Perseverance, Speaking Up, and Gifts from the Holy Spirit

 Hello out there! Peace and blessings on this beautiful new day the Lord has made! This morning I sat down with a cup of coffee at the kitchen table and began to read the daily scriptures from my Magnificat.  Jim had already read them - he gets up before I do! I began reading the scriptures for today and my eyes welled up with tears. I looked at Jim and he knew from the look on my face, that I was fixing to remind him of something, that I had a story to share. 

I wish this story would have a different ending but it doesn't. It's a story of perseverance, about not giving up even when things don't seem to change. The scriptures I read are the exact readings from a Sunday in mid-January 2013 and from a Pro-Life Mass in January 2019. I wrote a story for my blog after the Mass in 2019 and I will share it after I finish this post. 

 January 22, 2013 - the 40th anniversary of Roe v Wade - making abortion legal in all fifty states of the United States. January 22, 2019 - the 46th anniversary... and today is January 16, 2022 and this Saturday will be the 49th anniversary. I pray that there will not be a 50th anniversary, but whether there is or not the pro-life message must continue on until eyes are opened to see, and ears opened to hear, and hearts are touched to know that a baby is not a choice. The following phrase is one I repeat often on social media; Planned or unplanned, a crisis pregnancy or a much prayed for pregnancy, a baby is a baby. We must work diligently to teach our youth and society as a whole about the gift of life. I started my blog almost eight years ago because I wanted to share stories about life, families, marriage, faith, adoption, information, etc. and not necessarily in that order - I had so much I wanted to share, so much to say and sometimes my message may seem like a repeat but it's because what I share is the truth and sometimes you have to hear things over and over again before you get it - before your eyes are opened! I keep on persevering and so do thousands upon thousands of others because we know that an unplanned pregnancy does not make that baby's life less human than a baby who was planned! Respecting life from the moment of conception through natural death.

Isaiah 62:1-5

For Zion's sake I will not be silent, for Jerusalem's sake I will not be quiet, until her vindication shines forth like the dawn and her victory like a burning torch. (Read through verse 5 for the rest of the scripture from today's 1st reading)

We all have different gifts and talents. I have not always been a writer - I'm a homemaker and keep books for my husband's business. In July 2013 I read an article in the newspaper that put a fire in my heart and a response of words in my mind and on my lips. I could not write in my spiral notepad fast enough. The words rushed forth and that was the beginning - God had given me a gift I didn't even know I had until that day - and probably wasn't supposed to have until that day. God's time, not ours - I know you've heard that saying before. The next scripture is from today's second reading and I will share the share the whole reading.

1 Corinthians 12:4-11

Brothers and Sisters:                                                                                                                           There are different kinds of spiritual gifts but the same Spirit; there are different forms of service but the same Lord; there are different workings but the same God who produces all of them in everyone. To each individual the manifestation of the Spirit is given for some benefit. To one is given through the Spirit the expression of wisdom; to another, the expression of knowledge according to the same Spirit; to another, faith by the same Spirit; to another, gifts of healing by the one Spirit; to another, mighty deeds; to another, prophecy; to another, discernment of spirits; to another, varieties of tongues; to another, interpretation of tongues. But one and the same Spirit produces all of these, distributing them individually to each person as he wishes.

The Gospel reading for today is one of my many favorites - 

John 2:1-11

There was a wedding at Cana in Galilee, and the mother of Jesus was there. Jesus and his disciples were also invited to the wedding. When the wine ran short , the mother of Jesus said to him, "They have no wine." And Jesus said to her, "Woman, how does your concern affect me? My hour has not yet come." His mother said to the servers, "Do whatever he tells you." (Continue reading verses 6-11)

The wedding at Cana is a beautiful story and I hope you will read the rest of it - I stopped at the end of verse five because I want you to reflect on Mother Mary's words - "Do whatever he tells you."  Wow! What a message! Do whatever Jesus is telling you to do! Think about how the first reading from Isaiah and the second reading from First Corinthians and the Gospel reading from John all go together so well - these scriptures speak loudly to me - we all have different gifts from the Holy Spirit! What is your gift - have you asked? Do these scriptures speak to you? 

God is always with us and more times than not we just need to listen for His words, His voice, and not the words of this world.

If you read my post from 2019 I know you will see how this all ties together!

