SEASONS AND
VARIETY
Eucharistic Congress 2008
The Eucharist Gift of God for the Life of the World.
SEASONS AND
VARIETY
Eucharistic Congress 2008
The Eucharist Gift of God for
the Life of the World.
|
Christmas Love all Year
Chorus:
Christmas is the time for Love, Christmas is the time for love.
Let love overflow every day of the year.
Then we will have Christmas all through the year
Then we will have Christmas all through the year
The Angel Gabriel
came to Mary one day.
To ask Her to be the Mother of God.,
So Jesus lead us his way - Mary gave Her" Fiat."
Our Saviour Jesus Christ was born,
Giving way to the very first Christmas morn..
- Chorus:
Christmas is the time of year, we share gifts of Love
with all who are dear.
The Infant Jesus came to us humble and poor.
By example that we might see, The hungry less fortunate
and the lonely.
That we might share a greeting, to brighten their way.
Let love overflow every day of the year.
Then we will Have Christmas all through the year. - Chorus:
Songs by Amateur: R. T .M .
The definition of the
"amateur" has to do with motivation - not quality and
is derived from amo, amas, amat - the latin verb "to love" e.g. one who
does something for the love of it.
♥
The Heart
"Tomorrow morning," the surgeon began, "I'll open up your heart..."
"You'll find Jesus there," the boy interrupted.
The surgeon looked up, annoyed "I'll cut your heart open," he continued, to
see how much damage has been done.." "But when you open up my heart, you'll find
Jesus in there," said the boy.
The surgeon looked to the parents, who Sat quietly. "When I see how much damage has been done, I'll sew your heart and chest back
up, and I'll plan what to do next." "But you'll find Jesus in my heart. The Bible says He lives there. The
hymns all say He lives there. You'll find Him in my heart."
The surgeon had had enough. "I'll tell you what I'll find in your heart. I'll
find damaged muscle, low blood supply, and weakened vessels. And I'll find out
if I can make you well."
"You'll find Jesus there too. He lives there."
The surgeon left. The surgeon sat in his office, recording his notes from the
surgery, "...damaged aorta, damaged pulmonary vein, widespread muscle
degeneration. No hope for transplant, no hope for cure. Therapy: painkillers and
bed rest. Prognosis:, " here he paused, "death within one year." He stopped the
recorder, but there was more to be said. "Why?" he asked aloud.
"Why did You do this? You've put him here; You've put him in this pain; and
You've cursed him to an early death. Why?"
The Lord answered and said, "The boy, My lamb, was not meant for your flock for
long, for he is a part of My flock, and will forever be. Here, in My flock, he
will feel no pain, and will be comforted as you cannot imagine. His parents will
one day join him here, and they will know peace, and My flock will continue to
grow."
The surgeon's tears were hot, but his anger was hotter. "You created that boy,
and You created that heart. He'll be dead in months. Why?"
The Lord answered, "The boy, My lamb, shall return to My flock, for He has done
his duty: I did not put My lamb with your flock to lose him, but to retrieve
another lost lamb."
The surgeon wept.. The surgeon sat beside the boy's bed; the boy's parents sat
across from him. The boy awoke and whispered, "Did you cut open my heart?"
"Yes," said the surgeon. "What did you
find?" asked the boy.
"I found Jesus there," said the surgeon.
Author Unknown -
Celebrate Jesus in 2007
What
would you do?
I would rather live my life as if there is a
God, and die to find out there isn't,
Than live my life as if there isn't, and die to find out there is.
St. Paul:
My strength is manifested in my
weakness.
Seven Wonders Of
The World
A group of students were asked to list what
they thought were the present “ Seven Wonder Of The World” Though
there were some disagreements, the following received the most votes:
Egypt’s Great Pyramids. Taj Mahai Grand Canyon
Panama Canal Empire State Building
St. Peter’s Bascillica China’s great Wall
While gathering the votes, the teacher noted that one student had not finished her paper yet. So she asked the girl if she was having trouble with her list. The girl replied, “Yes, a little. I couldn’t quit make up my mind because there were so many.”
The teacher said, “ Well tell us what you have, and
maybe we can help.”
The girl hesitated, then read. “ I think the ‘Seven Wonders of the World ‘ are:
To see. To hear. To touch.
To taste. To feel. To laugh. To love
The room was so quiet you could have heard a pin drop. The things we overlook as simple and ordinary and that we take for granted are truly wondrous.
