A Lenten prayer

Thursday, March 08, 2012

As we've been praying, Lent is a time of turning to the Lord in a more intensive way. I'd like to share this Lenten prayer I came across:

Loving God,
there is so much darkness in my life
and I hide from you.
Take my hand
and lead me out of the shadows of my fear.
Help me to change my heart.
Bring me to your truth
and help me to respond to your generous love.
Let me recognize the fullness of your love
which will fill my life.
Free me from the darkness in my heart. Amen.

This is from a site which has daily Lenten prayers:

onlineministries.creighton.edu/Colla
borativeMinistry/Lent/2nd-week.html



Thanks to all of you for stopping by my blogs. I enjoy reading your comments.... it's another way we encourage and support each other.

This has been a busy week for me - and probably for lots of you, too. I wish I had more time for SP, but I've even had to work at night this week. I keep thinking things are going to get less busy - but never happens. Seems there's always something new.

We picked up Alejandro's report card today - he's in a Montessori Pre-School, in Nursery. He got 100% in five of his exams, and 99% in one of them! All E's (excellent) in the evaluation of developmental skills! We are so proud of him!

Have to get back to work! Blessings and hugs to all!

  

  Member Comments About This Blog Post:

CARRENK 3/9/2012 12:41PM

Amen. Thank you for sharing the link to the devotional site. Report Inappropriate Comment

IMREITE 3/9/2012 12:46AM

Good prayer. We all get stuck in the darkness in my life. it is important to know where to look for the light. Report Inappropriate Comment

CATENAR 3/8/2012 3:23PM

Such a lovely prayer Report Inappropriate Comment

NELLIEC 3/8/2012 2:54PM

for Alejandro! Report Inappropriate Comment

WINFIELD28 3/8/2012 1:10PM

Another wonderful prayer. Thank you! Have a good rest of your week, too! Report Inappropriate Comment

God is constantly calling us to Himself.

Wednesday, March 07, 2012

"Yet even now, declares the Lord, return to Me with all your heart, and with fasting, weeping and mourning; and rend your heart and not your garments. Now return to the Lord, your God, for He is gracious and compassionate, slow to anger, abounding in lovingkindness and relenting of evil." ( Joel 2:12-13)

God is constantly calling us to Himself. He is a loving God, always forgiving our failings, if we repent. Lent is a wonderful opportunity to grow ever closer to our God.

I share the following reflection from Matt Allan that I read this morning....

"Verse twelve teaches us that true repentance comes from the heart. Rend your heart and not your garments. True repentance goes farther than fear of punishment and the confession of sin. God wants our heart. True repentance involves a complete and total change in one's life. It is an inward change of the heart and while it begins in our mind, it is seen outwardly in our actions. Going along with this... Verse twelve teaches us that true repentance will be seen in our actions. Fasting, weeping, and mourning are all evidence of true, genuine repentance.

Verse thirteen tells us how great and awesome the God is that we serve. When we consider His graciousness, compassion, how He is slow to anger, how He abounds in lovingkindness, and will relent of evil, it should move us to humbly serve Him. Praise God that He is not a vengeful, unloving God who looks forward to dealing out retribution! He holds out for us, desiring a personal, caring relationship with each one of us. We are truly special to Him. Oh how He loves us, just as a father does his child. We are His children!"

Here is the link if anyone wishes to read the entire reflection: www.bible.ca/ef/expository-joel-2-12
-13.htm




Not much new today... except for the great news on the scale!! I lost 1.8 pounds this week - which SP rounded off to 2 pounds!

It's too late for me to reach my goal by the date I had set myself - April 15 - guess I need to restate my goals on my page. LOL!! Haven't gotten around to that yet.

But I'm still going to try to lose one or two pounds a week - my real goal is to be at 150 when I go to my brother's for vacation in August. But i'd like to reach my goal by June, and then maintain, so that my body will be adjusted to the new weight, and maybe I won't gain back while I'm on vacation.

