The Intentional Disciple

to all who are so-called 'Believers

in Name Only'  who superficially 

follow Me - picking and choosing 

what to believe and following their 

own way not My Way - the World's

word not My Word...the time 

has come to Change your mind / 

heart...Repent and Believe the

Gospel...decide to take the next step

in your walk with Me...for the

enemy has been moving in new 

ways to attack the Kingdom of God -

True is false and false is True...

marriage / family life redefined...

fake ideologies @ human nature 

which jeopardizes innocent children...

Godless theories which divide 

races...fostering the murder of 

children and the suicide of the

elderly and sick...and moe "I"

than "Thou"...there will be no 

end to the evil unless you take a 

stand to fight in My Name...first to 

Witness to to My Resurrection

by living the Gospel Message -

be intentional...deliberate...seeking 

to put Me first in your life...building

your life and families on the firm 

foundation of My Word and Church

Teaching thus bringing Order and 

Peace into your lives...it is My Spirit

that will lead and strengthen you 

with His Gifts and Fruits especially

to Love as I Love...it is under His

Guidance and Power that you ar

to serve in My Kingdom...be aggressive

in overcoming any complacency 

with the sin / habits / weaknesses

in your personal / family life which 

keep you back from becoming the 

disciple I call you to be...I am ready 

to help you to win the victory...so....

ask yourselves: are you seeking

Me daily...studying My Word...

receiving My Body / Blood / spending

time in My Presence...calling each

other on in fellowship...laying down

your life in service...leaning how to

defend the Truth / Faith by Speaking

My Word in Love...if you do not have

the time...Make the time...for soon

the enemy and his minions will be

coming for you / family so...you

need to be ready / prepared for the

battle...have you received the Anointing

of My Holy Spirit? / asked for His

Gifts?...are you using those Gifts

daily? if you do not understand then

seek and you will find...do you 

understand how the enemy is 

trying to attack you and your 

family?...how to fight with the 

the tactics of the evil one?.. learn

how to fight with the Authority I

have given you...the time is now

do not wait any longer...put on the

whole Armor of God for your 

Enemy is like a roaring lion seeking

someone to devour so...do not be 

his next meal....

Reflection / Discussion:

-Have you committed your life to Christ?

-Are you complacent about your Christian life...

  continuing problem areas in your personal...

  family.. spiritual life? If so, change...by Grace alone. 

-Do you have a consistent prayer life, Scripture 

 reading, Spiritual reading ie daily? 

 If not, start.

-If you do not have a support system, find one.

-Are you continually learning about your faith?

 If not, start.

-Do you have a short personal testimony ready?

 If not, get one. 

-Learn about Spiritual Warfare and use it. 

The Jesus Prayers

Lord Jesus Christ, Son of God,

have Mercy on me, a sinner.

Lord Jesus Christ, Son of God, 

Keep me in Your Presence. 

Lord Jesus Christ, Son of God,

Set my mind on You.

Lord Jesus Christ, Son of God,

Set my heart on You.

Lord Jesus Christ, Son of God,

Make me One with You.

Lord Jesus Christ, Son of God,

I Believe in You.

Lord Jesus Christ, Son of God,

I Adore You.

Lord Jesus Christ, Son of God,

I Hope in You.

Lord Jesus Christ, Son of God, 

I Love You. 

Lord Jesus Christ, Son of God 

I Trust in You.

Lord Jesus Christ, Son of God,

I need You..

Lord Jesus Christ, Son of God 

I depend on You.

Lord Jesus Christ, Son of God,

Thank You for Your Love. 

Lord Jesus Christ, Son of God,

Thank you for Choosing me.

Lord Jesus Christ, Son of God,

Thank you for your Mercy.

Lord Jesus Christ, Son of God,

Thank you for your Grace. 

Lord Jesus Christ, Son of God, 

Be my Lord and Savior.

Lord Jesus Christ, Son of God, 

Be First in my life. 

Lord Jesus Christ, Son of God, 

Be my Peace.

Lord Jesus Christ, Son of God, 

Be my Joy.

Lord Jesus Christ, Son of God, 

Fill me with Your Spirit.

Lord Jesus Christ, Son of God, 

Help me to Live in Awe of You.

Lord Jesus Christ, Son of God, 

Help me To Love with Your Love. 

Lord Jesus Christ, Son of God, 

I am Yours.

Lord Jesus Christ, Son of God, 

Make my life always be about 

Thee not me.

Reflection / Discussion:

-The Jesus Prayer is meant to provide a simple

 way to praise / worship / Be in His Presence

 wherever you are and whatever you're doing.

-Which prayer touched your heart? Why?

-How can you make these prayers part of you daily life?

-Do you have any prayers you want to add to the list? Just do it!

-Simply Speak His Name in Lore.

