Let it Shine, Let it Shine, Let it Shine

                                                              JMJ
Faith Journeys are for us to share.  The song I learned as a child and sang with my children and grandchildren says it all. 

                                 This little light of mine, I'm gonna let it shine.
                                  Hide it under a bushel, NO, I'm gonna let it shine.
                                  Don't let Satan blow it out, NO, I'm gonna let it shine.
                                  Let it shine, let it shine, let it shine.

 I do believe we can give each other strength and confirmation that feelings, thoughts, actions, words, whatever seems like coincidence, just might not be.  I believe that in sharing we become aware that God is and wants to be personally involved in our lives and that He reaches us in our personalities.  He may not play "little tricks" on you like He does me but that's how He knows He can get my attention.  I always seem to put my foot in my mouth and so He lets it happen only to quickly show me the errors of my ways.  He's given me the gift of tears( that's what I'm told) so I cry a lot when I'm shown those errors.  For so long I considered myself the missionary, the worker..... lets get it done..... change the world.  I can't believe I'm going to actually say this out loud, but I use to think prayer groups, charismatics, praying in tongues, were the weaker link.     I mean just sitting there praying, while i was busting my butt, running around like a chicken with it's neck cut off trying to save the world.  I thought of myself as a doer, not a receiver. And i guess i was good at it because the women would say "I don't know how you do it but you get us to do things we don't even want to do". I so wish i had that effect on my kids!!!  In one of our moves i became President of the Women's Club at our church. I became so involved with Social Justice ....nursing home, orphanage, religious ed for children, daily Mass in the church, the poor.   I wanted to make everything right.  I had really bad allergies at the time. I walked around with a man's white handkerchief hanging from each nostril so i couldn't breathe in the pollen. My eyes cried and I sneezed constantly.  I looked a sight, but refused to stop. 

One day someone from the "prayer group" came up to me and asked if they could pray over me for a healing..... i guess i looked really silly and miserable.  I had never been prayed over before so i became speechless, which as you can imagine was very unusual for me.  I finally said yes, i mean, what did i have to lose.  I was so nervous as these holy men and women gathered around me and layed hands on my head and on my shoulders..... and began to pray and eventually prayed in tongues.  At first i felt very uncomfortable but after a while i became calm and felt so much peace and as tears flowed down my cheeks i could feel the burning power of love.  I thanked and hugged them, fed them cake and coffee and they left.  I went back to my business of changing the world.  I never again suffered with allergies but just moved on and thought nothing of it.....at the time.  Again years later, I began to  realize that i wasn't having miserable days during Spring and Fall.  No more white handkerchiefs hanging from my nose.  I claimed my healing out loud and blessed God with praise and thanksgiving.

It was then that God began to reveal to me that He was satisfied with my missionary work but now it was time for me to come and take a place at His feet and listen to the teachings of His amazing Heart...... in prayer. You know it's not like i never prayed.  Not long after that i went on a Life in the Spirit retreat then later a 30 day home retreat with Exercises of St. Ignatius of Loyola(remember that's when i was asked if I love Him). I had developed a relationship with Jesus early in childhood with teachings from my mother and then the Sisters of Mt. Carmel.  Now i had met the Most Holy Blessed Trinity.       

                                                       AWESOME

Hello
Sorry the Posts came up bottom to top, meaning the last one should be read first and then move up.  So much i'm learning. 
Thanks
O

By the fruits you will know them

                                                            JMJ

Now these are places where messages from our Lady are given. There are so many more. It does take so long to approve and i can understand why.  Medugorji is waiting now on the decision from the Vatican.  No one has to believe these messages but many have said the the Popes who have lived through these times believed.We are told thta St. Padro Pio believed and he spoke with the seers from Garanbandal and affirmed the truth to them.  Each individual may believe or not. 

Our Lady of Fatima appeared in Portugal to three children: Lucia, Jacinta, and Francisco In 1917 in a very turbulent time.  Communism had raised its ugly head and Mary had come to help her "children".  She asked them to come for 6 consecutive months on the 13th.  She told them her Immaculate Heart would a place of "refuge" for all her children.  Lucia lived to be 97 yrs. old, dying in 2005.  The two little ones died from Influenza 2 years after the apparitions at ages 7 and 9.  Pope John Paul canonized them Saints.  Lucia was there to witness with joy.  Mary's message was that her Son, Jesus was so offended by the actions of humanity and that if we didn't change a great punishment would come upon the earth.  She asked them to pray the rosary daily and do penance. They were to spread the message of prayer and repentance to appease God.  So much more was said but the main theme was 1. warn of the threat of Communism, 2. God was angry with man's actions, 3. Her heart was mankind's "refuge of hope".  3.  Repentance and prayer was necessary.
 
