A Minute Captured

It's All Too Much

noreply@blogger.com (Jenny) — Thu, 26 Jan 2012 12:00:00 +0000

I have just started reading It's All Too Much: An Easy Plan for Living a Richer Life with Less Stuff. I,thankfully do not have a hoarding problem, but I was intrigued by the book and the results it seems to have.

This book has come along at the right time in our lives. My dear mother in law passed away last May. Since that time, my father in law has been purging, and purging, and purging...she kept everything.

I have seen the burden this has become on him. The house was not filled to the brim with only paths to get from here to there. But every closet, every shelf in every closet, every cabinet...this is where she kept her stuff; school papers from her 8 children (the youngest of whom is 34), canceled checks her dad wrote 50 years ago, things no one in the family remembers ever seeing or using, items the family may remember but has not seen in 30 years.

My father in law is doing his best to sort and disperse. But this is difficult for him; these belonged to his beloved, they were obviously important to her. So, when he calls and tells me he has a box of this and that, I tell him to bring it over. My husband and I go through the box together and if he has a special memory, an attachment to an item we find, we keep it. If he does not, we trash it or give it away. This has been difficult at times for my husband as well; these were his mother's things. But, as much as I love my mother in law; she was and remains a true mother to me in every sense of the word, I cannot let her things take over my home or our life.

If something is important, give it a place of importance. Find a way to respect and display that memory. If you're not treating it with honor and respect and you can't find a way to do so, then get rid of it.
It's All Too Much: An Easy Plan for Living a Richer Life with Less Stuff

After reading that we have gone back through some of the things we originally kept; things that have just been sitting here or there, waiting to be moved or actually being moved because they were in the way because we did not know what to do with it. We have asked ourselves this question, "If this was so important to her, why was it stuffed in the bottom of a box in the back of a closet?"

The things we cherish of hers, the things we have kept, were displayed or used in her home; they had a place of honor in her home, in her life. My daughters honor her Madonna collection. They were given the opportunity to choose a couple favorite Mary statues that Grandma had setting on her bookcase in her living room. My husband chose a spot to display an old porcelain pitcher that his mother served him homemade hot chocolate in. I have kept a bright pink robe given to her in her last month. If mom loved the item enough to use it or prominently display it, then we do as well. Those are treasures that evoke our emotions; we remember Grandma using, or displaying, or showing us these important things in her home.

We were given 2 paint by number pictures that she apparently painted years and years ago. My husband vaguely remembers seeing them somewhere. I never saw them hanging. They were found in a box in a closet. They are kind of ugly, but, they were made by Grandma....We kept one, and then the other made its way to our home. We have decided to donate that one. This was a hard decision. It is a Crucifixion paint by number. But it was not important to her, or it would have had a place of honor in her home. I honestly don't know where we would put it if we did keep it. But the thing is, we would only be keeping it because it belonged to Mom/Grandma, not because it was important to her...there is a huge difference.

{A repost from my archives as I continue to work on Suscipio and begin to feel the nesting instinct kick in.}

In His Heart

Links for 2012-01-25 [del.icio.us]

Thu, 26 Jan 2012 00:00:00 PST

jumping tandem: Perfect
a little slice of blogging truth

Minutes

noreply@blogger.com (Jenny) — Mon, 23 Jan 2012 15:22:00 +0000

Around the farm
It is cold but the sky is just about to unfold into a beautiful display of orange, pink and blue pastels.

I'm Listening to
I'm listening to the fireplace breathe warm life into the morning cold house, my blog music and an early riser drink some hot chocolate.

Moments of Gratitude
::forgiveness
::the confessional
::Christ in the confessional
::mercies new every morning
::saints who were sinners and still made it
::a very wise husband
::another day

Reading
I am so excited to start discussing Called to Life
over at Suscipio; so I am re-reading it.

Catholic Bible-RSV

Pondering

I do not understand my own actions. For I do not do what I want, but I do the very thing I hate.
†Romans 7:15

Praying
There are some prayers of a mother's heart that are too deep for words; maybe because I'm not sure what words to attach to the pleas...But God knows.

Memorization
We are still working on the Magnificat and this week we will start learning O Mary of Graces. We have God of Mercy and Compassion down! {Well, the children do, I;m slowly bringing up the rear.} Even the 3 year old can sing it from memory!

Beauty in the Ordinary
I want to go through every room and get rids of lots of stuff. I am also feeling like a women in her 33rd week of pregnancy...the mind is willing but the flesh is weak.

Home Learning
Same old keeping on and this is a good thing. Life will soon be hectic and brand new when this baby is born and the routine set of school will hopefully keep us going.

Breaking Bread
I am trying really hard to stick to our grocery budget so we can continue to pay big chunks on our house. Meaning, low cost meals around here: lots of venison, beans, homemade bread...all while trying to remain faithful to the gestational diabetes diet. We will be having birthday cake this Friday as my big Boy turns 8!

Looking Ahead
I have a doctors appt this week and pre admission at the hospital; yes, it is getting that close, piano lessons and soccer sign ups and the usual planned that seems to somehow turn into the unexpected. Life is good, even when it has moments that take you by surprise and those moments may stink, but they all add up to make life the blessing that it is.

In His Heart

Book Club Announcement

noreply@blogger.com (Jenny) — Sat, 21 Jan 2012 16:07:00 +0000

Stop by Suscipio and find out what we are going to be reading together in February. {There's a video of me included. I won't tell you how many tries it took.}

In His Heart

Psalm 102

noreply@blogger.com (Jenny) — Sat, 21 Jan 2012 03:40:00 +0000

The children of your servants shall live secure; their offspring shall be established in your presence.
†Psalm 102:28

A secure childhood, isn't that we all want for our children Lord? But there is nothing secure about this world, this life...our security cannot be found here.

Security can only be found in You, with You. And the only way our children will know this is if they are taught, if they are established in Your presence.

Help me Lord to cultivate a love for You in their hearts, now, while they are young. Help me to teach them that You are the secure place they need.

In His Heart

Links for 2012-01-17 [del.icio.us]

Wed, 18 Jan 2012 00:00:00 PST

attend | evlogia
"He prayed constantly, since he learned that it is necessary to pray unceasingly. For he paid such close attention to what was read that nothing from Scripture did he fail to take in – rather he grasped everything, and in him the memory took the place of books." -The Life of Antony This is my goal, to let nothing from Scripture go unnoticed.

Links for 2012-01-16 [del.icio.us]

Tue, 17 Jan 2012 00:00:00 PST

ESPN I believe in Tim Tebow

Minutes

noreply@blogger.com (Jenny) — Mon, 16 Jan 2012 15:28:00 +0000

Around the farm
It is a windy day, almost spring like in January. I have a couple of children coming down with colds so I'm not sure how much school or chores will be accomplished today. This may look like on of those days where it looks like nothing got done, but I will know, and they will know all the many things that were accomplished, like snuggling and book reading and hot tea drinking.

I'm Listening to
I let the kids watch a show this morning to slowly wake up, so I am listening to the end of it accompanied by coughs and sniffles.

Moments of Gratitude
::my birthday dinner date with Chris
::my sister and brother in law babysitting
::hearing my new wind chimes on the front porch
::finding a letter Chris' mom had written me back in 2000 while she was still living, telling me how great a mother I am {I really, really, needed this right now} I've had a tough parenting time lately
::the doctor saying I only need to check my blood sugar 4x a week instead of 4x a day
::kids with their hand on my belly feeling the baby kick during rosary

Reading
For Instruction in Righteousness : A Topical Reference Guide for Biblical Child-Training

Catholic Bible-RSV

Time for God {This is a re-read}

Pondering

“Your personal sanctification is your primary duty. The effort to sanctify others must be the overflow of your love for our Lord. In any case, seek to give our Lord the greatest possible joy and trust in Him through the Immaculate.”
{St Maximilian Kolbe}

Praying
I am praying for discernment as I begin, what I believe something God is calling me to. I am praying to humbly follow my husband's lead when I approach him with questions concerning this venture and for the grace to maintain all that belongs to my vocation.

Memorization
We are working on the Magnificat, finishing up God of Mercy & Compassion and beginning O Mary of Graces.

Beauty in the Ordinary
I am still maintaining my new found practice of making my bed, turning on the candle warmer and Gregorian Chant as I leave my bedroom. It is still an oasis in a busy house and I know we all benefit from time spent in that room.

Home Learning
Today may be all about learning to live and love with cranky, sick people.

Breaking Bread
I am thankful for the Gestational Diabetes Diet guidelines and will continue to follow them to some extent even after this pregnancy. They have been especially helpful in keeping us eating steadily so we don't all of a sudden get hungry and put the first thing, the easiest thing, into our mouth.

