My Arkansas Trip home

I just got back from visiting family in Arkansas where I grew up. I got to spend eight days there. It was a really good trip home. And we also spent a couple of days in a bed and breakfast just to get away for ourselves. It was a wonderful B&B. It was a house  that was built in 1890. Our room was awesome with a huge jacuzzi tub. Which I spent a lot of time in. There was a awesome front porch swing and a very loving little black cat at the Inn. The B&B was in Hot Springs, AR near were some of my family lives so it was very convenient for us to stay there and visit family at the same time. During our time in Hot Springs we just kinda hung out. We ate home cooked food at a local restaurant. Shopped a little in Historic downtown in the little quaint shops there. And spent a lot of time on the front porch swing with the cat at the Inn. We also spent some time shopping at some local rock shops. I was trying to find some unusual rocks for a project I want to start working on. And I wanted some stones from where I grew up at. This project I want to start is about making crosses while you pray. So I found several beads, stones and rock from where I grew up to start my cross. The book for this is call Making Crosses it was a book my friend gave me for my birthday a few weeks ago. 

The other time spent in AR was with my sister and my niece's and nephews. I also enjoyed getting to go to church with my sister, my sister's mother-in-law and my niece's. Also visiting my Mom and some of my husbands family. It was so nice to see them all. I enjoyed be able to spend time with my sister and enjoy home cooked meals while I was home. These are a few pictures from my trip.

                                                                 This is the B&B we stayed at

                                                                   The cat at the B&B

                       Me swimming in the Caddo River with my cousin. I grew up swimming in this river.

 My Aunt and Uncle's house. This were I grew up. My grandparents lived her before my Uncle bought it after they passed away. And they built a new house there. It is a good place to get a way. 

                                                                The Local Rock shop

                                                 Me and my family having dinner at my sister's

          Family reunion with my husbands family

                                                         My sister and my two niece's

I have been reading Psalm 5:3 a lot lately. This is a hard one for me. To rise early in the morning to pray and wait expectantly for God to answer. For one thing I am not much of a morning person. Most of the time it is praying in the evening and waiting for God to answer for me. I do try to get up in the morning but it is hard. I have never been a morning person. When I do manage to get up early before dawn and pray I like the quietness and I like hearing the birds singing. I do find that there is something special about praying early in the morning. But I find that I do most of my praying at night. I am a night owl. I love to pray at night. I of course pray through out the day also. They may just short little prayers to God when I am driving or doing whatever. 

When do you pray the most? Do you rise early to pray? 

                                                                    Listen to my cry for help,
                                                                      my King and my God,
                                                                          for to you I pray.

                                                   In the morning, O LORD, you hear my voice;
                                                    in the morning I lay my requests before you
                                                                      and wait in expectation.

                                                                               Psalm 5:2-3

Holy, Holy, Holy!

Holy, holy, holy! Lord God Almighty!

Early in the morning our song shall rise to Thee;

Holy, holy, holy, merciful and mighty!

God in three Persons, blessed Trinity!

Holy, holy, holy! All the saints adore Thee,

Casting down their golden crowns around the glassy sea;

Cherubim and seraphim falling down before Thee,

Who was, and is, and evermore shall be.

Holy, holy, holy! Though the darkness hide Thee,

Though the eye of sinful man Thy glory may not see;

Only Thou art holy; there is none beside Thee,

Perfect in pow’r, in love, and purity.

Holy, holy, holy! Lord God Almighty!

All Thy works shall praise Thy Name, in earth, and sky, and sea;

Holy, holy, holy; merciful and mighty!

God in three Persons, blessed Trinity!

Lyrics by Reginald Heber

The Apostles Creed in Song

I have never heard the Apostle's creed like this before. This was very powerful to me. I am so glad that I am Catholic now. I just love the depth of the Catholic Faith. I thank God that He led me this way. There is such beauty with the Catholic Church. I love just love it. I felt like I was in heaven listening to this video! And John Micheal Talbot is very anointed!

