hugs & 3 blessings – Page 9

thank you, Louie!

Published on June 30, 2016July 1, 2016 by Dawn Marie2 Comments

Cuppycake & I are in a book-study group along with 3 friends!

Currently we are reading and discussing

A Faith-Sharing Guide with Reflections by Pope Francis

God’s boundless mercy has become the recurring theme of Pope Francis’ preaching and teaching. He so desires that we understand the mercy of God that he has called for an Extraordinary Jubilee of Mercy!

This faith-sharing guide provides an opportunity to participate in the holy year in a meaninful way with eight-sessions featuring a Gospel passage followed by a homily on that passage by Pope Francis. Questions for reflection and discussion focus on both the Scripture text and the homily.

We are having a wonderful time reflecting & discussing as we make our way through this grace-filled year with our friends!

Cardinal Donald Wuerl, Archbishop of Washington, describes it best when he shares,

“It takes both Gospel texts and Pope Francis’ insightful reflections and presents them in a way that is borh challenging and thought provoking.”

And I can attest this is very true!

Each session it is as if my heart is personally ministered to by God through the continual messages (all various in nature) of just how much He loves me. This past session was a reminder of that as He held me, wiped away my internal tears, and just like the leper restored my self-worth. Each time this happens I am humbled & thereby do more for others than I ever imagined possible because He gives me the courage to do so, despite my own fears of rejection.

“God’s mercy overcomes every barrier and Jesus’ hand touches the leper. He does not stand at a safe distance and does not act by delegating, but places himself in direct contact with our contagion.”

Pope Francis

I am so thankful to be restored again!

And even though I know I am unworthy, sinner that I am, I wish to give Him thanks more often! Yes, each thursday I offer up 3hugs& blessings but I am challenging myself to find 5 things (good or otherwise,) to praise Him for each day! I certainly know how to go to Him and “ask,” but today may I begin to make “thanks” more natural! And by His grace, may this also include any suffering I may be experiencing; as I know there is joy to be found…

even in our suffering.

So far I’ve been mindful of 3 moments of praise to offer Him and so it is I share them (with you,) as a part of my 3hugs&blessings Thursday!!

1. For God’s word to me during my Lectio Devina,

(in Christianity, Lectio Divina-Latin for “Divine Reading”- is a traditional Benedictine practice of scriptural reading, meditation and prayer intended to promote communion with God and to increase the knowledge of God’s Word. It does not treat Scripture as texts to be studied, but as the Living Word. Traditionally, Lectio Divina has four separate steps: read; meditate; pray; contemplate)

which was taken from Psalm 57:

“May God send his truth and his love.”

2. For a dear fellow-blogger, Dr. Jonathan Neal Colter, who reminded me today we have a personal CHOICE to make in the way we ‘care for’ our bodies! I encourage you to scroll over to his site where you will find many health-beneficial posts to encourage you to make educated choices for yourself on how you may CHOOSE to manage your over-all “well-being!”

“Do you not know that your body is a temple of the Holy Spirit within you, which you have from God? You are not your own;”

1Corinthians 6:19

3. And lastly for an unexpected jaunt with friends to a rare (but favorite) lunch-stop…Lucky Louie’s! Now, I know this may seem contrary to my second chosen blessing for the day; however, I PROMISE IT’s NOT!! Because remember…all things in moderation, and I do pray 3-4 hotdogs a summer fall into the moderation category! (giggles.)

“All things are lawful for me,” but not all things are helpful. “All things are lawful for me,” but I will not be enslaved by anything.“

1 Corinthians 6:12

Although I do enjoy the creative-combinations in which they have transformed locally made Smith’s Natural Casing Hotdogs at Lucky Louie’s, it is also a fun-space to meet over a counter or picnic-table & visit with friends!

Beginning today, may all of our eyes be openned to the mercy of the Father in the face of Jesus and draw us into deeper prayer, deeper communion with others, and the ability to share it with those around us!

And may these 3hugs&blessings be a small but courageous attempt at that!

family trip

Published on June 27, 2016February 27, 2017 by Dawn Marie14 Comments

it’s the monday giggles….

My mom, sister, and I are taking a Cottage Vacation together.

When my sister & I were younger

our parents took us to a cottage on the lake for a two-week vacation every summer.

It felt like we went for 110 years, in kids-speak.

