-       A mother with no home looking for shelter

-       A father searching for work against tremendous odds

-       A small child standing up to the school bully.

Yes, courage and bravery are alive and well in America.

Open the door to the loving spirit of self.

See the divine spark that dwells within.

Whether it flickers

Or brightly glows.

It is there.  You are alive!

You are God’s beautiful creation.

Forever.

Today, tomorrow and all year through

find that divine spark

In all who cross your path.

Love makes the spark grow until, together

We light up the whole world!

Be of courage, Americans.

Faith and hope are not ideals of the past.  They are vital in your world today!

Change is not to be dreaded or feared.  Embrace it, and watch your prosperity soar.

Look to the lessons of history to plot a course for the future.

An environment may change; human nature does not.

Look to the stars for inspiration,

Look to the seas for food,

Look into each other’s eyes to connect to another’s soul.

Bravery and courage are not just words to describe soldiers.

- A mother with no home looking for shelter

- A father searching for work against tremendous odds

- A small child who stands up to the school bully

Yes, courage and bravery are alive and well in America.

Treat others as you would like to be treated.

Be fair.  Be honest.  Be compassionate.

Care for those who have not.

Love those who have.

Pray; support those who lead you.  If you disagree, be it a well thought-out dissent.  Not one based on pure ideological rhetoric.  This discourse only leads to more division and stroking of egos.

Let your one overriding thought be for the good of mankind—advancing the welfare of everyone.

Put self aside.  Honor each other.

God has greatly blessed America.

]]> http://joannamcatee.com/blog/index.php/archives/30/feed/ http://joannamcatee.com/blog/index.php/archives/29 http://joannamcatee.com/blog/index.php/archives/29#comments Wed, 05 Oct 2011 14:58:14 +0000 joanna Uncategorized http://joannamcatee.com/blog/index.php/archives/29 Words of encouragement from Jesus are but a thought away:

All the help you need is here if you but ask for it.

Tell the world.  It will affect generations to come.

 Part of believing means trust.  If I appeared to great crowds of people in the flesh, would they believe?  Maybe yes, maybe no.  Some would find plausible earthly explanations, like special movie effects or a scientific anomaly, or just plain smoke and mirrors.  Trust and faith go hand in hand.  One doesn’t mean anything without the other. 

A deep appreciation exists where faith and trust abide.  It also helps a person see the divine in himself. 

Is it not true?  When you start seeing spirits, angels, me—you start seeing God in yourselves.  Look around you.  Miracles, they’re also called.  They happen every day if you but recognize them.  Open your eyes.  Let the blinders fall by the way side.  Embrace the entirety of God’s creation—seen and unseen. 

The more you are unafraid and open, the more the unseen becomes seen.  What do you fear?  Ridicule?  Been there, done that. 

Being ostracized, hated, laughed at?  So what? 

The barbs and arrows only hurt if you allow them to.  Only if you believe them!  So, do not buy what they are selling! 

Go your own way.  Do what you know to be right and true in your own house for your family and for the world. 

Love and kindness will win the day. 

Peace be with you.

I am here now and always, my friend. 

Fear creates want and lack. 

Fearless creates abundance and a bounty. 

Remember the loaves and fishes?  The more you share, the more there is to share. 

Crazy, but true. 

Selfishness is prevalent in your world.  Seasons of time exist in your world, as do seasons in nature. 

Events create change. 

What’s happening in America isn’t good or bad, it’s change—to move you all toward unity—toward love—toward compassion for each other. 

Life can take you many places.  Some you want to go to, or think you want to go to.  Some, not so much.  Be open to where God leads.

Blessings beyond comprehension abound.  Go where he leads.  In the world, or in the town where you live.  Listen to your heart.  If it tugs in a certain direction, follow.  It’s that simple.  Don’t overthink or justify why or why not.

The spirit and the body are two equal parts of the whole.  Yet the body many times wins out the battle of flesh and ego. 

The rewards of spirit are undeniable.  They are forever a part of your soul.  Following needs and wants of the flesh last but for a moment.

Look around at all the need.  Feed souls and bodies if you can.  If not, simply feed souls.  The strength of our Lord gives the body courage and confidence to care and provide for himself.  The spirit can do amazing feats with the help of God.

Be open, be forgiving, be love!

Open your eyes to God’s blessings all around you.  You are here by divine destiny to share God’s love every day.

Hard work does not equal success in life.  Success is unique to each and every person.  Do not use anyone else’s yardstick.  Use your own!  It’s the only one that will measure accurately.  Truly.

Live your own life the way you want to live it.  It is yours.  No one else’s.

Let the children lead their own lives.  Guide/lead them—lend them your wisdom…but let them do their own thing!  They will find success in this manner of upbringing.

Encourage their special talents.  Love them most of all.  Feelings of love can overcome other obstacles that may come their way.  It brings confidence, competency, and not being afraid to try—even with the possibility of failure.
Much love and joy to you and yours in the new year,

Joanna

Looking back on our two years in Italy, the place that is imprinted on my heart forever is Assisi, home of St. Francis.   

Chanel, our standard poodle, got to go on one of the pilgrimages to Assisi.  She, of course, had to stay in the car while the rest of the family trekked up the hill to the cathedral.

As I was sitting in quiet meditation near the tomb of St. Francis, I was thinking how much I would have liked Chanel to be blessed by St. Francis.  He said, “ I’ll go to her.  I’m giving her a gift today.”

As we headed down the hillside leaving Assisi later that day, we jokingly said we hoped the gift was for Chanel to stop barking so much!

Over the next few months, from time to time we would think about the gift, but nothing noticeable changed.

In May, we said arrivederci to Italy and arrived in Alexandria, Va., with Chanel in tow, for our new life. 

About two weeks ago, exactly one year after that trip to Assisi, (almost to the very day), Megan was out walking our girl (on a leash), when the unthinkable happens.  Chanel gets hit by a car. 

By all accounts, our girl should not have survived, but survive she did.  No internal injuries, no head trauma…just a badly broken leg, which is healing nicely after an operation inserting steel plates!  

A few days later, the fog lifted, and I got it!  St. Francis’s gift to Chanel was the gift of life!  Our friend Francesco had saved our beloved pet.    

Just as St. Francis delivered on his promise of a gift, so God delivers gifts to us every day.  What is your gift from God today?  Bask in the warmth of his love and give thanks!

Faith.  Love.  Thanksgiving.

How we shape our words; form our sentences…

All carry much weight when spoken to another. 

Gather your thoughts before letting words fly and scatter like a flock of birds. 

Your words carry more than the dictionary defines. What is behind your words?  Love, caring, consideration?

Or manipulation, anger, guilt? 

Layer after layer coats each sentence, with the underlying message no doubt, consciously or not, reaching its target.  

Search your heart.  Search for the appropriate way to convey your meaning and elicit the desired response.

And most of all, speak, as you wish to be spoken to.