Blessings, grace and gratitude

[wlychan64]

Hi Craig,

What a beautiful post!

I am actually quite struck by how you deeply you immersed yourself in Lent. I invited a friend (protestant) to our Good Friday service and he said he couldn’t come because he was playing tennis! I was quite taken aback because I always thought that Christians kept Good Friday as a day for reflection. So I was really pleased by your how blessed your Lent and Easter was.

Yes, He is so little known and served so it really is up to all of us to remedy that a little bit.

Thank you for sharing that with us.

I hope I am losing focus by making a small comment. Easter 2009 is very important to me as I have got back to HIS hands and surrender myself to Our Lord if I have not done it properly in the past. I attended mass in a nearby Catholic Church from Thursday the 9th April to 12th April. I really feel that Jesus Christ died for us and our sins were buried upon his death and resurrencton. This is just a start for me but to me, I wish to say that it is a good start.

What also impressed me most is the Catholic Church is so serious with Easter and this is right and absolutely important whilst some protestant denomnations for whatever reasons they have, treat Easter slightly lightly.I was so happy for all the holy masses I attended in Easter 2009. I thank God and the Catholic Church.

Certainly, I would not skip the mass for tennis as Love of Our Lord and our celebration of Easter cannot be over-looked at all and undermined for things on earth.

Best wishes,
wlychan64

 

[Cinette]

Here is something for everybody - I enjoy this so much:

“What do I love when I love my God?

*Not material beauty, or beauty of a temporal order,
Not the brilliance of earthly light, so welcome to our eyes;
Not the sweet melody of harmony and song;
Not the fragrance of perfumes or spices;
Not manna or honey, not limbs such as the body delights to embrace.

It is not these I love when I love God.
And yet it is true, when I love him I love light of a certain kind;
A voice, a perfume, a food, an embrace.
But they are of the kind I love in my inner self,

When my soul is bathed in light that is not bound by space,
When it breathes a fragrance that is not borne away on the wind;
When it tastes food that is never consumed by eating;
When it clings to an embrace from which it is not severed by
the fulfillment of desire.

That is what I love when I love my God.”*

					(St Augustine – Confessions X, 6)

Enjoy

 

[Cinette]

It is now 4h36am and I have been up since a little before 3am. For some years now my sleeping pattern has been disturbed so as evening comes I feel sleepy and most times I fall asleep early, often on the sofa!! Then at 3 in the morning I am wide awake!! I don’t mind very much as I use this time very well.

Today I need prayers. Yesterday my daughter who also lives in the same city and who gave birth 2 months ago to a beautiful baby Leah phoned to tell me that for the past two nights little Leah has slept for 12 hours and 10 hours at a stretch. Later yesterday she took Leah to the doctor as she had a bad cough and fever. Firstly I was worried that such a little baby should sleep 10 and 12 hours at a stretch - this is not normal. The Doctor also did not think this was good but we thought that perhaps it was the fever which caused this. Anyway I have prayed that all will be well.

A friend expressed a need for prayers and there are so many little things converging on me at this time that I felt hot although the temperature is rather cold. I was in a hot sweat (never mind a cold sweat!!) as I prayed my rosary earlier. Now I have calmed down and feel the nippiness of the day. I was thinking of all those who need our prayers, those who are without work, those who are ill or looking after a sick person, those who have all kinds of problems. I thought of my friend and prayed. I then remembered CAF and all the people who network, interact and communicate and how although we may never meet, there is a bond, a friendship and . How wonderful it is to know that we care and that we can lean on each other for prayers and comfort.

Thank you Almighty God for your wonderful creation. Thank you most of all for the love that comforts and sustains us.

Blessings to all
Cinette

 

[nancy_dalrymple]

Hello Ben, i realy loved that song and it did have the heart of God in it. It brought a tear to my eye, because it took me away from this world for a while and i was in a differnt place in time and very peaceful. i am very greatful i stumbled upon this forum, i can’t remember how i found it. I think i was looking for answers about the Catholic faith because i was not setled in my spirit, very restless and through with all the churches out there that i was not being forfilled with. i felt the same no matter where i went and not satisfied.I dont know if you could ever imagine what that feel’s like but it can be confussing. my heart was crying out,and i remember praying all the time all day long to find a HOME a place where i could be the very closess to Him as i could possibly ever be. And i want to thank all the people who put up with me and all my mistakes and questions,i’m back to the faith but i have alot to learn and catch up with .I can tell you someone on this forum said “stay connected, do things even if you dont think you will like them, volunteer to help in the church, Get involved.” you know he was right and the more i get invloved the more springs of water arise in my soul, Praise God and Blessings on all of you,I have a Family.Thank you Love fo Christ Nancy:thumbsup:

 

[Cinette]

Nancy!

