I've heard Padraig use this term and I know it's biblical,

Marys child, all I can say is WOW!

 

Padraig, very good advice, so, if you are already doing these things, and trying very hard not to sin, but that doesn't last long, sadly, then what? If its a gift, is this gift not given to everyone? I know that everyone receives different gifts, is it possible that God, for whatever His reasons, will not grant this to a soul who desires this gift of prayer at all times? Does He grant this gift to people who don't want it? These questions perplex me.

 

Proverbs 24:16

New International Version (NIV)
16 for though the righteous fall seven times, they rise again,
but the wicked stumble when calamity strikes.



It's not the falling down but the getting up that is important. For myself as a great sinner, I depend totally on God's mercy rather than myown righteousness.

God's heart is like a doorway and it is open to everyone He has just no favourites, for each of us is His favourite. His heart is a burning furness of love and because the door is always open all we have to do is just have to walk right on in and warm ourselves in His heat. What could be simpler?

 

What I have learned in my life in Jesus, my life must become a prayer. When I walk down the Street and see the children of God walking past me, I must remember that each one of them, is a Temple of the Holy Spirit. So I must treat each person with great respect and love them.

Jesus said if you give a cup of cold water to the least of my children you have done it to me.

Our hearts are The Temple of the Holy Spirit. Our minds are consumed by self and its desires. So, the place that I must concentrate on is, my heart and begin to feel Jesus within it. This feeling could be one of love, pain, sadness etc for Jesus has many emotions when he looks upon this world.

Then I begin to see this world in a different light, the angry man I no longer see but I see Jesus within him and will say a prayer for him instead of judging him, the drunk man lying in the gutter, I no longer see but I see Jesus within him so I rushed to help my God and cease to be a self-righteous judge. Instead of speaking angry words about the driver who cuts me off, I will see Jesus within the driver and say a little prayer for them. I wish I could say I have overcome this one for I spend my time apologising to Jesus within my heart for calling him names.
The more that I allow Jesus to fill my heart the more my life becomes a prayer for it is not now I who live but Christ within me. And he will guide me to where he needs me to be........

God Bless

 

This is such good advice. Thank you.

God Bless

 

Oh Rosebud101,

Don't fret if it feels like you have so much ground to cover! The love of God for you is so rich, deep, and totally glorious. Remember, even in Heaven our experience and knowledge of God will grow "day" by "day" because He is infinite and we will simply be His little chiildren fully satisfied, yet rejoicing in Abba's presence more and more. So while on earth, I too should take it one day at a time. There is no rush. There is no need to feel anxious.

When I was a little child one of my greatest joys was climbing up in my father's lap on Friday and Saturday evenings. He had a certain manly smell and my cheek would rub against his stubble. There was so much love and security in that moment. It is the same with my heavenly Dad. Instead of a toy, I may climb onto His lap with my rosary, or a crucifix, or perhaps a prayer card of the Little Flower, or maybe I'll just fall asleep. But day by day, He draws me by the Spirit to His lap so that every grace won for me by the Passion of Jesus will not be wasted, but rather transform me in His love. One day at a time for all eternity! Praised be the Two Hearts!

Safe in the Hearts of Jesus and Mary!

 

Yes. To be a little child as St Therese said.

 

"Amen I say to you, unless you turn and become like little children, you will not enter the kingdom of Heaven."

Today this was said at mass, and there was a girl of about 15yrs who has down syndrome.
I thought. "How Blessed is this girl? She will always be like a child and she will enter the kingdon of heaven".

Me. I have had half a life time. I have had a good life and been blessed with a wonderful family.
But, in my time I have been hurt, rejected and decieved. This changes a person.

How can I be like a child? How can you be so trusting like a child?
Or am I missing something that Jesus is telling me?
What does he mean?

 

There is a saying here in Ireland that those with Down's Syndrome are angels that escaped from heaven a little early.

I guess being a little child isn't about knowing but about being. To arrive where you first started and to know it for the first time (as TS Elliot said).

i suppose too it is the rocks of our hearts being shriven by the streams of God's grace shattering our hard rocks of hearts.

Less about anything we do but of what God does and we opening the doors of our hearts to let him do it.

...or sitting and sitting in prayer and letting God take us back in a time machine.

I may be crazy but I always thought Robbie WIlliams was able to portray a return to childhood so well.....



..or Kevin Costner in the film, 'Field of Dreams'; who had to become a child again to believe his dream would come true...

 

Padraig,

Thank you for this snapshot of Therese, and on her feastday to boot!

I wanted to add a little blurb to my reflection on my Dad. That memory bubbled up while I was praying the Divine Mercy Chaplet with my beloved Geralyn last night. I'm sure that when I was a toddler and too small to climb, if my father was engrossed in the paper my mom would have come along, swept me off my feet and plop me in my Dad's lap, reminding him of his priorities.

And so it is with Mary. With her guidance we grow younger and more needy. She sweeps each of us off our feet and plops us in Abba's lap. Together they love and rejoice in each of us as much as they do Jesus!

John 15- As the Father has loved me, so I have loved you. Abide in my love.

 

Thanks Terry. I had clean forgot this morning before I went to mass that this was St Therese's feast. There are some beautiful feasts around time of year, some of my favourites like the feast of the Guardian Angles tomorrow.

Your memory of yourmother lifting you up is a perfect example. But in order to be lifted up we have to be very little. The gate into heaven is very small and only very little children can get in.

It occurs to me that the reading for todays feast will point to this..now let me see.....

Ah yes...

Matthew 11:25-30

New International Version (NIV)
The Father Revealed in the Son

25 At that time Jesus said, “I praise you, Father, Lord of heaven and earth, because you have hidden these things from the wise and learned, and revealed them to little children. 26 Yes, Father, for this is what you were pleased to do.
27 “All things have been committed to me by my Father. No one knows the Son except the Father, and no one knows the Father except the Son and those to whom the Son chooses to reveal him.
28 “Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest. 29 Take my yoke upon you and learn from me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. 30 For my yoke is easy and my burden is light.”