La Selva Beach Picture by Laurie Couto
The Holy Spirit inspired our blog.
Solemnity of Saint Joseph, Spouse of the Blessed Virgin Mary
Blessed are those who dwell in your house, O Lord; they never cease to praise you. Emphasis mine Psalm 84:5
The above is the verse before the Gospel. This reading jumped out at me, sooooo off we go.
For a long time in my younger life, I thought about being in Heaven giving never-ceasing praise to the Triune God as being boooooooooooring. I guess I thought I could somehow fake it, and get through it, but I didn’t see Joy in never-ceasing praise.
How wrong I was, as we pray you by now know.
Let’s go back and establish a few facts you might have forgotten.
When we pray the Our Father, we acknowledge God the Father is in Heaven, and we also ask that His Kingdom come,
Where?
Here!
When
Now!
Fred be more specific!
Where?
Here in us as we live our lives.
You’ve got to be kidding.
No, I, yes, I, have come to realize since I started praying the Nine-Fruit of The Holy Spirit, that the prayer is answered and I, Yes, I have grown in the Love, Joy, and Peace that I have asked, and Prayed, for.
You see, I, yes, I, also fully believe Prayers are answered, and I have seen this by growing deeper in Joy and Peace as a result of an increased Love.
Everyone, and we mean Everyone who has taken our advice and learned and prayed the “Nine” has seen a difference, and Everyone and we mean Everyone doesn’t want to go back to the person they were before praying the “Nine.”
Update: Today 3/12/25 a man who is in our Saturday Morning Men’s group barged into a weekly meeting Jim Russell and I were having, and said, “Fred, Love, Joy Peace, Patience, Kindness, Generosity, Faithfulness, Gentleness, and Self-Control.”
We asked, “Have you seen a change?” He said, “YES!”
“Do you like the change?” He said, “YES!”
And then left, but the JOY he reflected was unbelievable.
We, The Holy Spirit, and I, were holding a communion service at the Veterans Home and we mentioned the above statement, Donna, a daughter of a Vet said she learned the “Nine, but sadly has failed to pray the “Nine” every day.
We asked her
Who wants you not to say this powerful prayer? satan or God?
She said satan, we said “Tell satan to get behind you,” and pray this powerful prayer.
Next, we asked
If you were filled with increased Joy and Peace:
Would you be healthier or sicker? Donna said Healthier.
Would you be a better or worse spouse and mother? Donna said better.
Would you have more or less friends? Donna said more.
And if all that you have said were true would you never cease to too give praise, to your Father for this change in your life?
This is exactly what has happened to me, yes, me, and you all know this because one of the prayers we recommend you pray is “Thank You Father” and as we have reported we, say this all day long,
So,
Since Heaven is within me, and I know this because of Love, Joy, and Peace, I grow in Love Joy, and Peace through my never ceasing-knowledge that I can’t do anything without Them.
I don’t want less Love, Joy, and Peace, I, yes, I want more, and satan works hard to change my attitude, but we tell satan to get behind me every time satan tries to get me to stop.
Prayer:
I thank You, Father, for the death of Your Son, the Nails that were driven through His Hands, and the Nail that was driven through His Feet (Once).
(Now you can respond YES to the question IF YOU thank Me)
Next, pray,
Thank You, Father, for the DIFFICULTY of …(name the difficulty)….. That You have ALLOWED in my life, I have Faith You will take care of me.” Say this part of the prayer until you smile
Sidebar:
We’re reading Bread for the Journey by Henri Nouwen, and on March 10 he had the following observation that I found very interesting and we will briefly paraphrase.
When we witness every day all the problems the world is faced with this can paralyze us and cause depression.
Our call is NOT to save the world and solve all of the world’s problems.
Our call, is a unique call, in our family in our community, in our work, and in the world, and we have to KEEP ASKING God what that call is.
And
How will you know you’re doing the will of God your Father?
Love, Joy, and Peace, which is exactly what I, yes, I feel every time we sit down to write edit, and work on our blogs. For someone who said “No,” when The Holy Spirit told me to apply for this job, and is thrilled every day we work on the blogs and the books which The Holy Spirit has inspired me, us, to write.
I enJoy the relationship!
A quick reminder, for new readers.
I, yes, I, applied GRUDGINGLY to A Catholic Moment, and when I felt we weren’t selected I asked The Holy Spirit, (it’s ok, we‘re building a relationship). I asked The Holy Spirit in a questioning voice, “Do you mean, that YOU and I couldn’t write a winning sample of our writing?”
I still laugh at the above statement, because it clearly shows, which I just realized, when faced with not writing the blog, I, yes, I, really was upset at not being picked. But WE were picked, and my Joy started to grow again.
“Thank you Father” and my prayers of thanksgiving won’t stop.
Picture:
La Selva Beach just south of Santa Cruz is a tiny community that offers tranquil views for the eyes and the soul. Picture by Laurie Couto
Please keep Snapping!
Email me if you want a copy of the prayers we discussed or the three hiking pictures we showed.
fprince101@gmail.com
Remember, if you want to submit a picture, please do not include people. We have to get permission from that person to use their photograph.
