Monthly Archives: May 2009

Just Another Walk Around the Block

Jennspeak, Of Trials Opportunities and Gifts, , , , , , ,

During dinner, I felt like talking a walk. It’s getting late, about 9:30 pm or so, but it would be nice to stop by the playground and swing on the swings for a bit before going to bed. So, I grabbed my iPod and left the house. As always, even as I am dancing and running and walking my way to the park, my mind wanders.

I have someone whom God has asked me to intercede for, to care for, and to love as He loves, so as to learn love as He loves. No small task, but one I cherish. God doesn’t burden you with vocations, He blesses you with them. As my mind is wandering, it wanders over to this topic — which is really not that surprising to me.

Would I protect this person?
Yes, of course, from everything I can which is harmful.

Would I give my life for this person?
Absolutely.

Why?
Because it is my job. To care for this person. And my caring does not stop at my prayers.
I am willing to do whatever God asks of me.
And God is good.
If God truly asks that I lay down my life, it is His.
Without question.
Without hesitation.

God loves me.
Whatever death, pain, suffering might come my way, God can handle.
I just need to get out of the way of His healing.
God loves me.

Nothing else matters.
He has me.
He loves me.
I trust Him.

This is a fight.
Truly, we are the church militant, right? There is danger. There are threats. We need to be strong. We need to protect each other.
He is asking if I will fight for this person that He gave me.
Absolutely.

The best part.
I am not alone.
He’s not asking that I do this alone.
Angels.
Seriously. Angels are in this fight right alongside us.

My Lord, my love, I am here.
Take whatever You want.
Use me however You want.
Help me to do Your will.

I am not afraid.
God loves me.

Not bad for a walk, eh? 🙂

Redemptive Suffering: Our Gift to the Father

Neat Things I Didn't Author, Of Trials Opportunities and Gifts, , , ,

From Volume One: Directions for Our Times as given to Anne, a lay apostle: Thoughts on Spirituality:

Think of Jesus’ Passion as a big present. I mean the biggest you can imagine. As big as a house. It is wrapped in the most precious gold paper, with exquisite bows and garlands around it. The gift is so beautiful it takes eternity to walk around it, study it, and admire it. There are countless different facets of this gift. The study of it will indeed take your lifetime, and much longer.

Now say you want to emulate that gift. Do you have the power, the technology, the creativity to come close? Not on your best day, of course. You were not intended to create that glorious a gift. But this big gift is going to your dad, so you want to enclose some well wishes too. So you get a little gift and you wrap it up in the closest thing to the gold paper you can find. And you set your little gift at the foot of the big one. That is uniting your suffering’s to Christ’s. When your Father sees the gift, from His beloved child, does He say, “What a little gift. How puny it looks next to this big one?” Hardly. He smiles, like any father, and His heart is moved to all manner of generosity by your love and effort. His heart is gladdened. This is uniting your suffering to Christ [41-42].

Adam Thad Riviera

Photography, Sacraments, St. Anastasia,

Adam Thad Riviera

Adam Thad Riviera, of Troy, died peacefully, May 17, 2009, at William Beaumont Hospital in Troy. He was 21 years old. Adam was born October 1, 1987, in Detroit.

Adam is survived by his parents, Michael and Helen Riviera, sister, Tara (Mark) Moore and brother, Michael Riviera. He is also survived by his grandparents, Paul and Lina Riviera and Margaret Witczak and his aunts and uncles, Gus and Monica Reis and Frank and Theresa Riviera. Adam is preceded in death by his grandfather, Thaddeus Witczak.

Funeral Mass will be at St. Anastasia Roman Catholic Church, 4571 John R., Troy, Friday at 11:30am. Friends may visit at the church beginning at 11am. Visitation at Lynch & Sons Funeral Home, 1368 N. Crooks Road (between 14-15 Mile Rds.) Thursday 3-8pm. Prayer service will be at 7pm.

Memorials appreciated to St. Anastasia Church, 4571 John R., Troy, Michigan 48098.

Name My Duck

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DSCN7506

Originally uploaded by CadyLy

The water table here is very high, and since I live on a flood plain, and since my neighbors have all built up their backyards, a pond has formed in my yard. I call it Lake Onawanna, because onawanna lake there. Haha! Old humor — thanks, Jeff! 🙂

Anyway, I wasn’t particularly bothered, since I was sure that it was only temporary. Even when the kind neighborhood beavers built me a dam, I was sure that it wouldn’t last very long. But now — I have a resident mallard. Oh boy. I guess Lake Onawanna is here to stay!

Do you think this will increase my property value — being on a lake front like that? 🙂

Please Pray for Adam

Prayer/Prayer Requests, ,

I got this message late last night:

PRAYER WARRIORS,
I JUST GOT OFF THE PHONE WITH ADAM’S MOM. HE HAD THE WORST DAY SINCE I’VE KNOWN HIM. HE WAS TAKEN TO BEAUMONT AGAIN EARLY TUESDAY MORNING,WHEN I SAW HIM AROUND NOON HE WAS REALLY WIPED OUT AND COULDNT STAY AWAKE OR CARRY A CONVERSATION. TODAY HE WAS COMPLETELY UNRESPONSIVE AND HAD A SEIZURE. THEY SAY HE HAS SWELLING ON THE BRAIN AND THEY SEE SOMETHING?
AS MANY OF YOU KNOW THIS ALL STARTED AFTER ADAM WAS BAPTIZED AND CAME INTO THE CHURCH EASTER 08. HE IS 21. PLEASE CONTINUE TO UPHOLD HIM AND HIS MOM [HELEN] DAD [MICHAEL] UP IN PRAYER.
ONE SEES MORE CLEARLY THROUGH A TEAR THAN A TELESCOPE. GOD BLESS! STEVE

Love you, Adam. Get better! (That’s an imperative statement by the way!)