Prayer for the day... / Lynda (Brian Colletti's mom )
Prayer for Epiphany Dear Jesus, as You led the Three Kings to You by the light of a star, please draw us ever closer to You by the light of Faith. Help us to desire You as ardently as they did. Give us the grace to overcome all the obstacles that keep us far from You. May we, like them, have something to give You when we appear before You. Amen
Something to think about... 'May we have something to give You when we appear before you...' I find this to be a good thought to ponder. What will I have to give the Lord when I finally come before him? Obviously I can't take anything physical from this world with me, so what will I bring to him? I believe that whatever I do right now is what I will bring to Jesus. My character, my love for him, my willingness to share him with others and having love for my fellow man is what I will bring to him. Jesus said for us to love one another, that love is the greatest of all these gifts, over and over his word speaks to treating others with kindness, love and living at peace with one another. He tells us to help each other, to encourage and edify (build up) each other. He didn't ask us to do these things, he has told us to do these things. How well have I listened and followed his commands? How well do I follow his path, try to live his way by his guidance? At times, not so well, other times pretty good, but no matter how good or how bad I do these things, it is most important that I constantly try to do this and do it better. I will never be perfect but I can be a child of God who strives to do what pleases the Lord. No matter what I need to always have forgiveness in my heart so that love and peace can reside there. What gifts will I bring you Lord? I am working on my 'present' right now. I love you Jesus. Peace & Blessings~ Lynda *forever loving & missing Brian
You are everywhere... / Lynda (Brian Colletti's mom )
You are everywhere. You are in the dreams of many, you are in the rainbows, the clouds and the the hearts of all! You are the shooting star, you are the beautiful butterflies that live in God's grace. You are the quiet smile that sweeps across my face, the birds that fly through the air, you the voice that whispers to those you love, you are the fresh, gentle breeze that hugs me... You are forever in my heart. You are forever in everyone's heart, your love continues to shine on through us all.
I miss you more and more each day, yet I know that you are always with me. As I continue through life's journey I am encouraged and strengthened by the love that you gave me and the precious memories you left me.
I love you always & forever~ Mom
I know this is what you would say to us all...... / Karsen Ketrow (Sister-in-love) To Those I Love and Those Who Love Me (Author Unknown)
When I am gone, release me, let me go, I have so many things to see and do, You mustn't tie yourself to me with tears. Be happy that we had so many years.
I gave you my love, You can only guess, How much you gave to me in happiness. I thank you for the love you each have shown, But now it is time I travel alone.
So greive a while for if grieve you must, then let your grief be, comforted by trust. It's only for awhile that we must part, so bless the memories within your heart.
I won't be far away, for life goes on. So if you need me, call and I will come.
Though you can't see or touch me, I'll be near. And if you listen with your heart, you'll hear, All of my love around you, soft and clear.
And then, when you must come this way alone, I'll greet you with a smile, and say,.......
"Welcome Home"
Thinking of you / Mom (Brian Colletti's mom ) I Love You!
Thought for the Day.... / Lynda (Brian Colletti's mom ) Daily Christian Wisdom
Mere change is not growth. Growth is the synthesis of change and continuity, and where there is no continuity there is no growth.
-C.S. Lewis
My Personal Thoughts... I love this quote. I believe it is so true. My experience has been that change does not always equal growth and it doesn't necessarily make anything different within oneself.
There was a time in my life when I thought that I always flowed with the changes in life. I paid little attention to change when it came and just kept on going, letting it 'roll' off my back, so to speak. I saw myself as easy going, laid back, whatever came my way, no biggie!
Well that was in my much younger days, when I was pretty niave and I guess you could say that the phrase 'ignorance is bliss' fit me then. Looking back on that time in my life I realize now that I was not easy going, or laid back, I chose to ignore when change came knocking! I refused to change along with it. Everything in my life could be changing all around me and I was right smack in the center of all the change, refusing to move or acknowledge when it required something of me. Sometimes it was a simple matter of not knowing what to do, so I did nothing. I did not change.
