Sunset at golf course at Wake Forest, NC.
Picture by Leslie DuBois
Our Blog is Inspired by The Holy Spirit
I’m sorry, I, yes I, skipped October 15, and wrote about the 22nd for the 15th.. I’m getting old!!! Who knows what will happen next week.
Optional Memorial of Saint John Paul II, Pope
R. Proclaim God’s marvelous deeds to all the nations.
Sing to the LORD a new song;
sing to the LORD, all you lands.
Sing to the LORD; bless his name.
R. Proclaim God’s marvelous deeds to all the nations.
Announce his salvation, day after day.
Tell his glory among the nations;
among all peoples, his wondrous deeds.
R. Proclaim God’s marvelous deeds to all the nations.
Give to the LORD, you families of nations,
give to the LORD glory and praise;
give to the LORD the glory due his name!
R. Proclaim God’s marvelous deeds to all the nations.
Say among the nations: The LORD is king.
He has made the world firm, not to be moved;
he governs the peoples with equity.
R. Proclaim God’s marvelous deeds to all the nations.
Emphasis mine: Psalm 96:1-2a, 2b-3, 7-8a, 10
Sing to the LORD a new song.
Question?
What is the new song?
We believe it’s the song of Joy and Peace.
We read the book Our One Great Act of Fidelity waiting for Christ in the Eucharist. By Roland Rolheiser. In his book Fr. Rolheiser stated that to be a Saint is to be motivated by GRATITUDE, nothing more nothing less. (Page 104) Capitalization mine.
We were preparing for a meeting and I was reviewing highlighted sections of Fr. Rolheiser’s book and this quote leaped out at me.
Why?
Life is that simple!
In two thousand years as a Catholic, I now believe that this was the Church started by Jesus, singing a new song of Joy, but like the Jewish people before Jesus we have gone off the rails at times trying to do our will, not God’s, and also establishing a myriad of rules and procedures to try and determine a correct way of worship.
The rule set by Jesus is easy,
Love God with your whole mind, body, and soul, and your neighbor as yourself.
At first glance you only see two demands: Love God and Neighbor. We would submit there is a third and this is just as important
Love of self.
If I don’t love me, how can I love you? The answer is I can’t!
And,
You grow in the love of Me, as self, through Gratitude.
Thanking God all of the time for all God is doing in your life. Our trouble is we think we are doing what we are doing. I, no we, are writing this blog, and by changing the I to we I am filled with Gratitude because I, yes, I know I am incapable of writing a blog, and when we are finished I say, “Thank you Father,” and I am filled with Joy.
Actually I say “Thank you Father,” throughout the writing process, as I watch the blog unfold, from a blank mind and page to a completed blog.
It’s really very simple, being filled with Joy creates better health, relationships, and a strong feeling of self worth, all from doing my Father’s will instead of mine.
In today’s 10/6/25 readings the Gospel reading is about the good Samaritan. It’s the lawyer, (I didn’t realize this until now, and it makes sense) who asks the question, Who is my neighbor., thereby wanting to limit those who he has to love, which we would submit is also changing not who we HAVE to love, to who we WANT to love, and of course the answer Jesus’ answer is EVERYONE. In fact it‘s the person right next to you right now!
Once again EASY.
We have been in the Jail for the past twenty nine years, and men who I, yes I, first considered the dregs of society I, yes I, have fallen in love with.
There is one other prayer we should be saying all of the time and that is, “Thanking God for the difficulties God has ALLOWED in our life.”
And
You pray this powerful prayer until you smile, and smiling allows The Holy Spirit back into your life because satan can’t smile.
And
This is the new song we are asked to Sing to the LORD
Gratitude!
Prayer:
If you want to grow in Love, Joy, and Peace this is a result of growth in Patience, Kindness, Generosity, Faithfulness, Gentleness, and Self-Control.
Sidebar:
This past weekend something very interesting happened. We were supposed to do a Communion Service at the Veterans Home in Scarborough. Another member of our group emailed me, but I didn’t know it because I don’t open emails on Sunday, that he would take this day.
We both showed up, I told him to hold the service, and I would return the Eucharists I had taken out for the service back to the church.
I arrived just before Mass and I was told where to put my Pic.
I met our Office Manager, and we discussed people she was trying to get to join our Veterans ministry. I told her to stop, I think I had found the person The Holy Spirit wanted, which is why I believed this all happened.
I admit I arrived home a bit frazzled, and since it was a beautiful day, I brought out some seat cushions and tried to just enjoy the day in Peace.
My mind wouldn’t stop thinking about what had happened.
The Holy Spirit suggested I listen to Amazing Grace by Judy Collins and then listen to It is well with My Soul by Sovereign Grace Music. ( two songs we sing during our communion service). I believe I listened to each song three times, (alternating) and as I listened to the music, my mind started to relax, and Peace took over.
This is the first time in eight-four years I had ever done this, and I promise you it won’t be the last.
And,
It’s so simple – just take out your phone, and if you don’t have a music app, goto Youtube, and listen to the music which is why I mentioned the name of the songs and who performed them.
By the way, before I left the V/A one daughter of a Vet showed me a picture she took of a sticker on the back of a car that said, “It is well with my Soul.”
Thank you Father, another case of the Holy Spirit working in my and, we pray, in your lives.
Picture:
A gorgeous sunset at a local golf course in Wake Forest, NC. My husband and I recently sat outside for dinner one night there (being inside at restaurants has been tricky with my blood counts being low) and we were blessed by this glorious sunset by the greatest artist ever, our loving Creator. Picture by Leslie DuBois
Please keep Snapping!
And if you want the ten calling cards shown above, email me and I will send you my address, send me a STAMPED self-addressed envelope and I will send you ten cards.
Email me if you want a copy of the prayers we discussed.
fprince101@gmail.com
Remember, if you want to submit a picture, please do not include people. We have to get permission from that person to use their photograph.
