5 minute Friday: The Love of a Gift.

Go!

      When do we receive a gift? A Birthday, Christmas, Just because, Thank you, and Mass. We receive the gift of the Lord. We Get the Lord all for our selves. Next week will be well very painful for the lord and yet as his "present" to us, he died. See how much Love is just in that statement. 'And yet as his present to us he died.

     Think of Christmas, or your birthday the perfectly wrapped present you get holding the perfect mystery. Holding something of soon what will be yours. The perfectly wrapped gift finished with a bow, ready for you. And yet we don't want to take the time to carefully undo the wrapping; We tear right through it.

    Think of a time when you received a gift. No, Not the one wrapped up under the Christmas tree or one you got for your birthday. Think of a gift that can't be wrapped, that you got, thats means more than anything in the world.

Can you think of anything?

Well the first thing that comes to mind for me is Love. Love from my family. The best gift ever, Love from the family. For they are the ones that care for me, that form us, into the ones we are today. The Gift of knowledge from others. What others say, and we learn, that is a daily gift. Like the expression "You learn something new everyday" And yet this is sooo true whether or not you realize it.


A So the ultimate gift come to us soon. For he did not die for nothing; HE DIED FOR US! FOR GOD LOVED THE WORLD SO MUCH HE GAVE HIS ONLY SON!

STOP!

Linking up and doing the 5 Minute challenge. I think i went i min or two over, but o well. Thanks and hoped you enjoyed!

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Station 1 : Jesus is condemned to Die

So we start off with our first station. The Station that unfolds the rest of his death. This mystery is yet to be unfolded. The mystery of how he was condemned shaped our faith. If we so much long for his face we must walk step by step the path that he took, filled with people shouting CRUCIFY HIM. For this Road surely was not straight, but dis-shaped by evilness and hatred, for we refuse to believe.

Jesus came and  lived. This is him on the earth who we follow. And yet he is gone, his word is forever.For our king was told from us to be crucified. And so he was; taken dishearted and left for us to mourn for our own unfaithfulness.

Now Pontius Pilate questions him asking, "Are you a King?" And Jesus answers, "My kingdom is not an earthly one, thou sayest that I am a king. To this end I was born and for this cause came I into the world, that I should bear witness unto the Truth. Everyone that is of the truth hearest my voice."
At this point Pilate said to the people, "I can find no fault in him at all."
Pilate then gave the mob a choice of who should go free. Jesus Christ or Jesus Barabas, a man in prison for riot and murder. But, inflamed by the high priest Kaphus and other members of the Sanhedron, the masses demand the death of the Nazarene.
The woman in the foreground showing alarm and despair is Pilate's wife, Claudia Propula, who because of a dream, warned him not to convict Jesus. She later left Pilate and became a Christian.
But now there is no turning back. The mob is shouting for the death of Jesus. The vicious blood-lust is visible on their faces as they scream, "Crucify him!, crucify him!"


But Jesus look at us, saw deep in our hearts the love,the faith, the truth in the deepest chambers of our heart and had mercy and accepted his fate and went on to being crucified which he could have clearly avoided but didn't; for us. For He was going to go through so much just for us and then we shall see this while he is on the cross that indeed he is the lord our God.

THANK YOU GOD FOR ACCEPTING MY UNBELIEF AND YET YOU WENT TO BE CRUCIFIED BECAUSE YOU SAW IN US FAITH AND HOPE! BLESS US AND FORGIVE US FATHER FOR OUR SIN AND DIS BELIEF. PLEASE LORD HELP US TO DO YOU WILL AND TO COME AND FOLLOW YOU FULLY!

In Pilate's hands I see my fathers will. Though Pilate is unjust, he is the lawful governor and has the power over me. And so the Son of God obeys the Son of Man. If I bow to Pilates rule because this is my fathers will, can you refuse obedience to those I place over you?

Alright.

  So AT My Daily walk in his Grace! Blog (which is well written) There is a challenge. And this Challenge is exactly what that picture says. And Acrostic Word Challenge.

