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08-24-10 If you have faith,
No explanation is necessary
07-14-10 With faith, everything
is possible! No where did it say it would be easy.
07-02-10
However, outside the city, I discovered that in my anxiety at leaving, I had forgotten my music case. I wheeled around and headed back. I found Nettie sleeping peacefully. I hesitated by her bed; something was strongly telling me to stay. But eager to get on my way, and not wanting to disturb Nettie, I shrugged off the feeling and quietly slipped out of the room with my music. The next night, in the steaming St. Louis heat, the crowd called on me to sing again and again. When I finally sat down, a messenger boy ran up with a Western Union telegram. I ripped open the envelope. Pasted on the yellow sheet were the words: YOUR WIFE JUST DIED. People were happily singing and clapping around me, but I could hardly keep from crying out. I rushed to a phone and called home. All I could hear on the other end was 'Nettie is dead. Nettie is dead.' When I got back, I learned that Nettie had given birth to a boy. I swung between grief and joy. Yet that same night, the baby died. I buried Nettie and our little boy together, in the same casket. Then I fell apart. For days I closeted myself I felt that God had done me an injustice. I didn't want to serve Him anymore or write gospel songs. I just wanted to go back to that jazz world I once knew so well. But then, as I hunched alone in that dark apartment those first sad days, I thought back to the afternoon I went to St. Louis. Something kept telling me to stay with Nettie. Was that something God? Oh, if I had paid more attention to Him that day, I would have stayed and been with Nettie when she died. From that moment on I vowed to listen more closely to Him. But still I was lost in grief. Everyone was kind to me, especially one friend. The following Saturday evening he took me up to Maloney's Poro College, a neighborhood music school. It was quiet; the late evening sun crept through the curtained windows. I sat down at the piano, and my hands began to browse over the keys. Something happened to me then. I felt at peace. I felt as though I could reach out and touch God. I found myself playing a melody, once into my head they just seemed to fall into place: 'Precious Lord, take my hand, lead me on, let me stand, I am tired, I am weak, I am worn, through the storm, through the night, lead me on to the light, take my hand, precious Lord, lead me home.' The Lord gave me these words and melody, He also healed my spirit. I learned that when we are in our deepest grief, when we feel farthest from God, this is when He is closest, and when we are most open to His restoring power. And so I go on living for God willingly and joyfully, until that day comes when He will take me and gently lead me home. -Tommy Dorsey- For those too young to know who he is, Tommy Dorsey was a band leader in the Thirties and Forties. Did you know that Tommy Dorsey wrote this song? I surely didn't. What a wonderful story of how God CAN heal the brokenhearted! Beautiful, isn't it? Worth the reading, wasn't it? Think on the message for a while. Thought you might like to share this, I just did. 06-29-10 Even the smallest
star shines!
06-07-10 EVERYONE has the
ability to lighten someone's load!
06-03-10 If you walk with
the Lord, you won't run from your problems!
03-30-10 I hope that your Lenten journey
has brought you closer to God. It's time to look at the four R's of Lent. 1. REFLECT - Are you closer
to God? 2. REPENT - Confession. Change remember our Cursillo weekend the Metanoia (change). 3.
REMEMBRANCE - Holy Thursday, make the time to attend Holy Thursday services at your Parish. Relive the Last supper,
the washing of the feet and if you able, make the time for ADORATION. Attend Good Friday services, travel to Calvary.
4. REJOICE - Our Lord has Risen. Alleluia. May the glory of His Resurrection bring you Peace,
Love, Joy and a Renewal of Spirit. De Colores, Hugs, Smiles and Ultreya, Linda 03-21-10 Quilt of Holes
As I faced my Maker at the last judgment, I knelt before the Lord along with all the other souls. Before each of us laid our lives like the squares of a quilt in many piles. An angel sat before each of us sewing our quilt squares together into a tapestry that is our life. But as my angel took each piece of cloth off the pile, I noticed how ragged and empty each of my squares were. They were filled with giant holes. Each square was labeled with a part of my life that had been difficult, the challenges and temptations I was faced with in every day life. I saw hardships that I endured which were the largest holes of all. I glanced around me and nobody else had such squares. Other than a tiny hole here and there, the other tapestries were filled with rich color and the bright hues of worldly fortune. I gazed upon my own life and was disheartened. My angel was sewing the ragged pieces of cloth together, threadbare and empty, like binding air. Finally the time came when each life was to be displayed, held up to the light, the scrutiny of truth. The others rose, each in turn, holding up their tapestries. So filled their lives had been. My angel looked upon me, and nodded for me to rise. My gaze dropped to the ground in shame, I hadn't had all the earthly fortunes. I had love in my life and laughter, but there had also been trials of illness, wealth, and false accusations that took from me my world as I knew it. I had to start over many times. I often struggled with the temptation to quit only to somehow muster the strength to pick up and begin again. I spent many nights on my knees in prayer, asking for help and guidance in my life. I had often been held up to ridicule which I endured painfully, each time, offering it up to the Father in hopes that I would not melt within my skin beneath the judgmental gaze of those who unfairly judged me. And now, I had to face the truth. My life was what it was, and I had to accept it for what it was. I rose and slowly lifted the combined squares of my life to the light.. An awe-filled gasp filled the air. I gazed around at the others who stared at me with wide eyes. Then, I looked upon the tapestry before me. Light flooded the many holes, creating an image, the face of Christ. Then our Lord stood before me, with warmth and love in His eyes. He said, "Every time you gave your life to me, it became My life, My hardships, and My struggles. Each point of light in your life is when you stepped aside and let Me shine through, until there was more of Me than there was of you. May all our quilts be threadbare and worn, allowing Christ to shine through! God determines who walks into your life... it's up to you to decide who you let walk away, who you let stay, and who you refuse to let go. .. When there is nothing left but God that is when you find out that God is all you need. "Be who you are and say what you feel,
because those who matter don't mind, and those that mind, don't matter."- Dr. Seuss 01-30-10 by Fr. Bill Adams, C.Ss.R. January 30 - Saturday of Week Three in Ordinary Time - 2 Sm 12:1-7a, 10-17; Mk 4:35-41 Our story from Luke's gospel is about Jesus and some disciples crossing the Sea of Galilee in a small fishing boat. Storms can develop very quickly there as strong winds blow down from the mountains in Syria. They whip up big waves and many fishermen have lost their lives there over the centuries. A storm came up and threatened to sink the boat with Jesus and the disciples in it. They were terrified and woke up Jesus who immediately calmed the wind and the sea. This story is about us who at times are caught up in the storms of life. We find ourselves in difficult circumstances that can make us fearful. Jesus says to us as he spoke to his disciples, "Why are you terrified? Do you not yet have faith?" Jesus wants us to be mindful of his presence in our lives and his power and love that protect us and will see us through any difficult times. Do I let circumstances control me through fear or do I keep my eyes on Jesus and experience his peace in the midst of difficult times? 9-01-09 Count your blessings, not your burdens.
10-27-09 In his parables
Jesus uses common experiences to slip through our resistance and shatter our images of God. The mustard seed becomes a big
shrub he tells us. But everybody in Jesus' time also knew that the mustard seed is a scourge. It over runs your garden, takes
over and drives out all the plants that you rely on to live. That's the way God is when we let God into our lives. God is
wild like the mustard seed
9-01-09 When you dock bitterness, happieness will harbor somewhere else!
6-18-09 We need some clouds in our life to make a beautiful sunset!
5-18-09 Is your Bible a snack or the main course!
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Kind words are always the right kind