This is the day the Lord has made, let us rejoice and be glad. Psalm 118:24. Discernment.
Because of the action of the Holy Spirit within you, your vision is now ever conscious of the presence of Jesus your King, and your heavenly Father in your life. As a branch destined to bring much fruit on the sacred Vine, you will now witness and share with Jesus. But to reign as Monarch in the Kingdom of God, to bring forth much fruit, you must know how to discern. You must know what counsels (prompts) come from the Holy Spirit, and what counsels come from the , Satan. Our brother John warns us, "It is not every spirit my dear people, that you can trust; test them, to see if they come from God, there are many false prophets now in the world." (1)
As a Monarch in the Kingdom of God, you must be able to recognize those prompts that are from the Holy Spirit. Guided by them, you will fulfill your royal duties in making creation anew for God's greater glory. Prompts that you discern as not being from the Holy Spirit, you will exile from His Kingdom. Your will is your sword, your determination your strength, with which, by the grace of God, you will do these things.
In this exercise, your Highness, discerning means discerning decisions that relate to Kingdom values and choices. These will impact on the direction your life will take in making the Kingdom of God visible, and do not relate to decisions of a routine or mundane nature. These latter will be influenced by the former.
Reigning in communion with the Blessed Trinity, your Highness, means actively participating in the Divine decision-making process. You will sit at the same table with the Father, the Son and the Holy Spirit. Together, you will share loving concerns for the welfare and happiness of the Other. In the Kingdom of God, this is the nature of the Life-giving Love that sustains the Vine. Our King tells us, "If anyone loves me he will keep my word and my Father will love him and we shall come to him and make our home with him." (2)
25.2 Loss of freedom.
25.3 Voice of Holy Spirit is gentle.
25.4 An experience with a "Breeze."
"What was I doing here?" "Don't these people know who I really am? Don't they know I shouldn't be here? Don't they know how wicked I really am? What kind of a hypocrite am I? Where do I get the nerve to do such terrible things? How can I deceive others like this?"
Such similar terrible thoughts stormed my mind and overwhelmed me. My presence there seemed Satanically sacrilegious. I was terrified. I felt hot, flushed and very ill with a sickening high fever. The heat around me was sweltering. I was suffocating- like being in a locked car on a concrete parking lot at high noon in July. I was nauseated and sick and was certain I was going to faint. Discreetly I glanced at the congregation. Then, from within, still more condemnations. "Raymond, you really did it this time. Here you are in a church full of people who are now going to watch you fall off this chair in the sanctuary. What's going to happen then? You'll be the laughing stock of the city."
I felt wet and clammy and must have been very pale. Now there was no doubt in my mind that I was going to faint. I gave a quick glance at the altar. The archbishop seemed so very far away. The whole scene was like a dream, without sound. Too weak to do anything, I faced the inevitable. From the corner of my eye, I had a closer look at my surroundings. Where could I fall? There were elegantly carved wooden pews, marble steps and furniture all around me. I feared hitting my head on an edge or a sharp point. I no longer had any hope of surviving this situation and was completely powerless in face of the event now overtaking me.
Just as I was to slip into the darkness, just as my eyes were closing- the most delightful breeze I have ever experienced, revitalized me to the very depth of my being. The recovery took place in an instant. Although luxuriously frail, It was decidedly autonomous and self-sufficient. It was so full of the excitement of life in conception It had difficulty containing itself.
From the corner of my eye, I saw it coming. It appeared as a delicate silk cloth of the purest white material, embroidered with fine, luxurious silver threads. Its size appeared a little smaller than a handkerchief.
It shimmered ever so gently as It came at me from my left side (the tabernacle side). It then passed through my head, all of which seemed perfectly normal. It felt extraordinarily refreshing and ever so comfortably cool, without being cold or wet.
It was like that wonderful breeze... nudged across the lake by the warm rays of the morning sun, gently kissing our cheeks as it passes by.
[Later I was dumbfounded (and overjoyed) when I heard Daniel 3:49-50 being read at a Lenten service: "But the angel of the Lord came down into the furnace beside Azariah and his companions; he drove the flames of the fire outwards, and fanned into them, in the heart of the furnace, a coolness such as a wind or dew will bring, so that the fire did not even touch them or cause them any pain or distress." Amen!]