I have learned since then that when change comes beckoning and I ignore it's call, a change still takes place outside of me, as well as on the inside. And I am not in control of any of it. The change within starts with my resistance, my fears grew, my anger got angrier and I felt more and more like I was worth less and less. My self esteem was being destroyed, my zest for life was being sueezed out of me, my soul was slowly withering away and my spirit was becoming dimmer and dimmer. I was dying on the inside...
I read something one day that made so much sense to me, it said that the pain of no change when change is called for is always greater than the act of changing itself. I'm here to tell you that is one of the truest statements I have ever heard! All those times when change was taking place around me and I was trying to ignore it or run from it, I was in a lot of pain! I was actually killing my own spirit, shredding my very own soul!
The spirit needs to grow, the light within needs to shine! If it is not able to then it dwells in darkness. Nothing can live in total darkness for an extended period of time. The death I was experiencing was a spiritual death. It is by far the worst death that anyone can experience. A physical death is more painful for those who are left behind to grieve their loved one. A physical death leads to life, eternal life with God the Father! The spirit lives on and continues to shine through the hearts of those who loved them and from heaven as they wait for us and watch over us with the angels!
When you are physically alive but spiritually dead, I don't think it is possible to survive day after day this way. There is no hope, no light to shine the way, no longing for eternity. I got to a point where I was just barely existing, I was empty and the pain of that emptiness was overwhelming!
It is true that life changes all the time. I think life is solely about change. What we do with that change, how we respond to that change is what defines whether or not we are alive. Feeling our pain, releasing the tears helps to cleanse our soul and it makes experiencing joy that much sweeter!
Within me is the Holy Spirit, it is God within me. As I encounter each change in my life I am reminded that I am not alone. I have a means and a way to respond to the changes that help me to grow. Some growth is rewarding at the very start! Some growth is very difficult and is often painful, but it is well worth the effort as opposed to not growing. No one is immune from change, it virtually touches everyone and will affect you somehow. Today I choose to be a part of the process and do my best to embrace the change, trust the process and know that God will never forsake me.
There are changes that have taken place in my life that I will never understand the reason for, there have been changes that I have welcomed with open arms and there have been times when change has happened and taken me completely by surprise! Sometimes the change that happens within me is quick, other times it's a slow, grueling process. Change can be cruel because when we begin to take an honest look at the change it makes our reality that much more real...
I am changing as I write this. There is spiritual growth taking place inside of me at this very moment. There are many outside changes that happen that are completely out of my control. What I do with how it impacts my life is where I get to exercise some form of control. I am empowered by the grace of God. I can make a choice to become involved in the process, trust that there is nothing too great that God and I cannot handle together. I can choose to stay alive. To keep my spirit alive!
Today, although my soul still feels shattered and my heart feels so heavy, I know my spirit is still alive and helps me to face each day. My dependence on God is greater than it has ever been and my desire for my relationship to grow in him is equally as great! Change bids us to pay attention and it calls us to act rather than react. It brings with it opportunities for growth, builds on our character and reminds us that we are only human and if we are to continue on in our life's journey then we must take heed to change.
Change is about letting go and it's also about holding on. Change is about moving forward or stepping back, sometimes it is simply about moving - period. We have to move, if we don't then we will become stagnant and this is not a place that is condusive to growth.
I am learning how to dance to the changes in life. Sometimes I am moving forward, other times backwards, to and from, this way and that, but always moving...even when I am still. In my stillness I can listen for the music to guide my steps and begin to move again.
I don't know what life has in store for me in the future, what kind of changes are heading my way but I do know that as long as I am willing to dance I will be okay, no matter what... God is an awesome teacher and there is no dance step that he cannot teach me!
I pray you all dance to the melody of life and when the music seems to stop, be still and listen because God will play another song just for you and get you moving again.
