😎🐫🎤 Christ’s peace and presence be with you.  St. Valentine’s Day, what a fabulous day to start Lent on.  In reality, Lent is a season of love.  I can’t even imagine how much love it took to overcome fear of such a horrible death, that Christ knew He would endure for our salvation.  The love it took to take the abuse and torture.  The love it took to watch your closest friends run from you and deny you.  There truly is no greater love.

As we begin our 40 days of Lent, I want to share with you, this writing from Rita A. Simmonds.

I have sinned and sinned and sinned again,

Yet I’m called to be a saint?

You are the one who calls me.

I fear I’ve made you wait.

How many fallen soldiers

Now stand within your ranks?

How many souls shine brightly

Because they gave you  thanks?

How many weary travelers

Sleep soundly in your arms?

How many disenfranchised

Sit safely at your hearth?

How many of your enemies

Become your closest friends?

How many friends betrayed you

And yet you let them in?

Will you refuse a sinner

Who’s called to be a saint?

You are the one who calls me.

I’m at your mercy gate.

I pray that this Lent, you will make the time to sit quietly with Christ.

Speak with Him.

Hear His words.

Feel His presence.

And make Him known to others.

Bless others and be blessed.

Shelly  :0)

If the Lord has touched you in some way with His message today, I ask that you pay it forward by sharing this message, so that you and He may also bless others.  Click subscribe to receive your message every Wednesday via email.

#RitaA.Simmonds – Mercy Gate

#TomConry – Ashes

😎🐫🎤 Christ’s peace and presence be with you.  While praying the Rosary last Friday and meditating on the fourth Sorrowful mystery, Jesus carrying the cross, I was drawn to the thought of Simon of Cyrene carrying the cross with Christ.  What an inconvenience that must have been.  I imagine that was probably the last thing he expected would happen to him that day.  Do you think they spoke?  Was Simon complaining?  What do you think Christ, in His weakest hour, would have said to Simon?  How do you think Simon walked away from that experience with Christ?

You and I are called every day to carry Christ’s cross with Him.  Notice I didn’t say for Him.  At times, we feel burdened by the weight of the world.  It can be a physical or mental burden causing you to fall on your hands and knees.  If Christ wasn’t there carrying that cross with you, you would have been pressed flat on the ground. 

Matthew tells us of Jesus in Chapter 11: 28-30 saying, “Come to Me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest.  Take my yoke upon you and learn from me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls.  For my yoke is easy and my burden is light.”

Notice Jesus is saying, come to Me and put this weight, this yoke upon your shoulders so I can share it with you.  He didn’t say, I’m going to take everything away.  You shouldn’t expect that.  But what He is saying is, you will have trouble, you will have burdens, but you will also have Me. 

He will never ask you to do something that He isn’t willing to do or has already done himself.  If you trust in what He is calling you to do, and act upon them, you will never regret your actions.  From the Allen Hunt and Matthew Kelly book, No Regrets, “Death is inevitable.  Regrets are optional.  It’s time to live the rest of your life with no regrets.”

Bless others and be blessed.

Shelly  :0)

If the Lord has touched you in some way with His message today, I ask that you pay it forward by sharing this message, so that you and He may also bless others.  Click subscribe to receive your message every Wednesday via email.

#AllenHunt&MatthewKelly – No Regrets

#MatthewWest – My Story, Your Glory

😎🐫🎤 Christ’s peace and presence be with you.  This past week we’ve had quite a bit of rain and three days of very dense fog.  I felt like I was back in England with all the fog.  Life showers us with physical storms, as well as emotional and spiritual storms.  Like that dense fog I experienced recently, those storms can be hard to see in, with no visible clearing. 

Storms can blind us to the truth and keep us from seeing the light.  Back in December, heading to the airport, it was cold, dreary, gray, and drizzling, but just on the top side of those clouds, there was a beautiful sun, lighting the sky. 

