I Put Them There For You (The Pens)

On my Sunday, January 24th entry, I wrote about the experience I had with the Holy Spirit telling me where to find a particular blue dress that I really wanted (even though I didn't know such a dress existed). That experience was not unique... I have had many like it. Shortly before Christmas 2003, I needed to buy two black, erasable pens for one of my boys for school. I had a huge list of places I needed to go that day before getting my kids off the school bus in the afternoon. After running many of my other errands first, I stopped at Walmart to get the pens and a few other things. When I went to the "school and office supply" aisle, I found that the hook where these particular pens would have been was empty. I looked all over the wall to see if they might be somewhere else. I was getting tired from my hours of running since early morning, and I knew that I had at least two more stops to make before I went home to get my kids. I was getting ready to leave the store when the Holy Spirit said to me They are waiting here for you. So, I continued to look. Nope. No black, erasable pens anywhere. Again, They are waiting here for you. Of course, I thought I was crazy. But, feeling like I had truly heard from the Holy Spirit, I thought, "God, if they are here, please help me find them." Without any effort of my own, my head turned toward an area much further down the aisle. They are waiting there for you I heard within myself. Though I thought I had completely lost my mind (despite already having a few of these experiences), I walked down the aisle in faith. I stopped at the shelf where my eyes had landed. They are in there. I put them there for you. I quickly began digging through a huge pile of post-it notes. I was stunned when I uncovered what was underneath... a pack of 2 black, erasable pens. Very surprised, I kept digging to see if there were more. But there weren't. Just one pack of exactly what I had needed. My eyes filled with tears. I just couldn't believe what I was seeing. This experience, though involving something as seemingly insignificant as pens, really helped to build my trust that I hear God's Voice very clearly. And, it showed me just how much God really wants to be a part of every single moment of our lives if we will just "let Him in."

Center Of My Life

This beautiful hymn is based on Psalm 16.











Refrain:
O Lord,
You
are the center of my life.
I will always praise You,
I will always serve You,
I will always keep You in my sight.

Verse 1:
Keep me safe, O God, I take refuge in You.
I say to the Lord, "You are my God.
My happiness
lies in you alone;
my happiness lies
in you alone."

Refrain

Verse 2:
I will bless the Lord Who gives me counsel,
Who even at night directs my heart.
I keep
the Lord
ever in my sight:
since He is at my right hand,
I shall stand firm.

Refrain

Verse 3:
And so my heart rejoices, my soul is glad;
even in safety shall my body rest.
For you
will not
leave my soul among the dead,
nor let your beloved
know decay.

Refrain

Verse 4:
You will show me the path of life,
the fullness of joy
in Your presence,
at Your right hand
at Your right hand
happiness forever.

Refrain

How Do I Love Thee?

St. Valentine's Day is always associated with romantic love, but it is interesting to consider what love is really. Yes, we experience "feelings" of love. But in Truth, love really is not a feeling. It is an action. It's the way we choose to behave in any given circumstance. St. Paul gives a perfect description of love in his First Letter to the Corinthians (12:4-8).

"Love is patient, love is kind.
It is not jealous, (love) is not pompous,
it is not inflated, it is not rude,
it does not seek its own interests,
it is not quick-tempered,
it does not brood over injury,
it does not rejoice over wrongdoing
but rejoices with the truth.
It bears all things,
believes all things,
endures all things.
Love never fails."

Several years ago, I read about a fascinating way to meditate upon these scripture verses. It was suggested to, after reading the above verses all the way through, replace the word "love" with the Name "God". God, after all, Is Love (1 John 4:8). We can then ponder what that says about our Trinitarian Lord. After taking several moments to do that, replace the word "love" with your own name. Ouch! When I read 1 Corinthians with my name inserted, it gives me a much better understanding of where I need to continue to grow daily in every relationship. For me, this is not always an easy, self-imposed Examination of Conscience. Admittedly, I sometimes like to feel justified for not acting and thinking in loving ways. But, this is not God's Way. As I've mentioned before, God has often gently reminded me My Ways are not your ways. Jesus reminds us "to love one another." But He doesn't stop there. He continues on to say, "... love your enemies, and pray for those who persecute you... for if you love (only) those who love you, what recompense is it to you?" (Matthew 5:44,46). Am I really interested in leaving all that I have and following Jesus? Frequently doing this exercise challenges me to get back on His path instead of remaining on my own.

Let It Be

"Behold, I am the handmaid of the Lord. Let it be done to me according to your word" (Luke 1:38). These words of Mary, mother of Jesus the Christ, are the model of submission to God's Will for our lives. The times in which I choose (it's always a choice!) to say "Yes" to God when it would seemingly be easier to say "No," tend to be the most defining moments in my life. I remember hearing the song "Let It Be" by The Beatles as a kid, but it hasn't been until the last few years that the song has had any meaning to me. The prophetic lyrics pierce my heart and remind me that God's Ways are better than my own, even though I cannot always see (or don't want to see) the reasons. It is helpful to remind myself that His Ways are not something I must endure but rather are what keep me "on the path" to experiencing the best life He would have for me. Let it be...

"Let It Be" by The Beatles

When I find myself in times of trouble, mother Mary comes to me,
speaking words of wisdom, let it be.
And in my hour of darkness she is standing right in front of me,
speaking words of wisdom, let it be.

Let it be, let it be, let it be, let it be.
Whisper words of wisdom, let it be.

And when the broken hearted people living in the world agree,
there will be an answer, let it be.
For though they may be parted there is still a chance that they will see,
there will be an answer. let it be.

