Why do we have to lose our blessings -
before we appreciate them?
For example we take God, our freedom, family and friends for granted. We are so busy running in twenty different directions we’re completely unaware of the magnificent gifts God has bestowed on us.
We eat on the run; we're too busy to pray. We postpone calling family and friends. We'll do it tomorrow! But we don’t always have tomorrow.
One second, one minute can change our life. We get sick and can’t pray or take care of ourselves. A friend or family member suddenly dies. The bubble bursts and the economy crashes, our income shrinks and we’re living way above our means.
Look at the radical changes that have taken place in America in the last three years. Employment down, poverty rate up! How many families are living without the basic blessings we take for granted like shelter, electricity and food?
Why not pause right now to Praise and Thank God for your gift of freedom to come and go as you please, eat what you want, when you want it. Praise and thank God for your faith, family and friends, your home and your job, for water and electricity, fresh air, the sun and the moon and the sky.
St. Theresa, the little flower has a prayer that helps me be aware that today maybe the last day I have to praise and thank God for all my blessings. I love this prayer and I hope it helps you as it has helped me.
“My life is but an instant, an hour that passes by; a single day that slips my grasp and quickly slides away. Oh well you know, my dearest God, to love you, I only have today.” (St.Theresa)
Remember today is your only day. Make that call to your family or friend that you've been putting off - Do it now. It only takes a minute and you'll be glad you did.
Pause for a few seconds to praise and thank God for your blessings. Every time you turn on a light or drink a glass of water or spend time with your family say a prayer for all the people who don't have the conveniences or family support that you have. You’ll be surprised when you get to heaven all the people your prayers helped.
I Praise and Thank God for you; God bless, Love Peg
Monday, September 20, 2010
Friday, April 16, 2010
REMEDY FOR FEAR
Have you ever felt paralyzed with fear?
Remember when the stock market collapsed in Oct. 2007. As I watched the news I was overwhelmed with fear. It was over powering. I had not felt that kind of fear since the first time I heard I had cancer 24 years ago. I couldn’t shake the fear. I couldn’t sleep, I tossed and turned and tried to convince myself that everything was going to be alright. I had nothing to fear. But I was paralyzed with fear.
When I finally accepted the fact that I wasn’t going to sleep I got up, turned on the light and pulled a book from my bookcase. I opened it at random. I stared for a moment at the page. The heading on the top of the page in big bold print read: Remedy for Fear: When you feel frightened make a list of all your blessings and your fear will disappear.
I don’t even know what book I grabbed I just grabbed it, opened it and it fell open to the page about fear. I took out paper and pen. I began writing all my blessings. The next thing I knew my head was bobbing back and forth, the book, paper and pen were on the floor. I had slept an hour on the chair. I got out of the chair, slid back into my bed and slept like a baby. I haven’t experienced that fear since.
Today I’m on another adventure that could be frightening. I’ve been cancer free for six months. But suspicious looking lymph nodes showed up in my last cat scan. Today the doctor will put a needle into the suspicious lymph nodes and draw out enough cells to get a biopsy to see if the bladder cancer has spread. Scary…but I’m not scared. Thanks to God leading me that October night to the Remedy For Fear and the way to PEACE. I just finished making a list of all my blessings and I know that God is holding me in the palm of His hand and I have nothing to fear.
This day is God’s special gift to you. Enjoy it……God loves you. He holds you close to His heart as He leads you into today’s life adventures. Look for his little miracles, they are all around you. If you’re feeling down or worried about something praise and thank God for soaking you in His Peace and make a list of all your blessings.
God does love you and He will show you the way today.
Have you ever felt paralyzed with fear?
Remember when the stock market collapsed in Oct. 2007. As I watched the news I was overwhelmed with fear. It was over powering. I had not felt that kind of fear since the first time I heard I had cancer 24 years ago. I couldn’t shake the fear. I couldn’t sleep, I tossed and turned and tried to convince myself that everything was going to be alright. I had nothing to fear. But I was paralyzed with fear.
When I finally accepted the fact that I wasn’t going to sleep I got up, turned on the light and pulled a book from my bookcase. I opened it at random. I stared for a moment at the page. The heading on the top of the page in big bold print read: Remedy for Fear: When you feel frightened make a list of all your blessings and your fear will disappear.
I don’t even know what book I grabbed I just grabbed it, opened it and it fell open to the page about fear. I took out paper and pen. I began writing all my blessings. The next thing I knew my head was bobbing back and forth, the book, paper and pen were on the floor. I had slept an hour on the chair. I got out of the chair, slid back into my bed and slept like a baby. I haven’t experienced that fear since.
