Joy Is Found in Comforting Christ

Its been hard for me to write about joy -- even for my friend -- because I struggle with it.  I think it is because to a certain extent, I don't want to be joyful.  I want to cling to the hurt/frustration/whatever because I can use it to protect myself.  It is an excuse to stay in my comfort zone or a way to put all my problems on someone else.  Also, I think that it is less threatening to be a grumbler.

However a comment from a reader on my page  Shoulder Wound of Christ reminded me how to have the greatest joy. 

"Our Lord bearing this unrecorded burden for us has touched my heart and soul so greatly.  Whatever I must do in my days..., I offer it up for His shoulder wound.  In doing so, I feel blessed that my Lord has allowed me to comfort Him; therefore, He comforts me."

Personally, when I give to others, I am filled with joy.  I love helping others.  I love to find thoughtful ways to warm their hearts.  When I surrender my time and energy to helping others, I forget about all my interior grumblings -- and my life is no longer as awful as I make it seem.

If I am joy filled when I comfort even strangers, what joy awaits me when I comfort my Lord?  Even if all my dreams and plans are for naught, if I could comfort my Savior even for a brief moment isn't it worth it?

My prayer for today:

Jesus, it is my new hope that I can comfort You today by sharing in Your Passion.  Do with me what You will.  If you desire me to suffer with You the betrayal of Judas, or the abandonment of Your beloved Apostles at the hour of Your greatest need, I will no longer grumble about betrayals against me.  If You want me to suffer physically in my body, I do so willingly.  Your body was shred by scourging.  It was bruised by beatings and falls.  It was pierced by thorns, nails and a spear... You could count all of Your bones.  What do I have to complain about? Teach my joy in all things.

2 Deaths Per Second

According to http://www.worldometers.info/ and http://www.wholesomewords.org/missions/greatc.html there are about 2 deaths per second, that is, about 120 deaths per minute, 600 deaths every 5 minutes, about 7200 deaths per hour and about 172,800 deaths per day.  Every person who dies will be judged and either taken to heaven, hell or purgatory.

We were commissioned to go out into the world to bring souls to Jesus.  While many of us can't be full-time missionaries, we are still called to do what we can to save souls.  

It takes 5 minutes to pray the Divine Mercy Chaplet all the way through. Christ tells us to pray unceasingly for those dying. Jesus said to Sister Faustina:

"Say unceasingly this chaplet that I have taught you.  Anyone who says it will receive great Mercy at the hour of death.  Priests will recommend it to sinners as the last hope.  Even the most hardened sinner, if he recites this Chaplet even once, will receive grace from My Infinite Mercy. I want the whole world to know My Infinite Mercy.  I want to give unimaginable graces to those who trust in My Mercy...."

"....When they say this Chaplet in the presence of the dying, I will stand between My Father and the dying person not as the just judge but as the Merciful Savior".

Read more: http://www.ewtn.com/devotionals/mercy/dmmap.htm#ixzz1aipFDvBf

While we are waiting in line, waiting for our browser to load, waiting for anything, we can do beautiful acts of mercy for souls in need of salvation.  It only takes 5 minutes to pray this chaplet.  It may be the most productive and blessed five minutes of your life!  Please pray the chaplet often.

See this link to learn how to pray:  http://www.ewtn.com/devotionals/mercy/dmmap.htm  or go to my favorite links and sing along with EWTN.  

Checking Our Attitude

This reminds me to stop grumbling and put on a new set of glasses: not redrose colored, but blessing covered.

Humility: Accepting Love From Others

I had prepared a quote about humility today to reflect upon. However, the love that I was shown recently trumps it. A few days ago many people showed me their love and support.

Some days, I feel of little value or used by the people around me. For a brief period in my life, I was very depressed and death seemed to be a desirable state. I never hurt myself or anything, yet, my soul was dead. I felt as if I would never find joy again.

I was wrong. God is so good. He has blessed me in so many new ways. The people in my life make me want to live again - and not as the old me, either. They, by their simple acts of kindness, make me aspire to be better. The kindness of these people humble me.

I think humility is letting others take care of you.  It is accepting that you can't do everything on your own. It is accepting that you are not perfect, seeing yourself as you really are: fallen, but loved.  Humility is allowing others to be generous/self-donative towards you, while you accept gracefully.  