•  I offer a mini challenge to any of you out there who would like to do the same.  Either with the word you have chosen, or any other word for that matter, that brings glory to God. 

"Taken from MY Daily Walk in his grace"

For this challenge I have chosen the Word "Alright". This was my word for 2012. And so I am going to make a poem out of this word. And I invite you to do this as well. For it is a great way to put a new twist on words and a way to preach the word of God!



A-lways
L-ive
R-ightfully
I-n
G-od's
H-allowed 
T-hrone

News

Hello fellow bloggers. How are you doing today? I though W would just inform you on some things today. Well for the month of April I am Doing the A-Z Challenge. Whats that you may ask? Well The a-z challenge is For Everyday in April you write a blog post. Not Just any blog post, it's a blog post that is based on a words or words. So each day in April will be a new letter. For example April first will be "A"  April second will be "B' and so on and so forth. Sunday are not included. But since April starts on A Sunday that is the only Sunday we write on. So i encourage you my readers of Life of us and saints to sign up for this unique challenge.  If you Dearly wish so Click Here

Reminders


Awards
On May 15 We will be drawing for Our Blog awards! Entries must be made by May 10 11:59 pm. YOu can only havbe a chance to win a present (award) if you send me an email At : lifeofusandsaints@gmail.com
Please enter and you could win An award!


Series


On Monday I will start my Journey of the stations of the cross. Please come and check back often (some days may and may not have more than one post.) Please Come back to check and walk this journey with me. Let this week be filled with the holy Spirit!


Button


You can now grab Life Of us and Saints button if you have not already done so. It is on the right side bar of this blog. Please Help Life of us and saints in Sharing it's Button! If you do so please send me an email and i will get Your button on my site as well! ( if i don't already)


Polls


I do have a number of polls around my site. If you do wish so please answer them so I can know how to make Life of us and saints even better!

Internet


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Holy Week


Last but not least let our Holy Week Be filled with Love, Awe Power and wisdom. For this is the time that Jesus Died for us

For God so loved the world that he gave his only son so that anyone who believes in him may have eternal life 


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Five Minute Friday: Loud

Go!

So I hear the word Loud and well the first thing that comes screaming in my head are two things: 1) Jesus and 2) Children. 

Well the children Just there screaming in having fun or Screaming for being hurt. For theres the Good Scream of a child and a bad one. I have a hard time trying to understand why Jesus came into Mind? (not saying thats it's strange but i hear the word Loud and he came to mind)That was the first thing I though of. The First reason that came to mind was because She is Loud in Calling people to him, and the more people reject him the more Louder he Gets. But I'm Not really sure if this seems right or not. 

SO now this required thinking. And So Thinking about it before i started to type was that on the Cross Jesus gave out a Loud Cry before he died. "My God,My God why have you abandoned me?" And this indeed still didn't fit it together. Again back to the thinking.... John the baptist also Shouted in a loud voice to make our roads straight for the Lord. So that he can come perfectly into our hearts. Then I also come back to that We must proclaim the Gospel with Courage and proclaim it LOUD. So as we enter into this most solemn times of Holy Week Soon May we reflect on out lives. But Let us not Shout " My God why Have you abandoned me" But " My God My God Help me"

Stop!

Well thats it. My blog Post for 5 Minute Friday. This week was a challenge for me "Loud" I had to take a good half an hour to think before hand to right this 5 Minute post. 

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Thunder Shower= Winter= Light???

Picture taken for Google Images.

No, that's not the 2 first words that come to mind that go together. But record breaker (in my life time) On March 19 the snow was far gone and the rain began to fall. Not only rain but the lightning lit up the sky like a candle flickering in the darkness. Then The thunder booming away like some drums making the sweetest sound.

The Candle flickering in the darkness. In Region we were told to do an interview from anyone within the story of when the man gets put in through the roof of the house because of all the people around the door. And So I brought in has much as I could from other stories into this one. I mentioned about the candle under a basket, I also mentioned of when he taught his disciples many times.