The Transformation Prayer

                          

          

                Romans 12: 1-2  

         I appeal to you therefore, brothers and sisters, by the mercies of God, 

         to present your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and acceptable to God,

         which is your spiritual worship.  Do not be conformed to this world, but be 

         transformed by the renewal of your mind, so that you may discern what 

         is the will of God- what is good and acceptable and perfect.

 

                   Lord Jesus...Pour out your Holy Spirit upon me so that 

                   I may be Transformed by the Renewal of my Mind to..

                   Think + as You Think

                 

                   See + as You See

                   Hear + as You Hear

                   Speak + as You Speak

                   Love + as You Love

                   that we may be One...I in You...and...You in me...

                   Come Holy Spirit...Come...  Amen...May it be so...

       Reflection / Discussion:

      - Ask the Holy Spirit how does He wants to Renew your mind.

      - Evaluate how you're doing at loving service.

      - What does surrendering to Jesus mean to you? 

      - How can reading / praying with Scripture aid in this process.

      - Evaluate how you spend your time with media and ask Jesus about it.

      - How can you grow in this Transformation?

      -  How do your relationships help / hinder this Transformation?vice to others.

      - Ask / Seek / Knock for what you need...Expect Answers...

The Bottom Line

the Battle within and around us

is Real - a Spiritual War...it is

always Raging though sometimes

quietly unobserved especially 

when lost in ourselves or too

distracted by everyday affairs 

but still...in everything...top to 

bottom...it affects our Culture...

Politics...Work...Churches...Schools...

Family....every relationship 

close or far...in every decision -

minimally or greatly -.but especially 

ones that can determine our Eternal 

Destination which BTW isn't a 

'slam dunk' even if you are a 

Disciple since you still have a 

'free will' and you are a 'fallen

creature' and you have an Enemy

who is a deceiver / liar / murderer...

knows your weaknesses and

is 'out to get you'...so...be alert..

just sayin'...so...how do you navigate

life when you're in a Battle...a 

Spiritual War?...what should your 

attitude be?...your 'modus operandi' 

when so much is at stake and you're 

in a 'minority' - which Disciples of 

Jesus are...and if you haven't 

thought about that you're in much dire

circumstances than you realize...so

what is the Bottom Line to Life?

Simply...'Not me but...Thee'...

whereas the world ie that which 

is in the hands of the Enemy...says

'me...me...me'...so...our Focus - in 

Everything...Everyday...By Grace -

not just 'trying harder' - needs to be...

Not what I want but what You Want...

Not my will but Your Will...

Not my word but Your Word...

Not my love but Your Love...

Not caught-up in my world but Yours...

Not my power but Yours...

Not my kingdom but Yours...

Not my glory but Yours..

Not depending on me...but...Thee

for You are the Source of Life...the

Beginning and the End...First and

the Last...Not me...So....Everyday...

in Everything...Ask...Seek...

Listen and Follow...Put Jesus 

First...before everyone else...before

yourself...your main Focus...In Every 

Circumstance is to Abide in His Presence..

By Grace Surrendering I to Thou..

let That be your Heart's Desire and

Make this simple Prayer your 

'Bottom Line'...Pray with me...

'Lord Jesus...Please Help me...

By Your Grace...Make my life be...

Today...Now...Always... Not all

about me...but...All About...THEE'...

Reflection / Discussion:

-Take some quiet time to evaluate your life according to the 'Bottom Line'.

-What areas / relationships in your life are you living more 'me than Thee'?

-Visa Versa?

-Pray about a 'plan of action'...ask Him what He wants...

-Make your Daily Prayer time and Scripture Reading a priority if it's not already.

-Don't try to do everything at once...one area at a time...

-Get help if you need it.

-He is Lord and Savior...you're not...

-He Loves you more than you know...

The Abiding

it is My Desire that you

Abide in Me...

always and everywhere

for that is where you have

been Created to Be...where

you will Flourish as Children

of the Father...it is My Spirit

that Empowers you to Rest

in Me and Receive a taste of 

My Eternal Joy and Peace

as you become more and more

One with Me in Mind and 

Heart...it is both your Calling

and Battle - Life in Me and 

death to self in this world of                                                                                                                   

chaos and confusion made

so by humanity's Fall from 

Original Grace when the evil 

one's deceptions lured them to 

choose selfish pride instead of 

Selfless Love thus sealing a

fatal inheritance of a wounded

nature racked by conflict

where passions are like 

wild stallions running this way

and that attracted by evil ends

resistant to control from 

a weakened will and a mind

clouded and blinded subject to 

error in a body now sentenced

to deterioration and death 

under the dominant influence 

of the evil one who relentlessly                                            

seeks to remove your focus                     

on Me and turn you inward                      

upon yourself thus bringing

the disorder of the world into 

Our Sacred Space - it is a 

Spiritual Battle which rages for 

the minds and hearts of All who 

have been Created...it rages 

within and without...false teachers 

promoting false doctrines created to 

captivate and lure the unsuspecting and 

naive into the darkness of doom

dressed in rays of light weaved

together from strands of both 

true and false words until 

Reality cannot be distinguished

from unreality by disordered

feelings leading round and

round until it is halted by 

death and eternal destiny is

decided...so.

