Beginning a new week...

Monday, July 11, 2011

"I will put my spirit in you that you may live, and I will settle you upon your land; thus you shall know that I am the Lord. I have promised, and I will do it, says the Lord." (Ez. 37:14)

Our God is such a faithful and loving God - and He never tires of reminding us of how close He is and how much He loves us!

He puts His spirit in us, so that we might truly know that He is the Lord. And He assures us that when He promises something, He fulfills His promise!

We praise you, O God!



Good morning, friends! And thanks to all of you for reading my blogs and leaving such encouraging comments!

Yesterday I went to the Baptism of the daughter of a friend.

Then I spent the rest of the day at home getting things done. We were without electricity all day - and was it hot!! Makes one even more grateful for the blessings of fans and air conditioning!!

This week we have chapel with the students, so a busy week.

I pray for all of you every day - may the Lord continue to bless your lives and your families and loved ones! And let's continue to encourage one another in this healthier life style!

Marge

  

  Member Comments About This Blog Post:

BLEGNER1 7/12/2011 12:55AM

Marge, Have a blessed week. Your words of encouragement mean so much. Today we started the battle with the insurance company. They are refusing to pay for the removal of Jeff's teeth/ I called the State of Illinois office of Consumer Insurance and was told that if it was a medical necesity it should be covered, called the dr. office to see how they worded the claim. Then called the insurance company and was told that the two impacted teeth would be covered, but unless their doctors review the claim and agree that is a medical necessity they won't pay on any of the rest. I have called the radiology oncologist and he is sending a statement to the oral surgeaon's office via a fax in the am and the claim should be resubmitted sometime tomorrow. The insurance company tries to get a decision within 72 hours. I am claiming that the Lord goes before us in this matter and the insurance company resolves the matter in our favor and we can get on with getting ready for the cancer treatments to finally begin. In Jesus name this I claim. and now I give the Lord thanksgiving and praise that this is done. It has been a trying day and I finally broke down and started crying this afternoon. I am trusting the Lord, but all this phone calling and arranging falls on my shoulders and I feel as though Jeff is running out of time. God forgive me for letting my thoughts go in this vein, but it has been like beating my head against a brick wall. Thanks for letting me vent God bless Barb Report Inappropriate Comment

NELLIEC 7/11/2011 4:47PM

Today is the day I go to a different primary doctor. I have seen him before but not as primary, so my prescriptions will have to be redone and a bunch of questions and background info. I feel like it is the end of an old era since my previous doc I had bee going to for 21 years. Now is a new era, thanks to having a different insurance to be able to get all my medical needs taken care of. Report Inappropriate Comment

WINFIELD28 7/11/2011 12:09PM

I hope you have an awesome week, Marge! I am going to visit my daughter in Washington DC on Saturday for a few days. Am so looking forward to seeing her. (Summer Internship with the US House of Reps.) My 2 sisters and one of my brothers is going also. My husband is staying home to take care of things on the farm and he's working as well. Thank you always for your kind thoughts and prayers! You are an angel! Prayers and Blessings! ~ Maria Report Inappropriate Comment

Quick good morning...

Sunday, July 10, 2011

Happy moments, PRAISE GOD.
Difficult moments, SEEK GOD.
Quiet moments, WORSHIP GOD.
Painful moments, TRUST GOD.
Every moment, THANK GOD.


I just read this on a new friends Spark Page - liked it and decided to share it!

I am getting ready to go to Mass, and we are going to be without electricity all day, so just a quick hello and maybe I'll be able to be on this evening!

I pray for all my Spark friends every day - and will be praying at Mass that you all have a blessed and happy day!

