viernes, 13 de julio de 2012

Versiculo del dia (7/13/12)


 Jesús dijo: "Mirad que os mando como ovejas entre lobos; por eso, sed sagaces como serpientes y sencillos como palomas. Pero no os fiéis de la gente, porque os entregarán a los tribunales, os azotarán en las sinagogas y os harán comparecer ante gobernadores y reyes por mi causa; así daréis testimonio ante ellos y ante los gentiles. Cuando os arresten, no os preocupéis de lo que vais a decir o de cómo lo diréis; en su momento se os sugerirá lo que tenéis que decir; no seréis vosotros los que habléis, el Espíritu de vuestro Padre hablará por vosotros. (Mateo 10:16-23)

Oración: Señor, con frecuencia debo defender mi fe de la superficialidad a la que somos expuestos por los medios de comunicación. Necesito formarme con el evangelio que tiene todas las respuestas a los argumentos de esta sociedad que quiere acabar con nuestros principios, con nuestra moral y el futuro de nuestros hijos. Te pido me envies siempre al Espiritu Santo para que me ayude a luchar por mi fe.



How to Bind Your Family to Heaven Without Using Duct Tape




You think I’m kidding?
Sometimes as a parent you look back with regret at a childhood gone by because you finally understand how deeply some poor choices you made affected your child, but it is too late to change it. You try to do better, only to realize that as the child enters young adulthood the more you try to hang on, the more you have to let go, and all your trembling in fear at what lays ahead in the Big Bad World doesn’t stop time. You know said child is at a point in life where the only way said child will learn some lessons – some really tough lessons – is to let said child experience the natural consequences of said child’s choices for said child’s self. What do you do?
Ground her until she’s 30? Sit on her? Duct tape her butt to the sofa until she listens?
You think I’m kidding? Wait until you’ve got a fearless young adult staring at you blankly as you lecture mightily, only to tap her foot until you’re finished and walk away with a shrug because you’re so freaky and boring, and can’t just just be a normal person and chit-chat about fun stuff. I’ve come to regard this exasperation as the “painting-the-porch-while-the-house-is-burning” syndrome. How do you have pretty small talk when she’s about to burn her life away? Ah, but I digress.
During a particularly difficult time in our family, the advice in the self-help book Get Out of My Life, but First Could You Drive Me & Cheryl to the Mall: A Parent’s Guide to the New Teenager wasn’t really working for us, and I wanted to pray more. I also wanted a way to teach our smaller children about the prayers of the Rosary. I was having difficulty completing the whole prayer each day (“said child” stuff), and to make it worse, trying to weave “Stop hitting your sister!” in between Hail Mary’s was causing my prayers to sound more like screeching. Then one day, like a little flower from Heaven, I found a prayer card in my bag after I made a purchase at a Catholic gift shop. It was the following devotion, and I showed it to my husband. Take a look, particularly the fifth grace.

Devotion to the Drops of Blood
Lost by our Lord Jesus Christ
on His Way to Calvary
St. Elizabeth, Queen of Hungary, with St. Matilda and St. Bridget, wishing to know something of the Passion of Jesus Christ, offered fervent and special prayers, upon which Our Lord revealed to them:
To all the faithful who shall recite for 3 years, each day, 2 “Our Fathers”, 2 “Hail Marys” and 2 “Glory Bes”, in honor of the drops of Blood I lost, I will concede the following 5 graces:
1st – The plenary indulgence and remittance of your sins.
2nd – You will be free from the pains of Purgatory.
3rd – If you die before completing the said 3 years, for you it will be the same as if you had completed them.
4th – It will be upon your death the same as if you had shed all your blood for the Holy Faith.
5th – I will descend from Heaven to take your soul and that of your relatives, until the fourth generation.
Blessed by His Holiness Pope Leo XIII in Rome, April 5, 1890.
Please keep this prayer card with others that you say daily to remind you to recite these prayers.
Please record the date you started:
____/____/____
Mo   Day  Year

