After 10 years in business & with much prayer and discernment, we are following the Holy Spirit’s guidance into full-time work for our parish.

It’s a decision that was difficult to make but brings joy and peace knowing that we will be dedicating our time to ministry within our church working with education and youth.

While our business website will be closing, our blog will be open and active with our new endeavors. We hope you’ll check in frequently!

In the reference to drinking “neither wine nor strong drink,” the angel is describing a “Nazarite”. This is not someone from Nazareth, but a word used to designate a person set aside for the Lord’s special work. (The legendary strong man Samson was a Nazarite.) The angel also likens John to Elijah, one of Israel’s greatest prophets who lived around 850 B.C.

There’s no doubt about it. This Child is destined for greatness.

I, too, am destined for greatness. God has created me and put me on earth for a purpose. And God has sent the Spirit upon me to help me carry out the work for which I was created.

Now, honestly, do I believe that?

Do I really believe that God had something particular in mind in creating me?

Take some time to think about this… and then some time to talke to the Lord about it.

~ Spend some quiet time with the Lord.

The angel tells Zechariah that his prayer has been heard. We hadn’t been told what Zechariah was praying for, but now we know. He was praying for Israel, of course, as a Jewish priest would do. But he also was praying for a child.

Sometimes we’re afraid to pray for things that seem unrealistic.

Three times in the birth story we’ll hear angels say, “Do not be afraid” — to Zechariah here, to Mary and the Annunciation, and to the shepherds in the field. And Jesus, in his public life, will say these same words five times.

Anything in particular I’d really like to pray for? “Do not be afraid.”

~~ Spend some quiet time with the Lord. ~~

Zechariah and Elizabeth were childless, which in their culture was a great misfortune, even a disgrace. One can imagine their feelings of failure and inadequacy.

All of us feel barren in one way or another. We haven’t “produces” in our life what others (or ourselves) had hoped we would. Our failure to live up to “what might have been” leaves us with a certain empty feeling.

But God does things through us that we ourselves cannot do, or even measure. And God does them often in ways we do not understand.

That’s the secret. Let God do what God wants to do through me. That is the path to greatness — no matter what my age, no matter what my condition.

O Lord, let me let YOU do what You want to do through me today!

~~ Spend some quiet time with the Lord. ~~

The Mission of My life
God has created me to do Him some definite service.
He has committed some work to me,
which He has not committed to another.
I have my mission – I may never know it in this life,
but I shall be told it in the next.
I am a link in a chain, a bond of connection between persons.
He has not created me for nothing.
I shall do good. I shall do His work.
I shall be an angel of peace,
a preacher of truth in my own place, while not intending it,
if I do but keep His commandments
and serve Him in my calling.”
Therefore, I will trust Him, whatever, wherever I am.
I cannot be thrown away.
If I am in sickness, my sickness may serve Him;
in perplexity, my perplexity may serve Him.
If I am in sorrow, my sorrow may serve Him.
He does nothing in vain. He knows what He is about.
He may make me feel desolate, make my spirits sink,
hide my future from me – still He knows what He is about.

Amen!

Handmaid For The Lord has donated one of our beautiful Catholic Saint’s Charm Bracelet in Red for the giveaway.  Aside from the Crucifix the saint’s chosen for the bracelet are:  St. Faustina/Divine Mercy, St. Joseph, Our Lady of the Rosary, St. Maria Goretti, St. Padre Pio, and St. Therese.

We are one of 11 other Catholic companies to offer items that make wonderful Christmas gifts with the true meaning of Christmas!  Please visit Catholic Frugal Mommy to enter for one of these great prizes!

After Christmas our students, grades 5 through 8, are going to enter a new phase based upon the Theology of the Body.  Boys will be taught by a male catechist, girls by a a woman.  The culmination of these gatherings will be a slumber party for the girls, and a lock-in for the boys.  It will be a celebration of fellowship as the men and women that God is calling them to be.

I’ve also been asked to do a retreat for girls at another parish.  While the logistics have not been worked out, I have come up with a rough draft of sorts.  I want the girls to have a “ya-ya” experience, celebrating sisterhood through the ministry of the Visitation.

The first part of the day will be that of taking care of your own person.  You can’t minister to others if you are not taking care of yourself first.  We’ll focus on healthy lifestyles; eating/exercise, hygiene:makeup/hair/etc., modesty, and spirituality through the sacraments and prayer.

The 2nd half will be about how to be a good girlfriend - a sister in Christ.  Stripping down the barriers of clique, social status, and stereotypes then building communication and having fun.  We’ll talk about how gossip hurts, cyber-bullying and how to protect yourself, dating and courtship, and finally, how to communicate God’s love through all that we say and do.

I have 2 friends who have agreed to help.  Both are cosmetologists.  The day will actually begin with having the girls wash their faces and remove all make-up.  We’ll give them each an oversized tee-shirt that they’ll wear over their own clothing.  Then we’ll pull their hair back and remove all jewelry.  We’ll strip them down to the beautiful, natural girls that were created in the Image and Likeness of God.

During the 2nd half of the day, when we focus on ministry to others, the girls will be be giving pedicures to each other.  Reminiscent of Jesus washing the feet of the 12.

I’d love to do this event as a slumber party.  There is SO MUCH that can be done.  I’d like the first half to be one day.  End the day with an hour of Adoration at 11:00pm.  An hour of quiet time, then lights out at 1:00am.  Wake-up at 7am, a continental breakfast, then begin the 2nd half of the day at 9am.  I need a praise & worship team.  Food.  Adults to help.  And fuzzy slippers for each girl.

I’d love my readers thoughts on this!  Let me know what you think!

 By Kathleen Gilbert
BRYAN, Texas, November 2, 2009 (LifeSiteNews.com) - The director of the Texas Planned Parenthood abortion mill where the 40 Days for Life campaign began has resigned, saying she experienced a conversion after watching an ultrasound video of a child being killed by abortion. …

http://www.handmaidforthelord.com/gertrude-cards.pdf

We are putting a card with candy in a little gift bag and handing out to our CCD students at our All Saint’s Day Party.

Can a Christian take part in such activities?  Does our participation incur the pain of sin?  Is it possible to celebrate Halloween without praising Satan, turning our backs on Christ, putting our souls in danger?

This humble blogger says, “yes”.

Keeping in mind that we are ‘in’ the world, not ‘of’ it and recognizing that this secular holiday is what we make of it, it is possible to celebrate in a way that does not hurt our relationship God.  Here are some ideas:

• Make sure that costumes are wholesome - would it be something you would wear sitting with the Blessed Mother or her Son?
• Keep the focus positive, light, and fun - imitate doctors, teachers, firefighters, angels, etc.
• Ditch the blood, gore, and traditionally evil costumes - if a little one would have possible nightmares why would you want those elements in your home?
• Decorate for Fall instead of Horror.
• Bring All Saint’s and All Soul’s celebrations back into the picture.  Work with your church to hold an All Saint’s Day Party.
• Have your child make spiritual bouquets for those who have lost a loved one.
• Pray for those who imbibe on evil during this time of year.  Evil comes not only has witches and vampires - it comes as alcohol and drugs.
• Take your child to Adoration, giving thanks for life and love and friends who will be celebrating Halloween with your children and family.
• Pray for the souls in purgatory (check our “Resources” for a page of holy cards you can print and hand out!)

These are just a few ideas for you.  I’m sure others can expand on them — add your own ideas!  God can take anything and make it holy.  We are His hands.  We can take this pagan holiday and turn it into something good.  Things are what we make them.  I’m not looking to change the world, just my own family.