As It went through me, I felt every impurity in me completely disappear. I experienced a feeling of complete newness, as if I was just created. In an instant, all those terrible doubts and condemnations, those sensations of weakness, nausea, suffocating heat and faintness, were gone. I now had a sense of well being, health, strength and power such as I have never known before. I felt that I was the essence of health and strength. I remember having the sensation of holding the basilica in the palm of my hand, its weight and mass being no more than that of a small empty match box. Once Its passage was completed, It (the Breeze) was gone. I had no interest or concern over where It went. The whole happening seemed normal and natural.
While all of this was taking place, the liturgy was of course, continuing. No one could possibly imagine what was going on. When I left my chair to approach the archbishop for my ordination, there was no longer any question or doubt of the propriety of my being there. I knew that I was there because it was by the authority of He who makes such decisions. Everything that God did to bring me to this moment in time and eternity filled me with awe and wonder.
Since Yahweh's voice is as quiet and gentle as a breeze, (5) to hear Him, the Monarch must live in peace and serenity. God does not scream.
There are times when a prompt sounds like a Person speaking.
There are times when a prompt is a clearly seen plan of action.
There are times when a prompt takes the form of an interior vision rather than verbal instructions.
There are also times when an inspiration (with all of its implications) gives you instant and total understanding of the situation.
The hallmark of an inspiration from the Holy Spirit is knowledge and certainty accompanied with a very deep Peace.
Your Highness, to properly discern as Monarch, you will need to reawaken your listening skills. This is especially true at the beginning of your reign when experience is lacking and one's soul may not yet be properly disposed. You must know how to distinguish the Voice of the Vine from voices that are not from the Vine. Failing to do this, will mean a great deal of turmoil, confusion, disorder and chaos in your life. You will be pleased to know that there are many persons committed to restoring creation for God's greater glory. Others, however, have powerful vested interests in either leaving things the way they are, or in governing for their personal and selfish ambitions.
25.5 Priorities and responsibilities inside the Castle. (6)
Your Highness, prompts you receive must pass this test. Does the proposal conflict with your natural and normal priorities and responsibilities? These are:
In this exercise, although I distinguish between first and sixth priorities, this does not mean that any one priority is less important than the other. What is good for one is good for all, and what is bad for one is bad for all. Indeed, because all these priorities relate to different persons but to the same Body (of Christ), they are all ultimately priority number one. Since the heart must necessarily have a higher priority than a finger (the heart keeps the body alive), we must identify priorities by order. This will ensure that the body as a whole will survive, thus assuring life for all of its parts.
25.6 Priority number one, the Lord.
Unless you are healthy spiritually, all other health concerns are insignificant. One's spiritual health is the cornerstone on which physical, mental, and emotional health must rest. "If the light inside you is darkness, what darkness that will be!" Matthew 6:23.
Priority number one then, is loving God. How does God want to be loved? You should know, you are made in His image. Well? "How do you want to be loved?"
During the retreats, on Thursday evenings I asked those in attendance to write their answer to the question, "How would I like to be loved?" Following are a few of the hundreds of replies received, all written by persons like you and me. Before reading on, write down how you would like to be loved and see how your answer compares with these.
Since these are the ways we would like to be loved, is it not reasonable to love our dear Lord at least to these standards? If we who are selfish, forgetful and preoccupied feel so much pain when we are not loved or loved for the wrong reasons, imagine how our dear Lord feels when He who is Love Itself does not receive our love in return, or is loved for the wrong reasons. Dearest Child of God, do you love your dear Lord, your Creator, your King, your bountiful Provider, your Redeemer, your faithful Friend and Counselor the way you would like to be loved?
Your Highness, our first priority in time and in eternity is the sweet task of loving Jesus our Lord and our God, our King, with all our heart, with all our soul and with all our mind. (7)
Your Highness, if anything (any thought, any person, any event or any preoccupation) tries to separate you from loving your dear Lord, with all your heart, all your soul and with all your mind, you will know such a prompt is not from the Holy Spirit. Exile it from your realm in the Kingdom of God.
25.7 Priority number two, your health.
25.8 Priority number three, your spouse.
25.12 Work in conflict with priorities.
One day, while on duty in pastoral care at the hospital, I found myself drawn to a room in the coronary care unit. The patient was a person who recently retired as a senior executive with a large public corporation. He was sitting on his bed and looking out the window. It was as though he was expecting me. Almost immediately he began by sharing with me how he spent all his active life looking after the affairs of the corporation.
