In many ways the last couple of months have been very hard for me personally but the cross is never too far away from the Christian. Like Abraham, God has tested me with regard to my family and I only got true peace when I surrendered my fears, anxieties and united my will to His will. God never forces us to do anything - He always invites but like any good father he challenges us too to be the best version of ourselves. Surrender brings peace and joy but giving up your will is never easy. I just wanted to say before the WCOTW that you are all on this forum a wonderful group of people. Some of you have inspired me; some have challenged me; some have frustrated me but I have learnt something from everyone on the forum and so I wanted to thank you all from the bottom of my heart. Each person on this forum is unique and I see clearly that each has a particular charism. So use your talents wisely, pray before you post and always seek first the Kingdom of God. It is not what we will but what God wills. If I have ever offended anyone by sharp words or caustic statements I apologise because it is all too easy to on the internet to lose the run of yourself. We are in this together. We are about to enter the greatest storm the world has ever seen & I suspect that this time next year we will have been plunged into the depths of tribulations. Whilst we have a short time of grace left, let us use it wisely to build one another up, to support one another in growing in sanctity and holiness. Every day is a gift. Every day of relative peace in our lives and our homes is a gift from God. The world should already have been purified by the Justice of God but He has wonderfully extended his Time of Mercy. But I sensed this morning that the patience of God has been tested and soon His sovereign Arm will move with tremendous force. And when the Father acts it will be decisive and momentous. In the eyes of Padre Pio we see love purified through pain and suffering. The suffering that we will all have to go through is not the end but a purification. I am so conscious that I have contributed to making the world what it is today by not always faithfully living out my baptismal vows. Sinful secular society exists because we Christians have not been the salt and the light. So purification will come to the good and the bad. Any suffering we endure we can offer up as penance for our sins of omission and for the salvation of our families. Let us not waste anything in this life because there is only one real thing that matters the salvation of souls. Souls are being lost at an unprecedented rate but may will be saved as a result of the purification who might otherwise have gone to Hell. In heaven there will be a Mother of God corner where we can all meet for a pint. Mine's a Guinness by the way and Padraig the first drink is on you. Let us endure together and let us become saints together. The challenge is to become the saints that God intended us to be from before the creation of the world. Today I will offer my Rosary for all the intentions of the members of the Mother of God Forum.
Great Post Garabandal, the truth if that you are wonderful. Also, I call all my good friends and I know that many are members of this Forum, to Pray for Padraig, the owner of this house, to be next to him as with him, leading a forum with more than 1 thousand members, it's also a big Cross, as I suggest to him privately, the victory of the devil will be to close IT, we, its guests, must not allow this to happen, this will be our Victory. Aviso
Garabandal thank you so much for your kind words and sentiments. I say here, here. and ditto. God Bless us all and our families.
If Ya don't mind .... Hey Padraig!! ... make sure your heavenly MOG Bar-n-Grill stocks Kentucky/Tennessee Corn Squeezins ... Will Ya!!? One evening at RAF Mildenhall I drank too much Guinness and the next morn I felt like I'd been drinking old crankcase oil!! Oh! ... and the Menu ... something besides Irish-n-English chow!! I'm sure looking forward to that Gathering with the Gang GOD SAVE ALL HERE!!
Thank you G for this beautiful post and your prayers. Will lift you up in prayer as well asking The Lord to use your crosses for the salvation of souls. I recall hearing recently in a homily that it is when we are at our weakest point, that we are closest to God. He uses our weakness to his greater glory. Looking forward to our little corner and maybe we get to hear good old SatchMo serenading us on the way in
Every time I read the title of this thread I laugh and say to myself, "I don't think I'm wonderful, but...I am FULL of WONDER!!!"
“My grace is sufficient for you, for power is made perfect in weakness.” I will rather boast most gladly of my weaknesses, in order that the power of Christ may dwell with me. - 2 Corinthians 12:9 Peace
