Reflection, Praise, and Prayers

Good morning out there and Merry Christmas!
Today, December 31st is the -
Seventh Day within the Octave of the Nativity of the Lord!
Isaiah 9:5
A child is born for us, and a son is given to us; his scepter of power rests
upon his shoulder, and his name will be called Messenger of great counsel.


Yesterday, December 30th was the -
Sixth Day within the Octave of the Nativity of the Lord!
and...it was my birthday! I love that my birthday falls on this special day!
I am thankful for another year of life.





I want to share something from the Magnificat, my daily Catholic devotional.
This book has the readings from the Old and New Testaments
of the Bible and Responsorial Psalms that will be proclaimed at daily Mass.
The booklet also includes;
morning prayers, a hymn from the scriptures, evening prayers, a meditation
for the day, and a short story about the lives of certain Saints.
The following is from the morning prayer section for December 30th.
Jim and I were at the Adoration Chapel when I read these scriptures and the
reflection. I interrupted his prayers because I had to share this beautiful
message from our Lord!

Canticle of Judith 16:1, 13-15
1)"Strike up the instruments,
 a song to my God with timbrels, chant to the Lord with cymbals;
Sing to him a new song, exalt and acclaim his name.
13-15)"A new hymn I will sing to my God.
O Lord, great are you and glorious, wonderful in power and unsurpassable.
Let your every creature serve you; for you spoke, and they were made,
You sent forth your spirit, and they were created; no one can resist your word."
The mountains to their bases, and the seas, are shaken;
the rocks, like wax, melt before your glance."
"But to those who fear you,
you are very merciful.


 1 Samuel 12:2
As for me, I am old and gray. I have lived with you from my youth to the
present day.


Anna had grown old in faith and hope, but when she saw the Child of God's
promise brought to the temple, she sang in her heart a new song of praise
and thanksgiving. One is never too old to be surprised by joy.




It's almost like a gift just for me, to read these beautiful words on my birthday.
I am growing older and grayer. But I am also a joyful woman. I have so much
love in my heart. I really relate to the last line:
"she sang in her heart a new song of praise and thanksgiving. One is never too
old to be surprised by joy."
I pray that God will always help me to see the beauty
in this world, to always be joyful and to be a light for all those around me.


There are going to be a couple of small pot holes on my journey during the
next couple of months but I know that God will be with me through it all.
My mind goes to this hymn and the truth each verse speaks. It is one of my
favorite songs.
The Servant Song by Richard Gillard
Verse:1,6
Will you let me be your servant, let me be as Christ to you;
Pray that I may have the grace to let you be my servant too.
Verse:2
We are pilgrims on a journey, we are travelers on the road;
We are here to help each other walk the mile and bear the load.
Verse:3
I will hold the Christ-light for you in the night-time of your fear;
I will hold my hand out to you, speak the peace you long to hear.
Verse:4
I will weep when you are weeping; When you laugh I'll laugh with you.
I will share your joy and sorrow til we've seen this journey through.
Verse:5
When we sing to God in heaven we shall find such harmony,
born of all we've known together of Christ's love and agony.
Verse:6
Will you let me be your servant, let me be as Christ to you;
Pray that I may have the grace to let you be my servant too.


I am always praying for you - near or far - wherever you are.
And now I'm asking for your prayers and also praying that
God will give me the grace to let you be my servant too.


The picture below includes my birthday present from my thoughtful husband.
It goes perfectly with the cross he bought for me several years ago.
Together they make a unique and amazing centerpiece for our kitchen table!
Yes, I am thankful and I will sing praises to the Lord!

December is a Special Time of Year - Preparations, Birthdays, Memories!

Hello out there! Rejoice and be glad! This is such a special time of year.
I wrote a post back in December of 2014 that means just as much to me today
as the day I wrote it. I'm going to share it with you today. I will copy and paste
and might add some pictures!





Every Baby Should Be Able To Grow Up and Have A Story To Tell

Once upon a time, fifty or so years ago, a baby girl was born and she needed
a home. Never knowing the circumstances or the reason why, her birth mother
couldn't keep her, she had to say goodbye. This baby girl was three days
old when a loving family came and took her to their home. Now this baby girl
had a family of her own.

