MOMENTS OF GRACE: THE WORD OF GOD ALIVE!

Gods' Word is Alive!

  Recently one morning ,in reading the daily scriptures prepared for mass, Psalm 5 spoke to me once again, deeply and surprisingly so! 

 Many years ago, the Holy Spirit etched upon my heart these words of consoling tenderness, when it was so needed!
 Then,wrapped in the Grace of the moment, hurrying  I went into St. Josephs' church (located on rt. 20,) to kneel at the Tabernacle!
Such a moment of Grace, that Gods' Word propelled me there!

 Here they were again today... bringing the same touch of the Saviors' Presence embedded within.

 " And I...so great is Your merciful love...

                   May enter Your House,                                                  

                                                                                 bow down before Your Holy Temple                                                                                     and worship YOU in awe!"
                    Psalm 5: verses 8+9
                                               

                                                                                                                                                              

"Beloved of My Soul,
"Do not look upon My enemy as your enemy. He is your brother who has gone astray and who does not know what he is doing. Pity him, pray for him as you would pray for a lost son, a prodigal son. He too, is made in the image and likeness of God; he too, will come to his Fathers' house, he too, will beg for his Fathers forgiveness and Mercy; and he too will be welcomed back into the family with great celebration!"

                                                          "Yes, wolves have dens and snakes have lairs, but there is so much more good coming against evil. I will have My Way!"

"Because you do not know My Word, you listen to every voice stirring dissension and believe all is lost.

My Son Jesus is sent to open the floodgates of forgiveness and Merciful Love,
 to save all who will accept,believe and live the Truth of His Sacrifice for each one.
He will do it! 

It will be a Transformation of hearts! It will happen quickly.

The Mother will hear your prayers..   Pray,  pray,  pray!

She brings it all to Her Son Jesus, Who goes to the Father and the Holy Spirit is dispatched."

                                         

SIGNS OF THE TIMES

SIGNS OF THE TIMES

Desiring that any good teaching not be lost or forgotten, I have a tendency to save articles that speak to me in a particular way and, that may be useful at some later date.  As you may imagine, the pages of books, pamphlets, and journals are complete with these treasures of wisdom.Of course they may not see the light of day for years!

Today, reaching for the old Jerusalem bible, rather than going to find my own personal favorite edition, a yellowed newspaper clipping caught my attention! Dated November of 2008, printed in the Catholic Free Press by Fr. Eugene Hemrick , there was the Wisdom of the day!

It related to the happenings of our world today, as if a prophetic message had been given! Above all, this prophesy related to today’s scriptural readings for the mass celebration! What a find! I could not resist being excited over such a Sign of the Times right before my eyes, so unplanned by my human mind, yet put together by a higher Power. Here is a portion of the article found tucked into the book of Daniel…

CHANGING TIMES

           Fr. Eugene Hemrick

Stock market tycoon rips off people to the tune of $50 billion! A state governor attempts selling a vacant senate seat! CEO’s greed and ineptness cause companies to fail! Unjust layoffs abound!....

Are the signs of the times signaling our imminent funeral?

In the Supreme Court, a frieze depicts the works of good and evil. On one side are Security, Peace, Harmony, Charity,Defender of Virtue, Truth and Justice. On the other side are Evil, Corruption, Deception, Slander and Despotic Power.

Is it possible that the works of evil are presently far outweighing the works of good?

Let’s look at some historical facts to answer this and to find what is needed to counter this.

All great nations have fallen. No matter how strong we are, it is unrealistic to say this will never happen to the U.S.

Americans are a blessed people, but blessings only go so far in the face of corruption, greed and neglect of God.

It would seem that Deception and Corruption depicted in the works of evil are much more prevalent today. As we have advanced in the world of technology, so too have we advanced in ways of employing it to deceive and corrupt others.

Many of today’s nations are experiencing desolation due to despotic power. The loss of a home, job and all our savings is nothing compared to living under despotic governments. A  despotic  government is not out of the question for the U.S. if it loses faith in its civil leaders and errs on the side of picking an autocratic dictator to guarantee security.

No doubt many people will take issue with these observations, saying they are too negative, give a one- sided picture and do not take into account our system of checks and balances. But one thing is true: Citizens of the United States need to read the signs of the times to learn the moral and ethical practices these signs are calling for.

I believe the times are telling us that the responsibility for bolstering our morality and ethics is no longer to be left solely to intellectuals and civil and church leaders. An age of new citizenship is needed, one in which everyone takes action to guard against becoming one more fallen nation.

                           

 Grant,O Lord, that we may always revere and love your holy name,

for You never deprive us of Your holy guidance,

  those You set firm on the foundation of Your love,

through Jesus our Lord.  Amen

We all have sinned and fallen short of Gods' grace by ignoring God's

teachings. However, the psalmist says that God's  word is "a lamp unto our feet 

and a Light unto our path!"

"And where sin abounds, Grace abounds more!"

"There are set before you fire and water:

to whichever you choose,  stretch forth your hand.

Before you are life and death,

whichever you choose will be given you !"

Sirach 15; 14-17

BE OPEN

 BE OPEN

I feel open to explore the depth and width and

breadth of Gods' love for me...to step over the boundaries

of fear that may be holding me back from 

 experiencing the "whole person" I am created to become. 

I feel open to tread gently upon the "new ground"of my being.

   I feel open to discover the new possibilities that need awakening within; slowly, gently, lovingly calling me forward, as new life unfolds.

I sense a need for caution and prudence as this new energy evolves.

