Legends

They say that most legends are born from a truth... so I will give you a few legends and you decide if they are truth... it has been said by wise men of old the night the Savior was born amazing things were beheld...

1) that all of the trees, bushes and flowers surrounding the birth, blossomed and bloomed to render him glory.

2) all the wells filled with water for a moment turned into wine of the finest kind.

3) heaven could be heard in songs that filled the air.

4) the animals themselves began to speak and praise God in his glory.

5) the hour was midnight when he arrived, the same time legend says that God walk in the garden with Adam and Eve..... Now this same God was to begin his walk on earth... to walk with each one of us... (and that is a truth you can stand by as well as walk with all your life)...

The Night Before Christmas

Here is a new poem to read to your children on this the night before Christmas... read this poem to the same "beat/rhythm" you would read the poem the night before Christmas:

Santa's Prayer on Christmas Eve

...............................................

The sleigh was all packed, the reindeer were fed,

But Santa still knelt beside of the bed.

"Dear Father," he prayed be with me tonight

There is much work to do and my schedule is tight.

I will visit each household before the first light,

I'll cover the world and all in one night.

To get in the house is the difficult part,

So I'll slide down the chimney of each child's heart.

My sack will hold toys to grant all their wishes.

The supply will be endless like the loaves and the fishes.

I will fill all the stockings and not leave a track.

I'll eat every cookie that is left for my snack.

I can do all these things Lord, only through You,

I just need your blessings then it's easy to do.

All this is to honor the birth of the One

That was sent to redeem us, Your Most Holy Son.

So to all of my friends, least Your glory I rob,

Please Lord, remind them who gave me this job!!!

And to all, "I" say, Merry Christmas and to all a good-night

Happy Hanukkah

I celebrate many of the Jewish holidays in my home and today being the start of Hanukkah, I wish all a Happy Hanukkah... the festival of lights... as I light the first candle on the menorah...

A Christmas song's true meaning

Many of the songs sung at Christmas time have nothing to do with Christ they are very secular as not to offend anyone... A strange concept to me since the word Christmas means, Christ Mass. But here is one I share, that seems to be very secular but is not. The song was written by someone with deep faith, yet they had to hide it for they were being persecuted in their native country being Catholic. I will share the meaning behind it:

The Twelve Days of Christmas:

The partridge in the pear tree is Jesus Christ

The Two turtle doves are the Old and New Testaments

The three French hens stand for faith, hope and love

The four calling birds are the four gospels

The five golden rings are the Torah, the first five books of the Bible

The six geese a laying are the six days of creation

The seven swans a swimming are the seven gifts of the Holy Spirit

The eight maids a milking are the eight beatitudes

The nine ladies dancing are the fruits of the Holy Spirit

The ten lords a leading are the 10 commandments

The eleven pipers stand for the eleven faithful apostles

The twelve drummers drumming are the twelve points of belief in the Apostles Creed...

I bet this song takes on a whole new meaning for you and now when you sing it remember this "new meaning"....

Signs

I hear about many "signs" from God, in all faiths. The church that I attend though, believes that signs are not important or necessary. Only the revelation of Jesus Christ is, in the incarnation and the Gospels, (this I totally believe). Many people of my church do not know this or at least they do not "appear" to know this, for they go from one apparition site to another. Or worse many feel the need to go back to the same "apparition sites" over and over again. Is it not the same God in every place, in every church? Is there a lesser or greater God, only manifesting power in one area or geographic location? I learned in school if you need to repeat the same message again and again you are not learning it, once learned you do not have to go back and repeat the process. Sure there are refresher courses when learning, but to go back four or more times to hear the same message, there is something wrong there. Once you learn something you are to assimilate it into your environment. The truth being that even if the church approves an "apparition" or messages from God via private revelation, the faithful do not have to believe it to be true. It does not become a doctrine of faith, mandatory of belief in it. No, one only needs to believe in the Savior to be saved, not private revelation. Actually it could be harmful to you, if you get fixated upon it and not go to the Savior. In regards to signs, everyone is waiting for that one big sign to be sent by God. Well he already sent that sign, and we will soon be celebrating the birthday of the one who was that big sign to us all. Yet that does not seem good enough for many for they follow "signs" of people, be they a "visionary" or a "mystic" such as myself... You need neither, in fact be weary of such, such people should constantly be pointing you to your Savior no one else, especially not themselves. Yet still at the end of the day you do not need them.

