God Calling

I have been reintroduced to God Calling edited by A. J. Russell. I used this book some thirty years ago when we lived in Oklahoma. A friend offered it to me then and now Norma has offered it to me again. I think God did hear my plea. This book as again offered me solace and encouragement in prayer. For several months it seems I have only been treading water. Today with both feet wet I have begun to wade with the Lord in comfortable waters, with less fear of drowning.

Today's reflection:

Learn of no one but Me. Teachers are to point the way to Me. After that you must accept Me, the Great Teacher.

The words of Eternal Life are all the words controlling your being, even controlling your temporal life. Take these too from Me. Have no fear. Abide in Me and accept My ruling.

Be full of gratitude. Wing up your prayers on Praise to Heaven. Take all that happens as My planning. all is well. I have all prepared in My love. Let your heart sing.

~~~^j^~~~
And so I say,
Thanks be to God!!!

One Thousand Gifts

Gifts
Precious Treasures
Given with love, affection
Welcomed with open arms and love
Presents

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On Mondays I write down the things for which I am grateful. The more I do this the more I find I am saying Thank You during each day. This is a blessing!!! And so I begin!

***

26. Rainy days

27. Marching Band Contests

28. Gifted young people

29. Holding hands

30. Holy Sacrifice of the Mass

31. Frank discussions

32. Autumn leaves

33. Chili in the Crockpot

34. Invitation to become Providence Associate

35. Thank You cards

~~~^j^~~~
Thanks be to God!

One Thousand Gifts

italic;">***+***

Gifts
Precious Treasures
Given with love, affection
Welcomed with open arms and love
Presents

***

I'm a day late but grateful for the wonderful gifts non-the-less. It is important to focus on the gifts we receive and be grateful for them. Some may not seem to be gifts, but the gift of life itself is reason enough to be grateful.

21. Dogs napping.

22. Autumn colors.

23. Cool breezes.

24. Clear blue water.

25. Red cardinal.

~~~^j^~~
Thanks be to God!

Rebirth

[Since] Christ has been raised from death,
how can some of you say
that the dead will not be raised to life?
1Corinthians 15:12

In The Year of my Rebirth, Jesse Stuart, the Kentucky writer says it was a family practice to plant Irish potatoes on Good Friday. sometimes it snowed after that date and the potatoes would lie lifeless in the cold ground, as Jesus did. But a yearly miracle always too place. One day, suddenly, "the crumpled dark green leaves would peak through the dark crust of earth." Reflecting on this unfailing miracle, Stuart writes: "How can I possible doubt the resurrection of Almighty God's Son when every springtime I have seen the process of resurrection...I have faith--that when man, the seed of God, is placed in the ground....he will be resurrected to new life." (pg. 334)

Mision 2000
Praying Scripture
in a Contemporary Way
B cycle
Mark Link, S.J.

**********

The quiestion asked in this refection is this: "How might I deepen my own faith that I will be resurrected to neew life?"

After reading this I wondering if there is not a season of rebirth in all of us. If life is cyclical then the seasons of the year are a perfect lesson in the Resurrection and rebirth. I have looked back on my life over the years and can see that I have had periods where growth and change took place. I see this year as I began my Journey to Providence has been one of those times. It is a matter of answering the call. It means listening and saying "yes." With each "yes" we are brought again to a New Spring. It is a time for blossoming again the the life of the Father, Son, and Spirit! With each step we take in this Journey we come closer to the ultimate goal. That New Resurrection that we have yet to truly experience. This is a wonderful journey and with a great deal of gratitude I can really say and mean, "Thank You!"

~~~^j^~~~
Indeed, thanks be to God!!!

Empty Space for God

What do you do when someone comes right out and says to you, "You're selfish." That's just what this reflection said to me.

Empty Space for God
Sister Genevieve Glen, O.S.B.

"For in [Christ] dwells the whole fullness of the deity bodily,
and you share in this fullness in him, who is the head of every
principality and power." (Col 2:9-10)

To be filled, something must first be empty, as anyone knows who has started to fill a water glass at table, gotten distracted by conversation, and gone on "filling" the glass when there was no empty space left for the water. Saint Paul writes elsewhere about Christ's self-emptying. What he calls to our attention here is the need for our own. We cannot share in the fullness of the deity that fills us as Christ's Body unless we make room by emptying ourselves of anything that offers no space for God. Saint Paul's words call to mind the holy of holies, the room at the heart of the Jerusalem temple kept all but empty to receive God. We sometimes build other rooms in our inmost self and furnish them for other gods. The prophet Ezekiel described an "idol room" in the much desecrated Jerusalem of his day. Do we have an idol room, where we keep all the false gods whom we honor with our obedience and our sacrifices? Their name is legion: public opinion, unnecessary financial gain, self-satisfaction, pleasure, comforts of all sorts. They are all demanding of our time, our attention, our energy. We recognize them best when they decree that we have no time to pray, no time for Mass, no time to do the kindness, no time because we must be at the beck and call of a TV program, an exercise class, a golf game, overtime work to pay for things we don't need...you know then. There is room for only one God in the inner temple of the Christian self - the one "who is the head of every principality and power. " With his help, let us drive out that other crowd, with all its demands, so that our inner emptiness may be filled not with their clutter but with the fullness of God in which we share through Christ.

O God, empty my heart of everything that crowds you out of my awareness and out of my desires. fill my emptiness with the fullness or your presence in and through Jesus Christ, so that he may rule my mind and heart with your love.

from Praying With Saint Paul
Edited by Father Peter John Cameron, O.P.

*****

This is where I am right now. I have too much outside distraction. There has been too much FUN. I know that God does not begrudge me the wonderful things that I have been able to see and do this summer. It has been grand and I have thanked him for this in all sincerity. But right now I need to be grounded in him! Because of our weekly travels myI have neglected the time set aside for prayer and thanksgiving for laundry, cleaning, and shopping for the next adventure. I should have spent more time in prayer. 'Tis nearly the beginning of a new season. Before that season arrives I hope to be back in the "room" where my Lord and I visit. The "room" where we pray. And to do that I need to rid the "room" of clutter that has filled it these last few months. I must invite the Lord to his proper home again and remember to give more than I take! I need to put away selfish and bring out selfless again. And it can be done!!!

~~~^j^~~~
Thanks be to God!