From 1961-1965 in Garanbandal, Spain, Our Lady appeared to 4 young girls ages 11 and 12.  Again the message..... many sacrifices must be made, more penance must be done, visits to the Blessed Sacrament, and people must be good.  If not, punishment awaits......the cup is full......God can not let His children fall into the fire.  The girls would go into ecstasy when Mary appeared and spoke to them.  Mary told them that those who carry on and hold true to their faith will suffer their Purgatory on earth.  But the real message here was of a WARNING, A MIRACLE, and CHASTISEMENT.  The warning would be an illumination of conscience.  Everyone would see their soul as Jesus sees it and would have a mini judgement.  Each soul will see how they will spend eternity.....heaven, hell, or purgatory.  This would be a great merciful gift from God because we would have time after to change and fix our life.  Never before has this been granted or will be ever again.  This "illumination" would prepare souls for the great  miracle a year later, and if people didn't change, a chastisement worse then the flood would follow. All evil will be wiped off the earth then finally in the end will come the "Era of Peace", where all of mankind will be devout followers of Christ and His church.  After a long time had passed of course once again man would choose evil.  More to the story here but again just touching the surface.  Pay attention, it's the 60s and a lot of rebellion.  And we know each decade continues to degrade more and more.  She's begging God on our behalf for mercy.  If you wish to know more about these events you can check on Internet for details.

St Faustina brought us Divine Mercy and to trust in Jesus.  Jesus told her before He comes as the Just Judge He will come as All Merciful.  We have the chaplet of Divine Mercy to offer to the dying as well as reparation for sins and Jesus' passion.  I'm afraid His Mercy is about to end or has already.  We will be left to meet Him as judge.  (in the WARNING) 
                                                  Jesus I Trust In You
We also have the apparitions in Medjugorji.  Most of you or perhaps all know about this one so i won't get into this but you know the seers are getting 10 secrets and some include chastisements and Mary asks for prayer, especially the rosary, penance, and fasting.  Again the rosary as an important tool for peace.  Monthly confessions, Mass and Holy Communion, and Adoration are expectations for all Catholics and for non Catholics the doors are always opened.  Recently for Christmas one of the seers told that Mary appeared as usual with baby Jesus on her lap like always.  Mary gives a short message.  This time Mary did not speak, only the baby Jesus spoke for the first time.  All interested are tying to figure out what this means.  Some think the messages may end soon.  It left the seer a bit shook up.  It was a newborn but He spoke with such authority.  He said" I am your peace, live My Commandments". Someone who follows and studies all the messages from Our Lady had this to offer.  "Jesus speaking in this way echoes His farewell discourse in John's Gospel when he says: "Peace i bequeath to you, My own peace i give you, a peace the world cannot give, this is my gift to you.  Do not let your hearts be troubled or afraid". (John 14-27) Elsewhere in the discourse He says;"If you love Me, you will keep my Commandments"(John 14-15) They're thinking that the messages will soon stop and will start the beginning of the secrets.  The Vatican is studying the whole of all the messages and a ruling is expected we thought soon but recently came out that it may be longer. 

Sr. Agnes of Japan is another who received the messages of coming tribulations if the world does not change and go back to Jesus.  You can look all these up on the Internet and will get the complete story. 

Our Blessed Mother, with permission from God, has been coming to earth to lead us back to her Son.  Just as parents guide their children and often times disciplines, so too our heavenly parents. And these are the same words coming to individuals.

By the fruits you will know them...... so many good graces have come out of  these places.  Thanks be to God!