It can be hard staying focused and positive in those storms.  Patience…well, that can seem eluding, but just like the sun on the other side of those clouds, Christ is always with you.  You may not always see Him, but He is watching and waiting for you to seek Him.  He won’t force Himself of you, but He will remind you in many small ways, that He is there.  Sometimes you just need to move, to find a different point of view.  Spinning your wheels in the same muddy rut is only going to fling more mud and bury you deeper.  Step out of the rut and find some music to dance to.  Storms will come and go, but our God is the same yesterday, today, and tomorrow.  You want someone you can count on…You only have to turn to Him. 

Bless others and be blessed.

Shelly  :0)

If the Lord has touched you in some way with His message today, I ask that you pay it forward by sharing this message, so that you and He may also bless others.  Click subscribe to receive your message every Wednesday via email.

#Schultz – Snoopy

#Chochren&Co – The Lows

😎🐫🎤 Christ’s peace and presence be with you.  How big is your faith?  Watching an episode in season 3 of The Chosen, Jesus talks about having faith the size of a mustard seed.  Matthew 17:20 “…In truth I tell you, if your faith is the size of a mustard seed you will say to this mountain, “Move from here to there,” and it will move; nothing will be impossible for you.’”

Yes, the mustard seed is tiny, yet produces a great plant.  Likewise, the tiniest of faith can and will produce great results.  For example, Peter. When he had confidence in his faith, he joined Christ for a short walk on the sea.  Although that walk was short lived, we can see how powerful a little faith can be.

In that episode of The Chosen, in my opinion, Jesus had a mic drop moment when He said…”It’s not about the size.  It’s who your faith is in.  If your faith is secure in God, trusting His promises, choosing His will for your life, instead of your own, this size of faith is enough.”

So, so true!  Every time I put any degree of faith in myself, I’m squandering that which is meant for God.  When we give it to Him, He empowers those He has called, and who have accepted His call, to do His will among us.  At times, that call may go out to your family, friends, coworkers, neighbors, and also to you.  Allow yourself the peace and willingness to step aside from your desires, to allow God to move in and through you.

Bless others and be blessed.

Shelly  :0)

If the Lord has touched you in some way with His message today, I ask that you pay it forward by sharing this message, so that you and He may also bless others.  Click subscribe to receive your message every Wednesday via email.

#TheChosen

#JackCassidy – Let Go, Let God

😎🐫🎤 Christ’s peace and presence be with you.  Time and time again we hear our names being called, and like Samuel, we eagerly respond without knowing who is actually calling out to us. 

1 Samuel 3:3-10: “The lamp of God was not yet extinguished, and Samuel was sleeping in the temple of the LORD where the ark of God was.  The LORD called to Samuel, who answered, “Here I am.”  He ran to Eli and said, “Here I am. You called me.” “I did not call you,” Eli answered. “Go back to sleep.” So he went back to sleep.

Again the LORD called Samuel, who rose and went to Eli. “Here I am,” he said. “You called me.” But he answered, “I did not call you, my son. Go back to sleep.”  Samuel did not yet recognize the LORD, since the word of the LORD had not yet been revealed to him.

The LORD called Samuel again, for the third time. Getting up and going to Eli, he said, “Here I am. You called me.” Then Eli understood that the LORD was calling the youth.  So he said to Samuel, “Go to sleep, and if you are called, reply, ‘Speak, LORD, for your servant is listening.’”

When Samuel went to sleep in his place, the LORD came and stood there, calling out as before: Samuel, Samuel! Samuel answered, “Speak, for your servant is listening.””

God loves you so much that He is going to keep calling your name until 1) You realize who is calling you, 2) Someone informs you as to who is actually calling you. Or 3)…Actually, there is no 3).  God is not going to give up calling you BY NAME, until you respond to Him. 

You may be thinking, “This guy is a crazy stalker.”, but He’s not.  We just can’t comprehend the depth of love that the Lord has for you.  Stop and listen to the sweet melodious sound of His voice calling out your name.  Once you hear Him and recognize it is the Lord calling out to you, you will then be open to hearing what He has to offer you.

His offer of salvation and the blessing of having the privilege of sharing His salvation with others is a gift beyond comprehension.  We may think we know what His salvation means, but then, tomorrow comes and He reveals a new part of Himself to us.  It’s like a 10,000 piece jigsaw puzzle.  You receive just one piece at a time and in random order.  Each day you are gathering your pieces, desperately looking for pieces that fit together.  It’s okay to walk around the table and look at His pieces from different angles and perspectives.  Often, that’s what we need to do, before those pieces start coming together. 

