😎🐫Christ’s peace and presence be with you.  Wow! What an incredible two days with Jesus, participating in the National Eucharistic Pilgrimage – St. Elizabeth Ann Seton Route at St. Brigid Parish in Xenia, OH.  I have just a few pictures that I want to share with you here, but I also attached the link to the Cincinnati Catholic Telegraph that has more pictures from 07/01/2024.  I’m hoping the 07/02/2024 pictures will be added soon.

The first two pictures are of Jesus in the monstrance.  The first picture is from 07/01/2024 and the second is from 07/02/2024.  I took both pictures while Jesus was on an altar, completely shaded in a picnic shelter.  For both pictures, there was full sun out and I did not use a flash.  In the picture on 07/01/2024, it looks like the monstrance is glowing.

This next picture beautifully shows some of the hard work that went into preparing for Jesus’ arrival.  I honestly don’t know how many yards of colored pine mulch they used to honor our Lord and Mother Mary.  So many youth were involved in constructing these beautiful pieces of art.

This is just a portion of the pilgrimage line on 07/01/2024.

On 07/02/2024, we walked about 9 miles with Jesus, on the streets of Xenia, but mostly along the bike path.  It was absolutely incredible, the reverence most people showed as we passed by.  Some just kept on their way and I believe some thought we were a distraction and disruption in their travel.  But then there were others that paused and bowed their head, made the sign of the cross, knelt on the concrete in their work clothes, and some that cried as Jesus passed by. 

We laid a trail of rose pedals along the entire path.  I prayed that each pedal dropped was a lost soul that would turn and run back to Christ. 

Another honor I had, but don’t have a picture of and up until about 30 minutes prior to it happening didn’t know I was going to be doing, was that I had the privilege of being the left, front pole bearer of the canopy that covered Jesus and Fr. Blenman for about 2 miles of the pilgrimage.  What an absolute blessing and honor to stand in the position of covering/protecting Jesus and being prepared to defend Him, if anyone would have tried to attack.  Thank You Lord that the journey was peaceful!

I would like to share with you one more picture I took along the pilgrimage on 07/02/2024.  I know there is a lot of green in this picture, so look close.  There is a body of water in this picture, which is covered by a lot of scum, and has a beer bottle and water bottle floating in it.  I thought this was a perfect picture of what our life looks like when we don’t allow the living waters of Jesus Christ to flow through us.  We get all stopped up with trash and covered in scum.  When a body of water, which our human body is about 60% water, has a steady current and movement, scum doesn’t take over and trash passes through.  The cleanest, clearest, purest water is the living water that flows from Jesus Christ, to and through us.  Don’t allow your waters to become blocked, scummy, and full of trash.  You have a choice.  Seek Christ!

You still have two weeks before Jesus arrives at the National Eucharistic Congress in Indianapolis, Indiana on 07/17/2024.  Checkout the National Eucharistic Pilgrimage link below and if at all possible, walk a mile or two with 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.

#NationalEucharisticPilgrimage

https://www.eucharisticpilgrimage.org/

#CincinnatiCatholicTelegraph

Photo Essay: Jesus is Here!

#NationalEucharisticCongress

https://www.eucharisticcongress.org/

😎🐫🎤 Christ’s peace and presence be with you.  JESUS IS COMING!!!!!  July 1-2, 2024 the National Eucharistic Pilgrimage, St. Elizabeth Ann Seton Route will be making a stop and overnight stay at St. Brigid Parish in Xenia, OH.  This is super exciting and you have the opportunity to be a part of this historical moment.  I’m really at kind of a loss for words about this.  I don’t think anything I can say would even come close to what this experience will be.  There are some things in life that you just need to experience and I believe this is one.  I spoke with one of my sisters who was able to take part in the National Eucharist Pilgrimage on the St. Junipero Serra Route as they passed through Colorado.  It’s amazing, or maybe I should say God inspired how many people this pilgrimage will touch…How many lives will be changed. 

