Have Patience with Me!!

I have so many ideas and especially nudges from God to write about!! 

Please have patience with me....I'm a work in progress!!! 

Hugs and kisses to you all!

Love and Peace, 

Delfina

Awakened by a smell.....

What is it about smells that do not change and remind us of our childhood? Whether it be a home cooked meal or an old school building where you once attended. There's even those smells you pick up in the wind that are familiar from way back when, but can't put your finger on it. Is this a reminder from God that we are the same person and He loves us today as He did then when we were innocent and life was simple. Then there's those smells that may remind us of painful and less happy times. Are these reminders from God that we struggled but survived this time maybe through are own faith or the help of those faithfuls around us? Is this His reminder to be more childlike?

Which brings me to scripture......

Matthew 18: 3  Amen I say to you, unless you turn and become like children, you will not enter the Kingdom of Heaven.

I believe not only should we become childlike because of the supposed innocence of children but because of their complete dependence on, and trust in, their parents. So must we be, in respect to our Holy Father.

I didn't write all my thoughts on this subject but opened to discuss more and on other senses.

Love and peace,

Delfina 

Mini Make-up Review or NOT

Why hello there!

I know I am officially the worse blogger ever!! As a matter of fact, tomorrow will be a year that I last posted. I think it counts a little that I didn't let a year go by right?! Yeah, I think so too. Any who!!

You're probably wondering what brought me back to my blog.

Well, I could say a night out on the town with the bestie who came in from out of town, woke me up out of bed to tell those we met that I can dance, I'm not human and I need to be on Adderall (medication which can help reduce symptoms of hyperactivity, inattentiveness, and impulsivity). Those who know me even just a little bit know I have lots of energy.

That's not it though, it's what happened right before we got off the car and again when we sat at the bar.

My friend looked at me before we got off the car and said, "Do you have dark circles under your eyes? Yeah, here use this." She hands me a small tube of what looks to me like foundation or something, but smaller. I dotted the "wand" under my eyes and carefully rubbed it in. I couldn't really see a difference in the car since it was dark. Of course then she went on to say, "Do you need powder, mascara, eyeliner, lipstick?". If I didn't know better I would have thought she was trying to say something other then just sharing her precious products.....or was she?

**Can I start a sentence with a preposition these days.....lots has changed you know! Don't judge!**

AT the bar, I told her I couldn't believe she got me out of bed and with my eyebrows looking so horrible to say the least. You should have seen the look of disgust which quickly turned to disapproval as she took notice of my eyebrows. She quickly reached into her magic hat (purse) and pulled out another small tube looking like the last to me and said, "hurry, cover that up!". As I was applying the miracle rub on my unwanted brow hair (sounds so ugly....I'm embarrassed once again), it started to disappear. Wow, how did that happen?!?! I only questioned it once and moved on convinced I needed some of my own.

I proceeded to go to the restroom and saw the results of the first tube I had applied. I was amazed again how the proof of not enough sleep was wiped away instantly.

So now, let me get to the point of this posting!

I'm going to get me some this stuff......High Beams and Stay Don't Stray!! End of review. :-)

 Ok, I have to go now because I have a 3:15 appoinment to get my eyebrows done.....can't be late!

Be back soon,

Delfina

RCIA Posting - DO YOU WANT TO BE HOLY?

Hello everyone!

I have been teaching the RCIA (Rite of Christian Initiation of Adults) Pre-catechumenate at Our Lady of Mount Carmel Parish for two years now. What a wonderful experience it has been and I thank God that He has given me the opportunity to share this time with everyone that is in the class.

 We had such an amazing class last night that I wanted to start sharing with everyone the readings we are going over each Wednesday.  I hope and pray that you will take the time to reflect on the readings and share with others. Also, please share any comments or questions you may have.

Here goes the first of many!

RCIA - Wednesday, October 12, 2011

DO YOU WANT TO BE HOLY?

"Let them grow together until harvest." —Matthew 13:30

If you are living for Jesus, you are God's wheat, citizens of His Father's kingdom (Mt 13:38). This means you are surrounded by weeds, the "followers of the evil one" (Mt 13:38). You hope and pray that God will take these people out of your life. However, the Lord refuses to do this. He wants you to grow in holiness by loving your neighbors (Mt 22:39), even and especially those who are your enemies (Mt 5:44). He wants you to "rule in the midst of your enemies" (Ps 110:2). He will spread His table before you in the sight of your foes (Ps 23:5). Some people may even be thorns in your flesh to keep you from getting proud and to help you become humble (2 Cor 12:7). Thank God that He has left the followers of Satan in our midst. As we grow in love for them and for the Lord, we can more easily see that the Lord "makes all things work together for the good of those who love" Him (Rm 8:28). Forgive, serve, pray for, and evangelize the followers of Satan. In doing so, they may receive a new nature, be changed from weeds into wheat, and become citizens of God's kingdom. Then you will grow into a saint who "will shine like the sun" in your Father's kingdom (Mt 13:43). Readings: Wisdom 12:13, 16-19 Romans 8:26-27 Psalm 86:5-6, 9-10, 15-16 Matthew 13:24-43 Love & Peace, Delfina

Love Never Fails

It has been a while since I've written on my blog and I really do miss it. I hope to find more time to share my thoughts, experiences and whatever else is worth sharing.