Humility is swallowing pride and submitting yourself to their gifts of love.

Encouragement

I had a really bad week where it was a huge struggle to be motivated. I was hurting so much that all I could do was pray and focus on getting through each moment of each day without collapsing.

Today, I was given new strength to overcome the particular cross that is so heavy.  I felt that these verses spoke to what I am going through and encourages me to look past the hurt and suffering.

My child, if you are gong to serve the Lord, be prepared for times when you will be put to the test. 

Be sincere and determined. 

Keep calm when trouble comes. 

Stay with the Lord; never abandon him, and you will be prosperous at the end of your days. 

Accept what ever happens to you. 

Even if you suffer humiliation, be patient. 

Gold is tested by fire, and human character is tested in the furnace of humiliation. 

Trust the Lord, and he will help you. 

Walk straight in his ways, and put your hope in him. 

All you that fear the Lord, wait for him to show you his mercy. 

Do not turn away from him, or you will fall.  

All you that fear the Lord, trust him, and you will certainly be rewarded. 

All you that fear the Lord, look forward to his blessings of mercy and eternal happiness. 

Think back to the ancient generations and consider this: has the Lord ever disappointed anyone who put his hope in him? 

Has the Lord ever abandoned anyone who held him in constant reverence? 

Has the Lord ever ignored anyone who prayed to him? 

The Lord is kind and merciful; he forgives our sins and keeps us safe in the time of trouble. 

But those who lose their nerve are doomed- all those sinners who try to have it both ways! 

Doom is sure to come for those who lose their courage; they have no faith, and so they will have no protection. 

Doom is sure to come for those who lose their hope. 

What will they do when the Lord comes to judge them? 

Those who fear the Lord do not disobey his commands; those who love him will live as he wants them to live.  

Those who fear and love the Lord will try to please him and devote themselves to the Law.  

Those who fear the Lord are always ready to serve him. 

They humble themselves before him, and say,"We place our destiny in the hands of the Lord, not in human hands, because his mercy is as great as his majesty." 

-- Sirach 2:1-18 

A Letter to My Dearest Friend

Dear Jesus,

I have known You my whole life.

I have loved You as long as I can remember. 

However, I have loved You with a selfish love. 

I talk to You when I am sad and lonely. 

I beg for Your graces when I am sick and suffering. 

I seek You out when I have a particular need.

Please help me to stop asking for selfish requests.

Help me to love You simply.

Teach me to love You because You are Good.

Grant me the grace to embrace suffering because it pleases You.

Enlighten my mind so that I may know You.

Satisfy my soul so that I never seek anything other than You.

Please unite my will to Yours.

Guide my actions so that they may be a witness to Your Mercy.

Instruct me in true humility.

Lastly, please teach me to love as You love.

Thank you for all Your blessings. Amen.

Purpose of this blog

Every day we suffer. Every day we encounter difficult obstacles or people that frustrate us. 

For myself, I know that sometimes the bumps of life can be overwhelming. 

This blog is a way for me to maintain hope, and for living a fulfilled, joyful and holy life.  My goal is to turn all suffering (even minor ones) into blessings.  How can I do this?  By giving every moment to God, whether good or bad. We will be held accountable on our particular judgement day for all that we have done and even for what we failed to do.  Consequently, we must do everything (even breathe) for the glory of God. 

While this blog is intended to keep me on track, I hope that it is also used as a source of joy for you too.  I want to use all my moments for good. 

I hope to include things that personally inspire me to make a difference in my life.  I also will include my reflections on important events/principles in my life as they happen.

I pray that God may bless you and keep you strong in the journey that lies ahead. May we bless His Holy Name in all situations.

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I can do all these things in him who strengthens me. -Philippians 4:13

Then Job arose, and rent his robe, and shaved his head, and fell upon the ground, and worshiped. And he said, "Naked I came from my mother's womb, and naked I shall return; the Lord gave, and the Lord has taken away; blessed be the name of the Lord." In all this Job did not sin or charge God with wrong. - Job 1:20-22

Let nothing disturb you, let nothing frighten you. All things are passing. God never changes.  Patient endurance attains all things... Whoever possesses God lacks nothing, God alone is sufficient. -St. Teresa of Avila