Have a lot to do today - am preparing Holy Hour for tomorrow. I have a meeting with the organization of private schools at 2:00 pm. And then at 4:00, Yolanda and I are meeting with a friend for coffee - but we're going to meet at KFC with the grandchildren, so they can play while we talk!

Hope everyone is having a good week as we walk together through Lent, growing closer to our God!

Blessings and hugs!

  

  Member Comments About This Blog Post:

CATENAR 3/7/2012 7:17PM

The devotion you shared was a good reminder of how vast God's love truly is. If only the world would accept His gracious gift to us. Rachel Report Inappropriate Comment

NELLIEC 3/7/2012 4:01PM

I like the thought that God is constantly calling us to Him. Report Inappropriate Comment

SERAPHGYRL 3/7/2012 3:00PM

Thank you for the beautiful reflections. I think you should give up on your goal. It can still happen. Weight loss is weird. We can go along losing a little every week and then, ...the dreaded plateau...and then, viola!, then a big number just falls off. I'm rooting for you to reach 150 in June. Report Inappropriate Comment

SMIDGON 3/7/2012 1:54PM

Good for losing those two pounds! I challenge you to reaching 150# by August. I'll beat you by one [149#]! Here we go! We won't know oneanother, we'll have to have new pictures taken. From lasy saturday-tuesday I lost 2#. Have a safe and terrific day~ Janet ~+~ Report Inappropriate Comment

WINFIELD28 3/7/2012 11:31AM

Thanks once again for your reflection today. I need to continue to deepen my Lenten practices, and your daily reflection is most helpful. Enjoy your day! Report Inappropriate Comment

MI-ELLKAYBEE 3/7/2012 11:28AM

This was great! Have a blessed day. Report Inappropriate Comment

Listen, my people, I am speaking

Tuesday, March 06, 2012

"Let our God come and be silent no more...." (Ps. 50: 3)

"Listen, my people, I am speaking..." (Ps.50: 7a)

How often, like the psalmist, we plead with God to to come to us, to speak to us. We talk a lot when we pray, but sometimes it seems to us that God is silent....

But a few lines later, God makes it very clear that the problem is usually with us, not Him. He is speaking, but maybe we are not really listening... we are so easily distracted with so many things... and most of us are much better at talking than at listening....

We need to learn to be still, and listen for His soft voice in the Scripture, in our spiritual reading,through the voices of our spiritual guides, and in our hearts.



Just a quick note.... have a lot of work....

We went to the emergency room on Saturday night about 11:45 pm, after Alejandro had a severe bout of diarrhea and vomiting between 11:30 and 11:45. They decided it was best to keep him to hydrate and medicate him. I stayed with him so that Ana could be with her other son, who is much more dependent on her, and Yolanda stayed to help Mariela with the baby.

Anytime a family member is hospitalized, I am the designated "companion". I like to do it, and since I've been doing it for so long, I'm good at attending to the sick. (Maybe I have an unrealized vocation to be a nurse??? LOL!!)

Anyway, he behaved wonderfully! Only three and a half years old, and he never cried or complained. He didn't even cry when they put the intravenous in, and he never complained about having his hand immobilized for two days.... He did joke about only having one hand,...
He just asked me on Sunday afternoon how long he had to keep it in! He did ask Sunday evening how much longer he would be in the hospital, but without any whining or crying. I am amazed at how well he behaved. Good thing it wasn't his little brother. I think we would have had to tie him down, and soundproof the room against his screaming!! LOL!!! He is the total opposite of Ale.

Anyway he's happy to be home, and as a prize for his good behavior we're going to get him a scooter he's been wanting for a long time. We can't find one in La Ceiba, so it will have to be the next time we go to San Pedro Sula.

Well, have to get back to work!

Love and blessings to all! And thanks for all you comments on my blogs, Spark Page and feeds! You are all wonderful people and great friends!!