So what brings me here today other than I can't focus on a task I am working on that will determine my future? Sounds important huh? It is, but I don't want to talk about that right now. It would be defeating the purpose of trying to clear my other thoughts before I return and give my dreadful task my undivided attention.

So here it goes......

The girls and I went walking this evening and stopped to help an elderly lady (85 yrs old) who was using a walker. She obviously was walking towards the street to throw a bag into the trash can that was in front of her house. She didn't accept our help at first because I'm sure she was frightened since it was close to 8:30pm and dark outside. If you've ever walked or even driven through Garden Villas neighborhood were the pecan trees threaten to devour you at night, you'd understand. As the light from the street lamp shined onto her face, I knew she was a fellow parishioner at my church. When I asked her if she attended OLMC her demeanor immediately changed. She kept us talking for about 45 minutes while the mosquitoes were biting us. We didn't mind because she had the most amazing stories of life's struggles (being in a concentration camp for 3 years), determination (living and working in the US for a better life) and accomplishments (learning English and being married 50 years).

Then at the end of her story she gave all glory & honor to God and told us she loved us. Wow, who does that? Who tells complete and total strangers you love them? She demonstrated both of the greatest commandments Jesus has given us.

Can you imagine if more people were like her in this world? Can you imagine if more people allowed the light of Jesus to illuminate from their being as she did with my children and I?

"Jesus said to him, "You shall love the Lord, your God, with all your heart, with all your soul, and with all your mind. This is the greatest and the first commandment. The second is like it: You shall love your neighbor as yourself." (Matthew 22: 37-40)

As we were standing on her driveway ants crawled onto her foot so I bent down and wiped her entire foot to make sure all the ants were off. The image as I did so was Jesus washing the feet of His disciples and the example of love He professed during this act. My eyes swelled with tears because I knew that I was allowing Jesus to illuminate through me.

"If I then, your Lord and Teacher, have washed your feet, you also ought to wash one another’s feet. " (John 13:14)

Before we departed, we promised to keep each other in our prayers.

My children and I walked away in silence and I know with all my heart and soul that Jesus was in the midst of us.

Where would we be without Him?

The idea: Take Psalm 23 and rewrite your own negative version — Psalm -23 (that’s Psalm Negative 23): Life in the Flesh. Really think about what life would look like without Christ. Where would we be without Him? Then, contrast that with the real Psalm 23.

Someone on the net shared their version:

Psalm -23

I am wandering shepherdless. I have more needs than I can count. I am restless, unsettled, in need of refreshment with no one to guide me. My soul feels so burdened. Where should I go? What is my purpose?

As I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I’m terrified, desperately lonely, and completely unprotected, exposed. In the presence of my enemies, I am mocked. Everyone has turned their back on me. My cup is empty. I’m wretched.

Any and all goodness or love is gone as though it has fled from me forever. I will never enter the house of the Lord; instead I’ll spend eternity homeless, in this hell.

Heavy stuff! But contrast to the real Psalm 23 and the relationship we are offered in Christ. Praise the Lord!!

Psalm 23 (ESV)

The Lord is my shepherd; I shall not want. He makes me lie down in green pastures. He leads me beside still waters. He restores my soul. He leads me in paths of righteousness for his name’s sake.

Even though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil, for you are with me; your rod and your staff, they comfort me. You prepare a table before me in the presence of my enemies; you anoint my head with oil; my cup overflows.

Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me all the days of my life, and I shall dwell in the house of the Lord forever.

B - U -S - Y are you?

Just a little something I wanted to share:

I have been crazy busy lately which has been overwhelmingly stressful. Why do we do this to ourselves?

For those who feel the same way or have before...read this scripture.

Matthew 11:28: Come to me, all who labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest.

Wow!! This is the promise of deep and awesome rejuvenation!!

I think the hard part is letting go and making the time to dwell in the presence of God.

Have you ever listened to a Homily or sermon and felt it was written just for you?

Last year, I was listening to a Homily and the priest said “I heard someone describe BUSY as "Busy under Satan's Yolk". YIKES!! I was thinking that was written just for me, but I bet everybody felt the same way because we allow things to consume us when we should be immersed in God. He said he hade heard someone describe BUSY as "Busy under Satan's Yolk". YIKES!!

Oh, and I looked up the acronym and here is an article I found.

http://jmm.aaa.net.au/articles/8687.htm

Love and Peace,

Delfina