Resist these temptations by

My Grace and so Remain in 

Me as I Remain in you for it 

is in Me that you find your True

Self as a Son / Daughter of

the Father...where you find 

your True Affirmation as 

One Beloved by the Father 

Called to Share Our Divine

Nature now and Forever

I have Given you All that you

need in the Battle of Life 

and Death...My Word is 

Light and Truth...My Spirit

is Power to Discern and 

Live in that Word...to 

Speak the Truth in Love...to

Carry the Cross of Love 

and Truth - even to Die

there as a Witness to My

Victory over the Chaos

and Confusion of Sin /

Death - My Resurrection to

Eternal Life...so...Abide in Me

and I in you...then...Stand!..

for I AM the Resurrection and 

the Life...the One who Brings 

Shalom...Wholeness..as it was 

in the Beginning when all is 

well as it is supposed to Be...

Reflection / Discussion:

-What does it mean to 'Abide' in the Lord?

-How can we make that the 'normal' for our lives?

-What habits can we form to do that?

-What is a 'quick' way to get back into His Presence?

-One way is the 'Jesus Prayer'...what is that?

-What are some of the 'lies / deceptions' in the world that 

 cause 'chaos / confusion'?

-How can we combat them?

-How do you 'speak the Truth in Love'?

-How should our 'feelings / intellect / will' work together in us to

 keep us in His Presence?

The Dialogue Continues

 so...Lord Jesus...where are we going?

You'll see...

Well...if you don't mind, can you just tell me?

Sure...we're going Home...

You mean...NOW??

No...but...Eventually... 

Well...I mean...NEXT...because I don't recognize any of this and... I'm not sure I like what I'm seeing...

I understand...but...don't worry...you'll get used to it...

Well...I just like to know where I'm going so I don't get lost...

You mean like the other day when you took the wrong turn and wasted a half-hour trying to get back on track?

Ahh...yeah something like that...

You ask a lot of questions...got to have it all figured out and be 'in control' don't you? 

Well...yeah I like it that way...it helps me to feel more secure about things...

Ok...some basics...remember when I said to my Disciples that one needs to receive the Kingdom as a little child?...well, that's what this is all about...

Oh...but I thought that was more a 'figure of speech'...I'm not a kid anymore and I've got some 'baggage' to unpack so...

So...you think I don't know that? You're the same as everyone else when it comes to the Kingdom...you have to learn to let go of your 'old ways' and learn to live the 'Kingdom ways'...

Like what?

Well...like what you keep your eyes on...for instance...in the Kingdom it doesn't matter if something is familiar or not because your FOCUS is on ME not your circumstances...those will always be changing but I never will...I'm the same yesterday...today...and forever...so...your Security is in Me...not your circumstances...that's .the FIRST lesson... it's all based on TRUST...like a Mom or Dad taking their child for a walk...the child's not worried...they know they're LOVED...so...all's well...

Well...OK...I know that you Love me...I'm not questioning that...but I just get 'triggered' sometimes by different things that bring up... stuff from the past that make me feel somewhat 'insecure' or like I have to 'prove' or 'protect' myself...it's like I can't help feeling that way...so I feel like I'm 'on my own' to 'figure it out' and 'get it done'...

Yes, I know...all my Disciples have wounds to deal with and that is part of the Journey...part of why I focus so much upon GRACE and the POWER of My Spirit because right now no one can see things clearly and all must live by FAITH - not by sight...and that is why it is so important for you to be in Daily Contact with Me...it is all part of becoming a NEW CREATION...having the 'Old' pass away and the 'New' come into being...It comes about by the 'RENEWAL OF YOUR MIND'...

That's a lot to deal with...more than I can sort out right now...that's for sure...

Right...but you don't have to... so...don't try...It'll just make you more 'introspective'...more 'gerbil wheel' spirituality than 'I AND THOU'...Again...Keep you eyes on Me...I LOVE you...I DO have a PLAN for your life...you CAN Trust Me...

Yeah...-I know what you mean about 'gerbil wheels'...been there done that...

I know...that's why I'm saying all this...Look...I know it's not easy...it's all part of the CROSS...part of living in a fallen world with the consequences of a fallen nature and being in a Spiritual Battle with an Enemy who knows your weaknesses...but I have OVERCOME IT ALL...

Whew...OK...So, what now?

