Daddy Is Driving

A speaker has shared his experience:

While his family and he were in Europe, there was once that they had to drive 3 days continuously, day and night, to get to Germany. So, they all got into the car -- he, his wife, and his 3 years old daughter.

His little daughter has never traveled at night before. She was scared the first night in the car, with deep darkness outside.
"Where are we going, Daddy?" "To your uncle's house, in Germany."
"Have you been to his house before?" "No."
"Then, do you know the way?" "Maybe, we can read the map."
Short pause. "Do you know how to read the map?" "Yes, we will get there safely."

Another pause. "Where are we going to eat if we get hungry before arriving?" "We can stop by restuarants if we are hungry."
"Do you know if there are restaurants on the way?" "Yes, there are."
"Do you know where?" "No, but we will be able to find some."
The same dialogue repeated a few times within the first night, and also the second night. But on the third night, his daughter was quiet.

The speaker thought that she might have fallen asleep, but when he looked into the mirror, he saw that she was awake and was just looking around calmly. He couldn't help wondering why she was not asking the questions anymore --

"Dear, do you know where we are going?" "Germany, Uncle's house."
"Do you know how we are getting there?" "No."
"Then why aren't you asking questions anymore?"
"Because Daddy is driving."

Because Daddy is driving. This answer from a 3 years' old girl has then become the strength and help for this speaker for the many years follow whenever he has questions and fears on his journey with the Lord. Yes, our Father is driving.

We may know the destination (and sometimes we may just know it like the little girl -- "Germany", without understanding where or what it really is). We do not know the way, we do not know how to read the map, we do not know if we can find restaurants along the way. But the little girl knew the most important thing -- Daddy is driving -- and so she is safe and secure. She knows that her Daddy will provide all that she needs.

Do you know your Daddy, the Great Shepherd, is driving today? What are your behavior and response as a passenger, His child?
You may have asked many questions before, but can you like the little girl, start to realize the most important focus should be "Daddy is driving?"

Hang On To Your Faith

Below is an article on having faith and believing in God's Word & his promises.

The devil's whole strategy is to get us to turn loose of our faith in God and His Word.MARK 4:15
Some people are like the seeds that fall along the path,; as soon as they hear the message, Satan comes and takes it away.

How can the devil steal the Word from someone? Only when it seems untrue. People don't turn loose of what they believe is true.So, to steal the Word, the devil must convince people it's not true. The devil does this by getting us to focus on what our senses tell us, instead of on God's Word, the seed which changes our circumstances when we retain it.As with any seed, the full manifestation of its life is not apparent immediately, but manifests over time with the proper care. God's Word will change your circumstances!If you don't believe God's Word, you won't act on it. Without following God's instructions, you will not be made free (see John 8:31-32).Actions cannot be separated from believing. Whatever you are acting on is what you really believe.In the New Testament, "faith" is the noun and "believe" is the verb form of the same Greek word. So, hanging on to your faith means to keep believing what God said -- regardless of circumstances.HEBREWS 10:23

Let us hold on firmly to the hope we profess, because we can trust God to keep his promise.
A key to hanging on to your faith is found in what you say. When you speak of fear and doubt, faith shrivels. But when you speak faith words in line with the Bible, your faith grows strong.The devil tries to get you to doubt God and His Word. The devil wants you to give up on God, to not trust Him, to not expect Him to do what He said in His Word. Do not give up! God can be trusted.SAY THIS: I will keep on believing and acting on God's Word.

God Bless us all.

Don't miss out on a blessing

Moral of the Story....

Take a time out once in a while. All this going, going, going will eventually drain your energy. Take some nights to relax and stop thinking about your next move (job promotion, party, outfit). Then adapt a positive approach to other people's lives as well as yours. Remember, you don't need to compare all friends' vacations, jobs and boyfriends to yours. Take a more accepting approach your life is at this stage for a reason and enjoy it.
Seriously check this out -

The man whispered,
"God, speak to me"
and a meadowlark sang-
But the man did not hear.

So the man yelled,
"God speak to me!"
And the thunder rolled across the sky-
But the man did not listen.

The man looked around and said,
"God let me see you"
And a star shone brightly-
But the man did not notice.

And the man shouted,
"God show me a miracle"
And a life was born-
But the man did not know.

So, the man cried out in despair,
"Touch me God and let me know that you are here!"
Whereupon God reached down and touched the man.
But the man brushed the butterfly away
And walked on.

Moral.....
Don't miss out on a blessing
because it isn't packaged
the way you expect it to be.
~Author Unknown~

Learn To Use Your Faith

MARK 11:23-24

"For assuredly, I say to you, whoever says to this mountain,'Be removed and be cast into the sea,' and does not doubt inhis heart, but believes that those things he says will be done,he will have whatever he says.24 "Therefore I say to you, whatever things you ask when youpray, believe that you receive them, and you will have them.

There is spiritual growth as well as physical growth. We don'tstart out strong and mature. The Bible, and all creation,teaches gradual growth.

MARK 4:28 The earth produces the crops on its own. First a leaf bladepushes through, then the heads of wheat are formed, and finallythe grain ripens.

The Bible is full of great promises. We must receive them byfaith. Faith is not trying to believe, but knowing that youbelieve. So, you must start using faith at the level you areat. Keep using your faith and feeding it on God's Word and it will continue togrow.

Eventually, you will get to where you can believe God for largethings as easily as you did for small things.It requires feeding your faith on God's Word as well asexercising your faith to cause it to grow strong.Yes, the Word says that all things are possible, but only for thosewho truly believe. Most people are just trying to believe andhoping something will happen.

What if you have a need now, but don't have enough faith tocover it? Get someone else to agree with you, using their faithon your behalf.MATTHEW 18:19 "Again I say to you that if two of you agree on earthconcerning anything that they ask, it will be done for them byMy Father in heaven.But don't expect to go through life depending entirely onsomeone else's faith. God will require you to eventually growup and use your own faith. So you might as well get startednow.God knows our needs.

The Bible is clear that God does not wantus to be in lack. Then why doesn't God just meet our needs,without us having to ask?One answer is God wants us to grow in faith. Our faith can onlygrow strong as we use it.

So, every need is a faithopportunity, and thus an opportunity for growth.God wants us to be specific in our asking, so that when theanswer comes, we will know it was from God and came in responseto our faith in Him.Don't wait until you have a large crisis in life to startlearning to use your faith. Start now!Don't try to start praying for something big. Start small. Yourfaith will grow as you use it.

SAY THIS: God will help me to learn to walk in faith.

The Road to Success

I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me. The road to success is not straight. There is a curve called Failure, a loop called Confusion, speed bumps called Friends, red lights called Enemies, caution lights called Family. You will have flats called Jobs. But, if you have a spare called Determination, an engine called Perseverance, insurance called Faith, a driver called Jesus, you will make it to a place called Success.
Hope this divine strategy will work out!

FAITH vs ROPE

Before Easter is left far behind... A story that came in:

THE STORY OF EDITH EASTER...

