27°F NW19 snowing SR0654 SS1740

Morning Offering given

Village covered in drifting snow with winds blowing. No school and a wonderful day to stay home.

Coffee strong

St. Eucherius taught us to surrender the solitude you treasure and learn the true blessing of obedience of God’s will. God, enlighten and enkindle my mind and heart when I read scripture.

Today we remember Kaye Krogmann, who died in a car accident in 1999. May she rest in peace.

Meditations for Each Day pg. 70, The Five Tribunals: public opinion, our own conscience, penance, civil court, and the judgment seat of God.

Scripture Readings for Day 3 of Lent.
•Matthew 6:16-18• “When you fast,^* do not look gloomy like the hypocrites. They neglect their appearance, so that they may appear to others to be fasting. Amen, I say to you, they have received their reward. 17 But when you fast, anoint your head and wash your face, 18 so that you may not appear to others to be fasting, except to your Father who is hidden. And your Father who sees what is hidden will repay you.
•Isaiah 58:6-7• Is this not, rather, the fast that I choose: releasing those bound unjustly, untying the thongs of the yoke; Setting free the oppressed, breaking off every yoke?^d 7 Is it not sharing your bread with the hungry, bringing the afflicted and the homeless into your house; Clothing the naked when you see them, and not turning your back on your own flesh?^e
•Mark 2:18-20• The disciples of John and of the Pharisees were accustomed to fast.^e People came to him and objected, “Why do the disciples of John and the disciples of the Pharisees fast, but your disciples do not fast?” 19 Jesus answered them, “Can the wedding guests fast^* while the bridegroom is with them? As long as they have the bridegroom with them they cannot fast. 20 But the days will come when the bridegroom is taken away from them, and then they will fast on that day.
•Acts 13:2-3• While they were worshiping the Lord and fasting, the holy Spirit said, “Set apart for me Barnabas and Saul for the work to which I have called them.” 3 Then, completing their fasting and prayer, they laid hands on them and sent them off.
•Leviticus 23:27-32• Now the tenth day of this seventh month is the Day of Atonement.^* l You will have a declared holy day. You shall humble yourselves and offer an oblation to the LORD. 28 On this day you shall not do any work, because it is the Day of Atonement, when atonement is made for you before the LORD, your God. 29 Those who do not humble themselves on this day shall be cut off from the people. 30 If anyone does any work on this day, I will remove that person from the midst of the people. 31 You shall do no work; this is a perpetual statute throughout your generations wherever you dwell; 32 it is a sabbath of complete rest for you. You shall humble yourselves. Beginning on the evening of the ninth of the month, you shall keep your sabbath from evening to evening.

Pristine snow covers the land this morning. The wind has blown it through the cracks and swirled it around objects, turning things into a sort of nature snow sculpture. The whiteness reminds me of how clean a person is scrubbed by baptism or confession and penance. How blest we are that Christ willingly chose to take all our sins (past, present, future), giving himself as a sacrifice for us. It is only right that, moving forward, we do our best to keep our souls clean for him. I know how difficult this is. Even as we reach our elderly years, we need to keep ourselves from sinning by thought, word, or deed. Sometimes we forget the thought and word part of sinning. Take time today while you fast to make note of those types of sin, carrying them to the confessional for forgiveness.

Home today. All thoughts of the SUV leaving have been cancelled. Later in the day, when the wind dies down and the highways are cleared, I’ll think about a bank run and taking someone home. Otherwise, office cleaning and arranging are in the works.

Know you are prayed for.

28°F NW7mph SR0655 SS1739

Morning Offering given

Village peaceful

Coffee strong

Today we remember Clair Packer, who would have been 112. May he rest in peace. My grandfather and my Godfather.

St. Conrad of Piacenza (incorruptable) teaches us we must be ready always to confess our sins and to make restitution whenever possible. Father, give me the courage of St. Conrad, who confessed and paid for his thoughtless sin, saving a man’s life in the process.