Two more things and that'll be it for now...but...remember...that when I ask something of you...I am always giving you the GRACE to do it especially when it seems beyond your abilities / power to do...So FIRST..SURRENDER...Give yourself over to Me...that shows your TRUST...and then when the Enemy tempts you with whatever...useless thoughts...vain dreads...anxious imaginations...even appealing to your weakened flesh...just come into MY PRESENCE - just BE with Me - and give the temptation over to Me...I helps when you whisper My Name and bypass your mind by 'praying like the angels' while Uniting your heart with Mine....you are Giving everything over to Me...Remember...I will WALK with you...your are NOT ALONE...we'll deal with everything together..

.SECONDLY...BE THANKFUL...everyday...for everything...even for the difficult challenges because I especially use them in your life to help you Grow as My Disciple...there is nothing like GIVING THANKS to help you keep your FOCUS upon Me... It changes your outlook...Day by Day...One Day at a Time...So...Just like a 'little child'...We go hand In Hand...On our way....HOME...TOGETHER...

Ok...I'll really try to do those things everyday...Oh...and speaking of Hands...I noticed You still have your Wounds...do they hurt?...

Not any more...

Well, you're supposed to have a New Body so then why do You still have your Wounds?

Well... They're now just part of Who I AM...they show what's in My Heart for you...and...just like you... they'll always be with Me...Now...Let's continue our Journey...We've got a ways to go...

Reflection / Discussion:

-What struck you about this poem? Why?

-How can you apply to your walk with the Lord?

-Are 'useless thoughts...vain dreads...anxious imaginations temptations in your life? How?

-What is 'gerbil wheel' spirituality?

-How can you grow each day to: 1. BE in His Presence 2. be Thankful? 

-How does this poem describe dealing with temptations?

-What is 'praying like the angels' mean?

-How does it help realizing Jesus still has signs of His Wounds? 

-How does 'Grace' fit into all this?

-Do you ever feel like you have to prove yourself? If so, how do you 

 deal with that 'in the Lord'?

The Poison

I see your wounds...

I know how you have been 

hurt...each has impacted your life...

yes... you have been changed

and no...you didn't deserve

to be treated that way whether

by sins of commission or omission 

they were egregious....plain and simple...

it was wrong...but...still...I call 

you to Forgive...not for their sake

but for yours...Unforgiveness

is a Poison for your soul...

it's as if when you consume the

contents of its cup you expect 

your offender to die...but...it does 

nothing to punish the transgressor...

they could care less...it only destroys 

the one who imbibes its toxicity 

in a futile attempt at an execution 

of justice but whose caustic fruit 

blossoms on your tree of bitterness 

deformed from its diseased roots -

demons' deceptions / accusations /

lies falsely promising retribution

for your offender but in reality

you are the only one who reaps

the dark harvest in your soul -

not only in this life but jeopardizing

the next...so...yes...Forgive as I 

Forgive you...be Merciful as 

you have received My Mercy...

that is the Antidote for the Poison 

of Unforgiveness... and....notice...

I did not say 'Trust'...that must be

earned...but...if you do not Forgive...

how then can you expect Me to Forgive 

you?...the Fruit of Forgiveness allows 

you to no longer be oppressed by 

resentment...repressed hatred...

suppressed victimhood and the

triggered emotions which erupt 

at any given moment...think about

this.. who has been more Unjustly 

treated than I?...despised / rejected /

mocked / cruelly tortured...Profanity 

of Profanities -The Son of God...

Crucified! - yet even in My 

weakened humanity I asked My 

Father to Forgive them...so...This is 

My Offer to you...Grace to... Forgive...

Let go of your offender's punishment...

Pour out the cup of poison...

Give your offender over to Me...

Trusting Me to Heal your wounds 

no longer being infected by your 

sins of hatred / revenge.. but...what 

of your pain?...the suffering thrust 

upon you?...the hurtful memories 

arriving without notification?...the 

struggles to let go?...your feelings 

of frustration at your perpetrator's 

lack of repentance?... Know that -

even here - I make all things 

work for good for those who

Love Me...I Offer you the 

Opportunity to Join your suffering

with My Passion for the sake of 

those you love...a Deeper Union 

of  our Hearts...a Transformation

for the sake of the Kingdom...

and Know as well that I AM the 

Just One...the One who brings Justice -

whether in this life or the next -

My Grace is Offered to All - both

to Repent and to Forgive - for

All have sinned and fallen short

from the Glory of the Father...

I Am the Way...Truth...Life...

Each is Free to Come to My

Merciful Throne...so...carefully 

Consider and Choose...It is 

Freedom if you Receive...A 

Painful Captivity if you Refuse...

Reflection / Discussion:

-Why is it crucial for your well-being to forgive?

-Why is it difficult to forgive?

-What is the relationship between your feelings and your will in forgiving?

-Have you experienced the Grace to Forgive? How?

-Have you experienced the poison of unforgiveness? How?

-How does 'letting go' of an Offender bring healing?

