Speak Lord for Thy servant hears☀️🙏🏻

Two guys in a van, workmen, young. One got out and began walking some yards ahead of me. Thinking to myself; ‘perhaps I will share my prayer with them’ when, at that exact moment, the guy walking ahead of me, in the rain, turns around asking; ‘Did you call me?’

Wow!! ‘I did not’, I told him, ‘but here’s a beautiful morning prayer if you would like one’. Happily he accepted, one for guy in van too.

Walking on, I could plainly hear him tell other guy how sure and certain he was that I had called him. Then, loudly he declares; ‘It is our lucky day’.

How many prayers were in my pocket within easy reach? Yes exactly two!!

Amazingly beautiful!! Articulating what just occurred akin to building clouds from blocks!! Too precious to be lost though!!

‘Then Eli perceived that the Lord was calling the boy. Therefore Eli said to Samuel, “Go lie down; and if He calls you, you shall say, “Speak Lord, for Thy servant hears’. (1Samuel;3:9)

Today, 3rd February, another young guy in a van accepted my prayer, somewhat shocked with the words; “Oh, thanks very much. I am actually trying to get back into it. (Prayer). This is no mistake”.

Every moment is God’s time☀️🙏🏻

‘The whole drama of life is about cultivating the supernatural life’. (Fr. Andre)

“But ask the beasts, and they will teach you; the birds of the air, and they will tell you; or the plants of the earth, and they will teach you; and the fish of the sea will declare to you. Who among all these does not know that the Hand of God has done this? In His Hand is the life of every living thing and the breath of all mankind”. (Job 12:7-10)

               ‘Let us make use of the fleeting moments. They will not return’. ( St. Marianne Cope)

Agape Love☀️🙏🏻

‘What are the twelve apostles being called for? What actually is Jesus’ will for them? Two reasons are named: to be with Him and to be sent out’. ((Pope Benedict XVI)

Many years ago when I was a young and grateful mother of one little boy, I oftentimes wished there was a ‘nice old lady’ with a child’s cot somewhere to be found. She would take us in for a few days, rest and renewal, after which we would return home once again to our normal life. She would ask no questions. Dreaming more than wishing of course. Leaving would have been easy, returning home unthinkable having absconded.

Thing is, nowadays, I get to be that ‘old lady’ (hopefully nice!) I wished for back then. Utterly fascinating!! I ask no question too. Providing a safe space for folk is easy for me to do. I know exactly what they need!!

Wonderful Father God takes all of our wishes and like freshly cut flowers places them on His beautiful Heart bringing all things to fruition in His own day and time. 

I am becoming what I needed through God’s glorious grace!! What a gift. To be with Jesus and be sent out!

Holy Spirit fill me and use me for the greater glory of God. Amen

‘The One who began a good work in you, will continue to complete it’. (Phil 1:6)

‘We have no choice. If there’s a problem we fix it!!’ Love lady’s honest reply when asked if she and her room-mate get along. Practical wisdom from one who knows.

‘I would like the angels of Heaven to be among us. I would like an abundance of peace. I would like full vessels of Charity. I would like rich treasures of mercy. I would like cheerfulness to preside over all’. (St. Brigid of Ireland).

God’s Gems☀️🙏🏻

To the unaware eye they were simply a kindly carer and young special-needs lady strolling along. Got me thinking though!! Yes, Carer lady’s learning extremely vital but Special-needs lady’s wisdom vital too. Win/win. Everyone shares something. Everyone is being cared for in some shape or form. All of us have something to share.

I shared my powerful prayer. ‘Thankyou, I will enjoy this’, Carer lady’s reply. 

As I walk on ahead I could hear them both praying my prayer together, aloud, as they walked. Of course I could not resist turning around and smiling. Early morning gem from God’s beautiful heart to all of our hearts.

After Holy Mass, Jay shared Scripture verse as she does every morning. Today Psalm 90:17. Apt!!

‘Let the favour of the Lord our God be upon us and establish thou the work of our hands upon us. Yea, the work of our hands establish thou it’. 

Today too I encountered a lady who surprisingly shed much needed light on an exceedingly upsetting event which occurred over two years ago, casting dark shadows over many of my waking hours. Oh how much I desperately needed her wisdom back then and since, as I sought answers, clues even, but to no avail. Today, all this time later, certainly I am hugely relieved but stronger by far having gleaned myriad gems on my uphill struggle from darkness to light!! What doesn’t kill us, makes us stronger!!