Everything fell into place

                                                                 JMJ

Trinity Acres....Refuge of Hope. That's what we're offering to the Lord.  We are making the preparations and He can do with it what He wills.  It's a decision we've made together.  Again, years ago (now i wish i had written all this down as it happened.... once a priest told me to but each time i assumed it would be a one time experience....my mom would have said hard head,but in cajun french) in prayer i could see my house with doors opened wide welcoming people as they just kept coming. The tears were flowing and i could feel such love and joy.  I didn't know what to think.  It was only for a second but it was so clear.  I knew something was going to happen in the future and it would involve me giving my all.  Then it was gone.  Years later we had a Constant family reunion at our house on Menard.  It was just thrown together with Pris, my cousin, making phone calls. We didn't know who would come but that day as i opened my front door and saw people coming from the left and from the right and way down the street i cried.  Tears flowed as i hugged them all.  I felt like i had died and gone to heaven.  The joy was so intense.  100 relatives shoulder to shoulder in the house.....it was raining outside, but we didn't notice.  Was this what i had seen?  Was something more in the future to happen?  I wasn't certain. 

I started speaking to Richard about all i was receiving and kept asking him if he believed me or thought i was crazy.  He really wanted to believe but i could tell he didn't. All he could offer was, "I believe that you believe".  I kept talking about the "end times" in the family and to few friends, but they all found it difficult to accept.  I talked about moving out to the country and building a small community that we'd need when times got really bad.  Of course Richard was for that because he always wanted to live out in the country with lots of land and a tractor.  This part was easy as long as the tractor stayed in the deal.  I tease but really it took some time to get him on the same page, but finally he did. Now to keep him there.  One morning i was walking through my house with a cup of coffee.  We had worked so hard in the house on Menard and i just loved it.  It was finally, after so many years, almost perfect to me.

 Out loud I said, "Thank you Lord, I love my house". He quickly replied, "You won't be here long". Then i said, " i love you more". But i knew it didn't matter what i said, He would have His way.   I know it was a big thing when it all happened.  Everything fell into place with the selling of the house and finding this one.  I know people wondered why we would leave our children and grandchildren. It was difficult to explain that we were going off to prepare a place for them.  We felt like Moses, Noah and Abraham each leading his people out to God knows where.  They just believed.  I think it was the first Sunday Mass at our new church and Father Cary spoke of Moses leading the people out with no knowledge of where he was going but left with faith in God's message.  We looked at each other and smiled.   And so here we are planning, preparing and praying.

If God wishes to use the farm as a place to care for part of his remnant church then we say "yes".  We don't know how this will all play out but we've given our yes and we await His direction. 

                                          ?        ?       ?        ? 
We certainly don't know when all this will come about but we must be prepared.  First is spiritually.  You must get your spiritual house in order.  That is if you're Catholic you must go to confession often and get right with God and neighbor. Attend Mass, at least, on Sunday.  If you're not Catholic there is still time(just saying), but get down on your knees and beg God's forgiveness. Just be ready, be in God's peace and joy and live life joyfully.  Gather your holy objects like rosaries, prayer books, medals, holy water, etc.  Be prepared! For those who aren't Catholic these are not superstitious items, they are testament to our faith that God in his love and with our belief will save  and protect us.  Perhaps not from physical harm but indeed spiritual.  We must place ourselves into the hearts of Jesus and Mary and allow them to guide us.  We, I, believe that a time is coming when the Catholic churches will be made to close and Priests will not be allowed to say Mass or hear Confessions. The church will split in two. The remnant church will have to hide and keep the faith in secret.  So much will change and so much suffering.  This is where i would offer you Mark Mallet's blog: markmallet.com.  Mark's writings are great.  He says it all but with such inspiration and truth.  He quotes Popes, Church Fathers, Saints, who spoke of these times hundreds of years ago.  Mark has words of knowledge himself with a spiritual director and many holy priests friends.  He also has a Music Ministry and travels giving Holy Hours.  I went to one in New Orleans a few years ago.  He moved his family out to a sustainable farm.  He lives in Canada and is married with 6 children.

Mother of the Cross

He Will Reign

His wife and one of his daughters are artist and i purchased 4 beautiful paintings to be framed for the chapel.  His wife Lea wants pictures of the chapel when they're hung.  She says she wants to know what God is up to down south in Ethel.  It seems every time I'm discerning something, Mark sends his blog and answers my thoughts.  An example: After being here for awhile i was beginning to have doubts because here we were with one Mass on Sundays, none during the week.  So used to having such a choice daily in Thibodaux and with my Thursday morning Adoration.... i was really missing them.  Shortly, Mark sent his blog out and he was experiencing the same thing.  In prayer he was given words such as; there is coming a time when you will not have me in your churches. There will be no sacrifice of the Mass or Confessions heard.  You will only have me to rely on and our relationship.  I will give you what you need. You must seek and trust in me above all.  You must stay true to the Gospel until the end.
(As a Christian in love with my Catholic Faith and the Sacraments Jesus gave through His church like Eucharist and Confession this will be a very sad time)
In Mark's blog, you will also read about Antichrist, days of darkness, shadow communities, illumination of conscience, chastisements, and finally the era of peace. 

