"This was to fulfill what he had said, 'I have not lost any of those you gave me.'” - John 18:9 

Have you found yourself in a situation where you are just lost? 

You made a wrong turn and you end up on a strange road. You made a decision and it ends up  being a disastrous choice. You tell a "white lie" and you end up in an uncomfortable predicament. 

Sometimes things just don't go right and we feel like a fish (or a turtle) out of water. Fortunately, we have faith in a God who sets us back on the right path and places us again in our "comfort zone." 

But sometimes things just don't go right and end up being a blessing in disguise. 

You made a wrong turn and you end up on a road where you run into a very dear friend that you haven't seen in years. You made a decision and you end up finding the best job ever where you meet the love of your life. You tell a "white lie" and you end up receiving God's mercy in the Sacrament of Reconciliation. 

Whether you are lost and found, or lost and blessed, God is always there and you will never be truly lost. 

Thank you, God, for never allowing me to be lost for I am forever in the arms of Jesus. Amen. 

TAGS: Prayer, Reflection

"For we are his handiwork, created for Christ Jesus for the good works that God has prepared in advance, that we should live in them." - Ephesians 2:10 

The fuzzy red flowers at the end of the arching branches of the bottlebrush tree are attractive to butterflies, hummingbirds and honeybees, and add a soft, whimsical touch and a splash of color to the landscape. 

Fuzzy, attractive, soft, whimsical and colorful. While these words describe the flowers at the end of a branch of a specific tree, they are also adjectives that can be used to describe persons in the species of humanity. 

What words would I use to describe me? What words do I think other persons would use to describe me? If my pet could talk, what words do I think it would use to describe me? 

What words would I like to hear God use to describe me? May my life work be directed toward hearing those words said of me by God. 

O Loving Father, help me to hear the words You speak of me and fashion myself into the person You want me to be. Amen. 

TAGS: Inspiration, Prayer

"When the waters lie covered as though with stone ..." - Job 38:30 

Earlier this year, Lake Erie was pretty frozen. "Pretty" indeed with glistening chunks of ice replacing shimmering waves rolling upon the shore. Although a magnificent sight, the downside was that it prohibited  fish from seeking food, divers from searching for objects, and boats from traversing the waters. 

We can sometimes take on the looks of this Great Lake by becoming cold and frozen. We see nothing but the downside of life's events. We lock into our self, paralyzed with fear over a past mistake, a frustrating situation, or a worrisome future. Frozen in our thoughts and actions, we see no way out with no path or plan to enlighten us. 

Let us never forget to turn to God. The sun will shine. The ice will melt. The waters of life will flow again. 

Heavenly Father, you make all things anew in your Spirit. Break through our frozen covers and shine Your light in our heart and mind. Amen. 

TAGS: Prayer, Reflection

For all You have given me, 
My God, I thank You. 
 
For all You have withheld, 
My God, I thank You. 
 
For all You have withdrawn, 
My God, I thank You. 
 
For all You have permitted, 
My God, I thank You. 
 
For all You have prevented, 
My God, I thank You. 
 
For all the sincere friends You have given me, 
My God, I thank You. 
 
For all You have forgiven me, 
My God, I thank You. 
 
For all You have prepared for me, 
My God, I thank You. 
 
For the death You have chosen for me, 
My God, I thank You. 
 
For the place You are keeping for me in Heaven, 
My God, I thank You. 
 
For having created me to love You for eternity, 
My God, I thank You. 
 
My God, I thank You for all things. 
And may I live and die thanking You. Amen. 
 
SOURCE: https://www.lincolndiocese.org/op-ed/messages-of-hope/12945-a-litany-of-thanksgiving 
 
TAGS: Prayer

"God created mankind in his image..." - Genesis 1:27 

Do you see it in the photo above? What does it look like to you? A person? An animal? Just an old tree? What tickles your imagination? 

The hands of Nature carved this design into the tree. Without knowing the true intent, its interpretation is left to the eye of the beholder. On the other hand, there's probably a number of people who walk right past the tree and never stop to notice the artistic creation on its trunk. 

Similarly, God created us. In his image, he created us. We look at a tree and see Nature's hands at work. We look at another person and see God's hands at work. 

Or do we? 

Thinking of a busy downtown street, do we walk by each other, never stopping to notice the creations passing us by? Or do we take time to notice each handcrafted, unique, one-of-a-kind image of God? 

Master Creator of all things, thank you for creating each of us in your image and likeness. May we always take time to observe and acknowledge your handiwork with care and affection. Amen. 