But then we both grew up….

So, this year my sister & I surprised our mother

and the 3 of us will be sharing a cottage together

for the first time in like 110 years!!

(Really just a long time in adult-speak.)

I am sure my sister & I will do many of the things we did all those many years ago.

And more than likely

so will our mother…

Image 6-25-16 at 5.57 PM — “WATCH OUT FOR THE UNDER-TOW!!!!”

What favorite vacation memories do you have from your childhood?

I hope-ity-hope you have time this summer to relive just a few!

hugs n’ fond blessings for all the joy remembered.

undumbed

Published on June 24, 2016 by Dawn Marie4 Comments

Today is the Feast of St. John the Baptist’s Nativity.

The Birth of John the Baptist
57 Now the time came for Elizabeth to give birth, and she bore a son. 58 Her neighbors and relatives heard that the Lord had shown his great mercy to her, and they rejoiced with her.

59 On the eighth day they came to circumcise the child, and they were going to name him Zechariah after his father. 60 But his mother said, “No; he is to be called John.” 61 They said to her, “None of your relatives has this name.” 62 Then they began motioning to his father to find out what name he wanted to give him. 63 He asked for a writing tablet and wrote, “His name is John.” And all of them were amazed. 64 Immediately his mouth was opened and his tongue freed, and he began to speak, praising God. 65 Fear came over all their neighbors, and all these things were talked about throughout the entire hill country of Judea. 66 All who heard them pondered them and said, “What then will this child become?” For, indeed, the hand of the Lord was with him.

Zechariah’s Prophecy
67 Then his father Zechariah was filled with the Holy Spirit and spoke this prophecy:

68 “Blessed be the Lord God of Israel,
for he has looked favorably on his people and redeemed them.
69 He has raised up a mighty savior[a] for us
in the house of his servant David,
70 as he spoke through the mouth of his holy prophets from of old,
71 that we would be saved from our enemies and from the hand of all who hate us.
72 Thus he has shown the mercy promised to our ancestors,
and has remembered his holy covenant,
73 the oath that he swore to our ancestor Abraham,
to grant us 74 that we, being rescued from the hands of our enemies,
might serve him without fear, 75 in holiness and righteousness
before him all our days.
76 And you, child, will be called the prophet of the Most High;
for you will go before the Lord to prepare his ways,
77 to give knowledge of salvation to his people
by the forgiveness of their sins.
78 By the tender mercy of our God,
the dawn from on high will break upon[b] us,
79 to give light to those who sit in darkness and in the shadow of death,
to guide our feet into the way of peace.”
80 The child grew and became strong in spirit, and he was in the wilderness until the day he appeared publicly to Israel.

There is so much packed into this Scripture.

But I think my favorite description comes from a third grader, Dunkin.

One day, when asked by the Parish Priest during his daily visit to the school, “What did you learn today Dunkin?” Dunkin enthusiastically replied, “Well Father, I learned all about St. John the Baptist’s birthday. And I learned about his dad. Did you know God made him dumb (to be unable to speak) Father?” Without skipping a beat Dunkin excitedly went on, “But you know what the really cool part was Father???? When the dad listened to what God told him to do and wrote down John’s name for everyone else to see, God undumbed him!!”

“Isn’t that cool, Father?!?! When we listen to God & do what He asks us to do, He can undumb you!“

And Dunkin is so right.

God speaks to each of us.

Will today be the day you let Him undumb you too?

And he answered, “YOU SHALL LOVE THE LORD YOUR GOD WITH ALL YOUR HEART, AND WITH ALL YOUR SOUL, AND WITH ALL YOUR STRENGTH, AND WITH ALL YOUR MIND; AND YOUR NEIGHBOR AS YOURSELF.” Luke 10:27

hugs n’ blessings to all my smart friends!

Our Holy Father, we thank you for the beauty of this vision and for the truth of it. We know that you are forever reminding us that your word is true. How foolish it is that we should ever turn from it or cast it aside or be indifferent to it or act as though it were of little importance. Lord teach us to examine ourselves and to walk in earnestness and honesty before you and to realize that all this is designed so that we may come into the understanding and the experience of a time of glory within such as we have never know before. Make these words to be the experience of each of us as we learn to walk before you our living God, and to know what it means to have the glory of the Lord within. We ask in Christ’s name, Amen.

Ray Stedman