A gentle reminder ....
that the most precious things in life cannot be built by hand or bought by man.
♥
GOD IS
LOVE
♥
God is love, and whoever remains
in love remains in God and God in him.
In this is love
brought to perfection among us, that we have
confidence on the
day of judgment because as he is so are we in this
world.
(1-Letter -John: 4,
Testing The Spirits. God's Love And Christian Life. God Is Love.16-21)
There is no fear in love,
but perfect love drives out fear because fear
has
to do with punishment, and so one who fears is not yet
perfect in
love.
We
love because he first loved us.
(1-John:18)
If anyone says," I love
God" but
hates his
brother, he is a liar; for whoever
does not love a brother whom he
has seen cannot love God whom he has not
seen. This is a commandment we have
from him: who ever loves God must also
love his brother.
(1-John:20-21) TESTING THE SPIRITS *
Beloved, do not trust every
spirit but test the spirits to see weather they
belong to God, because many false
profits have gone out into the world. This is
how we know the spirit of truth and
the spirit of deceit.(1-John:4,1)
I
love my heart, because Jesus
lives there.
I chose to see Jesus in every one I know and meet.
By learning the importance of loving, with a spiritual love.
Love overflows, leaving no room for anger or resentment.
I have found a love for truth,
because God is truth.
Acknowledging that without truth, there is no peace.
And without peace there is no love.
That the peace in my heart, can only come from God.
My heart bursts, with an overflow of God's peace and
love.
The feeling of
heaven in my heart urges me to pass it on.
God 's love touches us,
in that spreading His message
of love.
Only God knows the
depth of love within our hearts. God is Love.
R.T.M.
"Yes, if we love one
another God remains in us, and His love is brought
to
perfection in us.
John 4:12 God, "He Who Is" is truth and love. C.C.C.# 214-218
Truth and Freedom Under Siege
MINNEAPOLIS, Minnesota, JAN. 22, 2004 (excerpts)
(Zenit.org)-
Truth and freedom are
threatened in
"our very hostile culture today," says Archbishop Sean
O'Malley of Boston.
He told his audience
that without truth, there can
be no freedom, and without freedom, there can be no love.
"That is why the Church is very concerned about freedom," Archbishop
O'Malley said. "Our
mission in the Church is to lead people to the
truth so that they can be free, so that together we can salvage a
civilization of love. Truth and freedom are threatened
in our very hostile
culture today".
In the discussion of the
book, Archbishop O'Malley pointed to possible sources of relativism in
society.
"Perhaps the idolatry of freedom has led to the belief that we can
choose our own
truth because the truth as absolute is rejected as too confining,
too demanding of the autonomous self,"
he said. "But
the
traditional Catholic approach is faith seeking understanding."
GOD IS LOVE
( 1Jn 4:7-21)
My peace I give to you
(Jn 14: 23-31)
“I pray that they may all
be one. Father, may
they be in us, just as You are in me and I am in You.”
(John
17:21)
Pope John Paul II
- Ut Unum Sint, n. 77, Pope John Paul II writes: "Full communion of
course will have to come about through the acceptance of the whole truth into
which the Holy Spirit guides Christ’s disciples. Hence all forms of reductionism
or facile ‘agreement’ must be absolutely avoided" (Ut Unum Sint, n.36); and
further: "The unity willed by God can be attained only by the adherence of all
to the content of revealed faith in its entirety. In matters of faith,
compromise is in contradiction with God who is Truth. In the Body of Christ,
‘the way, and the truth, and the life’ (John 14:6), who could consider
legitimate a reconciliation brought about at the expense of the truth?" (Ut Unum
Sint, n. 18); and again: "To uphold a vision of unity which takes account of all
the demands of revealed truth does not mean to put a brake on the ecumenical
movement. On the contrary, it means preventing it from settling for apparent
solutions which would lead to no firm and solid results. The obligation to
respect the truth is absolute. Is this not the law of the Gospel?" (cf. Ut Unum
Sint, n. 79; cf. Address to the Cardinals and Roman Curia (June 28, 1985),6:AAS
77 (1985), 1153). Real Ecumenism Doesn't Compromise the Truth, Says Pope John Paul II
The goal of authentic Catholic
ecumenism, as Pope John Paul II reminds us in Ut Unum Sint, n. 77, is to restore
full visible unity among all Christians in the fullness of the Catholic and
Apostolic Faith: "The greater mutual understanding and the doctrinal
convergences already achieved between us, which have resulted in an affective
and effective growth of communion, cannot suffice for the conscience of
Christians who profess that the Church is one, holy, catholic and apostolic. The
ultimate goal of the ecumenical movement is to re-establish full visible unity
among all the baptized."