If you search around the internet for this devotion you will find some controversy about it. Traditional websites feature it, other websites question the veracity of the promises since it is a private revelation. Here I was, a convert mom trying, learning, and loving all the things Catholic, the unity, the One-Body, and I had no idea that there was discord among traditionalists and liberals. To a newcomer it looks about as smart as slapping your own face with your own hand. Anyway, I just knew that Catholics are supposed to be one family, and likewise my own family needed to be whole too. I asked my husband (a cradle-Catholic) about it and he answered with his typical manly wisdom.
“Just pray, honey.”
Together we began the devotion on July 7, 2009, and we told the children that we are praying for our family to always be together, and I explained about the devotion’s meaning and history. Now, I don’t fully understand what indulgences are; I can’t fully grasp what Purgatory will be; I won’t ever figure out how it’s possible for four generations of my family to be bound to Heaven like that, but I trust that this prayer will bear many fruits. God’s perfect, loving and merciful will be done.
Guess what? We have already been blessed because our family has developed a habit of prayer for the salvation of souls and we will continue it even after the three year mark, July 7, 2012. In fact, any time I feel anxious about my children, or any brother or sister in Christ, I take a few minutes to say an extra set of these six prayers. Sometimes I pray them throughout the day. I pray for Christian unity.
Further, three years is a significant portion of a small child’s life, and hopefully this firmly formed family habit will carry into our children’s adulthood. Conceivably it could carry on into the next four generations, and even beyond. Christians are people of faith, hope, and prayer. We don’t need to have all the answers; we need to pray, trust, love, and keep on working hard every day even if life seems difficult. There is an intense peace in that. In the interim “said child” has also matured into a pretty cool young adult who is just amazed at how much wiser Mom has gotten in only three years – and I don’t even consider using duct tape to get her to listen now.
Amen I say to you, whatsoever you shall bind upon earth, shall be bound also in heaven: and whatsoever you shall loose upon earth, shall be loosed also in heaven. Matthew 18:18

jueves, 12 de julio de 2012

Versiculo del Dia (7/12/12)


Jesús dijo: "Lo que habéis recibido gratis, dadlo gratis"  Mateo (10, 7-15)

Oración: Señor, quiero hoy darte gracias por las personas que trabajan para mí, por esas personas que hacen que mi vida sea más placentera. Gracias por ponerlos en mi camino, con sus defectos y virtudes. Gracias por aquello y aquellos que me das y que yo doy por hecho. 

miércoles, 11 de julio de 2012

Versiculo del Dia (7/11/12)


 Jesús dijo: "No vayáis a tierra de paganos ni entréis en las ciudades de Samaria, sino id a las ovejas descarriadas de Israel. Id y proclamad que el Reino de los cielos está cerca". Mateo (10, 1-7)

Oración: Señor, soy consciente que mi tarea principal en este mundo es llevar personas perdidas a Tí. Me falta mucho por aprender
Debo fortalecer mi fe con oración y formación, pero estas debilidades no me deben nunca frenar. Lo importante es que tengo la voluntad para seguirte y decir la Verdad sin miedo. Sé que con Tu Gracia pondré un granito de arena para que mis allegados: mi familia y amigos te conozcan como yo te he querido conocer, pues es esta fe la que me da la felicidad que tengo. Esto, lo quiero y tengo que compartir.