Is that a ***** cat or…what it looks like???

I am so glad I am in Africa!

 

[nancy_dalrymple]

Cinette hello! it’s a couger and
Cougar
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Jump to: navigation, search
“Catamount” redirects here. For the ski area, see Catamount Ski Area.
This article is about the large cat species. For other uses, see Cougar (disambiguation).
Cougar[1]
Fossil range: Middle Pleistocene to Recent

Conservation status

Least Concern (IUCN 3.1)[2]
Scientific classification
Kingdom: Animalia

Phylum: Chordata

Class: Mammalia

Order: Carnivora

Family: Felidae

Genus: Puma

Species: P. concolor

Binomial name
Puma concolor
(Linnaeus, 1771)

Cougar range
The cougar (Puma concolor), also known as puma, mountain lion, or panther, depending on the region, is a mammal of the Felidae family, native to the Americas. This large, solitary cat has the greatest range of any wild terrestrial mammal in the Western Hemisphere,[3] extending from Yukon in Canada to the southern Andes of South America. An adaptable, generalist species, the cougar is found in every major American habitat type. It is the second heaviest cat in the American continents after the jaguar, and the fourth heaviest in the world, along with the leopard, after the tiger, lion, and jaguar, although it is most closely related to smaller felines.

A capable stalk-and-ambush predator, the cougar pursues a wide variety of prey. Primary food sources include ungulates such as deer, elk, and bighorn sheep, as well as domestic cattle, horses, and sheep, particularly in the northern part of its range, but it also hunts species as small as insects and rodents. Moreover, it prefers habitats with dense underbrush and rocky areas for stalking, but it can live in open areas. The cougar is territorial and persists at low population densities. Individual territory sizes depend on terrain, vegetation, and abundance of prey. While it is a large predator, it is not always the dominant species in its range, as when it competes for prey with other predators such as the jaguar, Gray Wolf, American Black Bear, and the Grizzly Bear. It is a reclusive cat and usually avoids people. Attacks on humans remain rare, despite a recent increase in frequency.[4]

Due to persecution following the European colonization of the Americas, and continuing human development of cougar habitat, populations have dropped in most parts of its historical range. In particular, the cougar was extirpated in eastern North America, except an isolated sub-population in Florida; the animal may be recolonizing parts of its former eastern territory. With its vast range, the cougar has dozens of names and various references in the mythology of the indigenous Americans and in contemporary culture. The Cougar has recently made a comeback in the state of Wyoming, where it presently has the largest population in North America.

Love of Christ Nancy:thumbsup:

 

[Craig_Kennedy]

It is now 4h36am and I have been up since a little before 3am. For some years now my sleeping pattern has been disturbed so as evening comes I feel sleepy and most times I fall asleep early, often on the sofa!! Then at 3 in the morning I am wide awake!! I don’t mind very much as I use this time very well.

Today I need prayers. Yesterday my daughter who also lives in the same city and who gave birth 2 months ago to a beautiful baby Leah phoned to tell me that for the past two nights little Leah has slept for 12 hours and 10 hours at a stretch. Later yesterday she took Leah to the doctor as she had a bad cough and fever. Firstly I was worried that such a little baby should sleep 10 and 12 hours at a stretch - this is not normal. The Doctor also did not think this was good but we thought that perhaps it was the fever which caused this. Anyway I have prayed that all will be well.

A friend expressed a need for prayers and there are so many little things converging on me at this time that I felt hot although the temperature is rather cold. I was in a hot sweat (never mind a cold sweat!!) as I prayed my rosary earlier. Now I have calmed down and feel the nippiness of the day. I was thinking of all those who need our prayers, those who are without work, those who are ill or looking after a sick person, those who have all kinds of problems. I thought of my friend and prayed. I then remembered CAF and all the people who network, interact and communicate and how although we may never meet, there is a bond, a friendship and . How wonderful it is to know that we care and that we can lean on each other for prayers and comfort.

Thank you Almighty God for your wonderful creation. Thank you most of all for the love that comforts and sustains us.

Blessings to all
Cinette

Hi Cinette,

I am praying for you. I know that God loves you and He cares.

God bless, In Christ Craig

 

[benedictus2]

I’m pretty much a traditionalist at heart, as I think you realise. I believe that shops and places of entertainment should not be open on Good Friday. I also believe that people should not mow their lawns on Good Friday, such is the importance of this day.