Looking Ahead
Slow, slow week...at least I say that, it is always subject to change. The only thing planned so far is piano lessons. This time at home will be good because I am starting to feel some nesting urges. These urges, when voiced to the rest of my family sound something like: "We need to go through this house and get rid of some stuff! In 6-8 weeks we will be welcoming another person into this house who will be bringing their own set of stuff!"

In His Heart

The Catholic Life

noreply@blogger.com (Jenny) — Fri, 13 Jan 2012 23:47:00 +0000

I sometimes wonder what God was thinking. Here I am, weeks away from welcoming our 7th child into our family, homeschooling the others who are of school age, trying to manage a home full of people all day long while keeping our end goal of heaven ever before my eyes...and He gave me no apparent training.

Read more at Suscipio, a blog encouraging and supporting the authentic Catholic woman on the web.

In His Heart

Minutes

noreply@blogger.com (Jenny) — Thu, 12 Jan 2012 13:35:00 +0000

Around the farm
Last night before bed it started snowing just a bit. This morning we have a dusting of snow on the ground. And by dusting, I mean enough that any kid that lives on the plains is going to be squealing with delight while a child from the North may wonder what all the fuss over some frost is about.

I'm Listening to
the fireplace blowing warm air throughout the house. Thankfully, we have not had to turn on our heat this winter. The fireplace has done a good job of keeping the house fairly warm. It is a favorite place for the kids to crowd around first thing in the morning and last thing at night.

Moments of Gratitude
::my sister's family and Chris hosting a 40th birthday party for me last weekend.
::my dear, sweet friends and their husbands. Who would have thought a girl growing up with no friends would end up with five very close friends?

Reading
The Holy Bible : DOUAY-RHEIMS VERSION

Little Catechism of the Life of Prayer by Fr Gabriel of Mary Magdalen, O.C.D. {won from Carmelite Mom}.

A Practical Commentary on Holy Scripture

A Woman's High Calling: 10 Ways to Live Out God's Plan for Your Life

Pondering
This brand new little baby will be here sooner rather later, so I am pondering baby names, which I love to do. Chris on the other hand, not so much. He only recently has been ready to talk a few names, for a few minutes, and then he seems to be wore out!

I'm still consistently pondering the use of my mouth, the words spoken, the tone, the intent...

Praying
::for a friend to get a new job he desperately wants and needs
::for the very youngest of my children tucked up tight
::for the very oldest of my children
::all the ones in between
::for Chris, I am so thankful he choose me to be his wife

Memorization
the children have Psalm 100 {99} memorized, oh how it makes my heart sing to hear them recite it! We are now working on the Magnificat. We almost have God of Mercy and Compassion memorized so next week we will begin our new hymn.

Father said recently that we could easily memorize a hymn a week. Father is not a pregnant momma in her last trimester homeschooling 6 children, cooking for them and their awesome dad, cleaning up after them and washing all their laundry. So we are aiming for two hymns a month.

Beauty in the Ordinary
OK, this is so good! The other day Father was coming over to bless our home for the Epiphany. When he does this blessing, he goes in every room and opens every door. Needless to say we really cleaned the house good. Before I walked out of my bedroom, I turned on my candle warmer and a CD of Gregorian Chant set very, very quiet. I noticed that each time I walked into my room it was so relaxing, almost a little heaven. It was clean, smelled nice and the strains of prayer were barely audible. So I did it again the next day...same welcome to any and all who came into my room; the kids quieted, calmed, sat on the bed to talk peacefully to me when they came in looking for me. {My favorite rocking chair is in now in my room, so I am spending more time in there reading, praying and resting.}

Home Learning
Ah, we continue. I'm wondering when, how...new baby...this will be interesting.

Breaking Bread
Still on the Gestational Diabetes diet but I have a doctors appt today and I am going to work on him. He has delivered all my children so we have some history, meaning I can speak freely. {He's even been to our farm for shearing day}. I don't think I need to continue checking first thing every morning. I'm supposed to stay below 120 and my morning readings are in the 70-90 range. Same with my 2 hours after breakfast, even though I drink a big cup of hot chocolate which is a no no, according to them. Those testing strips are expensive, my fingers are sore and I think it unnecessary to continue those two readings, or at least the first one. We'll see how far I get?

Looking Ahead
doctors appt today, this will be my last once a month so now I start going either bi weekly or weekly, I can't remember. Chris is taking me out to dinner on Saturday for my birthday. {I can't wait...steak, salad, bread...here I come!}

In His Heart

Psalm 101

noreply@blogger.com (Jenny) — Wed, 11 Jan 2012 02:09:00 +0000

I will walk with integrity of heart within my house; I will not set before my eyes anything that is base.
†Psalm 101:2b

God in His infinite goodness and mercy knows I fall, many, many times and not only are His mercies new every morning, they are new every year. So I begin again.

I resolve again to grow in virtue, to walk in love, to set God alone before my eyes. And the battle begins each and every morning

Morning by morning I will destroy all the wicked in the land, cutting off all the evildoers from the city of the Lord.
†Psalm 101:8

The battle begins with me. I am the wicked in the land. I am an evildoer...

I am also the reason He gave His only Son. I am the apple of His eye and the delight of His heart.

In His Heart

God of Mercy and Compassion

noreply@blogger.com (Jenny) — Thu, 05 Jan 2012 12:00:00 +0000

Last summer we entertained the mother of our priest for a couple of hours. She raised 13 children all of whom still practice their faith minus 1. She told me to sing with the children, begin our school day with song.

Although we had started learning hymns last year, we had let it slip by the way side. At a recent women's retreat our priest again stressed the importance of teaching the children the hymns of the church.

Last year we learned Sing of Mary, O Sacred Head Surrounded, and Parce Domine (We only learned the Parce Domine part). This year we have started with God of Mercy and Compassion.

I can't wait to share our next hymn. It is one I had never heard before and oh so very beautiful! I was listening to it this morning and the boy walked by and said, "It's like you're addicted to this song."

In His Heart

Abide...How God Calls Through a Word

noreply@blogger.com (Jenny) — Wed, 04 Jan 2012 19:06:00 +0000

The Year of Trust was hard and that sentence leaves so much unsaid...hard does not even describe it. So when God called last year the Year of Joy, I was more than ready. It looked different than I expected. I guess I expected giddy as my form of joy. Of all the synonyms for joy, I think the ones that fit the relationship joy and I had {have} is comfort, gratification, satisfaction, solace and treasure. Only recently have I realized it truly was a year of joy; not animated ecstasy, but a comfortable acceptance of me: who I am, what I have to offer and where I'm headed.

A couple of weeks ago I began to wonder what this year of 2012 was going to hold. I was feeling my share of parenting burdens at the time...maybe "endure?" Then I was reminded in prayer one day why Our Lady of Confidence was chosen as our home school name long before we started homeschooling...maybe "confidence?" But wait, I love this verse in Psalm 18, "He brought me forth into a broad place; he delivered me, because he delighted in me." Maybe "delight" would my new word? I pondered "drink" and "stability" as well, but God was not in those words for me this year. He led me to abide and I turned up my nose. "That sounds like such a common word for the year. Everyone chooses abide."

But I began to look up Scriptures containing the word "abide." Then I looked up the definition, synonyms and related words. This was the word. God knew what he was doing.

Definition
Abide {verb}
Transitive verb:
1. to wait for: await.
2. (a) to endure without yielding (withstand) (b) to bear patiently (tolerate)
3. to accept without objection

Intransitive verb:
1. to remain stable or fixed in a state
2. to continue in a place (sojourn)

Endure showed up in the definition for abide and so did stability. And when I wait for something, shouldn't I wait confidently...so there's confidence. This one, little, over used word, was showing itself to encompass many other words I had thought were to be my anchor for the upcoming year.

And then the Word began to speak to me. I had only considered me, abiding in God the Father, but 1 John 4:11-13, 15, 16 clearly told me otherwise

Beloved, if God so loved us, we also ought to love one another. No man has ever seen God; if we love one another God abides in us and his love is perfected in us. By this we know that we abide in him and he in us, because he has given us of his own spirit. Whoever confesses that Jesus is the Son of God, God abides in him and he in God. So we know and believe the love God has for us. God is love and he who abides in love, abides in God and God abides in him.

God abides in me?

God abides in me!

God waits for me...God endures me...God accepts me without objection...God remains in me, stable and fixed. Of course I knew this, but I didn't really know this.

