“You will know that forgiveness has begun when you recall those who hurt you and feel the power to wish them well.”
― Lewis B. Smedes
The poor and the homeless
“Today it is very fashionable
to talk about the poor.
Unfortunately, it is not fashionable to talk
with them.”
Is that who we want to be seen as by others?
Or do we want them to know by our actions,
what it is in our hearts?
Thee Conor
Keep Smiling!
Any Thing You Can do?
“Being unwanted, unloved, uncared for, forgotten by everybody, I think is a much greater hunger, a much greater poverty, than the person who has nothing to eat.”
Thee Conor
“Make me a River”
” In the morning when I rise, Jesus be my eyes. Before the day rushes in, with you is where I begin.
As you Sing over me with your love,
I will sing praise for all you have done for me.
Fill my heart as I hunger for you-put my mind with your wisdom and truth.
Father, make me a river. Come living water, flow through me. You are, the one I thirst for; Come living water, flow through me!
You are, the one I thirst for; Come living water flow through me!
Guide every step I take
Fill every word I speak
Touch the world with my hands, they are yours.
Let my love show the lost you are the Lord.
Let the River Flow
Make me a River!
Let the River Flow
Make me a River!”
The thanks we can give back is only pale in what we receive. The joy and love we experience makes our hearts pound with anxious thoughts of doing. Our hearts and mind changes, but that is what drive us to do; drives us in action. Our thoughts and words seem to change. The way we look at things is just different, not noticeable to anyone but you. Our conversation with God changes, frequency changes and it is not a thought in the morning, but becomes and goes with you throughout the whole day.
Your change is radical, different and all internal. It is like its being hidden from other , for now, but is just for you. And then slowly, the thirst becomes stronger. It moves to the head of line. All else, is behind you , but with you. Yes, its you but the change that start continues to grow more and more everyday. The slow growth turns into a thirst that is not quench. In some cases, and for a period of time, it becomes quite. Seems lost no matter what you say or how hard you pray. But change continues, and the trust and faith that was nourished and needed to go forward, finally fills the thirst and the quite. And the love you have knew, comes back with overwhelming changes that now is a love and closeness you have never experienced!
So what does one do? Yes, continue on and let your soul be abandoned to our Lord and continue to ask the Lord to “Melt and Mold you”. But also, words need to said. The words of “Jesus I love, Jesus I thank you, Jesus I trust in you, and Jesus I hope in you.”
Time to walk with Our Lord.
Conor
Keep Smiling!
https://www.tasteofloveblog.com
TheeConor@Twitter
Gifts
“…..give the gift of love to someone today.“
Thee Conor
Keep smiling!
An Irish Blessing
May the road rise to
meet you
May the wind be always at
your back
May the sun shine warmly
upon your face
And rains fall softly
upon your face
And until we meet
again
And until we meet
again
May the Good Lord hold you
in the
Hollow of His Hand.
Conor
Keep Smiling!
https://www.tasteofloveblog.com
TheeConor@Twitter
Prayers
The Serenity Prayer
- “God grant me the serenity to accept the things I cannot change;
- courage to change the things I can;
- and wisdom to know the difference.”
Conor
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https://www.tasteofloveblog.com/
TheeConor@Twitter
Daily Prayer
“In prayer
we attend to the things
about life that
are essential.
Prayer is first and
foremost about
a relationship
and this relationship fills
our life with meaning
and purpose.
Prayer, therefore,
is not so much an
exercise of piety as
it is an exchange
of love.”
Conor
Keep Smiling!
https://www.tasteofloveblog.com/
TheeConor@Twitter
Make Me a River!
I will sing praise for all you have done for me.
Fill my heart as I hunger for you-put my mind with your wisdom and truth.
Father, make me a river. Come living water, flow through me. You are, the one I thirst for; Come living water, flow through me!
You are, the one I thirst for; Come living water flow through me!
Guide every step I take
Fill every word I speak
Touch the world with my hands, they are yours.
Let my love show the lost you are the Lord.
