Mary, did you know?

I am enjoying this Christmas morning. They skies are bright and sunny. There is a calm just presently in the city. And my mind and heart are stirred to praying for the nations. As is common with me, I'm reflecting back over times when I've stood in deep moments of prayer, in different places in the world. Kwanzaa candles, a Menorah and a Christ Candle help set the mood. The flames against the brightly lit snow still have a sparkle. They remind me that today is a day to remember the joy that comes when the gift of the Holy Spirit is received.

I pray you enjoy family today, however that is defined for you. That you are reminded of the Life if Christ. And that you freely receive all that was given to you in love.

As for me, I'm drawing closer to Jesus, Joseph, and Mary, and I'm asking questions about how they really lived their life on earth...

This video reflects those thoughts, and prayers. The song is one I've loved for years, and the images are from the movie, The Passion.

Merry Christmas all. May the Lord Bless you and keep you.

Prayer....

These words are from an old book on the mass... but it speaks my heart tonight. Will you join me in praying for the nations, for our Church? I pray these words touch your heart as they did mine. May they echo in your spirit as you read them:


Lord, it is not for myself alone I now do pray,
for selfish prayer is scarce a prayer at all;
But for all these, Your people, seen and unseen,
for those who bear Your blessed Sign, for these I pray;

Nor do I now forget those others who know You not,
or who, knowing, have forsaken Your way:
For we are one in You.

With all these, then, I join in that appointed invocation
which Your church does place upon our lips today;
For to each day is given its own singular fashion
wherewith to praise You and to pray to You;
That praying thus our lasting wish may come to be
And we may grasp that which alone abides.

From an undivided heart, and in child-like spirit,
To all these prayers I do myself unite,
As Your church in due humility does now pour out
inwords of plain and forceful sense,
Humanity's fear of oppression, famine, evil deeds,
and its need of the dew of Your Love.

Thus guided by the saints whom we do now recall,
Be they close or distant, familiar or scarce known,
I join the age-long cloud of witnesses
in ranks unbroken and unceasing,
While with these lips You've given me, I frame the Church's prayer
And strive to reach the foot of Your Eternal Throne.


סלה
Psalm 84

Sweetly Broken...

"Called out of death, and into life."

This song, and many of the images in this video reflect many moments from this past year.

Many of those moments shaped my heart - breaking me - and helping me love just a little bit better. I pray you have moments along the path, under trees, with flowers....holding onto crosses...

Jesus, draw me gently to my knees, let me be fully surrendered.

I'll be sweetly broken...

Psalm 103

Deep places...

If you sometimes wonder why it takes me so long to write a post... well, I could say it is because I'm really busy with work, or that life in general has consumed me once again.

But that isn't often the reason. While life does get very busy, the space between posts is more likely to mean that I'm processing something deep that is going on in my heart.

I was in this spot recently, and was profoundly moved by what I saw, felt, and heard. There really are no words to say how deeply this place touched my heart.
I didn't plan on making a pilgrimage that day, I was just being a tourist on the east coast of this country that I love. I asked the Lord to show me his heart for his people...and He led me here.

Isaiah 43

1 But now, this is what the LORD says:
He who created you, O Jacob,
he who formed you, O Israel:
"Fear not, for I have redeemed you;
I have summoned you by name; you are mine.

2 When you pass through the waters,
I will be with you;
and when you pass through the rivers,
they will not sweep over you.
When you walk through the fire,
you will not be burned;
the flames will not set you ablaze.

3 For I am the LORD, your God,
the Holy One of Israel, your Savior;
I give Egypt for your ransom,
Cush and Seba in your stead.

4 Since you are precious and honored in my sight,
and because I love you,
I will give men in exchange for you,
and people in exchange for your life.

5 Do not be afraid, for I am with you;
I will bring your children from the east
and gather you from the west.

6 I will say to the north, 'Give them up!'
and to the south, 'Do not hold them back.'
Bring my sons from afar
and my daughters from the ends of the earth -

7 everyone who is called by my name,
whom I created for my glory,
whom I formed and made."

8 Lead out those who have eyes but are blind,
who have ears but are deaf.

9 All the nations gather together
and the peoples assemble.
Which of them foretold this
and proclaimed to us the former things?
Let them bring in their witnesses to
prove they were right, so that others may hear
and say, "It is true."

10 "You are my witnesses," declares the LORD,
"and my servant whom I have chosen,
so that you may know and believe me
and understand that I am he.
Before me no god was formed,
nor will there be one after me.

11 I, even I, am the LORD,
and apart from me there is no savior.

On distant shores....

When I'm at work, my days are scattered. The bombardment of questions starts pretty much as soon as I arrive, and ends only when either I leave or the others get tired of waiting in line. Seems strange to me (I'm an accountant). If I was in a call center I'd understand.

Thankfully, even with the chaos in the markets, I have a reprive for a few days. Friends of mine are getting married this weekend ... and as a result I get to step away from the office for a few days and even get to spend time near deep waters.... and let my mind rest for a bit, and my body too. And of course, see a beautiful couple exchange their vows before God.

While I'm sure there will be lots of time to engage with friends, I plan on getting some much needed alone time with the Lord. I'll sit somewhere, with the scriptures and play a few worship Cds. At the moment, there is no journal in my purse to capture notes. I may pick up one along the way, but I'm thinking it's time to just listen.

One of my very favorite things is to get really still, and just hear the rythm of the wind and the waves blend with my heartbeat. I'm thankful and excited to do just that this weekend, with family and friends.

For however you choose to spend Thanks Giving, I hope it's with people you treasure and full of activities you truly enjoy.

Happy Thanksgiving.

Psalm 97

The saints among us....

I like these old polish saints. This quote is from Sister Mary Faustina: "Neither graces, nor revelations, nor raptures, nor gifts granted to a soul make it perfect, but rather the intimate union of the soul with God. These gifts are merely ornaments of the soul, but constitute neither its essence nor its perfection. My sanctity and perfection consist in the close union of my will with the will of God" (Diary 1107).

I would like to visit the chapel near Krakow. Maybe it's just nostalgia given my polish family roots. Even so the Sanctuary of Divine Mercy at Lagiewniki seems like a beautiful place to visit.

guardian angels...

"May the angels lead you into paradise; may the martyrs come to welcome you and take you to the holy city, the new and eternal Jerusalem."
http://www.therecord.com/news/obituaries/obituaries2020_5252962.html