Today I’m on another adventure that could be frightening. I’ve been cancer free for six months. But suspicious looking lymph nodes showed up in my last cat scan. Today the doctor will put a needle into the suspicious lymph nodes and draw out enough cells to get a biopsy to see if the bladder cancer has spread. Scary…but I’m not scared. Thanks to God leading me that October night to the Remedy For Fear and the way to PEACE. I just finished making a list of all my blessings and I know that God is holding me in the palm of His hand and I have nothing to fear.
This day is God’s special gift to you. Enjoy it……God loves you. He holds you close to His heart as He leads you into today’s life adventures. Look for his little miracles, they are all around you. If you’re feeling down or worried about something praise and thank God for soaking you in His Peace and make a list of all your blessings.
God does love you and He will show you the way today.
Saturday, July 18, 2009
Relax…..Reflect…Rejoice…and Renew
There is a Danish folk story about a peasant’s dying wish. On his death bed he asked his son to promise him that he would sit alone and reflect every day for 20 minutes. The son honored his Father’s wish and he became the wisest and most respected leader in the village. One of the villagers asked him how he had become so wise. He answered, “Every day, for 20 minutes, I silently reflect on God’s love for me and I rejoice in who I am.”
When was the last time you sat quietly for 20 minutes and reflected on God’s love for you and rejoiced in who you are? Rejoice means to give joy, to feel joy, to take delight. God created you to take delight in Him as He takes delight in you. Rejoice in His glory. Rejoice in His creation. You are His creation. This summer affords you the opportunity to step back, relax, reflect and rejoice in being you.
We live in a “To Do” culture. We feel guilty if we dare take time to relax and just be. We run around like maniacs: Doing! Doing! We schedule “doing” on Sundays, Saturdays and holidays. It’s as if we’re afraid to stop, relax and enjoy just being.
“Silence shows us what we should be:
Society shows us what we are.” (Richard Cecil).
You can take time to relax, reflect, rejoice and renew your spirit in the morning in your bedroom, out on the porch, walking in the neighborhood or on the beach, or in your favorite chair.
Be good to yourself this summer. You deserve to take time to just be you. Take the old Danish peasant’s advice. Rest, Relax and Reflect on who you are, and not what you do. Rejoice in you.
Give your children the gift of learning to rest in God's love. Help them relax, reflect and rejoice in who they are. This gift will help your children navigate through the challenges of life with a calm heart and a joyous spirit.
Promise yourself you will eliminate unnecessary pressures from your life this summer. Relax go off into a quiet corner- take three deep breaths and Reflect on your blessings. Rejoice in your family. Relax with your family; laugh, tell stories, and spend time just loving and appreciating each other. Renew your spirit, and you will have a joyous, wonderful, wise summer.
God’s loves you and your family-enjoy His peace; Love Peg
There is a Danish folk story about a peasant’s dying wish. On his death bed he asked his son to promise him that he would sit alone and reflect every day for 20 minutes. The son honored his Father’s wish and he became the wisest and most respected leader in the village. One of the villagers asked him how he had become so wise. He answered, “Every day, for 20 minutes, I silently reflect on God’s love for me and I rejoice in who I am.”
When was the last time you sat quietly for 20 minutes and reflected on God’s love for you and rejoiced in who you are? Rejoice means to give joy, to feel joy, to take delight. God created you to take delight in Him as He takes delight in you. Rejoice in His glory. Rejoice in His creation. You are His creation. This summer affords you the opportunity to step back, relax, reflect and rejoice in being you.
We live in a “To Do” culture. We feel guilty if we dare take time to relax and just be. We run around like maniacs: Doing! Doing! We schedule “doing” on Sundays, Saturdays and holidays. It’s as if we’re afraid to stop, relax and enjoy just being.
“Silence shows us what we should be:
Society shows us what we are.” (Richard Cecil).
You can take time to relax, reflect, rejoice and renew your spirit in the morning in your bedroom, out on the porch, walking in the neighborhood or on the beach, or in your favorite chair.
Be good to yourself this summer. You deserve to take time to just be you. Take the old Danish peasant’s advice. Rest, Relax and Reflect on who you are, and not what you do. Rejoice in you.
Give your children the gift of learning to rest in God's love. Help them relax, reflect and rejoice in who they are. This gift will help your children navigate through the challenges of life with a calm heart and a joyous spirit.
