This weekend I attended St. John's Catholic Church in Delphos Ohio. The homily brought back so many memories of a great song and musician. We were asked to remember the song "Follow Me" by John Denver as a conversation with God. I can't even think of anything else to add to this. I'm sharing it with you. I hope some of you will have a wonderful walk down memory lane as I did and also take a new meaning from this beautiful song.
John Denver — Follow Me
It's by far the hardest thing I've ever done
To be so in love with you and so alone
Follow me where I go what I do and who I know
Make it part of you to be a part of me
Follow me up and down all the way and all around
Take my hand and say you'll follow me
It's long been on my mind
You know it's been a long, long time
I've tried to find the way that I can make you understand
The way I feel about you and just how much I need you
To be there where I can talk to you
When there's no one else around
Follow me where I go what I do and who I know
Make it part of you to be a part of me
Follow me up and down all the way and all around
Take my hand and say you'll follow me
You see I'd like to share my life with you
And show you things I've seen
Places that I'm going to places where I've been
To have you there beside me and never be alone
And all the time that you're with me
We will be at home
Follow me where I go what I do and who I know
Make it part of you to be a part of me
Follow me up and down all the way
Take my hand and I will follow you
Lyricsfreak.com © 2009
Sunday, April 14, 2013
Sunday, April 7, 2013
Life takes over!
It is been a long time since I've posted on here. It's not for lack of things to be grateful for. Just a few: My son is safely settled in California. We had a wonderful Easter with family. It was a little rough with this being the first holiday that my son was not home. But we were able to talk to him via FaceTime. Oh how wonderful is technology! I am managing to stay about three or four days ahead of all of my paperwork. I.
work in the schools and typically this is the roughest time of the year for end of the year paperwork.
What prompted me to post today was being at church last evening and witnessing a wonderful site. We had neat 80-year-old substitute minister. Watching him sing the Psalms of response with the cantor was touching. He had his eyes closed and was singing with every ounce of praise he had. What a great role model he is. That is my gratitude thought for the day. How blessed we all are to have mentors and models in our lives to help us lead prayerful and blessed lives.
I hope you all are enjoying a beautiful day. I'm thankful for the sun and 65° temperatures here in Ohio. I'm going out to work in the yard!
work in the schools and typically this is the roughest time of the year for end of the year paperwork.
What prompted me to post today was being at church last evening and witnessing a wonderful site. We had neat 80-year-old substitute minister. Watching him sing the Psalms of response with the cantor was touching. He had his eyes closed and was singing with every ounce of praise he had. What a great role model he is. That is my gratitude thought for the day. How blessed we all are to have mentors and models in our lives to help us lead prayerful and blessed lives.
I hope you all are enjoying a beautiful day. I'm thankful for the sun and 65° temperatures here in Ohio. I'm going out to work in the yard!
Sunday, February 17, 2013
Be with me Lord
The last couple of weeks have seemed exhausting. I am entering into one of the busiest seasons for my work. I have also been working extra at my casual pool jobs to earn money for my upcoming trip. Needless to say many days I feel tired and exhausted. Yesterday was no different. Adding to the exhaustion and worry was that phone call that parents dread. My child was in pain and hurting. His friend was in pain and hurting. When something like this happens with one of my children I picture scenes from the movie The Passion. I picture the agony on Mary's face as she watched her son on His path. I picture Mary on her knees wiping up His blood. Those images comfort me to know that I'm not alone in wanting to protect my adult children.
At church I began to pray for the intercession of the Holy Spirit to guard and protect my child and his friends. I imagine a holy light coming down to surround and protect them. After hearing our
responsorial Psalm for the weekend, "Be with me Lord when I am in trouble", I said my prayers with more fervor. I prayed with myself in mind as well because my heart is in trouble observing and hearing my child's pain. At first it felt selfish. Then I remembered how God gave Mary comfort at the foot of the cross. He knows too my heart was hurting and will be with me.
At church I began to pray for the intercession of the Holy Spirit to guard and protect my child and his friends. I imagine a holy light coming down to surround and protect them. After hearing our
responsorial Psalm for the weekend, "Be with me Lord when I am in trouble", I said my prayers with more fervor. I prayed with myself in mind as well because my heart is in trouble observing and hearing my child's pain. At first it felt selfish. Then I remembered how God gave Mary comfort at the foot of the cross. He knows too my heart was hurting and will be with me.
