FIRE - Holy Spirit at work in our world!

After having 4 daughters - I admit that to see this little girl in the evening with the beauty of the pasture behind her just stirs a great wave of JOY and Happiness within me!   She is so reminiscent of my girls with her dark hair and big brown eyes, and a little pink outfit just tops it off.  We were on our way to reliven a wonderful tradition we had of going out to look at the cows and calves as a family on summer evenings too, so that really heightened the nostalgia of the entire occasion! 

The sun streaming into our lenses at sunset gave the appearance of Fire surrounding the little ones as they gathered at the fence for an attempt to get a kid picture.  It is evident that I have Rose well trained to smile when she sees grandma with her camera...  Today there is great sharing about the words of Christ in the Gospel about - "I came to set the earth on fire , and how I wish it were already blazing."  Luke 12:49  Reminding us that we are filled with the Holy Spirit at our confirmation and that FIRE enkindles our spirit and allows us to shout from the rooftops the Truth we find in our Church!  That fire also burns away all that which separates us from the LOVE of Christ and all that we are graced with through following without hesitation or reservation His Bride, The Church! 

My youngest girl, Susan/Hallel, with her baby brother, John, about 24 years ago!  She loves her brother and will be praying mightily for him this week as he has an interview this week up in the Cities for a job. 
I am just bursting this day with all that is Catholic!  I am on fire for all that blesses me with graces each day from our Church... so much that there is too much that fills me to overflowing!!!   The Sacraments, the Word of God, the Prayers of the Church throughout the day, the devotionals - the rosary is foremost for me filling my day with constant prayers for all those I have been given to pray for!  Pope Benedict XVI wrote that the fire is Christ's own passion of love, "a fire that is to be handed on.  Whoever comes close to him must be prepared to be burned.  This is a fire that makes things bright and pure and free and grand.  Being a Christian, then is daring to entrust oneself to this burning fire."  "God is preparing us to live a life of eternal LOVE.  His fire burns away all that cannot live in the presence of such LOVE."  See www.magnifiacat.com

The 4 girls celebrating the birth of Susan/Little Sister Hallel with crowns for the princesses made by Nancy!  As I said the dark hair and big dark eyes pull my heart strings!
Jesus, there is so much that fills me with your Fire of LOVE - the beauty of LIFE and the JOY we receive from your Glorious Church!  We have found a small slice of Heaven here on earth in sharing the Truth that has set us free to face all that our comes to us with LIFE!  We are not torn apart in our family because we have come to share together all that truly matters in this world - YOU and your Bride, The Church!  We take very seriously sharing that with all the new lives that join our domestic Church family and all that come to us through our Family of Faith.  We are called to bring LIGHTS into the world, O Lord.  In asking us to be open to LIFE in our domestic Church/family and to share the FIRE of Truth - knowing that there will be pain of burning involved - as the selfishness that wants to lie to us and lead us into darkness will be destroyed by the FIRE of your Truth and LOVE!  Humble us Lord, so that we may be totally and without reservation Yours' alone!  We come to YOU when we are weak, so keep us weak and lowly in your sight, O Lord.  Jesus, we trust in YOU.  Amen and Halleluia

Bless-bless, Barb

With my first wonderful baby girl, Ruth Ida!

"Whoever is close to me is close to fire."  Gospel of Thomas  - I bet Thomas' fingers burned when he put them in the wounds of Christ after he doubted that he has risen! 

Jammies and mud puddles...  No wonder I can't walk past the little girls clothes in the store without a look and usually a purchase for one of the granddaughters!  Too sweet for words! 

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-3A3B02WSC0  Litany of Humility by Danielle Rose - I am always afraid to pray for this, as it means my pride will take a blow.  That is what I need, so hear my prayer, O Lord!