Synonyms
Abide
1. (syn) stay: to continue to be in one place for a noticeable time
(syn) abide, linger, remain, stick around, wait
(related) adhere, cleave, cling, stick, dwell, live, reside

2. (syn) continue: to remain indefinitely in existence or in a particular state or course
(syn) abide, carry through, endure, last, persist
(related) carry on, run on; outlast, survive, remain, stay

3. (syn) bear: to put up with something trying or difficult
(syn) abide, endure, stick it out, support, sustain
(related) accept, receive; accede, consent

4. (syn) reside: to have as one's habitation or domicile
(syn) dwell, live, hang out, abode

And as I continued my search through the Scriptures, John 15 sealed abide deep within me. That one chapter alone contains the word abide almost a dozen times. More importantly John 15 sums up what my role as wife, mother, Christian should be

You did not choose me, but I chose you and appointed you that you should go and bear fruit and that your fruit should abide; so that whatever you ask the Father in my name, he may give it to you. This I command you, to love one another.
†John 15:16-17

Because my year, my word for the year, is not really just about me. It is about them, how to love and serve my husband and children better. God chose me to bear abiding fruit in my vocation as wife and mother. God command me to love. And when I love...God abides in me and his love is perfected in me.

In His Heart

Links for 2012-01-02 [del.icio.us]

Tue, 03 Jan 2012 00:00:00 PST

Clover Lane: Growing Up Too Fast: Our Girls
Oh Amen and Amen again!!

Reading Through the Scriptures in 2012 {Part 3-When?}

noreply@blogger.com (Jenny) — Mon, 02 Jan 2012 12:00:00 +0000

O Lord in the morning you hear my voice; in the morning I prepare a sacrifice for you, and watch.
†Psalm 5:3

I've posted "Why," and "How" I read the Scriptures, now, "When?"

I try to start my day with the Word of God. If eating a good breakfast gets your body off to a good start, then reading the word of God gets your heart, mind and soul off to a good start.

The steadfast love of the Lord never ceases, his mercies never come to an end; they are new every morning; great is your faithfulness.
†Lamentations 3:22-23

Some quotes found here and there on the benefits of starting your day with a good breakfast: "After fasting all night, breakfast can kick-start your energy level...By recharging your brain and your body, you'll be more efficient in just about everything you do...The consumption of an early morning snack, kick starts your body into gear, telling it what to expect the rest of the day...It's more likely that people who regularly eat breakfast also make good dietary choices the rest of the day."

But seek first his kingdom and his righteousness, and all these things shall be yours as well.
†Matthew 6:33

Here is where I replace how good for the body breakfast is with how good for the heart, mind and soul reading your Bible first thing in the morning is...spending time in quiet conversation with God first thing in the morning can kick start your energy level, make you more efficient in just about everything you do, it sets the tone for what to expect the rest of the day, helps you make better choices the rest of the day.

But I O Lord cry to you; in the morning my prayer comes before you.
†Psalm 88:13

If 15 minutes every morning can do that for me...Amen and sign me up! Those 15 extra minutes I want in bed won't do any of that. Those 15 minutes in front of the television or computer absolutely won't produce the same fruit.

Let me hear in the morning of your merciful love, for in you I put my trust. Teach me the way I should go, for to you I lift up my soul.
†Psalm 143:8

There is another good reason to begin the day with God the Father, Jesus did.

In the morning, while it was still very dark, he got up and went out to a deserted place, and there he prayed.
†Mark 1:34

This is what my morning routine looks like right now: I wake up and say my Morning Offering and three Hail Mary's before I get out of bed. Then I get out of bed and start the fire so the children will have a nice warm fireplace to sit by as they wake up. I start some water to boil for tea and check my email or blogs I read while the water is heating. Once my tea is ready, I am awake enough to sit down with my Bible and binder and spend some time with God in His living Word. {In my binder, I keep three prayers filled with the Word of God that I pray for myself {To watch my tongue}, for Chris and for the kids. I pray these before I start reading my Bible.}

If I got out of bed and went straight to my Bible, I would fall back asleep...been there, done that. So although I commit morning time to God, reading my Bible is not the very first thing I do. I need about 20-30 minutes to get good and awake. If you need a shower first or a cup of coffee, or let the dogs out, that's ok. Just get to your Bible as soon as you're able to stay awake and spend your 15 minutes in quiet conversation with God.

This whole process of spending time with God is habit formation. And that's ok because eventually the habit will develop into a deep desire.

Reading Scripture can sometimes seem arid, but if we perserve, sooner or later we will find in it a sweetness more delicious than anything on earth.
Called to Life

One more thing about "when." Part of the point of writing down a verse that stuck out to you in your morning Bible reading is have something to go back to during the day, a point of direction you can always return to to find your bearings. It is also a good practice to go back to that verse right before bed as something to meditate on while you are falling asleep. So the other part of "when?" right before bed.

In His Heart

Just a heads up of some of the tools I use:
The Holy Bible: Revised Standard Version

The Holy Bible : DOUAY-RHEIMS VERSION
{You certainly don't need two Bibles, I just happen to have them so I use them both. I have used the RSV exclusively these past couple of years. The children each have one of their own in this version as well so when we do our morning devotions I use this version. I attend the Traditional Latin Mass and hear the Douay Rheims read at each Mass and have decided to use this version as my primary Bible this year. The language in the Douay Rheims, while richer and more poetic in some places, is also a little harder to understand which is why I chose the RSV version to start with and to share with the kids. I know me...and if I could not understand it, I was not going to read it}

The Catholic Bible Concordance for the Revised Standard Version Catholic Edition (RSV-CE)
{I just bought this a couple of weeks ago and love it, love it, love it! I have looked up my word for the year and found all the corresponding Scripture verses. I have looked up verses dealing with anger, the tongue, stability...this has been invaluable to me as I really want to ponder God's Word and apply it to my life.}

Bible Marking Kit
{I bought these a week or so ago and have used them daily. They do not bleed through either version of the Bible listed above, although you can see a faint shadow of color through, but not enough to bother me. I have used the green to mark all the Scriptures pertaining to my mouth/tongue/words and blue to highlight passages that relate to my vocation as a wife and mother. Yellow has been for anything else so far. I know, you may cringe at marking up your Bible...me too at first! But we'll talk all about this later.}

A spiral or binder. {I am too melancholic to use a spiral..."What if I look up a word and write down some passages of Scripture and even some prayers and then move on to the next word only to come across a verse that pertains to my last word but don't have any room to add it with the other verses and reflections?! AArrrggg!!" Sound familiar? No, then skip this next suggestion.

I use a binder now, so I can add pages, take pages out, move pages around, put them behind tabs...basically satisfy my anal approach to keeping track of what I am reading, reflecting and praying on.}

Catholic Bible 1 year Reading Plan {I am using this for the first time. Sshhh, I've already started because I would rather be ahead then behind.} Don't really pay attention to this yet if you easily feel overwhelmed.

Reading the Scriptures in 2012 {Part 2½-How?}

noreply@blogger.com (Jenny) — Sat, 31 Dec 2011 13:36:00 +0000

I shared some thought on why reading the Bible is important and even the very basics of how. Now I want to share how I read the Scriptures.

I will confess...I did not need to set a timer at first because I will do anything to slip off by myself with a book and get out of housework. {The Bible has something to say about that, did you know?}

Anyway, I started by looking up verses on the internet about our thoughts. I used Bible Study Tools. Then I expanded my search on Google to include all sorts of topics: parenting, marriage, friendships, the use of my time, etc. If I read a Scripture quote in a book, I wrote it down and looked it up. This was good, but pretty random and haphazard.

Then I found a 90 day reading plan suited for the Protestant Bible and just added the Apocryphal Books to the list. This was good...took me waaaay longer than 90 days and I'm still not 100% finished. But it did teach me a technique for reading the Scriptures. The technique is called S.O.A.P.

S-Scripture
O-Observation
A-Application
P-Prayer

So this is how it works. You read a chapter of the Bible, and then jot down the one Scripture verse that stood out to you. This is the "S" Next you write down your observation about the verse you just read. How and why does this particular verse speak to you? This is "O" Then you write the application of this verse in your life. This is "A" and next a prayer regarding this particular verse, "P" This was so easy to understand and apply, that I had my children do it with me. This technique was very helpful in that it made me stop and pay attention to what I was reading and then apply it to my life because why take the time to read the Word of God if I don't want to glean anything from it?

Reading Scripture is taking a risk: that we will be asked to reorder our lives or told things we don't want to hear. We do not work on the Bible. It works on us.
Called to Life

So here is an example from my notebook from a year ago

Ephesians Chapter 5

S-Ephesians 5:19-20...addressing one another in psalms & hymns & spiritual songs, singing and making melody to the Lord with all your heart, always and for everything giving thanks in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, to God the Father.

O- If my heart is full of hymns, songs, singing, melodies & thanksgivings, it cannot be filled with fear, doubt, discouragement, sadness, negativity and harshness.

A-I must make a consistent & conscious effort to replace my old thinking habits with new ones. Today, anytime an intrusive thought presents itself, I will immediately recall Fr Jackson's sermon..."I am the pearl of great price." I will begin with thanksgiving that He gave all for me & then I will reflect for a moment on His Passion, for me.