Marge

  

  Member Comments About This Blog Post:

WINFIELD28 7/11/2011 11:53AM

What a beautiful prayer! Thanks for sharing it! Hope your Sunday without electricity wasn't too long or too hot! I sure learned to appreciate the things I seem to take for granted after our storm last week - running water, electricity...we had another storm last night, not so severe. We did end up in the basement - praying the rosary down there again. Comment edited on: 7/11/2011 12:10:55 PM Report Inappropriate Comment

NELLIEC 7/10/2011 7:00PM

Those sound like great words of wisdom! Report Inappropriate Comment

ILUVTTV 7/10/2011 10:02AM

Thanks for sharing those words of wisdom! Thanks for the prayers! Anne Report Inappropriate Comment

Sad about more senseless deaths...

Saturday, July 09, 2011

"Blessed be God the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who has blessed us with all the spiritual blessings of heaven in Christ. Thus he chose us in Christ before the world was made to be holy and faultless before him in love, marking us out for himself beforehand, to be adopted sons, through Jesus Christ. Such was his purpose and good pleasure, to the praise of the glory of his grace, his free gift to us in the Beloved." (Ef. 1:3-6)

Today's reading reminds us that we have been chosen from all eternity to a happy, blessed life.
Our Father wants us to enjoy these blessings and happiness in this life, as well as in His Kingdom for all eternity. And the best way for us to experience this happiness in the here and now is doing all we can to make others happy. In giving, we will receive.



It's true that we are meant to live in joy in the Lord, but the sin present in the world does so often bring us sadness and suffering.

We have the sadness of three deaths in the last two days. The first was a natural death of a friend, father of a graduate, who died suddenly of a stroke on Thursday. Then yesterday morning, a young man, 24 years old, a graduate of ours was killed in a motorcycle accident. He was a wonderful young man, very active in church and in community service, but unfortunately, prone to drinking. He was intoxicated, and crashed into a building. And just five minutes ago I received a phone call that the sister of one of my teachers was murdered last night. She was at home with her husband and another family member, she was making supper. Some men broke into the house and took her and her husband away by force. Their bodies were found this morning. Just more of the senseless violence I spoke of in my blog on Thursday. We have no idea why they were killed.

All we can do is pray - for our own protection, and for conversion of heart for those who perpetuate all this violence.

Please keep us all in your prayers.

  

  Member Comments About This Blog Post:

WINFIELD28 7/9/2011 11:24PM

Oh, Marge, how senseless these death seem. So sad. I will say a prayer for all involved. Report Inappropriate Comment

NATNOEL 7/9/2011 7:51PM

Oh my gosh, I am so sorry. I will pray for you and your loved ones. Report Inappropriate Comment

NELLIEC 7/9/2011 3:47PM

I am praying! Report Inappropriate Comment

SMIDGON 7/9/2011 3:21PM

Prayers for all, and for you, my friend. Hugs, Janet R>~+~ Report Inappropriate Comment

THEWINNER33 7/9/2011 2:15PM

May God ease the suffering of those who are mourning. Here in this state we have had several drownings, plus the daily murders. Pray for peace in our time. Hugs, Marcia Report Inappropriate Comment

ILUVTTV 7/9/2011 1:46PM

How sad! May our Lord send the world His grace and mercy to help us through these difficult and sad times. Praying for you and all who are affected by these deaths. Anne Report Inappropriate Comment

MOTTAMAMALOU 7/9/2011 1:44PM

What can anyone say but...God be with them and bless them. The meaning of life is meaningless to some of our human beings. How sad that is to say! We only get one chance at this life and some take it away too soon. Report Inappropriate Comment

Am in better spirits today....

Friday, July 08, 2011

"Do not get heated about the wicked or envy those who do wrong. Quick as the grass they wither, fading like the green of the fields. Put your trust in Yahweh and do right, make your home in the land and live secure. Make Yahweh your joy and he will give you your heart's desires. Commit your destiny to Yahweh, be confident in him, and he will act…

Stay quiet before Yahweh, wait longingly for him, do not get heated over someone who is making a fortune, succeeding by devious means. Refrain from anger, leave rage aside, do not get heated -- it can do no good; for evil-doers will be annihilated, while those who hope in Yahweh shall have the land for their own. A little while and the wicked will be no more, however well you search for the place, the wicked will not be there; but the poor will have the land for their own, to enjoy untroubled peace." (Psalm 37)

Our God is amazing! Yesterday in my blog I was talking about all of the violence and crime in our world, and today, the Lord puts Psalm 37 before me.... once again reassuring us that in the long run, evil will not win!! He reminds us to be calm and quiet in His presence, and to trust that He will take care of us, and that in His time - not ours! - good will win out!