Standing Firm in the Storms of Life


July 11, 2012
Part 2
Mary Southerland
Today’s Truth
2 Corinthians 6:6 (NLT) “We have proved ourselves by our purity, our understanding, our patience, our kindness, our sincere love, and the power of the Holy Spirit.”
Friend to Friend
It would be just fine with me if I never had to go through another storm. However, God is more committed to my character than He is to my comfort. Every storm is an opportunity to grow in Christ and trust Him more.
The Apostle Paul was well acquainted with vicious storms and harsh realities. In his writings to the church at Corinth Paul offers five truths that - when applied - will enable us to stand firm in the storm.
Truth 1:  Live a pure life.
Truth 2:  Seek understanding.
Truth 3:  Learn to be patient.
Truth 4:  Practice kindness.
When bad things happen, we cry out in desperation for someone to care. More people come to Christ during a crisis than at any other time. Kindness is simply compassion at work and love in action. We need to constantly refocus our success-targeted eyes, crucify each self-promoting heart motive and look for the needs around us. I often wonder just how amazed we will be when we get to Heaven and find the unlikely, unknown but devoted servants of God exalted above all others – rewarded for their quiet and often unseen acts of kindness. 
A preacher once described his mother as a woman of great compassion. One day he came home from school to find her sitting at the table with an elderly, homeless man. Apparently, she had gone shopping, met the man on the way and invited him home for a warm meal. During their conversation the visitor said, “I wish there were more people in the world like you.” The woman said quickly, “Oh there are! You just have to look for them!”  The old man simply shook his head and smiled, “But lady, I didn’t need to look for you. You looked for me!”
Needs constantly parade before us day after day but we don’t see them. We are too busy to see the broken lambs the Shepherd sends our way. We view them as intrusions or annoying interruptions in our very important schedule. These uninvited and unscheduled guests may very well be divine appointments sent by God. The warning of Hebrews 13:2 is a haunting one. “Remember to welcome strangers, because some who have done this have welcomed angels without knowing it.” How many angels have we missed because we were too busy?
Perhaps we fail to be kind simply because we don’t care enough. A little girl was sent by her mother on an errand. She was gone far too long so when the little girl returned, the mother demanded an explanation. The little girl said that on her way she had met a friend who was crying because she had broken her doll. “Oh,” said the mother, “then you stopped to help her fix her doll?” “Oh, no!” replied the little girl. “I stopped to help her cry!” We are never more like our Father than when weathering relationship storms with kindness and love.  Jesus says that if we really love God we will really love each other. Kindness and compassion are directly related to the health of our personal relationship with Jesus Christ. The truths in 1 John 4:20 are clear, “If people say, ‘I love God,’ but hate their brothers or sisters, they are liars. Those who do not love their brothers and sisters, whom they have seen, cannot love God, whom they have never seen.” We can be very religious and not care enough. Kindness does not look for reasons. Compassion doesn’t ask for limitations. It searches for opportunity.
Truth 5:  Experience and practice love.
We not only need God in the midst of the storm, we need each other. The essence of love is tested within the context of relationships. Paul writes that we must “prove” ourselves by being patient and kind. How we handle relationships exhibits the depth and validity of God’s love at work in and through us.      
Ephesians 4: 2-3 (NCV) “Always be humble, gentle, and patient, accepting each other in love. You are joined together with peace through the Spirit, so make every effort to continue together in this way.”
Learning to build healthy relationships is crucial to a fulfilled life. Someone will always be disappointed, disgruntled, or displeased with us. We have a choice to make – to honor God by waging peace or venerate Satan himself by entertaining conflict in relationships. God is committed to unity. If we don’t make “every effort” to eradicate discord, a storm may come to help us do so. 
I have a friend who raises and works with horses. She once explained how a group of thoroughbred horses confronts an enemy. They stand in a circle, facing each other and, with their back legs, kick out at the enemy.  Donkeys do just the opposite, facing the enemy and kicking each other. Enough said.
When golf balls were first manufactured, their covers were smooth. Golfers soon discovered that after a ball had been roughed up a bit they were able to get more distance out of it. Manufacturers then began producing golf balls with dimpled covers. Life is a lot like that. It takes some rough spots to make us go our farthest. It takes some storms to teach us that God is faithful. When was the last time you threw a party to celebrate a trial or storm in your life?  
James 1:2-3 (NLT) “Whenever trouble comes your way, let it be an opportunity for joy. For when your faith is tested, your endurance has a chance to grow.”
God’s ways are higher than our ways and most human reactions are in direct opposition to the paradoxical ways of God. Honestly, there are times when what He has asked me to do simply does not make sense – to me. And there we find the problem. Faith is a matter of blind obedience, not human logic. At the heart of every storm is victory – waiting to be claimed! 
What storm is raging in your life today? What step do you need to take in order to experience His strength for that storm? Your Father stands ready to meet you in your darkest hour. He longs to wrap His arms around you until the winds die down and the waves are stilled. Right now – surrender. Celebrate the storm that dashed your battered life on the shores of His unyielding love and let Him give you the strength to stand firm.  
Let’s Pray
Lord, thank You for being with me every step of the way – especially in the storms of life. I praise You for Your sufficiency in my life and for Your love that never fails. I pray that I will learn how to stand firm in the storms ahead and grasp the lesson each storm holds. I want to please You, Father. Change my comfortable heart to an obedient heart, a heart that is always ready to praise You – no matter what!
In Jesus’ name,
Amen.
Now it’s Your Turn
When you face a difficult situation, where do you turn first for help?
What is your attitude about the storms in your life? How does that attitude need to change?
Examine your life for any sin that is blocking God’s power. How can you eliminate that barrier?
How can you best prepare for the storms ahead? 
More from the Girlfriends
I hate storms, but have finally come to terms with the fact that they are certain. So is God’s deliverance.  Sometimes He delivers us from the storm and other times He delivers us in the storm. Either way, God is with us. 

