To God be the glory, great things He hath done!

That is what happenend yesterday with STELLAN!!
Good answered ALL the prayers around the world going up for him.
Keep praying further for all the side effects of the treatment and that his body will recover completely

PEACE in the hustle and bustle of activities........

St. Martin's Day Is Celebrated Throughout Europe

St. Martin's Day is celebrated on Nov. 11 throughout Europe. Named after St. Martin, the 4th-century Roman Catholic Bishop of Tours, France, this holiday spread from France to Germany, Scandinavia, and Eastern Europe.


It celebrates the end of the growing season and the beginning of harvesting. It also marks the last day to celebrate before the fasting of Advent begins. Children and adults walk down the streets with lanterns and torches, and sing St. Martin songs. The children visit neighborhood houses singing and reciting poems, which earns them sweet treats, not unlike Western Halloween.

Poles Have Two Reasons to Celebrate

Nov. 11 is Independence Day in Poland, but it is also St. Martin's Day and in Poznan, Poland, the Roman Catholic saint's name day seems to take precedence.


Every year on Nov. 11, thousands of Poznan residents attend a high Mass in St. Martin's Church followed by a parade through St. Martin Street led by "St. Martin" sitting astride a white horse. St. Martin rides up to the square in front of Zamek Cultural Centre and is handed the keys to the city by the mayor. Then the celebration begins in earnest.


Inside Zamek, there are exhibitions, concerts and performances, while outside, there’s a street market with knights reenacting medieval jousting tournaments. A splendid fireworks display ends the day.


Pozanians treat themselves to St. Martin's Croissants - rogale swietomarcinski also known simply as marcinski. These crescent-shaped pastries filled with poppyseed and almond paste are consumed by the hundreds of thousands.


Legend has it this centuries-old tradition commemorates a Poznan baker's dream. His nightime reveries had St. Martin entering the city on a white horse that lost its golden horseshoe. The very next morning, the baker whipped up horseshoe-shaped croissants filled with almonds, white poppyseed and nuts, and gave them to the poor.


Another story cites the Rev. Jan Lewicki of St. Martin's parish appealing to his congregation in 1891 to make something for the poor for St. artin's Day. Baker Jozef Melzer is said to have made croissants which were given to the poor or bought by the wealthy.


Some bakeries have started to produce these pastries year-round, but the "best ones" are considered to be those available only on Nov. 11.

Traditions in Slovenia and Croatia

In Slovenia and Croatia, St. Martin's Day marks the day when the must traditionally turns to wine. The must is usually considered impure and sinful until it is baptized and turned into wine.


St. Martin's Day Festivals -- -- Martinje-- include a "baptism" performed by someone who dresses up as a bishop, usually the host, and blesses the wine. It is definitely a time to eat, drink and be merry with a feast consisting of goose and mlinci -- a type of dumpling.

Czech Traditions

A Czech proverb -- St. Martin is coming on a white horse -- signifies the snow that begins to fall in November. Some Czechs hold a festival - posviceni - with roast goose as the main course.


Also in Germany  Martin's-Goose, is served

to commemorate the life and legend of St. Martin.

The history takes us far back to the 4th century and to the young Martinus, who served as an officer in the Roman army. One night he was riding on his horse through a town and was approached by a beggar asking him for warm clothes, since it was freezing cold. Martinus split his coat with his sword and gave a half to the beggar. Later Martinus quit his job in the Roman army and became a soldier of God and lived a life of an anchorite. When the story of his good deed spread he should become a bishop. Legend has it that Martinus was too shy to take this honor and tried to hide in a goose hutch. People equipped with lanterns, searched the half night for him and were finally alerted by the twitter of the geese. The geese were butchered and eaten, Martinus became Bishop Martin and was later canonized and still today his story is told and celebrations take place to remember the good deed of St. Martin.
Although this is a nice story to explain why a goose is on the menu on this particular day, there is a far more rational explanation to that. In the yearly calendar of the church- and farmers, the 11th of November marks the beginning of the winter and the 40 days lent before Christmas, where no fat food is allowed. It was also the day, when the farm laborers were laid-off, got paid and received a present and when the annual land lease had to be paid. As currency and presents a goose came in very handy, since money was not often used in the Middle Ages.
All that is left today, thinking of the goose, is the traditional way of preparing this festive meal. Basic rule is, the more aromatic the filling, the better the taste of the meat. In the north of Germany it is common to fill the Martinsgans with a mix of ground pork, onions, garlic and herbs while in the south soaked buns, chestnuts, roasted nuts, apples, plums, sugar, salt, vinegar and red wine are widely preferred. The goose is placed in an oven and constantly basted with its own stock to ensure the meat doesn't dry out.

