Jesus' heart burning with love for us!

TODAY'S GOSPEL- John 15:9-11

As the Father has loved me, so have I loved you; abide in my love. If you keep my commandments, you will abide in my love, just as ...I have kept my Father's commandments and abide in his love. These things I have spoken to you, that my joy may be in you, and that your joy may be full.

I found this wonderful picture along with the amazing Gospel for today shared on facebook this morning!  This was shared by Dominican Sisters of Mary, Mother of the Eucharist, and was a special blessing to me.  As is the sweet little girl that is on my lap helping me at this moment...

Bernadette noticed grandma's hair accessories from last night and now they are in her hair as they look out on a most glorious day!  The kids were in short order out the door and over to the dirt pile to start on their playing and enjoying a wonderful day!  Nancy has stuck it out for the entire 2 weeks this time, and the big difference is the wonderful spring weather and able to walk out the door to play rather than being stuck in the house due to the frigid winter weather that never ended!   We have so enjoyed their visit that we are sad to think of their not being here to bring that lightness factor into our busy days on the farm.  We are also very excited to know that we will welcome our new grandson soon! 

Looking at this picture of Jesus holding his heart as it is filled with so much love for each of us and desire for us to take advantage of His unconditional love and care for each and every one of us.  So often I will write notes or letters for people and ever since John's brain cancer and the grocery store girl - I know that I want to and need to pray for that person right then and there... I will share the Truth with them in prayer - "Jesus hold _____ close to your heart burning with love for them." 

I just filled up the swimming pool outside for the kids to play in later after the sun warms it up.  This was a fun time for the kids 5 years ago when we battled John's brain cancer together up in the Cities...  Here is my Grocery store girl story from the page I devoted to John's brain cancer stories...

http://familysoulstory.blogspot.com/p/johns-cancer-stories.html

As we brought John up to the Cities - we had a homebase at Maria and Joe's home close to the St Thomas campus in St Paul.  It worked out well for this to be family central, as Nancy also lived with their family as well as 3 law students!  It was a lively place where we could make big family meals and since it was summer - grandma bought this pool complex for the kids to enjoy in the midst of the craziness and emotions of this shocking outcome for our 20 year old John!  As the family was all around John  - I took a day away to make FOOD!  I just needed a down day to make some homecooked food for the family, and get some mental health time.  I ended up at a big Cub Food store that was nearby.  As I slowly walked the aisles picking out what I needed... I got in line of a black checkout woman about my age.  She asked me the ususal - "How are you doing?"  I just couldn't say the usual "fine."  I said - "Not that good."  "You at least have money for food." she says, "unlike that guy ahead of you."  she points to a black man bagging his own groceries that has just paid with food stamps.  "That's true," I say, "but my 20 year old son has brain cancer!  Could you please pray for him?"  She looks shocked at me and slightly nods her head.  At that exact moment a young girl in the next lane says - "Are you from Marshall?  I think I went to school with some of your girls.  Did you say that your son has brain cancer?  Can I pray for you right here and now?"   I was shocked and nodded my head in astonishment by it all.  She bowed her head, and said a simple short prayer asking for John to be healed and protected as well as his family.  I looked up to see the checkout lady and the man bagging his groceries also bowing their heads in prayer - united in prayer!  That changed me!  I might have lost a bit of my fire since.  But for a long time after this happened I would pray in the street, on the phone, in an email  - I would no longer say that I was going to pray for someone - I would do it right then and there!  I call this the Grocery Store girl, and she started me into a virtual prayer warrior!  I was reminded of this the other night - John and I were talking on the phone, and we were talking about my working the overnight shift at the nursing home that night.  This is a hard task for me, and John knows it.  He said that he would pray for me, and immediatly launched into a wonderful sweet prayer asking Jesus to go with me and to use me!  I thought of my grocery store girl, and smiled all the way to work and many times during the night remember the blessings that we have received.  Just yesterday I called a special friend/daughter that is struggling with her faith, and we prayed on the phone!  Such a powerful connection!  Prayer is something REAL and powerful!!!  We certainly have discovered that on this journey!

While up at St Josephs' Hospital with a brain tumor that brought our family together - Hallel from France made the picture complete!  How we discovered the heart burning with LOVE for us on this journey called cancer/healing/and now the question of where John is called to be.  Today he is farming with his dad and brother-in-law as he looks for work and a call from Jesus.  What does he burn to do every waking minute?  Share his story of finding Faith after a "quarterhearted prayer" for faith.  Just now we shared the "best prayer ever" as John walked up to the house to get the 4 wheeler and pour the bulls before they go out to the pasture - 3 "Hail Marys" were shared as he walked across the yard. We love to share our prayer each morning and today with the rush of jobs to do from early on... we managed to fit in a plea to Our Lady to walk with us and intercede for us.  This is Nancy's last full day with us as our 2 weeks come to an end... so we hope to fill it with a lot of family time and enjoying the beautiful weather every minute we can fit in!

Gus dragging his birthday shovel out to the gravel pile...
Jesus with Mary at your side... we love you and bask in your unconditional LOVE for us.  You showed us how to say "yes" to all that you ask of us... all we need to do is die to self so that you can live in us.  Come Holy Spirit and be our guest - dwell within our inner temple making it filled with all that is good and pure and holy.  May this spill forth into our lives so that we may serve without counting the cost.  Mary, full of Grace... help us with your grace to see your Son in all we meet and to share some of that unconditional LOVE and forgiveness with them.  Jesus, we trust in YOU.  Amen and Hallelujah

Bless-bless, Barbara Luke

"Draw your strength from the Lord and from his mighty power."  Ephesians 6:10

I just shared with John as we passed each other on our way to do this and that - "It's St Rita's feast day today."  "Cool!" 

John would always want to hear the story of St Rita when we would read the book of the Saints with the kids... She had a hard marriage and asking to suffer with the Lord was given a thorn from the Crown of Thorns in her forehead.  This morning as I was reading about her to Pat and got to the part about her to be a Saint to pray to for difficult marriages - "You should pray to her for us right?"  says my Most Cherished Cross - "I was just thinking that..."  Humor or real?  Sometimes I am not really sure, but we all need all the help we can get.  St Rita, pray for us.

Enjoying our last day with our little family from the Cities!

My Texas kids inside a Chinook Helicopter in Armed Services Day in El Paso, TX!  How I am praying for a real hug soon - Michigan I pray!

Danielle Rose - The Saint that is just me

DC talk - In the Light

John was in here and this is reminded him of our journey

 

DC talk - I'm into Jesus

John used this at a TEC talk shortly after he was healed

 

 Augustine dragging his birthday shovel from the Lanoues across the yard this morning.  I think he loves his gift and may alter the landscape of the world around him with it...

Yes, and the last thing he says to his mom is..."Why?"  and we hear that every other word out of Gus.  He is at the "Why?" stage of discovering what makes the world go round.  It builds patience in adults that are around him these days...