Saint of the Day – February 1

The saint we celebrate with a feast day on February 1 is St Brigid of Ireland!  Even though she was a slave and the daughter of a slave, she was putting her life at risk serving the Lord.  Working on a dairy farm, she gave the products of her labor away to the poor, must to the anger of her owner.  She was eventually freed, though, and was then able to completely devote her life to God. 

Credited with starting the first of Ireland’s convents, she taught women to serve the poor.  She is said to have also founded the first double monastery which was a place for prayer for both nuns and monks.  Brigid is known as the patron saint of scholars. 

 

Stumped?

My next door neighbor had a tree in his front yard and it was huge.  We’re talking REALLY BIG TREE.  It was two trees in one and it was causing his lots of trouble in his yard, driveway, and since this is a hurricane prone area, causing him and my the neighbor worry quite often. 

I sat at my desk working the other day and heard a thud and felt my house shake.  Before I could consider what that was it repeated.  I was downstairs fast!  Seems he was taking down the tree all by himself.  A bit of rope, a ladder, some saws and then a lot of trips to the pickup truck . . . and much raking.  This project covered his entire front yard and part of mine.  Yet, in 24 hours all that was left was a stump – well, two. 

Clearly my neighbor has wisdom and strength.  Consider for a moment the powerful strength and wisdom of God . . . and know that our strength is not even close to His.  Are you stumped by a big problem?  Do you lack the power to solve it?  It’s okay.  Turn it over to God and then get out of His way and let Him knock down that unruly tree and then get the mess out of your way.  He will, you know!

Great post!

AJ Poetry

You could holler and whine
Till your voice hollers out
You could whimper and pine
Till you’re all outta pout

But no matter your struggle
No matter your pain
There are some things in life
You just cannot change

You could worry and fret
And then worry some more
You could cry all upset
Till your tears come out sore

View original post 74 more words

Despair?

Despair is the ultimate deception.  Take heart! 

We are troubled on every side, yet not distressed;

we are perplexed, but not in despair;

2 Corinthians 4:7-9

 

Prayer

Lord, open the eyes of our hearts so that we may see your blessings!

Saint of the Day – January 31

Today we celebrate the feast day of St Marcella!  Marcella lived in Ancient Rome and died in AD 410.  A widow after only 7 months of marriage, she devoted the remainder of her life to holiness.  She lived the life of an ascetic.  Devoting her life to prayer and the study of Scripture, she was an inspiration to man.

My Heart Doesn’t Look Like a Valentine!

Seriously, the human heart doesn’t look like a valentine and while I could look up why the day February 14th became linked to a specific “shape” we call a heart, I’m not going to write about that.  As I look at the shape what I see is a rounded shape which is bursting open.  A simple shape.  A shape, a vessel, so full it is exploding and it’s contents are thus shared with those near and far as it bursts because it cannot contain anymore . . . much like my human heart when it is so full of the love of God.  I can’t selfishly hold His love, even if I wanted to.  I must share it.  Fortunately, He makes this easy for He gives us people with whom it must be shared.  He also gives us more so steadily that we never have to worry about running low. 

As Valentine’s Day approaches and we are reminded of love as the world and the retail industry define it, I believe Christians who know it’s definition in a different way should take care to give that love more freely.  Let us allow that “holiday” to be a reminder of what His love means and let us share it freely everyday, shall we?  Candy is nice, but when we “”taste and see that the Lord is good” as Psalm 34:8 reminds us, we find LIFE as we’ve never known it could be!  Let’s share that love everyday!

Saint of the Day – January 30

St. Hyacintha of Mariscotti, born in 1585 in Italy and said to have been of noble parentage.  She was a nun and belonged to the third order regular of St Francis.  Baptised with the name Clarise, she was known for piety in her youth yet as she grew older became known for more frivolity.  However, her strong faith remained.  This frivolous nature remained her lifestyle even as a nun until a priest admonished her to repent of this,  whereupon she did so and from that point on lived a simple life and devoted herself to care of the sick.  She was well-respected for her holiness. 

 

 

 

Kisses From God

Luther Burbank: “Flowers always make people better,

 happier, and more helpful: they are sunshine, food and medicine to the soul.”

I like this quote because it states something I have come to believe but in a different way. 

I believe that

God created flowers

solely for the purpose of making us smile, feel warm,

and know that we are loved. 

They represent God’s kisses to me. 

 

Did Moses Get His Feet Wet?

Travelers, there is no path, paths are made by walking.

– Antonio Machado –

^{When I read the quote from Machado, I thought “how crazy.  Yet, it’s not.  Sure, a well worn path is easy to follow.  I certainly like having a plan in place in my life.  I like doing the research, having a highlighted map, and marking the agenda with a check list of what needs to be done.  I like knowing my destination and knowing just how it’ll play out.  That sometimes worked when I ran an office, but not always.  It led me to many a “good enough” result in my personal life, but in my spiritual life and in my personal walk with the Lord it sure seems VERY clear that He wants so much more than a “good enough” life.  So, how to plan that one. . . . can’t be done.  Not by me.  That’s when trusting in Him comes into the picture.  So, like Moses, I approach the virgin land or sea and there is no clear path until the I set forth with the Lord and together we travel and make one.  Sounds crazy if I had to do it alone, but I don’t.  Wow, is that great realization!} 

²¹And Moses stretched out his hand over the sea; and the LORD caused the sea to go back by a strong east wind all that night, and made the sea dry land, and the waters were divided.

 ²²And the children of Israel went into the midst of the sea upon the dry ground: and the waters were a wall unto them on their right hand, and on their left.

– Exodus 14:21-22 –