And so there you are.....there is no time to waste.  As i said before, no one is obliged to believe.  Everyday of our lives we make choices for ourselves .....we can choose good, we can choose evil.  God says i hope you choose good.  There is certainly another side to the story.......conspiracy theory....  The choice is in your hands. I pray you choose wisely. 

This New Year's Eve the words received were "Sadness and Silence".  My heart was shattered and i truly felt absolute rejection surrounding me.  I felt the "Agony in the Garden" and the "Piercing of His Most Precious Heart".  January 2nd I read a friend's blog and there it was.  Jesus telling her that "sadness and silence" was coming to His Church. 
            Sacred Heart of Jesus, have mercy on us.  Immaculate Heart of Mary, pray for us. 

Simplify, Simplify, Simplify

                                                            JMJ

You remember I mentioned all those moves we made, well I always got this question when people heard the long list, "are you military?".  No, "banking", i would reply and then a blank look, "Oh".  My mother-in-law and my dad asked a few times over the years how i managed each move with 5 children.  "Wasn't it difficult?"  Well, personally it was hard but i was raised to follow my husband and besides who would pay for all the needs of these kids(just kidding).  But it did begin to make me squirm and so I asked him. Richard, "why all the moves, why can't you find a place and stay, why keep following some rainbow that doesn't look like it's ever gonna show up?".  OK I got that out.  Let me tell you that later in prayer God let me know that i should stop blaming Richard for all the moves and He reminded me about a retreat in High School when I offered Him my life.  He said, that I said, that i would go where He needed me.  I would be His instrument of love.  He could count on me.  Hey, I was 17.  Fr. Barnes, I now remember was very inspiring and also he was tall and very nice looking.  Sometimes i honestly believe that God created me to give him a good laugh from time to time, and for that i know I never let Him down. 

The years were filled with highs and lows and I can now look back and see all the times He used us to accomplish His plan.  He allowed me to walk in others shoes.  I think those were His greatest gifts.  Glenn and Fancie, our foster children, Huang Van Thom family(Vietnamese boat family), total strangers He sent to my doorstep, wonderful friends to share so much of life.  Friends who helped me grow in faith and as a person.  So much work for His church.  So much laughter, so many tears. In the end always a lesson learned and a mission accomplished. Never think your life is not worth as much as another, especially when you feel limited by money, illness, time or talent.  If you offer He will use.

Each New Year's Eve I would think about which diet i was going to start and how many pounds i wanted to lose.  Maybe i would add exercise, be nicer, etc. I think it was New Year's Eve 1996 when i decided to be different.  I went into my room to pray.  I decided to ask God what it was He wanted me to do.  It wasn't long before i heard the words, "simplify, simplify, simplify".  They were felt so deeply.  It wasn't a human voice speaking to me but none the less so clear that there was no doubt what i had just heard.  I said nothing.  I was stunned. Didn't think to ask exactly what that meant.   Days later I'm thinking I'm not a pack rat....  Richard is and I've already thrown out a lot of his stuff, I'm not materialistic.....at least i didn't think i was.  Really i would consider myself rather simple. I was always active in church and community and so i wondered should i slow that down. I didn't know, so I went into my room and prayed and told God, that's who I'm assuming put those words in my heart,  that i would not do anything unless He guided me.  It would have to be as clear as a bell, hit me on the head, an invitation.  I should have prepared myself.  One day i was walking out of Mass and an elderly lady with white hair introduced herself and as we talked she said she knew my mother and would i like to be a Catholic Daughter.  Well to start with I'm a softy for the elderly(OK stop laughing, I know I'm one, this was 15 yrs ago) and she knew my mother(tears of joy) so i went to the meeting as an act of kindness to her and before i could become an inducted member i was made Regent.  So for 8 years i gave time, energy, and talent to the group. So many graces received throughout those eight years of service.  One stands out in my mind that could only have come from the Holy Spirit.

