"I have been given love, and now I am called to return LOVE!" John Verly

David and Luke watching their parents rake and bale corn stalks in front of our house last evening.  These two boys love the farm and are thrilled to see their parents at work in the tractors.  The story behind the angel etched on my huge front picture window - it was a rub on that Maria placed on there probably 15-20 years ago at Christmas time.  I have washed over it numerous times, and it remains perfect, and blessing us with the reminder of our guardian angels hard at work keeping us safe - most especially from the attacks of the devil! 

I just had an amazing talk with John first thing this morning, who is on the road returning from a weekend filled with lots of travel, but well worth it in the experience category and able to once again share his on-going story of healing and sharing his LIGHT!  "I spoke about how I was given so much love surrounded by all those prayers, and now I am called to share that love through my work - not in the world, but for and in the Church- and praying with others and speaking, using my God-given ability to get in front of people and sharing my story with humor."  I admit that this is small pieces of our conversation put together as one.

 Luke watching dad bale under the watchful eyes of mom and grandma...

There are some powerful readings today with all this in mind... the first is the beginning of the story of Jonah!  He tries to run away from the call of God in his life and the storm comes, he is thrown overboard as he recognizes that it is because of him that they are in danger, and is swallowed by the large fish for 3 days and nights in its belly - Jonah 1-2  Reading it this morning after speaking with John - the storm builds and builds - worse and worse... remembering calling Hallel after we had left the ER here in Marshall and telling her about John's tumor... "Mom, do you remember the Gospel today?"  "Yes, it was Jesus calming the storm."  "Well, this is the storm and Jesus is in control."  We cannot run away from his LOVE and once we die to self so that He may live in us - we are called to return that LOVE/MERCY to others around us!

 The beauty of corn stalk bales beckon!

How could the Gospel compare to the first reading in Jonah?  Well, it is Luke 10 - the Good Samaritan!  Looking at this with John's words ringing in my heart and soul.. I see that the Good Samaritan is living out this call to LOVE with the love you have been given. This is how love works... if we hold it inside ourselves like the priest  and the Levite, who passed on the other side of the road and left him for dead... how can that ever be called love.  It isn't it is selfishness/self-love... the world is not healed and changed for the good by that, rather it is cast into darkness!

 The first corn stalk bale pose for this fall...

Which of these three, in your opinion, was neighbor to the robber's victim?"  He answered, "The one who treated him with mercy."  Jesus said to him, "Go and do likewise."  Luke 10:37
John and each one of us, who have been touched by God's LOVE and healing are all called to "go and do likewise."  It speaks volumes to me that the Good Samaritan had felt this touch and now was willing to return it and make that love real and grow!  We are told by Jesus to rise up and pick up our mat/our Cross and follow after him!  May we do that without counting the cost!

 Corn leaf in the eye, but still a cool vantage point of what is going on...

Today St Faustina was quoted in the Meditation of the Day - The Mercy of the Good Samaritan
Jesus, you have given me to know and understand in what a soul's greatness consists: not in great deeds but in great love.  Love has its worth, and it confers greatness on all our deeds.  Although our actions are small and ordinary in themselves, because of love they become great and powerful before God.

On top of the world... corn stalk bale...

St Faustina continues in such a powerful way considering my talk with John this morning combined with the readings!
God approaches a soul in a special way known only to himself and to the soul...  Love presides in this union, and everything is achieved by love alone.  Jesus gives himself to the soul in a gentle and sweet manner, and in his depths there is peace.  He grants the soul many graces and makes it capable of sharing his eternal thoughts.  And frequently, he reveals to it his divine plans.

 Rose riding in the truck with grandpa as he hauls corn from the field by our house...

 a day brightener!

Outwardly, your sacrifice must look like this: silent, hidden, permeated with love, imbued with prayer.
... There are souls living in the world who love me dearly.  I dwell in their hearts with delight.  But they are few...  They are a defense for the world before the justice of the heavenly Father and a means of obtaining mercy for the world.  The Love and sacrifice of these souls sustain the world in existence.  St Faustina, pray for us!

 Jesus, you are in control in the midst of the storms of life - they seem to arise to show us your direction and to bring us to our knees - weak is when we turn to you!  We see that the LOVE and Mercy we are given stays alive and well and at work in our lives only if we return it to those we come in contact with - most especially those in our domestic Church/family.  Jesus, we trust in you.  Amen and Hallelujah

 Roger joins... he has been in bale pictures for 10 years now... Simon was just a baby and now look!
Bless-bless, Barbara Luke

Here is a free study that Nancy and two blogger friends have developed in anticipation of Advent and getting in touch with Jesus in His Word - http://www.dosmallthingswithlove.com/2015/10/waiting-in-the-word-free-scripture-study-and-more.html  Check it out!

Why do we give the love we have been given?   To give wind to our sails and fly to heaven!

St Francis, pray for us!  It was his feastday yesterday.

Casting Crowns - Praise him in the storm

Newsboys - God's not dead
Why isn't God dead in this world? Because we are willing to return the Love and Mercy we have been given!