Secrets of the Vine for Women

     Yet again, God has seen fit to have me pick out and read a book at the perfect time.  This week, the Gospel readings for Mass include sections from John 15 about how the Lord is the vinedresser, Christ is the vine, and we are the branches.  I consider it a God-incident that I picked up Secrets of the Vine for Women which is about Divine Pruning and finished it during this week, not knowing until yesterday morning that the Scripture readings and the topic of this book overlapped.

     I read The Prayer of Jabez by Bruce Wilkinson, Darlene Marie Wilkinson’s husband, when back in college and have fond memories of it, since it’s such an amazing book, was inspiring to me, and the first spiritual book my then boyfriend, now husband read upon my recommendation.  Upon my spouse’s suggestion, we began praying The Prayer of Jabez daily, over the phone when we were dating and miles apart, and now together as we say goodnight just after turning out our bedroom light.

     It’s been a number of years since I read Bruce Wilkinson’s Secrets of the Vine, which also resonated with me.  His wife’s insights into how the Lord cares and prunes us in order that we produce an abundance of fruit for His Kingdom are straightforward and easy to follow.  The pocket-sized book is a quick read complete with study guide questions ideal for personal reflection or small group sharing. 

      I would definitely recommend Secrets of the Vine for Women.  To order your copy, click here.  

      I received this book for free from WaterBrook Multnomah Publishing Group for this review.

When There's Not Just Junk in the Trunk

     Last night I read my husband one of the French Sesame Street books I have from the days I was nannying my two little guys.  I read each paragraph or page first in French, then translated it into English.  Though Kevin learned how to tell me he loves me from the bottom of his heart and ask me to marry him in French many years ago, his general knowledge of the language is still pretty limited.    

     The book I read to him is called Le Cas de Canard Disparu or The Case of the Missing Duck.  In the book, Ernie loses his rubber ducky and calls in a detective to help him find it.  The book’s quite amusing as the detective Loquet Toquet is an airhead, along the lines of a childhood version of the Pink Panther only much less dangerous, who causes more trouble and confusion than resolution. 
     Kevin was as amused by the story as he was my own anecdote of how I found the book, which had actually been missing for months.

Recovering Faith: Stories of Catholics Who Came Home

     I absolutely love the wide variety of circumstances, ministries, and people involved in helping each of the lapsed Catholics  in Recovering Faith: Stories of Catholics Who Came Home back to the Church of their youth.  I’ve always been interested in the stories of reverts and converts because of my husband’s return to the faith after many years of being away from the Sacraments and any form of organized religion.  One clear similarity connects the conversion stories of each of these individuals with those throughout the Bible and history: the power of the Lord through the inspiration and promptings of the Holy Spirit to draw us back to Him, no matter how far or how often we stray from Him.

     These eighteen well-known people have vastly different life experiences, educational backgrounds, career pursuits, and even childhood upbringings in the faith, yet each one of them was led by the Holy Spirit back to the Roman Catholic Church.  Some made their way back slowly when those around them inspired them to take another look at Scripture, grow closer to Christ, and/or revisit the practice of prayer and spending time with the Lord.  Others’ conversion experiences seemed to happen at a very specific time, place, and were significant enough to make them turn their lives completely around.

Precious in God's Sight

     Most of the time it is very easy for me to see how others are truly Precious in God’s Sight.  Quite frequently, there are moments when I am given a glimpse of the overwhelming love God has for the people who cross my path…the elderly man who is bent over his cane, and comes in with a slow shuffle to the first pew at daily Mass, the gentle compassionate woman who accompanies him, a mother staring with awe into the eyes of her newborn child, the unbridled excitement of a student who has mastered a difficult task, a priest whose profound reverence for the True Presence of Our Lord Jesus Christ in the Holy Eucharist edifies all who are at Mass… 

     At such times, I am certain beyond a shadow of a doubt that God loves these people so very much, that they are indeed precious and beloved children of His.  I sense the tenderness, compassion, and love that I know must fill the Lord at the mere thought of one of His children.   

     The much more difficult aspect of this truth that we are all Precious in God’s Sight is believing that I, too, am included among His beloved children.  Though He knows every sin I’ve ever committed, every time and instance when I’ve turned away, I am still Precious in God’s Sight.

The House You're Building

 

     I’ve been playing and singing along with The House You’re Building by Audrey Assad practically non-stop when I've been in the car since our favorite brother in Christ introduced me to the album and artist a couple weeks ago.  For a number of years, I’ve found that I’m deeply moved by music that is well-written, contains a Christian message, and is beautifully performed.  Assad’s first album which debuted last summer fits all three of those qualities which describe most of my favorite music. 

    This singer/songwriter combines contemplative lyrics with magnificent melodies to produce songs that will make you think, sing aloud, and thereby pray twice to the Lord.  Assad’s Pop/Contemporary style and voice are appealing to me because both seem to carry with them a depth reminiscent of

Dogmatics in Outline

    The academic title and the no frills cover disguise what has to be one of the most beautiful explanations of the Apostles’ Creed I’ve ever read.  Through this series of lectures delivered by German professor and theologian Karl Barth in the summer of 1946, the reader is taken into the mysteries discussed in the Apostles’ Creed, or the “Christian Confession,” as Barth refers to it.  

