My Heart of the Matter

The Corporal Acts of Mercy

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Abraham and me with the students

 

The Navarro Family

As a catechist part of my service is to volunteer with my students helping with the Christian Food Distribution. St. Norbert has a regular group of volunteers who lovingly pack the food for those in need. We have all experienced the high cost of food, and our church program does a great service by extending a helping hand. This work is orchestrated by the beautiful, petite Michelle Navarro. Her husband, Paul, two of their four children and two of Paul’s sisters were there to help as well. Twice I have had the honor in helping with this ministry. Michelle’s kind and quiet demeanor brings joy to the laborers. She is an angel sent from heaven with wings sprinkled in gold. For this reason people return to help with this outreach.

 

Prepping

Upon my arrival I was sent to the bean and rice station. These sage women have been doing this for years. They joyfully  pack and wrap the beans and rice. For these older woman, it was a social gathering with friends with fringe benefits of helping others. It was a pleasure to work with them.

I dare not ask their ages, but it was apparent that several were in their 80’s.

92 year-0ld Zenaida Arcos, credit Carlos Aviles/Diocese of Orange

A recent article in the Orange County Catholic featured a story about our oldest volunteer, Zenailda Arcos. She is 92-years-old! This is proof that volunteering keeps us young!

Training The Youth

Part of this service is training the catechumens to serve. Isiah 58:6-7 speaks of the corporal acts of kindness. For these students to give up a Saturday morning from 9:oo to 12 noon is a clear indication that they are willing to sacrifice their time for the needs of others.

When the rest of the young volunteers arrived. Like well-trained soldiers, they knew what to do.  In quick succession over 200 grocery bags were filled with food. The next station was the produce and, depending on what was donated,  a family could receive a pretty sizable bag of fresh fruits and vegetables.

Sorting vegetable
Packing the fruits and vegetables
The assembly line

God Will Provide

We have all experienced the high cost of food. For instance our last visit to McDonald’s cost us over $34 for just two meals. It was as if I’d purchased the meals at the airport! Grocery shopping has become an unpleasant weekly fight for savings. I am always looking for the best deals; if my favorite brand is not on sale, I purchase the generic label. Some way, somehow, God will provide for all of our needs.

The Students

It takes a good heart to volunteer, and I was so filled with joy that most of my students were available. not one of them complained and because they were so busy their phones quietly snoozed during the labor. There were students from Villa Park, Servite, Rosary, Mater Dei, Troy, Canyon, and Santa Margarita High Schools. We also had several students from St. Norbert. Together they completed part of God’s great family of servants.

 

Abraham and Michelle

Abraham

Abraham is  our youth minister and coordinator for Confirmation. He has not only a calling to serve the youth but is inspired by the Holy Spirit to bring special blessings to them. I marvel at his natural way of speaking to the students because he uses the Word of God in a practical way of reaching out. His words are seasoned with wisdom and love.  I personally have seen his growth in this program. We need people like him to tug at the hearts of these beautiful souls. None of our students will leave without knowing how much God loves them and how very important they are to the future of mankind. These students will make a difference in this crazy world.

Thank you, Abraham, for planting a seed with your short teaching on the Corporal Acts of Mercy.

 

Handing out the meals

My Role

Above all I will pray for my students to fully understand the teachings of Christ. We have covered many lessons throughout the last two years, and I have grown fond of their unique personalities and the way they interact with one another. Moreover, the maturity they have developed in understanding deep things of God that will see them through life.

They have touched my spirit and I see a glimpse through the windows of their eyes, filled with the yearning to draw closer to God.

Sometimes it’s difficult to hear God speaking with the distractions of the world. But one day these students’  calling will remain steadfast.

Lent

What a beautiful manner to usher in Lent. Though at times I feel inadequate during this holy season, I am so overjoyed that it started with helping the Christian Food Distribution at St. Norbert. To think that our parish provides this service every weekend is amazing!

Corporal Acts Of Mercy

With Lent at our doorstep, I want to re-examine the definition of Corporal Acts of Mercy.

Matthew 25:34-37   New American Bible (Revised Edition)

34 Then the king will say to those on his right, ‘Come, you who are blessed by my Father. Inherit the kingdom prepared for you from the foundation of the world. 35 For I was hungry and you gave me food, I was thirsty and you gave me drink, a stranger and you welcomed me, 36 naked and you clothed me, ill and you cared for me, in prison and you visited me.’ 37 Then the righteous will answer him and say, ‘Lord, when did we see you hungry and feed you, or thirsty and give you drink?

In lay terms:

The Corporal Works of Mercy

  • Feed the hungry
  • Give drink to the thirsty
  • Clothe the naked
  • Welcome the stranger
  • Heal the sick
  • Visit the imprisoned
  • Bury the dead

My Prayer

Dear Heavenly Father, thank You for teaching us how to express our love to others. I pray for all those who continually volunteer by helping with the Christian Food Distribution. Lord, I pray for all the students who helped with this ministry. May they walk away with hearts filled with joy after helping those in need. Jesus, continue to guide them and use them in all of their giftings.
I lift up Michelle and Paul Navarro’s family, and all volunteers who work tirelessly to make this program a great success.
Lord, help us to serve in several of these Corporal Acts of Mercy, especially during Lent. Amen.
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My Heart of the Matter

God Imparts Dreams

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Jacob’s dream (Genesis 28:10-17)

God communicates to us in dreams. This is another way He uses to get our attention.