There is a need to stay closely tuned to the

 movements of my Soul speaking within. I feel an 

openness to the 'Voice of Silence" and its' 

wordless call.

I feel a yearning to connect with the Infinite Spirit of God... to express His message of Love and Hope

in a world full of uncertainty and despair...

to bring Peace...if for only a moment,

into a troubled heart.

Jean Mahan ofs

10-23-2005

APPEARANCES

APPEARANCES

Luke: 24:verse 36

Jesus Appears!

"While the two were still speaking about this,

(of Jesus' appearance)

He stood in their midst...and

said to them,

"Peace be with you!"

"PEACE BE WITH YOU!"

HE IS RISEN!

APPEARANCES... A PRESENCE WITH THEM AS THEY WITNESS!

A joy! 

             A Presence!

              A promise...

"Where two or more gather...
There Am I in their midst!"

A Quickening of insight...

                               Enlightenment...                           

                                                A Clarity of purpose.            

                                                   
                                                    Unity... in the Holy Spirit!             

                                                       A new energy                            
                                    And enthusiasm
                                                                    To go forward...
                                                                                             With Joy!
                                                                  Amen
                 
                                    

                                                                                                                                                        

                                                                                                 

                                                          

                                    

                                                                                                  

                                   

TRANSFORMATOIN: A TREE OF LIFE

 TREE OF LIFE

Morning sun has risen

casting light upon the thinly snow covered  lawn

making a canvas for a tree to lay it's shadowy tentacles.

The tree itself is a beauty of shape and form.
 The shadow, laid out before it, seems ominous, ugly in structure...scraggly,
 unevenly laying, stretching out  upon the snowy blanket...

and yet..all is peaceful and still!

Spring air... a warmer sun sitting closer to earth's floor
teases little reds spikes of new grow at the tree's crown...
making it a lovelier sight to behold! It's arching branches 
curled up to receive, admit a bird or two in rest. 
As snow diminishes so goes the shadowy form...melting itself under the beauty of it's true form  above.

A gentle wind sends movements as waves,
 a " salutary goodbye" to those shadows...as if to say... 
"that shadow of your being is not your true existence...
it is melting away in the Presence of Love and Truth.
 Your Creator is Transforming you into a new creation."

 What is the shadow I need to let go of ...  the image of self that ties me to the ground?

Am I able to let it melt away...into Gods's Presence?

Is it time to say "goodbye"...
to gently release it from the icy cold of  existence?

Ah! I see it diminish in the Light of the day.

 The real beauty of it's "true form" appears...

a Tree of Life!

Open my heart... Lord of Life...that I may offer 

You the consolation of my trust ...

No matter what form the shadow takes,

in the Light of Your Presence...
I know that I am loved

                                              Amen
                    Romans 12:2

A TIMELY SURPRISE

     
A Timely Surprise

"There is an appointed time for everything that happens in this world.

 Everything happens at the time God chooses.

A time to be born, and a time to die...

A time to plant, and a time to uproot the plant...

A time to weep, and a time to laugh...

A time to mourn, and a time to dance.

A time to be silent, and a time to speak."

                                      Ecclesiastes 3:1-8

The Holy Spirit led me into the attic this week seeking an empty storage box I might use for another project. In reorganizing things,to obtain my goal of leaving with an empty box, I came upon notebooks filled with loving letters from Don, written during the years of our being in our Marriage Encounter group. With my dear husband now deceased, this "find" was so welcomed! For I had thought the note books were lost in our move 12 years ago.

Along with that precious find , were my own daily spiritual  journals from past years. I received so much more than just an empty box, this day!

Have you ever thought of writing a "Mission Statement" for your life?

I share my entry with you from May of 2003.

"I seek to establish my life in the intimacy of God within my conscience;

Anything coming from the outside world will be seen as an opportunity for growth, a Grace, and a movement toward the loving Creator. These Divine signs may, eventually, be seen as moments to witness.
 I seek wisdom and the chance to live cleanly, openly, honestly in Gods' Presence."

Needless to say, many years have passed, and I am happily surprised at  seeing this statement. 

The Journey is never ending.

There is always a struggle to die to self, so as to be born again; 

to uproot and plant anew;

 to take the time to weep and mourn;

to learn to laugh and dance once again.

This cycle of living, dying and being transformed, is repeated
until the lessons are learned....
and we begin a new cycle.

My heart is so filled with gratitude... to a lovingly patient God, who faithfully, is a "Light unto my path,
 a Lamp unto my feet!"

"By waiting and by calm...

you shall be saved;

In quiet and in trust...

your strength lies"

                          Isaiah 30:15

DIVINE MERCY PRAYER

DIVINE MERCY PRAYER

Today, Jesus, we bring to You

those souls who do not believe in God,

and those who do not yet know You.

.

Eternal Father turn Your merciful gaze

 upon those who do not believe in You ...

or do not know You
 or Your merciful  forgiveness.

..."and the Father...yearning for his son

to come home...looking

down the road...saw His son approaching''

Luke 15: 11-24

The Father "yearned" ...
for His sons' return...

Watched...
for the sight of his coming home!

So much... did the Father love the son!

So much...did He "desire" the re-union!The Father "looked" ...

with a burning longing

 in His heart!
Did the Father's  Love draw the son?

Is His merciful love

so compelling to be felt

from afar?

Or was the son hungering

for the food of Love...

The comfort and safety of

the arms of Love...

the peace of the reality

of Love?

What draws you to return

into the merciful,

forgiving,
 Heart of God?