Well tomorrow night i will walk with my son  and my daughter with her friends ...just like in the picture above

The last two month's of the year are so packed with festivities and in-between family birthdays or fare-well celebrations as we did one last sunday....

That and the normal weekend activities ( soccer  on sat. and church on sun)  followed by two days of work where the reason of not posting on my blog........

I'm still too tired of the last days....but wanted to post about tomorrow activity and celebration what is going on overhere

Coming weekend is the ariving of St Nicholas in Holland

All schools are decorating and making presents for the 5th of december

After tomorrow we as Christians are entering the SEASON of ADVENT

To reflect and meditate on THE REASON for this season is what i appreciate and love to do THIS season of the year. Really every year it surprises me over and over how the message is pure and simple....

THE BIRTH of THE PRINCE of PEACE our PRINCE of PEACE JESUS CHRIST

He wanted to be birthed in our hearts so PEACE can flow in and stay...

PEACE that surpases all understanding

PEACE amids all the hustle and bustle in what the world make of this season......

NOVEMBER.......bringing THANKS!!!

We entered this week THE month of NOVEMBER<<< 

Purposefully we must focus on it because everyday we need to give thanks!

@ South Breeze Farm is

 the
3rd Annual
Giving Thanks Challenge! 

Is going on

"All you have to do is post one thing you're thankful for each day somewhere on your blog. It doesn't even have to be an actual thought-out post. Just start making a list on your sidebar ( That is what i did...see it on top....) - somewhere you can see it every day to encourage an attitude of thankfulness."

If you plan to JOIN her, go over to link up and grab her button.

"It doesn't matter if you start now, November 5th, or sometime mid-month. It's never too late to acknowledge God's love for you and His faithfulness to you!"

TODAY is THANKFUL THURSDAY 

over 

@

SONYA from "Truth4theJourney"

AND 

@ 

Iris from "GRACE ALONE" the home of

To look back on this week

I am so thankful for

• Christians blogfriends and Christian online friends from my P31 online groups to growing together with them in the Lord.........
• For God blessing my husband with another birthday yesterday and changing him in the Spiritual leader of our home as HE promised it will be some day.Thank You Lord for answering my prayer.
• For my kids
• For healing my shoulder completely
• For the food we had on our table this week
• For the custumors send to our business
• For being able to pay our bills and to soften some hearts of the persons we owe money to be more patient or make an agreement together.

For a warm house and clothes now the weather is changing...

GOD IS SO GOOD!!

I can go on and make the list longer.....

In case you did not make your own start making it give Thanks in the big and the small things .............and link-up with one of our hostesses

On your feet now—applaud God! Bring a gift of laughter,
      sing yourselves into his presence.

 ³ Know this: God is God, and God, God.
      He made us; we didn't make him.
      We're his people, his well-tended sheep.

 ⁴ Enter with the password: "Thank you!"
      Make yourselves at home, talking praise.
      Thank him. Worship him.

 ⁵ For God is sheer beauty,
      all-generous in love,
      loyal always and ever. 

(PSALM 100 MSG)

  

WFW ~ SPECIAL MEAL Psalm 104 :24~

Psalm 104:24 (The Message)

 ^24-30 What a wildly wonderful world, God!
      You made it all, with Wisdom at your side,
      made earth overflow with your wonderful creations.
   Oh, look—the deep, wide sea,
      brimming with fish past counting,
      sardines and sharks and salmon.
   Ships plow those waters,
      and Leviathan, your pet dragon, romps in them.
   All the creatures look expectantly to you
      to give them their meals on time.
   You come, and they gather around;
      you open your hand and they eat from it.
   If you turned your back,
      they'd die in a minute—
   Take back your Spirit and they die,
      revert to original mud;
   Send out your Spirit and they spring to life—
      the whole countryside in bloom and blossom.

This meal i made as an celebrating dish for my dh's his birthday.

This is the recipie in case i swing your appetite!

2 (3-pound) whole fish, such as striped bass, tilapia, flounder, or sole, cleaned and scaled
2 limes, juiced
3/4 cup Spanish olive oil, divided
2 onions, peeled and thinly sliced, divided
1 large green bell pepper, cored, seeded, and thinly sliced, divided
1 lemon, sliced thin
Salt and freshly ground black pepper
1/2 teaspoon crushed red pepper flakes
1 tablespoon minced garlic
2 1/4 teaspoons kosher salt
1 teaspoon dried oregano, crumbled
1 cup tomato puree
2 tablespoons white wine vinegar
1 cup dry white wine
Sliced green onions for garnish

