guiding me to do more every day.
10:51pm Tuesday 6/25/2024
Last night at the welcome meeting, we were talking about the scripture that Dan had prepared for us. It was a story of Jairus, asking to have his daughter healed, and then the woman who touched Jesus cloak and was healed in the crowds as they walked to Jairus’s Home.I commented how wonderful it was to have this Bible verse review after watching the chosen (I still always cry seeing this scene). I mentioned how I was raised Methodist and had gone to countless classes and lectures, but the Bible never meant anything to me at all. But now to see and hear about these passages again, now they were so clear from The Chosen. They become so much more real, and viable for us.
It’s wonderful to share and talk about this with the men in our group. Everyone agreed and understood. Then this morning when I woke up doing the Exodus AP, and turned on the JoyFM. I listened to the Family Focus and then Charles Stanley doing my morning exercises. I was getting ready to leave to get to the men’s fraternity. Then I stopped to listen to the morning prayer at JoyFM, and Bill started speaking about watching the last episode of The Chosen.
He said how it ended with Lazarus and Jesus talking about the Old Testament, where Isaiah prophesied about Jesus, his death and suffering. Lazarus said that it was so powerful for him now because the words on the paper didn’t really mean anything, while Jesus sitting now before him was his friend (Isaiah:53).
It was really wonderful to have that experience of hearing that as I was biking to the men’s group. I remember biking home the night before, thinking I was just going to sleep and get up in the morning to bike back again. I realized how wonderful it was to have Jesus as my priority now. I really understood this and accepted it.
I realized I always sort of listen to Jesus, I never really knew what it was all about. But it was always very real for me to hear the voices, and understand the direction I was getting all the time. So after the rosary when the men’s group got together it was my turn to talk about my week.
I realize that week my spiritual director had confronted me about priorities and how getting a job was important. I really wasn’t concerned about it, as Jesus always provided for me. Of course, that same afternoon that I was confronted about a job, I got a call about a job with St Pete College. But the truth is Jesus is my priority taking my time to write now and share the truth of what Jesus does for me.
I remember again when Christopher moved to Boston to get another degree. Kim and I took them to dinner at the Front Porch and we were just chatting and reminiscing about our times together. Then Kim told them about the new roof. She decided to buy the house from me and her mortgage company asked for a new roof. It was Friday a week before the closing and I ran into a handyman next door fixing something for a neighbor. I just saw the truck and his tools as he was leaving and I asked him if he ever replaced a roof. He said no, but he had a buddy who did. The next day they visited and started replacing the roof. I agreed to five thousand for the new roof, but then had to run to Home Depot when they wanted to replace some boards.
Anyway, Kim was totally perplexed sharing this story. Who in their right mind waits until the last week to find a new roof? And then recruits a random stranger in the street. No quotes, no references, nothing but trusting divine providence. And then beyond all understanding, the roof was replaced that very weekend. Literally started on the next day. And I even got my homeowners insurance to pay for it, since the roof was leaking anyway. So then Kim closed on the sale Wednesday. . . But what it was all about is the life, that I’ve lived. . . Or always just lived, never really noticing that I did anything different from anyone else.
I said to my Spiritual Director it’s much like I played basketball all my life and now with the Catholic Church I’m learning all the rules. Yes, it’s always been a relationship with Jesus. Like getting my truck fixed and knowing I have to get online and fix this writing that I started. Yes, Jesus asks me to write all the time. I need to record this experience I share with Him.
It’s always a challenge to write and think about what He does. But I’m always listening and trying to do whatever He wants me to do. I guess, He really wants me to take care of my house that He’s given me now. I’ve tried to do so many things around here that I can’t seem to get things done. Every day He is asking me to do more. Take care of the garden. Take care of the kitchen, take care of the pantry. and “Don’t forget to eat a real meal.” . . . . lol, yes and none of the processed crap . . .
I know, more and more of our food system is getting corrupted and destroyed. I also know I’m gonna be feeding people more and more myself. It’s really something He’s told me about for a long time. Sometimes I kinda understand and sometimes I don’t. But I guess now again, I’m learning and growing. Like the experience with Kim and Christopher at the Front Porch, I never even noticed what happened, but just flowed through the experiences as I was Given, taking my place and responsibility, and TRUSTING IN FAITH! Kim really opened my eyes to so much, saying how I did that sort of things all the time. . . Which I’m still not sure I understand.
Thank you so so much Jesus for sharing this time with me. Thank you for this wonderful life, that You’ve given to me. Thank You for leading and guiding me to do more every day. I know You will always provide for me. I know that I’m always safe. I know You’re on Your way back. Please help me to be ready and listen and follow all You ask. For the glory, of Father Son and Holy Ghost, amen.
6:54am Wednesday June 26th, 2024
As I got downstairs to start putting new shelves in my pantry. I brought my iPad and iPhone with me because I knew I had to edit this blog post and add links in. Yes, i couldn’t sleep without writing, and i just turned on my iPhone and spoke into it. . . Lol. . . “Period, new-line, new-line. . . “ So i knew it was full of errors. . . Oh, and adding links, as there is something about the real places and real experiences that makes reading this so much more real for people. . . Yeay, whatever!
So I got downstairs and plugged in my iPhone and turned on the radio again. . . And this song came on OUTLINING my Priorities AGAIN! . . . Lol, or my life story . . .
The story of me was a story of shameWrong turns written on every pageSo many parts that were so messed upBut I love the part where You showed upRewriting my past, rewriting my hurtLine by line, word by wordAnd now my story is livin' proofThere's not a chapter that you can't useMy story, Your gloryMy pain, Your purposeMy mess, Your messageIn all things, I know You're workin'One life, one missionOne reason why I'm livin'All for You, not for meMy story, Your gloryNow the story of me is a story of graceFingerprints of mercy on every pageNo more ashamed of the path I tookYou set me free to be an open bookIf even my scars are part of Your planTake all of my heart, Lord, here I amMy only cause 'til You call me homeIs knowin' You more and makin' You knownMy story, Your gloryMy pain, Your purposeMy mess, Your messageIn all things, I know You're workin'One life, one missionOne reason why I'm livin'All for You, not for meMy story, Your gloryAll of me, all for YouLet all I say and all I doPoint to the one who changed my lifeAnd let me speak the legacy I leave behindMy story, Your gloryMy pain, Your purposeMy mess, Your messageIn all things, I know You're workin'One life, one missionOne reason why I'm livin'All for You, not for meMy story, Your glory
Thank You Dear Lord Jesus Christ, I Love You Dear Lord Jesus Christ, , , , yes it looked this song up on my iPhone and “cut and pasted” from the iPhone to the IPad. . . . Thank You Dear Lord Jesus Christ You are the COOLEST! Please lend Your Strength, Love, & Wisdom to Achieve Your Glory. . . Amen.
Opposition added these links above . . . . Evidently it distracts you from the priority of the two links already there . . . . So again asking for the “word” Jesus in the voice in my head, so I’m sure I’m following directions, and move all the extra links here to find as needed. . .
doing the Exodus AP, and turned on the JoyFM. I listened to the Family Focus and then Charles Stanley . -
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