DIRECTORY FOR THE APPLICATION OF PRINCIPLES AND NORMS ON
ECUMENISM
The Directory is addressed to the Pastors of the Catholic Church, but it also
concerns all the faithful, who are called to pray and work for the unity of
Christians, under the direction of their Bishops.
The Bishops, individually for their own dioceses, and collegially for the whole Church, are, under the authority of the Holy See, responsible for ecumenical policy and practice.
"The Catechism of the Catholic Church" recently published (1992), includes the ecumenical dimension as part of the basic teaching for all the faithful of the
Church.
Christ's Peace
Isn't Based on Force, Says Pope
Touches on Theme of Christian-Unity Week
VATICAN CITY, JAN. 21, 2004 (Zenit.org
)
(Excerpts)
The peace proclaimed by Christ
is not
based on recourse to force
or the simple balance of powers, John Paul II says.
Reflecting
on
the theme of the current Week of Prayer for Christian Unity, "My
Peace
I Give to You," the
Pope offered the more than 4,000 pilgrims present
at today's
general audience a reflection on
the Christian view of peace.
SINGING IS TWICE PRAYING -St.Augustine
SINGING IS THE SIGN OF THE HEARTS JOY
- St.Augustine
What About 1967's "Musicam Sacram"? ROME, JAN. 13, 2004
(Excerpts) (Zenit.org)
Father Edward McNamara,
professor of liturgy at the Regina Apostolorum Pontifical
Athenaeum.Extract from the General Instruction
The Importance of Singing
39. The Christian faithful who gather together as one to await the Lord's
coming are
instructed by the Apostle Paul to sing together psalms, hymns, and spiritual
songs
(cf. Col 3:16). Singing is the sign of the heart's joy (cf. Acts
2:46). Thus Saint
Augustine says rightly, "Singing is for one who loves." There is also the ancient proverb: "One who sings well prays twice."
A VERY POWERFUL STORY
AFTER A FEW OF THE USUAL SUNDAY EVENING HYMNS, THE CHURCH'S PASTOR
SLOWLY STOOD UP, WALKED OVER TO THE PULPIT AND, BEFORE HE GAVE HIS
SERMON FOR THE EVENING, BRIEFLY INTRODUCED A GUEST MINISTER WHO WAS IN
THE SERVICE THAT EVENING.
IN THE INTRODUCTION, THE PASTOR TOLD THE CONGREGATION THAT THE GUEST MINISTER
WAS ONE OF HIS DEAREST CHILDHOOD FRIENDS AND THAT HE WANTED HIM TO HAVE A FEW
MOMENTS TO GREET THE CHURCH AND SHARE WHATEVER HE FELT WOULD BE APPROPRIATE FOR
THE SERVICE. WITH THAT, AN ELDERLY MAN STEPPED UP TO THE PULPIT AND BEGAN TO
SPEAK.
"A FATHER, HIS SON, AND A FRIEND OF HIS SON WERE SAILING OFF THE PACIFIC COAST."
HE BEGAN. "WHEN A FAST APPROACHING STORM BLOCKED ANY ATTEMPT TO GET BACK TO THE
SHORE. THE WAVES WERE SO HIGH, THAT EVEN THOUGH THE FATHER WAS AN EXPERIENCED
SAILOR, HE COULD NOT KEEP THE BOAT UPRIGHT AND THE THREE WERE SWEPT INTO THE
OCEAN AS THE BOAT CAPSIZED."
THE OLD MAN HESITATED FOR A MOMENT, MAKING EYE CONTACT WITH TWO TEENAGERS WHO
WERE, FOR THE FIRST TIME SINCE THE SERVICE BEGAN, LOOKING SOMEWHAT INTERESTED IN
HIS STORY. THE AGED MINISTER CONTINUED WITH HIS STORY,
"GRABBING A RESCUE LINE, THE FATHER HAD TO MAKE THE MOST EXCRUCIATING DECISION
OF HIS LIFE: TO WHICH BOY WOULD HE THROW THE OTHER END OF THE LIFE LINE. HE ONLY
HAD SECONDS TO MAKE THE DECISION.