Edith Burns was a wonderful Christian who lived in San Antonio, Texas . She was the patient of a doctor by the name of Will Phillips. Dr. Phillips was a gentle doctor who saw patients as people. His favorite patient was Edith Burns. One morning he went to his office with a heavy heart and it was because of Edith Burns. When he walked into that waiting room, there sat Edith with her big black Bible in her lap earnestly talking to a young mother sitting beside her.

Edith Burns had a habit of introducing herself in this way: "Hello, my name is Edith Burns. Do you believe in Easter?" Then she would explain the meaning of Easter, and many times people would be saved. Dr. Phillips walked into that office and there he saw the head nurse, Beverly. Beverly had first met Edith when she was taking her blood pressure. Edith began by saying,"My name is Edith Burns. Do you believe in Easter?"

Beverly said, "Why yes I do." Edith said, "Well, what do you believe about Easter?" Beverly said, "Well, it's all about egg hunts, going to church, and dressing up." Edith kept pressing her about the real meaning of Easter, and finally led her to a saving knowledge of Jesus Christ. Dr. Phillips said, " Beverly , don't call Edith into the office quite yet. I believe there is another delivery taking place in the waiting room.

After being called back in the doctor's office, Edith sat down and when she took a look at the doctor she said, "Dr. Will, why are you so sad? Are you reading your Bible? Are you praying?" Dr. Phillips said gently, "Edith, I'm the doctor and you're the patient" With a heavy heart he said, "Your lab report came back and it says you have cancer, and Edith, you're not going to live very long."

Edith said, "Why Will Phillips, shame on you. Why are you so sad? Do you think God makes mistakes? You have just told me I'm going to see my precious Lord Jesus, my husband, and my friends. You have just told me that I am going to celebrate Easter forever, and here you are having difficulty giving me my ticket!" Dr. Phillips thought to himself, "What a magnificent woman this Edith Burns is!"

Edith continued coming to Dr. Phillips. Christmas came and the office was closed through January 3rd. On the day the office opened, Edith did not show up. Later that afternoon, Edith called Dr. Phillips and said she would have to be moving her story to the hospital and said, "Will, I'm very near home, so would you make sure that they put women in here next to me in my room who need to know about Easter."

Well, they did just that and women began to come in and share that room with Edith. Many women were saved. Everybody on that floor from staff to patients were so excited about Edith, that they started calling her Edith Easter; that is everyone except Phyllis Cross, the head nurse. Phyllis made it plain that she wanted nothing to do with Edith because she was a "religious nut". She had been a nurse in an army hospital. She had seen it all and heard it all. She was the original G.I. Jane. She had been married three times, she was hard, cold, and did everything by the book.

One morning the two nurses who were to attend to Edith were sick. Edith had the flu and Phyllis Cross had to go in and give her a shot. When she walked in, Edith had a big smile on her face and said, "Phyllis, God loves you and I love you, and I have been praying for you." Phyllis Cross said, "Well, you can quit praying for me, it won't work.. I'm not interested." Edith said, "Well, I will pray and I have asked God not to let me go home until you come into the family." Phyllis Cross said, "Then you will never die because that will never happen," and curtly walked out of the room.

Every day Phyllis Cross would walk into the room and Edith would say, "God loves you Phyllis and I love you, and I'm praying for you." One day Phyllis Cross said she was literally drawn to Edith's room like a magnet would draw iron. She sat down on the bed and Edith said, "I'm so glad you have come, because God told me that today is your special day" Phyllis Cross said, "Edith, you have asked everybody here the question, "Do you believe in Easter but you have never asked me."

Edith said, "Phyllis, I wanted to many times, but God told me to wait until you asked, and now that you have asked." Edith Burns took her Bible and shared with Phyllis Cross the Easter Story of the death, burial and resurrection of Jesus Christ. Edith said, "Phyllis, do you believe in Easter? Do you believe that Jesus Christ is alive and that He wants to live in your heart?"

Phyllis Cross said, "Oh I want to believe that with all of my heart, and I do want Jesus in my life "Right there, Phyllis Cross prayed and invited Jesus Christ into her heart. For the first time Phyllis Cross did not walk out of a hospital room, she was carried out on the wings of angels. Two days later, Phyllis Cross came in and Edith said, "Do you know what day it is?" Phyllis Cross said, "Why Edith, it's Good Friday." Edith said, "Oh, no, for you every day is Easter. Happy Easter Phyllis!"

Two days later, on Easter Sunday, Phyllis Cross came into work, did some of her duties and then went down to the flower shop and got some Easter lilies because she wanted to go up to see Edith and give her some Easter lilies and wish her a Happy Easter. When she walked into Edith's room, Edith was in bed. That big black Bible was on her lap. Her hands were in that Bible. There was a sweet smile on her face. When Phyllis Cross went to pick up Edith's hand, she realized Edith was dead. Her left hand was on John 14: "In my Father's house are many mansions. I go to prepare a place for you, I will come again and receive you to Myself, that where I am, there you may be also." Her right hand was on Revelation 21:4, "And God will wipe away every tear from their eyes, there shall be no more death nor sorrow, nor crying; and there shall be no more pain, for the former things have passed away."

Phyllis Cross took one look at that dead body, and then lifted her face toward heaven, and with tears streaming down here cheeks, said, "Happy Easter, Edith - Happy Easter!" Phyllis Cross left Edith's body, walked out of the room, and over to a table where two student nurses were sitting. She said, "My name is Phyllis Cross. Do you believe in Easter?" If you believe in Easter, forward this on. God works in wonderful ways, and to believe in his power is to truly be free.

From one pumpkin to another!!!

A woman was asked by a co-worker, "What is it like to be a Christian?" The co-worker replied, "It is like being a pumpkin." God picks you from the patch, brings you in, and washes all the dirt off of you. Then He cuts off the top and scoops out all the yucky stuff.He removes the seeds of doubt, hate, and greed. Then He carves you a new smiling face and puts His light inside of you to shine for the entire world to see." This was passed on to me by another pumpkin. Now it's your turn to pass it to other pumpkins.I liked this enough to post it to all the pumpkins in my patch.

THE RESURRECTION

We hold so close to our hearts
The cross where Jesus died
But so much more than the blood-stained cross
Is that Jesus came back to life

The stone's been rolled away
The tomb lay open and bare
They looked for Him, and then the angel said
That He is no longer here

Oh what joy they must have felt
To see Him just once more
To eat with Him, to drink with Him
To receive Him back as Lord

So much did He accomplish
Through His death upon the cross
And in His rising from the dead
He reconciled us back to God

Nothing else could bridge the gap
That sin had wrenched apart
Now we can freely go to God
And receive Christ in our hearts

Wishing you and and your family a HAPPY EASTER and God's choicest blessings.

"Many more happy returns of this day, Holy Father."