On Good Friday, I meditate upon the scriptures and pray. I reflect upon the Passion and sufferings of our Lord. I believe that God richly blesses all people - both Catholic and Protestant - who honour the Son of God in this way.

I am really heartened by your post. I wish more people think this way. Sadly the secular is encroaching too much into all that we used to hold sacred.

But you are right, the only thing we can do is be a witness of the risen Christ and preach Christ crucified.

At our church they decided to role play the pasion while the gospel of the passion was read. It was so poignant especially the part when Peter’s and Jesus’s eyes met I cried.

I find that a lot of people do not want to think of Good Friday because it is too confronting. And yet there is no Easter without Good Friday.

 

[benedictus2]

I hope I am losing focus by making a small comment. Easter 2009 is very important to me as I have got back to HIS hands and surrender myself to Our Lord if I have not done it properly in the past. I attended mass in a nearby Catholic Church from Thursday the 9th April to 12th April. I really feel that Jesus Christ died for us and our sins were buried upon his death and resurrencton. This is just a start for me but to me, I wish to say that it is a good start.

Hi Winston,

Thank you for visiting this thread.

I like what you wrote about being in HIS hands. It resonates with something I have been thinking of for a long while now - something very similar to what St Therese of Lissieux wrote.

I think we are like little chicks who have been rather naughty and waddled into the muddy water. God picks us up in His hands and tenderly cleans the dirt that has clung to our fine feathers, then He warms us with the fire of His love.

I wish more people would realize the depth of God’s love for them.

And all we need is to surrender to the Lord.

There is a line in the song the I posted earlier that went :

“I know you haven’t made your mind up yet
But I would never do you wrong
I’ve known it from the moment that we met
There’s no doubt in my mind where you belong”

I think sometimes we are afraid to surrender because that means a relinquishment of our ego. I think this is because we do not realize that nothing could be more right than to surrender and rest in His love.

As St Augustine said He made us for Himself and we will always be restless until we rest in Him.

 

[benedictus2]

But they are of the kind I love in my inner self,

---

When my soul is bathed in light that is not bound by space,
When it breathes a fragrance that is not borne away on the wind;
When it tastes food that is never consumed by eating;
***When it clings to an embrace from which it is not severed by ***
the fulfillment of desire.

That is what I love when I love my God.”

                    (St Augustine – Confessions X, 6)

Enjoy

Wow Cinnette, I have not read that one before. Thank you so very much.:extrahappy:

 

[benedictus2]

Today I need prayers. Yesterday my daughter who also lives in the same city and who gave birth 2 months ago to a beautiful baby Leah phoned to tell me that for the past two nights little Leah has slept for 12 hours and 10 hours at a stretch. Later yesterday she took Leah to the doctor as she had a bad cough and fever. Firstly I was worried that such a little baby should sleep 10 and 12 hours at a stretch - this is not normal.
A friend expressed a need for prayers and there are so many little things converging on me at this time that I felt hot although the temperature is rather cold. I was in a hot sweat (never mind a cold sweat!!) as I prayed my rosary earlier. Now I have calmed down and feel the nippiness of the day. I was thinking of all those who need our prayers, those who are without work, those who are ill or looking after a sick person, those who have all kinds of problems. I thought of my friend and prayed. I then remembered CAF and all the people who network, interact and communicate and how although we may never meet, there is a bond, a friendship and . How wonderful it is to know that we care and that we can lean on each other for prayers and comfort.

Oh Cinnette. I pray that all is well with the little one. I will ask my family as well to pray for her.

Yes, there are so many who need our prayers. Then I think of CAF and the many people I have prayed for and who have prayed for me and I heartened by this enormous amount of good will that goes on in the forum. People you have never met praying for you.

I used to say that I cannot help much I can ONLY pray for others and yet THAT is probably the best thing we can ever do for others.

Prayer works wonders.

 

[benedictus2]

Hello Ben, i realy loved that song and it did have the heart of God in it. It brought a tear to my eye, because it took me away from this world for a while and i was in a differnt place in time and very peaceful. i am very greatful i stumbled upon this forum, i can’t remember how i found it. I think i was looking for answers about the Catholic faith because i was not setled in my spirit, very restless and through with all the churches out there that i was not being forfilled with. i felt the same no matter where i went and not satisfied.I dont know if you could ever imagine what that feel’s like but it can be confussing. my heart was crying out,and i remember praying all the time all day long to find a HOME a place where i could be the very closess to Him as i could possibly ever be. And i want to thank all the people who put up with me and all my mistakes and questions,i’m back to the faith but i have alot to learn and catch up with .I can tell you someone on this forum said “stay connected, do things even if you dont think you will like them, volunteer to help in the church, Get involved.” you know he was right and the more i get invloved the more springs of water arise in my soul, Praise God and Blessings on all of you,I have a Family.Thank you Love fo Christ Nancy:thumbsup:

Hi Nancy,

Thank you for coming over.