-If you have sinned against anyone and not repented to them...ask for Grace and take care of it.

-How does this poem describe 'Redemptive Suffering'? 

-Have you experienced that?  How?

The Tyranny

feelings are your servants

not your tyrannical masters

dictating true / false / right / 

wrong no matter the rational

objection nor evidence to the 

contrary...which necessarily

follows from the argument that - 

strictly speaking - they are YOUR 

feelings and therefore YOUR truth...

others may disagree but that is THEIR 

truth - not yours - because that is how 

YOU feel and that's all that matters...

others must respect that...accept you 

as you are...in fact...celebrate your 

truth...and, if they don't...they're simply 

'haters' / 'bigots' since they can't tell 

you what is true for you...only you can... 

because...who are they to judge?.. and 

of course...all truth is relative which is 

absolutely true!...or...is it?...step back...

examine your past decisions...actions...

feelings. whether it's about identity...

relationships...morality...politics..

career...finances...big or little things...

have you ever changed your mind about 

an important matter?  or felt impelled to 

do something which felt 'right' even 

though it might be 'risky' and then later

regretted it? or... gotten angry at someone 

for what they said / wrote because you 

thought they meant one thing when they 

really didn't mean that at all?... feelings

change...truth / objective reality does not...

but just because someone feels something

is true does not just 'make it true'...

many factors can influence your 

feelings such as making assumptions...

mood swings....alcohol / drugs...

not enough sleep...stress from work /

relationships.....incorrect information....

jumping to conclusions...lies from 

someone's agenda...the reality is that 

feelings provide data to our intellects which 

then need to be discerned / examined / 

evaluated  by our reason to put them 

into the proper perspective - many times 

with the help of others who can provide

us with other facts / data that perhaps we 

haven't considered / known / realized - so 

we can finally make a decision with our 

wills...feelings change...truth does not...

you may love red and blue and have no 

fear of heights but 'feeling like you can fly'?....

hmmm...let's see...no....better postpone 

your test flight for now....at least until 

you take some lessons starting.at the 

bottom of the steps!....again...you may

feel like...not studying for your finals /

skipping your scheduled court appearance

for a moving violation...not...paying your 

rent / car payment / taxes or that somehow

were born in the wrong body and you

need to start treatments to change your

body to 'look how you feel' and then

everything will be 'right'  but then

what about all those who 'de-transition'?... 

feelings / emotions need to be put 

into their proper place in our lives...

put to the test...they are an important part 

of our human nature but are not what sets

us apart from other creatures...our

intellect and will - the ability to reason 

and freely choose are our highest faculties - 

our greatest dignity - feelings / emotions 

change  / can be fickle...influenced by a 

plethora of factors ...open to the lies of

the evil one...the unbelieving world or even

our own illusions... so do not build your life 

around them...carefully examine them to 

determine their source...why do I feel this 

way?...is what I feel true 'objectively' not

 just 'subjectively'? what are the 'facts' 

behind my feelings?....when did they start?

what was going on then?...what is really 

going on now?...and don't be afraid to get 

help from someone who will not just 'tell you

what you want to hear' but who is wise and 

will be honest with you and who isn't just

being 'politically correct'...feelings play an 

important role in our lives but do not make 

them 'gods' which command you to obey at

all costs...let truth be your guide...truth that

doesn't depend on how you feel today...

make more measured - rational - responses 

rather than emotional - irrational - reactions...

more in-control than out-of-control...

servants...not masters....

Dictionary Definitions:

-'Reason': verb- to think or argue in a logical manner: to form conclusions, judgments or inferences

                  from facts or premises.

-'Irrational': not in accordance with reason; utterly illogical

-'Emotion': an affective state of consciousness in which joy, sorrow, fear, hate or the like is 

                     experienced, as distinguished from cognitive and volitional states of consciousness

-'Obsess': to dominate one's thoughts or feelings or desires: haunt persistently or abnormally

-'Discern': to perceive by the sight or some other sense or by the intellect

-'Logic': the system or principles of reasoning applicable to any branch of knowledge or study

-'Data': individual facts, statistics, or items of information 

-'Fact':  something that actually exists, reality, truth

-True': being in accordance with the actual state or conditions, conforming to reality or fact, not false

-'False': not true or correct, erroneous

-'Illusion': something that deceives by producing a false or misleading of reality

-'Real': true, not merely ostensible, nominal or apparent: being an actual thing, having objective 

              existence not imaginary

-'Objective': adjective- not influenced by personal feelings, interpretations or prejudices: based on 

                      facts external to the mind rather than thoughts or feelings.

-'Subjective':  adjective- existing in the mind, belong to the thinking subject rather than object of                                   thought

-'Relative': existing or having its specific nature only in relation to something else

-'Absolute': free from restriction or limitation; not limited in any way

-'Tyranny': arbitrary or unrestrained exercise of power; despotic abuse of authority.