Pope Benedict XVI turns 82 on Thursday, 16th April 2009. He appeared tired and hoarse during the solemn three-hour-long Easter Vigil service Saturday, but seemed well-rested by Sunday morning.
Happy Birthday Pope Benedict XVI

Pope Benedict XVI is one of the most accomplished Roman Catholic theologians, the aim of his pontificate is not the construction of a new “grand theory” for Catholic theology. Neither is his goal to remake the Catholic Church according to the personal tastes and inclinations of Joseph Ratzinger. Instead, Benedict’s top priority is to reintroduce the fundamentals of the Christian gospel and of Catholic tradition to the modern world.

I like papa Ratzi! Let us greet Benedict XVI and pray for him on this his 82nd birthday.

My inspirations from him are the following:

1. Real love comes at a price. That’s the kind of love that Benedict describes in Deus Caristas Est.
2. My Papa Ratzi is reminding the world that, in Jesus of Nazareth, we see the definitive revelation of the meaning and ultimate destiny of human life, is a cornerstone of Benedict's papacy.
3. His moto is Cooperatores veritatis: "co-workers of the truth". The chief challenge facing the Catholic Church as a "dictatorship of relativism". I've been agitated by these waves - tossed from one extreme to the anoter; from Marxism to liberalism, from collectivism to radical individualism; from atheism to a vague religious mysticism; from agnosticism to syncretism and so on... To have a clear faith, according to the Creed of the Church, is often styled as fundamentalism. Benedict believes, freedom to realize our highest potential as sons and daughters of God. Truth and freedom are thus not opposed, but interdependent.
4. Faith and Reason Need One Another.
5. The Eucharistic is the heart of the Christian Life. I will use an image well known to us today, (Consecrating the Eucharist) is like inducing nuclear fission in the very heart of being-the victory of love over hatred, the victory of love over death. The more lively the eucharistic faith of the People of God, the deeper is its sharing in ecclesial life in steadfast commitment to the mission entrusted by Christ to his disciples. Eucharistic comes with a mission. What we consume, meaning to model ourselves on Christ. On a social level, it means efforts to build a world in which the self-giving love of Christ, which is made new each time the Eucharist is celebrated, is the cornerstone upon which society is constructed, as opposed to ideology, profit, or the blind will to power. Eucharist can change the world-indeed, it's the only thing that can.
6. Chritianity is a positive message. Man and women are made for each other, that the sacle of sexuality, eros, agape, indicates the level of love and it's in this way that marriage develops, first of all, as a joyful and blessing-filled encounter beween a man and woman, and then the family, that guarantees continuity among generations and through which gnerations are reconciled to each other and ever cultures can meet.
7. The Church forms consciences but stays out of politics. In his first encyclical letter, Deus Caritas Est, that "Justice is both the aim and intrinsic criterion of all politics." A christian must work toward a just social order, and special concern for the poor. Benedict endorsed what exponents of liberation theology have called the "preferential option for the poor", saying it is "implicit in the Christological faith in the God who became poor for us" For Benedict XVI, fidelity to Church teaching and Tradition are not opposed to social concern; to conceive of things that way, he believes, would be to pit faith against works, a position that Roman Catholicism rejected during Protestant Reformation more than five hundred years.
8. The importance of Catholic Identity. Catholic Church alone is the true Church willed by Christ. "Today more than ever, the Christian must be aware that he belongs to a minority and that he is in opposition to everything that appears good, obvious, and logical to the "the spirit of the world".
9. Christ and the Church are inseparable. "Profound, inseparable, and mysterious continuity""to gather and to save" a people, which is Church. One cannot truly love Jesus or follow his teachings, Benedict insists, without taking one's place in the family faith that Jesus called into being. Being part of that family comes with no guarantees of perfect contentment; like any family, the Church has its ups and downs, its moments of disappointment and heartahe. If that's true of a human family, how much more it is of a global Church of more than one billion people, carrying the weight of 2,000 years of history! But just as one does not walk away from a family when things get rough, similarly a disciple of Jesus does not walk away from his Church. In response to the cry of "Yes to Jesus, No to the Church. " Benedict XVI responds, "Yes to Jesus means Yes to the Church.
10. The virtue of Patience. He is a very patient man.

God, our times are in your hand: Look with favor, we pray, on Pope Benedict XVI as he begins another year. Grant that he may grow in wisdom and grace, and strengthen his trust in your goodness all the days of his life; through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.

An Easter Prayer!

Christmas is glorious

Of its Holy Gift we sing

Of a manger and Baby

Our blessed newborn King

Thanksgiving is so grand

Our thanks to God we give

For His unending bounty

Gracing each day we live

Valentines Day is romantic

A day we are filled with love,

Love from spouse and family

Love from the Great One above

But there is one holiday

That rises above them all

Rewarding each one of us

Whether strong, meek or small

Of all of God's gifts

Easter shows us our fate

Forgiven we will rise

And pass through Heaven's gate

This Easter remember

The sacrifice of a Son

And through His resurrection

Eternal life we have won!

This Easter I pray

That the love of God

Is resurrected

Reborn, renewed

Inside your heart

God Bless You!

Francis Jeyaraj

Israeli Jews hold rare prayer to bless the sun

Tens of thousands of people filled the area in front of the Wailing Wall in Jerusalem before sunrise to take part in a prayer to bless the sun which is said only once every 28 years.
Dressed in white prayer shawls, men, women, and children filled the plaza in front of the wall, Judaism's holiest site, and crowded on to surrounding rooftops to catch a glimpse of the rising sun..

As the sun rose the crowd chanted the Birkat Hakhama prayer, which according to Jewish tradition marks the period when the sun returns to the exact position in the sky it held when the universe was created 5,769 years ago. It returns to the spot once every 28 years.

The prayer has special significance this year because it coincides with the start of the Passover holiday, one of Judaism's most important, at sundown on Wednesday.The Wailing Wall, also called the Western Wall, sits below the Al-Aqsa Mosque compound, Islam's third-holiest place.

Easter Poem

God hath sent His Angels to the earth again,

Bringing joyful tidings to the sons of men.

They who first at Christmas thronged the heavenly way,

Now beside the tomb-door sit on Easter-Day.

Angels, sing His triumph as you sang His birth,

"Christ the Lord is risen, Peace, good will on earth."

In the dreadful desert where the Lord was tried,

There the faithful Angels gathered at His side.

And when in the garden, grief, and pain, and care

Bowed Him down with anguish,they were with Him there.

Yet the Christ they honour is the same Christ still,

Who, in light and darkness did His Father's will.

And the tomb, deserted, shineth like the sky,

Since He passed out from it, into victory.

God has still His Angels helping, at His word,

All His faithful children, like their faithful Lord.

Soothing them in sorrow,arming them in strife,

Opening wide the tomb-doors,leading into life.

Father, send Thine angels unto us, we pray;

Leave us not to wander all along our way.

Let them guard and guide us, whereso'er we be,

Till our resurrection brings us home to Thee.

May the Triumph of the Lord Strengthen your Soul and Grace you with Happiness and Success on Easter and Always !!!

SOMETIMES....