Sunday, February 10, 2013
What is your calling? I would love to hear your answers.
This past week I was asked to lead our Bible study group, while our leader was on vacation. We are studying the Psalms of ascent, by Beth Moore. (For those of you who have completed the study it is a beautiful study for those of you who haven't encourage you to look at it.) Of course I said yes.
I spent hours reading and reviewing the homework to make for sure that I could effectively lead. I was not prepared however to respond to a major concern of one of our participants. She explained how she didn't know a loving God like we all do. She felt left out because a harsh upbringing left her to question a loving God. She was overtaken with being unable to make peace with the mother that fostered this belief. I was fortunate that many women in our group spoke up to comfort her. Unfortunately this monopolized the Bible study. I was torn between offering comfort and staying on track with our projected work for the week. Needless to say, I left the study feeling like I was not the leader this group needed. I was ready to throw in the towel in case I was ever asked again to lead. I am just not cut out for it.
This week's readings focused on answering your calling. From Isaiah, "Here I am Lord, send me". This really helped me to refocus on why we should answer a call. The purpose is for the glory of God not the glory of me. As I prepared to lead the study this past week, I'm not sure that that's what my focus was on.
So I ask myself, will I lead our group again if asked? The answer is yes. The answer will be yes to other opportunities to serve. My prayer will change. I will ask God to help me serve Him for His glory not my own.
What is your calling? How do you serve God? Are you willing to say "Hear I am Lord send me"?
I would love to hear your answers.
Many Blessings to you today!
Norma
P.S. I still consider my greatest calling is to be a good mother, especially now that my children are adults.
I spent hours reading and reviewing the homework to make for sure that I could effectively lead. I was not prepared however to respond to a major concern of one of our participants. She explained how she didn't know a loving God like we all do. She felt left out because a harsh upbringing left her to question a loving God. She was overtaken with being unable to make peace with the mother that fostered this belief. I was fortunate that many women in our group spoke up to comfort her. Unfortunately this monopolized the Bible study. I was torn between offering comfort and staying on track with our projected work for the week. Needless to say, I left the study feeling like I was not the leader this group needed. I was ready to throw in the towel in case I was ever asked again to lead. I am just not cut out for it.
This week's readings focused on answering your calling. From Isaiah, "Here I am Lord, send me". This really helped me to refocus on why we should answer a call. The purpose is for the glory of God not the glory of me. As I prepared to lead the study this past week, I'm not sure that that's what my focus was on.
So I ask myself, will I lead our group again if asked? The answer is yes. The answer will be yes to other opportunities to serve. My prayer will change. I will ask God to help me serve Him for His glory not my own.
What is your calling? How do you serve God? Are you willing to say "Hear I am Lord send me"?
I would love to hear your answers.
Many Blessings to you today!
Norma
P.S. I still consider my greatest calling is to be a good mother, especially now that my children are adults.
Sunday, January 27, 2013
Journeys
This week I've taken a great deal Comfort from Psalm 121. We are studying this in our Bible study. We are working on Beth Moore's study of the Psalms of Ascent.
I lift my eyes to the hills where does my help come from?
My help comes from the Lord the maker of heaven and earth.
He will not let your foot slip he who watches over you will not slumber indeed he who watches over Israel will neither slumber nor sleep.
The Lord watches over you the Lord is your shade at your right hand, the sun will not harm you by day nor the moon by night.
The Lord will keep you from harm- he will watch over your life;
the Lord will watch your coming and going both now and forever more.
Over the next several weeks both of my children, Kate and Adam, will be going through their own journeys. Kate is taking the plunge and purchasing her first car. And Adam will be moving to California. After studying this Psalm over the last week I have really tried to keep the focus on the fact that the Lord, our God, will be watching over my children. I wish it were easy. It's not.
Life is Truly about change and journeys. I pray this week, that you will have comfort in your journeys.
Please keep me in your prayers as well as I help my children with their journeys.