Reflection / Discussion:

-What is 'the tyranny'?
-What does "feelings are our servants...not our masters" mean

-Why do people have different feelings about an objective fact?

-Why do 'feelings' change? 

-If you feel something is true, can it still be objectively false? Why / not?

-What is the proper place of 'feelings' in making decisions?
-What determines something is "true or false"?

-How would you teach young children the art of making a decision?

-Give a simple example where danger / attraction are factors. 

The Surprise

it may Surprise you that I

Really Look Forward to being

With you in that Special Way

each time you come to receive 

Me in the Holy Eucharist...

Everything is Personal for Me...

I Know you...everything about 

you...your strengths / weaknesses... 

what was going on before you arrived...

where you sit...who is with you...

around you...I know your thoughts...

what is on your heart / mind that day...

especially that you want to be with 

Me which is a Joy to Me because I 

Anticipate our being in Holy 

Communion so much and then 

when it happens...I Love it because 

I Love you...Intimately.. and even 

though you sometimes quickly get

distracted with this or that pressing 

situation in your life...which BTW 

I can appreciate and understand...

I just want you to let it sink-in -

to go from your head to your heart -

that you are Very Special to Me 

and that I Cherish Our Time Together..

now... that might be hard for 

you to accept sometimes knowing

your own weaknesses and areas 

in your life that need working on 

but Please... Trust Me... I Do Love

Being With You...and one day 

we Will See each other face to Face

and it will never end...the Joy from 

the Love we Share will be Perfectly

Tangible and you will look back and

in a glance understand that I Truly

was With you...Working in you -

especially in those Purifying Trials

you struggled with but were so 

necessary to Free you...Heal you 

to become the Child of God I Created 

you to be...and that each Reception 

would be a Foretaste of Our Eternal 

Communion and the Fulfillment of 

your Deepest Desire - as well as 

My Mine for you - so...Yes...it may 

Surprise you...but...It's Really True....

Reflection / Discussion:

-Does it surprise you? Why / not?

-What strikes you about this poem? Why?

-How is each reception of Holy Communion a foretaste of Heaven?

-Is it helpful to look at the Eucharist from Jesus' point of view? Why?

-What can you do to get more out of eachHoly Communion?

The Chosen

when you only focus upon 

your choice to follow Me

it can turn your attention back

upon yourself...'see what I

have done'...'look at me'...

evaluating your own efforts...

your accomplishments...

successes / failures...what gifts 

you have / how you want to use 

them...what goals you want to 

achieve in 'building the Kingdom'...

maybe comparing yourself to 

others for better or worse and 

without even realizing it fall into

the trap of  being a 'check-list 

Christian' striving to attain your

next 'merit badge' in the Kingdom

thus continuously gaging your own 

progress in gaining the praise of 

other 'disciples'...to put it simply...

becoming 'proud of your humility'...

it is a deceptive focus on self...a false 

independence which leads one further 

away from rather than closer to Me...

more of you and less of Me...so... 

instead... focus on the fact that I 

Chose you to follow Me even though 

I knew your every thought . word / deed

every imperfection / sin...

every failure as well as 

every temptation your mused

upon and still... I Chose you...

before you even thought about it...

before you loved Me in return...

humbling isn't it?...Knowing 

you as I did and still I Chose you

why?...because I Love you

as you are...but I Love you 

so much that I do not Choose

to leave you as you are...rather

I Choose to transform you into a 

Perfect Image of Myself in order

that you may share My Divine Life

Perfectly for all Eternity...

that is My Plan for you and your

role is to Cooperate with My Grace

working in you...to Follow My 

Holy Spirit wherever He Leads you..

to use the Gifts as He Directs...

to Live out My Life within you

by His Power...not by yours...it is

a Journey of Transformation that

begins and ends with My Love...

Calling out to you to Become One

with Me...so...when you experience 

your weaknesses...failures...sins...

when following Me becomes

really difficult...when I ask 

things of you that stretch your

boundaries...that require you to

repent / change / sacrifice in order 

to be a witness of My Love / Word

in a fallen world which may then 

cause you to be 'cancelled' / persecuted / 

punished...to lose your possessions / 

family even life itself...Know that I 

Love you...that I Am always with you-

even when you do not experience Me

I Am Faithful...You are Mine and 

I Belong to you... so...Remember...

Ponder this Reality...

YOU... ARE..CHOSEN....

MY BELOVED....FOREVER

Reflection / Discussion:

-How does it feel to be Chosen / Selected by Jesus Personally?

-In your own words, thank Him, tell Him what it means to you, 

  what kind of disciple you want to be and ask for His help especially to....

-What are some of the ways pride can influence our faith-walk?

-What are some of the 'merit badges' we can go after?

-How can we avoid centering our faith-walk around ourselves?

