Thursday, September 28, 2017

Listening and Praying - Praying and Listening

Hello out there - The rain we have received has been such a blessing!
Today it has been cloudy and cooler. The rain seems to have subsided,
just a little mist every now and then.
Jim and I went to St. Mary's Catholic Church and hung up the pro-life banners!
I prayed the Luminous Mysteries of the Rosary this morning while I was walking.
The scriptures really touch my heart. I am going to share part of a post I wrote a
couple of years ago that explain what I mean. (I tweaked it a little bit)


July 2015
Praying the Rosary of the Unborn has been a life altering experience for me.
I've always been  pro-life, but ever since I began praying the Rosary of the
Unborn, my heart has been touched in a way that made me realize just saying,
"I'm Pro-Life" isn't enough.
The scripture from the Wedding at Cana, where Mother Mary says to the
servants, "Do whatever He tells you." I now take that to heart, and I know in
my heart that He (Jesus) is telling  me to speak up for the unborn.
The scripture from the Transfiguration, God says "This is My Son,
 My chosen;  listen to Him!"
 After much prayer, I started my blog in March 2014. I wasn't even on Facebook
yet and not into social media at all.
This blog is my way of speaking for those who cannot speak for themselves.
I want to share the Pro-Life Luminous Mysteries with you.
I pray the Luminous Mysteries of the Rosary on Thursdays.
Special intentions for the unborn and their mothers and fathers are
included in the pro-life rosary. I will write the prayers that follow
after the scripture and intention at the end.
Are you ready? Let's begin!

 THE SIGN OF THE CROSS
In the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of
the Holy Spirit. Amen

THE APOSTLES' CREED
I believe in God,
the Father almighty,
creator of heaven and earth,
and in Jesus Christ, his only Son, our Lord.
Who was conceived by the Holy Spirit,
born of the Virgin Mary,
suffered under Pontius Pilate,
was crucified, died and was buried;
He descended into hell;
on the third day He rose again from the dead;
He ascended into heaven,
and is seated at the right hand of God the Father almighty;
from there He will come to judge the living and the dead.
I believe in the Holy Spirit,
the holy catholic Church,
the communion of saints,
the forgiveness of sins,
the resurrection of the body,
and life everlasting. Amen.

Say the "Our Father"
Say three "Hail Marys"
Say the "Glory Be To The Father"
Say the "O My Jesus" Prayer
(These prayers are at the bottom)

The First Luminous Mystery: Baptism of Jesus
And when Jesus was baptized,...the heavens were opened and He saw the
Spirit of God descending like a dove, and alighting on Him, and lo,
 a voice from heaven, saying, "this is my beloved Son, with whom
I am well pleased." (Matthew 3:16-17)
All are called to become adopted sons and daughters of God
through baptism. We pray that children in the womb may be protected,
so that they may be born and welcomed into the Christian community
by baptism.
Pray (1) Our Father, (10) Hail Mary's, (1) Glory Be, (1) O My Jesus,
and then pray, Jesus Protect and Save the Unborn (See prayers below)

The Second Luminous Mystery:
Wedding At Cana
His mother said to the servants, "Do whatever He tells you."...
Jesus said to them, "Fill the jars with water."
 And they filled them up to the brim. (John 2:5-7)
 Let us pray for strong marriages,
rooted in the Lord, and open to the gift of new life.
Pray (1) Our Father, (10) Hail Mary's, (1) Glory Be, (1) O My Jesus,
and then pray, Jesus Protect and Save the Unborn (See prayers below)

The Third Luminous Mystery:
Proclaiming The Kingdom
"And preach as you go, saying "The kingdom of heaven is at hand."
 Heal the sick, raise the dead, cleanse lepers, cast out demons.
You received without pay, give without pay."
(Matthew 10:7-8)
Let us pray that these first words of Jesus' public ministry may be
heard by all. May they know that the Lord calls them to conversion,
and may they experience life-giving repentance.
Pray (1) Our Father, (10) Hail Mary's, (1) Glory Be, (1) O My Jesus,
and then pray, Jesus Protect and Save the Unborn (See prayers below)

The Fourth Luminous Mystery:
Transfiguration
And as He was praying, the appearance of His countenance was altered
and His raiment became dazzling white. And a voice came out of the cloud
saying, "This is My Son, My chosen; listen to Him!" (Luke 9:29,35)
May the eyes of all people be transformed, that they may see each
and every human life  as a reflection of the glory of God Himself.
Pray (1) Our Father, (10) Hail Mary's, (1) Glory Be, (1) O My Jesus,
and then pray, Jesus Protect and Save the Unborn (See prayers below)

