"All the days of the earth, seedtime and harvest, cold and heat, summer and winter, and day and night shall not cease." - Genesis 8:22 

Well, did you celebrate the recent three day holiday? You didn't miss it, did you? You know which holiday. The one that occurs four times every year and lasts for three days. 

We'll call it the "seasonal holiday." Four times a year, there's the last full day of the expiring season (Day 1), the arrival of the new season (Day 2),  and the first full day of the new season (Day 3). 

With the most recent holiday, we celebrated the last full day of Summer, the arrival of Autumn, and the first full day of Autumn. It was awesome, wasn't it? 

From beach balls to colored leaves ... all in the blink of an eye. Similarly, we go from leaf rakes to snowmen, snow shovels to glistening buds, and tulips to lawn mowers. 

There is an enduring nature to God’s creation. Despite the changes in seasons, there is a divine order and stability that governs the natural world. God is the ultimate creator and orchestrator of the changing seasons. Like birds, who recognize the changing seasons and adapt accordingly, so should we remain attuned to God’s timing and purposes, even amidst the changes of life. 

Hope you took some time during this recent three day holiday to relax and soak in the beauty of God’s handiwork in the world around you. 

Awesome God, may I always find comfort and reassurance in the constancy of Your presence, even amidst the changing seasons of life. Amen. 

TAGS: Prayer, Reflection

"No one who lights a lamp conceals it with a vessel or sets it under a bed; rather, he places it on a lampstand so that those who enter may see the light." - Luke 8:16 

Three objects set in a row. All perfectly matched, intricately styled, and embellished with raised curves and shapes. Looking at the shiny gold luster evokes a sense of ornateness, wealth and richness. The classic and timeless Gothic design is meant to add beauty and elegance to the prayer experience. 

Indeed they do. The bases of these brass stands enhance the symbolism of the crucifix and the light of the candles which they behold. 

We could set the crucifix on a box and light candles in plastic cups. The simplicity of this act would convey a message of its own. 

But choosing to display the crucifix in all its finery glorifies the Lord in all His magnificence. The light of Christ shines visibly and brighter when lifted up close to Heaven. 

Glory Be to the Father. Amen! 

TAGS: Prayer, Reflection

"Ask and it will be given to you; seek and you will find; knock and the door will be opened to you." - Matthew 7:7 

This blue Beetle, circa 1972, looks cute, practical and functional. Okay, maybe it drips a little oil, the seats are torn, and the hood doesn't close, but at initial glance, it sure looks pretty good! 

How many times do you look good on the outside, but inside you're feeling "blue?" Your stomach is in knots, your mind is in a tailspin, and your body is aching all over. You tell yourself that you just can't face one more ounce of turmoil. 

People look at you and comment how "together" you are, but you know different. You feel "down in the dumps", discouraged, anxious, and depressed. 

What's the solution? How to beat the blues? Shine up the outside, and then clean up the inside by going back to the basics: Ask, Seek, Knock. The Lord is holding the door open for you to enter His merciful and loving heart. 

Within no time, the drips will be plugged, the rips will be patched, and the hood will be hinged so that you'll once again be classy and functional! 

To the Mechanic of My Soul: hear me when I ask, find me when I seek, and open Your wide doors when I knock. Amen. 

TAGS: Prayer, Reflection

She gave a cutting of her daisies to her next door neighbor. She gave another cutting of her daisies to the neighbor across the street. The next door neighbor gave a cutting of her new daisies to the neighbor behind her. They put a cutting of daisies at the front entrance. Within a year or two, there were daisies throughout the neighborhood. 

Spreading daisies; spreading kindness; paying it forward. 

What part of yourself do you give to others? Do you share your smile, your friendship, and your warmth with others? Do you initiate the "giving" or do you wait to "receive?" 

Spreading daisies. Do you? 

Master Gardener, help me to share the bounty of myself with others. Amen. 

TAGS: Inspiration, Prayer

She felt like having french fries, so she bought some at the cafeteria and carried them back to her office for lunch. On the way back to the office, she ran into her boss, who was known to have heart issues. He commented about how her lunch didn't look very healthy. "Oh, I'm on cholesterol-lowering medication!" she exclaimed, to which he replied, "So do you think that makes it all right?" 

Similarly, we often think that we can sin as much as we want because all we have to do is go to confession and our slate is wiped clean. Or, we think that we don't have to go to confession because God forgives us of all of our sins. 

We love to put our own spin on logical thinking. Realistically, though, we are just convincing ourselves that what we want to do is the right thing to do. We would be more prudent to weigh whether our intuitions are based on truth or simply desire. 

God of All Mercy, guide us to seek Your mercy in all things instead of relying on our own judgment. Amen. 

TAGS: Prayer, Story

"Your life will hang in suspense and you will stand in dread both day and night, never sure of your life." - Deuteronomy 28:66 

Like this errant balloon, have you ever felt as though you were "hanging on a wire?" Feeling so insecure as though you would lose your grip? 

God doesn't promise us a life without stress and anxiety. There will never be any letup, and there is no assurance that we will live to see the next day. You do not know what will happen to you. 

But if you look at the Life hanging before you, i.e. Christ on the cross, there is reason to believe that all will be well. God has made a covenant with you, and He will not disappoint. 