Thankyou from my deepest heart, dear wonderful Lord of my life.

     ‘Blessed be God who did not reject my prayer nor withhold His love from me’. (Psalm 66:20)

                                    

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City stroll☀️🙏🏻

Loved Priest’s homily in Cork city Church;

Bats somehow found their way into a Church one time, and the young Pastor just could not get rid of them. He tried absolutely everything. Eventually, in sheer desperation, he consulted an older Priest asking his advice on the menacing matter. ‘Simple’, elderly Priest replied. ‘Baptise them and you will never see them again’.

Telling tale!! I get to assist Father oftentimes during Christenings in our Church. Yes! Baptise them and you will never see them again! (Not always but often.)

Mid-morning, just one homeless guy sitting on cold pavement. Emaciated, crutches at his side. Gentle humble guy. My powerful prayer, (which he read before placing in an inside pocket), widow’s mite, large hot latte, and enough to ensure a hostel for the day and night. What a gift to my heart. He may or may not use God’s money for a hostel but that is not my concern. 

To quote Marcus Aurelius;

“It is another’s fault if he be ungrateful, but it is mine if I do not give. To find one thankful man, I will oblige a great many that are not so”.

They freely share, (crows too and many other different little birds), they squabble, they live side by side. They teach me!,

Jim 🐈 takes his meal on the other side. What he doesn’t know don’t trouble him!

‘If you wish to go to extremes, let it be in sweetness, patience, humility, and Charity’. 

(St. Philip Neri)

 

No clarity! Trust!☀️🙏🏻

‘Those who love me I also love, and those who seek me find me’. (Proverbs 8:17)

Young man asked Mother Teresa; ‘Please Mother can you pray I receive clarity’. Mother Teresa laughed and kindly told him; ‘My dear man I have never received clarity. I will pray that you trust’.

One year ago in a place where someone was in deep pain. Whole family in deep turmoil. I asked Jesus if I should go to the person. Jesus did not answer me. Not one word. After a short while I began to walk saying all the while; ‘You are not saying no’, ‘You are not saying no’, over and over again. 

My visit was welcomed and the family told me recently that things began to change for the better on that day.

Jesus did not say no and He would have stopped me before I reached my destination if it was wrong. I look back now and marvel. Not my doing, all His!! 

No clarity!! Trust!!

May Christ be ALL, and I be nothing. His glory shines in vessels weak. May Christ be ALL and I be nothing. This is my hope, not I but Christ in me. This is my hope, not I but Christ in me’. (Christ be ALL/Grace Worship)

 

Freely give☀️🙏🏻

                      ‘If you have two coats you are stealing from the poor’. (Dorothy Day)

I gifted three of my beautiful coats to dear ladies. I have perhaps more than enough still in my wardrobe. These coats were gifted to me over time and were special. However, the gigantic relief witnessing them being worn by folk who could never have purchased them themselves, is beyond beautiful.

Another thing!! I can now concentrate on the ones remaining and I’m loving every minute. Today I wore my black wool coat to Holy Mass and it had not seen the light of day since last winter. Too many choices blur our vision, reminding me of a quote; ‘A sheep between two bales of hay starves to death’.

Giving to those who cannot pay us back is so rich and rewarding. Jesus told us so!!

On Christmas Day, one lady send a photo wearing my beautiful white coat, fur collar too, and wow!! No words!! To think it might have remained in my wardrobe thereby robbing dear lady of a hint of happiness in our broken world.

The less I have, the freer I feel. Miraculous. Out of wardrobe, out of mind!!

‘Jesus said also to the man who had invited Him; “When you give a dinner or a banquet, do not invite your  friends or your brothers or your kinsmen or rich neighbours, lest they also invite you in return and you be repaid. When you have a feast invite the poor, the maimed, the lame, the blind and you will be blessed because they cannot repay you. You will be paid at the resurrection of the just’.

 (Luke 14:12-14)

‘Let us rejoice in poverty, because Christ was poor. Let us love to live with the poor, because they are specially loved by Christ. Even the lowest, most depraved - we must see Christ in them and love them to folly.’. (The reckless way of Love/Dorothy Day)

I am so grateful to my dear friend Barbara for gifting me this book. Definitely Dorothy and I were meant to meet!! I read one time that her only possessions on the day she passed from this world were; 1) Bed. 2) Bookcase. 3) Wireless. 4) Kettle. Speaks for itself!!