But most of my questions to Jesus were about.... Yes the Pharisees. Well Because they played a part is this story and well the rest of Jesus' Life. But i made Jesus Answers not what i think. I would have to get quiet and pray.  That's how I wrote the answers. I don't take assignments in religion class like any other assignments. I  let God speak through me and answer it for me. SO Jesus' answers were about how he did not hate anyone and that he did not come to judge the world but to turn them back to God. The Real God.

God is there all the time and there God will bless us and keep us safe. He wants to see out candle burning and bright, not hidden under some lamp, but showing it's beauty and warmth.

Luke 11:33

"No one lights a lamp and puts it in a place where it will be hidden, or under a bowl. Instead he puts it on its stand, so that those who come in may see the light." 

St.Patrick!

Well, it sure as been a while since I've done a saint back round post. So I've decided to for this Green Saint.

Saint Patrick is an Apostle of Ireland, born at Kilpatrick, near Dumbarton, in Scotland,( Other resourse say possibly Roman Britain) in the year 387; died at Saul, Downpatrick, Ireland, 17 March, 461. 


So first we all know that Patrick is the patron of Ireland. But how? and how is the clover and Patrick connected? Well today my friends is the day that you will figure this very question out.... so if you may sit down and relax and i will take you on a journey; a journey to the life a little boy in kilpatrick near 387 AD.

Lets image a boy; a little new born boy in 387. Born to the parents of  Calpurnius and Conchessa, who were Romans living in Britain in charge of the colonies. And this new kid is know called Maewyn Succat or in Roman Patricius. Now think of this boy having a normal life most likely going to "school" and helping his father. Until one day when he was 14 he was arrested and taken to Ireland. There he was forced to there way of living and do there way of culture. The fast forward 6 years in prison. Now this fierce man is 20 and had had a dream about God. God was telling him to escape on a " Get away ship" So then this man returned to Britain (to his family) than to France. Why to France? Because there he learned to become a priest and therefore a bishop. This took him 12 years. Now Patrick at age 32, has a  dream form God to go back to Ireland other know has the voice of the Irish. Now Patrick did go to Ireland with the popes blessing, and there he converted thousands to Christianity; he baptized and confirmed many, however he was also arrested many times too, but escaped each time. He had converted All OF Ireland within 40 Years.  He still taught and did miracles. One thing this man did was teach about the one and only; Green leaf clover.  Well what does that have to do with God? well most Green leaf clovers  have 3 and not 4. The three leaves represented the Holy Trinity. The Clover is also a common plant found in Ireland, so there he noticed the 3 leaves and explained his story from there. Then After his work was completed Patrick died on March 17, 461 Ad And ever since then the Church kept that day for him and his works.

   So as for this guy and part of St. Patrick's day. Well he's just a little myth that the Irish have to "honor" this little guy. So this guy as really nothing to do with our christian Life. But we never know when we might find that pot of gold!

Five Minute Friday: Mission Brave

Go!

So this is a time in society when to be "Cool" you mostly have to be Brave. Like Make a super awesome jump or skate bored pretty cool or whatever. But the point is being brave. Being brave is a word that seems to have no meaning any more. Well lets quikly look into the secret of Being brave.

Just off of my head i'm going to list things that are brave:

• A Seed for popping up for the first time in a large world.
• Us as christian- standing up for our faith!
• Us for giving our lives to God. 
• Standing up for others.

Well thats what i can think of. And well us being christian is very brave because if you look on the time that we started with Jesus, he was hated and unliked and stoned and even killed for proclaiming that he is the son of God. Then fast forward a couple of years and there were still brothers and priests getting persicuted and martyred for God.

SO even though we are Christians today we still go through many struggles and fights. There is no end yet to those who do not believe. For that is our mission to be brave and to go and proclaim Gods message to all our religion and others. But really there is no difference we all believe in God deep down.

"God is to big to fight into one Religion" Unknown

So What ways are you brave?

Stop!

Thats it. Linking up with Five Minute Fridays! Hope you enjoy!

Pray

So I was at a retreat today, and well it was about praying and how to find God and where to find God. Lets look at praying at what it really is.... 

