Resilience

These petunias grew between the pavement and a slab of granite on my front doorstep. I did not plant the petunia. It just surfaced. For one thing the petunia is an "annual" plant and would not be expected to bloom in the spring on its own. Second, it has been a hot, dry summer and I have never watered this plant, yet it has grown and thrived all summer. My husband and I have been careful not to step on the plant. For me, this plant was an inspiration of resilience- growth in the face of the most adverse growing conditions. Against the odds this little plant grew and thrived quite beautifully through the season and right up until a heavy frost. During these days of restricted living, this plant inspired me to do the same- continue to grow despite difficult conditions.

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Faces of Choice

Choice is not merely a word. Choice has a face. Choice is a person. Learn their stories. #FacetheChoice

Everyone's Life Matters

Please watch this video and see Christopher Duffley, who as born premature at 1 pound 12 ounces, at 26 weeks. Christopher is a musician, signer, and blind and autistic.Christopher is truly an inspiration and gift.

[Catholic Communications Program]. (2019, April 23). REAL TO REEL - CHRISTOPHER DUFFLEY MISSION POSSIBLE -- 4.20.19
[Video File] Retrieved from https://youtu.be/StKfxLA2BKk

Christopher Duffley in Texas (Open the Eyes of My Heart)

[Christopher Duffley].(2012, Dec. 10). Christopher Duffley in Texas (Open the Eyes of My Heart). [Video File]. Retrieved from https://youtu.be/Q9jqI4svrNY

[Northland Church]. (2016, Jul. 7). This is Amazing Grace- Christopher Duffley, Northland Church. [Video File]. Retrieved from https://youtu.be/mXYTHbS3-RU

Paula

Gardening

This morning I was reading through the August issue of the Catholic TV monthly magazine and I found an article that reminded me of my love of gardening and how I feel a sense of communion with God in my gardening chores and enjoyment of the fruits of those labors. Just looking at the variety and beauty within each flower, herb, and vegetable, is such a witness to the miracle of creation and God’s abundant gifts to us. This year my garden is particularly beautiful, which may be partly due to the rainy spring and the work I did last year to divide overgrown plants and add more compost.

Gardening is so much like life in general. As the article tells me, “Every day, God wants to speak to us through His word:

• By clearing the rocks and weeds that are stuck in our minds and spirits;
• By tilling the soil of our hearts; and
• By planting good seed that can bear fruit thirty-, sixty- and a hundredfold.

Gifts from God via my flower gardens

Treasures of Heaven

There I was this morning attempting to pray a thankful prayer for the wonderful summer I had taking day trips around NE with my husband and soaking in the beauty of the region. And then I quickly fell into a pitiful place of worrying about retirement and not having enough money to have that dream retirement I so often hear about from others who buy new homes and travel. That’s not going to be my retirement unless I win the lottery.  More likely we will need to lay low, live frugally and hope for the best. In comparison to the rest of the world we will still likely be living at the top end of the spectrum of quality of life.

I wanted to shake off this low feeling that comes to me when I go down this useless path of comparison and worrying about money, so I picked up my Magnificant to read the daily reading and there it was:

Matthew 6:19-21

Do not store up yourselves treasures on earth, where moth and decay destroy, and thieves break in and steal. But store up treasures in heaven, where neither moth nor decay destroys, nor thieves break in and steal. For where your treasure is, there also will your heart be.

He who has compassion on the poor lends to the Lord/ and he will repay him for his good deed. (Proverbs 19:17)

Perfect: The Lords Word and Timing for me today.

It is often a struggle to stay focused on the treasures of heaven that await us and not on what others have and we would like to have here in the material world. I know that the things that weigh me down in this life will be non-existent in heaven.

I pray for peace in this area of my life and contentment in all that I can do in my life and for others with the means that the Lord has given me.

Peace
Paula

Ending Abortion: Why Sex and Dating Need to be Part of the Conversation

It’s the 4^th of July and wicked hot here in NH. 92 degrees at 10:30 am! As I ponder on what to do today, I felt this was a good time to sit at my computer, in front of a fan and share some thoughts on the sanctity of life and our so called “freedom” in this current American culture.

I follow the organization Women Speak for Themselves on Facebook. I encourage you to go tot their website and Facebook page and follow this organization.

Our members speak for themselves in local papers, on social media, among their friends, and within their communities. The results? Several successful campaigns disrupting or changing a false media narrative about women’s freedom and happiness.

This organization shares a wealth of information on the root problems women face in our society around the issues of dating, marriage, women’s health, birth control and abortion. This brings to light the underlying issues that contribute to abortion. It is important for everyone to be informed about these issues, because the state of on demand abortion needs to begin with a cultural shift. One that values women, marriage and families.

I want to share an excerpt from a recent Facebook post from:

Women Speak for Themselves
June 28 at 8:00 PM ·

No matter what decision any politician or Supreme Court Justice makes, we will never end the cycle of abortion unless women reconnect sex with marriage and children in our culture.
Even if abortion is illegal at the federal level (which we hope it will be), women will continue to suffer high rates of crisis pregnancy unless the sex and dating environment changes.
Sex, dating, and lack of commitment or support from their baby’s father play into a woman’s likelihood to face unplanned pregnancy and their decision to choose abortion.
Women can choose to avoid putting themselves and their children at risk by saving sex for loving commitment in marriage. And they will be so much happier for it!

A must read:

WSFT has published an E-Book, Ending Abortion: Why Sex and Dating Need to be Part of the Conversation. /Women Speak for Themselves http://womenspeakforthemselves.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/02/Ending-Abortion.pdf

I know that my pro-life brothers and sisters want to help end abortion but often don’t know what to do. Some spend time in front of abortion clinics in prayer and are ready to support those victims. These folks are heroic and selfless with the time they spend on this mission. Others are not available to do this but want to do something. Supporting crisis pregnancy centers with baby items and money is one easy way to support the effort to save babies and nurture at risk families. It is important for everyone to understand why women end up in crisis pregnancies. In addition to this information women need to know who they are in the eyes of our God. If they knew how much God loves them and the plans God has for them, they might be empowered to follow Gods way instead of the way of the world.

Psalm 139

13 For you created my inmost being;
    you knit me together in my mother’s womb.
14 I praise you because I am fearfully and wonderfully made;
    your works are wonderful,
    I know that full well.
15 My frame was not hidden from you
    when I was made in the secret place,
    when I was woven together in the depths of the earth.
16 Your eyes saw my unformed body;
    all the days ordained for me were written in your book
    before one of them came to be.
17 How precious to me are your thoughts, God!
    How vast is the sum of them!

Jeremiah 1:5

5 “Before I formed you in the womb I knew you, before you were born I set you apart; I appointed you as a prophet to the nations.”

God Bless
Paula

My name is I Am

He paused

I waited. He continued,

When you live in the past

with its mistakes and regrets

it is hard. I am not there.

My name is not I Was

When you live in the future,

with its problems and fears,

it is hard. I am not there.

My name is not I Will Be

When you life in this moment

it is not hard. I am here.

My name is I Am