"I never saw my children growing up," he said. "I was never with my wife to care for her, to love her, she who has given her all for me and the children. We hardly know each other," he continued, "and now she's left me. The children are gone. The corporation doesn't even know I exist anymore. Here I am, alone with a gold watch, trying to survive a heart attack." Then he cried and cried and cried. A river of tears flowed from his heart.
He made his career and his climb on the ladder of success his priority. In so doing, he gave up a unique opportunity to love our dear Lord, to rejoice in his own blessings and to love his sweetheart and their children. During those precious and unique years, the family grew up without him. He did not share life's daily adventures with them. He was not there, to console those tender little hearts, bruised on life's bumpy roads. He chose the challenges of a career over opportunities to grow, to share, to laugh and to cry with his family. These once-in-a-lifetime family events will never take place in his life again. Instead of loving the hearts God placed in his nest, he gave everything he had and was to strangers. He made his work and his career a priority at the expense of all the others. "Man does not live by bread alone but on every word that comes from the mouth of God." (13)
I forget how long I stayed with him, but it was obvious this is where our King wanted me to be. He spoke and I listened and listened and listened. It would be more accurate to say, God listened and listened and listened. He was confessing his sin. Full of sorrow, despair and confusion, he wondered, "What will happen now?" When he finished (I was very attentive to what the Spirit would be telling me), I responded with only a word or two. (God does not need many words to bring life into another, "Lazarus, here! Come out!)" (14) It seemed to me that his heart was filled with new hope. Perhaps it wasn't too late. Perhaps there were things he could still do with his loved one and children. Perhaps he would have another opportunity to love them as his heart now yearned to do. At that moment I felt his heart was healed, his courage renewed.
A day or two later I asked about his whereabouts and was told he left the hospital. I was convinced he received a second chance. He paid a terrible price for his mistaken priority. He lost the love of God through his spouse and his children. She lost the love of God through her husband. The children lost the love of God through their father. These heavenly blessings were gone forever. The nest was now empty. He was alone with his gold watch. Unfortunately, there are many such experiences. What blindness! Who in his or her right mind would trade a lifetime of love and sharing for salary, position, a few gourmet meals and a gold watch? Satan is truly the Father of all lies. (15) This must never happen to you, your Highness.
Once I was with a friend who was dying. Sitting at his bedside, we talked about life and death, God and heaven, about how quickly the years fly by. I asked him what was he thinking of at this moment- what was going through his mind? Without hesitation he replied, "Gloria, my darling Gloria. I should have loved and cared for her a lot more than I did."
25.13 Example of ministry or community service in conflict with priorities.
The three sisters were in the cafeteria having their supper. No one really knew when this event would be over. In my heart I knew my family was waiting for me, but I heard a loud voice from within saying, "WHAT ARE THE SISTERS GOING TO THINK OF YOU IF YOU LEAVE?" I also heard a much gentler voice saying: "Florence and the children are at home waiting for you."
If I did stay, how long would I be here? If I did not leave now, when would I leave? These questions filled me with confusion and a malaise. Clearly there was something wrong. (Sign of Tempter's presence.) There was no peace in my heart. How was I going to sort this out? As I sat by her bedside, I became more confused. The clock was ticking away. I could see Florence and the children sitting at the table, waiting. Something was terribly wrong.
Spiritual, mental or emotional turbulence does not come from the Holy Spirit. I better stop and see what is going on. If I am to make a good decision, I had to follow some white lines on this "dark foggy night." I needed something that would help me see things clearly. Mentally, I reviewed my priority list:
Priority number one- Jesus, being one with Him. This confusion, disorder, bewilderment and lack of Peace were sure signs that I was not one with our dear Lord.
Priority number two- my health, mental, emotional and physical. I spent two days giving pastoral care to a 300-bed hospital, all departments (emergency, coronary care, intensive care and general care). If you have done this type of work, you know how draining it can be. To stay on, longer than my shift, for an unknown length of time would be in conflict with my second priority, my health.
Priority number three- Florence. Florence was alone all week (I was at work), and now all weekend (my ministry at the hospital). Sunday dinner and Sunday evening was an important time for our togetherness. Staying at the hospital was going to be in conflict with my third priority- Florence.
Priority number four- the children. The children were without a father all week and all weekend. Sunday dinner together was an important family event. Staying at the hospital was going to be in conflict with my fourth priority- the children.
