Psalm 136

In my bible this psalm is titled "God's love continues forever". Be sure to read it in it's entirety in your bible. Thank God because he has more resources than we could ever use up!

We should never take any blessing for granted, but accept everything as a GIFT from the Lord. Now and then we could spend whole days in the practice of being thankful. I call this a HOLY practice. We should write on a piece of paper, or maybe in your journal, one by one the things for which we are grateful to God and to our fellow men as we think of them. And a constant return to this thought during the day as our minds get free will serve to fix the habit in our hearts . . .

In trying to count our many blessings, the difficulty is not to find things to count, but to find time to think of them all, and number them on paper. Personally, I have gotten great help from the practice of talking over with God the many kindnesses I have received from my family, my friends, my country - etc.

To my mom and Dad I owe my life and my upbringing. (His love continues forever).

To my teachers in school I owe that patient line-upon-line instruction that took me
when I was a young, ignorant pagan and taught me to read and write. (His love
continues
forever.)

To the patriots and statesmen of the past I owe the liberties I now enjoy. (His love
continues forever).

To numerous and unknown soldiers who shed their blood to keep our country free I owe a
debt I can never pay. (His love continues forever).

To my husband and my family I owe a debt of gratitude for my security and joy. (His
love endures forever).

And I please God and enlarge my own heart when I remind the Lord that I am grateful
for them. For every man and woman of every race and creed who may have contributed
anything to my peace and welfare I am grateful, and I shall not let God forget that I
am.

How has God blessed you? How have others contributed to your life? Take time to
thank God for ten blessings today.

Give thanks to the Lord because He is good. (His love endures forever). Ps 136:1

My Mother's Day witness

On Mother's Day, my daughter, Linda and 2 of her boys, my son, Chuck and his wife, Deedle, came over for dinner. After dinner I asked them and their dad, Phil, to sit in the living room and we were going to have a "tribute" to mothers. I started it with a spoken word on a CD I have, followed by a song "My Mother's Love", which is posted above. After listening to this, I felt it needed a little explanation, and out of me came a story I hadn't even intended to say. It just came. I hope I can repeat it her, and if it isn't exactly as I spoke it Sunday, that's just because I hadn't rehearsed it. I just know it, since I lived it!

When I was quite young - around 6 years old - I went to church for the Stations of the Cross one Friday during lent. Something happened there that I can't explain and couldn't know what it was at the time. While listening and praying the stations, and hearing Jesus' story of His love for ME, I found myself all enveloped in a feeling of hope and love. I knew right then that I loved HIM.

When I was young all my family were good Catholics. We never missed mass, or confession, or communion, or all the lent celebrations. We prayed the memorized prayers and the rosary. We had a bible, but never read it. I didn't know of the Holy Spirit, and didn't know Jesus as my personal friend and my savior. But, I felt very close to Mary. She was my Mother! When things were tough for me, I would go off by myself, and I would sit with Mary, my Mother, and tell her my troubles, and cry on her lap. I felt her comforting me, and her arms hugging me, and her love. This got me through many tough times while I was growing up. I did not realize that she was taking me on a path to the Father, God, her Son, Jesus, and the Helper, the Holy Spirit.

When I was 38, I was baptized in the Holy Spirit, just immersed in the Spirit of God, and I met my Lord and Savior Jesus Christ! Jesus walks every inch of my paths with me. The Holy Spirit teaches and comforts me. And I know God as my creator. This was so real and so personal and so emotional. I felt the presence of God so powerfully.

God the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit and Mary guided my life and protected me, and I didn't even realize it. I love my Mom, and am missing her lots. The last 3 months of her life were my best times with her. I regret not spending more time with her.

I LOVE being a mom, and Grandma. That's my occupation, that's what I do. I made huge mistakes in my career as Mom, but I thank God He gave me the children He blessed me with. And their spouses. And my grandkids.

Prayer AND action