TAGS: Inspiration, Prayer

It is said that the Three Kings who traveled to Bethlehem to adore the newborn King were radically changed by the experience and abandoned their pagan ways. According to one account, the Magi traveled to India and were eventually baptized by St. Thomas the Apostle before their deaths. 
 
Tradition has since held Balthasar, Melchior and Caspar as “saints,” and throughout the centuries various prayers have been composed to them. Below is one such prayer. 
 
O Holy Magi, you were living in continual expectation of the rising of the Star of Jacob, which would announce the birth of the true Son of justice; obtain for me an increase of faith and charity, and the grace to live in continual hope of beholding, one day, the light of heavenly glory and eternal joy. 
 
(Share your request …) 
 
Glory be to the Father and to the Son and to the Holy Spirit, as it was in the beginning, is now, and ever shall be, world without end. Amen. 
 
Prayer to the Infant Jesus: Infant Jesus, meek and mild, look on me a little child. Pity mine and pity me, suffer me to come to Thee. 
 
Heart of Jesus, I adore Thee. Heart of Mary, I implore Thee. Heart of Joseph, pure and just. In these three hearts, I put my trust. 
 
Help us Joseph in our early strife, ever to lead a pure and blameless life. 
 
O Holy Magi, Pray for Us. 

TAGS: Prayer

"For no one can lay a foundation other than the one that is there, namely Jesus Christ." - 1 Corinthians 3:11 

Take sand, gravel or crushed stone, mix it with water and cement, and you have concrete. Concrete is strong in compression (it won't bend) but weak in tension (it can crack); therefore, you usually have to reinforce it with steel, carbon, glass or plastic bars or fibers. Now throw in some agents or additives to handle freeze-thaw cycles, temperature swings, and corrosion resistance. Because concrete production is time-sensitive, once the ingredients are mixed, you must put the concrete in place before it hardens. 

You can look at your spiritual life as being similar to concrete production. 

What are your ingredients? What makes you strong (you won't bend) or weak (you can crack)? What are your reinforcements? What is needed to keep you stable, balanced and grounded? 

Unlike concrete, it takes a lifetime before the ingredients are mixed, placed, and hardened to form the basis of your spirituality. 

Master Builder, show me the right recipe for creating a strong foundation. Amen. 

TAGS: Inspiration, Prayer

"Now the Lord is the Spirit, and where the Spirit of the Lord is, there is freedom." - 2 Corinthians 3:17 

The Swallow-tailed Kite bird, unique in its shape, is a beauty to behold as it swoops left and right, high and low.  Gliding so effortlessly through the air.  Its wings barely move as it virtually hangs motionless in the sky. 

Already unique in our form, we would do good to emulate the Swallow-tailed Kite's gracefulness.  To be so spiritually free.  Loving God, self, and neighbor with an unconditional love. 

A kite without strings.  A spirit mercifully free. 

Holy Spirit, I yearn for Thee.  Amen. 

TAGS: Prayer, Reflection

“'Do to others whatever you would have them do to you.'" - Matthew 7:12 

How many times do you go out of your way to help someone, talk to someone, or contact someone? Have you done so today? Did you interrupt your daily routine and busy schedule to meet an unexpected and unplanned need of another person? 

Unlike these flowers, which are groomed for this, bending over backwards is not an easy thing to do. We don't like to shift or stretch or strain from our normal state. 

But God asks this of us. Do we hear Him? 

O God of our plans and schedules, reshape and contort us to meet the needs of our brothers and sisters. Amen. 

TAGS: Inspiration, Prayer

"Open wide your mouth that I may fill it." - Psalm 81:11 

Since the tree nuts aren't ripe yet, the squirrels are eating pine cones like they are corn-on-the-cob. It seems like picnic time with all the naked pine cones, and the little remnants that are left behind, scattered throughout the yard. 

Squirrels, like all outdoor animals and birds, are hungry and searching for food to satisfy their nutritional needs. 

Humans, on the other hand, are mostly blessed with enough food to satisfy their physical hunger. However, they continue to seek out food to satisfy an "other" hunger. This hunger, a spiritual hunger, is often undefinable. 

With summer upon us, picnics abound in backyards, parks and festivals. Satisfying a physical hunger is relatively easy, but a spiritual hunger may take some work and be hard to sate. 

This summer, make time to fulfill your spiritual hunger. Create a picnic, of sorts, of spiritual material to meet your yearnings. So hungrily devour this feast that your longings resemble corn-on-the-cob with only little remnants left behind. 

Divine Master, enable me to come to You to satisfy my mind, heart and soul with overflowing abundance and grace. Amen. 

TAGS: Prayer, Reflection, Story