I am glad you liked the song. The first time I heard it was when my niece sang it for her mom’s birthday. The other day she sang it again so I was able to hear the lyrics better and I thought, well, God could be singing that song for me.

There was a line that went"
“I’d go hungry I’d go black and blue
I’d go crawling down the avenue”

And I thought that line could instead go:
“I’d go hungry I’d go black and blue
I even died on the cross for you.”
…
To make you feel My love"

 

[benedictus2]

Cinette hello! it’s a couger and
Cougar
v
v

While it is a large predator, it is not always the dominant species in its range, as when it competes for prey with other predators such as the jaguar, Gray Wolf, American Black Bear, and the Grizzly Bear. It is a reclusive cat and usually avoids people. Attacks on humans remain rare, despite a recent increase in frequency.

I think if I leave it alone it will do the likewise so I stick to my little corner of God’s earth

 

[RSD]

Cinette hello! it’s a couger and
Cougar
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Jump to: navigation, search
“Catamount” redirects here. For the ski area, see Catamount Ski Area.
This article is about the large cat species. For other uses, see Cougar (disambiguation).
Cougar[1]
Fossil range: Middle Pleistocene to Recent

Conservation status

Least Concern (IUCN 3.1)[2]
Scientific classification
Kingdom: Animalia

Phylum: Chordata

Class: Mammalia

Order: Carnivora

Family: Felidae

Genus: Puma

Species: P. concolor

Binomial name
Puma concolor
(Linnaeus, 1771)

Cougar range
The cougar (Puma concolor), also known as puma, mountain lion, or panther, depending on the region, is a mammal of the Felidae family, native to the Americas. This large, solitary cat has the greatest range of any wild terrestrial mammal in the Western Hemisphere,[3] extending from Yukon in Canada to the southern Andes of South America. An adaptable, generalist species, the cougar is found in every major American habitat type. It is the second heaviest cat in the American continents after the jaguar, and the fourth heaviest in the world, along with the leopard, after the tiger, lion, and jaguar, although it is most closely related to smaller felines.

A capable stalk-and-ambush predator, the cougar pursues a wide variety of prey. Primary food sources include ungulates such as deer, elk, and bighorn sheep, as well as domestic cattle, horses, and sheep, particularly in the northern part of its range, but it also hunts species as small as insects and rodents. Moreover, it prefers habitats with dense underbrush and rocky areas for stalking, but it can live in open areas. The cougar is territorial and persists at low population densities. Individual territory sizes depend on terrain, vegetation, and abundance of prey. While it is a large predator, it is not always the dominant species in its range, as when it competes for prey with other predators such as the jaguar, Gray Wolf, American Black Bear, and the Grizzly Bear. It is a reclusive cat and usually avoids people. Attacks on humans remain rare, despite a recent increase in frequency.[4]

Due to persecution following the European colonization of the Americas, and continuing human development of cougar habitat, populations have dropped in most parts of its historical range. In particular, the cougar was extirpated in eastern North America, except an isolated sub-population in Florida; the animal may be recolonizing parts of its former eastern territory. With its vast range, the cougar has dozens of names and various references in the mythology of the indigenous Americans and in contemporary culture. The Cougar has recently made a comeback in the state of Wyoming, where it presently has the largest population in North America.

Love of Christ Nancy:thumbsup:

I am sure that if you tell us why a cougar appears to be at a family picnic, in Maine, that will give us something else to be thankful for. Was the cougar a guest, or a meal? Or were the people the meal for the cougar?! Inquiring minds want to know.

 

[nancy_dalrymple]

HI! RDS, I am at a Fair with my son and i asked him to go in the fenced in area with me, he looked at me like Right! But i convinced him and i could hear his knee’s knocking, that cat got up and looked at me right in the eyes and then turned around at layed down,boy! all my bones were rattling,but then i decided to play brave and lean on the cat and i did feel cool for the moment. To do it now, never, not after that monkey took off that woman’s face WoW PS The Fair was in NH Love of Christ Nancy
OH I almost forgot That was a moment to be thankful about:thumbsup:

 

[Lief_Erikson]

Hello everyone . I recently read an encouraging report from a Catholic writer regarding a Gallup survey of Catholic beliefs. It brightened my day a lot.