Priority number five- my job. I had to be at work Monday morning and needed a good night's sleep. Staying at the hospital waiting for this person to die, was going to be in conflict with my fifth priority- my job.
Priority number six- community service. This event was turning a good thing into a bad thing. My shift was over at 5:00 p.m. The hospital staff would take over. If I stayed, there would be confusion about who was responsible for what.
I then saw what was happening. In my mind, going home for Sunday dinner meant abandoning the three sisters. If I did that, what would they think of ME? Their dying mother became my Project. The mask was coming off. I wasn't really worried about their mother, my family or my work. I was more concerned with what these persons were going to think of ME if I left. Clearly this was not in harmony with the priorities of the Kingdom.
I saw that staying would be in conflict with these priorities, Kingdom priorities. I saw that my reason for staying was false pride. It was then that I realized that the prompts that were pushing me to stay were not from the Holy Spirit. If I followed such prompts, something good (ministry and community service) was going to be something bad. There would be a negative impact on my health, my family, my work and my ministry.
Since the reason for staying was not valid and the reasons for leaving were, that was the answer- leave. Staying was causing all kinds of anxiety and confusion. Leaving was going to put everything in order again. This left me with a feeling of peace and well being. This was the sign (Peace. God's Presence.) that gave me the assurance I needed. I knew what decision to make.
Throughout the day, the sisters and I prayed together. Full of faith and confidence, we placed their loving mother in Christ's dependable arms. If we were sincere (and we were), He was looking after things as indeed He always does. We did all we could do. I gave the mother and the three sisters all the love and care I could while we were together. It would not have been fair to stay glued to them. It would have been very inconsiderate not to give them the privacy they needed to live this unique and intimate experience as a family. This was a time for a special sharing with one another. This was a time for them to love their dying mother in a very special way. Besides, the hospital staff managed to do quite well before I came on the scene, "Thank You!"
My family had spent the weekend without me. It wasn't fair to leave them alone for Sunday dinner and that special time of togetherness we always have on Sunday evenings. I was in peace. Order had returned. Everything was clear again. All of this took about five minutes, so you can imagine the intensity of the turbulence within.
At the nursing station, I left a note for the three sisters. I told them I had to leave. I told them the hospital staff was very compassionate and that together as sisters they could cope with this event. Then, in peace, I went home for Sunday dinner with my family. We had a wonderful evening.
[I nearly did to my family in ministry what the corporate executive did to his family in employment.]
Three weeks later the hospital received a letter from the sisters. It was a letter of appreciation. They thanked me for what I had done for them that weekend. They said their mother passed away at 11:30 p.m. Sunday night and that her death was quiet and peaceful.
The prompting discerned and the decisions made, kept all Kingdom priorities in order. In collaboration with the Holy Spirit, anxiety dissolved into peace. Separation surrendered to togetherness. Confusion and disorder submitted to order. False pride bowed to true pride. Kingdom priorities and values were kept intact by the power of the Holy Spirit in union with my will. Rather than contributing to its destruction, I helped our dear Lord make creation anew. I held the Ruler and the Devourer at bay. They were not able to claim the throne in the Kingdom of God, either for the Kingdom of Man or for the Kingdom of Satan.
The sisters and their mother experienced, together and alone, this very special time in their lives. The hospital staff would now do their thing, which they did very well long before I arrived on the scene. Everyone, mother, sisters, hospital staff, Florence, the children and I, were where we were supposed to be. With God's help, I discerned wisely.
What sign identified the presence of the Enemy who caused all this? The Tempter's hallmark, his infamous question and the inner disturbance that followed. That voice from within that has its roots in false pride and vanity, "What are they going to think of you if you leave?" This discernment was in a hospital, a community service setting. Use the process in any situation where you find yourself in similar difficulties.
Your Highness, when a prompt puts you down, discredits you or has any kind of negative impact of your worth, it does not come from the Holy Spirit. Exile such prompts from your Kingdom.
25.14 Discernment when family service in conflict.
A cousin living in a far away city had died. My aunt telephoned and asked me to come and be with her, and to be sure I brought my deacon suit (my alb). She loved me as much as she did her own deceased son and was depending on me to be with her in her grief.
