Happy All Saints' Eve!

"I love You, O my God, and my only desire is to love You until the last breath of my life. I love You, O my infinitely lovable God, and I would rather die loving You, than live without loving You. I love You, Lord and the only grace I ask is to love You eternally....My God, if my tongue cannot say in every moment that I love You, I want my heart to repeat it to You as often as I draw breath."

- Saint John Vianney

Thoughts to Ponder...

Today, my quote comes from a saint who is more familiar to most of us: Saint Paul.

"Be watchful, stand firm in your faith, be courageous, be strong. Let all that you do be done in love."

I Corinthians 16:13, 14 RSV

Be watchful: be vigilant, and aware of the devil's schemes. Be alert!

Stand firm in your faith: don't be easily swayed by the tides of change in the world.

Be courageous: don't let Satan or his forces bully you into a corner, cowering in fear.

Be strong: know that you have the mightiest Warrior of all on your side!

Let all that you do be done in love: what are your motives?

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"Be strong and let your heart take courage, all you who wait for the Lord."

Psalm 31:24

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Another Saint Quote

It is not hard to obey when we love the one whom we obey.
~Saint Ignatius

Monday Saint Quote

God has been very good to me, for I never dwell upon anything wrong which a person has done, so as to remember it afterwards. If I do remember it, I always see some other virtue in that person.

~Saint Teresa of Avila

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Tuesday Saint Quote

It is no use walking anywhere to preach unless our walking is our preaching.

~St. Francis of Assisi

Another Way to Help Greensburg, Kansas

I received an e-mail today, telling of a recipe book a friend is putting together for people in Greensburg. If you would like to contribute, send recipes to jdrunner@gbta.net. Please note that she would like to have this ready before Christmas, so needs recipes ASAP.

THANKS!

A Day of Sadness

Yes, another school shooting. And not too far from where we live. It was all there was on TV yesterday afternoon. (I was sick, so the TV was my babysitter!) Well, the school shooting in Cleveland and the train wreck up in Painesville.

Then of course, today all the national media had all the child psychologists in, to ask "why is this happening"?

Sin, my friend. The fall in the garden. A world looking for answers in all the wrong places. Broken families. Broken kids. Sin.

It saddens my heart.

Another Psalm in My Heart

A friend recently said she likes to pray through the Psalms. I haven't done that in quite a long time. I do like to read a Psalm, or a portion of one, every day, though. They are really ministering to my spirit.

Today I read this one:

"I will lift up my eyes to the hill--from whence comes my help?
My help comes from the Lord, who made heaven and earth.

He will not allow your foot to be moved; He who keeps you will not slumber. Behold He who keeps Israel shall neither slumber nor sleep.

The Lord is your keeper; the Lord is your shade at your right hand.
The sun shall not strike you by day, nor the moon by night.

The Lord shall preserve you from all evil; He shall preserve your soul.
The Lord shall preserve your going out and your coming in
From this time forth, and even forevermore."

Psalm 121

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This Psalm is incredibly comforting to me today. I can rest peacefully at night, knowing that my Lord never sleeps, and is always watching over me. He protects me both day and night. He knows everything that is happening in my life.

Rest in the peace of these words today, my friends!

*mountain photo by Craig Hiller

A Psalm in My Heart

"Happy are those who act with justice
And always do what is right!"

Psalm 106:3

Friday Saint Quote

St. John of the Cross...

"One act of thanksgiving made when things go wrong is worth a thousand when things go right."

God's Amazing Ways

As most of my readers know, I was able to attend our niece's wedding about a month ago. I didn't give every detail, obviously. But there was one thing that happened that I've been waiting to share with you. It was precious, special, and so...well...you'll see...

At one point in the ceremony, a group of three people came forward to give prophetic words over the couple. I grew up in a Pentecostal church, and have been involved in many Charismatic services. Still, I have to admit, I am often skeptical of such things. Too often, the "words" are just generic, nice things. Which isn't really wrong, but also isn't prophetic.

As one "word" was given over them, I got this spiritual sense of God saying something so powerful, though. I can't remember the exact words, but the essence of it was that they were to be a Kingdom couple. A couple to show God's Kingdom to the world, and to spread His Kingdom. Even as the words were being spoken, I looked up above the gazebo. And there, fluttering its wings ever so gracefully, was a beautiful symbol of God's royalty: a monarch butterfly. It flew back and forth over the gazebo several times, then fluttered away.

You can call it what you will. I saw it simply as God confirming the spoken word. God's Kingdom being lived out through this young couple, who were devoting themselves to each other, and to God, as man and wife.

I'm not sure what God has for Kim and Randall. I just know it's going to be a fulfillment of those very words. I'll never look at a monarch butterfly the same again...

Isn't God amazing???


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A Monday Pondering

Let me explain the situation, then I'll tell you what's stuck in my "ponderer" today...

Hubby was sick a couple of weeks ago. After a couple of days of waiting it out, he asked me to call the doctor and make an appointment. Turns out our dr. isn't in the office past noon on Fridays. And he was going to be gone all week the next week. We called a local "quick clinic", and got him in there. He was examined, given a strep test, and handed a couple of prescriptions to have filled. Later, when we were discussing it, he told me how much they charged him at the clinic, and handed me the receipt. When I went to record it in our checkbook, I mentioned that the receipt was for $20 less than what he had said he was charged. He found the printout he was given, and the amount on there was the higher amount, too. I called today to straighten it out. Between our original phone call, the message she left on the machine, and another return call, the gal at the clinic thanked me no less than 7-9 times (I stopped counting!) for calling them to point out the error and make it right. I could tell she was surprised that someone would do this.

I've had similar experiences when I've handed a clerk back an extra dime when I was given too much change. Or when I've offered to pay for something I inadvertently knocked off a store shelf. They are amazed that someone would do such a thing.

Why is that??? I'm saddened as I realize how far downhill society has gone when store clerks are shocked at my honesty.

Any thoughts from blog land?