Nehemiah 2:2, 6,8, Psalm 137:6, Luke 9:62,

Nehemiah 2:2, 6 & 8

So the king said to me, "Why do you look sad? You don't look sick. Is there something that bothers you?"

The queen was sitting beside the king

The good hand of God was supporting me, so that the king gave me what I asked.

Psalm 137:6

May my tongue be silenced if I ever forget you.

Luke 9:62

Jesus said, "Whoever has put his hand to the plow and looks back is not fit for the kingdom of God."

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Beloved, You notice when we are sad. You are aware when anything bothers us. You are always at hand to help, heal and comfort and the Queen, our mama Mary is always beside You to intercede for us. You always give us all that we require to lead godly, happy lives.

Like the psalmist, may I never cease to praise You, my God in all the circumstances of my life.

A disciple must be ready to sacrifice everything for the sake of the Gospel.

My Beloved, when we give ourselves to You it must be a complete giving with no turning back. I remember You speaking this verse to me in the early days of my conversion. May my 'Yes' be like Yours always. A self-sacrificial yes.

"Myra mine."

"Yes, Beloved."

"Put your hands in Mine. Let me draw you to Me and fill you with my Holy Spirit. Permit My Spirit to fill you, cleanse you and animate you. Let My Spirit fill you with joy and peace. Let my Spirit move in you , breathe on you, brush over your senses and empower you. Let the love of My Father and yours embrace you. Be still, quiet your senses. You belong to Me. You are Mine my precious - I love you. Be still and drink deep of My Presence. Be filled with My light and My life. Be drawn into the heart of God. My heart and remain there. I love you."

Psalm 102-18, Zechariah 8:8, Luke 9:47 & 48

Psalm 102:18,

He will answer the prayer of the needy and will not despise their plea.

Zechariah 8:8

They will be my people and I shall be their God in truth and in justice.

Luke 9: 47 & 48

Jesus knew their thoughts.

...listen: the one who is found to be the least among you all, is the one who is the greatest.

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Beloved it is hard to be humble and little sometimes. It helps wonderfuly to know that You who are God allowed Yourself to be made small for our sakes. Thank You for your wonderful promise in Zec 8:8

And thank You for your timely reminder in Luke 9:48 that it is only in giving myself will I find myself.

I love You my Beloved. Stay with me through the day.

My Beloved, today the Church celebrates the feast of the Apostle Matthew. In today's reading in Ephesians 4:11-13 we are reminded that each one of us has been given gifts and is called to work for the Kingdom.

The Psalmist says, No speech no word, no sound is heard yet the message goes out to the ends of the earth. May my life be a strong witness to the faith that I profess.

To know You Beloved, to trust You to believe in Your words, to obey Your commandments. To walk in the light of the truth that You have revealed. To be submissive and humble - willing and ready to serve. To know oneself and that all that we are is because of Your graciousness and goodness. To attribute all that is good in us to grace that You so willingly pour upon us and to acknowledge that when we fail and fall it is not because You were not willing to help us but because we are weak and we did not cling to You in our moments of weakness - this is peace and joy.

Beloved, help me to be an authentic Christian, Your true follower and a fruitful member of the Curch that You founded with Peter as the Rock, the visible head. If I live the life of a true disciple then I will be an effective witness to the truth. Pour out Your Holy Spirit O Lord to help all of us who wish to follow You who are the Way, the Truth and the Life. Amen.

Zechariah 2:9, 14-15, Jeremiah 31: 10, Luke 9:44-45

Zec 2:9, 14-15

...I myself will be around her like a wall of fire, and also within her in glory. Sing and rejoice, O daughter of Zion, for I am about to come, I shall dwell among you.....my dwelling is with you.

Jeremiah 31:10

The Lord will guard us as a shepherd guards his flock.

Luke 9:44-45

"Listen and remember what I tell you now. The Son of Man will be delivered into human hands." But the disciples didn't understand this saying; something prevented them from grasping what He meant, and they were afraid to ask Him about it.

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Beloved, I claim all these promises for myself and my family. Make Your dwelling not only in our hearts and in our home, but at the centre of our family life.

Beloved, when You say listen and remember then I must be all attention and ready and willing to do what You say. Often, although I am ready and willing - I am hard of understanding even though what You say is pretty clear. Fear grips my heart. I do not want to understand because it is a hard and painful thing. I may have to give up some creature comfort. Something that is a hindrance to a closer union with You and I am not willing to ask You what You mean because I am afraid You will tell me precisely that which I am afraid to hear. But through experience I know Beloved that whatever I give up You bless me greatly with something even better - thank You.