La familia musulmana


Autor: Pedro TREVIJANO, sacerdote

El máximo problema en nuestras relaciones con el Islam es su identificación entre lo religioso y lo político. La mentalidad cristiana está desde luego bastante lejos de la concepción musulmana sobre el matrimonio y la familia. El Corán es una ley religiosa que regula la totalidad de la vida política y religiosa y que afirma de manera explícita la superioridad del hombre sobre la mujer, existiendo una tradición secular que otorga al marido una autoridad casi absoluta sobre la mujer, lo que se apoya también en varios dichos y hechos de Mahoma.
La ceremonia de la boda es una ceremonia civil que no se realiza en la mezquita. Sólo el matrimonio funda la familia, pero existe el repudio, el matrimonio temporal y la poligamia, en la que el varón puede tener hasta cuatro mujeres legítimas, aunque se le pide sea equitativo con ellas y las trate con justicia y respeto, mientras las mujeres no tienen facultad de casarse con más de un hombre. El jefe de familia tiene autoridad total, basando las relaciones entre sus miembros en un principio de jerarquía, lo que explica la autoridad del patriarca y de los ancianos sobre los jóvenes, pero también la autoridad del marido respecto a las mujeres y, en general, del hombre sobre la mujer; incluso en los juicios su testimonio vale sólo la mitad que el del hombre. Y en caso de divorcio, los hijos pertenecen al padre, que es quien decide sobre su educación, aunque de manera provisional hasta que cumplen siete o nueve años, según los lugares, sean confiados a la madre.
El Derecho musulmán castiga las uniones al margen del matrimonio, estando prohibido todo acto sexual que no respete las formas y condiciones legales. El Corán castiga la fornicación con la flagelación y el adulterio con la muerte, pero hoy en casi todos los países, salvo los que aplican estrictamente la ley musulmana, las penas se han sustituido por otras inspiradas en el Derecho occidental, como multas o privación de libertad.
Están apareciendo sin embargo tanto en países musulmanes como fuera de ellos, uniones no matrimoniales en los que están involucrados musulmanes. Las razones para ello son el deseo que tienen algunos jóvenes de escapar de la autoridad paterna, dado que la concepción de la familia les resulta caduca. Hay también, pero esto sólo puede acontecer en países no musulmanes, el matrimonio de mujer musulmana con marido no musulmán, lo que les está terminantemente prohibido, mientras por el contrario el hombre musulmán puede contraer matrimonio con cristiana o judía, si bien dada la concepción tan machista de los maridos, el número de fracasos es muy elevado, pudiendo en ese caso la mujer cristiana, al no ser matrimonio sacramental la unión con su marido, divorciarse y volverse a casar con otro hombre por la Iglesia.
En el Islam podemos hablar de dos tendencias: la tendencia fundamentalista, de la que lo más suave que podemos decir de ella es que es contraria a los derechos humanos. En estos países los derechos civiles, políticos y sociales de la mujer son violados sistemáticamente Pensemos en los talibanes o en Arabia Saudí, donde a la mujer le están vedadas muchas profesiones, debe llevar el chador y no puede conducir, ni pasear sola o con un hombre que no sea familiar suyo. Pero también encontramos una tendencia más abierta al mundo actual, especialmente en las mujeres que han recibido una buena educación, quienes con frecuencia no toleran la poligamia ni el ser segundas o terceras esposas. Pensemos también en las maestras de Afganistán que arriesgaron su vida para enseñar a niñas, o en las argelinas que tampoco cedieron ante las amenazas integristas y siguieron trabajando.
En general, se puede decir que la situación de las mujeres musulmanas es peor cuanto más fundamentalista o retrasado esté el país, pues es en la lucha de las mujeres por su emancipación, cultura y libertad donde hemos de poner nuestras mayores esperanzas de que también en el Islam puedan realizarse serias reformas. Por cierto, hay silencios que atruenan, como el de nuestras feministas con respecto a los derechos de la mujer musulmana.
Actualmente, están inmigrando a nuestros países muchos musulmanes. Hemos de acogerles y respetarles, pero son ellos los que deben acomodarse a nosotros y no viceversa y por supuesto no debemos permitirles que violen los derechos humanos, defendiendo por nuestra parte los valores del matrimonio monógamo, la no discriminación de la mujer, y por supuesto la libertad religiosa, aunque su religión diga otra cosa.