And let the truth be told, God is giving everyone, "signs", in the everyday, take time to see them all around you. See them in the opportunities to serve others, to love. See them in the smiles given to you and those you give to others. See them in the eyes and hearts of those you love. See them in every thing on the planet, if it is not going well or looking good, see it as a "sign" of how you can do something to make it better.

I think it is good for people to share with others their touches of God in their lives it helps all of us, it lifts our faith and hope for the future. But do not hold anyone or anything higher then God. Do not wait for a "sign" from God... try something new; why not try being a "sign"... so when people look at your life they say...wow, I see God on that one, what a sign of love and mercy they are... NOW that is a SIGN... Don't wait for the "signs" that are predicated to come in the future, don't look to those who have "received" these messages or visions as "rock stars" of sorts, they are not.

So why do I blog and speak of my encounters with God, because I like talking about my best friend. Just the way I speak about my family and "other friends", I like to talk about my best friend who happens to be God. I also like hearing about this best friend of mine, so I encourage others to tell me their stories and encounters with God. This is with all faiths not just the one I am walking with on earth, God is not limited in any manner, he loves us all. Also to let those who might not have a best friend know that they do in God. He just loves us all and wants to relate to us all. So avoid the rush, do not delay that "sign" in your life... listen, believe, trust, love and have faith and you will, "hear and see" God too.

When you take a drivers test you need to learn what all the signs on the road mean in order to pass the test. Some of these signs are actually warnings; not to take this route for there is danger ahead. Yet when you do "real time" driving on the road, you can come across road signs that have been vandalized, spray painted over and you can not read the sign or it is saying something untrue. So it is best to commit to memory basic driving rules. This is true with some of the "signs, allegedly coming from God" they might have been vandalized trying to confuse you as you drive through this life. So commit to memory the only one you need, God; not someone else telling you about a sign to come.... And the biggest sign ever is, God loves you.... for you are a marvel of love, you move, you breath, you laugh, you cry... who else could do that for you except God?... a clear sign if ever I saw one...

Do not be afraid

I think of my father on this day, it would have been his birthday. He celebrates not years anymore but eternity. I also think of his father my grandfather. I never knew my grandfather he died prior to my birth, yet I know stories of him and most not flattering. My grandfather was a "god fearing man", or so they say. He was a "strict" catholic so much so that many of his children left the faith and hate to even speak of God. Yes, my grandfather taught about the wrath of God and how people will be thrown into the fires of hell. My grandfather used God as a "weapon" so to say, threatening his children if they did not do this, or that, God would punish them and cause them harm. Some of the punishments I heard my grandfather leveled on his family was to make his children kneel for hours, forcing them to do so while they "prayed". My grandfather also refused to let my grandmother have her teeth fixed, giving the money to a church instead. Hence my father, spoke or taught his children nothing of God, (it is clear my grandfather knew nothing of God). As St. Paul said, (I paraphrase here), you can pray all the days of your life and "do" things in the "name of God", but if you do not love you have done nothing. Or when Jesus said there will be those who come to him and say I did this in "your name" and Jesus will reply to them, get away from me, for I/you, never knew, you/me. I understand now why my father did not teach his children about God, in essence his father the "strict, good Catholic" stole the spirituality of his children from God. A sad story to say the least, and this sad story I heard before from many people who had, "strict, good religious" when they were in school, the ones that would rap their knuckles if they misbehaved or told them God was "displeased with them", or they were going to go to hell, if they did not change...Many of these people left the faith, some not even believing in God anymore. When a child is traumatized this experience usually carries over into adulthood. So many of these people who were told of a wrathful God, who hits them (such as the religious) or punishes such as my grandfather did, want nothing to do with God. So these "good Christians" due harm to God by taking away his children from him.

..... To all of these people of all faiths I say to you, that is not God, never was, those actions and thoughts were of misguided people, who did not know God themselves. I say to all who have left their faiths, come back, come back to God.... he loves you and misses you... rise above the pain given you and go to the one who can heal you. Do not blame God for the actions of man and do not become like them by thinking like them; that God is hateful and vengeful, he is not, he seeks to restore you, not destroy you.....