God Bless you and may you dance in the New Year! Peace & Love, Lynda
Remembrance/ Kay Mom Of Angel Joshua Delaney (Visitor)
There's no use in weeping, Though we are condemned to part: There's such a thing as keeping A remembrance in one's heart Charlotte Bronte
Prayer- Keep us From Pettiness / Lynda Simmons (Brian Colletti's mom ) Keep Us From Pettiness
Keep us, O God, from pettiness; let us be large in thought, in word, in deed. Let us be done with faultfinding and leave off self-seeking. May we put away all pretenses and meet each other, face to face, without self-pity and without prejudice. May we never be hasty in judgment and always generous. Let us take time for all things; make us to grow calm, serene, gentle. Teach us to put in action our better impulses-straightforward and unafraid. Grant that we may realize it is the little things of life that create difficulties; that in the big things of life we are as one. Oh, Lord, let us not forget to be kind. Amen.
- Mary Stewart, Queen of Scots
I read this prayer and I wanted to share it with everyone! With the world! Oh if we could remember these words as we go through our day. Oh God, keep us from Pettiness! Oh Lord, let us not forget to be kind! The first sentence and the last sentence would suffice. Those two things alone would change our world! God bless all who visit here. I pray you will read this prayer and always remeber it! I pray you will never, ever forget to be kind! The simple act of kindness is free, it costs us nothing to practice it. But it is priceless, the benefits belong to everyone! The receiver and the giver, we all gain something and it takes such little effort. Peace & Love, LyndaClose
The Legend of the Evergreen Tree / Lynda (Brian Colletti's mom )Read >>
The Legend of the Evergreen Tree / Lynda (Brian Colletti's mom ) ...That because it stays green all through the year, the evergreen tree is symbolic of the eternal life offered to Christians through faith in Christ. The treetop points up to heaven. A star signifies the star which guided the Wise men to Bethlehem. The lights represent Christ, the 'Light of the World'. Gifts beneath the tree are representative of God's gift of his only begotten son, who brings Hope, Love, Joy and Peace.
Christmas is a beautiful time of year. I have always loved the decorations, the lights and the 'hush' that falls over the earth at night. To sit in the dark with only the lights of the Christmas tree on is such a peaceful feeling for me. There are so many signs and symbols of Christ everywhere and it reminds me of the hope that God has given us through his son. I have had many Christmases where I was caught up in the hustle and bustle of world outside! Running here and there, stressing about this and that, completely getting lost in the commercialism of the holiday, and losing sight of what this season is really about. I enjoy the innocence of the children during this time. The excitement they experience and the wonder and awe in their eyes! It is a time for me to be filled with hope and to praise God for his blessings. It is a comfort to reflect on the birth of Christ and to know that this is God's promise of eternal life to us all! It reassures me again that one day I will be with my son again. that all of our loved ones who are no longer here physically to celebrate with us are waiting for us in heaven! They are celebrating with us still, just in a new way! They are participating in the greatest birthday party ever! Jesus is the reason for the season! Thank you Lord! Happy Birthday Jesus! May my life be my gift to you every day I am here until the day I am called home!
Thanksgiving Wisdom... / Lynda (Brian Colletti's mom )
Begin by thanking Him for some little thing, and then go on, day by day, adding to your subjects of praise...until you see in everything some cause for thanksgiving.
-Priscilla Maurice
When a person doesn't have gratitude, something is missing in his or her humanity. A person can almost be defined by his or her attitude toward gratitude.
-Elie Wiesel
The best things are nearest: breath in your nostrils, light in your eyes, flowers at your feet, duties at your hand, the path of God just before you.
-Robert Louis Stevenson
With God in our hearts, we will always have things to be thankful for in our lives... Peace & Blessings~ LyndaClose
Recognizing STOP THE VIOLENCE DAY / Lynda (Brian Colletti's mom )Read >>
Recognizing STOP THE VIOLENCE DAY / Lynda (Brian Colletti's mom )
November 22 is Stop The Violence Day!
What an awesome message to dedicate a day to! Wishing peace to all! It begins with us!
Angel Quote / Angelica Grover (Twinless Twin)
"Remember, Angels are both God's messengers and God's message, witnesses to eternity in time, to the presence of the divine amidst the ordinary. Every moment of every day is riddled by their traces." -F. Forrester Close
What Thanksgiving should be / Lynda (Brian Colletti's mom )Read >>
What Thanksgiving should be / Lynda (Brian Colletti's mom )
"How wonderful it is, how pleasant when brothers live together in harmony!