With love and joy and happiness this baby girl grew up, she never met a stranger
and her heart was full of love. She loved to hear the stories about her special day,
the day her family came and gave her their name.

When she was only eight years old, the scary news came, her loving mother had
cancer, the little girl was afraid. Her mother was strong and courageous as she
battled day to day, and when the girl was twelve years old the angels came and
took her mother away. She knew her mother was in heaven, no more pain did 
her mother feel, and although she understood why it had to be this way,
the grief she felt in her heart would never go away.

The young not quite teenage girl was strong, she was raised that way. She had
watched her mother suffer and never heard her complain. Her mother had prepared
her knowing this day would come. Her love of God, her father, older brother,
church family and friends, would be there for her, as the years came and went.

She was now a young lady, thought she was so grown up, off she went to college,
another life event. She made new friends and she had fun, but she
missed her dad, her brother, his wife, and friends back home.
Then one day it happened, a Sunday afternoon, she met a man, the most
wonderful, handsome man and her heart grew and grew.
Within a short time they were married, became husband and wife. So thankful God
had blessed her with someone she would cherish and love the rest of her life.
She had a new name and a home of her own, she was also blessed with a stepson,
she quickly grew to love as her very own.
Expecting their first child, the baby grew and as the mother heard the heart beat
and felt her baby move, she was amazed at what her body was going through.
With her husband at her side the doctor said, "It's a boy" and the mother cried,
my first born is a son, and the emotions that went through her can never be
described, but the love and protectiveness she felt for this child was an
overwhelming feeling that would never die.
As she held her son close to her breast, she thanked God for his life, for being so
blessed. When the baby boy was just three months old, the new mom found out she
was expecting once more. When her husband came home from work that day he sat
down in the rocking chair and held their son. She knelt on the floor and leaned
against his legs as she shared the good news of another baby on the way. He smiled
and told her everything would be ok.
This happened during a time when the oil boom had gone bust, work was slow, there
had been lay-offs and his new job didn't pay as much. There would be no insurance
to cover the costs. They saved and worked side jobs to pay for the birth, the hard
times together, they grew so close.
The baby boy walked at ten months old. His mom chased after him with the new
baby snug in her womb. The mother heard the heart beat and felt her baby move
and once more she was amazed at what her body was going through.
The baby boy was happy and had a beautiful smile, he was into everything, and his
pregnant mom was tired! Would this new baby be a brother or a sister, for the two
boys they already had, another son or a daughter, either way, they would be glad!
The night before the baby came the mom was in the kitchen. She looked into the
living room just in time to see her baby boy dive from the chair into the presents
beneath the Christmas tree. She dashed across the floor and caught him mid-air,
nine months pregnant, not a moment to spare!
Early the next  morning the labor pains came. They picked up their sleepy baby
boy and all loaded up in their black pick-up truck. They took him to his aunt and
uncles, told him they'd be back, and off to the hospital they dashed.
Just four hours later with her husband at her side they heard the doctor say,
"It's a girl" and then they cried. Tears of joy, a daughter, a baby girl, and the
emotions that went through her can never be described, but the love and
protectiveness she felt for this child was an overwhelming feeling that would never
die. As she held her daughter close to her breast, she thanked God for her life,
for being so blessed.
The next year was busy with two babies under two. The baby boy was fearless and
loved to run and climb. The baby girl was carried upon her mother's hip to keep her
off the floor and safe from baby brother who would zoom back and forth. The baby
girl was happy and loved her mom and dad, she would laugh at her brother's antics
and stay close by her mama's side. She loved her swing, and you can guess why,
the floor was otherwise occupied!
The years went by and the children grew up. They loved when their oldest son
came for a visit, their family complete. They were a close knit family and shared so
much love. They were raised going to Mass and all their sacraments they made.
God was always a priority and still is to this day.
Three weddings have been celebrated and blessings of grandbabies galore, who
could ask for anything more!
Yes, it's true, this story is about me and my sweet and amazing family.