Two weeks ago, the expectation for the St. Brigid festivities was about 250 people for July 1^st and 225 for July 2^nd.  As of June 24^th, those numbers had grown to an expectation of 600+ people each day.  I believe God is calling even more to be there with Him.  If you don’t like to come to events unless you are personally invited, this is me personally inviting YOU to join me in experiencing Jesus’ true presence in the Holy Eucharist.  This is me inviting YOU to experience Jesus’ grace, forgiveness, and mercy.  This is me inviting YOU to come and adore Him during the overnight adoration from 6:30 PM July 1^st through 7:30 AM July 2^nd.  This is me inviting YOU to publicly walk with Christ 4:30 PM on July 1^st and following 7:30 AM Mass on July 2^nd.  Will you come to Him?

Click the National Eucharistic Pilgrimage link below to find out where you can meet Jesus on the road to the National Eucharistic Congress in Indianapolis, Indiana between now and July 17, 2024.  Find the Pilgrimage route close to you and experience Christ burning within your heart, as did the pilgrims who walked with Jesus on the road to Emmaus. 

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.

#CrystalLewis – People Get Ready

#NationalEucharistPilgrimage

https://www.eucharisticpilgrimage.org/

St. Brigid Parish Xenia, Ohio National Eucharistic Pilgrimage Registration

Click to access FINAL-2-St-Brigid-Pilgrimage-Detailed-Flyer.pdf

😎🐫🎤 Christ’s peace and presence be with you.  I would like to share one of this week’s aha moments with you, but first, you may have noticed that today’s post is later than normal.  I typically write my thoughts on Tuesday evening and have it set to be posted at midnight Wednesday morning.  Well, I had today off from work, so on Tuesday evening, my mind was kind of in weekend mode.  I don’t write my blog on the weekend, so it didn’t cross my mind.  This morning when I sent my good morning text to my girls, I realized it was Hump Day and I didn’t write my post yet.  It’s interesting how one change of thought or perspective can absolutely throw you our of sync. 

Now, to what I really wanted to share with you today.  It’s actually something that my dad sent out regarding St. Anthony of Padua.  One of the things that St. Anthony is known for is being the Patron Saint of Lost Things.  So, he is a source to pray to for assistance in trying to find your lost and misplaced things.  A few months back a non-Catholic friend and I were talking and St. Anthony can up in the conversation.  She then shared with me a rhyme/prayer that I didn’t remember hearing before.  “Tony, Tony look around, something is lost and must be found.”

Something else I didn’t know about St. Anthony, as stated in the Dynamic Catholic Saint of the Day link below, is that “…one of his most meaningful contributions was to make the complex theology of the Scriptures accessible to the common people. He used simple, relatable analogies to explain the teachings of Jesus. Using this approach, Anthony brought a remarkable number of lost people back to Jesus.”

As the story goes, the reason St. Anthony became to be known as the Patron Saint of lost things is because “Anthony had a book of psalms that he absolutely loved. One day, a monk stole the book and left the Franciscan community. Anthony prayed with all his might for its return, and soon the monk was struck by immense guilt and brought the book back. 

Soon after Saint Anthony of Padua’s death, people began praying to him whenever they deeply desired the return of a lost item. And this devotion broadened over the centuries.”

We actually were parishioners at St. Anthony parish for many years and my girls attended school there.  My husband was also received into the Catholic Church at St. Anthony parish.  So here is my aha moment for the week.  It never crossed my mind to pray for St. Anthony’s help for lost souls to find Jesus, but I am now.

Being that I’m so out of sync today, just for fun, I thought we should have an Nsync song to close us out.  Enjoy!

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.

#Nsync – I Want You Back

#DynamicCatholic – Saint of the Day, June 13

https://www.dynamiccatholic.com/saint-today-0613.html

😎🐫🎤 Christ’s peace and presence be with you.  I would like to offer you a portion of the first liturgical reading from Saturday, 06/08/2024.

2 Timothy 1-5: 1 I charge you in the presence of God and of Christ Jesus, who will judge the living and the dead, and by His appearing and His kingly power: 2 proclaim the word; be persistent whether it is convenient or inconvenient; convince, reprimand, encourage through all patience and teaching.

3 For the time will come when people will not tolerate sound doctrine but, following their own desires and insatiable curiosity, will accumulate teachers 4 and will stop listening to the truth and will be diverted by myths.

5 But you, be self-possessed in all circumstances; put up with hardship; perform the work of an evangelist; fulfill your ministry.

When I listened to this reading, regarding verses 3-4, I thought, “Wow, this this so true.  He (Paul) is talking about our current times.”  Unfortunately, many people throughout our history have probably said the same thing about this passage.  And even more unfortunate, I’m sure many more in the future will also say the same thing. 