I praise you, my God, and I thank you for always being with us!



I think God has a sense of humor. He's saying to me: OK, yesterday you got people concerned over the evil in the world; now today I want you to remind them that I am still in charge!!

My spirits are a little better today - probably because I am not so tired.

Fridays are always less stressful for me - the weeks work is mostly done - so I can be more relaxed and my schedule more flexible. And I have the weekend ahead of me!! YEAH!!!

I do get discouraged when I just can't seem to lose any more weight. It's like my body says OK - you've lost almost 34 pounds, but that's all you're gonna get. I know the main problem is that my metabolism has slowed with age, and I think the weight gain affected it too. But with all the exercise, it seems that it should be better by now. I really want to get down to 150, but it's starting to look like an impossible goal!!

But I'm not giving up!! I keep reminding myself of how much healthier, stronger and more flexible I am now than I was a year and a half ago!

I got my exercise in this morning. Then I accompanied my godchild to her monthly check-up - she's 3 months pregnant, first child. After that I picked up Alejandro from Nursery - he's loving it and doing really well.

He just turned 3 on June 25th, but was not potty-trained. We'd been trying for weeks, but no success at all - just total indifference. Since he would be starting nursery school, two days after his birthday, we bought him underpants and told him he was a big boy now, and wouldn't be using a diaper any more. He had 2 or 3 accidents, but amazingly, within 3 days, he was totally trained, asking to use the bathroom when he needed to go. He is so proud of himself! We did use lots of praise and little prizes to encourage him!

Well, I'm looking forward to a relaxing weekend - plan to get a few things done that I've been wanting to do, and hoping to get in a little more exercise, and hopefully control the snacking, and see if I can't get back on track!

Hope all of you have a wonderful weekend, filled with blessings and peace!

Marge

  

  Member Comments About This Blog Post:

BLEGNER1 7/10/2011 1:00AM

WITH GOD ALL THINGS ARE POSSIBLE. WATCH OUT FOR 150 Report Inappropriate Comment

WINFIELD28 7/9/2011 11:21PM

Hi Marge. I'm not home this weekend, so am Sparking in a hotel this evening. Thanks for your psalm and reflection. I so enjoy your blogs on God's providence and care for each of us always. Hang in there! You have done so well this past year and a half. The weight loss will come, maybe slower than you wish, but keep on doing what you are doing. It'll stay off if you take it off slowly, that's what I believe! Hugs! Report Inappropriate Comment

NELLIEC 7/8/2011 11:15PM

I will have to say that my boys were very close to three when they trained. Those bits of praise and little rewards do wonders! As for losing more weight, well, for a long time I was stuck also, but then started drifting down. I am happy with my weight now. It isn't as low as charts claim I should be but the last time I was that weight, I was close to dying and the hospital dietician was desperately trying to get me to gain! Report Inappropriate Comment

TRIGFROST 7/8/2011 5:12PM

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Discouraged, but don't want to give up

Thursday, July 07, 2011

"Be sure that I am with you; I will keep you safe wherever you go." (Gen. 28:15)

What a consoling passage! Especially in these times, when we are so busy, always on the go, and there seems to be danger everywhere: natural disasters, crime and violence.

All we can do is pray for protection every day and every night! And this verse assures us that our God is always with us, protecting us.

Yes, sometimes bad things happen - sickness, accidents - but we can trust that even there He is protecting us and keeping us safe from evil, so that we can be with Him in His Kingdom for all eternity.