I seem to get nostalgic this time of year. My son and daughter both have birthdays
this month. They were both born on Fridays and it was cold and had snowed both
years. I remember Jim driving us home in our old black pick-up truck. There was a
Christmas tree in the living room to welcome us as we stepped in.
Their birthdays are right before Christmas and mine is right after. We celebrate the
birth of Jesus right between our birthdays, yes, December is a special month for us!
I think back to the years when I was pregnant and how we got things ready for the
birth of our babies. It makes me think of how Advent is a time of waiting, a special

time of preparation. 

The picture below is our frosted Christmas Tree we bought from Gibson's. This

is the tree our son, who had just turned one was diving into when I caught him the
night before our daughter was born! My due date was that very day.

Jolted me into labor? Maybe!

This is a great time of year to look back and remember - I am so thankful and

feel so very blessed! Blessings to you and yours! Sharla

The Scriptures - Seek and You Shall Find!

Hello out there and good morning! I'm finally back at my computer and have the
time to share some more scriptures and pictures with you. On Monday I shared
scriptures from Luke 1:26-45.


The scripture I'm sharing for today is from Luke 1:46-55
(December 2019 issue of Magnificat)

Mary's Canticle

Then Mary said:

"My soul proclaims the greatness of the Lord,

my spirit rejoices in God my savior,

 for he has looked with favor on his lowly servant.

From this day all generations will call me blessed:

the Almighty has done great things for me,

and holy is his Name.

He has mercy on those who fear him in every generation.

He has shown the strength of his arm,

he has scattered the proud in their conceit.

He has cast down the mighty from their thrones,

and has lifted up the lowly.

He has filled the hungry with good things,

and the rich he has sent away empty.

He has come to the help of his servant Israel

for he has remembered his promise of mercy,

the promise he made to our fathers,

to Abraham and his children for ever."

Today - December 12, 2019

Our Lady of Guadalupe

A reading from the Book of Revelation 11:19, 12:1-6, 12:10
     God's Temple in heaven was opened, and the ark of his covenant could be
seen in the temple.
     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. She was
with child and wailed aloud in pain as she labored to give birth. Then another
sign appeared in the sky; it was a huge red dragon, with seven heads and ten
horns, and on its heads were seven diadems. Its tail swept away a third of the
stars in the sky and hurled them down to the earth. Then the dragon stood before
the woman about to give birth, to devour her child when she gave birth. She gave
birth to a son, a male child, destined to rule all the nations with an iron rod.
Her child was caught up to God and his throne. The woman herself fled into the
desert where she had a place prepared by God.
     Then I heard a loud voice in heaven say:
    "Now have salvation and power come, and the Kingdom of our God and the
authority of his Anointed."
(December 2019 issue of Magnificat)   


I pray that your day is full of blessings! Enjoy this special time of preparation.
God loves us so much - the bible is a great treasure - read scripture - God gives
us all the answers. Seek and you shall find!
                                                                        Bye for now, Sharla 



The Angel Gabriel, Mother Mary, Elizabeth, and John the Baptist! Beautiful Scriptures from Luke!

Hello out there!


The Gospel Reading for today - Luke 1:26-38
The Angel Gabriel was sent from God to a town of Galilee called Nazareth,
to a virgin betrothed to a man named Joseph, of the house of David, and the
virgin's name was Mary. And coming to her, he said, "Hail, full of grace!
The Lord is with you." But she was greatly troubled at what was said and
pondered what sort of greeting this might be. Then the angel said to her,
"Do not be afraid, Mary, for you have found favor with God. Behold, you
will conceive in your womb and bear a son, and you shall name him Jesus.
He will be great and will be called Son of the Most High, and the Lord God
will give him the throne of David his father, and he will rule over the house
of Jacob forever, and of his Kingdom there will be no end."
But Mary said to the angel, "How can this be, since I have no relations with
a man?" And the angel said to her in reply, "The Holy Spirit will come upon
you, and the power of the Most High will overshadow you. Therefore the child
to be born will be called holy, the Son of God. And behold, Elizabeth,
your relative, has also conceived a son in her old age, and this is the sixth
month for her who was called barren; for nothing will be impossible for God."
Mary said, "Behold, I am the handmaid of the Lord. May it be done to me
according to your word." Then the angel departed from her.