Promise yourself you will eliminate unnecessary pressures from your life this summer. Relax go off into a quiet corner- take three deep breaths and Reflect on your blessings. Rejoice in your family. Relax with your family; laugh, tell stories, and spend time just loving and appreciating each other. Renew your spirit, and you will have a joyous, wonderful, wise summer.
God’s loves you and your family-enjoy His peace; Love Peg
Monday, June 22, 2009
Happiness is a Choice
In spite of her physical and emotinal challenges my fun loving, well-poised, and proud friend Helen made a choice to be happy. She was fully dressed each morning by nine o'clock, with her hair coiffed and makeup applied even though she was crippled with Arthritis and confined to a wheel chair.
Helen had every reason to be angry, her husband left her. She lost her beautiful home, moved into a petite apartment where there was little room to maneuver her wheelchair. Arthritis had twisted her body from a model like figure into a distorted pretzel shaped invalid. Yet; she radiated joy.
Friends came to cheer her up. But she cheered them up - and left them laughing and singing with a new sense of wonder and joy. She lived the magic of the moment and shared it with all who came to visit her.
One day I asked her how could she possibly be so happy?
"Each day is a gift,” she said. “Every morning when I wake up I praise and thank God for a new day and I make the decision to be happy. I have a choice. I can spend the day in bed thinking about the pain in my joints and the parts of my body that don’t work. Or I can get up, get dressed and praise and thank God for the parts of my body that do work.
I am grateful for my wonderful family and friends. I store the memories of their visits in my heart. When I’m alone and in pain I relive the memories and they bring me joy and healing. "
Although Helen went home to heaven many years ago, I miss her laughter, stories, wisdom and prayers. By choosing to be happy she discovered five secrets to joyful living:
Praise and thank God in all things,
Enjoy the magic of the moment,
Appreciate your gifts,
Choose to forgive and
Encourage others.
Embrace the Five Secrets to Joyful Living and You will be Happy.
Helen had every reason to be angry, her husband left her. She lost her beautiful home, moved into a petite apartment where there was little room to maneuver her wheelchair. Arthritis had twisted her body from a model like figure into a distorted pretzel shaped invalid. Yet; she radiated joy.
Friends came to cheer her up. But she cheered them up - and left them laughing and singing with a new sense of wonder and joy. She lived the magic of the moment and shared it with all who came to visit her.
One day I asked her how could she possibly be so happy?
"Each day is a gift,” she said. “Every morning when I wake up I praise and thank God for a new day and I make the decision to be happy. I have a choice. I can spend the day in bed thinking about the pain in my joints and the parts of my body that don’t work. Or I can get up, get dressed and praise and thank God for the parts of my body that do work.
I am grateful for my wonderful family and friends. I store the memories of their visits in my heart. When I’m alone and in pain I relive the memories and they bring me joy and healing. "
Although Helen went home to heaven many years ago, I miss her laughter, stories, wisdom and prayers. By choosing to be happy she discovered five secrets to joyful living:
Praise and thank God in all things,
Enjoy the magic of the moment,
Appreciate your gifts,
Choose to forgive and
Encourage others.
Embrace the Five Secrets to Joyful Living and You will be Happy.
Friday, March 13, 2009
Dear Readers,
A priest was walking down the street in a rather dangerous part of town. A robber approached him, stuck a gun in his ribs, and told him to hand over his wallet. When the priest opened his coat, the robber was shocked to see that he was a priest. "Forget it Father." The priest thanked him, took out a cigarette and offered the robber one. "Nah, I gave it up for Lent."
How are you doing with your Lenten resolutions? If you've fallen off track or your activities have distracted you from Lent, don't lose heart. Jesus loves you in your weakness; he wants you to give him your weaknesses and failures. He wants that more than anything else.
Jesus appeared to a young nun in the 1920's named Sister Faustina. He told her that what he wanted most from her was her miseries. He told her to give him all her weakness and failures.
The next time you catch yourself beating yourself up for not doing this or that, STOP, give to Jesus whatever it is about yourself that is causing you anxiety or frustration.
Whether it is impatience, tardiness, thoughtlessness, eating too much or breaking your Lenten resolution, give it to Jesus. Praise and thank Him for yourself exactly as you are with all your short-comings, because you are, the you He loves the most.
As Jesus loves and accepts your weaknesses, ask Him to help you love and accept the weaknesses of those people you have a hard time forgiving. Ask him to help you Choose to Forgive.
Until next week enjoy your Lenten Journey into the Heart of Jesus.
