Stay With Me Lord ~ St. Pio ~ Life, Hope, and Meaning

Stay with me, Lord, for You are my life, and without You I am without meaning and hope. Saint Padre Pio of Pietrelcina

Some versions of this prayer have the words “without fervor” instead of “without meaning and hope.” I have to say I like the prayer using the latter. So many times in life we hear people say my life had no meaning until I met Jesus, or I have no hope without God.

For me, a life without meaning is not life but death. If we define the word meaning as special significance, then life without Our Lord is devoid of meaning. I know some people will disagree, but stay with this thought. If I did not have the love of God, if I did not have God, what is the purpose of living? If our lives are not an eternal testimony to His love, then why are we here? I often think of the inheritance I value the most. It is the faith of my parents. And this faith was handed down to them. But God gave me a free will. Why? I think simply so we will love him freely. He could force us to love Him, but is that love? He wants us to come to Him freely and in love.

What about hope? The archaic definition for hope is trust. Without Our Lord where do I place my trust, in myself? Believe me I’ve tried that, and it seemed to work for awhile. When the rug was yanked from beneath me, I knew then trusting me was something I couldn’t do anymore. If we define hope as anticipation or desire, without God where is hope or what is hope? For me hope, without God, has no meaning. Our lives are designed to have meaning, and our hearts are designed to have hope. This hope is in a Love strong enough to die a cruel death on a cross, so that we can rise to a Love everlasting.

I beg You ~ Stay with me, Lord, for You are my life, and without You I am without meaning and hope. Amen!

POTUS Obama Please Explain ~ I'm Confused

I just heard President Obama remarked "Fathers need to step up. Their job doesn't end with conception." So what is he saying here? Does he believe a father becomes a parent at conception? If so, doesn't the mother? And if that's the case aren't they parents of a child?

It appears that our President believes life begins at conception. He also believes women should have a choice. That choice, if so desired, is to take an innocent child's life. I don't see where he can tell fathers they need to step up when he is in effect falling down by closing his eyes and his heart to those not given a chance to live.

Please remember to pray for unborn children and their parents. Also remember to pray for mothers who have aborted. They are often victims themselves, as are some fathers. Finally pray our President has a change of heart!

Freedom from Bugs vs Real Freedom

My blog was going to be only one line long this evening. It was going to be one question. Why did God create bugs? ...the gnats, the mosquitoes, the real nuisance bugs. Freedom from bugs was on my mind, but when I started reading the tweets on twitter, bugs suddenly became trivial. One tweet after another is about the chaos happening in Iran. These are real people, like you and me, and they are fighting for their lives in the name of freedom. While we have thoughts of freedom from bugs, from a hated job, from financial problems...some of them are giving their lives for freedom from bondage. They're risking death so others will be able to choose in life.

In thanksgiving, I praise God that I live in a free country. I pray it remains this way.
And I'm reminded how His Son, our Savior, handed over His life that we may have eternal life.
Freedom unending!

Please remember those who are suffering throughout Iran and the world.

Pentecost Sunday

John 20:19-23


19 Then, the same day at evening, being the first day of the week, when the doors were shut where the disciples were assembled, for fear of the Jews, Jesus came and stood in the midst, and said to them, “Peace be with you.” 20 When He had said this, He showed them His hands and His side. Then the disciples were glad when they saw the Lord. 21 So Jesus said to them again, “Peace to you! As the Father has sent Me, I also send you.” 22 And when He had said this, He breathed on them, and said to them, “Receive the Holy Spirit. 23 If you forgive the sins of any, they are forgiven them; if you retain the sins of any, they are retained.”

When Jesus bestowed on the disciples the power to forgive sins, it was on Easter Sunday. This is important because of the connection of the Resurrection with spiritual life. Also he breathed this power on the Apostles. The only other time God breathed on anyone was when He breathed life into the first human being (Genesis 2:7). Jesus gives the disciples the authority to forgive, and not to forgive.

Reconciliation shines in a new light when I read this passage. Sin brings death, and reconciliation brings a new breath of life. God is so good to us! Come Holy Spirit.

A Rose, Lizard and St. Francis

This morning, I started baking brownies for Mother's Day. My Dad actually requested brownies, so I guess I'll be baking brownies for Father's Day too! I wondered how to fill the 30 some odd minutes it takes for baking. Sunshine was the answer, and I headed outside to clip some roses.

Outside our garage door I have yellow miniature roses in a broken container. Also in the container is half of a St. Francis figure. My husband broke the bottom half, mowing or something. While happily clipping away, I spotted a green lizard on St. Francis' head. How appropriate, I thought. Slowly the lizard took on the brown color of St. Francis. This little creature didn't seem to mind me being so close.

Later it occurred to me. In the middle of all that was broken, rested awesome beauty. From the roses to the lizard, life rose up to greet the day. Our Lord gave Himself for us. He willingly allowed Himself to be broken. And His resurrection is a promise to us, that no matter how broken we are, we can have new life in Him!