Scripture Reading Day 2 of Lent
•1 John 1:8-10 If we say, “We are without sin,” we deceive ourselves,^* and the truth is not in us.^g 9If we acknowledge our sins, he is faithful and just and will forgive our sins and cleanse us from every wrongdoing.^h 10If we say, “We have not sinned,” we make him a liar, and his word is not in us.ⁱ
•Matthew 3:5-6 At that time Jerusalem, all Judea, and the whole region around the Jordan were going out to him 6and were being baptized by him in the Jordan River as they acknowledged their sins.^*
•Acts 19:18 Many of those who had become believers came forward and openly acknowledged their former practices.
•Mark 1:5 People of the whole Judean countryside and all the inhabitants of Jerusalem were going out to him and were being baptized by him in the Jordan River as they acknowledged their sins.
•1Timothy 6:12-13 Compete well for the faith. Lay hold of eternal life, to which you were called when you made the noble confession in the presence of many witnesses.^j 13 I charge [you] before God, who gives life to all things, and before Christ Jesus, who gave testimony under Pontius Pilate for the noble confession,^k

The “Ash” service last evening at St. Augustine’s was very nice. Well attended. I am grateful to Fr. Bowes for making this available in all his parishes. This is another example of his love and concern for each of the parishes he shepherds.

Today will be a relatively normal day for me. The regular workshop workers, part delivery, and pick up and drop off things. Looking forward to a regular evening at home with the man. If we allowed it work could consume us 24/7/365, so we need to learn moderation.

Know you are prayed for.

47°F WSW19mph SR 0657 SS1737

Morning Offering given

Create in me a clean heart, O God,
and renew a right spirit within me.
Draw me deeper into union with You,
prepare me to celebrate Your resurrection

Village quiet

Coffee okay

ASH WEDNESDAY

Remember That You Are Dust quote by Bishop Varden:
” To take the ashes is to confess kinship with this world of dust,
to declare our readiness to abdicate pretensions to omnipotence.
Standing before God in this way,
I profess that I am not God.
I admit the chasm that separates me from him.”

Scripture Reading for Lent Day 1
Genesis 3:19 By the sweat of your brow you shall eat bread, Until you return to the ground, from which you were taken; For you are dust, and to dust you shall return.ⁱ

Know you are prayed for.

ESE19mph SR0658 SS1736

Morning Offering given

Village wakes

Coffee ok

St Fintan shows us how self-denial demonstrates less is more when it come to indulging appetites at the expense of devotion to God. Jesus, help me to temper my desires and appetites so that I can be hungry for you.

Meditations for Each Day pg. 67 The Will

Scripture Readings for Day 17
•The Love of God• Psalm 136:26 Praise the God of heaven, for his mercy endures forever.
• Names of God• Jeremiah 23:5-6 See, days are coming—oracle of the LORD—when I will raise up a righteous branch for David; As king he shall reign and govern wisely, he shall do what is just and right in the land.^e 6 In his days Judah shall be saved, Israel shall dwell in security. This is the name to be given him: “The LORD our justice.”^f
• Love• 2 Thessalonians 3:5 May the Lord direct your hearts to the love of God and to the endurance of Christ.

Good Morning! An achy one it is for the joints. This weather does not help. Sometimes I find my faith shallow this time of year. Sometimes it seems a struggle to just wake up and pray each morning. This is where “free will” comes in. The decision to keep going, persevere no matter what, will eventually bring you to Easter. Sometimes the road is sluggish, and we get mired down. Sometimes the road is too happy clappy, feeling more like a party than a time for contemplation. Keep going.

Know you are prayed for.

35°F W11mph SR0700 SS1735

Morning Offering given

Village sleeps

Coffee strong

St. Maruthas, Father of the Syrian Church, shows us the many ways we can serve God and others. God help me to be always ready to find a way to do your work and draw others to you.

Meditations for Each Day, pg. 66 The Duties of Our State (If you have this book today is a must-read.)