After her call, I shared the news with Florence. She reminded me that if we went we would miss our son Marc's high school graduation. As president of the Student Council, he was going to give the closing address. See how naturally she reigns as Monarch? Her priorities are always in order. These two events were clearly in conflict, and following my priority table, Marc's graduation came first (family before community).
Marc overheard our conversation. The three of us (Florence, Marc and I) discussed the situation together. Then Marc came up with this suggestion.
"Dad," he said, "you and mother are one in marriage, wherever you are she is and wherever she is you are. If mother comes to the graduation, you will be there as well, and if you go to the funeral, she will be there also."
With a quick glance, Florence and I shared our astonishment. We agreed with his proposal. I would go to the funeral and Florence would go to the graduation.
After the funeral, very exhausted, I returned home. It was five o'clock in the afternoon, Marc and Florence were waiting for me. We went to the recreation room to discuss the events of the last few days. I opened a cold beer and the three of us sat and we began sharing together. I then turned on the television when, lo and behold, on the community channel the High School graduation ceremonies (which I had missed) were just beginning.
So, Florence, Marc and I, in the comfort of our home, watched the graduation ceremonies and saw and heard Marc give his valedictory address. The three of us were present for Marc's graduation after all. We thanked our dear Lord for having blessed us with this opportunity to be together. We thanked Him for allowing us to share in this important event in our son's life. We saw it as His gift to us for having shared our lives with those who needed us in their time of grief. When priorities are in conflict or have you confused, never hesitate to get advice or help from another.
25.15 Example of conflict between children and spouse.
Often, I meet families where the husband would give all his love to the child, but was completely indifferent to the heart of his beloved, the Heart who lovingly said, "yes" to him in marriage. After all, it was this yes that made it possible to have this child in his life. The spouse who feels this indifference to her existence, suffers a very bitter heartbreak. It's no wonder that she does not want to have any more children.
A person must not give all his love and attention to a child at the expense of his or her spouse. This is not only breaking her heart, but is depriving her of the love she needs from him as her friend and sweetheart. The child at the center of all this is receiving a distorted love from one parent and little or no love from the other parent. The child (once welcomed by both parents as a gift from Heaven) is now an instrument for division. This is not a Spirit inspired event. When this happens, the child no longer receives real parental love- the love of two hearts in deep amorous communion, living in wonder and awe with THEIR child, the fruit of their love. No parent should ever love his or her children more than the spouse who was responsible with him (or her) for bringing them into the family. We must never be in situations where we love the gift more than the giver. As our love for the giver increases, so will our love for the gift.
25.16 When priorities seem to collide, get help.
When I next met my spiritual director, I told him about the three telephone calls and asked him what I should do. Their persistence made me wonder if this was a Kingdom event or not.
"Why do you hesitate to accept their offer?" he asked.
"I do not want anything to interfere with my studies for the permanent diaconate," I replied.
"Why not ask them if they will allow you to continue your studies while in their employ?" he asked.
"They'll never agree to that," I replied. "This is a Ministry with the provincial government. I can't see them agreeing to let me attend theology classes during work hours."
"Why not ask them?" he said.
I telephoned the person who made the earlier calls and told him that I was studying for the permanent diaconate. My classes were during the week and that was the reason I could not accept his offer. I told him how important this program was for me, and that I was not going to let anything jeopardize my commitment to its successful completion.
To my great surprise, he replied, "That's no problem, Raymond. As long as your hours for classes are reasonable, you'll be free to complete your studies. We would be proud to have a permanent deacon as a member of our staff. It will also be an honor for our Ottawa branch." I was flabbergasted! Never, never say, "No" for another.
We agreed on a date for the formal interview. Shortly after that, I was a senior advisor in municipal administration for the provincial government. While with the Province, I had some of my most satisfying career challenges, helping many municipal officials get through some difficult periods in their own careers. With the help of my spiritual director (everyone should have one) doubts gave way to certainty. With the right information, we made a good decision. If you do not have a spiritual director, seek advice from someone you trust and respect, someone you feel safe with.
25.17 Why there must be priorities.
-increase your love for and bring your heart closer to Jesus,
is the prompt worthy of being discerned and tested further. As Monarch in the Kingdom of God, these are your natural, primary priorities and responsibilities.
25.18 Doubt.
25.19 Anxiety.
Our King tells us, "Peace I bequeath to you, my own peace I give you, a peace the world cannot give, this is my gift to you." (18) Prompts that generate anxiety are from the Evil one and prompts from the Evil one:
-Bring a disturbing presence.