P-My loving Father, {You can begin your prayer any way you want} Your love for me is so great, please help me to keep those thoughts of You and Your love at the front and center of my mind. I have all I need. You are all I need and have given me all I need. Help me to have a consistent mind to draw from the abundant blessings You have given to me.

Now as to where to start, the Book of Proverbs is a great place to get your feet wet. It has 31 chapters. There are 30-31 days in a month. So read a chapter of Proverbs a day and use the soap technique to record your time well spent with God in His precious Word.

I have also shared that I highlight passages in my Bible. I shared recently that I took a green highlighter and went looking for all the verses I could find on my words/tongue/mouth. I started in Proverbs, a very instructional book and moved through Wisdom and Sirach. Lately I have used a blue highlighter to mark the verses about my vocation as a wife and mother. I really want these verses to pop out at me each and every time I open my Bible and highlighting them does exactly that.

Scripture liberates. Little by little, the Word of God Himself begins to live within us. Ceaseless meditation on Scripture draws the poison from the deadening words in our hearts, replacing them with words of confidence and encouragement: I can do all things in him who strengthens me {Philippians 4:13}, For with God nothing will be impossible {Luke 1:37}, You are my beloved Son {Mark 1:11}. Here are words of hope, truth and love that purge the evil thoughts staining and darkening our hearts.
Called to Life

So the summary for "How?" Pick a plan, any plan, {If you pick a plan, stick with it. Don't give up because you miss a day or a week or even a month. Pick up right where you left off. The important thing is not how fast you read your Bible, but that you actually read your Bible},set your timer for 15 minutes and read. Then use the S.O.A.P. method to reflect on just one verse you have read. Mark your observations and prayers in a binder, journal or spiral and then thank God for calling you into His presence so He could talk to you because this idea or desire to spend time in the Word of God is not your own. God is calling you to Himself. Thank Him for it and respond faithfully and obediently.

In His Heart

Just a heads up of some of the tools I use:
The Holy Bible: Revised Standard Version

The Holy Bible : DOUAY-RHEIMS VERSION
{You certainly don't need two Bibles, I just happen to have them so I use them both. I have used the RSV exclusively these past couple of years. The children each have one of their own in this version as well so when we do our morning devotions I use this version. I attend the Traditional Latin Mass and hear the Douay Rheims read at each Mass and have decided to use this version as my primary Bible this year. The language in the Douay Rheims, while richer and more poetic in some places, is also a little harder to understand which is why I chose the RSV version to start with and to share with the kids. I know me...and if I could not understand it, I was not going to read it}

The Catholic Bible Concordance for the Revised Standard Version Catholic Edition (RSV-CE)
{I just bought this a couple of weeks ago and love it, love it, love it! I have looked up my word for the year and found all the corresponding Scripture verses. I have looked up verses dealing with anger, the tongue, stability...this has been invaluable to me as I really want to ponder God's Word and apply it to my life.}

Bible Marking Kit
{I bought these a week or so ago and have used them daily. They do not bleed through either version of the Bible listed above, although you can see a faint shadow of color through, but not enough to bother me. I have used the green to mark all the Scriptures pertaining to my mouth/tongue/words and blue to highlight passages that relate to my vocation as a wife and mother. Yellow has been for anything else so far. I know, you may cringe at marking up your Bible...me too at first! But we'll talk all about this later.}

A spiral or binder. {I am too melancholic to use a spiral..."What if I look up a word and write down some passages of Scripture and even some prayers and then move on to the next word only to come across a verse that pertains to my last word but don't have any room to add it with the other verses and reflections?! AArrrggg!!" Sound familiar? No, then skip this next suggestion.

I use a binder now, so I can add pages, take pages out, move pages around, put them behind tabs...basically satisfy my anal approach to keeping track of what I am reading, reflecting and praying on.}

Catholic Bible 1 year Reading Plan {I am using this for the first time. Sshhh, I've already started becasue I would rather be ahead then behind.} Don't really pay attention to this yet if you easily feel overwhelmed.

Reading the Scriptures in 2012 {Part 2-How?}

noreply@blogger.com (Jenny) — Fri, 30 Dec 2011 12:00:00 +0000

My last post hopefully gave some pretty good reasons for "why" we should be spending time alone with God in His Word. Before I start explaining how I read the Scriptures, here are some practical considerations from Called to Life

For the reading of Scripture to be fruitful, the following things are necessary:

1. The reading must be done in the context of prayer. Only the Holy Spirit can open to us the profound, living sense of Scripture. Humble, persevering, confident prayer is the basis of all exegesis {interpretation}.

2. We must have the mindset of faith, believing that God truly comes to speak personally with us through Scripture. It is not a matter of having great learning. St Therese of Liseaux had made no advanced biblical studies, but that did not prevent her from having a very profound wisdom concerning certain passages of the Bible-in which she found the spiritual intuitions that earned her the title of Doctor of the Church.

3. The third condition is a true desire for conversion-to want unreservedly that the Word disclose to us our sins so that we can love God and one another with more authentic love. This desire for conversion is key to productive lectio divina. Reading the Word is not a kind of spiritual sightseeing, not a way of learning biblical culture or acquiring homily material. It is meant to be a guide for living.

4. Although it is important that Scripture speak to each of us personally, the reading of the Word of God should not be individualistic. What we think we have discovered there must be tested by the teaching of the Church and received in communion with all those who, with us, make up the body of Christ. The belief that a particular passage is a personal call to oneself, with important implications for one's life, requires confirmation by a spiritual guide. Interpretations that are overly literal or fundamentalist or ignore ecclesial communion are to be avoided. Any understanding of the Word should be reasonable-not narrowly rationalistic, but open to mystery, enlightened by faith and in harmony with the thinking of the Church.

And now for some practical ideas on "how." The first and only rule is...

JUST DO IT...everyday...for 15 minutes

It does not matter if you are following a "Read the Bible in a Year" Plan or just reading through the Psalms; you will get nowhere fast if you don't set a timer and read. Once the timer goes off, after 15 minutes, you can decide if you are going to continue or not, but at least get your 15 minutes.

Here is one reason why setting a timer is of mega importance. There will be days when you feel antsy, arid, distracted, etc...the timer will keep you accountable for your committed 15 minutes. You will be tempted to just get up and come back to your reading later...you won't. You won't come back because something will always come up. Always. And the devil will dance a jig for your 15 minutes you didn't spend in quiet conversation with God.

Set the timer.

Ok, "Part 2-How?" got too long before I could go into how I read the Word the God, so I will post a Part 2½ on some of the specific ways I spend my 15 minutes.

In His Heart

Reading the Scriptures in 2012 {Part 1-Why?}

noreply@blogger.com (Jenny) — Thu, 29 Dec 2011 19:21:00 +0000

I invited everyone, Catholics especially {because we are "known" for not reading our Bible even though we know more Scripture than we think}, to join me this next year in spending 15 minutes a day with God in His Holy Word, reading the Scriptures.

Why?

Indeed, the word of God is living and active, sharper than any two-edged sword, piercing until it divides soul from spirit, joints from marrow; it is able to judge the thoughts and intentions of the heart.
†Hebrews 4:12

Scripture has a remarkable power to speak profoundly and personally to us, to respond to the exact here-and-now need for light, encouragement, and even conversion lodged deep in our hearts.
Called to Life

We NEED the Word of God as an "inexhaustible source of light and strength, illumination and foundation of our lives." {Called to Life} Not in some crazy shake the 8-ball and hope for the right answer to our question kind of way. We need the Word of God just like those precious to us need our words of love, encouragement and even correction. We were made to hear the voice of another. Just as we were made to eat and drink to sustain the body, we were made to take in the Word to sustain our heart and soul.

We eat the body and drink the blood of Christ in the Eucharist but also in listening to the Scriptures.
{St Jerome}

Not by bread alone does man live, but by every word that comes from the mouth of the Lord.
†Deuteronomy 8:3

Other words used to describe the Word as a precious gift from the Father have been: strength of our faith, nourishment of our soul, pure and permanent source of our spiritual life. {Called to Life}

We also need to bring the Word of God into us because otherwise we will continue to be a garbage can for the words of the world to be dumped into us. We are bombarded by the world's choicest words telling us how to act, live, and love. The world has no problem spewing its words on our size, shape, marital status, number of children and income. The noisy words set to music in the hopes of arousing confusion, doubt and down right sin invade our ears and seep deep into our souls as we fill the car up at the gas station, buy our groceries or wait on the phone for the doctors office.

Our lives mirror the words that live in us. And if we are full of the Word of God, there will be less room for the words of the world.