The city I live in has just been declared the most violent in our country. People are killed almost every day - most of the killings seem to be related to drug trafficking, or gangs - but very often people are killed just to rob them of a cell phone, or laptop, or to steal their car. or because of a disagreement, or labor problem or whatever.

It seems that for so many, life no longer has any value. I believe that when society accepted abortion - the killing of innocent babies - and then tries to take God out of so many parts of our life, it naturally followed that many persons lost all value of human life.

So passages like this one are our stronghold! We need to constantly relay on the protection of our God!


Sorry I haven't been around for a few days - we had retreats on Tuesday and Wednesday. Since I semi-retired, I usually have a little more relaxed and flexible schedule, as long as I get done what I need to do, but with retreats, I have to be at the Center by 7:15 am, and finish around 4:30. And then, if I have to do any errands, or want to spend a little time with Alejandro and Andrés, I don't get home until about 7:30 pm, and by that time I am so tired I don't feel like doing much of anything except maybe logging into SP, maybe check out my page, but not much else!!

It really messes up my progress, too! I not only didn't lose this week - I went back up! I don't exercise, don't eat right, and at night am so tired, I just want to eat - emotional eating, I guess!

Right now I am very discouraged. So off my plan, too tired to even exercise today.... no time for SP - but I don't want to give up!! I need to get back in balance today, watch what I eat, rest a little, and hopefully tomorrow get back on track.

I hope everyone is well - I can't stay on now, have to prepare Holy Hour for this afternoon. Maybe tonight I'll have the energy to post a little!

Have a good day and "Hasta Luego" !

Marge

  

  Member Comments About This Blog Post:

NANAMOM652009 7/8/2011 9:30AM

Hang in ther I know that often on today's world it is only our faith that gets us through the day. You will be ok just rely on your faith. Report Inappropriate Comment

WINFIELD28 7/7/2011 11:08PM

I sure can understand being discouraged. But I do know that you won't give up! You have come so far and have done so very well! I will say a prayer that you get the nudge you need to continue on your journey. Be kind to yourself and you will get going again! Thanks too for your verse and meditation! You are helping my spiritual self grow. This is a total experience: mind, body & soul. Comment edited on: 7/7/2011 11:17:07 PM Report Inappropriate Comment

PMCFARM 7/7/2011 9:14PM

I will be praying for you that our Father will gift you with a "take 5" period. When I feel too stretched, God gives me a "take 5" just long enough for a quick prayer and a scripture brought to mind that together restore my peace. but never without Him. Report Inappropriate Comment

BLEGNER1 7/7/2011 7:56PM

Know that the Lord is with you and that He will help you get back on track. Your body is a temple and it needs to be healthy to be the temple the Lord wants it to be. Do not let one or two days discourage you. Just know in your heart that you can and will pull yourself out of the doldrums and forge ahead. Do not let a gain or lack of a loss throw you for a loop. I had gained three lbs and no matter what I have done, I have been setting at the same weight since the beginning of March. At times I look at the number and get a little down, but I pray and make up my mind that even if I don't lose I know that I am living a healthier lifestyle. You are in my thoughts and prayers God bless Barb Report Inappropriate Comment

NELLIEC 7/7/2011 5:50PM

I think all of us get those busy times when it is hard to fit everything in! But then after a while, we get a more relaxed schedule and life starts feeling OK again. Hang in there. We love you and care about you! Report Inappropriate Comment

BLESSEDMAZARS 7/7/2011 4:18PM

Today's world is getting worse and worse! God is the only one that can save us and give us the peace we need in this violent world! Know you've been busy, but missed as well! Keep doing what you've learned to be healthy! Report Inappropriate Comment

PSALM42 7/7/2011 1:07PM

hang in there Marje! There are busy times, keep tight on your nutrition- maybe maintain during this busy time and then get back to losing when you have more time. Report Inappropriate Comment