The Fifth Luminous Mystery:
Institution Of The Eucharist
And He took bread, and when He had given thanks He broke it and
gave it to them, saying, "This is My body which is given for you.".......
And likewise the cup after supper, saying, "This cup which is poured
out for you is the new covenant in My blood."
(Luke 22:19-20)
Let us pray that parents who sacrifice the babies for the sake of
themselves may learn instead to put themselves aside for the sake
of their babies.
Pray (1) Our Father, (10) Hail Mary's, (1) Glory Be, (1) O My Jesus,
and then pray, Jesus Protect and Save the Unborn (See prayers below)

 These are the prayers we pray following each intention:
The Our Father - Our Father, Who art in heaven, Hallowed be Thy
Name. Thy Kingdom come. Thy Will be done, on earth as it is in Heaven.
Give us this day our daily bread and forgive us our trespasses, as we forgive
those who trespass against us. And lead us not into temptation, but deliver
us from evil. Amen.
The Hail Mary - Hail Mary, full of grace, the Lord is with thee; Blessed
art thou among women, and blessed is the fruit of thy womb, Jesus.
Holy Mary, Mother of God, pray for us sinners, now and at the hour of
death. Amen.
The Glory Be - All Glory Be to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy
Spirit. As it was in the beginning, is now, and ever shall be, world without
end. Amen.
O My Jesus - O my Jesus, forgive us our sins, save us from the fires of hell,
lead all souls to heaven, especially those who are most in need of
Thy Mercy. 
Jesus, protect and save the unborn.

 I hope these beautiful scriptures, intentions and prayers bless your life the
way you need them to. God is always listening, keep praying!
                                                       Bye for now, Sharla

Wednesday, September 27, 2017

This Warms My Heart and Makes Me Smile!

Hello again! I went out to the shop and helped Jim put the banners on the frames!
They look great!


Out in the shop we are busy as can be - hanging up the banners that will be for
all to see! Jim fabricated the frames and painted them white, and we grabbed the
zip ties and hung them up just right! We will take them to St. Mary's on Thursday
evening - out by the Grotto - for everyone to see!


Blessings to you and yours!
Bye for now, Sharla


Memories and Change - Not Giving Up - Just Another Path!

Good morning out there! It is 65 degrees right now and it is raining! Oh, how I love
the sound of the rain pouring down. Last night I made a pot of homemade chicken
soup. I placed frozen, boneless, skinless chicken tenders in my pan and covered the
chicken with water. I added a chicken bullion cube, sprinkled a little bit of pepper and
a lot of garlic powder on top, covered the pan with a lid and let it simmer. I made a
pitcher of iced tea and then I added about a cup of chopped onions to my soup and
covered it back up. It started raining last night and the sound of the rain falling and
the aroma of chicken soup made a wonderful calming combination! I put a pan of
biscuits in the oven and added some frozen spinach to the soup. I buy the fresh
spinach and pour it into a freezer safe Ziploc bag and then I just shake out the amount
I need when I am cooking - it is easy and tastes great in soups and casseroles. It
would also be good on pizza and for cheesy, spinach quesadillas! I bought a bag of
frozen chopped onions to try out when I don't have fresh onions on hand or when I
am in a hurry. The Pictsweet Farm brand is really good. The bag contains two cups
of chopped onions, no salt or anything else added, just onions, and it only cost
$1.28 for the bag. Things like this are great time savers for busy moms! Another
item I have used is the dried, chopped onions that are with the seasonings and in a
seasoning jar. I usually cook in large quantities so I add about two tablespoons of
the dried chopped onions if I don't have the frozen ones on hand. Fresh onions are
great, too! And when I have them on hand and the time to cut and chop them up,
I do!  The soup tasted great! I love the broth! I wasn't going to eat a biscuit but I
did and it was worth the calories! Jim and I will have leftover soup for lunch.
The banner for the Rosary for Life came in yesterday and it is so colorful and
looks great. Jim measured it, went out to the shop and fabricated a standing frame
for it. He also modified the larger frame for the other banners we already have.
He really helps me out and I am very thankful for him. I wrote a post a couple of
years ago, "As a Couple, Being Pro-Life is Our Way of Life" and it is so true!"
Here is the link if you want to read it:
http://adoptedandblessed.blogspot.com/2015/07/as-couple-being-pro-life-is-our-way-of.html


