Winterr's words

I have had the pleasure of meeting a very inspirational person. His name is Nick Vujicic. This is the second time that I have got to hear and learn a little about him. His story is just something that everyone should hear and know, well so I believe, click here to find out more

"I adore one only God, and to him I am ready to offer a sacrifice of praise. Your gods are devils, and more delighted with the sacrifice of your souls than with those of your bullocks. How can I fear them who as you acknowledge, tremble before a Christian?"

That is how St.Saturnius replied when given the choice of either offering a sacrifice to the priests who seized him, or to choose death.
I found his response to be so courageous, I mean, here is a man who knows what's going to happen to him (a brutal death) and yet responds with such faith and dignity.
He knew what authority God had over their gods and was confident enough in that to suffer a horrible death if he had to, there was a man who trusted God with his life. That's what kind of faith I want. What an inspiration for our lives as Christians and non Christians, just to know that someone believes so much in someone he loves, that he would not be persuaded elsewhere even if it meant death. What an awesome story.

I read about him today and thought he was a pretty amazing guy. I found a little about him here so if you are interested in knowing the rest of the story.

It's great to see people stepping up to help charity, I love the Band Aid "Do they know it's Christmas" idea which was released in 1984 and raised millions for charity which is fantastic.
This year they are expecting to raise around $48million AUD but hey, i'm praying for more!!
The album should be released early this year, probably early december, I will certainly go out and buy me a copy!!

Hey everyone!!
I have finnished my story about my journey back to the Catholic Church, you can find it by clicking here at Ancient Future Catholics and I hope that you enjoy it or at least find it somewhat interesting ;)

This morning I read about a teenager who was bashed on his "schoolies" week.
It's supposed to be a happy time of celebrating the end of school, and I think his experience was pretty sad,
To read more of the story click here

To everyone that I had links from my blog to yours,
I decided to play around with my template and accidently wiped
all links off!!! I will put your link back as soon as I get the chance
and if I forget a link to your site that was there before please remind me,
Keep smiling :-)

LORD Jesus Christ,
during Your life YOu were surrounded by suffering
and You eliminated it whenever You could.
Look down on this suffering world
and alleviate all its suffering.
Help the sick in body, especially thosse terminally ill,
and the sick at heart who are weary of life.
Come to the aid of those victimized by war
or by their uncaring neighbors.
Encourage those who suffer discrimination
because of reace, creed, or color,
because of their poverty, ingnorance or different life-style.
Free those who are opressed
and feed those who are hungry
inspire in me a firm desire to co-operate with You
in this liberation of the downtrodden.
Let me be open to others,
to love them in You
and to share with them what I am and have

Ok i'm Australian and we don't "do" thanksgiving here, but I think it's great. I know all about it thanks to my Amercian boyfriend I was lucky enough to spend thanksgiving in the US last year, mmmmmmmmmmm all that yummy food!!
But I know it's about being thankful etc and I am thankful about alot of things, I am a very blessed person.
So once again "Happy Thanksgiving" and eat lot's of turkey!!!

Angel in the Waters is a gorgeous little book that has come out. It's about a tiny baby that grows in it's mothers womb, exploring and talks to an angel who is there, it's gorgeous, ok you better click here and find out for yourself. I think it's very well done, and I pray it will put mothers off when it comes to abortion.

Today I can officially say "I'm a Catholic" It has been a great journey, and in
a preivious post I had mentioned that I would become an official Catholic on the 14th
of november, well this was delayed since my preist is unwell and there is a shortage
around here!!!
Today I was able to experience the Sacrament of Reconciliation, what an awesome
experience, I feel so new!!! I will be writing about my journey to the Catholic Church at a later date and will keep you posted.
Now that you know you can congratulate me anytime :-)

This morning I got up and turned on the tv to catch the national news on the "Today" morning show.
What I saw was a debate about taking anything Christ related out of the Christmas season, especially in pre schools. Why?
One of the arguments was that it may offend Jews, Muslims and all non Christians. Instead of Christ related decorations, like nativity scenes (the actual scene of the real Christmas) they are ok with Santa, fairy tale type creatures and anything not related to Christ's birth.
The whole Christmas season is about "Christ" that is what it is, not about Santa and fairytales.
Why would this offend others? Does it matter if it offends Christians then?
Last year Stonnington Council banned the word "Christmas" from it's Christmas celebrations and banned a minister from quoting the Bible while speaking at a Carols night.
This is not right, how can we take Christ out of his birthday celebration? Most importantly why should we?
I also read an article by Herald Sun columnist Andrew Bolt "Meanwhile schools cancel nativity plays, businesses avoid the "C" word and send "Seasons Greetings" cards instead, and city stores give no hint that their tinsel has anything to do with you know what"
This taking Christ out is by far an over reaction, while it seems ok not to offend other cultures, it's certainly fine to offend Christians and take Christ out of the most celebrated time of our faith.
No 3 wise men, no Jesus, Mary and Joseph, what about Angels, shall we replace them with fairies?
Honestly, I hope and pray that this is just a passing phase and that we get to keep "Christ" in our Christmas

Today I was reading the book of Romans. Or "some" of it at least. I have always loved Romans, it's one of my favorite books, it's so passionately written and really sparks something up.
When we read the Gospels we learn about the love of Christ, it's obvious from old to new testament that God loved us so much, like a father but even greater than a father's love that we know today.
People who find themselves alone, sad or hard done by can always know that they are loved, if they have faith of course.
Here is something I read today that I like a lot

With God on our side who can be against us?

