Pope Francis shared wisdom for each night’s routine
Do not go to sleep without saying goodnight
Do not go to bed without speaking to God
To Jesus Your Lord and your soul’s true delight
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Month: August 2017
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LukeWARMness’s banalities?
“PerFORM for love” mentalities?
BrainSTORM the possibilities
Of ALL God’s capabilitiesUnFORM, God, my deformities
ConFORM my nonconformities
ReFORM my ugly bigotries
InFORM my “ignorancities”Please FORM my will
And WARM my chill
TransFORM my mind
My heart unblind -
Go! Live for the Lord
You’ll never be bored
Let’s make Christ adored
His joy you won’t hoard
His love shouldn’t be stored
It must be out-poured
It’s not an award
A thing to be “scored”
Christ can’t be ignored
When His Word’s explored
It is a true Sword
False “faith” leaves you “snored”
My soul, Christ will ward
From Satan’s foul horde
I cannot afford
To not live for the Lord -
Want to be a mountain climber?
Seek the “Source and Summit” (CCC 1324)
Mass will hoist you to the heights! Your
Sin? He’ll overcome it
Want to be an fervent “foodie”
Seek the “Bread of Life” (John 6)
Mass distributes to the masses
Food for facing strife
Want to be a healing doctor?
“Medicine” is near (CCC 1405)
God provides His Son as “balm” (Luke 5:31; Jer. 8), an
Antidote to fear
Want to be a connoisseur?
Seek “Salvation’s Cup” (Psalm 116)
Wine that’s changed to Christ’s own Blood, with
Love your heart fills up
Want to be a deep well driller?
Find His flowing “Fount” (Psalm 36)
“Living Water” His Heart pours (John 4), an
Infinite amount
Want to be a fiction writer?
Seek the “Lembas Bread”! (L.O.T.R.)
Tolkien thrived on Bread of Life
Daily he was fed
Want to be a third world feeder?
Seek the “Bread from Heaven” (John 6)
Offered up for starving folks, your
Off’ring acts as leaven
Want to let God make you holy?
Love the “Eucharist” (Mark 14)
Christ conforms your will to God’s, and
Gives grace to assist
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Now, somewhere there’s a Father
Whose Arms reach down to hold you
You feel them when your loved ones
With hearty hugs enfold youYes, somewhere there’s a Father
Who speaks to lead and guide thee
His words ring out when others
With wisdom true provide theeFor somewhere there’s a Father
Whose gaze of love protects you
His Holy Spir’t empow’rs you
And to His Son connects youWithin your heart, a Father
And Son Who strives to save thee
Your burdens He will carry
And on His Heart engrave thee -
Don’t neglect the vital truth:
Heaven’s real and so is hell
But Christ gives all both old and youth
His Grace to save, their fears to quellDon’t forget this sob’ring fact:
Heaven’s real and so is hell
Our God helps all to stay on track
But through Heav’ns gates He won’t compelDon’t deny reality:
Heaven’s real and so is hell
But hell was never meant for thee
So don’t allow your pride to swellDon’t ignore God’s call: “Repent”
Heaven’s real and so is hell
The Savior, Jesus Christ, God sent
Invite Him in your heart to dwell -
Oh Jesus, I can love You, Lord, because You “first loved me” (1 John)
Before earth’s birth You dreamed me up; what wondrous mystery! (Ephesians 1:4)
Lord Jesus, I desire You, but I know that it’s true
That You desire me MUCH more than I desire You!I thirst for You, but I’m aware You thirst for just “one look” (Song of Songs)
You pine for me much like a deer that seeks the bubbling brook (Psalm 42)
Christ Jesus, my own heart I give to You, as my reply
To You Who first gave Yours to me when You, for me, did die -
This attitude will change your life, I can’t explain quite how
That EVERY person you will meet can bring you good somehow
Think, “You have something very good to give to me… right now!