martes, 10 de julio de 2012

Versiculo del Dia (7/10/12)


Jesús dijo: "La mies es abundante, pero los trabajadores son pocos; rogad, pues, al Señor de la mies que mande trabajadores a su mies". Mateo 9, 32-38

Oración: Señor, te pido hoy por los sacerdotes que están siendo atacados. Por el pecado de pocos, la sociedad y los medios atacan a toda la comunidad de clérigos y esto no es justo. Te pido por el Santo Padre. Dale a el y los sacerdotes, la fortaleza y una fe sólida para ser pastores para Tu rebaño. Danos a todos los que creemos en Tí, una fe firme y el coraje para hablar con la Verdad y nunca callarnos para así llevar Tu Palabra a aquellos que más la necesitan, para aquellos que creen que la verdad es relativa y acomodada a su conveniencia.

Vitaminas para mejorar el Sistema Inmunológico

Para subir el sistema inmunológico considere tomar lo siguiente(listado en orden alfabético):
1) Acidophilus (probióticos): restaura la bacteria beneficiosa en el sistema digestivo...sobretodo importante cuando se usa antibiótico a menudo)
2) CoQ 10: 100mg diarios;apoya el sistema inmunológico. Mejora el oxígeno protejiendo la función del corazón y protejiendo las celulas. Aumenta la energía.
3) Essential fatty acids(Omega): Necesario para un sistema inmunológico saludable
4) Ajo: 2 capsulas tres veces al día; estimula el sistema inmunológico
5) Quercetin+bromelain: ayuda a prevenir reacciones alérgicas a las comidas, polens, etc aumenta la inmunidad
6) Vit C + bioflavinoids: Antioxidante que forma parte integral del sistema de defensa del cuerpo. Usa la forma d-alfa-tocopherol.
7) Zinc; 50-60mg diarios(zinc): Importante para el sistema inmunológico

lunes, 9 de julio de 2012

Versiculo del Dia (7/9/12)