God's Word, transmitted by Scripture, helps us live as the children of God that we are...God's Word, addressed to us by the Father, tells us who and what we truly are.
Called to Life

We all need more time with God. If we didn't, blogs like Ann's and books like Brother Lawrence's would not be so popular. We see a glimpse of God in Ann's words and pictures and hear His Word every time she quotes from the Scriptures. We strive to Practice the Presence of God like a humble monastery cook and to pray without ceasing as commanded by St Paul. But how?

That will be the next post, How to begin spending more time with God in His Holy Word.

In His Heart

Just a heads up of some of the tools I use:
The Holy Bible: Revised Standard Version

The Holy Bible : DOUAY-RHEIMS VERSION
{You certainly don't need two Bibles, I just happen to have them so I use them both. I have used the RSV exclusively these past couple of years. The children each have one of their own in this version as well so when we do our morning devotions I use this version. I attend the Traditional Latin Mass and hear the Douay Rheims read at each Mass and have decided to use this version as my primary Bible this year. The language in the Douay Rheims, while richer and more poetic in some places, is also a little harder to understand which is why I chose the RSV version to start with and to share with the kids. I know me...and if I could not understand it, I was not going to read it}

The Catholic Bible Concordance for the Revised Standard Version Catholic Edition (RSV-CE)
{I just bought this a couple of weeks ago and love it, love it, love it! I have looked up my word for the year and found all the corresponding Scripture verses. I have looked up verses dealing with anger, the tongue, stability...this has been invaluable to me as I really want to ponder God's Word and apply it to my life.}

Bible Marking Kit
{I bought these a week or so ago and have used them daily. They do not bleed through either version of the Bible listed above, although you can see a faint shadow of color through, but not enough to bother me. I have used the green to mark all the Scriptures pertaining to my mouth/tongue/words and blue to highlight passages that relate to my vocation as a wife and mother. Yellow has been for anything else so far. I know, you may cringe at marking up your Bible...me too at first! But we'll talk all about this later.}

A spiral or binder. {I am too melancholic to use a spiral..."What if I look up a word and write down some passages of Scripture and even some prayers and then move on to the next word only to come across a verse that pertains to my last word but don't have any room to add it with the other verses and reflections?! AArrrggg!!" Sound familiar? No, then skip this next suggestion.

I use a binder now, so I can add pages, take pages out, move pages around, put them behind tabs...basically satisfy my anal approach to keeping track of what I am reading, reflecting and praying on.}

Catholic Bible 1 year Reading Plan {I am using this for the first time. Sshhh, I've already started becasue I would rather be ahead then behind.} Don't really pay attention to this yet if you easily feel overwhelmed.

Links for 2011-12-28 [del.icio.us]

Thu, 29 Dec 2011 00:00:00 PST

Do fewer things. Do them better. - The Happiest Mom
Great read looking into the new year.

Links for 2011-12-26 [del.icio.us]

Tue, 27 Dec 2011 00:00:00 PST

Faith, Family and Friends: On the first day of Christmas
Kelly's posts will be helpful to remember the Christmas Season has really just begun.

Minutes

noreply@blogger.com (Jenny) — Mon, 26 Dec 2011 18:56:00 +0000

Around the farm
It's raining. I had no idea rain was expected today. I don't watch the news and usually get my weather forecast from Chris but forgot to ask. Rain is a good thing when you already have a nap on the schedule for today.

I'm Listening to
Scripture Lullabies I want these songs buried deep before labor and delivery. These need to be as familiar as my own heart beat before I begin the process of birth. I'm not a visit and joke around type of person while I labor. I take no phone calls or visitors. I'm there with a job to do, save my soul and bring another one into the world. The times I have delivered with an epidural, I have been detached from this realization. The times I have delivered with no pain relief, I have been very aware of the presence of God in the process. I have been able to deliver without medication only if I had a good solid plan before the pangs of labor began and these scriptural lullabies are a part of my good solid plan this time around.

Moments of Gratitude
Speaking of birth...Glory to God in the highest! His only begotten Son came through a woman to save you and me! Isn't that the ultimate on a gratitude list for without Him, there would be nothing to be thankful for.

Reading
My Bible

Won't you make a commitment this year to read just 15 minutes a day with me? I cannot tell you the immense benefit I have gained through daily reading of the Scriptures. As Catholics, we hear the Word of God at every Mass and are actually more familiar with the Scriptures than we think. Reading daily from the Bible on my own has increased my awareness of what I am hearing at every Mass. It has also brought me closer to God, to where I crave that additional conversation, Him speaking to me through His awesome, powerful, beautiful Word. In those moments, it is just He and I. He tells me of His family, His desires, His ultimate plans. He blesses me with words of comfort, conviction and love. His Word has made me more aware of how He moves throughout my day with me. He teaches me how to be a better wife, mother, friend. I cannot say enough about spending a little time each day with Him in the Scriptures. {I'll post later on where to start if you're unsure like I was.}

Pondering
In 10-12 weeks a new little soul will be physically joining our family. I am pondering everything from how to keep up with an already busy household that feels to overwhelm me at times to anticipating quiet moments of nursing a new little one. I am also considering the wonderful and unique gifts each child has brought into my life.

{6 year old rolling out pie crust}

Praying
We are back to our nightly family rosary after finishing the St Andrew Novena. Now I offer my rosary for all those intentions I offered my novena. I will say by the intercession of St Andrew, I had an amazing prayer answered that is too personal to go into, but let's just say, he is a powerful intercessor with God.

How blessed we are to have heavenly intercessors! For non-Catholics who still hold the belief that Catholic pray to someone other than God, we don't. We only ask for some heavenly assistance in our prayers. So many times I hear a Christian say they ask their departed mother, father, friend or family member to give them some assistance from heaven, whether it be a sense of comfort of a sign of an answered prayer. They talk of feeling the presence of the loved one near them...Catholics do the same thing, only on a universal level with the Communion of Saints. {Great explanation found there.}

Scripture Memorization
The children have Psalm 100 memorized; their momma is still working on it. I'll blame it on pregnancy brain. I think next we will memorize the Magnificat and then another Psalm. I've ditched plans to start memorizing Philippians at the beginning of the year. I am oh so fully aware of my limitations at this point. But I am going to try to memorize John 15. It contains my new word for the year. {More on that later.}

Beauty in the Ordinary
We wait to decorate our tree until Christmas Eve, so we are still in awe of the beauty of our little tree. I now have an almost completed swing set in the backyard {thanks Opa and Oma!!} It really is a beauty in terms of the actual play set but more so in how the children laugh and play on it. The wonder and joy of childhood is a beautiful thing.

Home Learning
Still plugging along. That's all we can ask for right now, to just do the next thing, and try to do it well.

{watching my sister, daughters and niece make jalapeno jelly}

Breaking Bread
I followed the diet guidelines for gestational diabetes laid out by the nutritionist to a "T" this past week and all blood sugar readings were very, very normal. Yesterday, I did not stress myself to measure precisely and even added a few tiny sweet treats and still maintained very, very normal readings...this is all very good news.

Looking Ahead
Can you believe the end of the year is fast approaching?!

I turn 40 in a few weeks...woo hoo!! My husband and sister are planning a birthday party for me...woo hoo!!

I'm going to have a baby this year...woo hoo!!

I'm going to celebrate my 20th wedding anniversary this year...woo hoo!!

That's some serious looking ahead!

In His Heart

Links for 2011-12-22 [del.icio.us]

Fri, 23 Dec 2011 00:00:00 PST

Becoming a Saint Through Our Daily Duty
Excellent sermon
Hidden in My Heart Scripture Lullabies
At first I thought these would be lovely to listen to as we warm up in front of the fireplace each morning. After listening to them, I decided these would be soothing words to listen to while in labor, enjoyable melodies to listen to during rest and quiet and stolen moments of nursing in the rocking chair in my bedroom. Highly recommended.

When Things Don't Go As Planned

noreply@blogger.com (Jenny) — Wed, 21 Dec 2011 19:40:00 +0000

God is the God of the living, not the dead. He reaches out to us continually, mysteriously but certainly, infusing our lives with value, beauty, and fruitfulness beyond our imagining...How sad it would be to cut oneself off from God's action and bury oneself in the narrow, illusory world of one's own projects.
Called to Life

Now to him who by the power at work within us is able to do far more abundantly than all that we ask or think, to him be glory in the church and in Christ Jesus, for ever and ever. Amen.
†Ephesians 3:20-21

And I had not planned on...the list could be long and large. The list could be one sorrow after another. The list could contain one derailed plan after another. But the list would be about me only and not God.

I had planned on praying our family's very own Jesse Tree Meditations. God had planned a couple of doctor appointments that would take me out of my home for hours at a time,limit my computer time, but would reveal Gestational Diabetes. Jesse Tree Meditations are days behind, but momma and baby are monitored more closely for health. Total derailment or a plan according to the depths of my heart?