How many problems of doubt and anxiety did I create for myself by worrying about things I couldn't even see, or things I didn't even know?
When Pharaoh set out to kill Moses and the Hebrews, the Sea of Reeds was not open and waiting for them before they got there. "There's a time and there's a place for everything." (19)
Our King tells us, "not to worry about your life and what you are to eat, nor about your body and how you are to clothe it. Surely life means more than food, and the body more than clothing! Look at the birds in the sky. They do not sow or reap or gather into barns; yet your heavenly Father feeds them. Are you not worth much more than they are? Can any of you, for all his worrying, add one single cubit to his span of life? And why worry about clothing? Think of the flowers growing in the fields; they never have to work or spin; yet I assure you that not even Solomon in all his regalia was robed like one of these. Now if that is how God clothes the grass in the field which is here today and thrown into the furnace tomorrow, will he not much more look after you, men of little faith? So do not worry; do not say, 'What are we to eat? What are we to drink? How are we to be clothed?' It is the pagans who set their Heart on all these things. Your heavenly Father knows you need them all. Set your Hearts on his Kingdom first, and on his righteousness, and all these other things will be given to you as well. So do not worry about tomorrow: tomorrow will take care of itself. Each day has enough trouble of its own." (20)
25.20 Without Peace we have nothing.
The spirit of this world tries to have us believe that happiness is in having material things. Through its never ending assaults, it tells us that by buying this and by buying that we will find happiness and (by inference) find peace in our lives. These lies bombard us daily. Obviously, we have to work for the money needed to buy this or that. Once we do have this or that and we do not find the peace we were looking for, what do we do? We work for more money to spend on more for these and more for those. And so the slavery continues. All we are doing is working for money to spend on this and to spend on that, things that rust and turn to dust. On and on goes our never-ending search for peace and happiness. Now both spouses have to work to even survive. More money is needed for transportation expenses, for clothing expenses, for personal care expenses, for day care services, for vacations (now for health reasons as much as recreational diversion), for doctors and psychiatrists and so on.
After sacrificing years of togetherness (for the sake of more money), we end up having still less money than before, a lot more junk and no Peace. So, we work even harder with longer hours for the peace and happiness we still yearn for. Then one day, we discover that this search was indeed a useless pursuit, a waste of time, or, we simply gave up. After much trial, tribulation, heartbreak and sorrow, we finally see the truth. After having lost the happiness of years of togetherness with spouse and family, years we cannot reclaim, our eyes are finally opened. Eventually we discover that there never was or will ever be enough money to buy peace and happiness. The losses are all yours: Loss of the opportunity to blossom as God's child. Loss of health. Loss of time with your loved ones. Loss of the opportunity to drink in this wonderful life to the full.
The only persons who profited from these false teachings were the Devourers, persons who were not concerned with your welfare but their own greed at your expense. This is what identifies them as Devourers. They devoured some of the greatest gifts and treasures ever given to you by Heaven– life, health, time, intimacy, growth, development, self-realization, all given to you by heaven to help you, “... love the Lord your God with all your heart, with all your soul, and with all your mind." (Matthew 22:36-39)
Conversely, there are many persons in the Kingdom of God, who live in the deep, secure, healing, satisfying, consoling embrace of Peace. With Peace like this, they have everything- they do not need anything else. Indeed, anything that is not from the Kingdom of God would be a serious threat to their precious gift of Peace, to their celestial happiness.
No matter what their status in this world, a Monarch's first concern is that of being a grateful son or daughter to a loving heavenly Father. With such hearts, a glass of refreshing life-giving water brings more delight than the finest champagne. A slice of bread brings more joy and thanksgiving than the finest twelve-course diner. An orange is a gift from heaven's own orchards. The hand of a loved one is easily chosen over diamonds and rubies. For such persons, the waters of life, happiness and laughter gush from the spring of Peace in their hearts. "Peace I bequeath to you, my own peace I give you, a peace the world cannot give, this is my gift to you." (22)
Stress is the greatest single factor in weakening our body's wonderful immune system. This makes us vulnerable to all kinds of disease, many of which are either crippling or terminal, all of which are certainly painful and disruptive. We do not get stress from Peace, from living in our heavenly Father's Home. Identify all those areas in your life that are stressful, then you will know what parts of your life are not in harmony with God's will, with God's Love. You will know what parts of your life are obstacles to His Peace. Put your hand in His and your trust in Him. Soon your life will turn around dramatically, from darkness to daylight, from pain to jubilation, from despair to audacity and from stress to Peace, sweet, blessed, heavenly Peace.