Sunday, January 20, 2019

Open My Ears, Lord - I Want to Hear Your Voice

Hello out there! I went to the Pro-Life Mass that was held at our parish last night.
The scriptures for last night really touched my heart. I listened to the words from
God and tears welled up in my eyes. I've read these scriptures before and they
always "speak" to me. Being a pro-life advocate is very important to me but there
are many times when I wonder if anyone is listening. In January of 2013 I asked
our priest if I could speak at the end of Mass. I wanted to invite people to come and
pray in front of the Planned Parenthood (which closed eight months later) on Fridays
during the Spring 40 Days for Life Campaign. I was given permission and spoke
after each Mass that weekend. I had a table with sign-up sheets out in the vestibule
and I would hurry out there as soon as I finished speaking. After the Saturday night
Mass only one person signed up - my sister-in-law. I went home and told Jim that
I just didn't know what to do. I didn't sleep very well that night. I tossed and turned
and prayed. I asked God to please give me the words because no one seemed to
be listening. The next morning I got ready for the 10:00 am Mass. Jim could tell
that I was down and he told me not to give up. To make a long story short, I ended
up being the Lector/Reader that morning. The person who was signed up did not
show up and I was asked to step in. I had not read the scriptures before hand because
I wasn't scheduled for that weekend. The following is the first sentence from the
first reading:
Isaiah 62:1-5
For Zion's sake I will not be silent, for Jerusalem's sake I will not be quiet,
until her vindication shines forth like the dawn and her victory like a
burning torch.
To this day, I remember how my heart began to beat as I realized, "God has given
me the words, these are the words! I will not be silent - I will not be quiet!"
Needless to say - my voice rang out strong as I invited people to sign up that
day - and you know what? - They did, they signed up and they came out and
prayed!
Six years has passed and my voice has grown stronger. Oh, there are days when
I am tired, frustrated, and just need a short break. But for the most part -
God's words - the words I asked Him for - keep me going, for when I am weak,
He is strong.
Let's put on our battle armor and vow not to be silent because the unborn babies
need our voices to ring out strong.
Ephesians 6:10-17
Finally, draw your strength from the Lord and his mighty power. Put on the armor of God so that you may be able to stand firm against the tactics of the devil. Our battle is not against human forces but against the principalities and powers, the rulers of this world of darkness, the evil spirits in regions above. You must put on the armor of God if you are to resist on the evil day; do all that your duty requires, and hold your ground. Stand fast, with the truth as the belt around your waist, justice as your breastplate, and zeal to propagate the gospel of peace as your footgear. In all circumstances hold faith up before you as your shield; it will help you extinguish the fiery darts of the evil one. Take the helmet of salvation and the sword of the spirit, the word of God.
Let us join our prayers together.
Please God, open our eyes to what You want us to see.
Open our ears to what You want us to hear.
Give us the courage and strength we need to do Your will at all times.
In Jesus' Holy Name we pray, Amen.

 

Memories and A New Year - Prayers, Love, Laughter, and Faith!

 Hola! Hello out there! I was looking through my blog posts from previous Januarys' - I'm always amazed at how some things have changed and other things seem to stay the same. I read this post/story from January 2017 - this is definitely one of my stories that remains pretty much the same - year in and year out! Blessings and peace to all of you, near and far, wherever you are! Hope you enjoy this story from five years ago!

I Pray That Your Year is Full of Love!

Hello out there! Merry Christmas and Happy New Year! The days just seem to rush
on by.  A new year is upon us. I don't make new year's resolutions anymore. I do try
to figure out how I should go about changing some things I need to work on.
I think that sometimes we just give up because we set our expectations too high.
I'm going to work on my daily devotion time. I feel so much better when I begin my
day reading the daily scriptures from my Magnificat. The problem is - sometimes I
don't begin my day that way. The other night I picked up my Magnificat and read the
scriptures before bed because I had not read them that morning. I had to laugh as I
read the scriptures because I realized that the words I read really would have helped
me if I had just taken the time to read them that morning. It  just so happened that the
scriptures and prayers seemed to apply to what I needed to hear earlier in the day!
Once again I am reminded that God is always talking to me. Unfortunately, many times
I am too busy or preoccupied to listen. I have decided to make my morning prayer/
devotion time my first priority. Here are a few ideas if you struggle with this also.