Rinse the fish well under cold running water and pat dry on both sides as well as inside the cavity. Make several slits about 1/3-inch deep on both sides of the fish. Place the fish in a non-reactive shallow dish or platter and pour the lime juice over the fish. Set aside while you continue with the preparations.
Preheat the oven to 375 degrees F.
Rub the bottom of a shallow glass or ceramic dish large enough to hold the fish with 2 tablespoons of the olive oil. Saute 1/2 of the onion slices and 1/2 of the pepper slices in 2 tablespoons olive oil and then place along the bottom of the baking dish. Lay the lemon slices over the vegetables, but reserve a few slices to stuff inside the fish. Drizzle with 2 tablespoons more of the remaining Spanish olive oil and season with salt, black pepper, to taste, and crushed red pepper flakes. Place the fish on top of the sliced vegetables.
Using a mortar and pestle, combine the garlic, kosher salt and oregano and mash to form a paste. Spread the garlic paste inside the cavity of the fish and into the slits on top. Place the remaining lemon slice inside the cavity of the fish. In the same small bowl that you used to make the garlic paste, combine the tomato puree and vinegar and stir to combine. Pour this tomato mixture all over the fish. Top with the remaining onion and pepper slices and drizzle the remaining olive oil and the wine over the top. Season again with salt and black pepper, cover the dish loosely with aluminum foil, and bake until the fish flakes easily when pierced with a fork, 45 to 50 minutes. Garnish with the green onions and serve hot or warm, with the pan juices drizzled over all.

 Hop on to Penny Reine's for more WFW entries. God bless!!

O the deep,deep love of Jesus!!

O the deep, deep love of Jesus,

Vast, unmeasured, boundless, free!

Rolling as a mighty ocean in its fullness over me!

Underneath me, all around me, is the current of Thy love.

Leading onward, leading homeward to Thy glorious rest above!

O the deep, deep love of Jesus,

Spread His praise from shore to shore!

How He loveth, ever loveth, changeth never, nevermore!

How He watches o'er His loved ones, died to call them all His own!

How for them He intercedeth, watcheth o'er them from the throne!

O the deep, deep love of Jesus,

'Tis a heav'n of heav'ns to me

And it lifts me up to glory, for it lifts me up to Thee!

Thanks to the Lord

Today i had church at home and listend to this song and the preachings......
Through a status message from a sister on FB i went to the site of the "COTM website" Church on the Move....
( Putting it on my blog is to remember them and to come back to listen again to get more out of them!)

You stood before creation
Eternity within Your hand
You spoke the earth into motion
My soul now to stand

You stood before my failure
Carried the Cross for my shame
My sin weighed upon Your shoulders
My soul now to stand

So what can I say
What can I do
But offer this heart O God
Completely to You

So I'll walk upon salvation
Your Spirit alive in me
This life to declare Your promise
My soul now to stand

So what can I say
What can I do
But offer this heart O God
Completely to You

So I’ll stand
With arms high and heart abandoned
In awe of the One who gave it all

So I’ll stand
My soul Lord to You surrendered
All I am is Yours

Following the Footsteps of Jesus - Part 3 (2.16.09) from Church on the Move on Vimeo. Following the Footsteps of Jesus - Part 4 (2.22.09) from Church on the Move on Vimeo. Things My Father Taught Me from Church on the Move on Vimeo.

SPIRITUAL SUNDAY'S ~ EARS to HEAR and LISTEN !!~

Revelation 2:7 (The Message)

 ⁷"Are your ears awake? Listen. Listen to the Wind Words, the Spirit blowing through the churches. I'm about to call each conqueror to dinner. I'm spreading a banquet of Tree-of-Life fruit, a supper plucked from God's orchard."



"Let anyone with ears to hear, listen" is not an empty ritual refrain but an urgent encouragement that listeners need to listen with more than their ears with spiritual apprehension. It calls for holistic listening. Hearers have a responsibility to be willing to live in new ways. It involves an intensity of response that casual notice may miss to its peril. Hearing words and not putting them into practice is like a foolish man who built his house upon sand (Matt.7: 26). For "faith comes from what is heard" (Romans 10:17.) You catch the urgency, for example in 1 Cor. 15:51, "Listen, I will tell you a mystery! Hearing opens up a dimension of responsibility that echoes in the early church (Rev.2: 7,11,17,29; 3:6,13,22) and complements the accountabilities of the preacher.

For more Spiritual Sundays click on the button and i pray you will be blessed and have a Special day with The Lord!