-How can having a spiritual director or sharing group help us?

-Remember how He Chose you...your story, so you can tell others.

The Purification

at some point in your life - actually 
as many times as necessary - perfectly
tailored trials will take you to a place  
where you would rather not visit let alone
reside for seemingly endless periods of time - 
it is the Lord who is permitting you to go there 
and since His ways are not your ways 
nor His thoughts your thoughts... your 
reaction may be some variation of 'I'm 
not ready for this' or 'why is this happening 
now?' or 'why me?'... because always it will 
be at an inopportune time accompanied by 
questions / fears / doubts about His Love
for you or His 'punishing' you for whatever
but the Reality is that He is leading you 
'deeper' and 'further into sharing' His Holiness /
Nature...in a word 'purifying' you - so that you 
may experience His Love in ever deeper
ways - or maybe for the first time - learning
who He is and who you are in Him - your
'True Identity' - for you will never be able to 'see 
Him as He is'...'live in His Eternal  Presence'..
'enter into the Fullness of  His Love' unless you
are 'holy as He is Holy'...for you were Created...
then Redeemed...that you may be 'Sanctified'...
your human nature has been 'Divinized' - Gifted
through Baptism to share in His Divine Nature 
in this present life and fully in the next but 
because of your fallen nature and your own 
complicities through personal sin - refusals to 
'love as He Loves' / rebellious adventures exploring
this fallen world's sinful offerings / exulting the self' in 
all it's prideful / self-indulgent deviations from the
'narrow way'....then there are the 'wounds' festering
in your pain-filled darkness which have entwined / 
grafted themselves into your 'heart' making inroads / 
detours / road blocks to your 'life in the Lord' so 
that there is still more of the 'old self' that He desires 
to transform into the 'new self' by exposing them in
His Light and the Healing Balm of His Tenderness...
yes you've repented...yes you still seek Him...yes
you love Him and desire to please Him...but you 
have not arrived yet...you are still 'on the way' to
being 'wholly Holy' / set aside for His Glory / Honor 
and He is not content to 'leave any stone unturned' 
in His Grace-filled pursuit to draw you into the Fullness 
of His Love...He will not rest until you are totally 
One with Him...so....that takes us to your present 
trial and since there is nothing easy in 'total 
transformation' - dying to self and Life in the Spirit - 
especially when He is permitting you to experience
your limitations by having exhausted yourself on
your own 'personal treadmill of self-reliance' while 
painfully learning to...
-Trust in His Love for you 
-Rely upon His Grace
-Follow the Holy Spirit's leading 
-Keep your eyes upon Him not yourself
-Surrender your will to His
-Let go of your own goals / plans / timing
all the while not seeing how your
present circumstances will work out or
ever change the way you'd like them to
as you continually learn again and again 
to take it one day at a time... take advantage
of every avenue of Grace He offers...speak 
plainly / simply / humbly / what is in 
your heart...coming to Him as you are not
as you think you should be for He knows
your thoughts / feelings before you speak 
them but how can He respond to you when 
you're not willing to face them yourself 
-Be open to humbly / courageously getting help
especially when you resist reopening past afflictions
long ago purged from the consciousness of your daily
life but which so intrudes your present reality
-Thank Him for your circumstances even
without feelings of hope since His Word
says that 'all things work for good for those who
love God' and that 'I will never leave you
nor forsake you'...still...change can be agonizing...
healing arduous...aversion to change is 
somewhat 'normal' but do not 'fight / resist' the 
healing process since the longer you do the
more painful it will be either in this life or 
from fiery purgation in the next...realize that some
days are better than others...you are on a journey
but the Truth is that you may be by yourself at 
times but you are never alone...He ii with you 
even if you can't experience that right now 'for
we live by faith not by sight' so do not let your pain
keep you from spending time with Him because you 
are having a 'bad day'...the enemy will be trying to 
prevent you from growing / changing / gaining freedom / 
holiness so 'do whatever you have to do' to go after your
healing whether it's counselling / support from other
Christians / prayer with others...so...day by day...in humble
surrender to His Will / Love which He so freely
poured out through His Passion and Death to which now
you join your agony with His in a Sacrificial Offering
so that you may be free to receive the Fullness of Life He 
so desires to Bestow upon you and those you love...

Grace...All is Grace...ask and you shall receive...

say 'yes' Lord Jesus...'Have your way in my life'...

Amen...May it be so

Reflection / Discussion:
-What is the Lord doing in your life now?
-What are the sources of your present 'trials'?
-Are you being open to sharing your problems with others? How?
-Are you taking advantage of the many avenues of Grace? How?
-Are you speaking honestly / frankly with the Lord / others? How?

-If not, try it! He wants to speak to you where you're at. 
-Are there areas you do not want to deal with? Why? 
-Speak to the Lord about them and ask Him what  the next step should be.

