Day 87 – 1 hour         Day 88 – 1.5 hours   Day 89 – 1 hour         327.5 to go

Wow – been really busy this week, not enough to stop praying, just too busy to post blog

Wednesday night I had an incredible experience at the last meeting of the 12 Steps to Holiness & Salvation book study group.  The chapter was on Self-Denial & Love of the Cross.  Four of the ladies and one of the men gave powerful witness as to how the idea of suffering and self-denial has and will change their look on life.  We all told stories of suffering we’ve experienced (physical and mental) and prayed about how pain and anguish can be a positive thing.  We all came to the realization that God does not allow for more suffering than we can handle and how our trials and tribulations simply make us stronger if we embrace them as Jesus did.  The key word was embrace.  Jesus not only carried His cross to Calvary, He embraced it.  Jesus suffered more than most and He did it all without a whisper of protest.  He had his eyes set on the goal – our salvation- and knew His Father would deliver Him in the end.  I know that if I persist and if I endure my hardships with my eye on my eternal home, I will triumph.  Amazing as it sounds, I can become holy.  I can embrace the truth of the 12 chapters – FAITH, HOPE, LOVE OF GOD, LOVE OF NEIGHBOR, POVERTY, CHASTITY, OBEDIENCE, MEEKNESS & HUMILITY, MORTIFICATION, RECOLLECTION, PRAYER, & SELF-DENIAL & LOVE OF THE CROSS – with the help of the Holy Spirit, with a continued prayer life.

Psalm 62 was part of Wednesday’s prayers - 2 My soul rests in God alone, from whom comes my salvation. 3 God alone is my rock and salvation, my secure height; I shall never fall. My soul, be at rest in God alone, from whom comes my hope… 7 God alone is my rock and my salvation, my secure height; I shall not fall. 8 My safety and glory are with God, my strong rock and refuge. 9 Trust God at all times, my people! Pour out your hearts to God our refuge! 10 ³ Mortals are a mere breath, the powerful but an illusion; On a balance they rise; together they are lighter than air. 11 Do not trust in extortion; in plunder put no empty hope. Though wealth increase, do not set your heart upon it. 12 ⁴ One thing God has said; two things I have heard: Power belongs to God; 13 so too, Lord, does kindness, And you render to each of us according to our deeds.   Verse 9 was written for me – I must trust then I must “pour out” or pray to God my refuge.  The things I did as a refuge in the past must be forever changed to prayer and fasting.  Speaking of fasting, I have decided to keep up the Lenten abstinence of Fridays (forever) and am going to also do my bread and water fast on Wednesday's (maybe not forever but for now).  I must confess, the bread sometimes is toasted and has butter and jelly and the water has tea brewed in it, but no soda, no other substance food other than basis bread and maybe some hummus when the bread is in the form of pita’s.  If you do any fasting, let me know & I will post for all to be inspired.

I need to get caught up on some chapters in Divine Intimacy and will probably have lots to say after that.

I leave you with the psalm-prayer from yesterday’s daytime prayer – LORD JESUS CHRIST, VICTIM FOR OUR SINS, YOU TRUSTED IN YOUR FATHER’S PROTECTION AND KEPT SILENT WHEN YOU WERE TORMENTED.  GIVE US THAT SAME CONFIDENCE AND WE WILL GLADLY SUFFER WITH YOU AND FOR YOU, OFFERING THE FATHER OUR SACRIFICE OF PRAISE AND WALKING BEFORE HIM IN THE LIGHT OF THE LIVING.

My chaplets were for the earthquake victims in China & my rosary was for my daughter on Tuesday, the book study group on Wednesday & for the mother of my children, Mona yesterday

Peace

Kate, I am very proud of you for recent decisions – thanks for being the best daughter on the planet