Peace of Soul

Right now I'm reading a book by Archbishop Fulton J Sheen called, "Peace of Soul".  I'm only on page 69 and I'm already astonished by the depth and beauty of this book.   The chapter title that I've gone through so far are: Frustration, The Philosophy of Anxiety, The Origin of Conflicts and Their Redemption and Is God Hard to Find? And the chapter I'm just starting is called Morbidity and the Denial of Guilt. 
So far the Archbishop has walked through topics on man's desire for happiness, and happiness in God, the revolt of our flesh, and how God is not hiding from us. I can't wait to finish the book and be able to post more about it, I'm just really excited about it.

Peace of Soul is one of those books on God that tells you mostly things you already knew, but it presents it in such a new light, that you can't help but feel you've learned something new.  It's basically just a book on the Good News, but that is why it's so exciting.  What could be more exciting than God's Good News?

I also have a prayer request. This weekend I am going on a retreat, please pray for myself and all those who are going on it, and those leading it, that the Lord will work profound miracles.

God bless!

Intercessions from the Liturgy of the Hours

Let us adore Christ who offered himself to the Father through the Holy Spirit to cleanse us from the works of death. Let us adore him and call upon him with sincere hearts.
In your will is our peace, Lord. 

From your generosity we have received the beginning of this day,
-grant us also the beginning of new life
In your will is our peace, Lord.

You created all things, and now you provide for their growth,
-may we always perceive your handiwork in creation.
In your will is our peace, Lord.

With your own blood, you ratified the new and eternal covenant,
-may we remain faithful to that covenant by following your precepts
In your will is our peace, Lord.

On the cross, blood and water flowed from your side,
-may this saving stream wash away our sings and gladden the City of God
In your will is our peace, Lord.

All-powerful Father,
as now we bring you our songs of praise,
so may we sing your goodness
in the company of your saints for ever.
We ask this through Christ our Lord Jesus Christ, your Son,
who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit,
one God forever and ever. Amen

Prayer

Graciously hear us, Lord for we seek only YOU.  You are near to those whose heart is right. Open yourself to accept our sorrowful spirit; calm our bodies and minds with the peace which surpasses understanding.

Let the insanity begin!

This week starts work week, which is when all the staff for Faith Camp get together to make Faith Camp happen.  We paint murals, get the games ready, and the coordinates get the plan for the next week all shiny. :D Please pray for me, and for all on staff this week that we would prepare our hearts to be the leaders God's want.

God Bless!

Soul Prayer

God our Savior,
Hear our morning prayer:
Help us to follow the light
And live in the truth.
In YOU we have been born again
as sons and daughters of light:
may we be your witnesses before ALL the world.


This prayers was in our daily Liturgy of the Hours and I wanted to share it. :)

God likes little people.

This week God has really been teaching me that he loves little people, and he cares about little things in our lives.  One night our cord for our laptop stopped working, we would plug it in but it wouldn't charge. Needless to say we were all upset, the thought of having to get a new cord was in our minds. Suddenly Peter, (age 12) says, "Hey guys let's pray over the cord."  All of the little kids agreed and soon all ten of us are laying  hands on the cord.  My sister Ellie, simply asks God to heal our cord, we plug it in and it works.  All of us began to praise the Lord.  A cord is such a little thing, but God answered our prayers.
All of us have dreams of being something big, a famous novelist, a singer.  God wants us to be the best we can, but he also loves us as the little people we are.  A 16 year old, sister, daughter, and missionary. I am nobody to most of the people in the world. But I am someone in God's eyes. To him I'm His daughter, His lover, His little missionary.
I'm so thankful for God's love and mercy!

Blessings this Sunday,
Abi

Prayer for today

Here is a great prayer to start the day our, its from the LOTH.

Lord,
May everything we do begin with your inspiration, continue with your help, and reach perfection under your guidance.  We ask this through our Lord Jesus Christ, your Son, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God forever and ever. 


Amen.


God bless you all!
Abi

Asking for prayers is hard.

Today I was thinking about something, and that is asking for prayers is sometimes hard. It takes humility to say "I'm not perfect and I want you to help me by praying for me." This reminds me of a something that happened to me in Mexico. One afternoon both my parents where out at the Ranchos, (small villages) and I was left in charge of all the kids save Issac. We had just finished a rosary with some of ladies, it was a Marian feast, I can't remember exactly what it was. Anyway Miss Genie, Susanna and some of us kids had like 10 minutes to get ready and head out to another Rancho. As all older children know, getting 8 kids ready is not easy. Shoes, coats ect... had to be found and children had to be taken to the bathroom and then loaded in the car. I was getting really frustrated and everyone kept saying,

"Come on y'all we need to hurry!" Muttering to myself I hurried the kids only 3/4 ready into the car, I sat down with them and was really annoyed. Miss Genie asks,

"Who is going to share tonight?" (Every time we go to the ranchos different members of the team get to share a personal testimony of faith, or something the Lord has done for them. )

No one said anything, Miss Genie looks behind to us in the backseat and said,

"Why don't you do it Abi?" Things had just gone from bad to worse, I had nothing that I wanted to share, I didn't even want to be there! But I said yes. I tried to clear my mind, but all I could think of was how mad I was and how I just wanted to sit down and cry. The car parked and everyone loaded out, Miss Genie gave some of the kids orders. Meanwhile I pulled Susanna aside and asked,

"Susanna, I'm really upset right now. Can you please pray for me?" Believe me asking that when I was mad and didn't want prayer was hard, but I knew that if I was going to get up and talk I had to let the Holy Spirit work through me. And the only way I could do that was if I wasn't angry.

"Sure Abi." She pulled aside two of my sisters and they prayed for me. I felt all the anger and tears melt away, and I walked into the small chapel, I was ready. When I stood up to talk about my reversion I didn't say exactly what I thought I was going to say, but one of the missionaries told me as we left,

"You did a good job Abi, I saw some ladies crying." That blessed me so much that I was able to bless them, I didn't know them, or see them, or even speak Spanish, (miss Genie translated) but I was able to bless them.

This event taught me that asking for prayer is very important. If I had not humbled myself in that moment I know that I could not have given my testimony. God gave me the grace to ask for help, and through me he touched someones heart.

Many blessings!

Abi

Sickness strikes again!

While Esther feels much better, she even played soccer with us today, now Rachel (the 8 year old) is in bed with a dreadful headache. Again I ask for all of your prayers! As far as I know it is not much more than a headache, but I worry that it will turn into more. All is in God's hands!

Blessings,

Abi

Esther

Hey all, I just want to post and ask for your prayers. This morning Esther came down with a fever, last I heard it was 100.5. She has been resting in bed all day. Thanks for the prayers! I'm sure she will fine in a few days, I just hope it isn't catching. I would hate for the little kids to get sick.

Blessings,

Abi