A Bible For The Nineties

The Beginning

The prediction of the END OF THE WORLD is not carved in concrete.  When I first told Fr. William Atkinson at Our Lady Of Hope Shrine in the Adirondacks Mountain Retreat that I had been chosen by God to speak his words to the people in any and every language they could interpret it was for ONE reason.  The strength and courage I would need to face problems in my family had made me strong enough to teach people.  I was 15 years old and thought it a bit unrealistic, but Fr. Bill had me carry the chalice of the body of Christ in a ceremonial gesture when my parents renewed their wedding vows on their 25th Wedding Anniversary the following November.  God's words were simply:
     And SO they shall be led by a child. . .
 
 


A Story of Faith


The first time I offered my life up into the hands of God despite my fear was at the age of 8.  I was miraculously saved and never stopped believing in His existence or benevolence.  Again at the age of 15 I dodged death twice.  How was a mystery to some, but not to me I BELIEVED.  To me God is love and wisdom and above all having a pure heart.  When I reached 20 I had three brushes with death and was spared each time.  Lucky coincidence if you believe in that.  By the ripe old age of 31 I found myself once again staring death down and perhaps not walking away unscathed at least starting life over.  Though my life was never filled with the joy or fulfillment of other people's lives it was dotted with times I savor and now here I am a 44 year old woman who married for the first time in 1996 and have found my soulmate.  Never in my life have I known such happiness or love.  Through out this life I have always said I do not believe in coincidence because God has everything happen for a reason.  You may not know those reasons for a long time but never stop believing.  Life is all about sorting out good vs. evil and making solid judgements.  Choose peace of mind and seek it out.  It awaits those looking hard enough.
 

Where in the Bible does it tell you to hate and kill.  Where is it written to criticise and destroy.  Some how His tolerance of us was lost in our education.  Believe as you might in any form of life but calculate the odds of one person challenging death so many times yet living to speak of it.  Indeed believe it, God has everything happen for a reason.

In every life there is at least one special person who either inspires you to be all you can be or just makes you happy or proud.  There is warmth in the darkest soul.  There is always a silver lining no matter how deep you must dig.

Believe that God is there for you and that faith will allow you to draw on an inner strength that will surprise you.  Take that courage to heal and be happy with what you are and what you have.  Do not force your opinions on others as redemption is a solitary thing.  God decides right and wrong, NOT mankind.