Sunday, November 1


All Saints Day
Twenty-Second Sunday after Pentecost

Watchword for the Day
Salvation belongs to our God who is seated on the throne, and to the Lamb!
Revelation 7:10

Watchword for the Week
Hear, O Israel: The Lord is our God, the Lord alone. You shall love the Lord
your God with all your heart, and with all your soul, and with all your might.
Deuteronomy 6:4,5

Deuteronomy 6:1-9; Psalm 119:1-8
Hebrews 9:11-14; Mark 12:28-34

All Saints Day
Isaiah 25:6-9; Psalm 24
Revelation 21:1-6a; John 11:32-44

My soul finds rest in God alone; my salvation comes from him. Psalm 62:1 (NIV)

Although you have not seen Jesus Christ, you love him; and even though you do
not see him now, you believe in him and rejoice with an indescribable and
glorious joy. 1 Peter 1:8

Amazing Savior, the love you have for us is incomparable. Help us remain in awe
of the tremendous gift you gave us -- the gift of your son, Jesus Christ. Amen

THAN SING MY SOUL SATURDAY~ This is how we overcome~

THIS IS HOW WE OVERCOME by HILLSONG UNITED
LYRICS:

Your light broke through my night
Restored exceeding joy
Your grace fell like the rain
And made this desert live

Chorus:
You have turned my mourning into dancing
You have turned my sorrow into joy

Your hand lifted me up
I stand on higher ground
Your praise rose in my heart
And made this valley sing
(Chorus)

This is how we overcome
This is how we overcome
(Chorus) 

For more THEN SINGS MY SOUL SATURDAY, visit Amy@Signs, Miracles & Wonders

 

" CONSIDER IT ALL JOY " ~ Prayer IS The Key FaitH unlocks the door~

FIVE FAITH -BUILDING STEPS TO A POWERFUL PRAYER LIFE
1. Endure: Don't lose heart. Keep praising God for His goodness. (James 1:1-4)

James encourages us to "consider it all joy" when we encounter trials that test our faith. That may sound difficult. But as we endure these trials, pressing on in faith and believing God has our best interests at heart, we will emerge from the experience "perfect and complete, lacking in nothing." Often, God allows us to go through difficult challenges because those very experiences shape us to receive the answer He has already prepared. Even in the midst of pain, if we can press on -- praying, standing on His Word, believing His promises -- we will see His goodness bring us to a better place.

2. Stop worrying: Ask God for wisdom concerning your situation. (James 1:5)
God gives wisdom to everyone who asks Him. He gives it generously. He doesn't think any less of us for asking. In fact, He loves it when we come to Him with our concerns. But the catch is, we have to ask for wisdom to get it. Too many of us reason out problems and come up with solutions on our own -- coming to God only as a last resort. God tells us in Jeremiah 33:3, "Call to Me, and I will answer you, and I will tell you great and mighty things, which you do not know." If we come to Him as soon as we encounter difficulties, He promises to give us His perspective on our situation. He can show us ways to deal with our trials that may never have occurred to us.

3. Deal with doubt: Come to God in faith -- and expect an answer! (James 1:6-8)

When you ask God for help, remember that He is faithful. When Jesus invited Peter to walk with Him on the water, Peter was able to do it -- as long as he kept his eyes on Jesus and focused on his circumstances -- looking at the waves around him and the water beneath him, he sank. When you ask God for help, focus on His Word and what He is speaking to your heart to believe for, rather than letting your faith be determined by your situation.

4 Remember: God is not limited by your circumstances. (James 1:9-11)

By the world's standards, wealthy people have the greatest range of opportunities because they have the resources to make their dreams come true. They can afford the best the world has to offer, and can gain power and influence through their wealth. In contrast, God is not impressed by a person's wealth, but rather by our willingness to believe Him and by obedience in what He has told us to do. If we are rich in faith, there are no limits to what God can accomplish through us!

5 Persevere: Keep your eyes on God, and thank Him for the victory! (James 1:12)

Through persevering in prayer in each trying situation, praising God and believing in His goodness, we will build the character we need in order to receive all that God has for us without being overwhelmed. And each situation we emerge from in triumph is a small picture of the victory that awaits all believers someday when we receive the crown of life which the Lord has promised to those who love Him!

Fearles Friday ~ PRAYING>>>>>>>~

Click on the image below and head over to Angela's blog to read her devotional and participate in Fearless Friday.



"They do not fear bad news; they confidently trust the Lord to care for them. They are confident and fearless and can face their foes triumphantly." ~ Psalm 112:7-8 NLT

This is a post in a little rush....I'm just home from work and dinner still needs to be made.
Some prayer request i have on my mind for some preciouse people who needs healing in their body and comfort

This request just came in and is VERY URGENT!! ( so i insert it right away in this post)

Any moment minute a LIVER TRANSPLANT  will be done for Slim/Bill a very close friend of a precious sister in Christ go here to her blog

Urgent prayer now for Stellan And for his wife

More prayers needed and update

For Denise at

 

Pray for my friend Lisa at "God is Good" God knows her request only say her name and she will feel the sunshine coming on to her Those sunflowers she posted today on her blog and they sticked also to my mind.