The 40 Days for Life starts today. I have to admit....my heart aches a little bit.
The 40 Days for Life campaigns we held in the courtyard were all so special.
I know that the Rosary for Life will be special too. I'm just ready for it to begin.
Jim and I are going to St. Mary's Catholic Church tomorrow and hang up the banners.
I know that will help how I am feeling.
I just kind of feel like I'm not doing enough. It's hard to explain - I have been calling
people this week to ask them to sign up to come and pray for one hour each week
during the month of October. The devoted prayer warriors who would come and
pray at the courtyard are signed up and ready to begin but it is really hard to get
other people involved. I know that I should just be thankful for the ones who are
happy to come but my heart hurts because so many others don't see the importance
of praying for an end to abortion. Anyway, enough whining! I need to think about
this song we sing at Mass; we all have different gifts, different talents, and it takes
all of our gifts and talents to do what needs to be done. Praying for the unborn and
for an end to abortion is what I know God has called me to do and I need to
understand and accept that he has called other people to do other things!
The following are the words to the hymn:
We Are Many Parts by Marty Haugen
(Refrain)
We are many parts, we are all one body, and the gifts we have we are
given to share. May the Spirit of love make us one indeed; one, the
love that we share, one, our hope in despair, one, the cross that we bear.
(1st verse)
God all, we look to you, we would be your servants true,
let us be your love to all the world.
(Refrain)
We are many parts, we are all one body, and the gifts we have we are
given to share. May the Spirit of love make us one indeed; one, the
love that we share, one, our hope in despair, one, the cross that we bear.
(2nd verse)
So my pain is pain for you, in your joy is my joy, too;
all is brought together in the Lord.
(Refrain)
We are many parts, we are all one body, and the gifts we have we are
given to share. May the Spirit of love make us one indeed; one, the
love that we share, one, our hope in despair, one, the cross that we bear.
(3rd verse)
All you seekers great and small, seek the greatest gift of all;
 if you love, then you will know the Lord.
(Refrain)
We are many parts, we are all one body, and the gifts we have we are
given to share. May the Spirit of love make us one indeed; one, the
love that we share, one, our hope in despair, one, the cross that we bear.
I love that hymn and the message is true. I will take a picture of the banners
once they are hung up on the frames so that you can see them.
Today, I will add a picture, or two from one of our 40 Days for Life Memories -
please remember to pray for the people who are praying in front of the abortion
facilities - they deal with a lot of negative and hateful comments as they stand
out there -
peacefully praying and trying to share the message that help is available and
that adoption is a loving, life option.
God bless you all - near and far - may God bless you and your families,
wherever you are, today and always.




Saturday, September 23, 2017

Prayers for You and Yours!

Hello out there! Another beautiful, sunny, fall day - The weather forecast implies that
we may be blessed with rain on Monday, Tuesday, and Wednesday - I sure hope so!
How are all of y'all doing out there? Earlier this morning I went for a walk and prayed
the Joyful Mysteries of the Rosary as I journeyed down the path. There is sure a lot to
pray for - so many people to pray for - so many things to pray about. Sometimes it can
almost be overwhelming and that's when I start praying The Divine Mercy Chaplet or
The Rosary. The mysteries/scriptures of the rosary help me focus and when praying the
Chaplet of Divine Mercy - you are praying for the whole world.
Last Friday, September 15, 2017 - One of the scriptures in my Magnificat really stayed
with me. I will share it with you today:
Cry out to the Lord; moan, tears flow like a torrent day and night;
Let there be no respite for you, no repose for your eyes.
Rise up, shrill in the night, at the beginning of every watch;
Pour out your heart like water in the presence of the Lord;
Lift up your hands to him for the lives of your little ones.
                                                         Lamentations 2:18-19
I think it is important to pray for each other. That doesn't mean it has to be a long prayer.
There are times when someone I haven't seen in years will just come to my mind. I now
understand that I need to pray for them. I'll say something like, "Lord, (say their name)
has come to my mind and I don't know where they are or what is going on in their lives
but I lift them up to you, O Lord, to care for them in whatever they are going through.
Amen." And of course we all have family and friends who need our prayers and most
of the time we know their situation and are able to pray more in depth.
Here is another scripture - one of my favorites. It is in my Magnificat (daily devotional)
also.
Love is patient, love is kind. It is not jealous, love is not pompous,
it is not inflated, it is not rude, it does not seek its own interests,
it is not quick-tempered, it does not brood over injury, it does not rejoice
over wrongdoing but rejoices with the truth. It bears all things, believes all
things, hopes all things, endures all things.
                                                                               1 Corinthians 13:4-7
Sometimes, I just sing - and this is one of my favorite hymns:
We Are Called - Written by David Haas
Come! Live in the light! Shine with the joy and the love of the Lord!
We are called to be light for the kingdom, to live in the freedom of the
city of God!
We are called to act with justice, we are called to love tenderly,
we are called to serve one another; to walk humbly with God.
The refrain from the following song is my constant prayer:
Lead Me, Lord - Written by John D. Becker
Lead me, Lord, lead me, Lord, by the light of truth to seek and to find
the narrow way. Be my way; be my truth; be my life, my Lord,
and lead me, Lord, today.


