It is what it is

As life proceeds it appears to pick up its pace in an apparent need to get to its end.  

I would like to apologize for not getting back to those that have visited and personally thank you for stopping by to comment. All of the changes that Google is making have really messed up the way it works. I am still trying to get things working somewhat as they used to. It used to be that when I posted your comments, a notice was sent to my inbox in Google Mail. That no longer works. I have been trying to get it to do that again but nothing seems to work. Thank you again for your comments. They are what keep me motivated to continue. With all that is going on it is hard to create a post that is meaningful.

My thought on life at the top of the post is much the way it appears these days. Funny how when we are young we can't wait to get older to do all of the adult things. Then we become adults and are so busy with jobs, spouses and family we don't notice time passing by. Then we get older only to notice that time is speeding by so quickly that hours and days are a blur, making it hard to remember what day you  are in. The only thing that seems to slow things down somewhat is making ourselves still. It is at these times we can remember the cherished moments, the love, all that is important, all that has become who we are. All else is part of the blur we hardly remember or took notice of for that matter. It would be easy to discard all those blurred, hardly noticed things but they make up the majority of what made us who we are. Life may be a hectic blur, hard to get a clear picture of in our minds. If it has so much as touched the most insignificant part of our life, a port we never even noticed, it is a something that is also a part of the path we are currently on. It cannot be denied or ignored since it is a part of us. Christ is a part of this "hardly noticed" part of our lives. He is always there gently guiding our every action, our every move. (Colossians 3:12)(Psalm 25:4-5)

Today I would like to share some of my favorite images. These images are gorgeous even when they are not Colored, which makes them a challenge and a work of love.

    

The image above is my favorite

They are all from the first few weeks of this blog. They are special to me in many ways. The first two images are from an artist friend in Finland. Her talent is extraordinary as you can see.That about wraps up this post. May God bless those of you who visit and comment. You are truly a blessing to me. 

Remember to "Always Love The Details."

The mountain top

 

(Matthew 19:23-24 & Mark 10:25) I have watched when well to do individuals have done things to to add to their coughers at the expense of others or donated sums to the church to be held up as generous in the eyes of others while looking down on the less fortunate. They expect others to be of service to their family when they have made it clear anyone they perceive to be less well to do than they, are nothing. It is rare that the well to do are willing to have compassion on the weak, impoverished or the needy. I also know that there are those that sacrifice much to do for the less fortunate among us.

(Matthew 19:16-32, Mark 10:17-31, Luke 18:18-30) I don't know what being rich feels like other than with the things that are owned. Most of that would be considered "junk" by others. I guess I am a pack rat since I keep what might be useful to repair something later. In this way I am rich. None of those things are so important they cannot be trashed or given away. I have often used some this "junk" to repair things for others. Very few in this society that are wealthy would willingly give away all they own to the poor or needy. It is usually what they see as overage or wealth they have no immediate use for that they will donate. It is the poor widow that gives her last penny that is truly blessed. (Mark 12:42-44) I wish I could say I have always been free when it comes to alms giving but I cannot. The Lord gives freely to everyone, Saint and sinner alike. If we gave according to the way He gives to us there would be little to no starving or destitute in the world today. I do not wish to be wealthy since I am not sure I would give all or most of it away. I see those who win the lotteries who, in short order, spend it all on trivialities and are left in worse shape than before their lottery win. I consider myself rich in ways that being wealthy cannot provide. Take stock of where your wealth is and count the blessing you have been graced with. Remember Job and what he lost. It could be you that experiences the loss of everything with no guarantee of any of it being restored. Blessings are the Holy Spirit, Jesus and God in our lives. They are eternal.

May the good lord bless and Keep you safe.

Remember to "Always Love The Details."

Abandoned?