Scripture Readings for Day 16
•Names of God• Jehovah Rohi-The Lord is my Shepherd• Ezekiel 34:11-12 I will lead them out from among the peoples and gather them from the lands; I will bring them back to their own country and pasture them upon the mountains of Israel, in the ravines and every inhabited place in the land.^h14 In good pastures I will pasture them; on the mountain heights of Israel will be their grazing land. There they will lie down on good grazing ground; in rich pastures they will be pastured on the mountains of Israel.ⁱ
•Love• Romans 12:10 love one another with mutual affection; anticipate one another in showing honor.^g
•The Love of God• John 15:13 ^* No one has greater love than this,^j to lay down one’s life for one’s friends.

Relaxing weekend. Good visits with friends. Reasonable week coming up. Lent begins on Wednesday, and this is when we will begin doing Lenten Scripture Readings.

Know you are prayed for.

25°F W5mph SR0701 SS1733

Morning Offering given

Village sleeps

Coffee good

5 AM Adoration…

“Love is not “DUE,” it is given out of pure self-sacrifice simply for the sake of the beloved.’

This sentence struck me firmly at the chapel this morning. I think of all the issues with children and adult children these days. A simple answer. There are no words my children would understand in explaining why we adopted, why we always have an open door, why we keep trying to be in touch, why we didn’t rescue from poor choices, why we continue to pray.

Know you are prayed for.

23°F S8mph SR0703 SS1732

Morning Offering given

Village peaceful

Coffee…pod

St Valentine is recognized and admired for his expression of the truest love: that of giving one’s life for the Lord. Father, help me to love you, the Lord my God, with all my strength and to love others as I love myself.

Meditations for Each Day, pg. 64, The Early Hours of the Day

Scripture Readings for Day 14
•The Love of God• Deuteronomy 7:9 ⁱ Know, then, that the LORD, your God, is God: the faithful God who keeps covenant mercy to the thousandth generation toward those who love him and keep his commandments,^j
•Names of God• Jehovah Shalom/The Lord is Peace• Judges 6:22-24 ^* Gideon, now aware that it had been the messenger of the LORD, said, “Alas, Lord GOD, that I have seen the messenger of the LORD face to face!”^h 23 The LORD answered him: You are safe. Do not fear. You shall not die. 24 So Gideon built there an altar to the LORD and called it Yahweh-shalom.^* i To this day it is still in Ophrah of the Abiezrites.
•Love• John 15:12-13 ^* No one has greater love than this,^j to lay down one’s life for one’s friends. 14You are my friends if you do what I command you.

Crazy dream last night… at a religious gathering, all were asked to share their story. Not sure that’s something I want to get into right now. It wasn’t done so that one would blurt things out, but was to be done from the perspective of how it brought you closer to God or further from him. Interesting concept. Sort of in AA fashion. While waiting yesterday, I also ran across 1 Timothy 5:3-16…Rules for Widows. The article went on to discuss The Daily Resolve: A Field Manuel for the Matriarch by Margaret Lee, which is both a book and a website. Looking into this more. I need to find out more before I do/don’t do anything.

Know you are prayed for.

21°F SW5mph SR0704 SS1730

Morning Offering given

Village waking

No Coffee

Friday the 13th

Bl. Christine of Spoleto showed us to strive to change whatever takes us away from Christ. Jesus, help me to imitate Bl Christine, who was so devoted to You that she even changed her name to be more like Yours.

Meditations for Each Day pg.63, “The Causes of Discontent.” It is hard to find anyone who is really discontented, and few people in the world are always content. St Austine in Confession I, 1:1 said, “You have made us for Yourself alone, O God, and our hearts will always be uneasy until they rest in You.”

Scripture Readings for Day 13
•Names of God•The Lord is my Banner•Exodus 17:14-16 Then the LORD said to Moses: Write this down in a book as something to be remembered, and recite it to Joshua:^f I will completely blot out the memory of Amalek from under the heavens. 15 Moses built an altar there, which he named Yahweh-nissi;^* 16for he said, “Take up the banner of the LORD!^* The LORD has a war against Amalek through the ages.”
•The Love of God• Jeremiah 31:3 from afar the LORD appears: With age-old love I have loved you; so I have kept my mercy toward you.^b
•Love• 1 Corinthians 13:2 And if I have the gift of prophecy and comprehend all mysteries and all knowledge; if I have all faith so as to move mountains but do not have love, I am nothing.^b