I pray that all of you have a wonderful weekend and I pray that you and your
families are safe and well.
                                                                              Bye for now, Sharla


Today is Saturday and we pray The Joyful Mysteries of The Rosary today.
The First Joyful Mystery is The Annunciation.







Thursday, September 21, 2017

Sometimes............You Just Have To Take That Leap of Faith!

Hello out there! It is a beautiful, sunny, fluffy clouds fall day. The temperature is 91
degrees right now and the high is supposed to reach 97 degrees. I don't know that
the temperature reflects fall weather but hopefully the days will start cooling off soon!
I haven't written a post in ten days and I have a lot to share with y'all!
Last week I traveled to the Ft. Worth and Dallas, Texas area. I went to Catholic
Book Stores all over that area promoting my book. I was blessed to have a place to
stay. My mom's cousin and his wife live in Irving and they are the sweetest couple -
they always make me feel so at home. It's hard to believe but my mom has been
gone forty-one years now - I was twelve years old when she passed away. I really
enjoyed visiting and reminiscing with her cousin and his wife - they are more like
an uncle and aunt to me. Now, back to my book store traveling adventures!
My agenda:
On Wednesday, September 13, 2017 -
I left San Angelo after I put a roast with lots of veggies in the oven and made
sure the fridge was stocked for Jim while I was gone!
I traveled a little over four hours and found my first destination -
Keepsakes Books and Gifts in Pantego, TX (suburb of Ft. Worth) and met
with the owner. He has a wonderful Catholic gift store and I am hoping that he
will carry my book. He seemed very interested! He was so nice and he gave me
a brochure that had the addresses and phone numbers to other Catholic book
stores in the area.
Then I traveled to Grapevine, TX and met with the owner of Holy Grounds. It is
a really nice gift shop and they sell specialty coffee already packaged and they give
out free small cups of coffee for you to sample! It smells wonderful in that store!
I left a book with him to review. (Say some prayers for me!)
I was really tired and decided to go on to my cousins house and arrived there
about 4:15 p.m.
On Thursday, September 14, 2017 -
I traveled back to Ft. Worth and went to St. Anthony's Book Store and Church
Supplies. I met the owners, a husband and wife, and had a nice visit with them. I
left one of my books and my contact information with them. (Please say a prayer!)
I stopped to fill up my gas tank and then I traveled to Coppell, Texas and met with
the owner of Little Angels Catholic Store. She looked through my book and we
talked for quite a while. She asked if I had any extra books with me and yes, I did!
She bought four books and asked if I would sign them. I happily wrote a
little note and signed each book. If my book sells, she will continue to order them
from the distributor (Ingram-Spring Arbor)! Yay - Thank you, Jesus! Then she
told me about two more book stores I should visit!
Everyone was so kind and helpful - I was tired but thankful and joyful!
I went back to my cousins home and shared my news.
On Friday, September 15, 2017 -
I packed everything up and said my goodbyes. I was really tired but I wanted to
go to the other stores. One store was thirty minutes away in the opposite direction
of the road I take home. I decided that I better go ahead and visit that store while
I was in the vicinity. I headed east and started praying. I made it to Sacred Heart
Book Store in Dallas, TX. I carried in one of my books and my contact information.
I visited with a couple of the ladies that were working there. My book was given to
the manager and she said that she would get back with me after she read my book.
I looked around and bought a few things for my grandchildren. Another couple
came in while I was checking out and overheard me talking about 40 Days for Life
and guess what? They are involved with 40 Days for Life and I met her when Jim
and I were at the Life Walk in Austin in January 2016! I said goodbye and went out
to my truck. I thought about it and decided that I would like to give her one of my
books. I waited for her to come out of the store and gave her a book. She and her
husband seemed very pleased and I hope they enjoy it. I told her to pass it on when
she finishes it! I was tired when I climbed back into my truck but I said another
prayer and headed west - to St. Francis Family Bookstore in Grand Prairie, Texas.
I walked into another wonderful Catholic bookstore and there was a precious baby
asleep in a play pen. His beautiful mom was behind the counter and we had a
wonderful visit.
I gave her a book and she looked through it while I picked up a few more things
for my grandchildren. She said that she couldn't wait to read my book and I really
think that maybe they will order it. (Please say a prayer!)
I got back into my truck and headed home. I drove into our driveway at about
8:00 p.m. on Friday night and I was so thankful to be home! Jim and I sat down
to talk about my trip and then our daughter dropped by to leave cookies she had
made and she stayed to listen also. We all agreed that it had been a good trip and
now we will wait and see what happens. I thought that getting my book published
was the hard part - but promoting it - trying to get stores to carry it - is going to take
a lot more work than I realized!
If you are interested in purchasing a copy of my book and you live in San Angelo -
I am very happy and thankful to announce that Trudo's Religious Store carries my
book. If you live some where else - my book is available on Amazon,
 just type in the title,
"Adopted and Blessed: Words from My Heart" and it will come up. It is available in
paperback, hardback, and can also be downloaded - the Kindle version.
I hope it will be in other stores soon. It is also available online at Barnes and Nobles.
By the way - I have donated several of my books for different auctions. I am happy
to donate my book to good causes! If you have a church festival coming up and
would like a book for the auction just let me know!
And now...............the rest of my busy days!
This week I have been busy getting ready for our upcoming "Rosary for Life"!