Verses 3-4 are exactly why we need to take our commissioning in verses 2 and 5 seriously.  God never said our life, our work would be easy.  He did say that He would always be with us.  Faith is not a convenience; it is a choice that at times can be very challenging to live out.  For most, going to work and earning an income to care for yourself and your family is not always convenient and can be very challenging, but think how much time in our lives we dedicate to work.  Just a fraction of that time and dedication can go a very long way in your faith journey with the Lord. 

Call upon the Lord to speak clearly the commission He has for you, so that you may with confidence and conviction know that you are where God desires you to be, with those He has given you to evangelize to.  Don’t let the word evangelize scare you.  God has already stitched His word into every fiber of your being.  You have it all.  It has been given to you, that you may in turn give it, share it with others. 

Matthew 28: 19-20

Go, therefore, and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit, teaching them to observe all that I have commanded you.  And behold, I am with you always, until the end of the age.

Amen!

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.

#MattMaher – All the People Said Amen

😎🐫🎤 Christ’s peace and presence be with you.  Do you like to be in the presence of your friends?  I would guess most people would answer yes, but that could look very different for each person.  What do you like to do with your friends?  That could vary, depending on how long you’ve known each other and how well you know each other.  It could also vary based on the category of friend you’re thinking of, such as work, sibling, childhood, church, adventurous, chill, and so on.  In Dr. Emerson Eggerichs’ Love and Respect program, he discusses face to face and side by side relationships.  Depending on if you want to engage with someone or if you are perfectly content just being in each other’s presence without hardly a word spoken, may also play a factor in who you might contact to spend time with.  Sometimes we choose to spend time with someone, just in case they may need us, such as during the end stages of someone’s life.    

Last Sunday was the Feast of Corpus Christi, in which we celebrate the most Holy Body and Blood of Jesus Christ in the Holy Eucharist.  In Bishop Robert Barron’s homily for Corpus Christi Sunday, he spoke of the power of Eucharistic Adoration.   Eucharistic Adoration is something I’m still new at.  I’m still in that discovery phase of this relationship and find myself wanting to go back to learn a little more each time. 

Eucharistic Adoration is one of those events, moments, experiences, that I could tell you the details of, but is hard to fully comprehend until you experience it.  Something that I greatly appreciate about our family of parishes is that they offer many opportunities during the week for Eucharistic Adoration.  I find that my time spent in Eucharistic Adoration is a combination of a face to face, engaging relationship and a side by side, quiet presence.  There are times when much is being spoken, plans are being laid out, and concerns and fears are being discussed.  There are other times fully engulfed in silence, which could be me waiting on God or God waiting on me to engage with Him.  In all reality, there are also plenty of times in which my mind wonders off and I have to reign my thoughts in, hence God waiting on me.  At Mass Sunday, during his homily, Fr. Lee said nothing has changed the world as much as the Body and Blood of Christ in the Holy Eucharist.  I don’t know if that is something that could quantifiably be determined, but by faith I believe.  There are truths in this world that will only be revealed by and through God the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit.  Which is why it is so important that we open ourself to and commit to spending time with God.  Go ahead and schedule date night with God right now.  Seriously, put Him on your calendar.  Plan something special for Him.  Be creative.  Will it surprise Him…no, but He’ll be excited and you just might surprise yourself. 

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.

#Dr.EmersonEggerichs – Love and Respect

#BishopBarron – The Power of Eucharistic Adoration

#St.MichaeltheArchangelFamilyofParishes

😎🐫🎤 Christ’s peace and presence be with you.  When I sat down to write to you, I didn’t hear what God wanted me to share with you.  So, I put the computer down and went outside to do some mowing.  I kept requesting of the Lord, “Give me the words you want me to share.”  By the time I finished mowing, I did not hear his reply.  I cleaned the mower then gathered some pruning tools to clean up a tree and bush.  While I worked, I continued to request of the Lord, “Give me the words you want me to share.” 