Confirmed Catholic

Well it has been so busy the past month. I have had so many things going on. I am now Catholic. I was Confirmed at Easter Vigil. It had been the day I had been waiting for. 

The week before I had a chance to go to San Antonio with my husband. He had some training there with his company. So I decided to go with him and not attend the Holy Thursday services with my parish.  I thought I could attend one in San Antonio. Another couple went with us also. So my friend and I went to some of the Catholic churches there. We went to the Shrine of St. Theresa the Little Flower. That was special because she was my Saint name. The shrine was beautiful. I really enjoyed being there.

On Wednesday my friend took me to Incarnate Word University Chapel. We just wanted to go inside and look around it and pray. Well it was closed. So my friend decided to go down some steps and push the intercom button. A Nun answered and said that she would be right down. She opened the door and we asked her if we could see the Chapel. She said yes she could give us a tour. I had no idea what to expect. When I seen the chapel it was beautiful. It was one of the most beautiful chapel's I had ever seen. The Nun gave us an hour long tour of the chapel.  Then I told her that I was being confirmed on Saturday. Then she said well I am the person who gets to pick who carries the gifts to the priest for Holy Thursday. And then she said "would you like to do that?" I said yes I would. So I figured that this is where God wanted me to spend Holy Thursday. I had planned on going back to the Shrine of St. Theresa for Holy Thursday. So I ended going here instead. I just felt God was working things out for me. So when Thursday night came I had to go to the service by myself because my friend was unable to go. When I got there the same Nun said"I would like you to do something else. I would like you to also carry the oil for the catechums" I said yes I would like to do that. So at the beginning of the service I got to carry the oil to the front of the church.  

Then got to participate in the feet washing ceremony. Which I gave up at my parish to go on this trip. Usually they only pick twelve people to have their feet washed. But here at this church they let anyone come up and participate. After the service was over they had adoration. Only a few us stayed. So during adoration a young man and women began to sing the Divine Mercy. It was the most beautiful singing of the Divine Mercy I had ever heard. I felt as though I was in heaven. I was so overwhelmed with emotion. I just worshiped the Lord for about two hours. I could feel the presence of the Lord there. I did not get home until eleven  that night. It was a wonderful night for me. It was really special.

So on Friday we returned home. I had to go and do my first confession. Then the next day I was confirmed into the Catholic Church. We had an all day retreat and then Easter Vigil that night. There was about fifty of us entering the Catholic Church. I had been waiting for this moment. And when I received the Eucharist I heard the voice of the Lord say "this is my solemn promise to you" and at that moment it all became very real to me. It was just a beautiful night. And afterwords we had a wonderful reception.

So now I am living a new normal with my faith. I have been going to daily mass. I can't hardly stay away. Being Protestant all my life this is something new for me. But I thank God for leading me this way. And I thank Him that I now know the fullness of truth. The fullness of His Glory. It has been a long journey to get here. But God worked through all my obstacles. At the beginning of this journey to the Catholic Church God just told me not to be afraid. To go forward. To make a decision and He would take care of the rest. And He did.

Do you want to be well?

Today I was reading the daily Mass readings. And the meditation of the day was on "Do you want to be well?" by Brother Lawrence of the Resurrection. I really liked this reading. And often wonder why some people suffer more than others. Like my Dad who in 12 years had two triple bypasses and multiple stents placed in his heart, then a battle with skin cancer and had to have Chemotherapy. And then the last two years of his life suffered greatly with Pulmonary Fibrosis. And died at the age of 65 this past May.  Of course I prayed and prayed for my Dad to be healed. He was healed. But not the way I had prayed for. I was praying for physical healing for him on earth. We don't always understand suffering here on earth or why certain people are not healed in the way we think they ought to be. I guess I will only know why my Dad had to suffer so much when I get to heaven myself.

And I have experienced my suffering in my own life. And if I would not have suffered then things I have I don't think I would be as close to God as I am now. The suffering and trials I have been through is what has brought me closer to God. All though they have been very painful I don't think I would change anything I have been through.