1. Sometimes, God breaks oUr sPiRit to save our sOuL..


2. Sometimes, HE breaks oUr hEArt to make us WhOle..


3. Sometimes, He send uS pAin sO we can be stRONger..


4. Sometimes, HE send uS FaiLure sO we can be hUMbLe..


5. Sometimes, HE send uS iLLNess sO we can take bEttEr cAre of oURsELves..


6. Sometimes, HE takes "EVERytHiNg" away fRoM uS sO we can LeArn the vALUe of "EVERytHINg" we hAVe...

Have a blessed holy week & a Happy Easter!!!

Catholic Church Approved

Catholic Church Approved--Warnings "Greater than Deluge" of Akita Apparition of BVM


The Akita apperaance of the BVM has a similar message of warning to the world if man does not repent of his sins. The Catholic Church has approved...

Catholic Church Approved—Warnings “Greater than Deluge” of Akita Apparition of BVM
Diocescan Bishop of Nigata, Bishop John Shojiro Ito in 1984 in consultation with the Holy See proclaimed as authentic the happenings from 1973 until 1981 within his diocese at Akita, Japan.
The then Cardinal Ratzinger (now Pope Benedict XVI) in 1988 approved the Akita apparitions as “reliable and worthy of belief”. Philippine ambassador to the Vatican in 1998 spoke to Cardinal Ratzinger about Akita stated that the messages of Akita and Fatima are the same. Other apparitions approved by the Catholic Church are Gaudalupe, Lourdes, Las Salette, Fatima, and more.

Like Fatima, the message of Akita is a warning for people to repent or else there will be a chastisement worldwide.

The visionary was Sister Agnes Katsuko Sasagaw who calls on all to pray and sacrifice for the glory of God the Father and the salvation of souls.

The third message in 1973 states—“As I told you, if men do not repent and better themselves, the Father will inflict a terrible punishment on all humanity. It will be a punishment greater than the deluge, such as one will never have seen before. Fire will fall from the sky and will wipe out a great part of humanity, the good as well as the bad, sparing neither priest nor faithful. The survivors will find themselves so desolate that they will envy the dead. The only arms which will remain for you will be the Rosary and the Sign left by my Son. Each day, recite the prayers of the Rosary. With the Rosary, pray for the Pope, the bishops and the priests.”

The Blessed Mother warns that the devil will infiltrate into the Church so that cardinals oppose cardinals and bishops in opposition with bishops. People will scorn priests. Vandals will desecrate churches and altars. Compromise will be acceptable. Demons will press many priests and consecrated to leave the service of the Lord.

“The demon will rage especially against souls consecrated to God. The thought of the loss of so many souls is the cause of my sadness. If sins increase in number and gravity, there will not longer be pardon for them.”

What happened at Akita? The appearances and happenings focus around a three foot high statue of the Blessed Mother with a Japanese face in the chapel of the Eucharistic Handmaids of the Sacred Heart. Supernatural happenings took place involving Sister Agnes Sasagawa.

She had been very ill and required about 20 operations. She was nearly deaf when these apparitions took place. IN 1973 in June, she opened the tabernacle for adoration of the Blessed Sacrament. A strong light came from it, filling the entire chapel. For three days, this phenomenon occurred. The other sisters said that they had not seen anything.

The time was the feast of Corpus Christi. Sister told the Bishop of Akita who was visiting the convent on the feast. He advised her to keep it in her heart. The Feast of the Sacred Heart came and the guardian angel of that sister appeared to her, asking her to pray the Fatima decade prayer after each decade of the Rosary (“O my Jesus forgive us our sins, save us from the fires of hell. Lead all souls to heaven. Help especially those who are in most need of Thy Mercy. Amen.”)

A wound in the form of a cross appeared in the hollow of the Sister’s left hand. It began to bleed. The bleeding ended on the Feast of the Immaculate Heart of Mary. The next Friday, the wound again bled and stopped the next day, continuing like this for a moth.

Her guardian angel said to her—“Pray not only for yourself, but for the people of all nations. The world today is wounding the Sacred Heart of Jesus through so much sin and ingratitude.” Then the Sister heard a voice come from the statue in the chapel—“My daughter, you obey me very well, you have renounced everything. This deafness is a geat suffering for you. Have patience, you will be healed. It is a trial. Pray in reparation of all people. Pray much for the Holy Father, for the bishops and the priests.”

A bleeding wound later appeared on the right hand of the statue of Our Lady. The guardian angel said to her that the blood flowing was shed for the conversion of men and in reparation for sins. The Blessed Mother said that because of the sins of the world, the Heavenly Father was prepared a punishment for the world.

In September, 1973, the statue began to sweat from the face to the fee. Tears began to flow down the face. A very pleasant odor was felt in the chapel. This happened in the presence of others including the bishop.

Many pilgrims came and many received answers to their prayers.

Easter Greetings

Reflection for Maundy Thursday: Mass & Eucharist are at the center of the Catholic Faith.

His Body & Blood

Our Lord's Body & Blood feed the Catholic faithful.

How the Mass & Eucharist are at the center of the Faith?

Jesus, at the Last Supper, took bread and broke it, and gave it to his apostles and said— “Take and eat for this is my body. Do this in remembrance of me.” Likewise, with the wine, he gave it to his disciples and told them— “Drink this for it is my blood. Do this in memory of me” (Matt 26: 26-28; Mk 14: 22-24; Lk 22, 19f; 1 Cor 11: 24f).

For centuries, this is just what Christians have done at Mass. The early Fathers of the Church talk about it in their writings, just as other New Testament writings of St. Paul speak about it. Imagine now, that someone comes up to you on the street and tells you that no longer is there going to be the celebration of Christmas, for we are not sure that Christ was actually born. For centuries, this wonderful event has been looked forward to in the month of December as a holy festival of the Savior who came into the world over 2,000 years ago. Then, all of a sudden, there are places on the earth that no longer celebrate Christmas because of what one man said was not true. This is what happened with the Eucharist in the 16th century, when Martin Luther became confused over the true meaning of the Catholic Faith.

Changing so many things, he also altered the meaning of the Eucharistic celebration. He taught that the Body and Blood of Jesus existed with the bread and the wine in Holy Communion. No longer did he believe that the bread and the wine were changed into the Body and Blood of Jesus. His doctrine was called consubstantiation and he took away countless followers who fell for his false teachings against the Catholic doctrine of transubstantiation—the Real Presence. The people wanted to have their own way of doing things. They, like many today, wanted to “pick and choose” what felt good for them. Princes fell away from the truth. The peasants also fell away. They took advantage of the lands and the wealth of the church just to get their own way. Sadly today, there are many Catholics who do not believe in the Catholic doctrine of the Holy Eucharist.

With Luther, the history of the Church was forever changed. A major split had occurred. No longer were the Church and the state in such an intimate relationship as before. Each German prince chose the religion of his principality and the people had to follow. Other Protestants also defied the Catholic Church. John Calvin, Ulrich Zwingli, and others taught that the Eucharist was just a memorial service. For the faithful Catholic, the Holy Eucharist is not only a memorial service, it is the real thing.