As I started to clean up the clippings and tools, the message was clear.  He simply wanted me to share with you the link below.  It is a link I came across months ago and saved, knowing that I was meant to share it with you one day.  It is 3 hours and 42 minutes of instrumental worship and prayer music with occasional Bible quotes displayed.  I believe those are the words God wanted me to share with you today.  I would recommend that you save this link so that you can come back to it time and again like I do.  The music is so soothing and comforting.  The video is absolute proof of God’s amazing work.  The Bible quotes are God’s words for you in this moment. 

The funny thing about this was that I kept asking the Lord to give me the words he wanted me to share, then when I opened the link, the title was “Wait on The Lord…”  In deed I did.

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.

#DivineMelodies – Wait on The Lord: In The Secret Place| Instrumental Worship & Prayer Music with Autumn Scene

😎🐫🎤 Christ’s peace and presence be with you.  The past 2 ½ weeks have certainly been a lesson in patience.  Brian and I planned to take May 6^th – 10^th off work to, 1) Kill weeds, level our lot, seed it, fertilize, and cover it with straw.  2) Add gravel to the driveway and level it.  The big rental equipment, top soil, and gravel delivery arrangements were confirmed.  Gravel work began on May 3^rd.  Earthwork began on May 4^th.  Multiple equipment malfunctions caused work stoppage and stress levels to rise.  The morning of May 7^th the rains came in and continued for a few days.  We couldn’t work on the lot, so I went back to work for the rest of the week.  By the evening of May 9^th, this is what the back of our lot looked like.

Needless to say, we needed a few days of good weather, to get this “lake” dried up.  May 13^th we were back at it.  Brian was able to get most of the lot slice seeded.  We put starter fertilizer down, and spread 20 bales of straw, which only covered about 1/6^th of what needed to be covered.  May 14^th the rains returned and our project was once again put on a weather hold.  But check out this amazing sunset from May 17^th.

My daughter Lori commented, “The sky has some good lawn lines.”  That cracked me up.  As a result of our lawn care and landscaping business days, my girls have come to appreciate a lawn with good mowing lines.  I like to think this sunset was God showing me His blessing was upon our lawn.   

On May 19^th we were able to get heavy equipment on the lot again, so we rented a straw blower.  We overseeded most of the lot and blew around 60 bales of straw.  On May 21^st we received another truck of topsoil and were able to start backfilling around the back porch and sidewalk. 

I’m happy to say, the seed we planted on May 13^th has started to come up.  Thank You Lord!  During this process, I have certainly gained a greater appreciation for farmers.  Our little seeds are changing from seeds to grass, which will eventually become a lawn.  In a like manner, those seeds of patience the Lord is planting in me will spring forth new life and allow me to better server the Lord.  As I’ve heard people say many times before, you should never pray for patience.  Patience isn’t something you just get.  It’s something you learn through the experiences and trials you encounter.

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.

#HereIAmWorshipBand – Purpose, Patience, Presence

😎🐫🎤 Christ’s peace and presence be with you.  Happy Easter!  Sunday is Mother’s Day and an opportunity for us to celebrate our moms.  My mom turned 80 this year.  Mom and Dad are celebrating their 60^th anniversary this year.  And I have been blessed to have a fabulous mom for 56 years.  As I sit here and think through things Mom has done for me, as well as my sisters and brother, there are just too many to count.  One memory leads to the next, which brought to mind one of my favorite memories, although I don’t think I’ve ever told Mom this.  After completing my initial Air Force trainings, I had the opportunity to come home for a visit, pack up some of my items, and drive my car to my permanent duty station 18 hours way.  Mom volunteered to make that drive with me and then fly back home.  That was the first time I made a road trip like that.  We talked.  We sang.  We saw things we’d never seen before.  We ate at a little diner, in what seemed to be in the middle to nowhere. 

Those seem like pretty normal things, so what made this memory so special? 

It was the one-on-one time with Mom.  It was Mom looking out for me and wanting to make sure I got to my destination safely.  It was Mom, just being Mom, which gave me a sense of comfort and peace as I said good bye to my childhood and headed into the unknow adult life that was awaiting me.  To put it in one word, it was Mom’s love that made that road trip and the memory of it, so special to me.

Love is sacrificially choosing the good of someone else over self.  In one word, Mom is love.  Thank you Mom!

To this day, road trips are one of my favorite things to do and I think it all stems from that first road trip with Mom.

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.