Here is the information -
We are very excited to share the news about the upcoming Rosary for Life, being
held at St. Mary’s Catholic Church in San Angelo, TX.
This event will be very similar to the 40 Days for Life. We will begin our prayer vigil
on Sunday, October 1, 2017 (Respect Life Sunday!) and go through Sunday,
October 29, 2017. The hours will be from 7:00 a.m. – 7:00 p.m. every day. We will
pray in front of the beautiful Grotto that is next to the church.
And for all of you moms out there – the playground is right next to the Grotto –
so you can pray and your little ones can play!
You are welcome to drop by anytime between the hours of 7 – 7 Monday through
Sunday, but we do need people to sign up for certain hours as well.
We would love for there to be someone praying every hour during the twelve hours
each day! Just sign up for one hour each week (or more)! This is just for one month
and that means you would only be committing to 4 hours for the month to pray for
the precious unborn and their parents!
Example: Pray each Monday of the week from 8:00 a.m. – 9:00 a.m.
 – it is as easy as that! Please sign up – we really need some committed prayer
warriors! Another awesome idea: Have your weekly rosary group come pray in front
of the Grotto!
Calling all Knights of Columbus – we really need y’all to take a stand and be a
big presence! We have so many groups out there – Youth Groups, Life Teen Groups,
Guadalupano’s, etc! so it should be easy for all of the hours to be covered!
And guess what else happens during this special month?
On  Saturday, October 7, 2017 we celebrate “Our Lady of the Rosary”!
Wouldn’t it be great if we had large groups praying the rosary all day on this very
special day? We need you to say yes to this time of prayer.
Our country needs prayers, our state needs prayers, our families need prayers,
and our world needs prayers!
The 100th Anniversary of Our Lady of Fatima is Friday, October 13, 2017 and we are
planning a big celebration for that night! We will keep you posted!
Please share this news with people in your parish, your faith groups,
and your friends and family!
Well, now that I have shared everything that is going on here - I hope that wherever
you are - your day is blessed, your family is safe, and that you feel God's love
surround you!






Monday, September 11, 2017

Praying and Praying Some More

Hello out there - The sunset was absolutely incredible tonight. I keep thinking about
how many people are suffering right now. I'm safe in my home and I think about
everyone who is staying in shelters, with family or friends, those who decided to
ride out the storm, and worse, those on the streets.  My heart goes out to
all the people in Florida and the islands where Hurricane Irma tore through. I just
cannot imagine that amount of flooding and wind. The damage done to homes, churches,
and businesses. All I can do right now is to pray for all of them.
I just wanted to write a quick post and say that I hope you are safe wherever you are.
God bless you all - Pray for one another.
Here is a prayer for the whole world -