1. If you don't already have some type of daily devotional book, get one and spend a
few minutes each  morning reading the scriptures and prayers.
2. If you want to pray the rosary but don't have time to pray all five decades - pray one
decade each  morning and maybe another decade before you go to bed. Praying the
rosary while you are driving is another way to get your prayer time in. I have a lot of
CDs on praying the rosary and the Divine Mercy Chaplet. Let me know if you would
like one. I have so many CDs and prayer booklets. I would love to give them to
others to use.
3. If your children are still at home, take the time to pray with them. Pray the Our Father
together. Pray for their safety and guidance. Let your children know that prayer is
important. Pray before meals, pray before bed, pray before they go to school!
4. Give thanks to the Lord for everything!


The last couple of nights have been really cold here. I cooked a big pot of stew on
Thursday. When Jim and I sat down to eat on Thursday evening I began to pray. I
thanked God for our warm meal, our warm home, and for the fire roaring in the
fireplace. Jim jumped in before I was through and began to pray for those who
have no home and no warm meal. We have both learned to be so thankful. We are
thankful for the many things we used to take for granted. Being able to walk into
our home and turn up the thermostat to heat up our home in the winter is a blessing.
Just like it is a blessing to be able to have a home at all. This time of year always
makes me nostalgic. Looking back and looking forward and being thankful for all
of the paths we have taken. Tonight I pray that God will open our eyes to the path
He has ready for us to take this year. I pray that I will listen to Him and not the world.


May God bless you all during this new year. I pray that the path you take is full of
sunshine and roses, little rain puddles and the songs of birds. I pray that your year is
full of children's laughter and great big hugs. But most of all...I pray that your
year is full of love!


                                                             Blessings to you and yours!
                                                                     Bye for now, Sharla

Stories from my Heart - Seeds that God has Scattered

 Good morning out there! Peace and blessings to you and yours, near and far, wherever you are! I begin this post with a very humble heart. Yesterday and this morning I looked at my blog stats. I am truly amazed and humbled that you read the posts and stories I write for my blog, words from my heart. When I started this blog back in March of 2014 I had no idea what I was doing. I just knew that I wanted to share a loving and positive pro-life and pro-family message. I had so many things I wanted to say and a personal blog is how I decided to try and share words of hope, of love, of encouragement, and most importantly, God's amazing grace, mercy, and love for each and every one of us - wherever you are - near and far - God loves you! 

Through the years, I've written and posted 474 stories - this story is 475. I am in awe of how God has helped spread my stories - I know it has to be Him - because I'm just a  happy homemaker who loves my family, my friends, and tries to be a little light that shines in the darkness. I never dreamed my stories would reach people in other cities or states, much less other countries. I pray before I write my stories, and ask the Holy Spirit to guide my hands and sometimes the words come rushing forth as my fingers fly across the keyboard. Sometimes I beg God to give me the words because I feel like my heart will burst if I don't say what is on my mind. I ask God to send my stories to whoever needs to hear the message, to please send my stories wherever they need to go. 

My stories have been read from people in Japan, Ireland, Romania, Great Britain, Russia, France, Canada, Australia, China, Moldova, and the list goes on - I am always amazed when I see the stats - and I know that it is God who takes my stories, my little seeds, and plants them where they need to be. I write these stories with love and faith and press the "publish" button and God scatters the seeds of my stories wherever they need to be be read - God scatters them near and far, because He loves us so much - wherever we are!

I write this story as tears stream down my face - I am thankful that God has given me the words that I pray will be like seeds that sprout and bloom and little candles that flicker and light the way - I pray that my stories lead you closer to God, enrich your family life, bring you healing and peace.  

Thank you for taking the time to read my stories - I place my hands over the countries on my stats page and I pray for you - I pray for all of you - near and far - and I think about how the world isn't really so big after all. I pray that somehow the story you read;  touches your heart, helps you, makes you smile, but most importantly, reminds you that God is always with us - He is waiting for us to call out to Him and He will say "Here I am!" 

Isaiah 58:8-9

Your light shall break forth like the dawn, and your wound shall quickly be healed; Your vindication shall go before you, and the glory of the Lord shall be your rear guard. Then you shall call, and the Lord will answer, you shall cry for help, and he will say: Here I am!

Many blessings to you and yours on this beautiful day the Lord has made.

Bye for now, Sharla

The following pictures are from my blog stats for this past week. Our God is an awesome God!