I liked what Brother Lawrence had to say about suffering and trials.

Do you want to be well?

I will not ask God to deliver you from your trials, but I will ask him earnestly to give you the patience and strength needed to suffer as long as he desires. Find consolation in him who keeps you fixed to the cross; he will release you when he judges it appropriate. Happy are they who suffer with him. Get used to suffering, and ask him for the strength to suffer as he wants, and for as long as he judges necessary. The worldly do not understand these truths, and I am not surprised; the reason is that they suffer as citizens of this world and not as Christians. They consider illnesses as natural afflictions and not as graces from God, and therefore they find in them only what is difficult and harsh for our nature. But those who regard them as coming from the hand of God, as signs of his mercy and the means he uses for their salvation, ordinarily find great sweetness and perceptible consolations in them.

I wish you were convinced that God is often closer to us in times of sickness and suffering than when we enjoy perfect health. Seek no other doctor but him. I think he wants to cure you by himself. Place all your trust in him, and you will soon experience the benefits we resist when we trust more in medical remedies than in God.

Whatever remedies you may use, they will only work to the extent that he will permit. When suffering comes from God, he alone can cure it, and he often leaves us with physical illness in order to cure our spiritual illness. Find consolation in the sovereign doctor of body and soul. 

Brother Lawrence of the Resurrection

  "Where as ye know not what shall be on the morrow. For what is your life? It   is even a vapor, that appeareth for a little time, and then vanisheth away." James 4:14

Last Wednesday I wrote about how I was missing my Dad. Well on Friday I received two devotionals about losing a loved one. One of the devotionals was about how death is not a period it is only a comma. I liked that. And the other devotional was about a gentleman who had lost his Father. And the scripture he used in the devotional was James 4:14. That was the scripture my Dad would always say.

My Dad suffered greatly the last two years of his life with Pulmonary Fibrosis. He lived on oxygen the last two years of his life. I watched him struggle for every breath. It was hard to watch him struggle for every breath. And he never really complained the whole time he was sick. He would just say we are only a vapor here. Here today gone tomorrow. So that is the scripture we put on his tombstone. I just felt God was talking to me in the two devotionals. Letting me know that my Dad is with Him. And this weekend I went to an awesome retreat. And I felt God speaking to me again about my Dad. And the words I heard this weekend helped. God is so good. He knows our every need. Even when you are missing your loved one He will speak words of encouragement to you. And it says in Matthew 5:4 "Blessed are those who mourn for they will be comforted."  And God has done some comforting for me the this weekend.

Thanks for the kind comments on my last post.

Kitty Kat Wake Up

I felt like I needed a laugh today. It's been a long week for me. Maybe you have had a long week too and just need to laugh for a minute. Laughter is good medicine. I love this video. I have three cats. And sometimes I feel like this guy in the video!

Rite of Sending at the Cathedral

Today was the rite of sending for Catechumens and Candidates for RCIA. It was a beautiful day. And a beautiful ceremony for everyone. There was Catechumens and Candidates from all over the diocese there. It was a packed house today. The singing was just beautiful.  Then they called my name to go up the he bishop. My husband had to push me up there in the wheel chair so he got to go with me up to the bishop. My sponsor was also with me walking beside me with her hand on my left shoulder.  I got to met and  hug the bishop. Then he blessed me and prayed for healing for my foot. I was't expecting him to pray for  the healing of my foot. Then there was a time of adoration. It was a beautiful moment. Afterwards there was a reception for us. I was able to take a picture with the bishop. Then we ate and had good fellowship with some friends. It was just a great service.