Haggai 2:4-5, 9

Haggai:2:4-5, 9

..do not be discouraged. Begin to work, for I am with you says Yahweh. Do no be afraid for my Spirit is in your midst. In this place I will give you peace.

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My Beloved, thank You for the time spent with my children. Thank You for bringing me back safely. Thank You for Your assurances to me today. You ask me not to be discouraged but to work with confidence and You promise to be with me. You ask me to be unafraid for Your own Spirit dwells in our midst, in our family, in our home and You give us Your peace.

I shall not be afraid, downcast or discouraged for You my Savior are with me.

Beloved, any spiritual institution that does not have You as its foundations, center and head is doomed to implode in on itself. May You be the centre, foundation and head of my life and the life of our family.

Psalm 100:5, Luke 8:15

Psalm 100:5

The Lord is good; His love is eternal and His faithfulness lasts forever.

Luke 8:15

The good soil, instead, are people who receive the word and keep it in a gentle and generous mind, and persevering patiently, they bear fruit.

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My Beloved, I so long to be the good soil that receives You the Eternal Word of God that finds a place in me, sends down deep roots and bears fruit for the glory of God. Hear my prayers for Mel, me and our children that we may grow into Your image and likeness. You have said, all we ask of the Father in Your Name He will grant us. This is my prayer to the Father, may it please Him to grant it. Amen.

Luke 8:1-3

Luke 8:1-3

The twelve followd Him and also some women who had been healed from evil spirits and diseases: Mary called Magdalene, who had seven demons; Joanna, wife of Chuza, Herod's steward; Suzanna and some others who provided for them out of their own funds.

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My Beloved, there is nothing in this beautiful world that You created or that man has invented that can satisfy. Only You O Lord can bring with Yourself deep abiding peace, contentment and joy. Stay always with me. I too have been forgiven much like the women in today's Gospel. May I love You like them - follow You always and be ready to give You all as generously as they did.

1 Timothy 3:15, Luke 7:35

1 Timothy 3:15

The Church of the living God, which is the pillar and foundation of truth.

The Church is a place made up of sinners in need of a Savior. It is in this Church, we find Christ the Head who has left the apostles and their successors as its pillar and foundation. It is He who will preserve His Church from evil and error.

Luke 7:35

Next came the Son of Man, eating and drinking, and you say, "Look, a glutton for food and wine, a friend of tax collectors and sinners." But the children of Wisdom always recognise her work.

How glad I am that You are a friend of tax collectors and sinners because I will always find a place at Your table.

My Beloved these last few days You have been teaching me about true love. I have not really understood how You see me and love me. I am Your child - a child with weaknesses and failings and You know all of them. You watch as I struggle and Your heart is moved with love and compassion for me. You are ready to help me should I need it. You watch over me all the time. Often You let me struggle alone because You know that it makes me stronger and more confident when through grace, I overcome difficulties. But Your arms are wide open ready to lift me and help me should I need it.

Psalm 111:5 Always mindful of His covenant, He provides food for those who fear Him.

The unsearchable riches and treasures of God is His infinite capacity to love me, to fill me, pressed down, shaken and running over with His indescribable love. My Beloved, all I need to do is glory in that love and respond to it.

Luke 2:34-35

Luke 2:34-35

See Him, He will be for the rise or fall of the multitudes of Israel. He shall stand as a sign of contradiction, while a sword will pierce your own soul. Then the secret thougths of many may be brought to light.

My Beloved, I still have not understood what true love is all about. I know it intellectually I do not know it as a way of life. I do not know it experientially.

You say to me, "Look at Me to understand. On the cross my arms are wide open, I am naked and vulnerable. Every inch of my body is flayed. Large thorns pierce my head and nails hold my hands and feet fast to the cross.

Know this, no matter how large the nails or how many - they could not have held Me had I not allowed it. Love and only love held me nailed to the cross. Love, true love does not count the cost and it is not focused on itself but on the one who who is loved. Look at the cross and learn from Me. As long as you focus on yourself and your feelings and emotions, you will never know the joy of loving without barriers - a total sacrifice and surrender of self.

Myra you can be worried and distracted about many real and imaginary things or you can choose the better part which is being united with and to Me."

Help me my Beloved, help me Mama Mary to be all that God wants me to be.