Never stop searching!  Never stop choosing to experience His love and salvation!

Bless others and be blessed.

Shelly  :0)

If the Lord has touched you in some way with His message today, I ask that you pay it forward by sharing this message, so that you and He may also bless others.  Click subscribe to receive your message every Wednesday via email.

#JoshWilson – Revolutionary

😎🐫🎤 Christ’s peace and presence be with you.  I spent some of my Christmas gift money yesterday and bought myself six weeks of pietra fitness.  In my years, I’ve done multiple types of fitness classes and even had my Zumba instructor certification, but never had I ever taken fitness classes that encompassed Biblical readings, meditation, and prayer.  By the time I left the class, I was so relaxed.  Maybe a little too relaxed, because it was a challenge to stay awake driving home.  Going to a gym or working out was certainly not on my radar, not even the slightest blip, but the thought of a prayer, scripture, and meditation infused workout piqued my interest. 

In life, some of the best God given gifts are the ones we don’t know we need and would never ask for.  Be open, mind, body, and spirit to what God is giving you.  You won’t always recognize it at first sight, but be vigilant, He will reveal His gifts and presence in time.

If you haven’t already done so, take a few moments with your family to experience the Epiphany Home Blessing (use the link below).  Your home is an incredible gift from God that far too often goes unrecognized.  Take some time to share with God your gratitude, while at the same time, asking for blessings upon everyone that enters into your home.

Bless others and be blessed.

Shelly  :0)

If the Lord has touched you in some way with His message today, I ask that you pay it forward by sharing this message, so that you and He may also bless others.  Click subscribe to receive your message every Wednesday via email.

#EpiphanyHomeBlessing

Click to access Epiphany-Blessing-of-the-Home-2022.pdf

😎🐫🎤 Merry Christmas and Christ’s peace and presence be with you.  Wow, this past week just flew by and just like that, it’s 2024.  New year, new possibilities.  It seems like we hear that at the beginning of every year.  But have you heard this lately…New year, same God.  Yep, He is the same yesterday, today, and tomorrow.  He is also the provider of new possibilities.  Every day He provides you 24 hours worth of possibilities and each possibility is a call and opportunity for you to draw a little closer to Him.  You want to know what possibilities you have in store today, ask Him.  He’ll tell you.  Talk with Him, but also listen.  You can’t learn something new if you are the one constantly talking.  Quiet your mind and the noise and distractions around you.  Be at peace and soak in the possibilities.  Greatness in Christ awaits you.

Bless others and be blessed.

Shelly  :0)

If the Lord has touched you in some way with His message today, I ask that you pay it forward by sharing this message, so that you and He may also bless others.  Click subscribe to receive your message every Wednesday via email.

#NorthPointWorship – This is My Song

😎🐫🎤 Merry Christmas and Christ’s peace and presence be with you.  Driving between family visits on Christmas Eve, I spotted this license plate, JVS 5451.  My immediate thought was…Jesus vs Satan 54 – 51.  Christ wins by 3…Father Spirit Jesus!  What a great affirmation that was on Christmas Eve.

Yes, Christ chose to physically come into our world and experience all that we experience.  He chose to share in our joy, laughter, and love.  He CHOSE to feel the crushing blows of our sin, that brought Him to His knees, under its weight.  He CHOSE the striking blows of metal spikes being driven through His flesh, the thorns digging into his head, and the sword piercing His side.  HE CHOSE THEM ALL because He loves, which is a love beyond our comprehension. 

This time of year, we celebrate the birth of Christ, but what we are really celebrating is the salvation from our sins through His life and sacrificial death.  As people ask you what you received for Christmas, offer them the following answer.  In Christ’s birth I received an example to live by.  In His sacrificial death and resurrection, I received forgiveness and life eternal.  There is NO BETTER a gift than that.  Thank You Jesus!

Bless others and be blessed.

Shelly  :0)

If the Lord has touched you in some way with His message today, I ask that you pay it forward by sharing this message, so that you and He may also bless others.  Click subscribe to receive your message every Wednesday via email.