 

Last post was an admission of going through many trials and difficulties. Throughout my life this has been the way things have been. Saint Paul often referred to the difficulties he endured in his letters to the churches. He did not hide the fact that the trials he endured also made him stronger in his faith. It is the trials that strengthen us and prepare us for our walk with our Lord. I have never lost faith that the Lord was there in the worst of times and the best of times. Scripture teaches us that those times of desert experience are a time of preparing for what comes next. The apparent absence of the Holy Spirit is not abandonment but a time of preparation, unseen by us, in the background. We need to thank the Lord for EVERYTHING. Yes, even when we feel abandoned. We are never abandoned. He is always with us. Just because we are not able to see or feel His presence is not a reason to abandon your faith. I have often heard it said that the gifts have been taken away at these times. That is not true. The gifts of the Spirit are always present when faith is present. Where faith is present the Holy Spirit is present. Where the Holy Spirit is present Jesus is present. Where Jesus is present our Father in heaven is present. There is no exception to this. When one is there all are there for they are one. 

I have seen the hard times when out of work, no money coming in, a wife and baby at home with one can of soup on the shelf. Jesus was there. Family and friends provided food for the family, a job was found soon after. Our first nine years of marriage was a slippery slope. Then the Lord provided the way of reconciling things through marriage encounter. God was there. I could go on and on but through all of these seeming desert experiences the Lord was preparing the way (in the background).

Through faith and belief the Lord is always faithful and there, even though we are not aware of His presence. He is a loving Father who is true to His promise to always be there and protect us in our times of need.

May the good Lord bless and keep you safe.

Remember to "Always Love The Details."

Chaos

Recently it has been difficult to concentrate long enough to write a post that is easy to follow. My attention is divided in half a dozen different directions at once. Taking the first step, not knowing where it will take you, is not ideal for writing this kind of post. The heat, sleep, financial concerns, family health problems, house and property expenses and upkeep have made it hard. Some of the above mentioned concerns have been temporarily addressed but much still remains. Through all of this our Father in heaven has been in charge and taking care of things as needed. He sees the whole staircase even if we do not. It is a matter of not only trust but belief that we are in His hands. 

      The story of Joseph and his life and trials from being sold into slavery, to being the head of the captain of the pharaoh's army to prison to the sole head of the pharaoh's house. Joseph always trusted God's presence in his life. The trials were severe but he always placed his trust and his live in God's hands. It was not a time frame of just a few days, weeks but years of waiting on his God. Even when his God seemed absent. If we find ourselves in situations where we are in pain or things are not going well, have heart, keep the faith and remember that our God is working in the background to provide for us when we are ready and at His appointed time. Need more encouragement? Read about Job or David. The answer may not be what we want or expect but it will be proper for us.

May the good Lord bless and keep you safe.

Remember to "Always Love The Details."

Respect

There is a difference between respect for ones self and love of ones self. It can be readily seen in the world today in the actions of people. Love of ones self means you feel entitled and often leads to horrible treatment of others.  Respect of ones self results in respect for others in most cases.

2 Tim. 1:13  “Beware that no one leads you astray. 5 For many will come in my name, saying, ‘I am the Messiah!’ and they will lead many astray. 6 And you will hear of wars and rumors of wars; see that you are not alarmed; for this must take place, but the end is not yet. 7 For nation will rise against nation, and kingdom against kingdom, and there will be famines and earthquakes in various places: 8 all this is but the beginning of the birth pangs.

“Hold the form of sound words, which thou hast heard of me in faith, and in the love which is in Christ Jesus.” 

John Gilmary Shea, Pictorial Lives of the Saints (New York; Cincinnati; Chicago: Benziger Brothers, 1887), 334.

Persecutions Foretold

(Mk 13.9–13; Lk 21.12–19)

9 “Then they will hand you over to be tortured and will put you to death, and you will be hated by all nations because of my name. 10 Then many will fall away, and they will betray one another and hate one another. 11 And many false prophets will arise and lead many astray. 12 And because of the increase of lawlessness, the love of many will grow cold. 13 But the one who endures to the end will be saved. 14 And this good news of the kingdom will be proclaimed throughout the world, as a testimony to all the nations; and then the end will come.

The Holy Bible: New Revised Standard Version, Catholic Edition (Washington, DC: National Council of Churches of Christ, 1993), Mt 24:4–14.

Respect for others should not open the door to complete trust but should be tempered and tested. This is not disrespect but wisdom. 

May the good Lord bless and keep you safe.

Remember to "Always Love The Details."