Pray also for me.....My shoulder's healing is going good one day at a time.....
Only i am worying about something else....For some days i feel like a "obstruction "deep inside my throat and when i press on the area of my thyroid ( i hope i do not explain this strange in english....smile..) It hurts....So nextweek i want to let it be checked but pray that it is nothing to worry about or that it disappears

This week i was taking a better look at my prayer life and the benifit's of praying. If you are interested to read what i found it is here on my windows live blog.

But i post overhere :Some well established prayers through the ages (from the Archdiocese of Dublin):

Our Father

Hail Mary

Glory Be to the Father

St. Patrick's Breastplate

Magnificat

Morning Prayer

Night Prayer

Prayer Before Meals

Prayer After Meals

 

And an site to get started with 'Pray as you Go'

 

Thankful Thursday ~GOD OF CHANGE and TRANSFORMATION~

1 Samuel 10:5 (The Message)

 ^5-6 "Next, you'll come to Gibeah of God, where there's a Philistine garrison. As you approach the town, you'll run into a bunch of prophets coming down from the shrine, playing harps and tambourines, flutes and drums. And they'll be prophesying. Before you know it, the Spirit of God will come on you and you'll be prophesying right along with them. And you'll be transformed. You'll be a new person!
  
Isaiah 41:14 (The Message)
 ^15-16I'm transforming you from worm to harrow,
   from insect to iron.
As a sharp-toothed harrow you'll smooth out the mountains,
   turn those tough old hills into loamy soil.
You'll open the rough ground to the weather,
   to the blasts of sun and wind and rain.
But you'll be confident and exuberant,
   expansive in The Holy of Israel! 

Jeremiah 31:21 (The Message)
 ^21-22"Set up signposts to mark your trip home.
   Get a good map.
Study the road conditions.
   The road out is the road back.
Come back, dear virgin Israel,
   come back to your hometowns.
How long will you flit here and there, indecisive?
   How long before you make up your fickle mind?
God will create a new thing in this land:
   A transformed woman will embrace the transforming God!"

God of  CHANGE....TRANSFORMATION is today's theme for THANKFUL THURSDAY!

Do you see it ...do you experience it.....do you long for it ?
I read  in HIS WORD ,in HIS LOVE MESSAGE to us ...That He will do it ...He PROMISES it to us.....
We only need to study the road conditions we are on to come out back to HIM back to His heart and embrace our God of CHANGE of TRANSFORMATION.

Thank You Father

• For the Holy Spirit what is dwelling and guiding me to see where i am and where to go.....
  
• For your word and message to bring the change in my mind
• For YOUR holiness and making me holy...transforming me into your image 
• For followers of Christ who ....... are led by your spirit and are hands and feet of your Son in this world.Are helping me to  and others to change for your glory Lord 
• For all the moments in this week you gave situations and thoughts of hope and life 
• For my family...your provision daily and protecting of us

There can be ad more to my list of Thanksgiving because all that i am and receive everyday is from Him.The one and only Lord who can and will transform and change for our own good!
Head over to S.U.M to read more TT or to post your own. Thank You Lynn for hosting this month. And  for leading us  woman on a Journey "30Days -The mind of Christ-"   
Next month we will meet at Grace Alone. December we will return to Women Taking A Stand. 

There are more TT meme's to join ( click on the button)

 

A remarkable woman of FAITH~ St Josephine's story~

 I read this and her story and faith and how she was lead through her life.....


Saint Josephine Bakhita

I originally posted this homily two years ago. The message of Saint Josephine Bakhita is so compelling that I decided to post it again on the occasion of her liturgical memorial.
We celebrate today the memorial of Saint Josephine Bakhita as well as the sixty-second anniversary of her death. Born in Sudan, Africa in 1869, Madre Josephine died in Italy in 1947, and was canonized by Pope John Paul II on October 1, 2000. Her memorial, endowed with a magnificent new Collect, was inserted into the Third Typical Edition of the Roman Missal published in 2002.
The Holy Spirit Interceding for Us in the Liturgy
I have had occasion to say this many times before, but it bears repetition: the Collect prescribed by the liturgy on any given day is a pure distillation of the Church's prayer. The Collect of the day is nothing less than the Holy Spirit "helping us in our weakness; for we do not know how to pray as we ought" (Rom 8:26). The Collect of the day is the Church articulating for us those "sighs too deep for words" (Rom 8:26) by which the Holy Spirit himself intercedes for us, filling us with the prayer of Christ.
Every line of the Collect for Saint Bakhita merits attention; every phrase needs to be repeated in meditation.

O God, who led Saint Josephine Bakhita
from abject slavery
to the dignity of being your daughter and the bride of Christ,
give us, we beseech you, by her example,
to follow after Jesus the Crucified Lord with unremitting love
and, in charity, to persevere in a ready mercy.