😎🐫🎤 Christ’s peace and presence be with you.  Happy Easter and welcome to May, the month of Mother Mary.  Yes, we get to celebrate her all month.  Luke 1:28 – 33: ^‘And he (the angel Gabriel) came to her (Mary) and said, “Greetings, O favored one, the Lord is with you!”  But she was greatly troubled at the saying, and tried to discern what sort of greeting this might be.  And the angel said to her, “Do not be afraid, Mary, for you have found favor with God.  And behold, you will conceive in your womb and bear a son, and you shall call his name Jesus.  He will be great and will be called the Son of the Most High.  And the Lord God will give to Him the throne of His father David, and He will reign over the house of Jacob forever, and of His kingdom there will be no end.”’

Wow!  That is a lot to take in and discern.  Did you notice there was not a question being asked.  Gabriel just laid out to Mary how it was going to be.  I wonder how long a pause there was before Mary asked, “How will this be, since I am a virgin?” – Luke 1:34.  Seriously, I admire Mother Mary.  At a very young age, she chose to partner with God and take on the world, for the sake and salvation of the world. 

Most people, I would think, have some aspirations to want to change the world in some way, be it small or large.  Like Mary, when the opportunities are presented to us, we each have the opportunity to respond as Mary did, “Behold, I am the servant of the Lord; let it be to me according to your word.”  – Luke 1:38. 

Do you have enough faith and trust in the Lord, to be able to respond to His call in such a manner?  What would it take to get you to the point of being able to say yes to anything and everything that God asked you to do?  None of us truly know the answer to that question, but I believe it all starts with a relationship.  Your relationship with the Lord.  When you have a solid, interactive, trusting relationship with the Lord, you are more willing to accept His words and go where He guides you. 

What is missing from your relationship with the Lord?  When you discern that question, truly focus on Him, not excuses, past events, or people who have said or done something to “turn” you away from God.  Yes, God is in each and every one of us, but we are not God.  Talk with Him.  Grow with Him.  Desire to be in His presence.  By seeking a greater relationship with the Lord, you have everything to gain.  Although you may also experience some loss.  Some side effects of having a greater relationship with the Lord may include: Loss of stress.  Loss of pain and hurt.  Loss of anxiety.  Loss of doubt.  Loss of blindness.  Loss of deafness.  Loss of death as you come back to life.

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.

#MatthewWest&JennJohnson – I Trust Jesus

😎🐫🎤 Christ’s peace and presence be with you.  Happy Easter!  Something that I’ve been thinking quite a bit about lately is the Sacrament of Confession.  I’ve never been comfortable with this sacrament, but maybe that’s the point.  Yes, I get uncomfortable thinking about my sins, but that doesn’t even come close to how uncomfortable Jesus felt when He was being whipped, beaten, and nailed to the cross for me.  Confession is not a punishment, it’s a gift, an opportunity to examine my actions, lack of action, and thoughts, to see where I can do better in my life, to fully become all He made me for and to fully choose to return to God, our Father.  It’s a gift to intentionally verbalize my sin and ask for His pardon and absolution. 

As I was reading through an examination of conscience two things occurred to me.  1) I’m as guilty as the next person in the fact that we as a society have rationalized sin and watered it down to the point that our eyes and conscience become blind to all that sin is.  Those “little” sins just get tucked away and forgotten.  They don’t really matter, right?  Wrong!  They do matter, which brings me to my next point.  2) When I sat down to think about all my sins, there were a lot more than I want to admit. 

Yes, the Sacrament of Confession is humbling.  It is freeing.  It is God’s love once again reaching out to us to say, “Come and be with Me.  I want to be with you and hold you close.”

Sin just sucks.  I wish I had the will power and strength to choose good over sin every time.  When those moments strike, maybe it’s time I quit wishing and started praying.    

I’m not sure if you’ve experience this or not, but the Sacrament of Confession makes me think of an oil change in my car.  The contaminates in the oil slowly build up, changing it from a golden honey color to black.  It goes unnoticed because you rarely raise the hood to check its condition.  Left unchecked, it can cause permanent damage.  But, as soon as you purge that nasty oil from the car and fill it anew with fresh oil, yes you can see the difference, but you can also feel the difference in how the car runs. 

Lift the hood, check the oil, and purge the nasty.  Refill and refresh with God’s love.  Your days will run smoother.  Guaranteed!

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.

#MatthewWest – Mended