Prayer:

• A chat with God  - About You! 
• A time To reflect- On your Day and Life
• A Time to let things God- Like anger 
• A time to thank God- For everything
• Our Love note to God

Despite whatever is wrong or whatever is good, God wants to know, he's always open and always there ready to talk because he is our friend, our Teacher, our life. Praying is something simple that each of us can do in our day and something we Should do. We need to let God know, we should thank him for everything and anything that we have received. 

Prayer. Prayer. Prayer. The one thing That we are called to do. To receive the Holy Spirit. To Say YES to God and let him in and let him run your life. For God is speaking and is waiting for our yes for him to let us in. God wants the best for us and when we let him in, our life will go from the little it is (or might be) To Great things. Letting God in will allow us to preach his word and to share his gospel with others, to have the holy spirit to preach and not be scared. Even if your prayer is a simple "thank you God" God want to know that he his still in charge and to know that we still care for our creator.

So Lets look at prayer in the bible: 

 16 Be joyful always, 17 pray at all times, 18 be thankful in all circumstances. This is what God wants from you in your life in union with Christ Jesus. 19 Do not restrain the Holy Spirit; 20 do not despise inspired messages. 21 Put all things to the test: keep what is good 22 and avoid every kind of evil. 23 May the God who gives us peace make you holy in every way and keep your whole being - spirit, soul, and body - free from every fault at the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ. 24 He who calls you will do it, because he is faithful.

Praying to God is our way of connecting to him. He is the ultimate source of Love and Peace and Forgiveness. God is the ultimate way of getting our life back. And God so he wants to be in our hearts and  help us be the best we can be.... For God can change us if we Answer with a simple YES! And we will be transformed. Lets find God in others and in all

Question?

So today At my half day I was Asked this question: How Do you Think Jesus was Treated as a Child? And my mind  went blank. cause there isn't a whole lot recorded of Jesus' Young age and the only that could come to mind is well when Jesus taught the teachers in the temple. And my response  was simply " I think he was respected because he taught adults...." And then the mystery haunted me for the rest of the day.

 So then i came home and looked in the bible because at the time that was the only thing I could think of and so i wanted to search more in the New testament. But it really only says about Jesus teaching teachers. Now lets think about this. Lets go back to when you where 12. Think of your teacher (s) And think about that was you who was teaching them and giving them all the homework.... Wouldn't that be great. :) Well then just imagine never going to school and your teaching that teacher. 

Well thats the case of Jesus. But then you think about it and he doesn't need to be taught at all. Why? Well because he is the son of God. He knows everything. Like this weekends gospel Jesus knew about the woman's past with husband and the one shes staying with isn't her husband.  Jesus Didn't need no school or homework or anything, all he needed was to be baptized and to start his work.

So back to the question of : How Do you think Jesus was treated as a Child? This question was mostly based on peers of his age. And so now i'm here trying to solve this one of a kind mystery. As i said my response was that he was respected because he taught adults. I thought this because the Adults must have been impressed and astonished. But I wonder if there really was any doubters or people who hated listening to this kid? and kicked him out?  

Now lets look as this as a peer prospective. Jesus, being a teacher, and the Son of God. Never says who he is until the Women at the Well in Johns gospel. He Says that " I am He" After the women says that the messiah will come. So then we figure that if Jesus actually tell any of the younger kids his age(12) if he was the son of God. It mysterious, cause you have to think  that most people back then did not have the "Religious Job" But the kids were practicing there faith as Jews and Yet Here is the son of God practicing Jewish traditions.And Then the other side would be if he did then he might be able to get them to follow God at a young age and then maybe not end up getting crucified. . So I think it goes           

                                                                  hand and hand. 

So now I leave this in your hands. 

How do you think Jesus was treated as a child?

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Spring!

No it's not quite yet, but it surely feels like it! after the down fall of snow, day after day, it finally comes to this + temperatures. Winter as done it's damage and well wants to flood the city.... It's brought so much water already, i don't want to see what it looks like when more snow melts. 

