The Holy Spirit inspired our blog.
Memorial of Saint Frances Xavier Cabrini, Virgin
Alleluia, alleluia.
In all circumstances, give thanks,
for this is the will of God for you in Christ Jesus. Emphasis mine Thes 5:18
Gospel Reading:
As Jesus continued his journey to Jerusalem,
he traveled through Samaria and Galilee.
As he was entering a village, ten lepers met him.
They stood at a distance from him and raised their voice, saying,
“Jesus, Master! Have pity on us!”
And when he saw them, he said,
“Go show yourselves to the priests.”
As they were going they were cleansed.
And one of them, realizing he had been healed,
returned, glorifying God in a loud voice;
and he fell at the feet of Jesus and thanked him.
He was a Samaritan.
Jesus said in reply,
“Ten were cleansed, were they not?
Where are the other nine?
Has none but this foreigner returned to give thanks to God?”
Then he said to him, “Stand up and go;
your faith has saved you.” Luke 17: 11-19
We have been doing things differently for the past few weeks, and I applaud the changes.
Today, we are quoting two readings, a small change but one that clearly connects the two readings with everything we have been writing about.
For the past two-plus years, we, yes, we, have talked about Thanking God for everything, including the difficulties we encounter in life. Easy to say, sometimes hard to do,
Unless,
You make it into a habit, then it is easy to do all of the time, which, of course, satan hates.
Gail and I have been visiting Mike and Cindy in Mississippi for the past week (which is why I was a week late in responding to your comments)and having a great time: Golf during the day, three great meals a day, and cards at night, Simer was the game we played.
At noon one day, I got out of Mike’s truck, and as I was walking to the restaurant, I suddenly felt like the mussel in my left calf wanted to pull away from whatever it was attached to in my body. I was reduced to hobbling.
As I pray you know by now, the first words out of my mouth were, “Thank you, Father, for the DIFFICULITY of my sore mussel in my left leg, I have Faith you will take care of me.”
I laughed because, once again, I thought, “This is stupid. Thanking God my Father for the DIFFICULTY doesn’t make sense.”
But,
I knew right then, because of the laugh, that I would be all right.
Later that day, Gail asked me, “Did you thank God the Father for the DIFFICULITY of the sore leg?” I said, “Yes, and I am feeling better.” One example of many of Gail taking care of me.
This all started on Monday at noon. I put ice and heat on the leg and put it in Mike’s hot tub. The next day, Gail and I played nine holes of golf with Mike and Cindy—nine holes is all I will play—and we had the best game we EVER had. We rode in a cart, and I felt a little pain, but we had one of the best rounds of our lives.
On the way back to Maine, it kicked up again; yep, I thanked God the Father until I smiled, and today, after prayer, exercise, and China-Jel, I feel a lot better. Notice where the China-Jel comes in.
After the prayer.
Prayer is more important than the doctor or the medication. If the Doctor or the medication were ALWAYS successful, I wouldn’t need the Prayer.
But Doctors and Medications are not always successful, which is why Prayer is my most important power in our, yes, our life.
You may be asking, Why is he spending so much time on his pain?”
I know many of you are hurting. You have told me this. I have suggested that you thank God for everything that happens in your life, good and bad.
I have the feeling many of you look at me as though I was crazy. Well, maybe I am, but as we type this blog, I have no pain.
I thank God for everything. I didn’t learn this from some motivational speaker. No, I learned it from the Holy Spirit and reading the Bible.
Because the prayer makes no sense, you have to realize it came from God. The measure I am using is the life of Jesus, which also makes no sense. The Beloved Son Of God, Creator of the Universe, born to a common Woman in a Manger and Crucified so you might be Justified also makes no sense,
BUT,
That is what happened, and if you fully believe Jesus is the Son of God and His Father sent him, then start believing they want a Relationship and to take care of you,
AND
The DIFFICULTIES God the Father allows are to bring you closer to Them.
And,
In all circumstances, give thanks,
Sidebar:
Mike and I went to Mass on Wednesday morning, and Mike introduced me to a man with Down syndrome, whom Mike claimed is one of the most Holy people he knows.
We shook hands, and I could see the Joy that filled his body and soul. I was meeting a bright light in a dark world, and his light stood out for all to see.
I know, I know, many of you are thinking, but Fred, he has Down’s Syndrome; he’s not like us.
Really?
We have often reported about Ryan in the Cumberland County Jail, who found Joy in the jail. Do you think Ryan had it a lot easier than you?
Mike told me that when the man I met left Mass, he would turn back, face the church, and say, “I will see you tomorrow, Jesus.” What a beautiful prayer.
I believe God puts people in your life to enrich your life; you just have to see God active in your life through that person and thank God for bringing that person into your life.
If you meet people who are not God-centered, you will not have these experiences.
If you do not pray the “NINE” daily, as Ryan did, it will be harder to find “Joy in the jail.” No other prisoner has.
Life is about choices, and because many of you are reading our blog, you are making the right choice. Now, continue to grow by making other good God choices and becoming a Conscious Competent.
A comment from a reader: Your 24/7 comment reminded me of Brother Lawrence’s book The Practice of the Presence of God. In it, he says, “There is not in the world a kind of life more sweet and delightful than that of a continual conversation with God; those only can comprehend it who practice and experience it.”
If only I were there.
Peace Jerry
Our response to Jerry: It just takes time and commitment to have a 24/7 relationship with God. We will also add that this has taken over thirty years of constant change, leaving the world and wanting to grow in the Spirit World. The effort has been well worth it. I, yes, I never want to go back to the person I, yes, I was.
Picture:
Lighthouse at Old Mission Peninsula in Michigan. Picture by Jerry Torres
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.