Marge

  

  Member Comments About This Blog Post:

CATHOLICCORGI 3/6/2012 9:43PM

Thank you for the words of wisdom! Hope Alejandro is much better now! Report Inappropriate Comment

WINFIELD28 3/6/2012 4:33PM

Thanks for the reading today. I need to spend time being silent and listening for God. Glad Alejandro is home and doing better. What a brave little guy. Glad you were there to help care for him. Report Inappropriate Comment

NELLIEC 3/6/2012 4:08PM

A scooter! What a wonderful thing for him! Report Inappropriate Comment

SMIDGON 3/6/2012 3:17PM

Isn't it amazing how siblings who have been subject to the family, can be so different? Hugs and blessings, my friend! Janet ~+~ Report Inappropriate Comment

LAINYC 3/6/2012 2:58PM

glad you are back home and grandson is improving.Have a wonderful day at work. Report Inappropriate Comment

Love our enemies????

Saturday, March 03, 2012

"Ah, how happy those of blameless life,
who walk in the house of Yahweh!
How happy those who respect His decrees,
and seek Him with their whole heart,
and doing no evil,
walk in His ways!" (Psalm 119:1-3)


The Lord promises us happiness if only we will walk in His ways. Sometimes it's relatively easy to do so, but other times it's quite hard. Today I keep thinking about what He says in today's reading - "...love your enemies, and pray for those who persecute you". That is not easy!!! When somebody is mean to us, or insults us, or does something that is unfair to us, we automatically want to get back at them... and even if we manage to control our words and actions, it's even harder to control our thoughts!! We tend to keep going over the incident in our minds, and thinking about what we would like to do or say!

But Jesus says we have to love them anyway! And Psalm 119 assures us that that is the way to be really happy!



Well, I'm still sticking to the plan, and hopefully, taking off those pounds!! I've been exercising and watching what I eat.... not easy for me, but hopefully the scale will show some results on weigh-in day - Wednesday.

I keep having to push back my goal dates... I lose weight, then something happens - usually traveling or getting sick, and then I backslide and gain back a lot of what I had lost.

I am really determined to stick to the plan this time!!!! Lent helps me, because I so often don't have the will power to do what I need to do..., but since I have made Lenten resolutions, I have to keep my work to the Lord, and hopefully, denying myself for Him will help me to grow in will power and the ability to say NO when I am tempted to eat what I shouldn't or to skip exercise simply because I don't feel like doing it.

My long term goal is to be at 150 when I travel to my brother's in August. I hope and plan to reach that goal sooner, and then maintain. I haven't weighed 150 since 1992!!!

Please continue to pray for Dora, Ana's mother -in-law (pancreatic cancer that has metasisized) She is not doing too well. She is being treated with natural alternative medicine, since there is nothing medical science can do for her. The goal is to keep her as comfortable as possible, build up her strength and energy, and pray for a miracle. Thanks for your prayers.

Hope everyone is having a great weekend!

Blessings and Marge

  

  Member Comments About This Blog Post:

SERAPHGYRL 3/6/2012 3:10PM

It does hurt when some people say and do cruel things, doesn't it? I'm sorry you have people like that around you. I pray that their hearts are softened and they realize what they're doing. When people hurt me, I forgive them (not the same as forgetting what they did) then, I put on my brave face and go on with my day because I know I don't deserve what they did to me and I refuse to let them win and make me feel badly about myself. You're doing just fine on your journey toward health. We aren't perfect and life isn't predictable. You always keep trying though and THAT is a huge step toward success. Dora has been added to my prayer list. Report Inappropriate Comment

PICKIE98 3/6/2012 2:08PM

Yes, our enemies are still made in HIS image, like us.. if we trust, we pray, if we trust, we believe, if we trust, we will be blessed.. Report Inappropriate Comment