The mother's heart deep within my breast that beats continually for the life of little souls only wants healthy children: spiritually, physically, mentally and emotionally. Proper care taken to manage these last 10-12 weeks of pregnancy fulfill that desire to the ninth degree.

I am not a naturally optimistic person, but I am a lover of God desiring to do His will in all things. The God lover cancels out the pesimist if I make my mind up right away and rely on His awesome strength and not my own little puny, whiny ways.

I shall insist that any call from God is a call to life. Our fist vocation is to live, and a call cannot be from God unless it leads us to live in as more intense and beautiful way, engaging human life as it is with more confidence, in all its aspects: physical, psychological, emotional, intellectual and spiritual.
Called to Life

And my God is such a tender and timely God. I had just finished reading the book, Called to Life
when the call came for more tests; and I saw this as a call from God. The words I had just read were still so very fresh in my mind that if all these events had unfolded a week or months later, I would have already forgotten what a call from God can look like...and I would have chosen a very different attitude.

Four times a day, at every finger prick, I have the opportunity to make a choice for God's plans or Jenny's plans. Four times a day I am reminded of my ultimate call to love and care for the children, born and unborn, God has placed in my care. Tiny drops of blood to show love and care for the little one still tucked up tight under my heart and tiny drops of blood shed with a willing and positive spirit to show love and care to the older ones watching how momma responds to an unexpected call from God.

Every yes to God's call, even in the least matter, brings an increase of life and strength and encouragement, for God gives himself to those who are open to his calls and confers ever more freedom upon them.
Called to Life

In His Heart

Jesse Tree Meditations

noreply@blogger.com (Jenny) — Mon, 19 Dec 2011 18:29:00 +0000

These meditations should be back up to date by tonight {tomorrow morning}. Unexpected doctor appointments and a weekend retreat that left me drained put me behind.

In His Heart

Psalm 100

noreply@blogger.com (Jenny) — Mon, 19 Dec 2011 04:01:00 +0000

"Know that the Lord is God! It is he that made us, and we are his; we are his people and the sheep of his pasture."
†Psalm 100:3

The children and I almost have this beautiful Psalm memorized. And we started with Psalm 100 because in a tough world, I wanted them to know that God is with them. He made them and they are his sheep.

I wanted them to come into his presence with thanksgiving and to bless his name. Because some days that's all you can do, come into the presence of the Lord and whisper "Thank you." And those days may the hardest ones you face, or the most joyful and either way, only a "Thank you" will get you through or express all you have in you.

In His Heart

How God Trains a Mother's Tongue

noreply@blogger.com (Jenny) — Thu, 15 Dec 2011 13:57:00 +0000

Divine providence I would call it; finding the perfect shape, color and messaged mug at the store. "Being a mother is a holy privilege," it read. And it feels right in my hands each and every early morning while God and I spend some time together in a quiet, dark house.

And the past couple of days, and even one sleepless night, God spent His time teaching me on the power of our words, the power of a mother's tongue. Book after book, chapter after chapter, verse after verse He led me through His powerful Word to teach me about my words.

A foolish woman is noisy; she is wanton {careless, inconstant, rash, volatile} and knows no shame.
†Proverbs 9:13
She opens her mouth with wisdom, and the teaching of kindness is on the tongue.
†Proverbs 31:26

I used green highlighter because to me green represents life and I want to speak words of life. I used green because this wanton woman needs these verses to pop off the page each and every time I open my Bible.

May God grant that I speak with judgment and have thoughts worthy of what I have received.
†Wisdom 7:15
Cruel is he who does not keep words to himself; he will not hesitate to injure or imprison.
†Sirach 13:12

And then it happens...the perfect storm of brand new beautiful mug {filled to the brim with hot chai tea} to remind me of my holy privilege seven times over, open Bible highlighting words of life and a three year old trying to arrange things near his place at the table for breakfast.

I have no pictures, there was no time...only puddles of warm creamy chai swirling on top of the pages of the life giving Word. All activity froze and his lip trembled a pitiful "sorry" just as I said his name in frustration, but only his name. That's all I got out before the life giving Words I had just been studying popped into my mind.

If you utter what is precious and not what is worthless, you shall be as my mouth.
†Jeremiah 15:19

I scooped him up full in my arms over my growing womb filled with new life and told him how much I loved him and it was alright. The book could be dried {I hoped} the mug refilled and I loved him...it was alright. Because how many times have I made a mistake, even a pretty intentional one and God was there, open arms, waiting to tell me it was alright as my lip trembled with a weak "sorry." The heavens did not open with a booming voice yelling my name and going over my offenses, past, present and future. He still loved me and let me know that.

What good would I have been as a mother if I started spewing words of anger and condemnation? ~~It was an accident.~~ Actually it was a teaching moment. All that precious time spent with God on how to use my words for life and not death or destruction and He blessed me the opportunity while it was still so very fresh in my mind.

If I had started yelling, my children would have heard something that resembled the teacher in Charlie Brown, on amplified steroids. They would not have heard my words, only my volume.

If I speak in the tongues of men and of angels, but have not love. I am a noisy gong or a clanging cymbal.
†1 Corinthians 13:1

The rest of the day, at various intervals, I would sit with my Bible and gently pull apart the drying pages. And each time it still amazed me how much green I saw, page after page. How much life I saw.

It suffices me to run my eyes over the Holy Scripture, and right away I breathe the perfume of Jesus' life, and I know where to run.
~St Therese of Lisieux
Called to Life by Jacques Philippe

If you're looking for a pretty wear all Bible, might I suggest one? So far it has held up for a couple of years being carried in a purse to and from soccer practices, packed in a suitcase while camping/hunting and now a major spill.

In His Heart

Jesse Tree Meditations

noreply@blogger.com (Jenny) — Thu, 15 Dec 2011 12:00:00 +0000

December 15...Our Lady...represented by a lily, crown of stars, pierced heart, roses
(Matthew 1:18-25; Luke 1:26-38)

18 Now the birth of Jesus the Messiah took place in this way. When his mother Mary had been engaged to Joseph, but before they lived together, she was found to be with child from the Holy Spirit.
19 Her husband Joseph, being a righteous man and unwilling to expose her to public disgrace, planned to dismiss her quietly.
20 But just when he had resolved to do this, an angel of the Lord appeared to him in a dream and said, "Joseph, son of David, do not be afraid to take Mary as your wife, for the child conceived in her is from the Holy Spirit.
21 She will bear a son, and you are to name him Jesus, for he will save his people from their sins."
22 All this took place to fulfill what had been spoken by the Lord through the prophet:
23 "Look, the virgin shall conceive and bear a son, and they shall name him Emmanuel," which means, "God is with us."
24 When Joseph awoke from sleep, he did as the angel of the Lord commanded him; he took her as his wife,
25 but had no marital relations with her until she had borne a son; and he named him Jesus.

26 In the sixth month the angel Gabriel was sent by God to a town in Galilee called Nazareth,
27 to a virgin engaged to a man whose name was Joseph, of the house of David. The virgin's name was Mary.
28 And he came to her and said, "Greetings, favored one! The Lord is with you."
29 But she was much perplexed by his words and pondered what sort of greeting this might be.
30 The angel said to her, "Do not be afraid, Mary, for you have found favor with God.
31 And now, you will conceive in your womb and bear a son, and you will name him Jesus.
32 He will be great, and will be called the Son of the Most High, and the Lord God will give to him the throne of his ancestor David.
33 He will reign over the house of Jacob forever, and of his kingdom there will be no end."
34 Mary said to the angel, "How can this be, since I am a virgin?"
35 The angel said to her, "The Holy Spirit will come upon you, and the power of the Most High will overshadow you; therefore the child to be born will be holy; he will be called Son of God.
36 And now, your relative Elizabeth in her old age has also conceived a son; and this is the sixth month for her who was said to be barren.
37 For nothing will be impossible with God."
38 Then Mary said, "Here am I, the servant of the Lord; let it be with me according to your word." Then the angel departed from her.

'Here am I, the servant of the Lord; let it be with me according to your word."

Yesterday we rejoiced over the name of Jesus, God is with us and now we proclaim we are His!

We are His people chosen to love the tired ones, the poor ones, the cranky ones, the pouty ones, the inflexible ones, the bossy ones, the ones who just don't get the true meaning of the season.

We are His people chosen to love ourselves when we are tired, poor, cranky, pouty, inflexible, bossy and just plain 'ol missing out on what and who we are preparing for. He came so we would life and trying too hard to be too much is a life drainer. So slow down.

This time is about Jesus, God is with us and His coming to us in the physical form. And how wonderfully blessed we are that He comes each and every day to us in the Eucharist to nurture and sustain. He still comes down from Heaven in the physical form, for us. Go, receive Him if you can. If not just sit quietly with Him either in a chapel where the Blessed Sacrament is exposed or in a quiet spot where you can be alone with God, Who is with you.