      So often we place limits on God, based on our own limitations and prejudices, on the narrowness of our own minds, and then we get stuck spiritually, unable to break free from the jail cell we’ve created.   Dogmatics in Outline often made me feel as if my mind and soul were expanding as I read it.  The bars of the jail cell I’ve constructed over the years were being bent back or even broken in half.

The Legacy of John David Niermeyer

     I’m still deeply saddened by the news.  When other loved ones have passed away, including my uncle Bob, my dad, Aunt Florence, and Kathy Jordan, the surprise and sorrow have hit me in waves.  Sharing stories and memories about them with other family and friends has helped.  Taking the time to write a thoughtful tribute to them to put on my blog has also become part of the grieving process.

     It has been two months and ten days since the most recent death in our family.  Though I began writing this tribute during the week he died, I haven’t been able to finish it until now.  Each day since I heard the news, I have prayed for the repose of my cousin’s soul and for his deeply grieved family members, who love him so dearly.  I cannot imagine the depth of anguish they’ve been experiencing, but I have and will continue to pray hard and long that they will find strength and comfort in the Lord.  His daughter, parents, siblings, and close family and friends have been heavy on my heart and therefore frequently in my prayers.
     I’ve tried to come up with what to say or write to his family, but there don’t seem to be words adequate to describe the empathy, the heartache that I feel for them going through this tremendous loss.  Often only prayers have seemed appropriate.       
     My cousin John David Niermeyer, age 41, died suddenly and unexpectedly

Nature Fun for Kids: Create the Box, then Think Outside It

     Last week at Nature Club, I taught the kids the how to fold a square piece of paper into a little box. We counted the number of triangles, squares, quadrilaterals, rectangles, and trapezoids there were each time we did another step of the process. Before we opened up our origami boxes, I had them color the edges, pointing out the ones that would show once we done all of the proper folds.
     I was about 11 or 12 when I first learned how to fold this origami box, and it’s the one thing I remember how to fold without looking at instructions. I knew the exercise would be a hit since the boys in Nature Club had often begun folding any leftover pieces of paper to make airplanes, some which were much more aerodynamically sound than others.

Because of You

     Today has been one of those days when I’ve been filled with an incredible sense of God’s Presence. Though it’s been a long, pretty tiring week, I decided after my mom and our dear brother in Christ, John, both said they were going to Saturday Mass and to pray at the clinic that I would get up early this morning, though, it was terribly tempting to sleep in.            
     Before heading to work, my husband asked me if we could help someone he knows who is going through a difficult time. I agreed to his plan of action, but it wasn’t until I was at Mass at St. Benedict’s while Kevin was working his Saturday shift that I was overcome with an even deeper sense of love and gratitude for my husband, who has often been extremely good about living out the Gospel through being compassionate, caring, and taking action when he sees someone in need. We often have different approaches to prayer, faith, and spirituality, but I was given the grace to see how beautiful it is when we unite our gifts in order to glorify the Lord and bring others closer to Him.

The Blessings of Divine Mercy

     Divine Mercy Sunday, which is celebrated the second Sunday of Easter, this year on May 1, has an even richer significance as today also marks the beatification of Pope John Paul II. St. Maria Faustina Kowalska of Poland was canonized by Pope John Paul II, who established the Sunday after Easter as Divine Mercy Sunday.
     St. Faustina received from Jesus the message of Divine Mercy which He asked her to share with the world. In addition to the prayers of The Chaplet of Divine Mercy, St. Faustina was shown an image that she was instructed to have painted of the Blood and Water flowing out from Christ’s side and the words, “Jesus, I trust in You” underneath. The many messages she received from the Lord about His Divine Mercy, His love for us, and desire that sinners turn back to Him are included in The Diary of St. Maria Faustina Kowalska: Divine Mercy in my Soul.
     The Chaplet of Divine Mercy is a very powerful prayer said on ordinary Rosary beads. The first and second times I ever heard this prayer sung were incredibly moving prayer sessions you can read about here.
     Back in October of 2008 when I served on my first Cursillo team, I explained The Divine Mercy message and we sang the prayer on the weekend. In August of last year, I served on a Christ Renews His Parish Women’s retreat team and again had the privilege of introducing to the team and candidates The Divine Mercy Chaplet through song.
     One time when I met with a friend from VCU and her roommate to pray at the 40 Days for Life vigil this Spring, I suggested that we sing The Chaplet of Divine Mercy. Only one of the women had ever heard it sung before, but they both agreed to try it if I’d lead. Standing on the corner singing the Chaplet with two strong women of faith was a very powerful experience. Interestingly enough, this friend has a well-worn copy of The Diary of St. Maria Faustina Kowalska: Divine Mercy in my Soul which she refers to daily.
     Last year, our dear brother in Christ’s birthday happened to fall on Divine Mercy Sunday. In order to celebrate his birthday and the feast, he had a Divine Mercy party. Family and friends were invited to meet at his parents’ house to pray the Chaplet of Divine Mercy together. It was a very special occasion and a great way to promote this devotion among loved ones.
     To observe Divine Mercy Sunday today, I met up our brother John and one of the high school students he’s sponsoring for Confirmation, and we sang the Chaplet of Divine Mercy in the Blessed Sacrament Chapel at our parish, then we prayed the Stations of the Cross together.
     I am grateful for the Lord's Divine Mercy, for the many women and men in my life who have shown me the love and mercy of God. Thank you for being vessels for the Lord!