How God Heals

Sirach 38:1-14
Sickness and Medicine
1 Give doctors the honor they deserve, for the Lord gave them their work to do.
2 Their skill came from the Most High, and kings reward them for it.
3 Their knowledge gives them a position of importance, and powerful people hold them in high regard.
4 The Lord created medicines from the earth, and a sensible person will not hesitate to use them.
5 Didn't a tree once make bitter water fit to drink, so that the Lord's power might be known?
6 He gave medical knowledge to human beings, so that we would praise him for the miracles he performs.
7-8 The druggist mixes these medicines, and the doctor will use them to cure diseases and ease pain. There is no end to the activities of the Lord, who gives health to the people of the world.
9 My child, when you get sick, don't ignore it. Pray to the Lord, and he will make you well.
10 Confess all your sins and determine that in the future you will live a righteous life.
11 Offer incense and a grain offering, as fine as you can afford.
12 Then call the doctor for the Lord created him and keep him at your side; you need him.
13 There are times when you have to depend on his skill.
14 The doctor's prayer is that the Lord will make him able to ease his patient's pain and make them well again.

Tell it all to God

Last night I was so frustrated. I was frustrated with everything. With my foot and everyone around me. So I got my journal out and I just poured my heart out to God about everything. I asked Him to forgive me for complaining to Him but I needed to get it out. And then this morning I received this devotional in my email about "Tell it all to God." And this was the scripture in the devotional "Trust in Him at all times, you people; pour out your heart before Him; God is a refuge for us. —Psalm 62:8." So I know now that God does want us to pour our hearts out to Him. It has just been really frustrating with my foot the way it is. Not being able to do things on my own. And other things in my life right now. Sometimes life is just plain frustrating! And after I had written in my journal I put my mp3 player on and listened to Matt Redman's song Facedown. And for about an hour I listened to Matt Redman and worshiped God. Quietly. I just wanted things to be quiet. I have just felt a lot of noise around me recently. I wanted some peace and quiet. And the only way it seemed I could get that was to put my mp3 player on and tune out the world. And just worship God. And I felt so much better after that. At that moment when I started to worship I could feel His presence. It is quite wonderful when you are in His presence. And I felt so much peace at that moment. This also reminded me of Isaiah 26:3" You will keep in perfect peace him whose mind is steadfast, because he trusts in you."
So I don't think I started Lent out right. But I felt like God was telling me just turn everything over to Him. And it seemed like God did not mind me telling him all my frustrations. I think He wants us to. When I got the devotional it just spoke volumes to me. That God really does care about our problems and frustrations and He wants us to tell Him about them. He wants to be kind to us and comfort us in our lives that are so full of stress. But I think I am going to have to work on the list I posted below for Lent.   Here is the link to the devotional it you would like to read it. www.rbc.org/devotionals/our-daily-bread/2010/02/18/devotion.aspx

Lent

I attend a women's bible study on Tuesday's night's. And last night they had a list out for things to give up for Lent. I thought it was a pretty good list. And I thought I would share it.

1. Give up bitterness; turn to forgiveness
2. Give up hatred; return good for evil
3. Give up negativism; be positive
4. Give up complaining; be grateful
5. Give up pessimism; be an optimist
6. Give up harsh judgements; think kindly thoughts
7. Give up discouragement; be full of Hope
8. Give up anger; be more patient
9. Give up pettiness; be more easy going
10. Give up gloom; enjoy the beauty around you
11. Give up jealousy; pray for trust
12. Give up gossiping; control your thoughts and words
13. Give up sin; turn to virtue

Night before last I was praying. I was writing my prayer's down in my prayer journal. Lately I have been having trouble finding words to praise God with. In my prayer journal it has tabs for praise, admit and confessing sins, your requests, thanksgiving, listening, messages, old and new testament scriptures that speak to you and a place for proverbs. It is a great prayer book. It keeps me on track.  Anyway, so the last few day I have been going to the Psalms for words to praise God with. And I try to find the words that really describe how I am feeling at the time. I have a copy of The Message Bible. I love how the message puts the scriptures. So night before last night my eyes fell upon Psalm 119:65-80.