THE FATHER KNEW THAT HIS SON WAS A CHRISTIAN AND HE ALSO KNEW THAT HIS SON'S
FRIEND WAS NOT. THE AGONY OF HIS DECISION COULD NOT BE MATCHED BY THE TORRENT OF
WAVES. AS THE FATHER YELLED OUT, 'I LOVE YOU, SON!' HE THREW OUT THE LIFE LINE
TO HIS SON'S FRIEND.
BY THE TIME THE FATHER HAD PULLED THE FRIEND BACK TO THE CAPSIZED BOAT, HIS SON
HAD DISAPPEARED BENEATH THE RAGING SWELLS INTO THE BLACK OF NIGHT. HIS BODY WAS
NEVER RECOVERED.! ;
BY THIS TIME, THE TWO TEENAGERS WERE SITTING UP STRAIGHT IN THE PEW,
ANXIOUSLY WAITING FOR THE NEXT WORDS TO COME OUT OF THE OLD MINISTER'S MOUTH.
"THE FATHER," HE CONTINUED, "KNEW HIS SON WOULD STEP INTO ETERNITY WITH JESUS
AND HE COULD NOT BEAR THE THOUGHT OF HIS SON'S FRIEND STEPPING INTO AN ETERNITY
WITHOUT JESUS.. THEREFORE, HE SACRIFICED HIS SON TO SAVE THE SON'S FRIEND. HOW
GREAT IS THE LOVE OF GOD THAT HE SHOULD DO THE SAME FOR US. OUR HEAVENLY FATHER
SACRIFICED HIS ONLY BEGOTTEN SON THAT WE COULD BE SAVED. I URGE YOU TO ACCEPT
HIS OFFER TO RESCUE YOU AND TAKE A HOLD OF THE LIFE LINE HE IS THROWING OUT TO
YOU IN THIS SERVICE."
WITH THAT, THE OLD MAN TURNED AND SAT BACK DOWN IN HIS CHAIR AS SILENCE FILLED
THE ROOM.
THE PASTOR AGAIN WALKED SLOWLY TO THE PULPIT AND DELIVERED A BRIEF SERMON WITH
AN INVITATION AT THE END. HOWEVER, NO ONE
RESPONDED TO THE APPEAL. WITHIN MINUTES AFTER
THE SERVICE ENDED, THE TWO TEENAGERS WERE AT THE OLD M AN 'S SIDE.
"THAT WAS A NICE STORY," POLITELY STATED ONE OF THEM, "BUT I DON'T THINK IT WAS
VERY REALISTIC FOR A FATHER TO GIVE UP HIS ONLY SON'S LIFE IN HOPES THAT THE
OTHER BOY WOULD BECOME A CHRISTIAN."
"WELL, YOU'VE GOT A POINT THERE," THE OLD MAN REPLIED GLANCING DOWN AT HIS WORN
BIBLE. A BIG SMILE BROADENED HIS NARROW FACE. HE ONCE AGAIN LOOKED UP AT THE
BOYS AND SAID, "IT SURE ISN'T VERY REALISTIC, IS IT? BUT I'M STANDING HERE TODAY
TO TELL YOU THAT STORY GIVES ME A GLIMPSE OF WHAT IT MUST HAVE BEEN LIKE FOR GOD
TO GIVE UP HIS SON FOR ME.
YOU SEE... .....I
WAS THAT FATHER AND YOUR PASTOR IS MY SON'S FRIEND."
Just Checking In
A minister passing through his church
in the middle of the day,
Decided to pause by the altar
and see who had come to pray.
Just then the back door opened,
a man came down the aisle,
The minister frowned as he saw
the man hadn't shaved in a while.
His shirt was kinda shabby
and his coat was worn and frayed,
the man knelt, he bowed his head,
Then rose and walked away.
In the days that followed,
each noon time came this chap,
each time he knelt just for a moment,
A lunch pail in his lap.
Well, the minister's suspicions
grew,
with robbery a main fear,
He decided to stop the man and ask
him,
"What are you doing here?"
The old man said, he worked down
the road.
Lunch was half an hour.
Lunchtime was his prayer time,
For finding strength and power.
"I stay only moments, see,
because the factory is so far away;
as I kneel here talking to the
Lord,
This is kinda what I say:
"I JUST CAME AGAIN TO TELL YOU,
LORD,
HOW HAPPY I'VE BEEN,
SINCE WE FOUND EACH OTHER'S
FRIENDSHIP
AND YOU TOOK AWAY MY SIN.