When you feel tired and weak as the year draws to a close, go to Him and humbly say,

"Here I am Lord, let it be with me according to Your Word."

In His Heart

Jesse Tree Meditations

noreply@blogger.com (Jenny) — Wed, 14 Dec 2011 12:00:00 +0000

December 14...Joseph...represented by a carpenter's tools, flowering staff
(Matthew 1:18-25)

18 Now the birth of Jesus the Messiah took place in this way. When his mother Mary had been engaged to Joseph, but before they lived together, she was found to be with child from the Holy Spirit.
19 Her husband Joseph, being a righteous man and unwilling to expose her to public disgrace, planned to dismiss her quietly.
20 But just when he had resolved to do this, an angel of the Lord appeared to him in a dream and said, "Joseph, son of David, do not be afraid to take Mary as your wife, for the child conceived in her is from the Holy Spirit.
21 She will bear a son, and you are to name him Jesus, for he will save his people from their sins."
22 All this took place to fulfill what had been spoken by the Lord through the prophet:
23 "Look, the virgin shall conceive and bear a son, and they shall name him Emmanuel," which means, "God is with us."
24 When Joseph awoke from sleep, he did as the angel of the Lord commanded him; he took her as his wife,
25 but had no marital relations with her until she had borne a son; and he named him Jesus.

God is with us...has there ever been a more beautiful name!

Think of all the names we are called by each day: wife, mother, husband, father, child, sister, brother, employee, friend, neighbor. But for one to be called God is with us, this is a name above all others and should be held as such.

"so that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, of those that are in heaven, on earth, and under the earth"
(Philippians 2:10)

And in times of anger, anxiety, fear and frustration...to stop and say...no to stop and proclaim...God is with us...God is with me!

We set the bar high this time of year to be all and do all...perfectly. But if we took the time to meditate upon God is with us; you know, the God who came down as a little baby in a poor manger, maybe perfection would seem, not so perfect anymore. If the King of Kings, the Second Person of the Blessed Trinity came in not so perfect conditions, maybe perfection is not the goal.

Maybe the goal right now is to be with God.

The God who is with us.
Make this short ejaculation today in moments of quiet and noise, stress and peace, fatigue and thanksgiving.

Jesus, my God, I love Thee above all things.

In His Heart

Jesse Tree Meditations

noreply@blogger.com (Jenny) — Tue, 13 Dec 2011 12:00:00 +0000

December 13...Solomon...represented by a temple, scales of Justice, sword and baby
(I Kings 3:5-14, 16-28)

5 At Gibeon the Lord appeared to Solomon in a dream by night; and God said, "Ask what I should give you."
6 And Solomon said, "You have shown great and steadfast love to your servant my father David, because he walked before you in faithfulness, in righteousness, and in uprightness of heart toward you; and you have kept for him this great and steadfast love, and have given him a son to sit on his throne today.
7 And now, O Lord my God, you have made your servant king in place of my father David, although I am only a little child; I do not know how to go out or come in.
8 And your servant is in the midst of the people whom you have chosen, a great people, so numerous they cannot be numbered or counted.
9 Give your servant therefore an understanding mind to govern your people, able to discern between good and evil; for who can govern this your great people?"
10 It pleased the Lord that Solomon had asked this.
11 God said to him, "Because you have asked this, and have not asked for yourself long life or riches, or for the life of your enemies, but have asked for yourself understanding to discern what is right,
12 I now do according to your word. Indeed I give you a wise and discerning mind; no one like you has been before you and no one like you shall arise after you.
13 I give you also what you have not asked, both riches and honor all your life; no other king shall compare with you.
14 If you will walk in my ways, keeping my statutes and my commandments, as your father David walked, then I will lengthen your life."

16 Later, two women who were prostitutes came to the king and stood before him.
17 The one woman said, "Please, my lord, this woman and I live in the same house; and I gave birth while she was in the house.
18 Then on the third day after I gave birth, this woman also gave birth. We were together; there was no one else with us in the house, only the two of us were in the house.
19 Then this woman's son died in the night, because she lay on him.
20 She got up in the middle of the night and took my son from beside me while your servant slept. She laid him at her breast, and laid her dead son at my breast.
21 When I rose in the morning to nurse my son, I saw that he was dead; but when I looked at him closely in the morning, clearly it was not the son I had borne."
22 But the other woman said, "No, the living son is mine, and the dead son is yours." The first said, "No, the dead son is yours, and the living son is mine." So they argued before the king.
23 Then the king said, "The one says, "This is my son that is alive, and your son is dead'; while the other says, "Not so! Your son is dead, and my son is the living one.' "
24 So the king said, "Bring me a sword," and they brought a sword before the king.
25 The king said, "Divide the living boy in two; then give half to the one, and half to the other."
26 But the woman whose son was alive said to the king—because compassion for her son burned within her—"Please, my lord, give her the living boy; certainly do not kill him!" The other said, "It shall be neither mine nor yours; divide it."
27 Then the king responded: "Give the first woman the living boy; do not kill him. She is his mother."
28 All Israel heard of the judgment that the king had rendered; and they stood in awe of the king, because they perceived that the wisdom of God was in him, to execute justice.

'Ask what I should give you," says the Lord God to Solomon. And more money, more time, more of this and a little more of that did not top Solomon's list. Instead he asks for an understanding mind.

What would our day look like if we asked for an understanding mind? I don't know the specifics, but I do know the gift of understanding would go a long, long way in this crazy world of misunderstandings.

To be able to understand a cranky toddler, a moody teen, a frustrated spouse, a rude cashier...

And maybe the gift if understanding would show us, those who push us the hardest, are those who may need us the most at that moment.

The gift of understanding would show us how to love those precious souls in just the right way, at just the right time. Your way, in Your time, Lord.

Solomon's supernatural gift of understanding saved the life of a baby. Blessed Mother Mary's supernatural gift of understanding helped bring a baby king into the world...to save the world. The gift of understanding does not necessarily mean we see and know as God, it means we can love as God. We can love because He loved us first. We can love through all circumstances because we know God's in control.

Pray Mary's Magnificat today for the grace of understanding, the supernatural grace of love. Love for God and each other.

My soul doth magnify the Lord, and my spirit hath rejoiced in God my Savior. For He hath regarded the humility of His handmaiden.
For behold, from henceforth all generations shall call me blessed. For He that is mighty hath done great things to me, and holy is His Name. And His Mercy is from generation unto generations upon them that fear Him.
He hath shewed might in His arm, He hath scattered the proud in the conceit of their heart. He hath put down the mighty from their seat, and hath exalted the humble. He hath filled the hungry with good things, and the rich He hath sent empty away.
He hath received Israel, His servant, being mindful of His mercy. As He spoke to our Fathers, Abraham and His seed forever.

In His Heart

Jesse Tree Meditations

noreply@blogger.com (Jenny) — Mon, 12 Dec 2011 12:00:00 +0000

December 12...David...represented by a harp
(1 Samuel 17:12-51)