Numbers 21:5, 7-9, John 3:6

Numbers 21:5

...we are disgusted with this tasteless manna.

vs 7-9 Moses pleaded for the people and Yaweh said to him, "Make a fiery serpent and set it on a standard; whoever has been bitten and then looks at it shall live." So Moses made a bronze serpent and set it on a standard. Whenever a man was bitten, he looked towards the bronze serpent and he lived.

Beloved, it was God who provided the manna to sustain the people. How shocking to complain so bitterly about a gift and yet I am guilty of the same offence. I am never satisfied. Thank You that whenever I am bitten by the poison of sin, I can look at You who was pierced for me and I can live.

My Beloved, You emptied Yourself completely - You took on our nature and became one like us in order to take on Yourself our sin and punishment so You could save us. Give me a grateful, loving, thankful heart.

John 3:6 Yes, God so loved the world that He gave His only Son that whoever believes in Him may not be lost, but may have eternal life. God did not send the Son into the world to condemn the world; instead; through Him the world is to be saved."

This verse has been quoted a zillion times and yet we will never fully fathom the length, breadth, height of God's love. Thank You Abba. There is no way of fully comprehending the love of the Father in asking His First Born, His own Beloved Son to take on what I should have suffered.

All that You suffered Beloved in Your passion should have been my punishment and shame. Thank You.

Isaiah 50:5-9, James 2:14-18, Mark 8:27-35

My Beloved, some lessons are very hard to put into practice. You said the servant is not greater than the Master. You also said where I am there my servant will be. To give ourselves in complete self-donation takes true love. All the readings and the Gospel of today speak eloquently about what it means to love as You love.

Love shows itself in action. Love means to forget self. Love means to allow yourself to be put to death - to die to what you feel or want so that the loved one may receive what he or she desires. Love finds joy in saying, 'Yes". True love that is free from selfishness. What a long, long way I have to go before I reach that ideal my God. Pray for me. Take my hand. Teach me. Strengthen my will. Amen.

"You make a million and one excuses to convince yourself you are right and every one of them will be wrong because love does not count the cost. The depth of our love can be measured by the sacrifices we are willing to make."

Thank You Jesus.

Colossians 3:12-17

My Beloved, yesterday You asked me to strip off my old self and today You tell me to clothe myself in garments that are fitting for a child of God. I must put on compassion, kindness, humility, meekness and patience and over all I must wear the most beautiful garment of love which brings all together in perfection.

I am also reminded to be thankful. Just to be thankful for all things. This is a timely reminder my Beloved, because I have a spirit that complains of every pin prick. Help me to be grateful and thankful my God.

Psalm 145:2,

Psalm 145:2

Great is the Lord, most worthy of praise; and His deeds are beyond measure.

My Beloved, I could not exhaust all the praise that is due to You in one life-time, in several life-times or in eternity for Your goodness, beauty, power, splendor and majesty are all beyond measure and words. I must begin now - my whole life must be one hymn of praise to You my God.

Colossians 3:5

.....put to death what is earthly in your life.

If I call You my Lord, my Savior and my Redeemer. If I am baptised into Your body, then I must put to death the old ways that led to sin.

verse 9

....You have been stripped of the old self and its ways of thinking to put on the new, which is being renewed and is to reach perfect knowledge and the likeness of its creator.

verse 11

Christ is all and in all.

As You were stripped of Your garments so must I be stripped of my old self and I must put on Christ who is all and in all.

HAPPY BIRTHDAY MOTHER MARY

HAPPY BIRTHDAY MAMA MARY!!!

What gift can I make you today? I give you the gift of myself as your loving and obedient daughter. I ask that through your intercession I may keep my gaze fixed on you just as the eyes of the serving girl are on her mistress in order that you may direct my way and will in the way and will of your Son, my Lord and Savior Jesus Christ.

Psalm 62:6-7, 9 & Colossians 2:2-3

Psalm 62: 6-7, 9

Find rest in God alone, O my soul, from Him comes my hope. He alone is my Rock and my salvation, with Him as my stronghold, I shall not be overcome. Trust in Him at all times my people, pour out your hearts before Him; God is our refuge.

My Beloved, I could not receive better advice than these verses. What do I need when I have You, when I can run to You with every problem, in every distress and trouble. I can trust You. I can hide in You. I can lean on You. You are ready and willing to listen no matter how long I cry and no matter how often.

Colossians 2:2-3

May you be established in love, that you may obtain all the riches of a full understanding and know the mystery of God, Christ Himself. For in Him are hidden all the treasures of wisdom and knowledge.