The Gallup poll surveyed Catholics randomly, asking them for their views on stem cell research, abortion, homosexuality, etc. All the moral biggies of our day. They found that the Catholics were about the same as the rest of the population, on average, except on many of these moral issues they were a little bit LESS faithful than the normal population. I already knew about those kinds of figures, and I tend to find them depressing.

However, the Catholic writer of this article I read dug into the figures in more depth and he said that if you look beneath the surface level, you find a very different story. For when one calculates only the figures of the beliefs of the Catholics in the survey who attended Mass every Sunday, the number of Catholics faithful to the Church’s teaching DOUBLES in the Gallup poll . Which would put the number of Catholics who are true lights of the Church’s teaching much higher than the average population. This happens if one excludes those that aren’t attending Mass every Sunday. So the devout Catholics are really holding firm. It’s all the liberal, secular and cultural Catholics that drag down the figures and damage the Church’s witness.

Finding this out the deeper story behind the figures, learning how the Catholics attending Mass are really true in their doctrine and morals as well, was very heartening for me.

 

[puzzleannie]

lovely thread, given OP’s screen name

Thank you Lord for my infirmities, and grant that they may give me empathy with those whose abilities are limited. Thank you for my aches and pains, that I may more deeply suffer with you and with those in constant pain. Thank you for my failures, that I may come to rely and trust solely in You.

 

[benedictus2]

Hello everyone . I recently read an encouraging report from a Catholic writer regarding a Gallup survey of Catholic beliefs. It brightened my day a lot.

The Gallup poll surveyed Catholics randomly, asking them for their views on stem cell research, abortion, homosexuality, etc. All the moral biggies of our day. They found that the Catholics were about the same as the rest of the population, on average, except on many of these moral issues they were a little bit LESS faithful than the normal population. I already knew about those kinds of figures, and I tend to find them depressing.

However, the Catholic writer of this article I read dug into the figures in more depth and he said that if you look beneath the surface level, you find a very different story. For when one calculates only the figures of the beliefs of the Catholics in the survey who attended Mass every Sunday, the number of Catholics faithful to the Church’s teaching DOUBLES in the Gallup poll . Which would put the number of Catholics who are true lights of the Church’s teaching much higher than the average population. This happens if one excludes those that aren’t attending Mass every Sunday. So the devout Catholics are really holding firm. It’s all the liberal, secular and cultural Catholics that drag down the figures and damage the Church’s witness.

Finding this out the deeper story behind the figures, learning how the Catholics attending Mass are really true in their doctrine and morals as well, was very heartening for me.

Hi Lief,

Wonderful to see you again!!.

I think the secular press is downright against the Church so you will never get the true picture from them.

These day I always take any report about the Catholic church from the secular press with truckload of salt.

As I have said to a few people who bemoan the state of the Church. She is Christ’s church. If He allows these things to happens then He has allowed it.

God is in control and He will see His church through all the good and bad. And there are many great things happening in the church that one does not even get to hear about. If you take the press alone, you will get the picture that it is all doom and gloom.

Bad news sells.

 

[benedictus2]

lovely thread, given OP’s screen name

Thank you Lord for my infirmities, and grant that they may give me empathy with those whose abilities are limited. Thank you for my aches and pains, that I may more deeply suffer with you and with those in constant pain. Thank you for my failures, that I may come to rely and trust solely in You.

That is such a beautiful prayer. Only one word I can add. Amen!

And may we all be able to pray that sincerely.

 

[benedictus2]

What am I greatful for today?

I would have to say faith.

I have just been visiting threads and reading posts from Atheists and I can’t help thinking “there but for the grace of God go I”.

I am thankful for God’s love that He makes manifest in the people around me especially my family.

And here is a little story about my niece when she was around 5 or 6.

She was at Mass with my sister and her husband and in their Mass (neo-catechumenate) the priest asked the children who have already had their First Communiion to sit at the front so he can address them directly to better explain the gospel.

The priest then asked them “Who do you love more, God or your parents?”

All the children answered “God”, giving the stock standard catechism answer.

Since my niece was still young, she had to sit by my sister and so was not asked the question.

On the way home however, my sister asked her what would she replied had she been asked. My niece said she will have to think about it.

A couple of hours later (by then my sister had forgotten about it ) my niece said: I now have the answer. I love God, because He gave me you"

Thank you Lord for the gift that is my family.