12 Now David was the son of an Ephrathite of Bethlehem in Judah, named Jesse, who had eight sons. In the days of Saul the man was already old and advanced in years.
13 The three eldest sons of Jesse had followed Saul to the battle; the names of his three sons who went to the battle were Eliab the firstborn, and next to him Abinadab, and the third Shammah.
14 David was the youngest; the three eldest followed Saul,
15 but David went back and forth from Saul to feed his father's sheep at Bethlehem.
16 For forty days the Philistine came forward and took his stand, morning and evening.
17 Jesse said to his son David, "Take for your brothers an ephah of this parched grain and these ten loaves, and carry them quickly to the camp to your brothers;
18 also take these ten cheeses to the commander of their thousand. See how your brothers fare, and bring some token from them."
19 Now Saul, and they, and all the men of Israel, were in the valley of Elah, fighting with the Philistines.
20 David rose early in the morning, left the sheep with a keeper, took the provisions, and went as Jesse had commanded him. He came to the encampment as the army was going forth to the battle line, shouting the war cry.
21 Israel and the Philistines drew up for battle, army against army.
22 David left the things in charge of the keeper of the baggage, ran to the ranks, and went and greeted his brothers.
23 As he talked with them, the champion, the Philistine of Gath, Goliath by name, came up out of the ranks of the Philistines, and spoke the same words as before. And David heard him.
24 All the Israelites, when they saw the man, fled from him and were very much afraid.
25 The Israelites said, "Have you seen this man who has come up? Surely he has come up to defy Israel. The king will greatly enrich the man who kills him, and will give him his daughter and make his family free in Israel."
26 David said to the men who stood by him, "What shall be done for the man who kills this Philistine, and takes away the reproach from Israel? For who is this uncircumcised Philistine that he should defy the armies of the living God?"
27 The people answered him in the same way, "So shall it be done for the man who kills him."
28 His eldest brother Eliab heard him talking to the men; and Eliab's anger was kindled against David. He said, "Why have you come down? With whom have you left those few sheep in the wilderness? I know your presumption and the evil of your heart; for you have come down just to see the battle."
29 David said, "What have I done now? It was only a question."
30 He turned away from him toward another and spoke in the same way; and the people answered him again as before.
31 When the words that David spoke were heard, they repeated them before Saul; and he sent for him.
32 David said to Saul, "Let no one's heart fail because of him; your servant will go and fight with this Philistine."
33 Saul said to David, "You are not able to go against this Philistine to fight with him; for you are just a boy, and he has been a warrior from his youth."
34 But David said to Saul, "Your servant used to keep sheep for his father; and whenever a lion or a bear came, and took a lamb from the flock,
35 I went after it and struck it down, rescuing the lamb from its mouth; and if it turned against me, I would catch it by the jaw, strike it down, and kill it.
36 Your servant has killed both lions and bears; and this uncircumcised Philistine shall be like one of them, since he has defied the armies of the living God."
37 David said, "The Lord, who saved me from the paw of the lion and from the paw of the bear, will save me from the hand of this Philistine." So Saul said to David, "Go, and may the Lord be with you!"
38 Saul clothed David with his armor; he put a bronze helmet on his head and clothed him with a coat of mail.
39 David strapped Saul's sword over the armor, and he tried in vain to walk, for he was not used to them. Then David said to Saul, "I cannot walk with these; for I am not used to them." So David removed them.
40 Then he took his staff in his hand, and chose five smooth stones from the wadi, and put them in his shepherd's bag, in the pouch; his sling was in his hand, and he drew near to the Philistine.
41 The Philistine came on and drew near to David, with his shield-bearer in front of him.
42 When the Philistine looked and saw David, he disdained him, for he was only a youth, ruddy and handsome in appearance.
43 The Philistine said to David, "Am I a dog, that you come to me with sticks?" And the Philistine cursed David by his gods.
44 The Philistine said to David, "Come to me, and I will give your flesh to the birds of the air and to the wild animals of the field."
45 But David said to the Philistine, "You come to me with sword and spear and javelin; but I come to you in the name of the Lord of hosts, the God of the armies of Israel, whom you have defied.
46 This very day the Lord will deliver you into my hand, and I will strike you down and cut off your head; and I will give the dead bodies of the Philistine army this very day to the birds of the air and to the wild animals of the earth, so that all the earth may know that there is a God in Israel,
47 and that all this assembly may know that the Lord does not save by sword and spear; for the battle is the Lord's and he will give you into our hand."
48 When the Philistine drew nearer to meet David, David ran quickly toward the battle line to meet the Philistine.
49 David put his hand in his bag, took out a stone, slung it, and struck the Philistine on his forehead; the stone sank into his forehead, and he fell face down on the ground.
50 So David prevailed over the Philistine with a sling and a stone, striking down the Philistine and killing him; there was no sword in David's hand.
51 Then David ran and stood over the Philistine; he grasped his sword, drew it out of its sheath, and killed him; then he cut off his head with it. When the Philistines saw that their champion was dead, they fled.

'Who should defy the armies of the living God?" we should all be asking. We are the Church Militant and this may be the perfect time to defend what is ours. And when flashing lights blind us and traffic jams confound us and sale ads confuse us and bells and whistles deafen us, we should stand up and say enough! Even if only to our own wearied heart.

Enough...I will not fill one more calendar square this month.

Enough...I will not add one more thing to my To Do List unless I pray about it first.

Enough...I will not cram my life so full that there is no room for Jesus, Mary and Joseph.

“Never be in a hurry; do everything quietly and in a calm spirit. Do not lose your inner peace for anything whatsoever, even if your whole world seems upset.”
{St Francis de Sales}

Lord help me to "put on You" not someone else, like David tried to put on Saul by wearing his armor. My Advent season is not to be compared with anyone else, especially the world's. I will not become distracted or discouraged. I will take simply what I need...and seek You.

"One thing I ask of the Lord, this is what I seek: that I may dwell in the house of the Lord all the days of my life, to gaze upon the beauty of the Lord and to seek him in his temple."
{Psalm 27:4}

In His Heart

Jesse Tree Meditations

noreply@blogger.com (Jenny) — Sun, 11 Dec 2011 12:00:00 +0000

December 11...Jesse...represented by a tree stump with flower. The classic depiction is of Jesse lying on his side with the branch of Jesus's "family tree" growing from his side.
(1 Samuel 16:1-13)

1 The Lord said to Samuel, "How long will you grieve over Saul? I have rejected him from being king over Israel. Fill your horn with oil and set out; I will send you to Jesse the Bethlehemite, for I have provided for myself a king among his sons."
2 Samuel said, "How can I go? If Saul hears of it, he will kill me." And the Lord said, "Take a heifer with you, and say, "I have come to sacrifice to the Lord.'
3 Invite Jesse to the sacrifice, and I will show you what you shall do; and you shall anoint for me the one whom I name to you."
4 Samuel did what the Lord commanded, and came to Bethlehem. The elders of the city came to meet him trembling, and said, "Do you come peaceably?"
5 He said, "Peaceably; I have come to sacrifice to the Lord; sanctify yourselves and come with me to the sacrifice." And he sanctified Jesse and his sons and invited them to the sacrifice.
6 When they came, he looked on Eliab and thought, "Surely the Lord's anointed is now before the Lord."
7 But the Lord said to Samuel, "Do not look on his appearance or on the height of his stature, because I have rejected him; for the Lord does not see as mortals see; they look on the outward appearance, but the Lord looks on the heart."
8 Then Jesse called Abinadab, and made him pass before Samuel. He said, "Neither has the Lord chosen this one."
9 Then Jesse made Shammah pass by. And he said, "Neither has the Lord chosen this one."
10 Jesse made seven of his sons pass before Samuel, and Samuel said to Jesse, "The Lord has not chosen any of these."
11 Samuel said to Jesse, "Are all your sons here?" And he said, "There remains yet the youngest, but he is keeping the sheep." And Samuel said to Jesse, "Send and bring him; for we will not sit down until he comes here."
12 He sent and brought him in. Now he was ruddy, and had beautiful eyes, and was handsome. The Lord said, "Rise and anoint him; for this is the one."
13 Then Samuel took the horn of oil, and anointed him in the presence of his brothers; and the spirit of the Lord came mightily upon David from that day forward. Samuel then set out and went to Ramah.

"...for the Lord does not see as mortals see; they look on the outward appearance, but the Lord looks on the heart."

What You must have seen in the heart of a father, shepherding a son, who was busy shepherding the sheep. And from that family of fine young men, You chose the least. You called a king after Your own heart from a shepherd boy and the King of Kings came to earth as a helpless child. Your ways are mysterious and leave me in wonder.

What You must have seen in the hearts of a carpenter and his young betrothed. For out of the poor and humble, You brought forth the greatest.

Blessed are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven. {Matthew 5:3}

When You look into our hearts right now, this very moment, in this very busy time of year...what do You see? Do You see the anxiety of too much to do and too many plans and not enough to spend? Or do You see a poor spirit ready for the kingdom of heaven?

"Thus the poor in spirit, i.e. the truly humble, will mourn for their transgressions, and whoever is filled with sorrow and confusion for his own sins, cannot but be just, and behave to others with meekness and clemency; when possessed of these virtues, he then becomes pure and clean of heart." {St John Chrysostom}

Lord, I want to greet each soul in my path today with meekness and clemency...

Make this your meditation today, "Blessed are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven."

A Minute Captured

It's All Too Much

Links for 2012-01-25 [del.icio.us]

Minutes

Book Club Announcement

Psalm 102

Links for 2012-01-17 [del.icio.us]

Links for 2012-01-16 [del.icio.us]

Minutes

The Catholic Life

Minutes

Psalm 101

God of Mercy and Compassion

Abide...How God Calls Through a Word

More Reading the Scriptures in 2012

Links for 2012-01-02 [del.icio.us]

Reading Through the Scriptures in 2012 {Part 3-When?}

Reading the Scriptures in 2012 {Part 2½-How?}

Reading the Scriptures in 2012 {Part 2-How?}

Reading the Scriptures in 2012 {Part 1-Why?}

Links for 2011-12-28 [del.icio.us]

Links for 2011-12-26 [del.icio.us]

Minutes

Links for 2011-12-22 [del.icio.us]

When Things Don't Go As Planned

Jesse Tree Meditations

Psalm 100

How God Trains a Mother's Tongue

Jesse Tree Meditations

Jesse Tree Meditations

Jesse Tree Meditations

Jesse Tree Meditations

Jesse Tree Meditations