NELLIEC 3/4/2012 7:34PM

I have found that praying for someone who may not exactly be an enemy, but when their name is mentioned a person gets that little prick is an excellent way to feel better about them so meeting them isn't a trial. I have been praying for Dora and will continue. Report Inappropriate Comment

CATHOLICCORGI 3/3/2012 8:20PM

You'll like what my Magnificat had for intercessions today in morning prayer... "Let us pray for those with whom we do not live in peace, asking God through the intercession of Mary: R/ Grant them every blessing, Lord. For those who have hurt or harmed us... R/ For those who dislike us... R/ For those who look down on us... R/ For those who refuse to speak to us... R/ " I wrote this down and placed it in my daily prayer journal... The HS has told me I need to review these "intercessions" every evening, and pray for my "enemies" whether they are real or only in my imagination. I'll be shown who and why and how to pray. Obedience is not an easy thing, true, but then that is what Lent does for us... it teaches us to be obedient. I do not have will power either... but I do have the power of the Holy Spirit Who will guide me, if I will but listen. I think you will reach your goal! Take it only one day at a time... I am taking Lent one day at a time, and it is amazing to me that I am a lot stronger than I thought! I CAN offer my days to the Lord, and HE helps me to achieve what I set out to do! I will be praying for Dora! May God's will be done! His will is only good, even if we do not see it always. Jesus, we trust in You! Keep planning and staying on your program! We are all on this journey together, and we can all help each other! Our God IS AWESOME! Peace be with you! Report Inappropriate Comment

LESLIEJEAN43 3/3/2012 7:03PM

Thanks for the reading and your comments. I certainly know how hard forgiveness can be, but I've also learned how necessary it is for my own peace of mind. I will continue to pray for Dora, and I wish you great success in achieving your goals! Hugs & blessings, Leslie Report Inappropriate Comment

WINFIELD28 3/3/2012 5:43PM

Very powerful reading today. Lots to meditate on and include in my Lenten journey. I will keep Dora in my prayers. I hope you have a Blessed weekend. You'll reach your goals...one step at a time, I know you will! Report Inappropriate Comment

Do unto others....

Thursday, March 01, 2012

"Do to others whatever you would have them do to you." (Mt. 7:12)

Such familiar words - the Golden Rule; but such a depth of meaning - how different our world would be if only we could all live this verse!

If we really kept this short verse in mind, would we be so quick criticize? Pass on the latest gossip? Be so impatient? Take the best for ourselves? Be so protective of our own time? Pretend not to see when we could lend a helping hand? Hesitate to reach out to the poorest of the poor? ......??



Extremely short of time today - so just a quick hello!

Thanks, everyone, for your prayers for Laurie's mom and family. We saw her at Mass last night - she was calm, but such sadness in her eyes!

During Lent, I am trying to dedicate more time to the Lord in prayer, so that means less time available for the computer and SP! I do remember all of you before the Lord.

Yesterday we were with the juniors and seniors all day for a "convivio" - can't think of the English word for that! It's a kind on "get-together" day, to try to unite the classes - let them get to know each other better, so there will be greater union and friendship among them.
We talk about friendship and personal relationships, then a lot of dynamics and games to let them have fun and work in groups, all interspersed with songs about friendship.

Have to run! Blessings and hugs!

  

  Member Comments About This Blog Post:

CARRENK 3/2/2012 9:01AM

I don't think I've heard this particular version/translation of this verse before, and the word "whatever" struck a chord for me. It says to me that it's not enough to do the occasional good deed - consideration of others must be our lifestyle. Report Inappropriate Comment

NELLIEC 3/1/2012 3:18PM

When I looked it up, it said it meant banquet or feast. Report Inappropriate Comment

WINFIELD28 3/1/2012 2:51PM

Great verse to meditate on during Lent. I read it too in my Living Faith reading this morning. Have a good day! Report Inappropriate Comment

GERIKRAGH 3/1/2012 1:45PM

Sounds like a good day. I can't think of the word either. Report Inappropriate Comment