It was early 2000 and there was much celebration, even in the church.  Pope John Paul II had asked that we celebrate in various ways and a note was sent throughout the Catholic Daughters to celebrate women.  I thought it would be a nice thing to do.   One morning after returning from daily Mass i felt a nudge to plan for a Jubilee Day for Women. I grabbed a yellow legal pad within my reach and began to write.  To my amazement and with no hesitation I wrote out the whole program.  After i was done, my hands were shaking and I called my friend Jeanette who worked so closely with me as Regent.  I wanted her to talk me out of it but she didn't.  I told her it would be a big deal and that i didn't know if i wanted to start and not be able to get it done.  I mentioned how i thought it was inspired and she convinced me to move forward.  I agreed and soon everything fell into place.  I called the church and spoke to the Family Ministry director and she gave me a go ahead and whatever i needed. I called Father and he was on board. I called Sally Ann Roberts, a TV anchor in New Orleans, to speak and her PR girl said she was so busy that she had stopped going around giving talks. I hung up the phone and before i could compose myself the phone rang.  Sally Ann had agreed to come and with no charge.  Father helped with writings on important women in the Bible. Four ladies in our church signed in to tell their amazing stories of Faith. We had beautiful music.  Flyers were made and sent to various churches in our area. The ladies were told to bring bag lunches and the church provided drinks and dessert in the garden behind the church.  The weather was perfect.  500 ladies from various religions, race, and age attended and for years later i was stopped by ladies who had attended wanting to know when we could have a day like that again.  It was a gift of the Holy Spirit.  I literally felt in my hands and heart what God can do and how He can use us. 

I love you    I love you    I love you

 One night i was awaken from sleep and sat up in bed and deep in side i felt or heard, it's hard to know, God the Father ask me if i loved Him.  Three times i was asked and three times i said, yes.  This was totally mind blowing.....that the God of the Universe needed to hear me, a nobody, say I love Him.....three times! Had I hurt Him 3 times? Certainly not, at least 300 times 300 more than that. All I know is that I was never the same, meaning nothing on earth could grab my heart like that. It took my breath away....about the same as when my heart was stopped! I'm guessing that was the big test.  So much to tell and no one to believe me.  Try to share, eyes roll, and I'm told shush, people will think you're crazy.  Can't say i blame them. I was(haha still am) the class clown, the big talker, the loud one.  Believe me i have asked God over and and over to make me mute, to take friends away so that i can be just His.  Well He did have a hand in me moving away from friends but I'm not mute.  Maybe when I'm done saying my piece i will be!!!???!!!

Remember Y2K?  Yes, i know, a false scare....or was it?  It did get me thinking about living without all those gadgets we use to make life simple.  Simple, is that what He meant.  I bought the family tents for Christmas that year and began to buy extra food each time i went to the store.  I was looking on line one day to find products with long shelf life when i ran across a blog (i can't to this day tell you exactly how i got there, but I'm thinking angels can type) but it was writings from a young mother of 3 who claims to get messages and words from Jesus.  As i begin to read a certain line the hairs on the back of my neck stood up.  "Simplify, simplify, simplify" yes 3 times.  Jesus was telling her to tell others that a time was coming when we will have to live a simple life.  That America will be forced into a more rustic form of living without electronics and the conveniences of today.  That we should get our spiritual life as well as physical needs ready.  Prepare and pray!  I wanted to know more; like what, when, where, how?  As the words of knowledge came, words of confirmation followed, from people, sermons, and books almost word for word.  I was lead to John Leary(New York) who spoke of places of refuge where the remnant could hide and how to prepare them.  I'll go into that later.  I then met Mark Mallet(Canada), Sadie Jamarillo(California), and Michael Brown(Florida) each with the intentions of sharing about what is to come and how to prepare.  All of these people have spiritual directors and are Catholics in good standing.  I've visited each one in person over the years and believe them to be good people of faith.

Words of suffering, sacrifice and penance filled the years following.  There was no explanation needed. Years ago my daughter Erin and i discussed how we felt God had His angels going around sealing the forehead of believers.  That we were being asked to choose...... life or death.....good or evil.  With this seal we'd promised to fight for truth until the end. I feel the time of the sealing is ending.  Mine came with realization of my life and sins and true repentance with a lot of tears and contrition and a commitment to the truth of the Gospel.  Our Lady told one of the visionaries that those who live the truth of the Gospel until the end will do their Purgatory on earth.  I totally believe that!