Called by a New Name

As a result of the trauma she endured when she was kidnapped and sold into slavery as a little girl, Saint Josephine Bakhita could not remember the name her parents had given her. Her captors called her Bakhita, meaning "fortunate" or "lucky." "thou shalt be called by a new name, which the mouth of the Lord shall name. And thou shalt be a crown of glory in the hand of the Lord, and a royal diadem in the hand of thy God" (Is 62:2-3). Years later, at her baptism, Bakhita received the name Giuseppina or Josephine.

A Saint Sold and Resold

Bakhita's life was marked by indescribable emotional, moral, and physical suffering. After her kidnapping, she was sold and resold in the slave markets of El Obeidh and Khartoum. In the capital of Sudan, Bakhita was bought -- yes, bought -- by the Italian Consul, one Callisto Legnani. Bakhita was surprised that her new owner didn't use the lash on her when giving orders; he treated her with kindness and affection. When the political situation obliged him to return to Italy, he took Bakhita with him. There Bakhita entered the service of another family. These good people, in turn, entrusted Bakhita to the Canossian Daughters of Charity in Venice.

Daughter of God
Bakhita became a catechumen and was baptized on January 9th, 1890. From then on, she would kiss the baptismal font, saying, "Here I became a daughter of God." The Collect echoes this: O God, who led Saint Josephine Bakhita from abject slavery to the dignity of being your daughter. . . .
Christ, the Gentle Master

Protected by Italian law, Bakhita chose to remain among the Canossians. The psalmist expresses her choice: "Better is one day in thy courts above thousands. I have chosen to be an abject in the house of my God, rather than to dwell in the tabernacles of sinners" (Ps 83:10). She who had been bought and sold by a series of human masters discovered the tender love of Christ, the gentle Master. Sweet paradox. Bakhita called God, "Master."
 
La Madre Moretta

On December 8th, 1896, Bakhita was consecrated forever to God as a Canossian Daughter of Charity, becoming Mother Josephine. The local people and school children called her affectionately la Madre Moretta, "the little Black Mother." Daughter of God, Bride of Christ, Mother of the little and the poor, Bakhita became the complete consecrated woman: free, loved, fruitful, fully realized. "Thou shalt no more be called Forsaken: and thy land shall no more be called Desolate: but thou shalt be called My pleasure in her, and thy land inhabited. Because the Lord hath been well pleased with thee: and thy land shall be inhabited" (Is 62:4).
 

No Trace of Bitterness

Mother Josephine Bakhita served her Master for almost fifty years. The Collect speaks of her following Jesus the Crucified Lord with unremitting love. In charity, it says, she persevered in a ready mercy. This is the miracle of Saint Bakhita. There was no trace of bitterness in her. The cruel degradations and unspeakable moral outrages suffered as a slave, though never forgotten, had no hold on her. She to whom men had refused mercy persevered to the end in a ready mercy for others. She was not a prisoner of her past. We who are so often prisoners of the past, unable to let go, unable to forgive, unable to move beyond old hurts, do well today to seek her intercession. 
 
Set Free by Love

Looking to the future does not mean forgetting the past; it means transfiguring it. It means re-reading it with eyes of mercy in the light of faith. We need not remain slaves of our own histories, chained to the evil things, the hurtful things, the unjust things that happened ten, twenty, thirty, forty, fifty, or seventy-five years ago. There is another way: the way of those set free by love.
 
Two Suitcases

Toward the end of her life, Mother Bakhita used to smile and say: "I travel slowly, one step at a time, because I am carrying two big suitcases. One of them contains my sins, and in the other, which is much heavier, are the infinite merits of Jesus. When I reach heaven I will open the suitcases and say to God: 'Eternal Father, now you can judge.' And to St. Peter: 'Close the door, because I'm staying.'"
 
La Madonna

In her final agony Bakhita relived the horrors of her enslavement. "Loosen the chains," she said to her nurse, "they are so heavy." The Mother of God herself came to loosen the chains. Bakhita died smiling, saying, la Madonna, la Madonna. It was February 8th, 1947.

The Eucharist, Mystery of Liberation

Saint Josephine Bakhita, intercede for us that, freed from the chains that bind us to the past, we may go forward into freedom. For each of us the path forward is the Communion procession to the altar. The Most Holy Eucharist is the mystery of our liberation, the healing of memories, the Bread to children given, the Chalice of undying love lifted daily to the lips of the Bride.