The Final Word

the Simplicity of
Life in the Lord is
Promised to all who Decide to

Follow Him as His Disciple- a

Journey from Eden by way of

Gethsemane through Calvary into

Eternal Life by the Power of the

Holy Spirit...despite all the complexities

of our lives which are blended with

suffering not of our own choosing 

by having to bear the consequences

of our fallen nature with all its

wounds / fiery distortions distilling

life through self's broken prism 

as well as when it is a byproduct of
a Wounding Process that includes

the sins of others against us..

our vows in response based on

the Enemy's accusations / lies

leading to our serious sins which can

get embedded into our ways of 

thinking / behavior / identity- that is-

our own Complicity...sinful / selfish 

decisions / attachments to this world's 

ways / ...all oriented to enthrone 

oneself in the kingdom of self...reliance /

absorption  / will / rebellion / pleasures...
me...me....me...but now our 'old self' -

encased with a 'hardness' that must 

be Pierced by His Love in order to

'free' us to 'Love as He Loves'- is like a

multi-level building which now we 

are tasked to remodel from the 

ground up into the Pattern of a 'New 

Creation' by embracing a Healing Process 

having renewed our Commitment to 

'Take up our Cross and Follow Him' ..

and thus Willing to bear whatever Price

that must be Paid to Enter that 

Bright Portal on the Narrow Road to 

Eternity's Perfect Union...
Discipleship / Growing in Holiness /
Becoming a Man / Woman of God /
Renewing our Minds / Putting to
Death the deeds of the Flesh /
Being Perfect as our Heavenly
Father is Perfect....all come down to 

One Thing...Purification of the 'old self' 

while 'Putting On' the 'New Self'..

Sanctification...Growing in Holiness...

it sounds complicated / way too difficult...

and you may say...I even have trouble 

trying to exercise regularly let alone 

thinking about the "Way of the Cross'...

remember though....we are not 'in charge' 

so therefore we don't have to figure all this 

out by ourselves...'He who Loves us" is 

'in Charge'... and 'how' He 'Brings us into

Perfect Union with Himself' is up to Him...not us...

Therefore He will 'Allow' many 'Trials'

to overshadow us 'Along the Way' -

securities taken away...relationships in

distress...health / financial challenges...

persecution...doubts / fears about the future..

so many storms of life...more than we can count...

all of which Bring our Weaknesses into the 

Bullseye of His Target Range - His

Purposeful Graces of Purification -  

at the same time we come to 'Know' His

Love and Faithfulness in ever deeper ways...

He becomes our 'Joy' and 'Peace' more and more...

we Grow in our ability to 'Trust' Him Even 

with our Very Lives...we have been Gifted 

with the Holy Spirit - Power to do what 

we cannot do on our own- as well as

'Brothers and Sisters in the Lord' to support 

each other..His Word and Teaching to

Instruct / Form / Encourage us...His Body and Blood

to Nourish us...we are Called to Follow Him 

who Promised to Never Leave Nor Forsake us...

Yes but... where is the 'Simplicity' in all

of this? Where do we even begin?  it seems

overwhelming...well...that's because it is...

it is supposed to be..it is beyond us..

left to ourselves we would all too easily 

fall back into striving / discouragement /

even Pride in our own 'accomplishments' 

instead of Humbly Thanking Him...

He Knows our weakness and is Bringing us

Closer to Himself one step at a time in 

such a Way that we can Only Rely upon Him..

it is the Secret of the Saints...those who have 

Walked before us in His Footsteps up that 

Hill where He Bore our every suffering /

sin / weakness...so that 'He could Free us'...

not... 'we free ourselves'...it is a Cleansing that
Only He Can Do...which we can Only Receive 

as we Cooperate with His Spirit in us...
How?...What does that Mean?...Ask Him...

'Present yourself as a Living Sacrifice'..

Wait upon Him...Let Him Lead...He has a 

Plan for us...Let Him Do It..Depend upon Him...

Take Time each day to Be with Him...

Be Real...Speak what we are feeling / 

thinking...ALL of it.....Listen.....And ...

By / with / in His Grace...Say His 'Final Word'...
...Yes...

Reflection / Discussion:

-Why is it important to be 'Real' / 'speak what you are thinking / feeling' in your prayer life -doesn't 

  He already know those things?  If you don't....then begin...today.

-Is it easier or harder to pray in times of difficulty? Why?

-What is the 'Secret of the Saints'?

-How does the 'Final Word' express the epitome of 'Simplicity of Life in the Lord'?

-What do 'feelings' have to do with 'Faith'?

-How is the Lord 'Purifying' you now?

-How do you find support in the midst of these challenges?

-What have you learned through your 'trials / suffering'? 

-Have you gained or lost ground in your Relationship with the Lord through you trials? How / Why?

-What do you need to do to 'keep on keeping on'?