So much formed the culture of death and we were warned by Pope John Paul the Great that we were "facing the final confrontation between the Church and the anti-church, of the Gospel versus the anti-Gospel"  this was in 1976 while he was still Cardinal.  Another time as Pope he said" Death battles against life: a culture of death seeks to impose itself on our desire to live, and live to the full....Vast sectors of society are confused about what is right and what is wrong, and we are at the mercy of those with the power to "create" opinion and impose it on others." He spoke this to the youth in Denver, Colorado, 1993. 

Again John Paul said to the youth in Denver....."There is no need to be afraid to call the first agent of evil by his name: the Evil One.  The strategy which he used and continues to use is that of not revealing himself, so that the evil implanted by him from the beginning may receive its development from man himself, from systems and from relationships between individuals, from classes and nations-----so as also to become ever more a "structural" sin, ever less unidentifiable as "personal" sin.  In other words, so that man may feel in a certain sense "freed" from sin but at the same time be ever more deeply immersed in it."

It is the ultimate trap: to become slaves without fully realizing it. In such a state of deception, souls will be willing to embrace, as an apparent good, a new master. 


March on Christian soldiers always toward the TRUTH

A refuge of Hope for the End Times

                                                        JMJ

             Trinity Acres Farm.... "refuge of hope ".
                 Refuge.... a place of protection; Hope...... Confident expectation. 

Do not be ashamed of your testimony to our Lord, but bear your share of hardship for the gospel with the strength that comes from God.(2 Tm 1:8)

Evangelization is not an easy task.  Expect to experience rejection and discouragement but also joy in proclaiming the triumph of Christ dead and risen, and in building up the Church in His name.(Magnificat)

My reason for beginning this link is twofold.  First, with this being the "Year of Faith" I feel as Christians we are asked to share our belief in God and how that belief has affected our lives.  And secondly to express deep feelings in my heart that we may be entering very difficult times and it would be wise to prepare spiritually and physically and probably emotionally as well.  It is so much fun writing about the move and preparations here at the farm but now I feel compelled to share the real reason we are here in Ethel, preparing Trinity Acres.  Not that i am not filled with joy and peace and anticipation but I sit here wondering if everyone else feels or knows what's going on.  I can't listen to the news because all i hear are lies and deception.  The joy and peace comes from the fact that i know I'm preparing for what's ahead.  My pain is wondering if all of you are doing the same.  I want us to be able to share as we make preparations.  I also know that so many people do not even realize or don't want to know what's happening to our country.   Certainly the government and the people in the news do not want us to know the truth.  As Pilot asked Jesus, "what is truth"?  Did he really want to know?  And we know that Jesus tells us that "I am the way, the truth, and the light". All those who follow me will have eternal life".  On TV  there is just talk, talk, talk yet no one asks the right questions or gives truthful answers so we are left to pray and share.  I believe the purpose is to catch us off guard. There are people that I've come to know, perhaps not personally, but i read what they have to say because I share the same beliefs. Not everyone can or needs to go out and buy a farm out in the country, but there are definite things we can all do to get ready.  I am confident, that relying on God's almighty power and mercy, He will be near to us as we approach a very turbulent time and yet in the end a time of great joy.  Richard and I are eagerly preparing a small community for Christians who will be ready and willing to serve others during the end times.

Yes, end times, not the end of the world as is proclaimed by the secular society.  These times have been spoken of through the Church Fathers, Saints, Popes, and Visionaries from the past and now in more recent times Fatima, St. Faustina, Sr. Agnes of Japan, Garanbadal, Medjugorje to name a few.   These in particular are all Catholic but many protestants have had and are having similar experiences of knowledge as well.  Today more and more everyday people in prayer are receiving "words" in preparation.  We must believe that God loves each of us so very much, even those who don't love Him.  As the world moves farther and farther "off the cliff", He must call us back.  His absolute love could do nothing less.  The noise of the outside world has grown so loud that few hear His voice or even care to.  Those who are willing or who's attention He's captured are responding to His call and there are many and we must stand together.  I believe that 46 years ago when He took me from my "comfort zone" in Thibodaux,  He began to tease, prod, play, challenge and call me into His most loving heart.  It started with the death of my mother when I was 20.  He took me so low only to build me up and each time He left me with an insight into His heart.  Every move (Thibodaux, Houma, Shreveport, Texas, Gretna, Lafayette, Denham Springs, then back to Thibodaux) brought new challenges and every challenge greater insight.  It was all His doing, even the grace to respond was His gift.  I should say right now that it wasn't always pretty.  Many times i kicked and screamed and said "no".  There were times when Richard would wake in the middle of the night and ask who i was talking to in and i'd respond, "Jesus".

