Change

As Moses came down from Mount Sinai

with the two tablets of the commandments in his hands,

he did not know that the skin of his face had become radiant

while he conversed with the LORD

One thing that I can say for sure is that an encounter with God will change a person in ways that may or may not be visible to those around us.  Sometimes the change can be a big one.  For example, look at Paul.  He encountered Christ and went from hating and persecuting Christians to becoming one of the greatest teachers in church history. For most of us, our encounters bring on small changes.  We encounter God while reading the Bible and perhaps we start to allow ourselves to treat other people in a more loving manner. In order for these changes to occur, we have to be open to them.  Remember, Paul was turned towards God even while he was persecuting the Church.  Had he not already been attuned to God, chances are he would have ended up as just another blind man begging on the side of the road to Damascus.

So, open your hearts to God and make the changes He leads you to make.

It is our duty to help those in need.  There is no one needier than the Poor Souls in Purgatory, please pray for them today.

Something New

So whoever is in Christ is a new creation:

the old things have passed away;

behold, new things have come.

Well it was battered and scared,
And the auctioneer felt it was hardly worth his while,
To waste much time on the old violin but he held it up with a smile,
Well it sure ain't much but it's all we got left I guess we ought to sell it too,
Oh, now who'll start the bid on this old violin?
Just one more and we'll be through.

And then he cried one give me one dollar,
Who'll make it two only two dollars who'll make it three,
Three dollars twice now that's a good price,
Now, who's gonna bid for me?
Raise up your hand now don't wait any longer the auctions about to end,
Who's got four Just one dollar more to bid on this old violin?

Well the air was hot and the people stood around as the sun was setting low,
From the back of the crowd a gray haired man,
Came forward and picked up the bow,
He wiped the dust from the old violin then he tightened up the strings,
Then he played out a melody pure and sweet, sweeter than the Angels sing, 
And then the music stopped and the auctioneer, 
With a voice that was quiet and low, he said now what am I bid,
For this old violin and he held it up with a bow.

And then he cried out one give me one thousand,
Who'll make it two only two thousand who'll make it three,
Three thousand twice you know that's a good price,
Come on who's gonna to bid for me?
And the people cried out what made the change we don't understand,
Then the auctioneer stopped and he said with a smile,
It was the touch of the Masters' hand.

Sometimes when I am feeling low, I turn to music to turn myself back around so that I am not looking so much at me at a pity party but me as a person beloved by God.  The song I've reprinted above is called, "Touch of the Master's Hand" and it is sung by Wayne Watson. The words are absolutely on point and true. I love the beginning of the song where the auctioneer says, "Well it sure ain't much but it's all we got left..."  When I hear that I think of myself before Christ came into my life and how He tuned me up and it is because of Him that I am who I am today.  Friend, if today the gloomy sky matches your mood, or if you know you just aren't right, then surrender to the Master and let him fix what is broken, all you need to do is cooperate with His grace and the sun will shine in your soul.    God Bless.

YES, I AM SHOUTING!  PLEASE, PLEASE, PLEASE REMEMBER THE POOR SOULS IN PURGATORY IN YOUR PRAYERS TODAY. AN OUR FATHER, HAIL MARY, AND A GLORY BE TAKES BUT A MINUTE FOR US AND MEANS SO MUCH FOR THEM!