Jesus dijo: "¡Animo, hija! Tu fe te ha curado." Y en aquel momento quedó curada la mujer. Mateo
(9, 18-26)

Oración: Señor, es mi fe firme y ciega, o me dejo llevar por el mundo y me entretengo con lo que me aleja de Tí?

domingo, 8 de julio de 2012

Versiculo del Dia (7/8/12)


Jesus dijo: "Todos honran a un profeta, menos los de su tierra, sus parientes y los de sus casas." (Marcos 6, 1-6)

Oración: Señor, cuántas veces he tenido profetas en mi vida y he tenido el corazón tan cerrado que no los escuché? Cuántas veces he tratado de ser profeta, hablando de Tí Jesús, y no me han escuchado, sino más bien he sido malinterpretado?

A Heavy Dose of Perspective


Today’s Truth
“This is the day the Lord has made; let us rejoice and be glad in it!” (Psalm 188:24 NIV)
Friend to Friend
It was just a quick check-up at the doctor’s office…or at least that’s what it was supposed to be.  My “to-do-list” resembled a mile-long scroll and several deadlines loomed like a thunder cloud ready to burst. But, the appointment would take just a few minutes. Just enough time to catch my breath.
“Good morning Mrs. Jaynes,” the cheery receptionist greeted. “May I see your insurance card please?”
We went through the regular check-in procedure and then I settled in a comfy chair with a magazine that I would not have normally read.  I knew I wouldn’t have time to read a full-length article…since this was just a quick visit.  My, oh my, the trouble those Hollywood folks get into.
Ten minutes turned into fifteen turned into twenty turned into thirty. My to-do list began growing heavier and heavier in my mind.
“Excuse me,” I interrupted the receptionist. “My appointment was thirty minutes ago.  Did they forget me?”
“I’m so sorry,” she reassured me. “I’ll check on it right away.”
In just a few moments, a nurse appeared at the door. “Mrs. Jaynes, come right this way.”
My second stop was into a stark treatment room with more magazines. “Oh well, let’s see what Brittany did last year,” I mumbled to myself. At least I was in the room. That was good.
The clock continued to tick. With each passing minute my frustration grew. “I’m glad he’s not checking my blood pressure,” I grumbled to no one in particular.
Fifty minutes after I had walked into the office for my quick 5-minute check-up, the doctor himself walked into my room. My to-do list was magnified in my mind. My time was important too, you know. I didn’t have time to sit around and read out-dated gossip magazines!
The doctor was actually a friend of mine, but I was feeling less than friendly.Ice Queen is a description that comes to mind when I think of my probable appearance.
“Hi Sharon,” he began. “I’m sorry you have had to wait so long. I have been with a patient and had to tell her that she has terminal cancer. It took longer than I thought.”
Suddenly, my icy countenance began to melt into a puddle on the shiny tile floor and tears pooled in my eyes.I was upset about not checking insignificant frivolous errands off my to-do list, and the woman in the next room was pondering how she was going to spend her last days on earth. I envisioned her walking to her car and coming up with a brand new to-do list for her day.
#1 Live well
#2 Love well
Yes, I did have a check-up that day. God was the doctor and He looked into my heart to see that my perspective on life needed surgery. What’s really important? My silly list of errands? No. What should be at the top of my to-do list today and every day is:  #1 Live well.  #2 Love well. Celebrate each day as an incredible gift from God.
Let’s Pray
Dear God, Thank You for another day of life. Sometimes I can get so caught up in my silly little lists that I lose perspective of the true meaning of life. Help me to live my days glorifying You with every breath that I take and step that I make. 
In Jesus’ Name,  Amen.
Now It’s Your Turn
What is at the top of your to do list today?
Consider making a new to do list and including what you think God would have you do today.