Find me at:  www.sheila0405.blogspot.com

UPDATE:  Blogspot isn't user friendly, so I'm not using that, either.  I am not blogging for the foreseeable future.  No time.

My facebook friend told me it wasn't the fact that it was the Rosary that I prayed; she just believes that the decision to pray is an individual one, and further, asked me what I would say to those who prayed for relief from flooding but got flooded out, anyway.

My response was that I would have continued to pray until the water in my house stopped coming in, no matter how long it took, and then God would get the praise due Him for His answer.  Had our house collapsed, my response would be like Job's:  The Lord giveth, the Lord taketh away, and blessed be the name of the Lord.  God's plan for me is always best even if I don't know the details.  His ways are so far above my ways, and His thoughts so above mine, that it is up to me to trust Him and obey Him to the best of my ability.  In John Chapter Six, when Jesus asked his disciples if they were going to abandon Him the way others did after Jesus insisted we eat His flesh, they replied:  "Lord, to whom would we go?  You alone have the words of life".

My brother replied that he thinks prayer is akin to gasoline.  You might have a nice car, but it needs gasoline in order to operate as intended.  So we, too, must "gas up" our own lives if they are to be used the way God intends.

My father has been battling health issues for the past several weeks.  He was released from the hospital yesterday, then he fell at home, and his original symptoms came back.  (He has a systemic rheumatic disorder that affects his muscles, plus he developed sepsis).  He is back in the hospital.  My dad is experiencing left sided weakness and he is scared and crying.  My dad is a devout Protestant Christian, but he is also human.  He is a great believer in the power of prayer, and I believe that God will reward my dad for his years of prayer for others by now using the prayers going up on his behalf to bring about his recovery.

If my dad should end up permanently disabled, or even if he should die, would that mean that God didn't answer our prayers?  Of course not!  Only God knows the outcome, but as we pray, our prayers strengthen our trust in God's goodness.  We might enter into a "dark night of the soul", as St John of the Cross described suffering, but we know that "all things work together for those who believe". 

Jesus reminds us that we ought to pray "Our Father, Who art in Heaven; hallowed by Thy name; thy Kingdom come, thy will be done on earth, as it is in heaven".  When we pray thusly, we are praying according to His will, and His answer will be what is best for us.  I believe that with all of my heart, and so I choose to pray!

When Emily was a toddler, I used to listen to Family Radio.  It had a program during which the KJV Bible was read, a program of spiritual music, and programs with uplifting presentations by Protestant Christians, who gave practical advice about the Bible and following the Lord Jesus in one's daily life.

I long ago stopped listening.  We moved to an area where I couldn't get that broadcast anymore.  Those of you who know me are aware that I eventually converted to Roman Catholicism.

Today our priest was talking about the belief shared by many people regarding May 21.  I knew there was a man called Camping, and I knew there were people who believe that May 21 will be "the Rapture".  The priest was somewhat amused because there is a donation portion of Family Radio, which is the platform by which this belief is spreading.  He pointed out that, if May 21 is the end, why solicit donations?  There is a person in my city who has a huge billboard proclaiming that the end of the world is May 21--and he is in the middle of renovating his house.

So, I dropped in on Family Radio's site.  I was shocked and dismayed to see that the entire site is now dedicated to this notion of the end of the world on May 21.  Worse yet, I read Harold Camping's writings about this event, and about salvation, and I was stunned to read that Camping states that the Bible says that faith is NOT how one obtains salvation.  He says the act of believing is a work, and since we can't work our way into Heaven, even believing won't save us.  Camping believes in the notion of only an elect group of people being saved.  Even if you want to be saved, if you aren't one of this elect, you are out of luck.  You can know you're saved when you sin less often, and obey God.  But, you can't obey God and expect that to count for anything, since doing good works won't save you.  He went round and round and round, going back and forth on obedience and faith not counting, but yet proving you are saved.

I thought my head would explode!

Of course, Camping takes all kinds of verses from all over the Bible and strings them together to make his point.  When certain verses don't fit in, he says the translation from Hebrew and/or Greek was incorrect.  Ever wonder why there are so many Protestant denominations?  Because each one has its pet alignments and interpretations of various passages from the Bible.