He'd just turn over and go back to sleep. It wasn't anything out of the ordinary.  God asks so much of me and i never feel able to accomplish anything, yet He always gives me the courage and strength through friends and family.  I tell you these things only to let you know how much i believe what I'm hoping to share in these writings.  I didn't just wake up one morning and think oh I'll believe all this "end times" stuff. I feel certain that many of you have the same feelings but may be lost as what to do and yet there are so many more who know nothing or worse yet refuse to believe.  I am not here to judge but rather feel called to listen more closely to what is being asked of me and to share.  Certainly most of you must know that our country is headed for a fall, perhaps total collapse. Are you prepared? What will you do?

As I indicated before, in 1987 I was taken full circle.  I must mention here that the move was very difficult, not only in the fact that my dad died 3 weeks before we moved back but that we had left a life we all thought was perfect.  We had a beautiful house, children were happy in school and had friends, Richard had a great job and money was excellent,and i was happy and active with community and church activities with many good friends. Then what seemed like out of nowhere, like Job in the Bible, it was all stripped away.  It was all gone like a flash in the night.  Something similar had happened in Texas.  I knew we had handled it before and i began to realize that when God takes away, He often replaces with greater gifts, gifts of His choosing. I was so sad after my Dad died.  I cried a lot. I didn't question God as much as when my mother died.   I was older and He had sent such consolations and understanding after her death.  I must remember our time is not God's time.  I was lead to weekly Adoration for comfort during this time of grieving for my father and it would become my strength and joy for 20 years.  My Thursday mornings belonged to Him and He absolutely made it worth my time.  I want you to know that i know so many people receive words and experiences in their life time.  God seeks out everyone at their time of "visitation".  It's up to us to respond and we can only respond in prayer. I want to stop and thank God and all of you who have shared part of my life no matter how short a time. I know with all my heart that you were hand picked by God to enter my life at the proper time and i love you all so very much.  I experience such happiness during the 2nd joyful mystery of the rosary, the Visitation.  That's where i always thank God for you. 

I don't believe in coincidences.  Too often God has revealed the truth and so i know that He has me in His mind at all times and checks on me from time to time. Here is an example of how God plays with me.  The sorrowful mysteries and the Way of the Cross are both dear to me in that i feel so close to Jesus at these times of prayer.  During one Holy Hour i asked Jesus, while meditating on the Passion, that He give on my body the marks He received from my sins and that of my family during the scourging. I know, who did i think i was?  I just felt compelled.  That night i woke up with my skin itchy and burning.  I jumped out of bed and found my body covered with red whelps. I ran to the medicine cabinet and grabbed Benedryl, swallowed 2 and tried to go back to sleep.  The next morning i woke up and the whelps were still there.  I called Dr. Doug and asked for a shot.  I had forgotten all about my prayer request.  Dr. Doug asked if i had eaten anything different or worked in the flower beds.  I started to smile.  How could i tell him that possibly it came from Jesus and that i had actually asked for it. 

Another time the sorrowful mysteries and the Passion and again I asked, this time for a new heart, one with more love and acceptance of others..... a compassionate heart like His.  A few days later i was having a normal day when my heart began to beat really fast. It had happened before and Dr. Doug had given me Verapamil and usually that took care of the episode.  That day it wouldn't stop.  It was at about 225 beats a minute and had been 6 hours and i had taken a handful of Verapamil with no slowing down.  My whole body ached.  I finally asked Richard to take me to the emergency room. They couldn't get it to go down so they told us of a shot they could give that would stop my heart and then start it up again.  We said OK. I watched Richard's surprised face as my heart flat lined and then started up again.  It felt like someone had pushed me off the Empire State building and as i gasp for a breath of air all was normal.  They kept me over night for test but 2 Cardiologist found my heart fine.  Never had an episode after that.

 OK I began to really pay attention!!!! I do believe He was setting me up for future events!