So true miker. It's not so much the peace that is absent in my family, it's that there is so much I want to share and I am little competition to the cell phone. If God wanted to do this generation a favor, it would be to blow up the cell phones, computers and TV's. Who can compete with these gadgets? I recall reading the mystic/stigmatist Teresa Neumann fortelling that in the future the devil would come into homes through a big black box. The world of selfies, facebook, twitter and only God knows how many souls have been lost to internet porn. I'm hoping that my older children will wake up at the first bolt of global tribulation and that it does not take till the Warning for them to turn off the world and on the love and truth of our God. I fear that if I were in my teens and 20's that I too may also have my head in the sand, so it is easy to pray for this generation of souls who are itching for the next wordly attraction.
I take great comfort knowing, as imperfectly as I did it, I did form my children in the faith. I have confidence that it is in them, and that the graces of Baptism and Confirmation will kick in when the storm gets fierce. I have been absolutely commanded not to fret about this. I'm told in prayer, "Your concerns are my concerns." Another way of saying what Little Me heard when she was having a meltdown over the synod, when Jesus said: "I've got this."
Thats be to God its not just me. I have been through the wringer these past 6 weeks. Trying to pray has been so hard. I keep getting angry with God. I seem to have spent so much of my life being angry with God. I thing I am coming bacfk now. But I never want to go through it again.
This is a very true post Fatima. "Itching for the next worldly distraction" - a great line. It's so sad to see queues of shoppers sleeping rough for nights on end to buy a new iPhone, that is remarkably similar to the iPhone they bought last year, and does the exact same thing. I must be an awful skinflint, but my phone is two years old and I class it as "still new"! My last phone did me for nearly 6 years. What you say is right on the money, when you speak of technology. It's a huge distraction.
Put a statue of Our Lady beside the wifi router - it's the best filter you'll get! I have a little Our Lady of Fatima beside the TV and my husband watches a lot less questionable material ever since - but she still has to keep her back to the screen most of the time! (Obviously some prayer must accompany the placing of the statue, lest it just be considered some superstitious action!)
It's been a rough couple of weeks around here also. The devil is attacking the weakest points in our family chain but I'm actually glad he is- God is allowing us to SEE the weak spots and firm them up before the heart of the storm hits. There is alot of pruning going on by the Master of the vineyard. I was told in prayer "the world has come off its axis" and I believe/feel it. We've has two majorly unexpected conversions in our family- 2 men that were so very far from God and the sacraments. One is my father and he went to confession after reading the conversion story of Gloria Polo. He said he confessed a terrible sin committed 30 years ago he thought he'd take to his grave. Rejoice! The time is at hand! God is calling His people.
With the month long journey of my mom in the hospital with stroke and complications thereafter, I notice too God highlighting my weak points and those in my family which I have had the opportunity to ask forgiveness for or pray for in others. Here is something that is interesting, I am wondering if anyone ever experienced something like this. Sometimes on Saturday or when I can go, like the last couple of days home planning my mother's arrangements, I go to a church that is not my parish because they have a 9am mass. Well, when my mom was in the hospital last week a lady came to me and said "hi, how are you, I was wondering about you since I've seen your mother here but not you." Now, my mom has not driven in 10 years and in recent years is unstable on her feet. She only goes out if I take her. I didn't think anything of it but today I saw the same very nice and very "with it" lady who said again, when I said where did you see her, in stores, while I was out in car maybe? She said no, right here in church. Now this lady is not older and is very reasonable. She is sure she had been seeing my mother in that church alone, I guess at 9am daily mass. this would have been while she was alive and before the stroke, even. My mom passed away Sunday evening. Anyone have any thoughts?
Dawn, it could simply be someone who looked like your mother. My son continually told us he saw "grandpa" in church and we thought he was seeing his deceased grandfather, but he finally pointed him out to us and it was simply someone that looked like his grandfather. In the last 24 hours the eerie silence has been broken. We have reports of China dumping US Treasuries. We have Russia being cornered economically with oil prices in a free fall and their ruble under attack causing them to raise their interest rates from 10 to 17% (that's a huge thing). We have the madman in Australia who take the cafe hostages. We have the Taliban today in Pakistan unleashing unspeakable horrors, against children: http://www.nbcnews.com/storyline/pa...iban-militants-kill-more-140-peshawar-n269011
Dawn2, The story of the lady seeing your mom is so close to what happened with my wife and I. It is mysterious yet believable knowing God. It is glorious and loving as God is and created it for a divine purpose. These bits of sanctifying and actual graces planted for us to see and believe! We lost our third child at birth on her due date and 3/4 the way through delivery. Christa Janee, Christ's child. We had the opportunity to hold our daughter for some time afterwards and rock with her in a rocking chair. While my wife and I were sharing our grief my mom came in and began holding and rocking with her. To this day we don't know how my mom got to our hospital when she lived a half hour away. Dad was always with her and drove her where ever they would go. Mom quite driving in the past 26-30 years. Dad did not come with her and when I asked him how mom got to the hospital to see our little girl he had no idea and acted as though he did not know that she was even there. Like you it is a mystery that some day will be known. How ever it touched our hearts seeing her loving our little one as I am sure it touched your heart in discovering what was unknown from a elderly woman. Another note: My dad and mom kept seeing an elderly sister in full habit going into my 12 year old brothers hospital room in Rochester, Mn. This went on for three days until he passed away. When ever they went back into the room they noticed the green scapular they pinned on his pajamas was turned around and dad later figured it was so that Matt could see it. After the death of my brother they inquired about the sister to thank her and found that there was no sister there that matched the description. Fitting that the hospital was St. Mary's! Thank you Lord for these little gifts!
thank you! that is just like this story. this lady does know my mother well to recognize her, we have run into her in stores and she knew us. It gave me some strength today to go about getting arrangements done, then I was just at another low point until I read this. Again, thanks.
The goodness and kindness of God to us can never be overstated. He is faithful. Dawn, I am so thankful for your story and the blessing you have received. God bless you, and has already blessed you. Thank you Ecc2 for sharing too. These stories are lights in the darkness of Ireland this morning. Thank you both
This link to Charlie's latest blog appears to reference this. Looks like he us saying we are in the final days of the old order. https://charliej373.wordpress.com/2014/12/16/the-end-of-prophecy/
Right here: https://charliej373.wordpress.com/2014/01/14/6/ "We have now celebrated the last traditional Christmas of the old era."