25.20 The bottom line.
Your Highness, it does not make sense to say we Love Jesus and to cause division in His Kingdom. It does not make sense to love and care for strangers outside the home and neglect to love and care for your darling spouse at home. It does not make sense to love your child, and not love your spouse, for it was her love for you that brought this child into your life. It does not make sense to love and care for children outside the home and not love and care for your own precious, unique children at home. It does not make sense to spend one’s energies in building the church outside the home and abandoning the church inside the home. It does not make sense to have everything, except the peace you need to enjoy life and be truly alive. If you want to avoid breaking our Lord's heart, your heart, your spouse’s heart and your children’s heart(s), get your priorities in order!
Keep your heart focused on these priorities and place your trust in God for the rest. The rewards will be a thousandfold. When you work with your King, helping Him to build His Kingdom, He will not abandon you, He will not abandon your spouse or your children. You will have all His treasures as you reign from His throne, in Peace.
God be with you.
[A source of valuable information that every Catholic home should have, is the "Catechism of the Catholic Church, John Paul II," published by Doubleday, a division of Bantam Doubleday Dell. It is also available on the Internet at: http://www.christusrex.org/www1/CDHN/ccc.htm]
Footnotes.
1 1 John 4:1.
Father I love you. Test
Father,I love You.
Sidebar[Skip]
Book index.
- Article 01. Imprimatur acknowledgements, dedication and introduction.
- Article 02. Opening prayer.
- Article 2.1 The perfect woman, Proverbs 31.
- Article 2.2. Photos the perfect woman, Proverbs 31. Click on name for full photo.
- Article 03. Closing prayer.
- Article 04. Book index.
- Chapter 01 Heartbreaks! Heartbreaks!
- Chapter 02. Are you living with persons or dying with things?*
- Chapter 03. Dialogue is to Love, what Blood is to Life.
- Chapter 04. Creation, Visible Sign of Our Invisible God.
- Chapter 05. Our first parents and what they did.
- Chapter 06. Temptation Can Mesmerize, Poison and Kill.
- Chapter 07. Visible Signs of Sin's Poison.
- Chapter 08. The World You Were Born Into.
- Chapter 09. A Light Comes into Our Darkness.
- Chapter 10. Your Baptism, a Holy Thursday Just for You.
- Chapter 11. Jesus, Your King, Your Royal Confidante.
- Chapter 12. Your Heavenly Father.
- Chapter 13. Holy Spirit, Faithful Friend and Companion.
- Chapter 14. Your Mother Mary, Queen of Heaven and Earth.
- Chapter 15. The Royal Banquet.
- Chapter 16. Royal Banquets, Corn Husks and a Fatted Calf.
- Chapter 17. The Crown Jewels.
- Chapter 18. Your Royal Physician.
- Chapter 19. Your Royal Heritage.
- Chapter 20. Heartbreaks in the Fsmily.
- Chapter 21. Power to Forgive, Treasure of the Kingdom.
- Chapter 22. Heartbroken Lambs.
- Chapter 23. Seeing the Presence of Jesus in Others.
- Chapter 24. Grace as a Condition for Discernment.
- Chapter 25. Discernment.
- Chapter 26. Spirit or Serpent?
- Chapter 27. Community Approval.
- Chapter 28. Love and Responsibility.
- Chapter 29. The Kingdom of God.
- Chapter 30. The Kingdom of Man.
- Chapter 31. The Kingdom of Satan.
- Chapter 32. The Three Kingdoms.
- Chapter 33. Jesus, the Lady and the Pharisees.
- Chapter 34. The Ministry of Marriage. Seven Models.
- Chapter 35. A loving supplication.
Would you like to make a gift to a dear one, of a hard copy of "Marriage in the Kingdoml."? "Marriage in the Kingdom." is $19.95 CDN plus postage ($3.00 in Canada). Complete book order form below.
Countries other than Canada, send me an Email (Book order form.) with your postal code and I will advise you on cost of mailing.
Blessings, Deacon Raymond.
Any questions? Help needed? Contact Deacon Raymond at: deaconraymond@magma.ca
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