Light Within

It is a joy to live in our Lord's footsteps. Living in imitation of his ways and letting the Word be a source of strength. It's like a Breath of Heaven. Whenever I ponder the daily Gospel I am always struck anew with it. There is a lot of truth to God's Word. When many things began to come about in my life, His Word began to come alive. How can it be possible to find life in God's Word, easy when we open our minds, hearts and souls to it. When we actually die to what the world offers each and everyday. To make a conscious choice to follow Jesus and God's Word in our life. It is then that we have put God first in our life.

His will is very important to living life in Him, we will not go wrong when we live such a way. After all, He wants the very best for us and for that to happen we need to turn ourselves over to His care. He provides everything that we need in our day to live. And our argument with Him is always seeking more than we need. When I died to myself I found that I only wanted to seek His Will above my own. To want what He wanted rather than what I wanted or needed. I turned to Him in all that I do. Not a moment in my day goes by without Him in thought. After all He is my treasure, He is the love of my life and I love others just as equally. It is His abundant love for me that enables me to love in such a way. Just as His forgiveness is great, so should my forgiveness be also to those who need my forgiveness as much as I need theirs.

He teaches us so much yet we never seem to put it into play in our lives. Why? Are we afraid that once we die to ourselves we won't have life anymore. Not in the same way, but in a much better way our life becomes lighter and buoyant. In a sense we begin to shine as the sun that shines within us. Imagine that.

Delight of the Heart

Ever want to squeal with absolute delight, place all of your trust in the heavenly family. Father, Mother, Son and Holy Spirit while in front of the Blessed Sacrament. Placing trust in God, in Mary who he chose to be the vessel to bear his Son, in His Son who died to save us and the Holy Spirit who is part of the Father and the Son. But nothing more beautiful is the small voice that speaks loudly. What a beautiful way for our Lord to bless a prayer. This is what I heard: 28“Come to Me, all who are weary and heavy-laden, and I will give you rest. 29“Take My yoke upon you and learn from Me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. 30 “For My yoke is easy and My burden is light.” Matthew 11:28-30 and what a gift. In a most delightful way I was given more than what was asked for.

Inside it is possible to be dancing while being absolutely still on the outside where joy is overflowing on the inside. If that doesn't make sense, I don't know how else to put it. And when I think about how our Blessed Mother must have felt when she was chosen and Gabriel spoke to her. The joy in her heart that day, that time in her young life when her whole world would change. She said yes in a most profound way, that none of us could ever understand. I do though and also how truly possible God makes things happen. If anyone ever wanted to understand what it is God wants, all we have to do is ask ourselves what it is we truly want the most in our own lives. If the answer is love as the first response then you have found the answer and all that has to be done is to seek God first and love Him first and love of neighbor and self follows in a most wonderful way. Aww but first we must remove the burdens that weigh us down. Come to me he says and give to him your burdens that block the heart from loving Him completely. And there will never be any regrets for going to Him. Because he sets us free.

I am not afraid!

There are a few CD's that I listen to that keep me on my journey. The other day I mentioned one, but today I will tell of another that touches my soul very deeply, It is called Make a Joyful Noise by Father Pat, there are many songs that Father Pat sings that speak loudly to my soul. I don't know why or how, but sometimes it happens and at other times it doesn't.

It all depends on what the Lord is letting me know. For a long time it took me awhile to understand this and the purpose for it. But then I began to understand the call of our Lord and how he uses different means to bring his love to light. There was a moment when I was driving and listening to a CD by Josh Groban, and one song touched me so very deeply, it was a song of love. I believe I wrote about it too. Music in this sense does not always speak to my heart though. I could listen to spiritual, harmonious music and nothing at all. I could listen to Father Pat and several others and I will not have anything but the pleasure of listening to profound music.

And then there might be a moment when a specific word in one of Father Pat's would strike me deeply. I have also found it happens once or twice with JMT's, but not very often. I often wondered what it all meant. And then I would chock it up to the Holy Spirit delivering a message of love from our Lord.

But the one thing I had wondered was, is it possible to hear without music playing. And yes, it is because when it wasn't playing in a room I did hear words to a song twice at work. Not physically hear, but interiorly as if it was right there. The same when I was from sleep and hear it playing. I try to write down the exact words that I hear. I don't always manage it though, since there is no paper beside my bed. That is when I find when it is truly important it stays with me until it is written down. The discernment process for all this was not easy.

But I began to understand it better, just like the times I go to Chapel and joy lights up my soul and a smile crosses my face when there should be none. And yet it happens, I feel as if I glow, the joy that touches me is profound, just as the tears are while smiling. Have I ever understood any of it. Someday!

Reach out

Yesterday morning I had gone to Mass. The decorations in the Church this year are beautiful. But I am always amazed by the power of the Holy Spirit. After receiving communion while reflecting, I had the desire to reach out and touch someone. I felt this again, but somehow knew who I was to touch. so I did, I reached out to touch the Lady in front of me. I did God's will then, by the prompting of the Holy Spirit.

This I am finding has happened a few times, without my realizing it is God's will and my obedience. I am discovering that he will continue to manifest an idea or thought until it is taken care of. Like yesterday, I kept getting this thought to reach out and touch, once I did, the thought goes away and is replaced with thankful thoughts.

What I found odd was the Lady had thanked me for the burst of energy she was given. I never felt a thing. All I know is I did God's will when it was asked of me. And I relayed that to the person. After all everything is from God, not from me.

I am thankful that he has done these things a few times after I have received communion. His grace in those moments are the most wonderful to have.

This was the highlight of my morning, the rest of the day was spent making tiny meatballs. I am also finding out my Dad is not doing as well as he should. When he does some physical things, it affects him so much. He has gotten so thin in the last few years. He had a phone call yesterday about his only surviving Aunt in Canada. He was told she is dying. It seems there is not always pleasant news, but others are going through the same when they witness their loved one's decline in health. All I can do is pray for them. And offer their suffering to God, in hopes that he would restore to them their health. In my family I have witness through the years the ups and downs of health between my parents. We all used to say when one got sick and had to have surgery, the other would soon have one too just to keep up with the other.

We all will die someday, it is with hope that when we do it is with a clean heart. Where we will be with the Light of the World.