 

Joseph’s dream (Genesis 37:5-10)

It’s In The Bible

The Bible speaks of dreams from Genesis to Revelation, and today God is pouring out messages to His people in dreams. Dreams are used to direct us, affirm us, to help us make decisions, and to warn us against impending dangers.

Journaling Dreams

Dreams are symbolic, and many times they are literal. Everyone dreams, but most of you do not remember your dreams because you do not journal them. I have a journal on my nightstand for this purpose. Upon  receiving a dream you must journal it, because remembering every detail is very important. Colors, numbers, animals, and people in your dreams – all represent some type of hidden message.

Scripture In Dreams

I once had a dream, but the only thing I could remember was that Proverbs 21 was written on my right hand (right hand means blessings). The interesting thing about this is when I looked up Proverbs 21 this is how it reads:

The Dream

I was at college sitting in the front row. We had an assignment to write a story. As I started my story my sister Norma came into the picture. This caused me to become disoriented and I went back to my class, but  could not find my purse or assignment. I was wearing a white top, white pants, and a beautiful yellow shawl with one white stripe. I looked but I could not find my belongings. As I went down the hall my instructor tried to introduce me to Sherry, who was mean to me. She angrily said, “We have already met!” I went back to the room and all my things had been recovered. Mike (my husband) was getting all my personal things together, like my backpack. He was looking out for me. My sister Jo appeared, and I followed her to a deserted area. She walked into an abandoned building. I followed her and an Asian man attacked me. I tried to yell for help, but the dream ended.

My Interpretation

College – Place of higher learning (Godly)

Front row – Good student/wanting to learn

Assignment – Commission

Write a Story – Creativity

Norma- Sister/ close family member

Disoriented – Lost my way

Go Back – Recover

Purse and assignment missing –    Loss of Identity/commission lost

Wearing White – Purity/holiness

Yellow shawl – Yellow is a warning color;  coward, fear/ it could also mean hope

One white stripe – Little holiness

Hall – Passageway

Instructor – Teacher

Sherry – In real life, she is an acquaintance who practices astrology

Things recovered – Bring back

Mike –  Husband/Jesus Christ

Backpack – God has my back

Sister Jo – Sister/family member

Deserted Area – Left alone

Abandoned building – Wanting to be alone

Asian Man- A foreign evil spirit

This dream was about my spiritual growth  in the Lord. I received an assignment to write a story but I got distracted by Norma (a family member). I realize that I had lost my way, so when I went back, my personal belongings were missing. I am wearing white, which represents righteousness/holiness. The yellow shawl indicates that my outer garment (me on the outside) was not right, as yellow is a warning color, but the one white stripe indicates that there is hope for restoration.

I was passing through spiritually (the hall) and the instructor wanted to introduce me to a woman who practices astrology; she does not agree with my beliefs, so she is mean to me. (In real life Sherry practices astrology). When Sherry says “We have already met,” it means that I used to read my horoscope. Things are uncovered that were lost. Mike/husband/Jesus has my back (backpack). I am concerned about Jo (a family member) so I follow her, but she wants to be left alone. The Asian man represents a foreign evil spirit, one unfamiliar to me. My two sisters in my dream indicate a great concern for my family; for one family member I drop what I am doing, and for the other I’m concerned about their direction. This was a warning for me not to get so caught up in personal family matters but to remain steadfast and holy.

Do not take dreams lightly, as you may be passing up a prophetic message from God. Most prophetic dreams happen in the early morning, right before you wake up!

Joel 2:28

28 “And afterward,
    I will pour out my Spirit on all people.
Your sons and daughters will prophesy,
    your old men will dream dreams,
    your young men will see visions.

Most Recent Dream, January 11, 2024

The Speaker of the House Kevin McCarthy produced a documentary, but before showing it to the world he went to my friend’s service. He shares the documentary to my friend who is a pastor. After sharing the documentary, the pastor goes on to share it on national news. I see my friend’s mother, and she is praying for him.

My Interpretation

Kevin McCarthy – Represents God

The document – A message from God

The document is scriptural

God sharing it with the pastor – It is a private message from God

Sharing it on national news – With the help of God, the message will reach many

His mother praying – His mother is interceding on behalf of her son from heaven

The Speaker of the House represents God, and whatever the documentary is, my friend, a pastor who runs an international ministry, will know about it first.  Before the message gets out, the Speaker of the House gives my friend favor. The last part of the dream is about his mother, who is in heaven praying for him.

Sharing Your Dreams

When I called my friend with the news of the dream, he was so excited because he had been studying from the Book of Habakkuk and asking for a Word from God. The pastor’s mother had recently passed. He mentioned to me that  he had been waiting for a sign from heaven to know that his mother was interceding for him.

