More thoughts
Dear St. Monica, Please give me strength to withstand the trials of my life. Help me to never loose sight of the Cross. Give me the courage to wait for my prayer to be answered as you waited. Help me to live by your example. I ask these things in Jesus' name.
There are a lot of storms going on in the world today. I am not speaking about the ones we can see but rather about the ones we can't see. I have met mothers who have lost children. It is hard for them to accept that burden but some how they do and go on with their lives. I admire them.
I am studying the Gospel of Matthew and I am at the story of Jesus walking out to the boat and at first the disciples think he is a ghost then Peter says Lord if it is really you call me to come to you. So the Lord says come and he gets out of the boat and starts walking on the water. Soon he becomes afraid of the waves and the wind and he starts to sink and he says Lord save me. The Lord says oh you of little faith why did you doubt. This isn't an exact translation. Anyway the question is what are the waves and wind in our lives that cause us to lose heart and faith? What is the secret to not sinking?
Well I have talked about some of the waves and wind in my life and sometimes they still blow in and wash me over board. As to the secret of not sinking I think for me it is simple. I can not take my eyes off the Cross, off Jesus, I can not stop praying. My life must mirror his if I am to survive. I think about all the people who have died in horrible ways knowing that what awaited them was greater than they could ever imagine. I am speaking about the Saints and those waiting to be called saints known as the Blesseds. Who do I run too? I run into the arms of Christ and bury my head in his embrace. When no one else is there for me I know he is. I sometimes sing a song that I heard in church once a long tome ago. It is called "Seek and Ye shall find" the verses go like this: Jesus come fill my hope again, Jesus come fill my soul, You're always standing there with your outstretched arms, I've been away too long.
The next verse is Heart in place of hope then Life then Love so there are four verses total. There is a part that the choir sings that is not in the book for the congratulation that goes something like: Knock and the door will be open, seek and you will find, I use this song as a prayer when I am really feeling down and it restores my soul. Another one that I like is called "Open My Eyes Lord". It goes something like this: Open my eyes Lord, Help me to see your face. Open my eyes Lord, help me to see. Open my ears Lord, Help me to hear your voice. Open my ears Lord, help me to hear. Open my heart Lord, Help me to love like you. Open my heart Lord help me to Love. I added a verse that goes; Open my mouth Lord, Help me to speak your word. Open my mouth Lord, Help me to speak. Then there is a refrain: I live within you, deep in your heart oh Love. I live within you, rest now in me.
If you like to sing and find these in your music issue they are easy to learn and so helpful when you just can't find the right words to pray.
This has been one of my harder days to endure. I'm not as strong as I would like to be. But it is such a blessing to know that I am not alone that those arms are never far away.
Well I guess I had better get my homework typed up and ready for class. I hope to one day hear from anyone who picks up on this blog, until then I will be hear plugging away trying to connect with anyone who needs it.
In closing I would like to leave you with these words from Mother Teresa of Calcutta
Joy is prayer; joy is strength; joy is love, a net of love by which you can catch souls. God loves a cheerful giver. He gives most who give with joy. If in the work you have difficulties and you accept them with joy, with a big smile--in this, as in any other good thing--they will see your good works and glorify the Father. The best way to show your gratitude to God and people is to accept everything with joy. A joyful heart is the normal result of a heart burning with love.
There are a lot of storms going on in the world today. I am not speaking about the ones we can see but rather about the ones we can't see. I have met mothers who have lost children. It is hard for them to accept that burden but some how they do and go on with their lives. I admire them.
I am studying the Gospel of Matthew and I am at the story of Jesus walking out to the boat and at first the disciples think he is a ghost then Peter says Lord if it is really you call me to come to you. So the Lord says come and he gets out of the boat and starts walking on the water. Soon he becomes afraid of the waves and the wind and he starts to sink and he says Lord save me. The Lord says oh you of little faith why did you doubt. This isn't an exact translation. Anyway the question is what are the waves and wind in our lives that cause us to lose heart and faith? What is the secret to not sinking?
Well I have talked about some of the waves and wind in my life and sometimes they still blow in and wash me over board. As to the secret of not sinking I think for me it is simple. I can not take my eyes off the Cross, off Jesus, I can not stop praying. My life must mirror his if I am to survive. I think about all the people who have died in horrible ways knowing that what awaited them was greater than they could ever imagine. I am speaking about the Saints and those waiting to be called saints known as the Blesseds. Who do I run too? I run into the arms of Christ and bury my head in his embrace. When no one else is there for me I know he is. I sometimes sing a song that I heard in church once a long tome ago. It is called "Seek and Ye shall find" the verses go like this: Jesus come fill my hope again, Jesus come fill my soul, You're always standing there with your outstretched arms, I've been away too long.
The next verse is Heart in place of hope then Life then Love so there are four verses total. There is a part that the choir sings that is not in the book for the congratulation that goes something like: Knock and the door will be open, seek and you will find, I use this song as a prayer when I am really feeling down and it restores my soul. Another one that I like is called "Open My Eyes Lord". It goes something like this: Open my eyes Lord, Help me to see your face. Open my eyes Lord, help me to see. Open my ears Lord, Help me to hear your voice. Open my ears Lord, help me to hear. Open my heart Lord, Help me to love like you. Open my heart Lord help me to Love. I added a verse that goes; Open my mouth Lord, Help me to speak your word. Open my mouth Lord, Help me to speak. Then there is a refrain: I live within you, deep in your heart oh Love. I live within you, rest now in me.
If you like to sing and find these in your music issue they are easy to learn and so helpful when you just can't find the right words to pray.
This has been one of my harder days to endure. I'm not as strong as I would like to be. But it is such a blessing to know that I am not alone that those arms are never far away.
Well I guess I had better get my homework typed up and ready for class. I hope to one day hear from anyone who picks up on this blog, until then I will be hear plugging away trying to connect with anyone who needs it.
In closing I would like to leave you with these words from Mother Teresa of Calcutta
Joy is prayer; joy is strength; joy is love, a net of love by which you can catch souls. God loves a cheerful giver. He gives most who give with joy. If in the work you have difficulties and you accept them with joy, with a big smile--in this, as in any other good thing--they will see your good works and glorify the Father. The best way to show your gratitude to God and people is to accept everything with joy. A joyful heart is the normal result of a heart burning with love.
posted by Nancy Garland | 9:19 PM
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