#PhillipsCraig&Dean – Great I Am

😎🐫🎤 Christ’s peace and presence be with you.  Have you ever stopped to think about how noise affects you?  I had an experience Sunday morning, that brought that thought to the forefront of my mind.  20 minutes prior to the start of Mass, our parish prays the Rosary.  We typically start with only a handful of us.  We are all in sync, in a low voice.  As more arrive for Mass, our voice gets stronger.  As even more arrive, the chatter picks up and our prayers are not as in sync and begin to blend into the chatter.  By the time we are praying the final decade of the Rosary, the chatter was so loud, I could hardly hear the parishioner that was leading the Rosary. 

It was during the fourth decade that I started thinking about how much noise affects use.  We used to live on a street that was a main cut through between neighborhoods and highly traveled by cars, as well as the police and fire vehicles, which is why we called it Fire Engine Alley.  I have said multiple times, how much better I sleep in our new house, because it’s so quiet.  It’s so easy to get lost in the noise of the day, get caught up in the hype, and not allow yourself, your brain, desperately needed downtime. 

Multiple times in the Bible we hear about Jesus going off to a quiet place to pray.  It was important for the Son of God to have that quiet time with the Lord.  He wasn’t always alone.  His disciples were nearby.  This is a very easy opportunity to become more like Christ.  Either by yourself or with family and friends close by, commit to allowing yourself the quiet time you need with the Lord.  Quiet time in a dimly lit church or chapel is probably my favorite time with God.  Being in the quiet of nature is a very close second. 

Christmas day is only 5 days away.  I imagine this time may be very busy days for most.  I strongly encourage you to proactively carve out needed quiet time for yourself and God.  Speak to Him and show Him that His sacrifice has not gone unnoticed.  Show Him your gratitude and appreciation for ALL that He does for you daily.    

I also encourage you to be bold in your faith and greet others with a confident “Merry Christmas”.

Bless others and be blessed.

Shelly  :0)

If the Lord has touched you in some way with His message today, I ask that you pay it forward by sharing this message, so that you and He may also bless others.  Click subscribe to receive your message every Wednesday via email.

#ElevationWorship – Quiet

😎🐫🎤 Christ’s peace and presence be with you.  Last week Brian and I were given a gift of time away from our normal routines and the opportunity to relax and reset.  We spent a week in Colorado.  What a beautiful place to experience God’s magnificence and beauty.  The Rocky Mountains are incredible.  For me, it really was a journey back to the type of relationship with God that I’d been missing this past year.  Yes, life pulls us in…Let me rephrase that…Yes, we allow life to pull us in directions away from a true, deep, meaningful, daily, and devoted relationship with God.  It’s very easy to say…”I’m too busy right now for that.” 

We arrived in Colorado on Friday evening.  Saturday morning, my sister, Elaine and I got to go to a women’s Advent retreat.  What a fabulous way to start my reset.  We all went to Mass on Sunday and then again on Thursday for the Feast of the Immaculate Conception of the Blessed Virgin Mary.  Three opportunities in one week to literally step out of the house and be with God at His house.  Actually, we made a fourth stop in God’s house last week.  When Brian and I were walking around the historic gold mining town of Leadville, we made a stop at Annunciation Catholic Church.  Mass was first celebrated at this church on 01/01/1880.  It was a beautiful moment to step back into history, but there is just such a peace, being able to spend time in a silent church with God.  I needed this reset and refresh with God more than I realized. 

When we made the reservation for this trip, I had no idea what God had in the works.  He showed up big time.  He is always a constant presence in mine and your lives, but this past week, I took my mind off of work and working on our home, which allowed so much more time to focus on my relationship with God.  That really felt good and was what I needed more than anything.  Elaine and Pete, thank you very much for listening to God’s call and inviting us to share this time in Colorado with you.

Bless others and be blessed.

Shelly  :0)

If the Lord has touched you in some way with His message today, I ask that you pay it forward by sharing this message, so that you and He may also bless others.  Click subscribe to receive your message every Wednesday via email.

#MercyMe – Spoken For