There have been many times that I have closed my eyes and envisioned handing my children to Jesus.  I ask him to please carry them through their days.  I pray that my children will be overcome with great clarity as our Lord remains close to them throughout their days.  

        There is an abundant amount of input that attempts to distract my children from God's Love.  Their senses are bombarded from the moment they step foot outside of our home.

         There have been many situations that I was not confident that my children embraced the gift of faith given to them at their baptism.  I have learned that these situations are crucial in their individual relationship's with Our Lord.  They must fall to understand the beauty in the truth.  

                                                      "But the righteous live forever,

and their reward is with the Lord;

the Most High takes care of them.

Therefore they will receive a glorious crown,

  and a beautiful diadem from the hand of the Lord,

because with his right hand he will cover them.

The Lord will take his zeal as his whole armor,

and will arm all creation to repel his enemies;

he will put on righteousness as a breastplate,

and wear impartial justice as a helmet;

he will take holiness as an invincible shield,

and sharpen stern wrath for a sword, and creation 

will join with him to fight against the madmen."

Wisdom of Solomon 5:15-20

                    Over the past few days I have been reflecting on the 

        beauty and clarity found in the light. 1 John 1:5 is beautiful and affirming.     

                        There is comfort, warmth, beauty, sustenance, and healing found in the light. This scripture reading brings "Beauty in the Truth".

Faith in the Light

"Let the day be darkness! May God above not seek it, nor light shine upon it"
Job 3:4

    

     In this photo my son Joseph and I are on an airplane returning from an interview retreat that he attended.  He was interviewing for a missionary organization called NET Ministries. If you have never heard of them I ask that you please CHECK THEM OUT! http://www.netusa.org  The experience was life changing for the both of us. 

     The photo of the sky in the distance is above the clouds. We were about ten minutes from the airport. It is hard to believe but just below the clouds it was dreary, sleeting, foggy and dark.

      I am confident that this gift of a moment was given to sustain Joseph and I. This image reminds us of the joy we experienced that weekend.  There is much work to be done in my relationships.  There are times that are so difficult to be the wife and mother I want to be. It is necessary at these times to remain humble. I find great hope through acknowledging that I do not see through the difficulties without the joy of the Gospel.

      Only when I surrender and accept the struggles of this life do I embrace the gift of faith.  The gift of faith brings great joy and hope into my life.  I am then able to imagine the beauty beyond the clouds.  

       

The Light always shines through the darkness

                             

"the Light shines in the darkness,

 and the darkness has not overcome it"  John 1:5

            No matter where we are in this world there are many instances where human beings have the opportunity to overcome all language and logistical separations and differences.  Human beings have common needs and desires that enable our relation to one another in our humanity.  Through the ties that bind our humanity together we must start to celebrate one another.  This will bring great joy to the world.    

            Our differences are many in our humanity and at the same time they are a tremendous gift. When did our differences become a powerful vessel that overshadows our common needs and desires?  Our differences naturally allow us to better rely on one another in our humanity.  Human beings have lost the ability to rely on one another through our common needs and desires. Instead our humanity is in a great race to nowhere.  We intentionally dismiss the bonds that connect us all to one another.  

             Our common needs and desires surpass all differences.  One example of our common humanity would be the natural desire to give and receive love.  I believe that the human race is born with the greatest natural need to be loved.  We immediately return love when our basic needs are met.  It is instinctual. 

            The next example would be the instinctual awareness of darkness and light.  There is nothing worse than realizing your new baby likes to sleep during the day and remain awake at night. All human beings immediately embark on the mission for our baby to sleep when it is dark and remain awake during the hours when there is light.  We raise our children to realize that the fear that can accompany darkness does not need to be paralyzing.  We sometimes will leave a nightlight on for reassurance.  This reassurance with light is practiced by mothers and fathers from around the globe.  

            The "dark side of the force and the good side of the force" is a famous quote from the Star Wars Trilogy.  I wonder why they did not refer the good side of the force as the "Light side of the Force?"  I am sure it is because the dark side is referring to the evil that comes on the dark side.  The good side of the force naturally implies the clarity of the Light.  

            Light does bring clarity. We turn on our lights in our homes when the darkness sets in.  We sometimes light a fire to shed light and provide warmth when electricity is unavailable.  We intentionally will use a flashlight to see specific things with clarity.  This instinctual awareness of where the darkness and light can be found is a powerful tool for unity in our humanity.

            As we seek the light in our lives I say lets look together as one.

           

            

               

            

The Beauty in Gods Promise......His sign of covenant

       This morning my son and I were playing with this AWSOME invention that you connect to simple  garden hose.  It instantly fills about 20 water balloons at a time. He has persistently requested this toy all summer......I must admit it is probably THE COOLEST INVENTION for those like our family who enjoy hot summer days filled with ways to pelt each family member with a water balloon!!  We like silly string fights too......