As a parent what would really tick me off was when someone told me how to raise my kids, my thought was back off my kids and me, pal, worry about yourself and your own household and I will take care of my own kids! I can only imagine what God must think when these "good Christians" or any faith/religion, does such things to his children, and tells them how he will punish them. It is not their business and they should never tell another that God will hurt them or punish them. Nor should they under any circumstance cause anyone pain, hurt or suffering at their hands, that is not only UN-Godly, it is criminal.

Why do I think of these things now, for this still goes on with many "good, strict" Christians and other religions. I had one such encounter with one this evening while at prayer, while in a church sitting before the Tabernacle, someone actually disturbed me in prayer to tell me I do not pray correctly. I have been told such things before that I am either to strict, or to liberal. I have been told I will burn in hell, or I am a agent of Satan, some have told me that I am a Saint an angel on earth.

We all need to stop judging each other be it in the positive or the negative, and forcing our "ways" on others. No one knows the heart of an individual or their intentions... Do not label anyone a sinner, since we all are, do not label anyone a saint here on earth, since no one is. Try to act in a saintly way and love without condition or expectation. If someone is not like you, still love them, if you only love those who are like you and act like you, I would dare to say that shows you love, yourself more for you are responding to them being like you. God likes personality and he is inclusive, we are all his children. So stop trying to be a parent to God's children, and see them as your brothers and sisters and love them as such, least you become the subject of the wrath you scare others with.

We live in a time of love, another word for salvation, Jesus did not come to judge the world but to save it. So step back from judging others and get with the program, the Divine program and get out there and save people through your love. You want to be like God, you'll have to die loving others then, not judging them and telling them about the wrath of God or hitting them and abusing them...

There is a side to God, that deals with wrath and justice, but that is not the side you can take a role in, you can not judge, least you be judge, you can not inflict wrath upon another in any way or you shall receive it. You are called to love, be charitable, be merciful and forgiving... so these things can be given to you.

By the nature of God he knows all things, sees all things, he does not need you to define him and who can do so; who can understand the mysteries that are God. He is working in every one on this planet in some way, respect their personal dignity and where they are. God has a plan an agenda for everyone, do not place your personal one on someone else. For we all think as man does not as God, we are finite in our thoughts, prone to ego. Truly let go , let God...

And be not afraid...

"Amelia"

I do not write much about my "locutions", I do try to make them known though, they are cloaked within the stories written in this blog. Yet some are so touching to me I believe they deserve direct mentioning. Such as the "Amelia" one. Over many months now, Jesus has spoken to me about "baseball", yes baseball. I am not a fan of baseball or any sport yet I have "heard" messages about baseball. What I have learned from these messages is the need to "step up to the plate" and do the right thing, even if you strike out, keep your eye on the ball and keep swinging. And if you should be graced enough to hit the ball, run the bases, bring it home. That you need to "play" the game and the game is a team sport. By playing the game I mean, do not talk the game but get in there and play it. You know, one hears a lot of talk about the hungry, the homeless, the down and out, but who is in the game helping these people. We are called to be players, not observers, there are no home runs unless you are up at bat, you are in the game. You cannot play the game of baseball alone you need a team and the team has to be like minded. There are rules and regulations within the game of baseball, such as there are with God, his being love, mercy, forgiveness, and charity.

So why the title "Amelia".... this is why...last Saturday while at Mass, the priest mentioned that there would be a funeral for a woman named, Amelia on Monday. The priest went on to say she had no family and that it would be nice to pray for this soul. Upon his saying this I decided I would attend Amelia's funeral Mass on Monday. Over the weekend I did what many are doing this time of year, shopping for Christmas gifts (there are 4 very young children in the family so I spent some time in a toy store), in addition to spending time with family. During my time at the Chapel in the evening though, Jesus once again spoke to me about baseball... This I thought odd for it is not baseball season and the thoughts of baseball were far from my mind, usually not there even during baseball season!