When Jesus told his disciples that “unless you eat my flesh and drink my blood, you will not have life in you” (Jn 6: 51f), he was not joking. He literally meant what he said. And at that time in the New Testament, many, like today went away sad. But Jesus did not change what he had said. Jesus asked the apostles if they too were going to leave and Peter said— “To whom do we turn, Lord, for you have the words of everlasting life.” Peter knew that Jesus was “the Christ, the Son of the Living God”. He, without a doubt was told by God the Father that Jesus was the Messiah. 1 Corinthians 10:16 states: “The cup of blessing that we bless, is it not a participation in the blood of Christ? The bread that we break, is it not a participation in the body of Christ?” St. Paul affirms in verse 17 that “we all partake of the one loaf”. St. Paul further goes on to say in verse 27 that “whoever eats the bread or drinks the cup of the Lord unworthily will have to answer for the body and blood of the Lord”. In verse 29, he says that “for anyone who eats and drinks without discerning the body, eats and drinks judgment on himself” .

What did the Fathers of the Church say about the Holy Eucharist? St. Jerome (347-420) stated—“If Christ did not want to dismiss the Jews without food in the desert for fear that they would collapse on the way, it was to teach us that it is dangerous to try to get to heaven without the Bread of Heaven”. He explained in his Commentaries on St. Matthew 4: 26-28—“After the type had been fulfilled by the Passover celebration and He had eaten the flesh of the lamb with His Apostles, He takes bread which strengthens the heart of man, and goes on to the true Sacrament of the Passover, so that just as Melchisedech, the priest of the Most High God, in prefiguring Him, made bread and wine an offering, He too makes Himself manifest in the reality of His own Body and Blood.” In a letter to the Smymaeans, St. Ignatius of Antioch in the 2nd century declared that the Eucharist is the “flesh of our Savior Jesus Christ” and that “they who deny the gift of God are perishing in their disputes.” St. Cyril of Alexandria in the 4th century states that ingesting the Eucharist is “ingesting the Godhead” and divinity refers to Three Persons and One God. St. Irenaeus in the 2nd century proclaims that the “womb of Our Immaculate Mother Mary… provides mortal men with the Bread of angels and the food of eternal life.”

Many other Fathers of the Church, as well as Councils and Popes, have spoken out about the Real Presence of Christ in the Eucharist. How wonderful that we as Catholics are privileged to receive, at the hands of the priest, the Body, Blood, Soul, and Divinity of Jesus Christ! This doctrine of transubstantiation is not something invented by the Church. Christ Himself gave it to us. The word transubstantiation is the best that the Church can use to describe the reality of what takes place when the bread and wine are changed during the consecration of the Mass into the Body and Blood of Jesus. The bread and wine then becomes Jesus, and the Trinity is received in Holy Communion. The Church is true to all her teachings and the Eucharist is fundamental. The Eucharist and the Mass are the heart of the Catholic Faith, whereby the bread and wine may appear the same according to the senses before consecration, but let no one tell you anything different about so precious a sacrament and privilege that all are called to receive.

Roman Catholic dramatist and poet Pedro Calderon de la Barca in the 17th century Spain has given us this poem about the Holy Eucharist which beautifully describes God’s gift to us—
The Holy Eucharist Honey in the lion’s mouth, Emblem mystical, divine, How the sweet and strong combine; Cloven rock for Israel’s drouth;
Treasure-house of golden grain By our Joseph laid in store, In his brethrens’s famine sore Freely to dispense again; Dew on Gideon’s snowy fleece;
Well, from bitter turned to sweet, Shew-bread laid in order meet, Bread whose cost doth ne’er increase, Though no rain in April fall;
Horeb’s manna freely given Showered in white dew from heaven, Marvelous, angelical; Weightiest bunch of Canaan’s vine;
Cake to strengthen and sustain Through long days of desert pain;
Salem’s monarch’s bread and wine;
Thou the antidote shall be Of my sickness and my sin, Consolation, medicine, Life and Sacrament to me.

Why Did Jesus Fold The Napkin???

This is very interesting. I had never heard it before. Why did Jesus fold the napkin? Why did Jesus fold the linen burial cloth after His resurrection?

The Gospel of John (20:7) tells us that the napkin, which was placed over the face of Jesus, was not just thrown aside like the grave clothes. The Bible takes an entire verse to tell us that the napkin was neatly folded, and was placed at the head of that stony coffin.

1. Early Sunday morning, while it was still dark, Mary Magdalene came to the tomb and found that the stone had been rolled away from the entrance.


2. She ran and found Simon Peter and the other disciple, the one whom Jesus loved. She said, "They have taken the Lord's body out of the tomb, and I don't know where they have put him!"


3. Peter and the other disciple ran to the tomb to see.


4. The other disciple outran Peter and got there first.


5. He stooped and looked in and saw the linen cloth lying there, but he didn't go in.


6. Then Simon Peter arrived and went inside. He also noticed the linen wrappings lying there, while the cloth that had covered Jesus' head was folded up and lying to the side.

Is that important? Absolutely! Is it really significant?

Yes!In order to understand the significance of the folded napkin, you have to understand a little bit about Hebrew tradition of that day. The folded napkin had to do with the Master and Servant, and every Jewish boy knew this tradition. When the servant set the dinner table for the master, he made sure that it was exactly the way the master wanted it. The table was furnished perfectly, and then the servant would wait, just out of sight, until the master had finished eating, and the servant would not dare touch that table, until the master was finished. Now if the master was done eating, he would rise from the table, wipe his fingers, his mouth, and clean his beard, and would wad up that napkin and toss it onto the table. The servant would then know to clear the table. For in those days, the wadded napkin meant, "I'm done". But if the master got up from the table, and folded his napkin, and laid it beside his plate, the servant would not dare touch the table, because.... ......

The folded napkin meant, "I'm coming back!"

He Is Coming Back!!!

Abba Father's Love Letter to His Child...

My Dear Child,

You may not know Me, but I know everything about you (Psalm 139:1)

I know when you sit down and when you rise up (Psalm 139:2)

I am familiar with all your ways (Psalm 139:3)

Even the very hairs on your head are numbered (Matthew 10:29-31)

For you were made in My image (Genesis 1:27)

In Me you live and move and have your being (Acts 17:28)

For you are My offspring (Acts 17:28)

I knew you even before you were conceived (Jeremiah 1:4-5)

I chose you when I planned creation (Ephesians 1:11-12)

You were not a mistake, for all your days are written in My book (Psalm 139:15-16)

I determined the exact time of your birth and where you would live (Acts 17:26)

You are fearfully and wonderfully made (Psalm 139:14)

I knit you together in your mother's womb (Psalm 139:13)

And brought you forth on the day you were born (Psalm 71:6)

I have been misrepresented by those who don't know Me (John 8:41-44)

I am not distant and angry, but am the complete expression of love (1 John 4:16)

And it is My desire to lavish My love on you (1 John 3:1)

Simply because you are My child and I am your Father (1 John 3:1)

I offer you more than your earthly father ever could (Matthew7:11)

For I am the perfect Father (Matthew 5:48)

Every good gift that you receive comes from My hand (James 1:17)