The Divine Mercy Chaplet:
(It is easier to keep up with if you have a rosary, but if you don't,
you can count on your fingers.)
1. Begin with the Sign of the Cross and then pray (1) Our Father, (1) Hail Mary
and The Apostles Creed.
2. Prayer - (Pray this 1 time) Eternal Father, I offer You the Body and Blood,
Soul and Divinity of Your dearly beloved Son, Our Lord Jesus Christ,
in atonement for ours sins and those of the whole world.   
3. Pray this refrain 10 times:
 For the sake of His sorrowful passion, have mercy on us and on the whole world.
You repeat steps (2) & (3) for a total of (5) times.
4. Conclude with (3 times)
 Holy God, Holy Mighty One, Holy Immortal One, have mercy on us and
on  the whole world.
5. End by making the sign of the cross and saying Amen.
It is a beautiful, peaceful prayer. I find myself humming or singing it a lot. I also pray
it if I wake up during the night. I've posted this prayer before but I felt like I needed
to share it again.
 May God Bless you and keep you safe wherever you are, wherever you live.
                                                                 Bye for now, Sharla

Wednesday, September 6, 2017

Homemade Bread, Mom's Mixing Bowl, And Praying The Rosary!

Good morning out there! How are y'all doing? Jim and I were up early this morning
and as we walked outside we noticed the moon, it was so big and bright - a full moon.
Now, the skies are blue, blue, blue and the sun is shining bright. There was a cool
breeze early this morning - that probably won't last long!
Y'all know how I love to bake and cook. On Tuesday I put a roast in the oven and I
made a loaf of beer bread. I haven't made any bread since last Christmas and it just
sounded really good! When I bake, I get out my mom's big yellow mixing bowl and
my small wooden spoon and gather all the ingredients. There is something about
baking that comforts me - I just feel really at peace. I  hum and I sing as I measure, pour
and stir. I will share the recipe with y'all - it is so easy. I've shared it before and if you
have my book, the recipe is on page 249. Here is a picture of the beer bread right out
of the oven!



And now for the recipe:
Easy peasy and only 4 ingredients!
3 1/2 cups self rising flour
1/2 cup sugar
stir together
add 1 can (12 oz.) of room temperature beer (I use Lone Star because that is what Jim
drinks and so I have it on hand).
Stir until well blended, batter will be kind of lumpy.
Spoon into a greased (I use the Crisco spray stuff) loaf / bread pan. My loaf pans
are glass but the aluminum / metal pans work just as well.
Bake in a preheated 350 degree oven for 50 minutes. This bread smells so good when
it is baking!
Melt 1/2 stick of butter (the recipe calls for 1 stick, but 1/2 is a little less fattening!)
Melt the butter and pour it all over the top of the bread and then put the
bread back into the oven for another 10  minutes.
Wait as long as you can and then slice and enjoy! Add more butter if you want, but
it really doesn't need it. This bread is great with soups, stews, a big pot of red beans
and as toast! I haven't tried it as garlic bread but I bet that is would be great that way also!


Well I better go and get busy because I have a lot to do today! Just a reminder - today is
Wednesday and I prayed the Glorious Mysteries of the Rosary this morning! I will
post them again in case you would like to pray the rosary too!


