "Hope deferred makes the heart sick. We wait so long that we're tempted to be sick at heart, discouraged beyond hope. "But hope is not hope if its object is seen; how is it possible for one to hope for what he sees.

Jesus comes this Christmas to give us a living, risen hope to replace any "dead" hope, which is actually hopelessness. "Hope is the confident expectation of divine blessing and the beatific vision of God; it is also the fear of offending God's love and incurring punishment. A living hope based on Jesus gives us strength to resist sin and expect blessing, even when we are repeatedly faced with difficulties. In fact, in Jesus these constant difficulties and afflictions give us greater virtue and purity, and lead to greater hope that overcomes disappointment.

So may God, the Source of hope, fill you with all joy and peace in believing so that through the power of the Holy Spirit you may have hope in abundance.

Father, in You I hope; in You I live.-- "Those who keep His commandments remain in Him and He in them."

Epiphany

Sunday, January 4, 2009

The Epiphany..........January 4

"May Jesus,
who is all meekness,
receive you,
like the wise men,
in His divine heart."

Posted by Micki

http://thewindowshowsitall.blogspot.com/

Our Lady's Medjugorje message to Mirjana.

Message given to Mirjana, January 2
While great heavenly grace is being lavished upon you, your hearts remain hard and without response. My children, why do you not give me your hearts completely? I only desire to put in them peace and salvation – my Son. With my Son your soul will be directed to noble goals and you will never get lost. Even in greatest darkness you will find the way. My children decide for a new life with the name of my Son on your lips. Thank you. January 2, 2008•

In the early days of the apparitions; the visionaries were always being requested by pilgrims and priests to ask Our Lady this or that... and often Our Lady would respond in a positive manner. But sometimes she would choose not to answer questions asked out of curiosity.Now it is Our Lady asking us the question, not out curiosity but with concern for our soul: My children, why do you not give me your hearts completely? This is a very serious and direct question by Our Blessed Mother. It’s a searching question that penetrates deep into the soul. With this question can come pain because we are being truly confronted by our Mother. These are no sweet and sugary words.How we choose to absorb this question is an individual decision. But we should recognise that the question is a call to surrender and conversion.Our Lady is waiting to hear our heart say: “I am the handmaid of the Lord, let what you have said be done unto me.” She seeks our complete surrender to God. And until we do completely surrender, Our Lady’s question: Why do you not give me your hearts completely? will not go away.
Posted by Pilgrim