DON'T KNOW MUCH OF HOW TO PRAY,
BUT I THINK ABOUT YOU EVERYDAY.
SO, JESUS, THIS IS JIM
CHECKING IN TODAY."
The minister feeling foolish,
told Jim, that was fine.
He told the man he was welcome
To come and pray just anytime.
Time to go, Jim smiled, said
"Thanks."
He hurried to the door.
The minister knelt at the altar,
he'd never done it before.
His cold heart melted, warmed with
love,
and met with Jesus there.
As the tears flowed, in his heart,
he repeated old Jim's prayer:
"I JUST CAME AGAIN TO TELL YOU,
LORD,
HOW HAPPY I'VE BEEN,
SINCE WE FOUND EACH OTHER'S
FRIENDSHIP
AND YOU TOOK AWAY MY SIN.
I DON'T KNOW MUCH OF HOW TO PRAY,
BUT I
THINK ABOUT YOU EVERYDAY.
SO, JESUS, THIS IS ME CHECKING IN
TODAY."
Past noon one day, the minister
noticed
that old Jim hadn't come.
As more days passed without Jim,
he began to worry some.
At the factory, he asked about him,
learning he was ill.
The hospital staff was worried,
But he'd given them a thrill.
The week that Jim was with them,
Brought changes in the ward.
His smiles, a joy contagious.
Changed people, were his reward.
The head nurse couldn't understand
why Jim was so glad,
when no flowers, calls or cards
came,
Not a visitor he had.
The minister stayed by his bed,
He voiced the nurse's concern:
No friends came to show they cared.
He had nowhere to turn.
Looking surprised, old Jim spoke
up and with a winsome smile;
"the nurse is wrong, she couldn't
know,
that in here all the while everyday
at noon
He's here, a dear friend of mine, you see,
He sits right down, takes my hand,
Leans over and says to me:
"I JUST CAME AGAIN TO TELL YOU,
JIM,
HOW HAPPY I HAVE BEEN,
SINCE WE FOUND THIS FRIENDSHIP,
AND I TOOK AWAY YOUR SIN.
ALWAYS LOVE TO HEAR YOU PRAY,
I THINK ABOUT YOU EACH DAY,
AND SO JIM, THIS IS JESUS
CHECKING IN TODAY."
If this blesses you, pass it on ..
Many people will walk in and out of
your life,
but only true friends will leave
footprints in your heart.
May God hold you in the palm of His
hand
and Angels watch over
Please pass this page on to your friends or loved ones.
This is too good not to share -
So this is me .... Just Checking In
To A Keeper
______
¸...¸ __/ /\____
,·´º o`·,/__/ _/\_ //____/\
```)¨(´´´ | | [1] | | [1]| | |[1] || |l±±±±
¸,.-·²°´ ¸,.-·~·~·-.,¸ `°²·-. :º°
One day someone's husband died, and on that clear, cold morning, in the warmth of their bedroom, the wife was struck with the pain of learning that sometimes there isn't any more. No more hugs, no more special moments to celebrate together, no more phone calls just to chat, no more "just one minute." Sometimes, what we care about the most gets all used up and goes away . . never to return before we can say good-bye, say "I love you."
______
¸...¸ __/ /\____
,·´º o`·,/__/ _/\_ //____/\
```)¨(´´´ | | [1] | | [1]| | |[1] || |l±±±±
¸,.-·²°´ ¸,.-·~·~·-.,¸ `°²·-. :º°
So while we have it . . . it's best we love it . . . and care for it ... and fix it when it's broken . . . and heal it when it's sick. This is true for marriage . . and old cars . . . and children with bad report cards and dogs with bad hips and aging parents and grandparents. We keep them because they are worth it, because we are worth it.
______
¸...¸ __/ /\____
,·´º o`·,/__/ _/\_ //____/\
```)¨(´´´ | | [1] | | [1]| | |[1] || |l±±±±
¸,.-·²°´ ¸,.-·~·~·-.,¸ `°²·-. :º°
Some things we keep -- like a best friend who moved away or a classmate we grew up with. There are just some things that make us happy, no matter what.
______
¸...¸ __/ /\____
,·´º o`·,/__/ _/\_ //____/\
```)¨(´´´ | | [1] | | [1]| | |[1] || |l±±±±
¸,.-·²°´ ¸,.-·~·~·-.,¸ `°²·-. :º°
Life is important, like people we know who are special . . . and so, We keep them close!