Well lets image this shall we? Lets both take a look out side right now?  The thing you would see is Snow. Lots of it here and there. Everywhere! But then you notice the sun shining in your face and water starting to drip from the Roof outside. And Soon enough the snow as passed and turned into puddles. Puddles Here and Puddles there.

Now in this weeks gospel we hear the conversation of the Woman (a Samaritan) and Jesus (A Jew) This Conversation was quick. But they both had made there points. The Women surely backing up the rights that Jews and Samaritans should not talk or even share the same cup. And Jesus surely backing up God and  the Living Water. Living water. Living Water. Living Water. Doesn't that just sound relaxing, Refreshing, Living? 

This water of which we must Drink is the only drink God tells us to.... until the Last Supper of course. Jesus wants us to join him in heaven and so we shall if we believe and indeed drink the Life Giving water. He wants us in the kingdom. Thats why he went back, To set a place there for us. And so we will if we get the least of one drop of life giving water.

The Woman at the well...

So today I taught Grade 1. My Sister couldn't teach today so sh asked me to. And I was more than Happy to. So the class was about the Women at the Well. And for Grade 1 not that much smarter than Kindergartens, This was going to be one tough class to teach.

So I started off by trying to put it in smaller words that maybe the kids would under stand. But I think that confused them even more. So then I read them the version from the children's Bible and then they got it. So after that to get the image across more I gave them some pictures to color to see it even better. These kids i taught today were an excellent group. They were quick on the answers and were feeling smart.

So when it came to the spot of Life giving water and the spot of Eternal life. I explained it as Eternal as forever and life and living. So Living forever. The kids did get that right away but did not get at all Jacob and his well.


This class became easier when they finished watching the movie from last week. They sat there and listened to the vegi tale guys give there message about Sharing. I guess looking back at it know the women at the well is very much sharing. Jesus Shared is love and the women shared well the news and shared her dis believe. And Jesus again shared his understanding,knowledge and teaching.


So what can we learn from this? We can learn that we to need understanding and love, and that we to need to shout out that God is here today and will stay with us for another 2 days. Before he continues on his journey. May we learn the simple but factual way not the weak way but Gods Way


Give us living water.... Give us living water.... Give us living water....

Empty...

Linking up with 5 min Friday.


GO!

We all hear about that money is just an object and that we need to know that things on earth are just an object. For indeed they are but when I hear the Word empty i remember a story i hear last year.

So there are these two sides of the garden. One side is dead and empty and nothing there is right at all. The other side on the other hand  Is filled with new things,the best nature and the best fruit on trees. Thatw was the side God was on.

So there was a man was loyal to  God on Gods side of the garden... until he won the lottery and he had become Greedy and walked to the other side of the garden... He bought a new car,a new home, a new busniess he did everything all over, but he was EMPTY. So in this case he was on  the empty side of the garden.

But then he realized that his friends were loyal to God, to they deep with God. The man then became jelous of them and wanted to come back... and God said " My Son you are always welcomes back home, but you muat be kind to others and not be greedy"

So then we see this man not empty. He was loyal to God and gave him his best attention. So let this be a sign to you.... Don't get caught up in your own things were you Feel Empty. Don't get caught in the fairly big things either and God will bless you!

STOP!

What a busy Week!

I've been very busy this week. I'm been busy studying and keeping up with what needs to be done. I can very easily see my self not on the right track this week. I've been trying to meet deadlines and trying to get the most important things done first. I  have been stuck in the craziness for 2 weeks know and it will continue to become more busy. And unsurprising I will be busy today.

But coming and going through this busyness we have to remember to keep the one and only : God. in mind!  But how easy it is to get distracted from every little thing around you and making sure everything is done before there quick deadline. So how is being busy, busy, busy, and trying to make everything ready for there deadline? Well  even though I might have felt it or not realized it, God was there all along. It's a wonderful thing to know that God will always be there.... even if you don't acknowledge him during any time . Because  God loves us and will be with us and care for us by sending down his Holy Spirit, and giving us the gift of the Holy Spirit as well. Truth be told that God is NEVER ABANDONS US.

