How to overcome satan

My morning meditations of late have been focusing on death and sin, Heaven and Hell.  Today's was on "How to Overcome satan".  I really thought these were good points to remember, so here is a synopsis on the ways to combat the devil:

If satan is a deceitful spirit, you must walk in truthfulness.

If he is the father of arrogance, you must walk in humility.

If he is the assassin of your neighbor, you must be charitable with all.

If he goes around furious and desperate, you must strive to serve God in peace, confidence and filial love.

If he cannot know or love God, you must strive to know and love God with all your being.

The remedy of remedies to overcome satan:

To love God with all your heart!

Wordless Wednesday

Family Fun

I was in the car the other day with one of my daughters and we heard this song again



and I couldn't help thinking how much fun it will be when the first young man comes over for that "introduction".  HMMM, which gun should we be cleaning then????

The Empty Pew Syndrome

Today before Mass began I was thinking back to when we would be at church and wonder why we were there:  the pew would be full of fussing, moving, sometimes downright obnoxious little ones and I would leave trying to remember if I had even heard any of it.

Well, all those little ones are growing up now.  Today we had the empty pew syndrome.  Ms 18 yo is at school, Ms 15 yo was singing with the choir, Mr 10 yo was serving and somehow my husband became a last minute usher.  That left me and four of the children. It feels kind of weird when the number in your pew starts to shrink.  It's also kind of funny, too, because a lot of times no one will sit with us because they are expecting the rest of the pew to be filled up.


So I was thinking that maybe the empty pew syndrome is a preparation for the empty nest syndrome. God gives us these little moments so that when the big ones happen, we are a bit more prepared to deal with them!

Wordless Wednesday

And He departed to the other side...

Before leaving for Mass yesterday, my heart was feeling rather heavy and I said to my husband, "I would love to just jump on a plane (the "by myself" was implied) and go to Arizona (to visit my parents who are there right now), but I know that is just trying to escape."

Then we went to Mass and heard the following Gospel reading:

Mark 8: 11 – 13
11 The Pharisees came and began to argue with him, seeking from him a sign from heaven, to test him. 12 And he sighed deeply in his spirit, and said, “Why does this generation seek a sign? Truly, I say to you, no sign shall be given to this generation.” 13 And he left them, and getting into the boat again he departed to the other side.

Ha!  Jesus got in a boat and went away from all that was causing Him to sigh heavily.  Was he escaping His problems or just trying to put a little bit of distance between Himself and the things that were lying heavy upon His heart? Maybe there is something to be said for hopping on a plane for a little time away?

So I reread the Gospel and made it my own (of course, no disrespect intended :)

"The children and others came and began to argue with me, seeking many things from me, to test me.  And I sighed deeply in my spirit for I was weary from the lack of sunshine and long winter and said, "Why do you ask so many things of me? Truly I cannot give you what you seek right now for I am weary." And I left them, and getting on a plane, departed for Arizona."

Addendum to the above..."But first I had to find the necessary funds to afford the  plane ticket!" 

Happy St. Valentine's Day!