1. Make the Sign of the Cross and then say the "Apostles' Creed."
2. Say the "Our Father."
3. Say three "Hail Marys."
4. Say the "Glory Be to the Father."
5. Announce the First Mystery -
The First Glorious Mystery is The Resurrection -
"Do not be amazed! You seek Jesus of Nazareth, the crucified. He has been raised;
He is not here. Behold the place where they laid Him." (Mark 16:6)
Then say the "Our Father"
6. Say (10) Hail Marys
7. Say the "Glory Be to the Father." Then say the following prayer -
"O my Jesus, forgive us our sins, save us from the fires of hell, lead all
souls to Heaven, especially those in  most need of Thy mercy."
8. Announce the Second Mystery -
The Second Glorious Mystery is The Ascension -
So then the Lord Jesus, after He spoke to them, was taken up into heaven and
took His seat at the right hand of God. (Mark 16:19)
Then say the "Our Father"
 Say (10) Hail Marys
 Say the "Glory Be to the Father." Then say the following prayer -
"O my Jesus, forgive us our sins, save us from the fires of hell, lead all
souls to Heaven, especially those in  most need of Thy mercy."
9. Announce the Third Mystery -
The Third Glorious Mystery is the Descent of the Holy Spirit -
And they were all filled with the Holy Spirit and began to speak in
different tongues, as the Spirit enabled them to proclaim. (Acts 2:4)
Then say the "Our Father"
 Say (10) Hail Marys
 Say the "Glory Be to the Father." Then say the following prayer -
"O my Jesus, forgive us our sins, save us from the fires of hell, lead all
souls to Heaven, especially those in  most need of Thy mercy."
10. Announce the Fourth Mystery -
The Fourth Glorious Mystery is The Assumption -
"You are the glory of Jerusalem!.......You are the great boast of our nation!.....
You have done good things for Israel, and God is pleased with them. May the
Almighty Lord bless you forever!" (Jud 15:9-10)
Then say the "Our Father"
 Say (10) Hail Marys
 Say the "Glory Be to the Father." Then say the following prayer -
"O my Jesus, forgive us our sins, save us from the fires of hell, lead all
souls to Heaven, especially those in  most need of Thy mercy."
11. Announce the Fifth Mystery -
The Fifth Glorious Mystery is The Coronation -
A great sign appeared in the sky, a woman clothed with the sun, with the moon
under her feet, and on her head a crown of twelve stars. (Revelations 12:1)
Then say the "Our Father"
 Say (10) Hail Marys
 Say the "Glory Be to the Father." Then say the following prayer -
"O my Jesus, forgive us our sins, save us from the fires of hell, lead all
souls to Heaven, especially those in  most need of Thy mercy."
12. Say the "Hail, Holy Queen" after all five decades are completed.
13. Make the Sign of the Cross and say Amen.
The following are the prayers of the rosary -
The Sign of the Cross
In the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit. Amen.
The Apostles' Creed
I believe in God, the Father almighty, Creator of heaven and earth, and in
Jesus Christ, his only Son, our Lord, who was conceived by the Holy Spirit,
born of the Virgin Mary, suffered under Pontius Pilate, was crucified, died,
and was buried; he descended into hell; on the third day he rose again from
the dead; he ascended into heaven, and is seated at the right hand of God the
Father almighty; from there he will come to judge the living and the dead.
I believe in the Holy Spirit, the holy catholic Church, the communion of saints,
the forgiveness of sins, the resurrection of the body, and life everlasting. Amen.
Our Father
Our Father, who art in heaven; hallowed be Thy name; Thy kingdom come;
Thy will be done on earth as it is in heaven. Give us this day our daily bread;
and forgive us our trespasses as we forgive those who trespass against us, and
lead us not into temptation; but deliver us from evil. Amen.
Hail Mary
Hail Mary, full of grace. The Lord is with thee. Blessed art thou among women,
and blessed is the fruit of thy womb, Jesus. Holy Mary, Mother of God, pray for
us sinners, now and at the hour of our death. Amen.
Glory Be To The Father
Glory be to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit;
as it was in the beginning, is now, and ever shall be, world without end. Amen.
Hail, Holy Queen
Hail, Holy Queen, Mother of Mercy, our life, our sweetness and our hope,
to thee do we cry, poor banished children of Eve; to thee do we send up our
sighs, mourning and weeping in this valley of tears; turn, then, most gracious
Advocate, thine eyes of mercy towards us, and after this, our exile, show unto us
the blessed fruit of thy womb, Jesus. O clement, O loving, O sweet Virgin Mary!
Pray for us, O holy Mother of God, that we may be made worthy of the promises
of Christ.
I hope you all have a wonderful day!
Blessings to you and yours!
Bye for now, Sharla