According to Camping, the Church Age ended in 1988, and all churches no longer have the Holy Spirit in them.  He urges people to flee all of the churches.  How did an obvious fraudulent message take hold in this nation?  I blame it on the "Bible only" type of thinking.  In this theology, only the Bible is seen as divine revelation.  There is no merit given to the Magesterium of the Church or the role of Sacred Tradition.  One's interpretation of the Bible is only as good as the one who interprets it for you.  The Holy Spirit, being the Author of Truth, cannot contradict Himself.  This is one of the reasons I am a Catholic.  I believe that the Church, guided by the Holy Spirit, interprets the Bible without error.

I also blame it on the Biblical ignorance of our nation.  Not many people bother to read and study the Bible on a regular basis.

How will they explain it when May 21 comes and goes and we are all still here?  Or, better yet, if Christ returns on May 20 to judge the living and the dead?  I know it shouldn't bother me, but boy oh boy, do these types of people ever give Christianity a bad rap.  We look like wackos!

Come what may on the 21st, I am holding to the deposit of faith handed down by the Apostles.  I have faith in Jesus Christ, and I trust that God will end the world when He decides it's time, not when some human "figures out" the date.

When I got out my missal this morning and read the Gospel, I was pretty shocked.  After all, the raising of Lazarus is always the last Gospel reading prior to Holy Week.  I checked my calendar and, sure enough, next Sunday is Palm Sunday!  Where did Lent go?

Lent for me this year was about seeing my continued struggles in certain areas.  I kind of feel like St Paul during Lent--the things I ought to do I don't, and what I shouldn't do, I do.  But, with St Paul I can say "thanks be to God who gives me the victory in our Lord Jesus Christ".

I obtained valuable counsel in the Sacrament of Reconciliation during this season.  I can look back over my 7 years as a Catholic and see how God has used the grace of this great sacrament to fortify me in areas where I had struggled for many years prior to my conversion.  I am so grateful for the healing that the Sacrament of Reconciliation gives when one avails oneself of it on a regular basis.  The guidance I have received from priests through the years has allowed God to make some real changes in my soul.  This is the time of year when I am most thankful for the Sacrament of Reconciliation.

I'm very excited about Easter Vigil this year because we have a great group in our RCIA.  It's bittersweet, however,  because after Easter there is no more class until the next group in September.  I love sharing the faith, and I love it when those I am privileged to teach suddenly grasp something new.  It is a joy and a humbling experience, too.

I hope everyone is having a fruitful Lenten season.  This is a time when we examine how close we are to Jesus, and how we can do better in following Him and allowing Him to be the center of our lives.  I must say that my ardent love of Him waxes and wanes, as far as strength of emotions go.  I can always love Him better, stronger, more deeply.  But I am also at a point in my life when I am at peace.  I know He is there for me, always ready to help me, always ready to forgive me, and always in control of my life.  Even when my own love for Him is not nearly what it should be, His love for me is perfect.  That drives me to continue to pray, read the Bible, and examine my life.  And, of course, there is the Eucharist, the greatest gift of Christ to us!  May I never lose sight of the fact that Christ Himself wishes to dwell in me.

Lord, increase my love for thee.

Lent arrived three days ago, this is the first Friday in Lent, and I just got around to changing my site to purple.  I am getting ready for the Rite of Election this Sunday, and I am also the chair of the Liturgy Committee on the Parish Council.  Easter is fast approaching, as is Divine Mercy Sunday, and I feel the pressing in on me of time becoming short.  Also, I take my certification exams on Wednesday for coding and billing.  To say I've been stressed is an understatement.s,

It was my plan to attend daily Mass during Lent, but that hasn't happened.  I am avoiding meat, although I won't likely give it up altogether.  I do plan on skipping beef.  That leaves chicken, pork and fish.  I'm not crazy about pork, so I'll probably doing a LOT of chicken and tuna. 

If I pass the exams, I will need to find a job.  I hope to find one not too far from my house, but it's not likely.  Adding full time work to everything else right now is really a scary prospect.  I often think it will be hard because I am in my mid 50s, and might not be employable. 

I hope everyone is doing all right so far in your individual Lenten promises.