______
¸...¸ __/ /\____
,·´º o`·,/__/ _/\_ //____/\
```)¨(´´´ | | [1] | | [1]| | |[1] || |l±±±±
¸,.-·²°´ ¸,.-·~·~·-.,¸ `°²·-. :º°
I received this from someone who thought I was a 'keeper'! Then I sent it to the people I think of in the same way. Now it's your turn to send this to all those people who are "keepers" in your life.
______
¸...¸ __/ /\____
,·´º o`·,
/__/ _/\_ //____/\```)¨(´´´ | | [1] | | [1]| | |[1] || |l±±±±
¸,.-·²°´ ¸,.-·~·~·-.,¸ `°²·-. :º°
Thank you for being a special part of my life!
______
¸...¸ __/ /\___ __
,·´º o`·,/__/ _/\_ //____/\
```)¨(´´´ | | [1] | | [1]| | |[1] || |l±±±±
¸,.-·²°´ ¸,.-·~·~·-.,¸ `°²·-. :º°
You're
A
Keeper!
The Road
of Life
At first, I saw God as my observer, my judge, keeping track of the
things I did wrong, so as to know whether I merited heaven or hell
when I die. He was out there sort of like a president.. I recognized
His picture when I saw it, but I really didn't know Him.
But later on when I met Christ, it seemed as though life were rather
like a bike ride, but it was a tandem bike, and I noticed that Christ
was in the back helping me pedal. I don't know just when it was that
He suggested we change places, but life has not been the same since.
When I had control, I knew the way. It was rather boring, but
predictable it was the shortest distance between two points. But when
He took the lead, He knew delightful long cuts, up mountains, and
through rocky places at breakneck speeds. It was all I could do to
hang on!
Even though it looked like madness, He said, "Pedal!" I worried and
was anxious and asked, "Where are you taking me?" He laughed and
didn't answer, and I started to learn to trust. I forgot my boring
life and entered into the adventure, and when I'd say, "I'm scared,"
He'd lean back and touch my hand. I gained love, peace, acceptance and
joy; gifts to take on my journey, My Lord's and mine. And we were off
again.
He said, "Give the gifts away. They're extra baggage, too much
weight." So I did, to the people we met, and I found that in giving I
received, and still our burden was light.
I did not trust Him, at first, in control of my life. I thought He'd
wreck it; but he knows bike secrets, knows how to make it bend to take
sharp corners, knows how to jump to clear high rocks, knows how to fly
to shorten, scary passages. And I am learning to shut up and pedal in
the strangest places, and I'm beginning to enjoy the view and the cool
breeze on my face with my delightful constant companion, Jesus Christ.
And when I'm sure I just can't do it anymore, He just smiles and
says... "Pedal."
Whatever your cross, Whatever your pain
There will always be sunshine after the rain
Perhaps you may stumble, Perhaps even fall
But God's always there, to help you through it all.
"I Am Too blessed to be stressed!"
The shortest distance between a problem
and a solution is the distance between your
knees and the floor. The one
who kneels to the Lord can stand up to anything.
God answers knee mail ! ! !
THE HOLY ALPHABET
Although
things are not perfect
Because
of trial or pain
Continue
in thanksgiving
Do
not begin to blame
Even
when the times are hard
Fierce
winds are bound to blow
God
is forever able
Hold
on to what you know
Imagine
life without His love
Joy
would cease to be
Keep
thanking Him for all the things
Love
imparts to thee
Move
out of "Camp Complaining"
No
weapon that is known
On
earth can yield the power
Praise
can do alone
Quit
looking at the future
Redeem
the time at hand
Start
every day with worship
To
"thank" is a command
Until
we see Him coming
Victorious
in the sky
We'll
run the race with gratitude
Xalting
God most high
Y
es, there'll be good times and yes some will be bad, but...
Z
ion waits in glory...where none are ever sad!
MY QUILT
As I faced my Maker at
the last judgment, I knelt before the Lord
along
with all
the other souls.
Before each of us laid our lives like the squares of a quilt in
many piles. An Angel sat before each of us sewing our quilt squares
together into a tapestry that
is our life.
But as my angel took each piece of cloth off the pile,
I noticed
how ragged and empty each of my squares was. They were filled with giant
holes. Each square was labeled with a part of my life that had been
difficult, the challenges and temptations I was faced with in everyday
life. I saw hardships that I endured, which were the largest holes of all.
