Poems and Reflections

Living Stones

We will never be alone, we are living stones
We are made as one, yet, we are all unique
Weathered down, above and below ground
Masterfully created; rubble of the Kingdom

Though, on the surface, we are tarnished
Though, scarred and chipped away by sin
Living stones, exposed, beaten and broken
Unveil the hidden treasure entombed within

There, all the secrets of time are revealed
The tarnish is lifted; the uniqueness shines
Light of the Son, grace, reflected on them
Living stones, mosaic of life; crafted Divine

Living stones; a fortress of the Holy Church
Created by Wisdom, for this moment in time
Bonded together by faith; protection of life
The Father's own - we are "Living Stones"

'Soul’s Voice' is a collection of 133 Poems with corresponding abstract paintings that reflect the Soul’s eyes and what its ears hear. The provoke thoughts and the corresponding abstract paintings induce meditation on man’s behaviour, his attitude and reactions to his environment. It raises some questions on the purpose of our being here, the consequences of our actions and inaction. In addition, it reflects on what rewards we expect from our activities here on earth. The Poems recognize the authority of God over man and meditate on actions God expects of man while here on earth. The Soul’s Voice raises many other issues and evokes inner feelings that should generate reactions which will lead to decision making and conversion. Soul's Voice is written by Charles Chilaka. The book is available at www.amazon.com and www.kindle.com You will love to read it

Love the little ones! Thanks Kelly. They grow up so fast; enjoy the moment, you will miss them when they are grown and gone. But, you will cherish, and be so proud of the young adults they become. Peace, Anthony

This may be a reflection for some or a memory ?..experience..or they are going through it now...God bless us all !!!

TRUE STORY UNFORTUNATELY...lol
Went to church and it got interesting due to children.....Attended my beautiful Episcopal church today with all 3..♥.....This nice lady saw the immediate struggle I was having keeping my children quiet....This wonderful good samaritian saw a chance to help , so she brought crayons/coloring books to me for the children......Bad thing was that the crayons were in plastic baggies......quiet times in the church became not so quiet with all the sound effects those plastic baggies produced at the hands of my children....Then as Father was making his way down the aisle with the choir and the deacon, J.T (4) decides to throw his big green angry bird across the pew in which is followed by the game sound that my son replicates for everyone..praise God service continued as usual....then my daughter that is 8 decided to talk put loud to compliment her newly finish colored masterpiece..then I gave her the evil eye...moms you know the one...the one only we can do in times of distress, where our eye bulges out and becomes non symmetrical with the other one..well she dunked and the nice old lady across from me got a little view of it too...then my son decides to sing out loud after Hosanna In The Highest has been beautifully sang by the choir...then I go up to receive the Holy Communion/Eucharist .....as I am away I hear a scream all the way from the alter....I know that scream, but I am telling myself this is my imagination and my ears are deceiving me.... and doing a little praying and asking God do not make me have to go back to a Catholic Priest for confession for what I may do to that boy when I finally get him to the car...But the boy is untouched,my last nerve has replenished itself nicely and all children are out of harms way from their temporarily disgruntled mother ...needless to say....we had a beautiful and enlightening conversation together on the way home...and moms out there you know that conversation....all is good on the home front and my sanity has replenished itself as well....again, praise God ♥

Reflection/Homily: 5th Sunday in Ordinary Time Year C: Theme: Here I am Lord, Send Me

The word “mission” is derived from the Latin verb “missio” meaning to send. That is why I can define a missionary as a person sent by God to a people and a place to do the will of God among the people and make the place a better place. This missionary could be sent as a priest, a prophet, a teacher, a healer or even as a businessman, medical doctor, labourer, etc.

In the first reading of last Sunday, we see God sending Jeremiah on mission as a prophet to the Israelites. In today’s first reading (Isaiah 16:1-8) we also see God calling Isaiah for a mission as a prophet to the Israelites. In the second reading (1 Cor. 15:1-11), St Paul discusses the mission he received from Christ as an Apostle to the nations. In the Gospel reading (Luke 5:1-11), we see Christ calling Peter and his companions for their mission as fishers of men.

It is pertinent to note that for mission to take place, there must be an encounter between the sender and the sent. This encounter is not just a physical encounter but a meeting with the Divine which leads to transformation and empowerment. In the first reading Isaiah had this encounter with the Divine in a trance and his sins were forgiven. In the second reading, Paul’s encounter with the Divine took place on his way to Damascus and in the Gospel reading, Peter and his companions encountered Christ by the lake of Gennesaret.

Whenever there is this encounter with the Divine, there is always a feeling of unworthiness on the side of the mortal. Moses experienced this unworthiness at the burning bush. Isaiah experienced this unworthiness and considered himself doomed and lost for encountering the Divine. Paul experienced this unworthiness and considered himself unfit to be called an Apostle. Peter’s feeling of unworthiness even led him to ask Jesus to leave him. But why this feeling of unworthiness? This is because every encounter with the Divine manifests the inexhaustible grace of our magnanimous God which leads to a total transformation and empowers man with the vision for his mission.

With this vision, man sees the dignity of his mission on earth and becomes aware of the transformation that has taken place in him. This awareness makes him feel humbled by God’s grace and the individual can only confess his unworthiness for such favour. At this moment, the individual is energized by God’s grace to do whatever God requires of him. Then we can say that mission has taken place and the individual begins to do his work as he has been sent.

continue here: http://www.uwakwereflections.com/201...-ordinary.html

and to you as well tonyg..hello Don ..prayers and blessings to ALL !!!

Lord I love thee !
Thou shineth bright !
Light within darkness,
light that is pure.
Surrounded by angels,
adored by all sanctified,
glorious art thou name!
Lord I love thee !

No poetry. Tonight, I wish you all and your families peace. PEACE!

I Am Your Peace

There is a land flowing with milk and honey; a place prepared for you
My covenant established with your fathers; words of honor and truth
Cursed are they that do not hear my voice: scores of broken children
Wisdom and truth will direct your steps; I am "Love" - I am your "God"

The shepherds have become brutish; have not prospered; gone astray
Their flocks are scattered; the covenant broken; many lost their way
The wounds are grievous; cause much grief; the pain is hard to bear
I shall light the way for the faithful shepherds; wipe away your tears

There is a land flowing with milk and honey; a place prepared for you
Soon, I will lead you from distress; then, you will graze the land anew
The scattered shall find their way back home; healing within families
I am "Love" - I am "God" - I am the good "Shepherd" - I am your "Peace"

Don love your reflection and God bless you !!

Good afternoon, all,

Hi, tonyg,
Love your poetry, it's true and beautiful.

Hi, Kelly,
Welcome home, and glad you're back. I thank God that you had good religious counsel.

You might check with different women's religious orders ... there could be some that have missions to addicts as well as to poor, homeless, etc. If you can't find a woman's religious order that ministers to addicts as well as to poor, homeless, etc, then you might pray on starting one. Talk it over with your religious counselor.

Reflection:

That day that He died on the cross, Christ bought our way in to Heaven with His blood. All we need to do is find the ticket, by following Him.

God loves all of you and yours, lurkers, too,
Don