Sunday, January 20, 2013
Service
Today's readings were from first Corinthians chapter 12 verses 4 to 11. This is a beautiful reading regarding the gifts that we are given from God via the Holy Spirit. Verse 11 speaks to the fact that we are all given gifts and he gives them to each one of us as he determines. So that does mean we all have our special gift that we are able to share. Sometimes I find myself thinking I don't have a lot to share. Today's reading reminds me that no matter what I think or feel I have been given very special gifts. It is my choice what I do with those gifts. There is nothing better to do with the gifts that we are given than to share them somehow through service.
This morning I opted to go to a nearby parish, St. Rose in Lima, Ohio. Fr. Dave gave a beautiful homily regarding how service has changed throughout the years. He started with examples of how years ago when you went to a gas station was called a service station. Not only did they give you gas, they cleaned your windows and checked your oil. So many other things that he's talked about this morning also made me smile and laugh at remembering how things used to be. Even though I'm only 50, I've heard stories and have seen some of the things he discussed. His last comment that was what hit me right between the eyes. He talked about the service that we provide to different organizations, from the symphony to our churches, are a reflection of our faith in Jesus Christ and the knowledge of the gifts that the Holy Spirit has bestowed upon us.
My prayer for today is that all of us can take advantage of the gifts that we have to offer. I pray that we can offer them as service to ourselves and to others. This week my offerings of service are to make a hat for one of my students and to volunteer to prepare the music for our weekly Bible study. For myself, I'm offering to exercise at least 15 minutes every day and to eat a more balanced diet.
What are your offerings of service for this week?
Thank you for taking the time to read today. I hope you have a wonderful week and I look forward to hearing your comments.
Wishing you the Lords blessings,
Norma
This morning I opted to go to a nearby parish, St. Rose in Lima, Ohio. Fr. Dave gave a beautiful homily regarding how service has changed throughout the years. He started with examples of how years ago when you went to a gas station was called a service station. Not only did they give you gas, they cleaned your windows and checked your oil. So many other things that he's talked about this morning also made me smile and laugh at remembering how things used to be. Even though I'm only 50, I've heard stories and have seen some of the things he discussed. His last comment that was what hit me right between the eyes. He talked about the service that we provide to different organizations, from the symphony to our churches, are a reflection of our faith in Jesus Christ and the knowledge of the gifts that the Holy Spirit has bestowed upon us.
My prayer for today is that all of us can take advantage of the gifts that we have to offer. I pray that we can offer them as service to ourselves and to others. This week my offerings of service are to make a hat for one of my students and to volunteer to prepare the music for our weekly Bible study. For myself, I'm offering to exercise at least 15 minutes every day and to eat a more balanced diet.
What are your offerings of service for this week?
Thank you for taking the time to read today. I hope you have a wonderful week and I look forward to hearing your comments.
Wishing you the Lords blessings,
Norma
Friday, January 18, 2013
Grow your blog party!
Hello Everyone!
My name is Norma and I have joined others in a grow your blog party.
It is sponsored by Vicki at www.vicki-2bagsfull.blogspot.com
I started this blog to share some of my spiritual journey and to fellowship with others in their journey. My original intent was to do a weekly post that referred to the readings at mass that week. But I have not always been able to keep up with that. It is still my intent to share what I learn from church or my Bible study. More readers would make me more accountable!
I do have two adult children - my life's blessings! 2 of many blessings! I work full time as a physical therapist specializing in children with developmental disabilities. I love my work. I live in a small town in west central Ohio.
My prayer is that you come here often and share your experiences with me!
Thank you for taking your time and stopping by!
Norma
My name is Norma and I have joined others in a grow your blog party.
It is sponsored by Vicki at www.vicki-2bagsfull.blogspot.com
I started this blog to share some of my spiritual journey and to fellowship with others in their journey. My original intent was to do a weekly post that referred to the readings at mass that week. But I have not always been able to keep up with that. It is still my intent to share what I learn from church or my Bible study. More readers would make me more accountable!
I do have two adult children - my life's blessings! 2 of many blessings! I work full time as a physical therapist specializing in children with developmental disabilities. I love my work. I live in a small town in west central Ohio.
My prayer is that you come here often and share your experiences with me!
Thank you for taking your time and stopping by!
Norma
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