I wonder who can be against me?

Just as Peter, James and John wondered what "rising from the dead" meant, in Matthew 9:2-10, I wonder if I'm making the right decisions, if I'm doing the right things as a Christian in my daily life.  Sundays (and on a rare occasion Saturdays) I devote 1 measly hour for my Lord.  What am I doing the 167 or so hours during the rest of the week to show that I heard the word on Sunday, that I received the graces from the Eucharist and the wine?  I'm I doing the right things to get to heaven?  I am curious to know what the return home for Peter, James and John was like...what thoughts about "rising from the dead" were going through their minds.  I know how things that can get blown out of proportion, but I am interesting in knowing if they just trusted Jesus.  I am not a Bible scholar by any means, heck I feel guilty for saying that I only devote a few minutes a day to reading scripture and then it's usually during Lent only.  Maybe this year will be the year that I read the most eye opening and sometimes draw dropping book ever written.  Some stories read like a day time soap opera...and there is so much promise for our future in it, it's a shame that we all don't read it enough...me definitely included in that WE. It would be constant and daily confirmation that good things are in store for us if we listen to God.

I know that I often times disappoint the Lord, heck, probably more times that not.  I know that I make "excuses" for the things I've done, but I have to open up and ask or explain, only to God, what I'm doing it for.  It's not important to have anyone see me do things, God knows why I do them...I do them for God.  Some one told me the other day, when discussing our Lenten observance of not eating meat on Friday, that the fact that they ate meat on Friday wasn't going to keep them from getting into heaven.  True, point heard.  It got me to thinking about why I fast on Fridays.  Do I do it to "get into heaven?"  No of course night.  For me it's just another opportunity to "suffer" (a tiny bit) for the Lord.  We've become so spoiled today especially with technology and an abundance of things that give us instant gratification, but it's just s small way to show the Lord that I love Him.

I was thinking today, well not just today but in general while watching the Ellen show about how blessed I am.  People write in to her show, telling their stories, telling her how they are struggling to make ends meet or suffering different things.  I tried to think of what, if anything, I could write into Ellen about.  The only thing that came to mind was the idea that someone I know deserves something special.  Unfortunately most of the people I know deserve things of course but they are equally blessed to have so much.  So again I thank God for all that I have and all that I am. I watched a clip from the Ellen show today about a girl who could hear her children and husband snore for the first time and it was so touching.  Her mother-in-law cashed in her retirement or part of to buy some sort of implant to help her hear.  $30,000 per ear.  Well Ellen got the company to donate it to her and paid her Mom back...here it is.

I'm so grateful to be able to sit outside and type this blog on my laptop computer, sit out on my patio furniture with my dog and listen to loud trucks pass by (that I normally complain about), birds singin, leaves rustling and crickets chirping.  Thank you Lord that I can hear.  Thank you Lord that I am strong enough to think and type and be here in my beautiful home.  Thank you for allowing me to have a job so that I can afford these things and Yes, I pray for an even better one to come along one day that pays more, but for now I'm so grateful that I have so very much.

I am blessed...I am blessed, when I rise up in the morning, when I lay my head to rest. I hear you near me.  You soothe me when I'm weary, oh Lord, for all the worst and all the best - I oh I, I'm blessed.

Amen, Amen and AMEN.

One of the other readings today was "if God is for us then who can be against us?"  IF that can't get you through the day, well then I'm not sure what can...so if you're struggling, just remind yourself of Romans 8:31.   Chris Tomlin says it best -  (saw a video of behind the scenes stuff and his band guy is playing a cajon drum like Carey plays...if only Carey could/would play worship music at church, that would be a great idea.  ;)