Once again, I wander in here and find no words are swimming in my head. Nothing of wisdom to pass on for contemplation. I find these spots of emptiness when there is turmoil in my life. Not necessarily my turmoil, but definitely the vibes I receive from the children. So today I will look at the children. 1 F biological that lived. 1M biological that died, 1 F/M sibling group. 1 M/M sibling group. 1 2F-1M sibling group, and 1 M/F sibling group. Each of these groups has had issues over the years. Each has struggled, each has chosen good and bad paths, and each has recognized the bad and good paths. Some chose the good, some chose the bad, and some straddle the two. Some jump back and forth (whichever path is easier or more fun is the one they’ve chosen) I recognize their paths as I’ve walked each one over the past 72 years. Each must come to their own answer, for someone else cannot do it for them. Suggestions can be made, but the actual path must be walked alone. As a parent, I cringe at times over the struggle that to me seems so obvious in the solution. I saw something on FB yesterday and reposted it on my page. It is the best viewpoint I have seen in a long time regarding relationships.

Know you are prayed for.

26°F SE6mph SR0705 SS1729

Birthday Greetings to Sessirae Martin and Kelsey Cummings
Remember Leland Slater today, may he rest in peace.

Blessed Humbeline teaches us to seek freedom from the attachment to wealth and status that separates us from God

Meditations for Each Day pg. 61, Self-Love is an inordinate love of self. We are not forbidden to love ourselves, however, in a properly ordered manner. It is hard to be humble in the presence of God. It is harder still to be humble before men.

Scripture Readings for Day 12
•Names of God• Psalm 103:2-3 Bless the LORD, my soul; and do not forget all his gifts, 3Who pardons all your sins, and heals all your ills,
•The Love of God• Ephesians 2:4-5 But God, who is rich in mercy, because of the great love he had for us, 5^d even when we were dead in our transgressions, brought us to life with Christ^* (by grace you have been saved),
•Love• Ephesians 3:16-17

Today I pray for the lost who believe they can do whatever they choose, regardless of the vows and promises made. Those who love themselves so very much never take ownership of their wrongs, always using the excuse of being the victim and not the perpetrator. I find it truly amazing that people believe others are so ignorant or gullible that they would believe the lies told to them. With such bold conviction that their lie is in fact the truth and gaslighting the person they speak to/of. There comes a point where enough is enough. If you want involvement with me, “tell the damn truth”, take ownership of your faults, and stop thinking a differing opinion means I dislike/hate you. There is NO ONE I hate. Plenty I pity. Many I chose not to confront, many I confront. Get your head out of the sand. Stop playing the victim (even if you are a victim) and move on with life.

Know you are prayed for.

23°F NW10mph SR0707 SS1723

Morning Offering given

Village peaceful

Coffee ok

Today we remember the confirmation of my spouse,, Roger, back in 1962.

Our Lady of Lourdes speaks to us in miraculous and mysterious ways. Jesus, beloved son of Mary, allow your mother to intercede for all believers; help us to be open to her help in our lives.

Meditations for Each Day pg. 60 The Love of Neighbour

Scripture Readings for Day 11
•Names of God• Jehovah Rapha• Exodus 15:25b-26 It was here that God, in making statutes and ordinances for them, put them to the test. 26 He said: If you listen closely to the voice of the LORD, your God, and do what is right in his eyes: if you heed his commandments and keep all his statutes, I will not afflict you with any of the diseases with which I afflicted the Egyptians; ⁱ for I, the LORD, am your healer.
•Love• Romans 12:9 Let love be sincere; hate what is evil, hold on to what is good;^f
•The Love of God• 1 John 4:7 ^* Beloved, let us love one another, because love is of God; everyone who loves is begotten by God and knows God.

Morning!
Yesterday turned out better than I thought it would. I am grateful for being home earlier than expected.
Workshop and part delivery today.
I have several non-communicative children, T, A, D, & S pray for them.

Know you are prayed for.