(Click for Peggie's free Lenten companion)
A priest was walking down the street in a rather dangerous part of town. A robber approached him, stuck a gun in his ribs, and told him to hand over his wallet. When the priest opened his coat, the robber was shocked to see that he was a priest. "Forget it Father." The priest thanked him, took out a cigarette and offered the robber one. "Nah, I gave it up for Lent."
How are you doing with your Lenten resolutions? If you've fallen off track or your activities have distracted you from Lent, don't lose heart. Jesus loves you in your weakness; he wants you to give him your weaknesses and failures. He wants that more than anything else.
Jesus appeared to a young nun in the 1920's named Sister Faustina. He told her that what he wanted most from her was her miseries. He told her to give him all her weakness and failures.
The next time you catch yourself beating yourself up for not doing this or that, STOP, give to Jesus whatever it is about yourself that is causing you anxiety or frustration.
Whether it is impatience, tardiness, thoughtlessness, eating too much or breaking your Lenten resolution, give it to Jesus. Praise and thank Him for yourself exactly as you are with all your short-comings, because you are, the you He loves the most.
As Jesus loves and accepts your weaknesses, ask Him to help you love and accept the weaknesses of those people you have a hard time forgiving. Ask him to help you Choose to Forgive.
Until next week enjoy your Lenten Journey into the Heart of Jesus.
(Click for Peggie's free Lenten companion)
Sunday, March 1, 2009
Your Lenten Resolutions...
I’ve been thinking about you and wondering how you’re doing with your Lenten resolutions? I don’t know about you, but I usually start Ash Wednesday with good intentions; however, I have so many distractions it’s difficult to stay focused on Lent.
In these uncertain times we need to know that God is with us. No matter how negative things appear God is very near.
To help you stay your Lenten Course we’re emailing you Lenten suggestions one week at a time. Overcoming the power of evil is the theme for the First Sunday of Lent. In the Gospel Jesus is teaching us that the devil is very subtle. The devil wants us to be anxious and angry, fearful and frustrated. Jesus assures us this is “the time of fulfillment, the kingdom of God is at hand.” Now is the time to turn our minds and hearts to God.
This week when you read and reflect on the prayers for week one in your prayer card; Embrace the Moment. Let Jesus soak you in his peace and wash away your fears and frustrations. Let Him soak you in His love and wash away your anxieties and angers. Let him help you Embrace This Moment as His moment of peace and love for you.
In the beginning of Lent I always think about a conversation I had with my Father about Lent. It was in 1955. He asked me what I was going to do for Lent. I said I didn’t know. He suggested I do three things. Abstain from some food or drink that I enjoy and indulge in daily. Spend ten extra minutes a day praying and reflecting on Jesus passion and death and use my time and money to reach out to help another in need.
He ended the conversation with these words. “Every morning when you wake up, ask Jesus to help you do everything this day for his honor and glory. Ask Him to help you be closer and more pleasing to him today then you’ve ever been before. Enter into this Lent as if it is your last Lent on earth.”
I thought that was a strange thing to say. But when my forty-eight year old Father died nine months later from an aggressive lung cancer, I remembered what he said about Lent... Every year when Lent comes around I think about Daddy and his advice to enter into this Lent as if it is your last Lent on this earth.
Until next week God Bless; remember Jesus loves you and He wants to soak you and your family in his peace and love.
Love,
Peg O’Neill
The new week of the Lenten journal is now available. It is a simple easy to do daily exercise to help you find more peace and prosperity this Lent. Please feel free to make use of it and share it with others so they too can benefit from it.
Click here to read more about the journal and find out how to download one for your own use.
Friday, February 27, 2009
I hope you are having a wonderful day in spite of all the bad news. Our Lady told the visionaries to not think about tragedies. "God wants us to live in his peace and joy." Sometimes it's hard to do when you're surrounded with doom and gloom.
We wanted to give you something that would help lift up your spirits and give you HOPE this Lent. It follows the Lenten acronym for the meaning of LENT:
Lent is a wonderful time to slow down and reevaluate our priorities.
We've put together a wonderful Lenten journal with a simple easy to do daily exercise to help you find more peace and prosperity this Lent.
Click here to read more about the journal and find out how to download one for your own use.
We wanted to give you something that would help lift up your spirits and give you HOPE this Lent. It follows the Lenten acronym for the meaning of LENT:
Lent is a wonderful time to slow down and reevaluate our priorities.
We've put together a wonderful Lenten journal with a simple easy to do daily exercise to help you find more peace and prosperity this Lent.
Click here to read more about the journal and find out how to download one for your own use.
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