WFW~Saint Paul Advises Bloggers~

Finally, bloggers, whatever is true,
whatever is honourable,
whatever is just,
whatever is pure,
whatever is lovely,
whatever is gracious,
if there is any excellence,
if there is anything worthy of praise,
blog about these things. What you have learned and received
and heard and seen in me, do:
and the God of Peace will be with you.
Philippians 4, 6-9
( I found this combination of verses and picture on an blog of a benedictine monk blog,and not with standing i know this vers by heart it spoke to me in this contexts of substituting the word blog for write!)
Today is WFW 

You can find McLinky at our hostess Susan’s blog  http://susan2956.blogspot.com/
next week our hostess will be Penny’s blog  pennyraine.com/blog
 

A Love Worth Giving

Your Kindness Quotient
by Max Lucado
How kind are you? What is your kindness quotient? When was the last time you did something kind for someone in your family--e.g., got a blanket, cleaned off the table, prepared the coffee--without being asked?
Think about your school or workplace. Which person is the most overlooked or avoided? A shy student? A grumpy employee? Maybe he doesn't speak the language. Maybe she doesn't fit in. Are you kind to this person?
Kind hearts are quietly kind. They let the car cut into traffic and the young mom with three kids move up in the checkout line. They pick up the neighbor's trash can that rolled into the street. And they are especially kind at church. They understand that perhaps the neediest person they'll meet all week is the one standing in the foyer or sitting on the row behind them in worship. Paul writes: "When we have the opportunity to help anyone, we should do it. But we should give special attention to those who are in the family of believers" (Gal. 6:10).
And, here is a challenge--what about your enemies? With the boss who fired you or the wife who left you. Suppose you surprised them with kindness? Not easy? No, it's not. But mercy is the deepest gesture of kindness. Paul equates the two. "Be kind to one another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, even as God in Christ forgave you" (Eph. 4:32 NKJV). Jesus said:
Love your enemies. Do good to those who hate you, bless those who curse you.... If you love only the people who love you, what praise should you get? ... [L]ove your enemies, do good to them, and lend to them without hoping to get anything back. Then you will have a great reward, and you will be children of the Most High God, because he is kind even to people who are ungrateful and full of sin. Show mercy, just as your Father shows mercy. (Luke 6:27-28, 32, 35-36)
Kindness at home. Kindness in public. Kindness at church and kindness with your enemies. Pretty well covers the gamut, don't you think? Almost. Someone else needs your kindness. Who could that be? You.
Since he is so kind to us, can't we be a little kinder to ourselves? Oh, but you don't know me, Max. You don't know my faults and my thoughts. You don't know the gripes I grumble and the complaints I mumble. No, I don't, but he does. He knows everything about you, yet he doesn't hold back his kindness toward you. Has he, knowing all your secrets, retracted one promise or reclaimed one gift?
No, he is kind to you. Why don't you be kind to yourself? He forgives your faults. Why don't you do the same? He thinks tomorrow is worth living. Why don't you agree? He believes in you enough to call you his ambassador, his follower, even his child. Why not take his cue and believe in yourself?
Be kind to yourself. God thinks you're worth his kindness. And he's a good judge of character.

From A Love Worth Giving

PRAYING....don't forget FRIDAY is..............!!

 Prayer and praying is on my mind tonight and  must ALWAYS be in every circumstance we face.....
I'm fighting this week to not listen to my feelings and look at my surroundings or circumstances.
But listen to God's truth and wisdom.....Pray and speak out His word over my life..my childrens...husbands...family and who He brings in my mind or on my way.
He wants us to be FEARLESS no matter what the enemy is wispering or try us to believe......
Do You know this button?


Tomorrow bloggers come together and pray don't forget to head over at "Free Spirit Haven" the home of this powerful  and encouraging meme....Leave your request over at Angela's or at the other bloggers.(I will be traveling tomorrow and be away for some days so can't read your requests) 


These verses and prayers stirred me up to storm to God's throne with prayers.
Be blessed my friends.

James 1:1-12 (The Message)

 ¹I, James, am a slave of God and the Master Jesus, writing to the twelve tribes scattered to Kingdom Come: Hello! Faith Under Pressure

 ^2-4Consider it a sheer gift, friends, when tests and challenges come at you from all sides. You know that under pressure, your faith-life is forced into the open and shows its true colors. So don't try to get out of anything prematurely. Let it do its work so you become mature and well-developed, not deficient in any way.

 ^5-8If you don't know what you're doing, pray to the Father. He loves to help. You'll get his help, and won't be condescended to when you ask for it. Ask boldly, believingly, without a second thought. People who "worry their prayers" are like wind-whipped waves. Don't think you're going to get anything from the Master that way, adrift at sea, keeping all your options open.

 ^9-11When down-and-outers get a break, cheer! And when the arrogant rich are brought down to size, cheer! Prosperity is as short-lived as a wildflower, so don't ever count on it. You know that as soon as the sun rises, pouring down its scorching heat, the flower withers. Its petals wilt and, before you know it, that beautiful face is a barren stem. Well, that's a picture of the "prosperous life." At the very moment everyone is looking on in admiration, it fades away to nothing.

 ¹²Anyone who meets a testing challenge head-on and manages to stick it out is mighty fortunate. For such persons loyally in love with God, the reward is life and more life.