For I am your provider and I meet all your need (Matthew6:31-33)

My plan for your future has always been filled with hope (Jeremiah 29:11)

Because I love you with an everlasting love (Jeremiah 31:3)

My thoughts toward you are countless as the sand on the seashore (Psalm 139:17-18)

And I rejoice over you with singing (Zephaniah 3:17)

I will never stop doing good to you (Jeremiah 32:40)

For you are My treasured possession (Exodus 19:5)

I desire to establish you with all My heart and all My soul (Jeremiah 32:41)

And I want to show you great and marvelous things (Jeremiah 33:3)

If you seek Me with all your heart, you will find Me (Deuteronomy 4:29)

Delight in Me and I will give you the desires of your heart (Psalm 37:4)

For it is I who gave you those desires (Philippians 2:13)

I am able to do more for you than you could possibly imagine (Ephesians 3:20)

For I am your greatest Encourager (2 Thessalonians 2:16-17)

I am also the Father who comforts you in all your troubles (2 Corinthians 1:3-4)

When you are brokenhearted, I am close to you (Psalm 34:18)

As a shepherd carries a lamb, I have carried you close to My heart (Isaiah 40:11)

One day I will wipe away every tear from your eyes (Revelation 21:3-4)

And I'll take away all the pain you have suffered on this earth (Revelation 21:3-4)

I am your Father, and I love you even as I love My Son, Jesus (John 17:23)

For in Jesus, My love for you is revealed (John 17:26)

He is the exact representation of My being (Hebrews 1:3)

He came to demonstrate that I am for you, not against you (Romans 8:31)

And to tell you that I am not counting your sins. (2 Corinthians 5:18-19)

Jesus died so that you and I could be reconciled (2 Corinthians 5:18-19)

His death was the ultimate expression of My love for you (1 John 4:10)

I gave up everything I loved that I might gain your love (Romans 8:31-32)

If you receive the gift of My Son Jesus, you receive Me (1 John 2:23)

And nothing will ever separate you from My love again (Romans 8:38-39)

Come home and I'll throw the biggest party heaven has ever seen (Luke 15:7)

I have always been Father, and will always be Father (Ephesians 3:14-15)

My question is, "Will you be My child?" (John 1:12-13)

I am waiting for you. (Luke 15:11-32)

Love,

Your ever loving Dad,

Almighty God.

Crucifix in the Midst of Rubbles

• Italy's deadliest quake in nearly three decades struck this medieval city before dawn Monday, killing more than 250 people, injuring 1,500 and leaving tens of thousands homeless.
  
• The 6.3-magnitude earthquake buckled both ancient and modern buildings in and around L'Aquila, snuggled in a valley surrounded by the snowcapped Apennines' tallest peaks.


• The quake, centered near L'Aquila about 70 miles northeast of Rome, struck at 3:32 a.m. Monday, followed by a series of aftershocks that continued into Tuesday morning.

A crucifix hangs... let us keep them in our prayers

A crucifix hangs among debris and rubble of a destroyed house after an earthquake in the Italian village of Onna April 6, 2009. A powerful earthquake struck a huge swath of central Italy as residents slept on Monday morning, killing more than 250 people and making up to 50,000 homeless.

Let us pray for the victims of earthquake

Let us cling on to this crucifix of our hope.

A painting of the Holy Mary and a Crucifix are seen in the rubble of a collapsed church in the village of Castelnuovo, central Italy, Monday, April 6, 2009. A powerful earthquake in mountainous central Italy knocked down whole blocks of buildings early Monday as residents slept, killing more than 250 people in the country's deadliest quake in nearly three decades, officials said. Tens of thousands were homeless and 1,500 were injured.

Christ's Suffering

The eve of Palm Sunday is surely a good moment to consider with St. Thomas Aquinas (IIIa, Q46, art.5,6) how Christ's suffering surpassed all other sufferings. Of course Christ could not suffer in his impassible divine nature, but he had chosen his perfect human nature, conceived by the Holy Ghost and born of the Virgin Mary, to provide him with an incomparably sensitive instrument of suffering, in body and soul, to redeem us all and to save us from Hell if we wish.

As for Christ's body, every part of it, from thorn-crowned head to nailed feet, was tormented in his Passion, culminating in the excruciating pains of death on the Cross, three hours racked between cramp from pushing up on nailed feet to breathe, and breathlessness or suffocation from slumping down on nailed hands to relieve the cramp. Crucifixion was positively designed to be excruciating -- both words derive from the Latin for "cross" (crux, crucis).

As for Christ's soul with its far greater range of perception than that of mere bodily senses, however perfect, St. Thomas names three heads of suffering. Firstly, by infused knowledge, Christ saw all sins of all men of all time, and chose to pay by his self-sacrifice for all those sins in general. In other words he used his superhuman gifts not to avoid suffering but to suffer the more. Yet at the same time he wished to suffer not just by a divine reckoning according to which a mere pin-prick of the Divine Person would have been payment infinite and more than enough, but by a human reckoning, as though he alone were to undergo umpteen executions to pay for umpteen criminals!

Secondly, by normal human knowledge, Christ suffered in his soul from observing all the kinds of people contributing to his Passion: Jew and Gentile, man and woman (e.g. the serving-girl mocking Peter), leaders and people, friend and foe. In particular, says St. Thomas, Christ suffered in his soul from being hated by his own people, then still God's Chosen People, and - worst of all - from being abandoned and betrayed by his very own Apostles. Thirdly, like any man, Christ suffered in his soul from having to die, and the more innocent and perfect his life had been, the more keenly he suffered its loss and the injustice of its loss.

Now what other human being, or mass of human beings, have lived a perfect and innocent life: have chosen to lay it down by a death anything like as terrible as crucifixion: have been able to see all sins of all men and wish to pay for them; finally have observed abandonment all around them to the point of feeling deserted even by God ("lama, lama, sabactani")? Were there any such men, still they could not claim that their sacrifice was informed with anything like a charity such as that of Christ, with his overwhelming love for every one of us poor sinners. So their sacrifice would still not be comparable to His. Kyrie Eleison.
by Bishop Richard Williamson

A Lenten Message

I was shocked, confused, bewildered

As I entered Heaven's door,

Not by the beauty of it all,

Nor the lights or its decor.

But it was the folks in Heaven

Who made me sputter and gasp--

The thieves, the liars, the sinners,

The alcoholics and the trash.

There stood the kid from seventh grade

Who swiped my lunch money twice!

Next to him was my old neighbor

Who never said anything nice.

The person who I always thought

Was rotting away in hell,

Was sitting pretty on cloud nine,

Looking incredibly well.

I nudged Jesus, 'What's the deal?

I would love to hear Your take.

How'd all these sinners get up here?

God must've made a mistake.'

And why's everyone so quiet,

So somber - give me a clue.

''Hush, child,' He said, 'they're all in shock.

No one thought they'd be seeing you.

'JUDGE NOT.'

Remember...Just going to church doesn't make you a Christian

any more than standing in your garage makes you a car.

Every saint has a PAST....

Every sinner has a FUTURE!