Psalm 133:1 NLT "
Fighting historical vandalism
" In an article in Focus on the Family's Citizen magazine, Douglas Phillips describes how he took his family to Plymouth, Massachusetts, a few years ago and was shocked at what he found. Atop Cole's Hill, the burial ground for Pilgrims who died that first hard winter, Phillips was startled to see a city truck pull up and men pile out carrying shovels. They told Phillips the city was placing a new monument.
"Most revolutions are staged at night," Phillips wrote, so he wasn't surprised the next day to find stone markers all over Plymouth designating Thanksgiving as a day of mourning—a day to recall how the Pilgrims murdered and stole from their Indian neighbors. That afternoon, demonstrators—mostly white college kids—celebrated their victory by defacing the traditional monuments. Plymouth had transformed a tale of religious freedom into a story of genocide.
The historical reality is totally different. While it's true that later settlers abused the Native Americans, the Pilgrims and the Wampanoag Indians lived together in peace for 50 years. They signed covenants, bought and sold property, and fought against mutual enemies.
The modern obsession with group identity and victimhood encourages us to see those assigned to other groups as our enemies. When we interact with them, we ought to recall the relationship between the Pilgrims and the Indians and model not hostility and hatred but brotherly love. As the psalmist notes, a willingness to get along with others makes for a pleasant and peaceful life.
A pleasant & peaceful life...that is something to truly be grateful for... God Bless & may you all have a peaceful Thanksgiving. Lynda Close
One of the greatest gifts we can give people is the hope that their death is nothing to fear--you know, not that it has no fear in it, but the promise of scripture is that God will lead us through the valley of the shadow of death.
-Max Lucado
With the local tragedy today of the devastation the storms & tornados caused, I am reminded that the Lord is always with us and for those who meet the end of this life, the Lord is there to guide them to the next, eternal life. God Bless all the hurting souls & broken hearts today. May they find the strength to keep going & find comfort & peace in God's loving embrace. Amen Peace & Blessings~ LyndaClose
The Purpose of Life... / Lynda (Brian Colletti's mom )Read >>
The Purpose of Life... / Lynda (Brian Colletti's mom )
The purpose of life is not to be happy. The purpose of life is to matter, to be productive, to have it make some difference that you lived at all.
-Arthur H. Prince
Dear Brian, You most definitely fulfilled your purpose in life. Your life blessed so many others, it mattered to everyone who knew you that you lived. You often were larger than life!
I love you and I miss you with every day that goes by. You made a huge difference in my life and you continue to make a difference in my life. I'm often amazed and humbled when I think about the man you grew to be, the way you lived your life and how you cared for others. Your soul ran deep and wide, you made room for everyone!
Peace & Blessings on this Veteran's Day. You are a Veteran and I salute you and respect you for all that you accomplished. Your dad & I will always be so proud of you.
You are forever and always in my heart until we meet again in heaven.
A little Halloween thought.... / Lynda (Brian Colletti's mom )Read >>
A little Halloween thought.... / Lynda (Brian Colletti's mom )
Being a Christian is like being a pumpkin. God lifts you up, takes you in, and washes all the dirt off of you...Then He carves you a new smiling face and puts His light inside you to shine for all the world to see. ~unknown
Honoring the Dead / Lynda (Brian Colletti's mom )Read >>
Honoring the Dead / Lynda (Brian Colletti's mom )
From the dawn of your birth To the sunset of your death I honor you.
From the missions you completed To your duties left undone I honor you.
From the seasons of your being Through the cycle of your life I honor you.
From your time beyond the veil Lie your entrance back again May the angels support you May my healing love reach you From this moment until the end of time So Mote It Be.
Attitude of Gratitude / Lynda (Brian Colletti's mom )Read >>
Attitude of Gratitude / Lynda (Brian Colletti's mom ) Daily Christian Wisdom
G is for gratitude. When I'm in gratitude, if I even stop and make a list of the things I'm grateful for, that's a form of prayer. It breaks my trance of misery or self-absorption.