I glanced around me.
Nobody else
had such squares. Other than a tiny hole here and there, the other
tapestries were filled with rich color and the bright hues of worldly
fortune. I gazed upon my own life and was disheartened.
My angel was sewing the ragged pieces of my cloth together,
threadbare and empty, like binding air.
Finally the time came when each life was to be displayed, held up
to the light, the scrutiny of truth.
The others rose, each in turn,
holding up their tapestries. So filled their lives had been. My
angel looked upon me, and nodded for me to rise.
My gaze dropped to the ground in shame. I hadn't had all the earthly
fortunes. I had love in my life, and laughter, and forgiveness and
acceptance of others. But there had also been trials of illness,
and death, and false accusations that took from me my
world, as I
knew it.
I had to start over many times. I often struggled with the temptation to quit, only to somehow muster the strength to pick up and begin again. I spent many nights on my knees in prayer, asking for help and guidance in my life.
I had often been
held up to ridicule, and been the
object of gossip, which I endured painfully~~
each time offering it up to Spirit, in hopes that I would not melt
within my skin beneath the judgmental gaze of those who unfairly
judged me.
And now, I had to face the truth. My life was what it was, and I had to
accept it for what it was.
I rose and slowly lifted the combined squares of my life to the light.
An awe-filled gasp filled the air. I gazed around at the others who
stared at me with wide eyes.
Then, I looked upon the tapestry before me. Light flooded the many
holes, creating an image, the face of
Christ.
Then our Lord stood before me, with warmth and love in His
eyes. He said,
"Every time you turned over your problems of life to Me,
it became My life, My hardships, and My struggles. Each
point of light in your life is when you stepped aside and let Me
shine through, until there was more of Me than
there was of you."
May all our quilts be threadbare and worn, allowing the Lord and our
angels
to shine
through.
Remember~~ God and our angels are always there by our
side...ready to
help and guide us through our life.
All you have to do is
"ask"
~...~ and believe.
Is there a magic cut-off
period when offspring become accountable for their own actions? Is there
a
wonderful moment when parents can become detached
spectators in the lives
of their children and shrug, "It's their life," and feel nothing?
When I was in my twenties, I stood in a hospital corridor waiting for
doctors to put a few stitches
in my son's head. I asked, "When do you stop
worrying?" The nurse
said, "When they get out of
the accident stage."
My mother just smiled faintly and
said nothing.
When I was in my thirties, I sat on a little chair in a class-room and
heard how one
of my children talked incessantly, disrupted the class, and
was headed for a career making license plates. As
if to read my mind, a teacher said, "Don't worry, they all
go through this stage and
then you can sit back, relax and enjoy them." My mother
just
smiled faintly and said nothing.
When I was in my forties, I spent a lifetime waiting for the phone to
ring, the cars to come home, the front door to open. A friend
said: "They're trying to find themselves. Don't worry, in a few
years, you can stop worrying. They'll be adults." My mother
just
smiled faintly and said nothing.
By the time I was 50, I was sick & tired of being vulnerable. I was
still worrying over my children, but there was a new wrinkle, there was
nothing I could do about it. My mother just smiled faintly and said
nothing. I continued to anguish over their failures, be tormented by
their frustrations and absorbed in their disappointments.
My friends said that when my kids got married I could stop worrying and
lead my
own life. I wanted to believe that, but I was haunted by my
mother's warm smile
and her occasional, "You look pale. Are you all
right? Call me the minute you get
home. Are you depressed about
something?"
Can it be that parents are sentenced to a lifetime of worry? Is concern
for one and other handed down like a torch to blaze the trail of human
frailties and the fears of the unknown? Is concern a curse or is it a
virtue that elevates us to the highest form
of life?
One of my children became quite irritable recently, saying to me, "Where
were you? I've been calling for 3 days, and no one answered. I was
worried." I smiled a warm
smile. The torch has been passed.
If a child lives with criticism.
He learns to condemn.
If a child lives with
hostility.
He learns to fight.
If a child lives with
ridicule.
He learns to be shy.
If a child lives with
shame .
He learns to feel guilty.
If a child lives with
tolerance.
He learns to be patient.
If a child lives with
encouragement.
He learns to be confident.
If a child lives with
praise.
He learns to appreciate.
If a child lives with
fairness.
He learns justice.
If a child lives with
security.
He learns to have faith.
If a child lives with
approval.
He lea