God’s Outreach

Did you know that through dreams many lost souls will be saved, that people will be directed into doing the right thing? Equally important is the fact that when we have something that needs solving and are  fixated on the problem, we take it to our sleep. There the Lord will give you instructions on how to deal with a personal relationship, solve a difficult situation like repairing something or solving a math equation.  God wants us to have a peaceful night’s sleep.

If you have a recurring dream it may be a confirmation from God to pay close attention to the dream. Always pray and ask God for the interpretation, taking into account that He will see you through this quandary.

My Prayer

Lord,  I thank You for the gift of dreams. I pray that You would pour out Your Spirit on those who do not believe in You. Speak to them in dreams, wake them from their spiritual slumber, lead them to touch the tassel of Your cloak. Amen.

 

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My Heart of the Matter

The Conversion Of Lynda

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52 two years of receiving beautiful roses from Mike

On January 25, 2024, we celebrated 52 years of marriage.

St. Paul’s conversion is celebrated on the same day.

 

St. Paul

St. Paul’s Conversion

St. Paul is one of my favorite Christian writers. Formerly known as Saul, he was well-bred; he came from a family of means. He was from the tribe of Benjamin, one of the 12 tribes of Israel. In addition his father was a Roman citizen, which afforded Paul both Roman and Hebrew citizenship. He was the prized student of the esteemed  Rabbi Gamaliel.  Gamaliel, a highly regarded Pharisee, was also a member of the Sanhedrin, an assembly of elders appointed to adjudicate disputes in ancient Israel. Saul was also a Pharisee who fought for the beliefs of the Torah.

Saul apposed Jesus as a false Messiah and terrorized and imprisioned His followers as a threat to Judaism .  Saul’s background makes for a perfect convergence where fate meets divine wisdom.

I can compare myself to St. Paul who discovered the truth on his journey. Filled with zeal, he tried to destroy every Christian in his path. On the road to Damascus, he met Jesus.  In my ignorance, my search  for truth led me down a winding road of self-absorbance.  As a result I’d become a holier than thou know-it-all.  If you did not believe as I did, in my mind there was little time for salvation and to turn your life to God.

My understanding of the fire of God was me taking a torch and burning all the dross.  I was, after all,  clearing a pathway to heaven. I was sorely wrong.

If you met me during this transition, I was going to use any sensationalized information to sway you into my beliefs.

This past Thursday, we when to dinner in Costa Mesa to celebrate our anniversary. This restaurant is located on Anton Boulevard and, as we made the turn, my mind was flooded with vivid memories of when I first became a Born-Again Christian.

The Demonic Hotel

I cannot recall the name of the pastor or the church that stated that a hotel in this area was demonic. Explicitly this was because Anton was the name of the high priest of  the Satanic Temple and this hotel is surrounded by five black banks.  In addition 666 was the address to the hotel! This was the onset of convincing others that almost everything had an attachment to the dark side, so they needed to follow the Light.

This  hotel is surrounded by banks but does not have the dreaded numbers 666 for an address.

The Holy Pilot

Another rumored belief was that Delta Airlines always flew their planes with a Christian and a nonbeliever as co-pilots. This was in preparation for the Rapture of the Church. As the Christian pilot left the plane to meet his Maker, the nonbelieving co-pilot would guide the plane to a safe landing. I felt privileged to know this private information.  To think that an American airline would go through this length was most impressive. I shared this information with only trusted individuals, including my son Mikos. This, too, proved to be false information.

The Truth

Not long ago Mikos reminded me of  the Delta story. I answered, “I was a baby Christian, I’ve grown since then.” How could I have been so gullible? I was all over the board, attending different churches, listening to pastors, some of whom received their credentials from the Internet.  Hungry for the truth, I devoured everything that was put on my spiritual plate.

Saving The World

When you have the mindset of a know-it-all, nothing and no one can stop the fast-moving train. Besides, I made it my job to tell the world in all boldness about Christ.  Through all the whistle-stops and crude outreaches, with no real covering I was doomed and quickly fading into the persona of another Bible-beating bully.

God was with me the entire trip. He watched me fall on my face so many times.  He must have had a good laugh, watching me go from one church meeting to the next, gleaning what worked for my resume.

The Lord taught me to re-examine the commitment I made in my conversion. He took me, a lump of discarded play dough, and made me who I am today: filled with fire and the zeal to minister to others in His love.

The Zeal

Having a complete understanding of zeal has brought me a new meaning of God’s mercy. In His mercy Jesus sees us all the same: we belong to one family. In His mercy God displays His compassion by teaching us that no one is greater than the other.  He chooses to patiently wait for us to convert. And if you are truly seeking, the Lord will give you the desires of your heart.

 

St. Paul falling off his high horse

Spiritual Direction

Jesus was St. Paul’s spiritual director. Before St. Paul could be guided into one of the greatest of all Christians, he needed to die to his old ways. Jesus caused St. Paul’s blindness in order to get his attention.

 

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