MY COTNIUED STORY : THE JOURNEY... A glimpse...

   "THE JOURNEY"

For those of you who do not know me or my journey,in and with the Lord of my life, Jesus, I offer you a glimpse.

  The idea came to me, (thank You Mother Mary for the guidance)  to preface the original writing with a bit of  spiritual  and background history.

 In the mid 1970's, for a reason that may be known later, I was facing a very stressful situation related to my childhood. There was an unbearable situation discovered. Not knowing which way to go,  my reaction, surprisingly,was to cry out loud "God!   Help me!"

More surprisingly!... The help was an "Immediate lifting" of all the stressful pressure and turmoil swirling within my body and mind! A sensation came upon me as if several heavy cement blocks had been lifted off of my body! 

For that Moment,  time and space seemed to disappear.
There was I with this loving God, who heard and answered!!!

Needless to say,I began  immediately to seek and to find  out... "Who are YOU!?" 

Opening a bible was the first step forward to a lifetime journey of discovery!

 My faith as a Roman Catholic was based upon the Sunday Mass: holy Communion and the Gospel readings for that day.

As we were Sunday-going- cradle-Catholics, that was all I knew at the time!

When accompanying my mother to her first  Alcoholics Anonymous meeting, I was escorted to another group  called Al-Anon, which is a support for family members of the alcoholic. Little did I know just how much I needed their help! Truly, they were a Godsend! I learned so much about changing my thoughts and being transformed in my behavior patterns. There  I experienced God living within His people!  They were describing "my hidden feelings,"  "my shame "my story!" There was no judging the other, only love and acceptance, encouragement, and the help that I needed to hear.
As we stood for the closing prayer,we made a circle and began to pray to "Our Father Who art in heaven".... when we came to the words in the prayer..." FORGIVE US OUR TRESPASSES"...something supernatural happened...  the voices and those words..."AS WE FORGIVE THOSE WHO TRESPASS AGAINST US"
sounded as if they were coming  from a loud bullhorn speaker and were directed only to me!
I then knew the Majesty of God's Voice telling me that I needed to seek forgiveness of the harm received from my earthly mother and father and their addiction to alcohol along with the abuse suffered.
So many emotions were rising to the surface all at once!!!
 So many questions swirling inside, like a  cyclone with nowhere to go!
I was invited to return ... I did.
It was a matter between life and/or death!

 After attending and learning the 12 step program for 18 months, and while on my first Al-Anon spiritual retreat, Father Jude, a Passionist priest, suggested I seek out a prayer group to attend.

I was invited to the "Light of Christ" Charismatic group meeting at the then, Notre'- Dame parish, now named St. John Paul II parish. 

Upon entering and being welcomed, my first reaction was,
"Who are these people ? Why are they so joyful?",..   and...
 " I want some of  this Joy!"

More to come!
Accept The Invitation !

THE INVITATION; Come...I will give you rest...

THE INVITATION
Is your life wearisome?

"Come! I will give you rest!"...says Jesus

"Everyone who believes will not perish, they will have Eternal life!"

"COME!  Come, My people!

I have opened up the Gate for you!!!

Look upon ME, Who has suffered all your sins; 

I Who have forgiven all inequities,

Look upon ME and be saved from guilt and shame.

All the debt of your lives has been paid- in- full

to our Father."
Jesus said,"I do not come to condemn the world,
I come that the world may be saved by Me."
"I come to give you Life in abundance!"

"The good thief asked to be remembered as he acknowledged ME.

His soul came with ME that very day into the Father's kingdom!

Would I do any less for you today?"

"Come! Look upon ME...Your Savior.  Come..."

"Come!  Be not afraid!  you will find rest and peace."

"Be still in my Presence...

Let Me love you and give you rest

as a little child... in my Presence...Come..."

In freedom, let us decide to follow Jesus.
The choices are between  misery, fear, numbness to life,
or an acceptance of peace of heart and mind
 that transforms our lives into joyous moments.

"When I am lifted up from the earth ," said Jesus,
"I will draw all to Myself!"
Are you hearing the call? Do you feel a pull on your heart?
Bring yourself into His Presence!
Your life will move forward...
You will never be the same again, for He will answer!
  Have Courage!

JESUS is calling! 

All He needs is your willingness, your  "yes" for Him to enter into your heart.

He asks for the "free will of your acceptance"...

He asks for your permission to give Him a chance to show you how much

He loves you; how much He yearns for you to  experience a newness of life...

 freedom from fear and anxieties.
This is a "supernatural journey".


NEW LIFE
HE bid me to approach Him;
He called to draw near,
My heart heard the message,
the song,  so clear.
His friendship...He offered
and graciously so;
"Come live in freedom
and drop all the fear."
To risk...for my freedom
such a small price to pay.
To draw close to God
is my heaven today.

                                  Anonymous

 Let us Pray:
Jesus, I give You my "YES" to come into my life; come into my heart; come now Lord as I am in  need of your loving kindness. I do believe, yet , help me to believe more deeply and to trust in your merciful love. Show yourself to me, that I may know you and trust you. Amen

IN THE BEGINNIING...you were there

IN THE BEGINNING...

"I Was There..."

In the Beginning, Father God, when You gave birth to the Universe,

when You commanded, "Let there be light!"...

I was there in Your memory... 

Within Your Great Plan for the entire Universe...

"I was there!"

"Yes, I was there!"...

Running toward freedom, away from slavery and intense suffering...

crossing the Red Sea toward a a new land, 

a new beginning!

 "I was there!" 

Crossing the desert, complaining,   grumbling,

trying to fight those great giants coming at me.

"Yes, I was there. Did You hear me?"

Yes! You did answer!

Goliath was being slain!

I was there, Father, and  

It seemed like forever.

"Yes!"...and I heard Elijah, Jeremiah, Isaiah and Daniel.

I listened and believed, Father God.

"I was there!"

I knew You saved me too, by rebuilding me in Your Love.

Esther, also, was a role model of trust in You; 

 persevering with her Queenly attributes.

Yes, she taught me much more!

I was there watching... praying...

 weeping  for Your chosen people's freedom. 

"I  was there, Father!"

Jesus...You were born in a cold, dark, animal lair of a cave

amid a frightful, depraved human era.

Your Presence brought Light, Joy and Salvation to all humanity...

Your Light reached me, Father!

Yes! I was there when You came into my broken world

with Your Light, Your Way and Your Truth!

"I was there!"....

Hungry for Your Word;

Thirsty for the Living Waters...

Seeking healing...for past wounds, unknown.

"I was there...

and
 I knew
You were there, too!"

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