Today's Gospel reading in Luke 6:6-11 speaks of the man with the withered hand whom You healed on the sabbath. This infuriated the Pharisees and they began to plot against You. How the Pharisees hated You my Lord. There are many today who hate You with the same vitriolic hatred. They would try to kill You again if they could - in any case they try to kill You by trying to blot You out in various ways.

Apart from all this Lord, my hand is often withered and shortened because I have not used it to reach out in generous service. Heal me my Beloved.

Isaiah 35:5, Mark 7:32-35, Psalm 146:8

Isaiah 35:5
Then the eyes of the blind shall be opened, and the ears of the deaf unsealed.

Mark 7:
They brought to him a deaf man who had an impediment in his speech; and they begged him to lay his hand on him. He took him aside in private, away from the crowd, and put his fingers into his ears, and he spat and touched his tongue. Then looking up to heaven, he sighed and said to him, ‘Ephphatha’, that is, ‘Be opened.’ And immediately his ears were opened, his tongue was released, and he spoke plainly.

Psalm 146:8
The Lord opens the eyes of the blind.The Lord lifts up those who are bowed down; the Lord loves the righteous.

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My Beloved, there is a similar thread that is woven into the readings of today as well as the Psalm. Yes, You are a healer but there is more that the passages speak of. I am like the deaf-mute. Often I cannot hear You or I refuse to hear and when I am deaf I am unable to articulate my faith or live it. I need You, through the Sacrament of Reconciliation, to touch me with outward signs so that my soul wells up with inward grace. You say,"Go, your sins are forgiven - sin no more," and then You bless me as a sign that as You have said, so it is. Continue to stay with me Lord and lead me into all truth. Amen

Colossians 1:22

Colossians 1:22

God has reconciled you in the human body of His Son through His death, so that you may be without fault, holy and blameless before Him.

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Whatever You will and wish for me my Beloved, grant me the grace to embrace it gladly. In Your human body which was crucified and mangled, I am reconciled to God through Your passion death and resurrection and more than that You make Your body available to me as food for my soul so as I eat the flesh and drink the blood of the Son of the Most High God I become what I consume.

Colossians 1:15-20

Colossians 1:15-20

He is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn of all creation; for in him all things in heaven and on earth were created, things visible and invisible, whether thrones or dominions or rulers or powers—all things have been created through him and for him. He himself is before all things, and in him all things hold together. He is the head of the body, the church; he is the beginning, the firstborn from the dead, so that he might come to have first place in everything. For in him all the fullness of God was pleased to dwell, and through him God was pleased to reconcile to himself all things, whether on earth or in heaven, by making peace through the blood of his cross.

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Reading these verses Beloved is like having a powerful floodlight shining and revealing the purpose of the Father and the love of the Father for His Son. In perfect humility and perfect obedience You aligned Your will to the Father's will and this perfect union resulted in our salvation - the greatest love story of all time - the love of the Father for his Son and for us sinners. Thank you Jesus for bowing down Your head and saying, 'not my will but Thine be done."

Luke 5:8, Colossians 1:10-14

Luke 5:8

Leave me Lord, for I am a sinful man."

Yet, if You left us Lord what would happen to us. When we work in tandem with You there is fruit - but all our good works apart from You are not worth much if anything.

Colossians 1:10-14

What a beautiful prayer St. Paul makes in the following verses.

May your lifestyle be worthy of the Lord and completely pleasing to Him. May you bear fruit in every good work and grow in the knowledge of God. May you be strengthened with all the strength God is able to give you according to His glorious power, so that you may have great endurance and perseverance in joy. Constantly give thanks to the Father who has empowered us to receive our share in the inheritance of the saints in His kingdom of light. He rescued us from the power of darkness and transferred us to the kingdom of His beloved Son. In Him we are redeemed and forgiven.

Beloved, there were 2 things that struck me today.

Psalm 52:11 says:

I am as a green olive tree that thrives in the house of God; I trust in God's unfailing love forever and ever.

and

Luke 4:39

Bending over her, He rebuked the fever, and it left her. Immediately she got up and waited on them.

This is an affirmation of yesterday's thought that You bend over us in our affliction in compassion, pity, love and mercy. and You minister to us. Is it any wonder why I can say what the Psalmist says in the above verse.

I love You, Lord.

My Beloved, how good it is to spend this time with You each morning. I am tempted like Peter to say let us pitch our tent here. But I must come down the mountain and put into practice all that You have taught me. I must be like You and Mary my mother. Just as You have stooped down to help me, so must I stoop in love and compassion to help others.