       As we removed the nozzle from our garden hose we recognized the most beautiful rainbow in the stream of water. As we experimented slowly moving the hose up and down my son grabbed my phone and started taking photos!!!! As we reviewed his photo's we were filled with such peace and joy in God's promises!!!! 

         The Rainbow as it appeared to Noah:      Genesis 9:8-17

8 Then God said to Noah and to his sons with him,

9 "Behold, I establish my covenant with you and your descendants after you,

10 and with every living creature that is with you, the birds, the cattle, and every beast of the earth with you, as many as came out of the ark.

11 I establish my covenant with you, that never again shall all flesh be cut off by the waters of a flood, and never again shall there be a flood to destroy the earth."

12 And God said, "This is the sign of the covenant which I make between me and you and every living creature that is with you, for all future generations:

13 I set my bow in the cloud, and it shall be a sign of the covenant between me and the earth.

14 When I bring clouds over the earth and the bow is seen in the clouds,

15 I will remember my covenant which is between me and you and every living creature of all flesh; and the waters shall never again become a flood to destroy all flesh.

16 When the bow is in the clouds, I will look upon it and remember the everlasting covenant between God and every living creature of all flesh that is upon the earth."

17 God said to Noah, "This is the sign of the covenant which I have established between me and all flesh that is upon the earth."

           Just what is a Covenant?

According to Our Sunday Visitor a covenant is:........"A solemn promise, fortified by an oath, concerning future action. The oath might be expressed in words or in a symbolic action…. Both the Sinai covenant and the covenant in Christ’s blood brought into being a People of God and called for complete surrender to God in response to His love.

        Imagine the love God gave to us    through the symbolic action of the rainbow!!!!!

      " A covenant is more than a mere     impersonal contract, in which two parties agree to an exchange of goods and services. A covenant binds persons together beyond the mere contractual agreement. Marriage is a prime example". (Our Sunday Visitor)

            The beauty of God can and will be distorted here on earth. We must accept the gift of Faith given to us at our baptism. Then and only then can and will we experience Heaven on Earth.  Heaven on Earth given to us in the "Beauty in the Truth....."

Be bold in the Truth

I often refer to this quote as I go about each day.  I find myself encouraging my children to seek the truth in Jesus Christ with Righteousness.  Self righteousness will always turn others away from us.  But when we speak the truth in love we need to be routed in truth ourselves.   What is Truth?  Is it always what makes us feel good?  Is it what the majority of those around us believe to be the truth?  My experience has been that truth is sometimes what no one believes at all.  There have been many times that I have experienced people I love very much believing that their lives are routed in the truth.  Perhaps the pain of the truth is too much for them to bear.  Perhaps it seems easier to ignore the truth.  Perhaps they truly just do not know how absolutely loved they are by Our Father in Heaven.  

I need to be routed in the truth:

"Why do you call me, 'Lord Lord' and not do what I tell you? Every one who comes to me and hears my words and does them, I will show you what he is like: he is like a man building a house, who dug deep, and laid the foundation upon a rock;and when the flood arose, the stream broke against that house, and could not shake it, because it had been well built, But he who hears and does not do them is like a man who built a house on the ground without a foundation; against which a stream broke, and immediately it fell, and the ruin of that house was great."

Luke 6:46-49

     I have a choice to make each day.  The choices I make will have an immediate ripple effect in the world around me.  Does my life bear good fruit that others may be attracted too?  Or does my life bear fruit that I believe is good enough but may not attract others?  My experience has been to take notice of my will.  Am I in relationship with Jesus Christ?  Am I praying and listening to His answers?  Am I doing what is not always the most comfortable? Am I forgiving others? Am I seeking forgiveness for the wrongs that I have done?  Am I speaking the Truth in love and righteousness?  Some days I fall very short.  Some days I need God to supply me with the emotional strength necessary to love others who seem unlovable. I pray for His will to remain righteous and not self righteous. I have to remember that at times I too am not lovable.

I need to be bold in Jesus Christ:

  "And now, Lord, look upon their threats, and grant to your servants to speak your word with boldness, while you stretch out your hand to heal, and the signs and wonders are performed through the name of your holy servant Jesus."

Acts 4:29-30

"They Thirsted not when he led them through the desserts; 

          He made water flow for them from the rock;

            he cleft the rock and the water gushed out."

                                  Isaiah 48:21

 I love the Prophet books of the Bible.  Isaiah has always spoken directly to my heart.

As the years go by and I grow in my study and intimacy created with Our Lord as a result. It is clear to me now why the book from the Prophet Isaiah always comforts me.  I have always and continue to seek the Truth in Jesus Christ.  Isaiah had a discerning clarity for Israel. He gives them hope in their hopeless state. If they would just TRUST IN GOD!!!!!!!!!!

The reminder to Trust in God is a blessing for me.  My instinct is to try and guide the boat.  I need to instead enjoy the ride (of life's ups and downs) while Our Lord guides the boat.  Better yet......I need to get out of the boat and walk on the Water with our Lord!!!!!!!