PALM SUNDAY

Passion of Christ, brought to our attention
As we comprehend God’s plan of salvation
Let us in this Final week of Lent
Merit the graces, which from heaven will be sent

So as the People Hailed, crying Hosanna
Usher in Christ into our Life, as Heavenly Manna
Now don’t forsake the Lord as the people did
Deserting Him, in His hour of need
Always seek the grace by him to stand
Yearning, the more His love to understand

Happy Easter

Happy Easter from http://www.appolinespiritual.bogspot.com/

May you enjoy reviewing the Easter Story, and perhaps share this page with some friends to make their Easter more meaningful.


Introduction
Time Lines of Jesus - Final Week Final Hour
Read Original Words
Watch Video
Common Questions
Listen to Audio Explanation
Listen to Easter Music
Related Topics

Easter Story: General Introduction Easter is the celebration of Jesus' victory over death and mankind's hope for eternal life.

The highlights of the Easter story include Jesus' execution (or crucifixion on the cross), His burial and, most importantly, His rising from death (or resurrection).

The accounts of Jesus' trial and execution are described in detail in the historical records of Jesus (Gospels). Essentially, he was condemned by religious leaders objecting to Jesus' claim to be their "Messiah", and then sentenced to death by authorities of the Roman government. Jesus was brutally tortured to death by nailing his hands and feet to an upright post in the shape of a cross.

The account of Jesus' rising from death was also recorded in the historical records of Jesus (Gospels): Three days after His death, a few women first found His tomb empty. Then Jesus appeared in front of these women and His disciples, talking and eating with them. Out of doubts still, one disciple did not believe Jesus was alive again until he actually touched Jesus' fatal wounds. In the following forty days, hundreds of people witnessed this Jesus who had returned from death until He ascended to Heaven.

Before His death, Jesus had promised eternal life to those who followed Him. If the story ended at His death, Jesus would have been no more than a religious figure with a finite life span. But the fact the Jesus rose from death demonstrated He has the power over death, and only through Him can people have hope for eternal life. Jesus said, "For God so loved the world that He gave His one and only Son, that whoever believes in Him shall not perish but have eternal life" (John 3:16).

Easter Story: Timeline
Time Lines of Jesus - Final Week Final Hour
Notable aspects of Jesus Final Week (see timeline)
Jesus repeatedly predicted his own murder in Jerusalem
Jesus did not take defensive actions or avoid Jerusalem
Jesus endured significant physical torture over a 16 hour period
Jesus endured significant emotional distress over a 16 hour period
Jesus was tortured to death and was buried
Jesus' followers reported and recorded his live appearances throughout forty days after his execution
Notable aspects of Jesus Final Hours (see timeline)
Final words of Jesus indicated completion of personal mission
Words of witnesses emphasized prominence of Jesus
Death (from asphyxiation) was conclusive
Simultaneous external events intensified the drama
Easter Story: Original Words

Read the Easter story from ancient biographer, Luke (Chapter 24).
The Last Supper
Luke 22:7-38
Jesus Prays on the Mount of Olives
Luke 22:39-46
Jesus Arrested
Luke 22:47-53
Peter Disowns Jesus
Luke 22:54-62
The Guards Mock Jesus
Luke 22:63-65
Jesus Before Pilate and Herod
Luke 22:66-23:25
The Crucifixion
Luke 23:26-43
Jesus` Death
Luke 23:44-49
Jesus` Burial
Luke 23:50-56
The Resurrection
Luke 24:1-12
On the Road to Emmaus
Luke 24:13-35
Jesus Appears to the Disciples
Luke 24:36-49
The Ascension
Luke 24:50-53
Read the Easter story from Jesus' follower, Matthew.
Jesus Before Pilate
Matthew 27:11-26
The Soldiers Mock Jesus
Matthew 27:27-31
The Crucifixion
Matthew 27:32-44
The Death of Jesus
Matthew 27:45-56
The Burial of Jesus
Matthew 27:57-61
The Guard at the Tomb
Matthew 27:62-66
The Resurrection
Matthew 28:1-10
The Guards` Report
Matthew 28:11-15
The Great Commission
Matthew 28:16-20

The Faith World

"Be still and know that I am God!"

- Psalm 46:10

I'm wondering the air space in the room in which I am sitting is alive with hundreds of television shows. They swirl about invisible in living color and exciting sound. This is not science fiction; it's science fact. But the only way we can prove this fact is by means of a "big dish"/ “dish TV” and a television set. Just as the air space around me is alive with an invisible television world, so it is alive with an invisible faith world. As just as we need a "big dish" and a television set to get in touch with the invisible television world, we need prayer to get in touch with the invisible faith world. In other words, prayer is a way to open our being to contact with the most real of all worlds: the faith world.

God exists within us even more intimately than we exist within ourselves

- Louis Evely

Closest to God

"I am the Lord your God;... 'Do not be afraid; I will help you.'"
- (Isaiah 41:13)

One night Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr., was just about to doze off when the phone rang. A voice on the other end said, "Listen, nigger, we'ev taken all we want from you. Before next week, you'll be sorry you ever came to Montgomery." Dr. King hung up. Suddenly all his fears came crashing down on him. He got up and heated a pot of coffee. Then he sat down at the kitchen table, bowed his head and prayed: "People are looking to me for leadership, and if I stand before them without strength and courage, they too will falter. I am at the end of my powers. I have nothing left. I'ev come to the point where I can't face it alone." At that moment, Dr. King felt God's presence as he had never felt before.

When do I feel closest to God:in time of need, joy, love, or prayer?
I know not where His islands liftTheir fronded palms in air;
I only know I cannot drift
Beyond His loving care
- John Grenleaf Whittier

How to Overcome the Pain of Frustration

Be kind and compassionate to one another, forgiving each other, just as in Christ God forgave you.

Get rid of all bitterness, rage and anger, brawling and slander, along with every form of malice. Be kind and compassionate to one another, forgiving each other, just as in Christ God forgave you. Be imitators of God, therefore, as dearly loved children and live a life of love, just as Christ loved us and gave himself up for us as a fragrant offering and sacrifice to God.

(Eph. 4:31-5:2 NIV)

Feeling frustrated? Want to get rid of it?

Here are 8 steps for finding true and lasting inner peace no matter what is going on around you and who is causing it.

Step 1: Identify what is making you frustrated. Then think of this: Some people can deal with the very same problem and never get frustrated. So why is it irritating you so much? Take a look at the true cause of where your anger is coming from:

Look at yourself! Here are some very common sources of frustration:

• I feel frustrated whenever someone doesn't change fast enough to suit me.
• I want others to improve in order to make my life more pleasant.

Step 2: Acknowledge your frustration as a sin. When we are frustrated, our attitude is not very loving, is it? 1 Corinthians 13:4-7 describes our behavior when we are living in love:

Love is patient, love is kind. It does not envy, it does not boast, it is not proud. It is not rude, it is not self-seeking, it is not easily angered, it keeps no record of wrongs. Love does not delight in evil but rejoices with the truth. It always protects, always trusts, always hopes, always perseveres. (NIV)

When we love, we do not hang onto hurts, because love is not self-seeking. Frustration occurs because we insist that our pain will only go away when the other person shows us they are truly sorry for what they have done.

