I love this picture!~ I borrowed it from Maria's blog and the bathed in the LIGHT going on plus the great JOY and LOVE of the kids for this man of God/priest/friend/Godfather to their oldest, Therese... well, it is such a wonderful photo story of the time they shared over Thanksgiving week! Little Patrick is in our prayers this day as he went into surgery yesterday about this time for his circumcision! Maria called about making Belgian cookies today, so I assume that the night went OK and that he is on the mend quickly! It is wonderful to have "family/God Father" visit them, as they are so far away from us! We are counting the days until they come to spend a couple weeks for Christmas in the arms of their family! We are also praying for good roads in a week so that we can get them down here and then we can get snowed in without complaint! My heart is also very consumed with prayer and concern this day for a family close to Marshall, who lost two children in a fire yesterday afternoon! Here is a brief news story about it! http://minnesota.cbslocal.com/2013/12/04/dps-2-children-unaccounted-for-firefighter-injured-after-lucan-fire/#.UqBvA3wuwhs.facebook Lord, hold this family in the palm of your hand, and most especially these two little ones you have called home to dwell with YOU in the mansion built upon the Rock!
So great! Today we start with Isaiah in the first reading... if it weren't for Isaiah Advent would not be what it is! The Word gives us so much to take to heart thanks to this vessel - the prophet, Isaiah! I know I have shared many times how Isaiah 55:1-2 was instrumental in out entire family converting to the Catholic Church - for the entire story and then some - http://familysoulstory.blogspot.com/p/the-amazing-story-of-13-becoming.html Here is a page I devoted to our amazing story! But day after day we hear the beautiful picture of Truth given us by Isaiah! Pat and I say to each other that you can just bet that the first reading will be Isaiah for Advent! Today is no exception and so powerful are his words to us - He speaks of that "Strong city" we consider this Heaven or also the domestic Church/family we have based upon HIM! "Trust in the Lord forever! For the Lord is an eternal Rock..." It is not surprising then to read the Gospel from Matthew7 is the one about building our house upon the Rock... if we listen to the words of God/Jesus we are building upon the Rock..."The rain fell, the floods came, and the winds blew and buffeted the house. But it did not collapse, it had been solidly set upon the Rock." Every morning Pat and I thank God for the miracles we have experienced in the last years - John, Patrick, and Ruth's last 3 babies to name a few - plus many others we have prayed for and received healing - a little boy born blind that now can see! A woman with breast cancer now there is none to be found! So many! In all of these experiences the house has been buffeted by the winds and storms of LIFE and yet it has stood on the Rock!
The snow storm of the last few days!
Lord, there is so much requiring our prayers this day. We never grow weary or discouraged thanks to this LIFE-line we are given called PRAYER! It is the love that passes between we your servants and children and YOU, The Rock! We can confidently build our dwelling place our temple within on YOU and all that we learn of YOU from your Word, your Sacraments, the blessings we receive from those devotions we gain strength and Pray with - the rosary and the chaplet, your angels watching over us, and your Saints led by your Mother, Mary Mother of God! Wow! The Rock has so many facets and is so gloriously beautiful as well as strong to withstand all that comes to us! Please, Lord, hold this family of yours close to your heart burning with LOVE and Mercy this day! Jesus, we trust in YOU. Amen and Hallelujah
Bless-bless, Barbara Luke
Psalm 118 from mass today
Give thanks to the Lord, for he is good,
for his mercy endures forever.
It is better to take refuge in the LORD
than to trust in man.
It is better to take refuge in the LORD
than to trust in princes.
Blessed is he who comes in the name of the LORD.
Hallelujah
O LORD, grant salvation!
O LORD, grant prosperity!
Blessed is he who comes in the name of the LORD;
we bless you in the house of the LORD.
The LORD is God, and he has given us LIGHT.
Blessed is he who comes in the name of the LORD.
Hallelujah
Farm winter scene - is prayerful!
Danielle Rose - Wonderfully made - Psalm 139
May our Rock/Jesus... protect all LIFE and reveal the Truth to those in darkness this day and forever!
No comments:
Post a Comment