Thank God!

  This week we will be counting our blessings.  We will join with family and friends for a wonderful feast.  In one way or another, we will take a few moments to review the past year and express our thanks to God. Unfortunately, Thanksgiving seems to be changing.  It seems to take a back seat to football games and holiday sales events.  But it doesn't have to be that way. 
  This year let's try to be really generous with our thanks. All year we have feasted on His generosity.  We have been nourished with His love. Don't let your thanks be just a fleeting thought. This Thanksgiving, let us all go totally overboard with praise for God! In fact, we could start praising God today and every day after. I think it would amazing if this was the year we all tried to become truly, thankful disciples! Imagine how amazing Thanksgiving would be a year from now! 
  I hope you all have a very blessed Thanksgiving! Praise God!

-Susan

Trust Walk

  Sometimes staying on the path can be difficult.  Changes can occur, and the path that was once so obvious is difficult to discern. Do not lose heart.  Continue to trust the Lord and pray for guidance. Jesus never leaves our side. Sometimes the path only appears hidden from us, and Jesus is merely waiting for us.  He is waiting for us to stretch out our hands in prayer, so that He can grab ahold of our hands, as He carefully guides each of our steps.  

-Susan

Please Pray Today.....for them...

  I like the fact that the Church sets aside special time for us to remember those who have gone before us. Purgatory.  It's misunderstood.  It's seems to be forgotten by most.  It's one of those things that is difficult to talk about.  It is much more comforting to imagine the beauty of Heaven, then the place of purification.  To be honest, I was never even taught about Purgatory while I was growing up.  Guess who taught me about it?  Mary and the Saints.  Fatima, St. Faustina, St. Pio, St. Gertrude, etc. all talked about Purgatory.  So, I started doing some reading. At first I was really taken aback, but over time my feelings changed.
  I have found over the years that I feel drawn to pray for the souls in Purgatory.  Perhaps it is my way to practice being merciful.  I trust in God's Plan for salvation.  I trust that my prayers will help souls fully participate in the glories of heaven a little sooner. Remembering loved ones and praying for their eternal happiness is beautiful.  I feel blessed that God allows us the opportunity to let our loved ones know how much we love and care about them. I hope you join me in praying for all the souls in Purgatory, not just today, but every day.  One day we will find out just how important all our prayers really are.

-Susan

All Saints Day

  Sometimes when I read about the lives of the saints, my mouth just drops open, and I think, "WOW!"  I want to love Jesus like that!  Wouldn't it be amazing if we could sit alongside the saints at a long banquet table and listen to their personal stories?
  Today is All Saints Day.  Today is a great day to call upon any one of the saints, and ask them for a little advice. Ask them how you could follow Jesus more closely?  Having friends in high places is a very good thing.  They have a unique perspective which allows them to see the obstacles standing in your way.
  Draw close to the saints.  Don't be afraid of holiness.  Holiness was their calling, but God is calling you as well.  God is calling you to be holy.  He wants you at the banquet table, too, but not just as an observer, but someone who has their own faith story to tell as well. God has set the table and has prepared the banquet.  Don't make the mistake of being too late for dinner.

-Susan

Matters of the Heart

Neva slowly climbed the steps to the front entrance of the church.  She remembered the days when her steps were lighter and her heart was filled with love and joy. Unfortunately, her heart had to work so much harder now to pump life into her body.  She carried with her a pain that had eroded an area of the muscle in her heart. 
  Neva slid into her usual pew and prepared her heart for the celebration of the mass.  Like every week, she listened intently to the readings and the priest's homily.  She was completely unaware what was about to occur.  As the priest held up the consecrated host at the alter, Neva saw Jesus standing behind the priest.  He held out his hand and asked her to draw near. Without hesitation, Neva drew closer.
  "My Lord, I have a pain in my heart that I can no longer carry.  I have tried to leave it behind, but it is so deeply imbedded in me, that I have failed in my attempts.  Lord, will you please heal me?"
  Jesus smiled and said, "Give me your pain, dear child, and I will restore your heart with my own."  Jesus placed one of the consecrated hosts from the alter unto Neva's hand.  With tears streaming down her face, Neva released her pain and then placed the host into her mouth.
  Within minutes her heart began to change. She took a deep breath in and slowly exhaled.  It was gone.  That heavy feeling was gone.  She touched her heart as her brain began to process the change. The Lord's peace and love began to declutter her thoughts.  Her eyes could clearly see those around her. Her ears listened to the new rhythm of her heart.  She was healed! She was healed!  Filled with joy, Neva praised God every day that followed for this loving act of mercy.

-Susan

Celebrating Mary

  October is the month dedicated to Mary and the Rosary.  The Rosary is my "go to" prayer.  Whether I am excited, scared, nervous, confused, angry, depressed or happy, the Rosary helps me celebrate life.  More specifically, it helps me celebrate God's life within me.  Sound mysterious?  Well that is the whole idea.  By dwelling on the mysteries of Jesus' life, I begin to unravel the mysteries of my own life. 
   God is amazing and loving far beyond my comprehension.  Like any good mother, Mary can sense my perplexity.  Gently she holds my hand and slowly helps me to understand.  She is so patient with me even when my mind is clouded with distractions, or my heart is too angry or too sorrowful to grow.  Linked together by the Rosary beads, Mary stays close to me. As I hold the beads, I can sense that Mary holds the answers I so desperately desire.  I want to love God more, but I let so many little things get in the way.  As I close my eyes and pray the Hail Mary, Mary opens my mind and heart to embrace God's loving plan.  She helps me understand things I could not comprehend on my own. 
  I have fallen in love with the Rosary.  The Rosary is my mysterious, inspiring connection to God the Father, God the Son, and God the Holy Spirit.  I believe the Rosary is the lifeline of my soul.

-Susan

Who Is Your Hero?

  I wanted to share a special part of my weekend with you.  This weekend I was honored to attend the 6th Annual Dutton Farm Fashion Show.  Dutton Farm is an amazing place dedicated to helping adults with mental or physical impairments. They provide opportunities for the adults (affectionately termed "farmers") to learn new vocational and social skills.  It is a place where love has no boundaries and the hands and feet of Jesus are visibly evident.
  This year's theme centered around the "Celebration of Heroes".  Each "farmer" walked the runway dressed as their favorite hero.  Some of the costumes included super heroes like Spiderman, Wonder Woman, the Hulk, or a firefighter.  I couldn't have been more proud when my niece, Katie, walked down the runway.  She was dressed as Mary, the Mother of Jesus.  Tears filled my eyes as I cheered for her.  The world often overlooks what my niece so clearly understood.  She wanted to be like Mary.  She was probably the wisest person in the room.  With a smile on her face she walked down the runway evangelizing the room without saying a word!  My niece Katie is incredible!
  After the show, a woman came up to Katie and said she was so moved by her, that she wanted to give her something.  She handed Katie a necklace with a Mary on it.  She told Katie it was from Medjugorje!
  Afterwards, my sister told Katie, "You must have really touched her heart."  Katie smiled. 
  I thought about this later as I drove home.  Katie, in that moment, was just like Mary.  She was gently touching people's heart, reminding them that there is so much more to life than what the world deems important.  There is nothing more important than God's love. Katie gets it.  I hope the rest of us are wise enough to discover that as well.

-Susan

If you are interested in learning more about the wonderful things occurring at Dutton Farms please visit their website: duttonfarm.org