So instead of "hanging on a wire," hang yourself on the cross of Jesus Christ and feel His healing comfort and companionship. 

O my Lord and Savior, take me down when I am high-strung, lift me up when I am frazzled, remind me of Your promises, and always carry me close to Your heart. Amen. 

TAGS: Prayer, Reflection

The yogurt cup lids are teaching us a lesson ... and more than one at that. Just consider this. 

The yogurt cups are picked out of the box at the store. They are dropped on the checkout belt, placed in the cart, and then packed in the bag. At home, they are removed from the bag, put on the counter, and then stacked in the refrigerator. Twice a week,  the front two cups are taken out of the refrigerator for breakfast. 

There is so much random handling of these yogurt cups. From packaging to distribution to purchasing to consumption, every step along the supply chain can be considered a random process. Yet, every single time, without fail, the messages on the inside of the two yogurt cup lids chosen on a given day are different. They may repeat from day to day, or week to week, but the two selected for a particular day are always different. 

What are the odds? How can this happen? The messages themselves give you a "feel good" lesson for the day, but the amazing hand of the Lord to ensure that two unique messages are received every day, is bewildering. 

O Lord, thank you abundantly for your amazing grace. May we make every day good as we surround ourselves with Your goodness. Amen. 

TAGS: Prayer, Story

"Ah! Those who call evil good, and good evil, who change darkness to light, and light into darkness, who change bitter to sweet, and sweet into bitter!" - Isaiah 5:20 

The leaf looked rather absurd. Kind of like a Phantom of the Opera mask or good versus evil rendering. Funny how nature can make such a distinct line between good and bad, without even a whisker of a curve in the line or the slightest bit of a crossover. 

Sadly, we can't be that well-defined. As much as we try to be black and white, there's always a little gray in the mix. 

Perhaps it's all in the way we perceive things. Do you look at the evil and see good? Do you look at the good and see evil? 

Do you look at this leaf and call it good? With a little pampering, water and fertilizer, do you think you could bring it back to life? 

Or do you look at this leaf and call it bad? Are you looking for the shears to prune this leaf because it is unsightly and could possibly infect other parts of the plant? 

Or do you look at this leaf and think that with some pampering, water, fertilizer, and pruning, you could nurture new growth from it? 

Gracious Gardener, challenge me to recognize good and evil, to separate the good from the evil, and to foster the worthiness of all. Amen. 

TAGS: Inspiration, Prayer

Frequently, and devoutly, refer to these prayers for each week in Lent. 

FIRST WEEK OF LENT: My tempted Lord, You allowed Yourself to endure the humiliation of being tempted by satan himself. You did so to show me and all Your children that we can overcome our own temptations through You and by Your strength. Help me, dear Lord, to daily turn to You with my struggles so that You will be victorious in me. Jesus, I trust in You. 

SECOND WEEK OF LENT: My transfigured Lord, You are truly glorious in a way that is beyond my comprehension. Your glory and splendor are beyond what my imagination can ever comprehend. Help me to always keep the eyes of my heart upon You and to allow the image of Your Transfiguration to strengthen me when I’m tempted to despair. I love You, my Lord, and place all my hope in You. Jesus, I trust in You. 

THIRD WEEK OF LENT: My passionate Lord, I know that I am a sinner who is in need of Your mercy and, at times, in need of Your holy wrath.  Help me to humbly receive Your rebukes of love and to allow You to drive all sin from my life.  Have mercy on me, dear Lord. Please have mercy.  Jesus, I trust in You. 

FOURTH WEEK OF LENT: Father in Heaven, I thank You for the perfect gift of Christ Jesus Your Son.  By giving Jesus to us, You give us Your very Heart and Soul.  May I be open to You more fully and to the perfect gift of Jesus in my life.  I believe in You, my God.  Please increase my faith and love.  Jesus, I trust in You. 

FIFTH WEEK OF LENT: My sacrificial Lord, I give myself to You and Your holy will in a total and sacrificial way.  I choose to die to self so that You can bring forth new life from this act of selfless surrender.  Take me, dear Lord, and do with me as You will.  Jesus, I trust in You. 

HOLY WEEK: My glorious King, You are worthy of all praise and adoration. Hosanna to You, hosanna in the highest! Draw me into Your glorious passion, dear Lord, and help me to see the glory of Your Cross. As I see its glory, give me the grace I need to share more fully in Your life of transforming sacrificial love. Jesus, I trust in You. 

TAGS: Prayer

How could a little nick create such a large problem? It was just a little nick in the hot water hose under the sink. But obviously, tiny bouts of drip ... drip ... drip over a long period of time, gone unnoticed, can lead to a lot of standing water. 

Such is our spiritual life. Seemingly small, unnoticed flaws, practiced repeatedly, can lead to massive issues in the future. We all know that ignoring an issue, or letting it fester, is only opening the door to welcome a spiritual disaster. 

Take charge and take control. Take notice of your impediments. Don't let them get the upper hand. 

Talk to a friend. Go to confession. Find a spiritual director. Pray about it. 

Take time now to patch or repair all the holes "under your sink" before the floodgates are overflowing. 

Almighty Father, you are the good plumber who can put right all of the pipes and fittings of our soul. Help us to see where we need repair, teach us how to fix them, and prevent us from creating our own disasters. Amen. 

TAGS: Prayer, Story