And I have something very good to give to you!”, then… wowYou’ll notice wondrous changes with each person that you meet
These changes will transform your life; you’ll feel much more upbeat
The shrinking of bad attitudes of pride and vain conceit
The growth of peace and feeling like your life is more completeThink, “You have something good to give to me, and I to you”
They may not see the good in you, and while that may be true
Just don’t give up your valiant quest- your efforts please renew-
When you’re a light for them to see, their darkness you’ll undoIncluding folks who drive you mad, who aren’t exactly “nice”
And even folks who practice every kind of hate and vice
You’ll see them with new eyes as having value without price
That’s based in Christ who gave His Life for them! in sacrifice -
“Donut” eat boxfuls of Donuts! What gloom!
Sparingly, sweets are just fine to consume
Better eat more of foods like the legume
Then I won’t hurry myself to my tombFoods that are processed? Or foods that are whole?
Fruit plate dessert? Or a cinnamon roll?
Spare me more spare ribs for I am too full
Lord, please equip me with more self control“Raisin’” my arms I implore you in praise
Help me Lord Jesus to lay off the Lays
Raisins and other such foods may I graze
Grub that my body improves, not betraysA deadly mistake: to eat foods that are fake
For arterys’ sake I’ll not make so much steak
With prayer and support my ill habits I’ll break
My food will bring healing and not stomach acheOur Father of love gives us plenty to eat
Amazing Provider of each healthy treat
Eat lots of “God’s candy”! Yes, it can’t be beat
Share food with the poor, and God’s love you’ll repeat -
When yesterday I visited my dreaded moth’r in law
I would not even speak to her, her cruelty to repay
Plus out of spite I stepped on her beloved poodle’s paw
But wait! I sense God’s urging me, “Go be a saint TODAY!”Wow! Yesterday I blew it and did lots of things plum wrong
So busy that I made no time for fam’ly or to pray
Just running like a headless chicken stressed the whole day long
But hush! I hear God whispering, “Go be a saint TODAY!”Yikes! Yesterday I sinned a lot, let pride and hatred rule
Looked out for “number 1” (so selfish) I feel such dismay
I gossiped, took God’s name in vain, and called my friend a fool
Hold up! I feel God nudging me, “Go be a saint TODAY!”My yesterdays were filled with stupid stunts and lustful deeds
But God says He can bring all kinds of good from disarray (Romans 8:28)
I’ll go to Reconciliation as God’s Spirit leads
“Dear Jesus, Mary, help me please! to be a saint TODAY!” -
Now SOMEwhere a parishioner feels lonely and abhorred
But NOwhere is there ANY man abandoned by the Lord
Lord, visit him! Remind him that You dwell deep in his soul
Christ, visit him… through me! I’ll call him, seeking to consoleNow SOMEwhere a parishioner is frozen by her fears
But NOwhere is a soul that God’s forsaken in her tears
Lord, strengthen her! Remind her that you say, “Be not afraid”
Christ, strengthen her… through me! I’ll lend my ear: Your care displayedNow SOMEwhere a parishioner is questioning his worth
But NOwhere is there one unloved by Christ in all the Earth
Lord, gaze on him! Convince him that he’s precious in Your sight
Christ, gaze on him… through me! And swift! his demons will take flightNow SOMEwhere a parishioner feels sad, depressed, distressed
But NOwhere is a soul whom God’s not striving to make blessed
Lord, comfort her! Please fill her with Your hope so fresh and new
Christ, comfort her… through me! Then let her realize that it’s YOU -
The hope that Christ offers is like cantelope [Ephesians 5:2; Psalm 19:10]
It’s sweet! Plus refreshing like icy mint Scope
The horoscope’s bunk! You’re at end of your rope?