I did go to Amelia's funeral on Monday and once again, Jesus spoke to me about baseball and he smiled while he spoke of this. Yet this time I "saw" him at a baseball game, in a stadium, a filled stadium and he was with a woman unknown to me. I could "hear" the crowd, I could smell the peanuts in the air, hot dogs, everything that one would associate with a baseball game I either heard, saw or smelled it was very vivid. Now since I was at a funeral, I thought to myself, okay this time you really lost it. Here I was sitting in a church suppose to be praying for the deceased woman and I am mentally and somehow spiritually at a baseball game!!!

Soon it was time for the priest to deliver the homily at the funeral mass of Amelia and I could not believe what I was hearing... This priest said that the day before he went to the funeral home to visit with Amelia's friends and pray for Amelia. Now this priest never met Amelia, and he said the following; that he was surprised to see what Amelia was being buried in, a Baseball uniform... now as soon as I heard this my total focus was on this thought. A baseball uniform!!! This woman died at 82 years old and she is buried in a baseball uniform. For the rest of the Mass my thoughts were on this.

After the Mass concluded, Amelia's closest friends eulogised her and they spoke of her great love of baseball... calling her the biggest Yankee fan ever! That those who knew her, knew enough not to call her during a game, or if you visited her during a game you better be quite, sit and watch the game with her. That her greatest delight was to go to a baseball game. They also spoke of the fact that Amelia was a nurse and how many people she helped during her life; the woman who was doing the speaking actually said, if not for Amelia she would be dead, for Amelia was present at her birth and she had stopped breathing and it was Amelia who did mouth to mouth to start her breathing again.

So then I thought back to Jesus speaking to me about baseball this past weekend, he was letting me know about Amelia and that she was a player for his team, by her helping others. And as her reward, he came for her and took her to her favorite place, a stadium to "see" a baseball game.

That is the best statement I can give each and every one of you. That is how personalized you are to God, that he knows every thing about you... and to Amelia a piece of heaven would be going to a baseball game and God through Jesus provided this for her, as his thank you to her, for a game well played here on earth. Yes I think Amelia was not just an observer of the game on earth she was an all-star player on God's team... I end this with song lyrics for Amelia

Take me out to the ball game

Take me out to the crowd

Buy me some peanuts and cracker jack

I don't care if I ever get back

Let me root,root, root for the home team

If they don't win it is a shame

For it is one, two , three strikes your out

At the old ball game

Yes indeed Amelia was a player, she rooted for the home team with her acts of love, kindness and mercy. Amelia stepped up to the plate in life, she kept her eye on the ball and hit it out of the ball park.

We are all like Amelia, the game will end for us one day as well.... when that happens what will be your sates... you will have a history of home runs or strike outs?

Excuse me I have to put on my baseball cap now and get into the game...

He was in no way a "wimp"

For those who think Jesus was a strict traditionalist do not know the historical Jesus. He was a God/man who was looked upon as being a rebel, breaking rules and traditions of the time. He was the first to tell the people of the "religion" that he called his own on earth, that their rules were breaking the spirit of the people they were suppose to help. Jesus was the one who healed on a day labeled "Holy" and no work should be done... I believe Jesus would be doing the same thing today, "breaking" the rules many Churches place upon people that cause them to leave their "religion" for the burdens placed upon them. Jesus spoke of those in power causing others to bend to the letter of the law, and not letting them know the heart of the law, which is love and mercy. He was totally inclusive attracting men and women, young and old.

Jesus also had no problem calling a fraud a fraud, or someone coming as a religious person, a "white washed tomb", if they used their religion for a power base and control of people. There was no hiding of sin with Jesus, no "rule or law" that said one must keep some one's sin a secret. To the contrary Jesus went out of his way to call people into the light with their sin, in the hopes that they would stop sinning and repent. So when any religion, corporation, government or person keeps sinful acts a secret or hides them under the guise that to make them public would hurt the people, it is a lie, they worry more about their own power and credibility then to hurt the people. It is worst to hide sin from others then to step up to the plate and say hey, we messed up. People have a right to know the truth, they possess dignity as people of God to be told the truth. And hey, they are going to find out one day any way when it is the general judgement when the sins of everyone are revealed. So beat the rush and tell the truth now.... for the truth will set you free... and it is what Jesus did he set everyone free and he always told the truth, no secrets with him... So tell it like it is...tell the truth...