65-72 Be good to your servant, God;
be as good as your Word.
Train me in good common sense;
I'm thoroughly committed to living your way.
Before I learned to answer you, I wandered all over the place,
but now I'm in step with your Word.
You are good, and the source of good;
train me in your goodness.
The godless spread lies about me,
but I focus my attention on what you are saying;
They're bland as a bucket of lard,
while I dance to the tune of your revelation.
My troubles turned out all for the best—
they forced me to learn from your textbook.
Truth from your mouth means more to me
than striking it rich in a gold mine.
73-80 With your very own hands you formed me;

now breathe your wisdom over me so I can understand you.

When they see me waiting, expecting your Word,

those who fear you will take heart and be glad.

I can see now, God, that your decisions are right;

your testing has taught me what's true and right.

Oh, love me—and right now!—hold me tight!

just the way you promised.
Now comfort me so I can live, really live;
your revelation is the tune I dance to.
Let the fast-talking tricksters be exposed as frauds;
they tried to sell me a bill of goods,
but I kept my mind fixed on your counsel.
Let those who fear you turn to me
for evidence of your wise guidance.
And let me live whole and holy, soul and body,
so I can always walk with my head held high.

What it said really spoke to me. And yesterday I was reading my Magnificat. When I came to the reading in Psalms it was the same Psalm I had prayed the night before. In the Magnificat the reading was Psalm 119:67,68,71,72,75,76.

67 Before I was afflicted I went astray, but now I hold to your promise.
68 You are good and bountiful; teach me your statutes.
71 It is good for me that I have been afflicted, that I may learn your statutes.
72 The law of your mouth is to me more precious than thousands of gold and silver pieces.
75 I know, O Lord, that your ordinances are just, and in your faithfulness you have afflicted me.
76 Let your kindness comfort me according to your promise to you servants.

I had to read it again to make sure I was reading this correctly. I could not believe I was reading the same thing I had prayed the night before. God is so good. What I thought was my own thoughts was actually the Holy Spirit guiding me to this scripture. God knew that this would be my devotional reading the next day. And He wanted to speak somthing to me. It spoke volumes to me. It spoke to me because I have been though so much with my back injury in 2005, my recent heart procedure, my foot surgery, and I have dealt with migraines for about 12 years. All these afflictions have caused me to seek God. After the back injury is when I really started seeking after God. Had it not been for all these afflictions I am not sure I would have sought after God the way I have the past five years. So I know God is trying to tell me something with these scriptures. God simply amazes me. And I love Him so much. He amazes me with how much He loves me. And how much He desires a relationship with me. God knows our hearts and He knows what we pray. He knows everything about us. He knows us better than we know ourselves.

A couple of weeks ago I had a procedure done on my heart for a arrhythmia. By the Grace of God the doctor found nothing wrong with my heart and I was able to stop the medication that I was on. I also feel God is really telling me to start an exercise program. More that just walking. I have to strengthen my heart so I don't end up in this situation again. So I am planning on joining curves on February first. But this is my testimony as tho what God had done in my life the day of the procedure.

Well I have to give all the Glory to God about my procedure. I had been praying a lot about this. After trying several medications that I really did not want to be on I decided to have this EP study done on my heart. Hoping that I could come off of the medication I was on. The night before the procedure I was praying and reading my bible. I was wanting to hear from God about the procedure. I was flipping through my bible when my eyes fell on Zephaniah 3:15 "The Lord has stopped your punishment; he has removed all your enemies. The Lord, the king of Israel is with you; there is no reason now to be afraid." So I meditated on this scripture. I also read Psalm 121 which God had given me before I went on all my mission trips. When I went to bed I just knew that God was with me. The morning of the procedure I went to read my devotionals that I get in my email. One from "Our Daily Bread" and the other from "The Upper Room." Both devotionals were on having second chances in life. The one from our daily bread was about the plane that went down in the Hudson river last year. I did not realize the January 15Th was the anniversary date of that plane landing in the water. It was about how they thought that they were going to die but instead got a second chance to live. And that God's mercies are new every morning. The other devotional was about how Jesus gave the criminal on the cross a second chance that he would be in paradise with Him that day. It also talked about how God gave David a second chance. And people that are in prisons can have a second chance. And all the other people in the bible that God gave second chances too. The bible is filled with people that God gave second chances too.