Let it be, let it be, .....

And when the night is cloudy, there is still a light, that shines on me,
shine until tomorrow, let it be.
I wake up to the sound of music, mother Mary comes to me,
speaking words of wisdom, let it be.

Let it be, let it be, .....

The Theologian's Tale; The Legend Beautiful by Henry Wadsworth Longfellow

"Hads't thou stayed, I must have fled!"
That is what the Vision said.

In his chamber all alone,
Kneeling on the floor of stone,
Prayed the Monk in deep contrition
For his sins of indecision,
Prayed for greater self-denial
In temptation and in trial;
It was noonday by the dial,
And the Monk was all alone.
Suddenly, as if it lightened,
An unwonted splendor brightened
All within him and without him
In that narrow cell of stone;
And he saw the Blessed Vision
Of our Lord, with light Elysian
Like a vesture wrapped about him,
Like a garment round him thrown.

Not as crucified and slain,
Not in agonies of pain,
Not with bleeding hands and feet,
Did the Monk his Master see;
But as in the village street,
In the house or harvest-field,
Halt and lame and blind he healed,
When he walked in Galilee.

In an attitude imploring,
Hands upon his bosom crossed,
Wondering, worshipping, adoring,
Knelt the Monk in rapture lost.
Lord, he thought, in heaven that reignest,
Who am I, that thus thou deignest
To reveal thyself to me?
Who am I, that from the centre
Of thy glory thou shouldst enter
This poor cell, my guest to be?

Then amid his exaltation,
Loud the convent bell appalling,
From its belfry calling, calling,
Rang through court and corridor
With persistent iteration
He had never heard before.
It was now the appointed hour
When alike in shine or shower,
Winter's cold or summer's heat,
To the convent portals came
All the blind and halt and lame,
All the beggars of the street,
For their daily dole of food
Dealt them by the brotherhood;
And their almoner was he
Who upon his bended knee,
Rapt in silent ecstasy
Of divinest self-surrender,
Saw the Vision and the Splendor.
Deep distress and hesitation
Mingled with his adoration;_
Should he go, or should he stay?
Should he leave the poor to wait
Hungry at the convent gate,
Till the Vision passed away?
Should he slight his radiant guest,
Slight this visitant celestial,
For a crowd of ragged, bestial
Beggars at the convent gate?
Would the Vision there remain?
Would the Vision come again?
Then a voice within his breast
Whispered, audible and clear
As if to the outward ear:
"Do thy duty; that is best;
Leave unto thy Lord the rest!"

Straightway to his feet he started,
And with longing look intent
On the Blessed Vision bent,
Slowly from his cell departed,
Slowly on his errand went.

At the gate the poor were waiting,
Looking through the iron grating,_
With that terror in the eye
That is only seen in those
Who amid their wants and woes
Hear the sound of doors that close,
And of feet that pass them by;
Grown familiar with disfavor,
Grown familiar with the savor
Of the bread by which men die!
But to-day, they knew not why,
Like the gate of Paradise
Seemed the convent sate to rise,
Like a sacrament divine
Seemed to them the bread and wine.
In his heart the Monk was praying,
Thinking of the homeless poor,
What they suffer and endure;
What we see not, what we see;
And the inward voice was saying:
"Whatsoever thing thou doest
To the least of mine and lowest,
That thou doest unto me!"

Unto me! but had the Vision
Come to him in beggar's clothing,
Come a mendicant imploring,
Would he then have knelt adoring,
Or have listened with derision,
And have turned away with loathing.

Thus his conscience put the question,
Full of troublesome suggestion,
As at length, with hurried pace,
Towards his cell he turned his face,
And beheld the convent bright
With a supernatural light,
Like a luminous cloud expanding
Over floor and wall and ceiling.

But he paused with awe-struck feeling
At the threshold of his door,
For the Vision still was standing
As he left it there before,
When the convent bell appalling,
From its belfry calling, calling,
Summoned him to feed the poor.
Through the long hour intervening
It had waited his return,
And he felt his bosom burn,
Comprehending all the meaning,
When the Blessed Vision said,
"Hadst thou stayed, I must have fled!"

---

Be Still

When I first began to "hear" the voice of God, one of the very first things that He said to me was Be still and know that I AM your God. What a beautiful thing to hear. This was very early on in my experiencing God's presence in this way. I was still very unsure of whether I was truly hearing from God, though I knew deep down that I was. I was "knowing" things that I could never had known on my own. A few months after hearing these Words from the Holy Spirit, one of our priests shared with our parish that he had heard God speak to him the very same words while he was in Ireland: "Be still." I became very choked up in church hearing my priest say this. I was comforted in knowing that I was not the only one hearing these things, which may sound strange to those who have not yet heard God's voice so distinctly. It's easy to question one's sanity about such things. But, over the years, I have come to accept the gift and have become "still" enough internally to hear Him pretty much at anytime. Unfortunately, I don't always listen to what He is telling me. And when I don't, His Voice gets louder until I finally stop what I'm doing and "turn back to God" (which is the true meaning of the word repent). It is in these times that I ask Jesus, Mary, and Joseph to pray for me that I may wait patiently for the things for which I have asked God. Our Lord has answered so many of my prayers, and He does so in ways that I could never have seen coming. When I get out of His Way, He brings into my life unbelievable blessings. We serve a God Who Hears and Answers every prayer. For what are you asking God? Ask, believe, then "be still and know that He Is the Great I AM."