Attitude of Gratitude... This is a little phrase I learned a long time ago. It's meaning is really very powerful. As the quote above states, it is a form of prayer to be grateful & list those things you are grateful for. You donm't even have to actually write down the list, you can do it mentally and it will have an affect on your mind & soul instantly. I have so much to be grateful for, many days I seem to forget that. I think that is all part of being human and getting caught up in the world! Before Brian died, a very good friend of mine and I used to email each other a gratitude list every Tuesday evening. The only rules were that we list at least 3 things we were grateful for...surprisingly, sometimes it was a struggling to do! However I learned it was more about the 'doing' it, than what I put on the list. I think maybe it is time to do this again...what do you think Donna?
Here is my list for today; I am grateful for the beauty I witness in my own backyard-my birds, butterflies, flowers, a slight breeze that moves my windchimes so I can hear thier music, I am grateful for the people in my life, that I know love me and I love them. I am grateful for God's grace that carries me through each day. I am grateful others who are in need that God sends my way and we learn to comfort each other. I am grateful for my church. I am grateful for my life, for the ability to feel and learn from my experiences. I am very grateful for my children, for no matter where they may be at this moment, they will alwasy be my boys and I will always know that I have been very blessed to be thier mom. I am grateful for today, for the peace that only comes from the Lord. Amen.
That familiar feeling begins, A restlessness that settles in, I try to ignore it as it grows. I call it restless soul.
Crawling within me is this feeling, It invades my very being, Affecting every part of me, I become a prisoner that can’t break free.
The air around me gets very still, It captures me against my will, My heart aches deep in my chest, My entire being is unable to rest.
I know this monster that swells inside, I know I cannot run or hide, I brace myself and hold on tight, I know it’s pointless to try to fight.
This strange creature, its name is grief, It paralyzes me while I pray for relief, From this unwelcome foe I know so well, That pulls me into it’s own chamber of hell.
No matter how hard I try to ignore it’s taunting, There’s no escaping it’s haunting, Grief will surely have it’s way with me, So I hold on and pray until it sets me free.
In Jesus Name We Pray... / Lynda (Brian Colletti's mom )Read >>
In Jesus Name We Pray... / Lynda (Brian Colletti's mom )
Dear Lord, I thank you for this day. I thank You for my being able to see and to hear this morning. I'm blessed because You are a forgiving God and an understanding God. You have done so much for me and You keep on blessing me. Forgive me this day for everything I have done, said or thought that was not pleasing to you.. I ask now for Your forgiveness.
Please keep me safe from all danger and harm. Help me to start this day with a new attitude and plenty of gratitude. Let me make the best of each and every day to clear my mind so that I can hear from you.
Please broaden my mind that I can accept all things.
Let me not whine and whimper over things I have no control over. Let me continue to see sin through God's eyes and acknowledge it as evil. And when I sin, let me repent, and confess with my mouth my wrongdoing, and receive the forgiveness of God.
And when this world closes in on me, let me remember Jesus' example -- to slip away and find a quiet place to pray. It's the best response when I'm pushed beyond my limits. I know that when I can't pray, You listen to my heart. Continue to use me to do Your will. Continue to bless me that I may be a blessing to others. Keep me strong that I may help the weak. Keep me uplifted that I may have words of encouragement for others. I pray for those who are lost and can't find their way. I pray for those who are misjudged and misunderstood. I pray for those who don't know You intimately. I pray for those who will delete this without sharing it with others. I pray for those who don't believe. But I thank you that I believe.
I believe that God changes people and God changes things. I pray for all my sisters and brothers. For each and every family member in their households. I pray for peace, love and joy in their homes that they are out of debt and all their needs are met.
I pray that every eye that reads this knows there is no problem, circumstance, or situation greater than God. Every battle is in Your hands for You to fight. I pray that these words be received into the hearts of every eye that sees them and every mouth that confesses them willingly..
This is my prayer. In Jesus' Name, Amen.
What a beautiful prayer. I believe if everyone prayed this prayer everyday, our world would transform and become one with heaven... God Bless you. Peace & Love, Lynda Close
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