Meet Christ in His Word! He’s your true Philanthrope [1 Peter 1:3-6]To blossom your hope is the hope of this trope:
A heart cleansed with hope’s like a dish cleansed with soap
Please “never say never”! There’s ALWAYS a hope [Colossians 1:27]
Why else would God give us so hopeful a Pope?The devil’s fat lies grease hell’s slippery slope [John 8:44]
He leads you to think you’re a hopeless, dumb dope
Repel him! Compel him to hell: tell him, “Nope!” [James 4:7]
“At baptism, God with my soul did elope!” [2 Corinthians 11:2]If tempted to gossip, to lust, or to “tope” [drink to excess]
Cry, “Christ be my light!”; in the dark you’ll not grope [John 8:12]
He’ll help you to thrive, friend! not merely to cope [John 10:10]
He’ll sprint to you – “Hark!” – like a young antelope [cf. Song of Songs][A prayer for Star Wars fans: “Help me Jesus Christ my Savior; You’re my only Hope!” May Carrie Fisher rest in peace and rise in glory]
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Our God can only count to one”
And YOU my brother are “the one”
And YOU my sister are “the one
Since God can only count to oneWhen God looks down upon His Earth
The God who gave you Second Birth [John 3]
God has no measure of YOUR worth [Isaiah 43:4]
As God looks down upon His Earth
God planned before he started time [Ephesians 1]
Before he formed man from the slime [Genesis]
To share with YOU His life divine
And let YOU spread His love sublime [John 15:12]Yes! Christ can only count to one
And YOU’RE, to Christ, “the only one”
No need to prove that you’re “someone”
Ask Christ to be YOUR “only One”! [Revelation 3:20] -
Jesus taught his disciples a lesson they’d never forget
A jaw-dropping lesson
A perspective-widening lesson
A faith-building lesson
This lesson is for modern-day disciples, too
Jesus said something amazing
Not to Peter, not to James, not to John
But to a pagan, a non-Jew
Not just any pagan, but a Canaanite pagan
A descendant of the ancient enemies of the Jews
He said to her, “Great is your faith”
What was so great about it?
It wasn’t ordinary faith
It was expectant faith
Persistent faith
Cheerful faith
Dogged faith
Relentless faith
To sum up
Cheerful, Relentless, Expectant faith
This excellent woman exercised her faith
She exhorted Jesus to exorcise her child
“Have pity on me, Lord, Son of David! My daughter is tormented by a demon.”
But Jesus kept mum
Not a word from the Word made Flesh
Jesus’ disciples whined like puppies
“Send her away, for she keeps shrieking out after us.”
Jesus broke his silence
“It is not right to take the food of the children and throw it to the pet dogs”
Isn’t He being cruel? Insulting? UnChristian?
Consider the WAY he says it
With a gruff voice and a stern look?
Or, with an inviting voice, and twinkle in his eye?
Like someone playing hard to get?
Like the Bridegroom in the Song of Songs?
His words did not throw her off his trail
With cheerful, relentless, expectant faith she hounded him
“Please, Lord, for even the pet dogs eat the scraps that fall from their Master’s table.”
His joy bubbled up, His eyes lit up
Like a proud Father, he cried,
“O woman, great is your faith!”
“Let it be done for you as you wish.”
And He exorcised her child
Because she’d exercised her faith
Cheerful, relentless, expectant faith[What are you praying for? What have you stopped praying for? Maybe for your relative who’s in an abusive relationship, or who suffers from cancer or depression, or who won’t talk to you anymore. Maybe for your spouse who has major health issues and you take care of your spouse although you weren’t trained to be a home care worker. Maybe for strength as you take care of a child with special needs. Maybe for a job. Maybe for help to quit- smoking, or drinking too much or gambling too much or looking at harmful images online. Maybe you feel like living proof of Murphy’s Law, that everything that could possibly go wrong is going wrong. Whatever it is, whatever you’re praying for or have stopped praying for, Jesus gives you this story of the Canaanite woman today, to encourage you, to excite you, to inspire you to pray like she prayed, with great faith! Pray with me: Jesus, Master, grant me great faith. Give me faith like you gave the Canaanite woman. Cheerful, relentless, expectant faith. So that one day soon I’ll hear you say to me what you said to her: “Let it be done for you as you wish!”]
Rhymes for the Rejoiceful 