Monday, September 4, 2017

Lead Us, O Lord

Hello out there - It's a beautiful day - the sun is shining, the sky is blue, and there are
some small, cotton ball looking clouds here, there, and everywhere. It is only
78 degrees right now - a little after 12:00 noon. The high is supposed to be 94 but
I'm hoping it won't get quite that hot!
There is a lot going on in our world right now. The pictures from the devastation
of Hurricane Harvey have been heartbreaking. I can't imagine losing your home and
everything you own. It looks like it will take several months, maybe even years, for
families to be able to rebuild or find another home. The deaths from this horrific storm
and the aftermath are the worst part of all. People trying to keep their families together
and find food and shelter for a long period of time must be overwhelming. I'm thankful
for all the agencies and churches and individuals who are helping all those affected.
Our local YMCA collected donations of diapers, water, hygiene items, blankets, clothes,
etc. and then delivered the items this past Friday. There was a special collection at all the
Catholic Churches in our Diocese this past weekend (September 2nd and 3rd) and I am
sure at many other churches as well. This money will be sent to help those in need.
The Red Cross does a wonderful job and we have the National Guard and so many
more out there doing what they can. The pictures of people being carried out of the
water, of the people pushing vehicles out of the way, of the boats going down the streets
picking up families and their pets, of the helicopters hovering as someone drops down
to lift another person up to safety - neighbor helping neighbor and stranger helping
stranger, the young helping their elders, and the elders helping the young. When some-
thing like this happens you realize how the petty little things you complain about just
don't matter anymore. This type of disaster really helps you put things in perspective.
Reach out and help in a way that you are able to. You don't have to donate a lot of items
to help - just do what you can. If everyone does a little then that will add up to a whole
lot! Drop off a 24 count of water, or a package of diapers, maybe some toothpaste and
toothbrushes, these are just ideas, but sometimes when we see such an enormous need
we just don't know what to do - so we don't do anything. Think of somethings that
are necessary items and then purchase what fits in your budget. And pray, pray for all
of the people affected by this disaster and other tragedies that are happening in other
countries in our world right now.
Sometimes when I stand outside and look up at the unending sky I think about how
amazing it is that we all have the same sky, the same sun, the same moon, the same
stars! It may be raining here and sunny there, or blues skies and no clouds here and
dark stormy clouds there, but really and truly we are all together - some farther away
than others but we all have good days and bad days, sunny days and stormy days, so
let's forget about what separates us and let's think about what unites us and remember
that we are ALL God's children and He loves ALL of us so very much. He is with us
through the good and the bad and He wants us to love one another.
This morning, while Jim and I were at Adoration, I read the scriptures, prayers, and
Gospel for today that was in my daily devotional, the Magnificat. I read the prayer
intercessions and then I quietly whispered to Jim that I wanted him to listen as I read
them to him. And now I am going to quietly whisper them to you. Take a deep breath,
and be at peace -
Intercessions
Let us pray with confidence to the God who calls us to travel
toward the kingdom that is to come:
Responsorial - Lead us, O Lord.
We are your people, who walk the desert road to the Promised Land:
- keep us faithful to the demands of the journey today.
Responsorial - Lead us, O Lord.
We are your people, called to follow Jesus, the Lord:
- make us steadfast disciples, freed from all that would hold us back.
Responsorial - Lead us, O Lord.
We are your people, destined for the heavenly Jerusalem:
- give us strength to go on when we grow weary of the journey.
Responsorial - Lead us, O Lord.
Add your personal intentions and then pray the Our Father -
Our Father, who art in heaven; hallowed be Thy name; Thy kingdom come;Thy will be done on earth as it is in heaven. Give us this day our daily bread;
and forgive us our trespasses as we forgive those who trespass against us, and
lead us not into temptation; but deliver us from evil. Amen.

I hope that wherever you are - your day is filled with blessings, with what you need, and
with the knowledge that God loves you so very much!
                                                  Blessings to you and yours,
                                                           Bye for now, Sharla







Saturday, September 2, 2017

Sun Rays and Hugs from God!

Hello out there! How are y'all doing? It is a little after 6:00 p.m. and 95 degrees outside!
The window in my home office faces the west and I love to glance outside when I'm
in here "talking" to y'all. There are a lot of fluffy clouds out there right now and the
sun rays are shining through. I love to see the sun rays coming through the clouds -
I feel like they're a warm hug from God! I will have to post a picture I took one morning
when I backed out of the driveway. The sun was peeking over the top of our home and
the sun rays were streaming down and through our big oak tree. I stopped the truck and
just looked in awe at the beauty of God's work. The picture I took really seems to
capture the moment so I will share it with all of you out there, some near and some far,
and I just want you to know how much it means to me that you take the time to read
my stories.
In my daily devotional,  the Magnificat, one of the scriptures for today is from
Luke 8:11, 15
The seed is the word of God. As for the seed that fell on rich soil,
they are the ones who, when they have heard the word, embrace it
with a generous and good heart, and bear fruit through perseverance.
I pray that I will always embrace God's word with a generous and good heart!
May God bless each and everyone of you today and always!
Have a wonderful and safe weekend. Remember to say your prayers - God is always
listening and He wants to hear from you!
Look at the bottom picture - you can see the sun's rays shining through the branches
of the oak tree! I see "Hugs from God" - next time you see the sun's rays I hope you
see that God is reaching out to you!
                                 Blessings to you and yours! Bye for now, Sharla