Prayer For My Child/Children

Dear God,
My child is so precious to me. Give me the words You would have me speak for my child's welfare.
Cleanse my mind of worry.
Fill my mind, instead, with the knowledge of how much You love my baby and how strong Your power is to protect.
I decree You speak to my child and guide her in Right Action.
I affirm that, as she explores life, she hears Your Voice clearly—
Listens to Your whispered warnings—
Follows Your guidance—
And is safe in Your love.
And if she is so full of enthusiasm—or confusion—that she takes a wrong step,
You hold out Your arms, dear Lord, and catch her.
For You now move Heaven and Earth and protect her
As The Protector of all innocents, no matter their age,
And I decree my child is an innocent.
You whisper and paths change. Danger turns away. And my child, hearing You, turns toward safety.
For nothing is stronger than You.
No evil can circumvent Your Knowing.
No voice can speak louder; no force can move mountains as You can.
Nothing can penetrate Your Net of Protection around my child.
I rest easy, knowing I have turned over the care of my child to You and that You never fail me.
I affirm my child is safe in Your Arms, now and forever.
That You teach them, through me and through others, their beauty, their Divinity and their worth.
You teach them such great self love and respect,
That they take tender care of thereselfs always.
And we spend many happy days in each others company, during the remainder of my life.
As Jesus said: Ask and ye shall receive;
So do I speak The Word which You infuse with absolute power:

My child is safe now and forever more.
Thank You, God.

And so it is.
Amen.

Prayer of a Mother concerned about her adult children

As I turn to you, Lord, my heart is troubled. You know the journey that brought my children to where they are today. I am so sorry for whatever my husband or I might have done wrong, Lord. Our children don't seem to practice the faith we tried to hand on to them. Their values are so different from ours. It breaks my heart to see them passing those same values on to their children, my grandchildren.
Oh, Lord, I place them in your hands. I surrender the judgments and anger that can fill me. I know that, at times, in my frustration and desire to help them, I have pushed them farther away. Give me the graces I need to change my heart. Fill me with your mercy and forgiveness for my sins so that I might grow in the ability to forgive and embrace my kids with compassionate love. Let me be a healer of wounds, rather than a wounder. Let me build bridges of understanding. I know that is the only way I will be able, with your grace, to heal our relationship.
Father of Love, help my kids grow in gratitude to you. Help them to find you in their busy lives. Help me to affirm them and support them with love, that they might recognize authentic faith and love, and turn to you in their time of need.
Thank you, Lord. Thank you.

A Wife's Prayer

Dear Lord,


Help me to be the kind of wife you want me to be.


Help me not to take my role as wife lightly or take my husband's love for granted.


Help me to be a good listener, giving my husband my full attention so that I will be well aware of his concerns, aspirations, and needs.


Help me to pay attention to the advice my husband gives me when he brings things to my attention that I may be doing wrong or that I could be doing better.


Help me to be more anxious to please my husband than to have my own way.


Help me to be aware of the things that I do that upset my dear husband - and enable me not to keep doing them - so that I will not be causing unnecessary problems in our relationship.


Help me to remember that I am commanded to submit to my husband's role as head of the house even if he fails to faithfully submit to the headship of Christ.


Help me to treat my husband better than when we were first met and remind me of the importance of spending quality time alone with him and of doing things to remind him of how special he is to me.


Help me not to jump to conclusions about my husband's motives and enable me to think the best of him at all times.


Help me to apologize and set things straight when I complain, falsely accuse, act selfishly, or say unkind or provoking words.


Help me to go out of my way to complement him and to encourage him.


Help me to be a proper example of what a loving, considerate, caring, and self-sacrificing wife should be.


Help me to realize that it is my job to be an example of a mature and godly wife and not an example of a disrespectful and selfish child.


Help me to be joyful in spite of my circumstances and help me to avoid whining and complaining when things do not go my way.


Help me to admit my faults, to apologize when I am wrong, and to be anxious to heal wounds that I may have caused in my relationship to my husband.


Help me to realize that is far better to get my husband to do things I want him to do because he loves me and not because I nag him.


Help me to never forget that You gave me my husband to be a helpmate and best friend and may I never think of him as an adversary or a hindrance.


Help me to show my children how much I respect and love their father by my actions and by the words out of my mouth.


Help me not to be afraid to be affectionate and loving towards my husband in front of my children so that they will know how to be good spouses when they grow up.


Help me to support my husband in the proper administration of discipline to our children so they are not a burden or a grief to my husband.


Help me to show my children that my husband is truly my very best friend and a highly trusted partner in the ministry of our family.


Make me the kind of wife who my husband will never regret having married and even more than that, make me the kind of wife who is a joy for my husband to be around and who my husband will be proud to call his wife, a woman who honors him and who honors Christ.
Amen.