I just felt God was telling me that I was getting a second chance. That my heart would be healed. I also read in one more devotional ( I know I read a lot of devotionals) anyway it was in "Come away my Beloved" Part of it said "Love Me with your whole Heart. I am the Lord, your God. I have saved you and healed you, and you have much for which to praise Me. Never cease to keep a spirit of overflowing gratitude."

So after reading all these it was time to go the hospital. They hooked me up to everything. The doctor came in to say "hi" before the procedure. Of course he did not seem worried at all. He had his breakfast in his hand in a little bag and a big smile on his face. Then the Anesthesiologist came in and started to tell me how long the procedure would take. She said that I would probably be back there anywhere from three to five hours for the procedure. And She was telling me about how many catheters they would be putting in me. And that he was planning on having to cross the septum in the heart and that would take longer. It was the left side of my heart that was affected. And that I would almost defiantly have to spend the night. I have to admit that was the only moment I got a little worried. For a split second I got a little scared. I was thinking this sounds way more involved than what I had realized. Then Doug came in the room and I was telling him all what she had told me. At that point I did start to get a little choked up. But then I was okay after a moment or two. Then they came to take me back. They started putting on all these pads all over me that was very cold. And it already freezing in the room. Then they gave me the sedation. I don't remember a thing. I think the procedure lasted about two hours. The doctor went to go talk to Doug after it was over. The doctor could not find anything wrong. Nothing to cauterize in the heart. And they did not have to do all that they thought at first. That is why the procedure did not take as long. And I was able to go home that evening. Thanks be to God! The doctor told me to stop the medicine. I had been off it since the day before the procedure. So I have been off of my medication and I don't believe that I will be needing it. I do believe that God had healed my heart. That He was in the midst working everything out for me.

Now I had tried to schedule this procedure for sooner dates before the 15Th. But I could not do so. I believe God planned it this way so I would read those devotionals about getting a second chance.

So now I have to keep my part of the bargain and take better care of my heart by exercising more. So my heart will become stronger. And I know that God has been telling me exercise more. But now I don't think I have a choice. Our bodies are the Temple of the Holy Spirit and God wants us to take care of them.

The devotional the day after the procedure I read in "Come away my Beloved" part of of it said " Be obedient to My command that you rejoice in the Lord always. Because I must become your one true source of life and joy. I allow the difficult circumstances to come. Through them, I test your love for Me"

So thank you for all of your prayers for me. This was a big deal for me to go through. By His strips we are healed! "And they overcame him because of the blood of the Lamb and because of the word of their testimony, and they did not love their life even when faced with death." Revelation 12:11

What an awesome God we have!

I am off and running to possess the promises God has promised me! It's a New Year!

After the death of Moses the servant of the LORD, the LORD spoke to Joshua son of Nun, Moses' assistant, saying, "My servant Moses is dead. Now proceed to cross the Jordan, you and all this people, into the land that I am giving to them, to the Israelites. Every place that the sole of your foot will tread upon I have given to you, as I promised to Moses. From the wilderness and the Lebanon as far as the great river, the river Euphrates, all the land of the Hittites, to the Great Sea in the west shall be your territory. No one shall be able to stand against you all the days of your life. As I was with Moses, so I will be with you; I will not fail you or forsake you. Be strong and courageous; for you shall put this people in possession of the land that I swore to their ancestors to give them. Only be strong and very courageous, being careful to act in accordance with all the law that my servant Moses commanded you; do not turn from it to the right hand or to the left, so that you may be successful wherever you go. This book of the law shall not depart out of your mouth; you shall meditate on it day and night, so that you may be careful to act in accordance with all that is written in it. For then you shall make your way prosperous, and then you shall be successful. I hereby command you: Be strong and courageous; do not be frightened or dismayed, for the LORD your God is with you wherever you go."
-Joshua 1:1-9 (NRSV)