Let the River Flow
Make me a River!
Let the River Flow
Make me a River!”
Conor
Keep Smiling!
https://www.tasteofloveblog.com/
TheeConor@Twitter
Love
“Love has not met a lost cause.”
Conor
Keep Smiling!
https://www.tasteofloveblog.com/
@TheeConor(Twitter)
Peace Prayer
Lord, make me an instrument of Your peace:
where there is hatred let me sow love,
where there is injury, pardon,
where there is doubt, faith,
where there is despair, hope,
where there is sadness, joy.
O Divine Master grant that I may no so
much seek to be comforted as to comfort,
to be understood as to understand,
to be loved as to love.
Because it is in giving that we receive, it is in pardoning that we are pardoned, and it is in dying that we are born to eternal life.
Conor
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https://www.tasteofloveblog.com/
@TheeConor(Twitter)
Franciscan Short Way Of The Cross (13-14)
Thirteenth Station
Jesus Taken Down from the Cross
Receive me into they arms, O Sorrowful Mother; and obtain for me perfect contrition for my sins.
Fourteenth Station
Jesus Laid in the Sepulchre
When I receive Thee into my heart in Holy Communion, O Jesus, make it a fit abiding place for Thy adorable Body. Amen
“Jesus, Mary, I love You, Save Souls”
“Jesus, Mary, I love You, Save Souls”
Conor
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https://www.tasteofloveblog.com/
@TheeConor(Twitter)
Franciscan Short Way Of The Cross (7-9)
Seventh Station
The Second Fall of Jesus
By Thy second fall, preserve me, dear Lord, from relapse into sin.
Eighth Station
Jesus Consoles the Women of Jerusalem
My greatest consolation would be to hear Thee say: “Many sins are forgiven thee, because thou hast loved much.”
Ninth Station
Third Fall of Jesus
O Jesus! When weary upon life’s long journey, be Thou my strength and my perseverance.
Conor
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https://www.tasteofloveblog.com/
@TheeConor(Twitter)
Franciscan Short Way Of The Cross (4-6)
Fourth Station
Jesus Meet His Mother
O Jesus! May no human tie, however dear, keep me from following the road of the Cross.
Fifth Station
Simon the Cyrenean Helps Jesus Carry His Cross
Simon unwillingly assisted Thee; may I with patience suffer all for Thee.
Sixth Station
Veronica Wipes the Face of Jesus
O Jesus! Thou didst imprint Thy Sacred features upon Veronica’s veil; stamp them also indelibly upon my heart.
Conor
Keep Smiling!
https://www.tasteofloveblog.com/
@TheeConor(Twitter)
Get Lost In Love
Warmth, a touch, a hug, sunrise, smile, a wave, Saying Hello, a wink, a glance, a helping hand, train whistle, a toot! A bark, squirming, toes, being alone, fire in our hearts, Our Lord, a helping hand, a moment to listen to someone, talking to the lonely, holding the door for someone, a thank you, I love you, Sorry Please pardon me, back of the line, being stealth, a veteran, children, an old man, scars, wounds, Casting Crowns, Bee Gee’s, an outstretch hand, scraped knee, not afraid, humility, understanding, Believing, Life, Doing the right thing, Family, friendship, prayer, Lighting Bugs! and
Silence!
Just a sampling! Carry it with you always.
Conor
Keep Smiling!
https://www.tasteofloveblog.com/
@TheeConor(Twitter)
Prayer of Abandonment
Father,
I abandon myself into your hands;
Do with me what you will.
Whatever you may do, I thank you:
I am ready for all, I accept all.
Let only your will be done in me,
And in all your creatures –
I wish no more than this, O Lord.
Into your hands I commend my soul;
I offer it to you with all the love of my heart,
For I love you, Lord, and so need to give myself,
To surrender myself into your hands without reserve, and with boundless confidence.,
For you are my Father.
Charles de Foucauld
Conor
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https://www.tasteofloveblog.com/
@TheeConor(Twitter)
Franciscan Short Way Of The Cross (1-3)
First Station
Jesus Condemmed to Death
O Jesus! So meek and uncomplaining, teach me resignations in trials.
