On this day the Lord has made . . .

As I was driving home from the grocery store I heard a man on the radio ask what we were leaving our children/grandchildren. He mentioned how he would choose, over any amount of money, the writings from his grandfather . . . if he had left any.

So, I have determined to create a diary/journal of what happened to me on this day(s) the Lord has granted me.







Saturday, December 26, 2015

people

Christmas was wonderful this year. Baby sister hosted the sisters and their families. My daughter invited us all over to watch the kids open presents and they cooked us breakfast. Being with family . . . heart warming sounds so trite but it is the best description that I can come up with at this moment. Heart warming and strengthening and healing are all good descriptions as well.

Coming home Christmas Eve with the intentions of going to midnight mass I passed the magic tree that was surrounded by a throng of people.
It made me sad. It is a tree with lights and yet it pulls thousands of people to come adore it and stand around and take pictures with it. It's a tree with lights on the side of a highway in a deserted parking lot with several years worth of rotting large bales of hay in the corner. I just went to their website to capture this shot that someone had posted and the description sounds quite new age (and this is the perfect description of most people's god): The purpose of the LS Magic Tree is to be defined by all who enjoy it.

PEOPLE

No prayers were said at our Christmas. No mention of Jesus. Well, someone asked if another one went to church and they said at Easter. They are just too busy for that stuff. They went on to describe their Sunday.  They get up and go work out and then they come home and take a nap.

PEOPLE

Now let's move onto the disgust I feel for myself. I didn't make it to any service worshiping Christ. I could have. I left my family to do just that. Instead I went home and took a bath and then went to sleep. I have quit saying my morning and evening prayers. I still pray but they are short snippets and completely all over the place. There is no reason that I quit saying the prayers. Well, the verse in Matthew 6 that speaks about vain and repetitious prayer does bother me a bit. But I do love the morning and evening prayers in the Book of Common Prayer because it organizes our minds and helps us to pray for all aspects of our lives: our world, our nation, our priests, our family, the people we know that are hurting.

Just to show you my thought process. I was typing the paragraph about the disgust I feel for myself and I spoke of vain and repetitious prayer. I looked for the verse in the Bible and then I decided to search for commentary on that verse. The very first one I chose has brought clarity and tears so I want to share it here: https://catholicchristianity.wordpress.com/2012/09/02/vain-and-repetitious-prayer/  (I was not searching for something that had the word catholic in it - this just happened to be the first search I clicked on - the title had the words reasonable belief in the description.)

My mind, and I'm sure it isn't just my mind, runs all the time and it skips all over the place. Well, prayer helps focus my thoughts. Prayer calms me when I am fearful or anxious and prayer strengthens me and prayer comforts me. With praying I know that I am helping someone - even though they have no clue it is going on. While praying I am in front of the One that I know loves me. He created me and He is allowing me to grow and experience this change of heart and mind.





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Prayer List

  • Thank you Father thank you.
  • Lord, extend the kingdom of your Son.
  • O Merciful God, who hast made all men, and hatest nothing that thou hast made, nor desirest the death of a sinner, but rather that he should be converted and live; Have mercy upon all who know thee not as thou are revealed in the Gospel of thy Son. Take from them all ignorance, hardness of heart, and contempt of thy Word; and so fetch them home, blessed Lord to thy fold, that they may be one flock under one shepherd, Jesus Christ our Lord, who liveth and reigneth with thee and the Holy Spirit, one God, world without end. Amen.
  • God please take the blinders from my children's heart and eyes. Please give them the gift of faith. Lord God, faith in you is so comforting and brings so much joy. Thank you!
  • God please bless Michael, Lindsay, and their families with faith, wisdom, and compassion. In the name of our Lord Jesus Christ.
  • God thank you for the gift of my co-workers who have shown me that it is good to show that I am a Christian. It is more than okay, it is imperative that my faith shows, so that others can come to know you. Please make me into a shining light for you. Give me the words, and your wisdom, and please don't let me cause anyone to stumble.
  • God please be with my family/friends as they go through this time in their lives. Please give them strength and courage and wisdom and faith Lord.
  • God please guide the leaders of the world.
  • God please heal my children.
  • Please heal those that have asked for prayer.

Reading List

  • One Thousand Gifts ~ Ann Voskamp

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