Love is patient. Frustration is short-tempered.

Love doesn't take offense when others do something offensive. Frustration is a defense against the offense.

Love doesn't insist on having its own way. Frustration is the emotional act of insisting that somebody else must do something to bring justice when we have been unfairly treated.

We like to point the finger at other people, because it's easier than admitting the sin of our unloving reaction to what they have done. To overcome this, ask God to help you see them as He sees them, through His loving eyes.

• See the offender as weighed down by bags of garbage (the abuse that's been inflicted on them, the rejection and misunderstanding and poor role modeling, etc.)

• Look past the garbage to see the real person underneath.

Step 3: Repent. Turn away from the feeling of frustration. To repent means to change your mind. Choose to accept people the way they are even though you don't like everything about them. What if they never improve? Could you still accept them that way? If they do begin to change, is it okay if they don't change fast enough? What if their lack of improvement or slow growth causes more problems? If you try to repent under your own will-power, you won't get very far. Ask the Holy Spirit to intervene in your life and give you help. God gives us supernatural help!

Repentance also means forgiving yourself for getting frustrated, and forgiving those who are making you frustrated. Jesus said we have to be ready and willing to forgive continually and repeatedly ("seventy times seven times"), and frustration usually only happens when we are continually and repeatedly offended.

Even after deciding to repent and forgive, the feeling of frustration usually remains. Why?

To discover the answer, we move into:

Step 4: Recognize that your desire for people to change is another sin. Love means seeing the good in others while not holding their sins (their bags of garbage) against them. Because we do love them, we want to see them become free of their garbage. For their own sake, we wish they'd change, and then we get angry when they don't. To overcome this frustration, we need to stop looking at the garbage. But how?

Step 5: Learn what is the root of your desire for the other person to change. Usually, the root is Fear. We're afraid of getting hurt again and so we reach the conclusion: "I should be upset with them for not changing." This really means: "I must hurt that person now because he might hurt me in the future." And so we hurt them by being frustrated with them. They don't even have to know we're frustrated, as long as we feel frustrated, we feel like we're getting some sort of revenge.

In other words, fear leads to disapproval of the other people, and disapproval is not love.

• We're offering conditional love: "If you change, then I will be happy and loving with you."
• The people causing our problems need our acceptance. To give this to them, we need to get in touch with God's love for them.
• When we love them with His unconditional love, they experience God's healing touch.

Step 6: Discover the true source of your happiness. Our happiness does not depend on others and how they treat us. We don't need constant kindness from others to feel good. Our happiness depends on how good our relationship is with God. God is our true source of joy and inner peace and a calm, non-frustrated spirit.

• We're happy because we're partners with God making a difference in someone's life.
• We're happy because God will never do anything to hurt us.
• All other sources of joy only last short time.

But knowing this is not enough. The next time a problem occurs, we're unhappy and frustrated again. It seems like we'll only be happy if the person hurting us changes or leaves us alone.

Step 7: Kill off all illusions about other sources of happiness. We need to become a sign of the true, loving and healing presence of Jesus.

Philippians 3:17-21 tells us:
Join with others in following my example, brothers, and take note of those who live according to the pattern we gave you. For, as I have often told you before and now say again even with tears, many live as enemies of the cross of Christ. Their destiny is destruction, their god is their stomach, and their glory is in their shame. Their mind is on earthly things. But our citizenship is in heaven. And we eagerly await a Savior from there, the Lord Jesus Christ, who, by the power that enables him to bring everything under his control, will transform our lowly bodies so that they will be like his glorious body. (NIV)

"Enemies of the cross of Christ end in destruction." Get your eyes off the people who hurt you and look at your own relationship with God, who is love ~ God, whom you rejected when you gave to others your anger and frustration instead of God's love.

How are you being an enemy of the cross? By rejecting your own crucifixion. People who hurt you are trying to crucify you; they are nailing you to their belief system, their garbage, their sinfulness. And when you're frustrated, you're fighting the cross. Jesus showed, by example, that going to the cross for someone is good! He allowed you to crucify Him to your garbage 2000 years ago. But how can it be a good thing for you to be nailed to someone else's unloving behavior?

John 12:24-26 says:
I tell you the truth, unless a kernel of wheat falls to the ground and dies, it remains only a single seed. But if it dies, it produces many seeds. The man who loves his life will lose it, while the man who hates his life in this world will keep it for eternal life. Whoever serves me must follow me; and where I am, my servant also will be. My Father will honor the one who serves me.

A grain of wheat must fall to the ground and die to produce much fruit.

Your desire for the unloving person to love you must be nailed and killed, and with that you will be killing the source of your frustrations. Then, you will experience the growth of much peace and joy.

If we love our life we will lose it. By hanging onto your life of frustration, you lose what you want most. In your desire for the unloving person to love you the way you want him to , you focus on what is hurting you and you lose touch with whatever amount of love that person has to give.

Cross of Jesus.

To serve Jesus, we must follow Him. Where did He go? To the cross! We've grown up with the illusion that happiness comes from being right and protecting ourselves from hurts and from crucifixion. To find true happiness in troubled relationships, we must allow these people to crucify us. It doesn't make sense in the world's view, but Jesus showed us from the cross that it makes perfect sense from the perspective of love. He said: Stop fighting AND offer no resistance.
But I tell you, Do not resist an evil person. If someone strikes you on the right cheek, turn to him the other also. And if someone wants to sue you and take your tunic, let him have your cloak as well. If someone forces you to go one mile, go with him two miles. (Matt. 5:39-41 NIV)

Our flesh-nature says, "I don't want to do this! Let this cup pass from me!" Our spirit-nature, connected to Jesus, says: "If they can't give me love, I must let them crucify my desire to receive love from them."

St. Ignatius of Antioch said, "I am the wheat of Christ, ground by the teeth of beasts to become pure bread." By letting people grind us into the ground, we become sacrament for them (the Bread of Christ). We become a sign of the true, loving and healing presence of Jesus.

Resurrection of Jesus.

Step 8. Follow Jesus all the way to the cross in order to reach the resurrection. To truly love others, we embrace them despite their garbage. Jesus, in order to take our sins to the cross, had to embrace us while we were still laden down with bags and bags of garbage. Embracing the bearer of garbage is truly following Jesus all the way to the cross ~ all the way through the cross to the resurrection!

The other person might not change, but you will. You will find inner peace and joy no matter how much you suffer. You will no longer be damaged by the hurts inflicted upon you. You will no longer have any reason to feel frustrated!

Get rid of all bitterness, rage and anger, brawling and slander, along with every form of malice. Be kind and compassionate to one another, forgiving each other, just as in Christ God forgave you. Be imitators of God, therefore, as dearly loved children and live a life of love, just as Christ loved us and gave himself up for us as a fragrant offering and sacrifice to God.
(Eph. 4:31-5:2 NIV)