Second Station
Jesus Carries His Cross
My Jesus, this cross should be mine, not Thine; my sins crucified Thee.
Third Station
Our Lord Falls the First Time
O Jesus! By this first fall, never let me fall into mortal sin.
Conor
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https://www.tasteofloveblog.com/
@TheeConor(Twitter)
Franciscan Short Way Of The Cross (10-12)
Tenth Station
Jesus Stripped of His Garments
My soul has been robbed of its robe of innocence; clothe me, dear Jesus with the garb of penance and contrition.
Eleventh Station
Jesus Nailed to the Cross
Thou didst forgive Thy enemies; my God, teach me to forgive injuries and FORGET them.
Twelfth Station
Jesus Dies on the Cross
Thou art dying, my Jesus, but Thy Sacred Heart still throbs with love for Thy sinful children.
Conor
Keep Smiling!
https://www.tasteofloveblog.com/
@TheeConor(Twitter)
Reflection On Forgiveness
- “The first to apologize
is always the bravest.
- The first to forgive
is the strongest.
- The first to forget
is the happiest.
Conor
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https://www.tasteofloveblog.com/
@TheeConor(Twitter)
Lack of Love
It seems in today’s world, those simple words maybe be lost, and may be gone in so many life situations. And, when one reflects on all the meanings of Love, one can see how integral it is in all parts of our life.
We see the lack of love every day manifested in road rage and in our political arena, but more importantly, in our own dialogue with others. Difference of opinions are no longer acceptable or tolerated, and discussions with compromise are virtually nonexistent. One’s Selfishness and I know it all attitudes, becomes the answer and the end to the discussions.
We see hatred taking front and center in many situations attacking people’s looks and physical handicaps. Why and how has it gotten to that point in our world today. Some blame it on the internet and obscurity it provides, which allows one to say what is really in their heart. The saying “what is in one’s hearts are the words that come across our lips.” It’s that person in their pajamas in the basement of their own house or their parent’s house, and also “in the name of comedy.” Oh yes, freedom of speech.
” Whatever you did for one of these least of my brothers of mine, you did for me.” (Mt 25:40). We’ve heard this quote quite often as it pertains to the poor and the homeless. We all have driven by the hungry begging for food, or one standing out in the cold and wondering should we have stopped? Do they really need help or are they just looking for handouts? Sometimes we drive by for no known reason, or not even thinking or seeing them. Sometimes we don’t want to go near them for “fear” of what we may get. So how do we change this, and again, why do we think that way? Lack of Love!
One easy answer is the person who lost everything and landed on the streets. He is the one forced to beg to eat; to survive. He has no place to clean up and no money in his pockets for anything. Yes, and they cannot go home for a variety of reasons for which we should not judge. But, by the grace of God and reasons unknown, some were chosen or helped and blessed, to be able pull up his boot straps and climb back; never to forget the one’s still out there trying to get out. The focus of me, money, success and “my needs” blinds one eyes to the others around us. Again, this can be some of the reasons for the hatred in our discussions and dialogue. Does any of this apply to you? Yes, is the probable answer for most everyone, and for me sometimes.
I would offer up to you to make time, even 5-10 minutes a day, and talk to the Lord. He doesn’t ask. He waits for us to start the dialogue. It’s hard to start, finding the words and not knowing if it will make a difference. Speak with the love in your heart and then be quiet and listen. Be patient, and your life will change. Peace and happiness will find a home in you. The thirst will be overwhelming. And with these changes, hopefully 5-10 minutes is not enough time.
Years can be shorter than days! Just start and trust. Let the love grow in your heart and be sure to share it!
Conor
Keep Smiling!
https://www.tasteofloveblog.com/
@TheeConor(Twitter)
Mother’s Day!!
Where there is love, there is no labor.
To all the Mother’s on this day, we thank you for this love and that source of strength for us!
Happy Mother’s Day!
Taste of Love 