God is faithful; Faithful to us. Even though we leave him. So when we do get the chance we must give our FULL attention to God because he is the  Lord of our life and lives with in us and he desires our heart, mind, strength, and  our soul!

Deuteronomy 31:6

Be strong and courageous. Do not be afraid or terrified because of them, for the LORD your God goes with you; he will never leave you nor forsake you

 Hebrews 13:5-6

⁵ Keep your lives free from the love of money and be content with what you have, because God has said, “Never will I leave you; never will I forsake you.

  ⁶ So we say with confidence,“The Lord is my helper; I will not be afraid. What can mere mortals do to me

Where is my Advil?

today i am also teaming up and doing the five minute Friday! So here I go!

Go!

So From our Aches and pains we come and see that we turn to one source. The Advil. Get rid of the headaches, get rid of the stomachache. But there is one ache we cannot get rid of. This ache is the ache that  even the strongest Advil can't get rid of! This ache is the ache of temptation and of evil.

Standing strong is easy. If you have God as the center piece on your table. This piece is the one that sets the mood on the table. Other none as the piece that keeps us strong and withstanding the temptations. This center piece is beutiful... That is if we continue to add to it. The center piece is beutyful right know.... but if we add more (pray) and let God have more and more control, the more beutiful it will be. God is the centerpiece of all people. Even tjough they might not see it, he is there.... They just need to find him and make there center piece even greater.

The center piece will be great when we withstand the aches and pains and live in the way God wants us to and not to follow fake gods but the one and Real God. 

All aches will be gone one day and we won't need those advils and pain killers! because God will be the ultimate one! 

STOP!

Faith Filled Friday: Letting God Speak

Okay, So we are here again with another Friday! I'm so glade that this week is done! It's been busy busy busy! Has busy as it is I have been in "My Own World' This is not good. God asks of one thing. To remember him through all the times of your life! and this week at times I may have forgotten to say thanks and or ask God for guidance. We must come and see that above all God is the one that really brings us to him closer and closer to make the right decisions.

How many of us let God think for us? How many of us let God make our daily instructions. ( I could do this more) How many of us need God more and more everyday? Well we all do. And we all need to let God in and to let him be our mind. We need to let God come and make our decisions and let God tell us what to do. Because for after all it is God we bow down at. But letting God speak and act through us is VERY important. So it's not just letting him act for you but letting him think for you. We get told the message from the Bible, he tells us whats on his mind. And that's what should be on our minds. 

Letting God Act  is something more than just doing good deeds it's fully accepting him in your heart. We hear the message from the bible and then God says it to us again in many different shapes and forms. From the Bible we must meditate and we  must learn and become one with the unity with God. We MUST follow the Lord and we MUST allow God in to act and to speak to us.

Joshua 1: 8

"This book of the law shall not depart from your mouth, but you shall meditate on it day and night, so that you may be careful to do according to all that is written in it; for then you will make your way prosperous, and then you will have success."

When we go to confession and  God speaks for us, He is saying his own plan to us! He is saying his love and peace and perfect plan right in front of us! With the words of us saying it we can stand with God and not be ashamed.   For when we let God speak through us we can say truly our sins without being a liar to God. For when we talk to God he will answer back If we give him time to respond that is. WE MUST LET GOD SPEAK FOR US!

1 John 1 9-10

 If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just and will forgive us our sins and purify us from all unrighteousness. ¹⁰ If we claim we have not sinned, we make him out to be a liar and his word is not in us.

Now, that God as Our word in confession that we have sinned and we have let him in, we must not carry our daily burdens by our selves. We must let God carry them. We must not carry around our day not carrying. We must let God carry our day. We must not sin or not do things our self, we must let God do it for us! God is wanting to be let in and so we shall pray for that that he might come in and change our lives with the words of his own mouth. 

2 Corinthians 5: 6-8

⁶ Therefore we are always confident and know that as long as we are at home in the body we are away from the Lord. ⁷ For we live by faith, not by sight. ⁸ We are confident, I say, and would prefer to be away from the body and at home with the Lord."