Isn't that a beautiful scripture reading? I read that early this morning at Adoration
and then heard it at the noon Mass. Now that you have read the scripture yourself,
think about this:


The First Joyful Mystery of the Rosary is the Annunciation:
Luke 1:26-38 (The above scriptures)


The Second Joyful Mystery of the Rosary is the Visitation
Luke 1:39-43
Thereupon Mary set out, proceeding in haste into the hill country to a town of
Judah, where she entered Zechariah's house and greeted Elizabeth. When
Elizabeth heard Mary's greeting, the baby leapt in her womb. Elizabeth was
filled with the Holy Spirit and cried out in a loud voice: "Blest are you
among women and blest is the fruit of your womb. But who am I that the
mother of my Lord should come to me?


I'm adding the next two verses from Luke 1:44,45
The moment your greeting sounded in my ears, the baby leapt in my womb for joy.
Blest is she who trusted that the Lord's words to her would be fulfilled."


Don't you just love that? John the Baptist was leaping in his mother's womb!


I will post the scriptures from Luke 1:46-56 tomorrow.


The pictures below are from different Catholic Churches that Jim and I have visited.
They represent the Annunciation (two different pictures) and the Visitation.

Blessings During This Advent Season

Good morning out there - Today is the Second Sunday of Advent!
I love this time of year - The decorations, the lights, the music, and all the Christmas
baking! This year I am also spending more of my time doing something really special.
I'm following an Advent Spiritual Exercise work sheet. This includes daily prayers,
scriptures for the day, and spending more quiet time with God. And listening!
Sometimes we need to be still and truly listen so that we can hear what God is
trying to tell us. I read the daily scriptures, prayers, and psalms from one of my
daily devotionals. The following scriptures are from the daily devotional,
 "the WORD among us." (Advent 2019)


Second Sunday of Advent - December 8, 2019
Isaiah 11:1-10
A shoot shall sprout from the stump of Jesse. (Isaiah 11:1)


Psalm 72:1-2, 7-8, 12-13, 17
May his name be blessed forever;
as long as the sun his name shall remain.
In him shall all the tribes of the earth be blessed;
all the nations shall proclaim his happiness. (Psalm 72:17)


I am going to share part of this next scripture from my bible instead of
my daily devotional. (Saint Joseph Edition of the New American Bible)
Romans 15:4-9
Accept one another, then, as Christ accepted you, for the glory of God.
Yes, I affirm that Christ became the servant of the Jews because of God's
faithfulness in fulfilling the promises to the patriarchs, whereas the
Gentiles glorify God because of his mercy.

As Scripture has it,

Therefore I will praise you among the Gentiles   

 and I will sing to your name. (Romans 15:7-9)

Matthew 3:1-12
When John the Baptizer made his appearance as a preacher in the desert
of Judea, this was his theme.

 "Reform your lives! The reign of God is at hand."

It was of him that the prophet Isaiah had spoken when he said:

"A herald's voice in the desert:

Prepare the way of the Lord,

make straight his paths."

(Matthew 3:1-3)

Some ideas to help us slow down a little bit during this time of year.

Take your time hanging up the decorations -

it doesn't have to all be done in one day!

Cut snow flakes out of paper and tape to your windows!

Sit down with your family and read a Christmas story

at the dinner table or before bed.

Don't go into debt! Be honest about what you can afford

and what you can't afford.

It's okay if you don't have time to bake from scratch!

Buy some roll out sugar cookies and sprinkles

and then let your kids sprinkle away!

The smell of cookies baking in the oven and spending

time with you is what they'll remember and cherish!

Go to Mass or your church service as a family -

make spending time in prayer and with the Lord a priority!

Hug your spouse, hug your kids

and think about making and giving some sentimental gifts.

Print out some pictures and make a collage in a cute frame for their room.

Or make them a photo album of their very own.

Buy some of their favorite snacks and warm comfy socks!

As a family, pick out a gift for someone who isn't as

fortunate and let your kids help wrap it.

Watch uplifting and faith filled  movies such as:

(These are some of my favorites)

"It's A Wonderful Life"

"A Christmas Carol"

"Miracle on 34th Street"

and movies about the Birth of Jesus!

Rejoice!

Come, Let Us Adore Him,

Jesus Christ our Lord!

Blessings to you near or far

Blessings upon blessings wherever you are!

Bye for now, Sharla