Since God did not spare us his own Son,
but gave him up to benefit us all, we may
be certain after such a gift, that he will
not refuse anything he can give. Could
anyone accuse those that God has
chosen?

When God acquits, could anyone
condemn? Could Christ Jesus? No! He
not only died for us - he rose from the
dead, and there at God's right hand he
stands and pleads for us.

Nothing therefore can come between us
and the love of Christ, even if we are
troubled or worried, or being persecuted
or lacking food or clothes, or being
threatened or even attacked.

These are the trials through which we
triumph, by the power of him who loved
us.

for I am certain of this: neither death
not life, no angel, no prince, nothing that
exists, nothing still to come, not any
power, or height or depth, nor any
created thing, can ever come between us
and the love of God made visible in
Christ Jesus our Lord.

I think this is a great scripture that says a lot about God's love and passion for us and how nothing at all can come
between the love our Lord has for us, it's certainly unconditional, not only in this small part of scripture do we learn this but all through the Gospels. I think it's great to be reminded that we are so loved don't you? :-)

Today I came accross a site I liked and thought was excellent. I feel a great sadness when I hear about abortion figures, abortions, euthanasia and anything that takes life away, apart from when God gives the time.
Priests for life
is a great site in my opinion and there is a letter from Mother Teresa of Calcutta to them which was very inspiring, you can find it here
Well that's my opinion and suggestion for the day!!! :-)

Isn't she cute??

I find that there are so many beautiful things written in the Catechism, some things stand out more than others and this stood out to me today:

The fruits of Holy Communion

1391 Holy Communion augments our union with Christ.
The principal fruit of receiving the Eucharist in Holy Communion is an intimate union with Christ Jesus. Indeed, the Lord said "He who eats my flesh and drinks my blood abides in me, and I in him" Life in Christ has its foundation in the Eucharistic banquet:
"As the living Father has sent me, and I live because of the Father, so he who eats me will live because of me"

On the feasts of the Lord, when the faithful receive
the Body of the Son, they proclaim to one another
the Good News that the first fruits of life have been
given, as when the angel said to Mary Magdalene,
"Christ is risen!" Now too are life and resurrection
conferred to whoever receives Christ.

1392 What material food produces in our bodily life, Holy Communion wonderfully achieves in our spriritual life. Communion with the flesh of the risen Christ, a flesh "given life and giving life through the Holy spirit" preserves, increases and renews the life of grace received at Baptism. This grown in Christian life needs the nourishment of the Eucharistic Communion, the bread for our pilgrimage, until the moment of death, when it will be given to us as viaticum.

God Alone Suffices

I offer you Lord my thoughts: to be fixed on You
my words: to have You for their theme,
my actions: to reflect my love for You,
my suffereings: to be endured for Your great Glory.

I want to do what You ask of me: in the way You ask,for as long as You ask,
because You ask it.
I pray, Lord that You enlighten my mind, inflame my will, purify my heart,
and sanctify my soul (Pope Clement XI).
O Mary, Mother of God and my Mother, pray also to Jesus
for me (St.Alphonsus).

Mother, baby and it's guardian angel

Mother of the Unborn

King Herod in a jealous rage
to kill our Savior set the stage
for slaughter of innocent babes
to safeguard the power he madly craved
"No more children" Rachel mourned
little gifts of life cruelly scorned
an infant God escaped that day
but now more babes each day pay
"They are not persons" we hear them say
and so their mothers anytime may
play the game Herods way
"You are an obstacle babe in the womb"
"You must be destroyed adopt your tomb"
Despite man's deeds Our savior still lives
to the baby victims eternal life he will give.
There is time to change hearts of stone
turn around and face God's throne
forgiveness see. His love repay
by saving babies everyday.
No more Herods do we need
God's Word and Power we must heed.

by Irene Gilmary pro-life worker

PRAYER

Holy Mary Mother of God,
Mother of the unborn
As you hold Our Infant Savior up
for the world to see
intercede for us before your Infant Son
for the end of the willful killing of
life in the womb
Holy innocents pray for us. Amen

I have always believed that God gives life and he also takes it away, it's not our choice when to die, we were created because God loves us, he is the giver and the taker of it.
Euthanasia is a suicide, it is wrong and too many people out there are trying to dress it up with nicer words, like the "peace pill" how enticing to those in pain, this is so deceitful, I won't go on anymore but urge you to read this
Aussie Death Dealers Fear New Protections For life

I thought some of these were so cute. These are said to be written by actual students and are genuine.


"In the first book of the bible, Guinessis, God got tired of creating the world so he took the sabbath off"

"Adam and Eve were created from an apple tree"

"Noah's wife was called Joan of Ark, NOah built and ark which made the animals come in pears"

"Lots wife was a pillar of salt by day, but a ball of fire by night"

"The Jews were proud people and throughout history they had trouble with the unsympathetic genitals"

"Samson was a strong man who led himself astray by a Jezebel like Delilah"

"Samson slayed the phillistines with the axe of the apostles"

"Moses led the Hebrews to the Red Sea where they made unleavened bread which is bread without any ingredients"

"The Ejyptians were all drowned in the dessert. Afterwards Moses went up on mount cyanide to get the 10 commendments"

"the first commandment was when Eve told Adam to eat the apple. The fifth commandment is to humor thy mother and thy father. The seventh commandment is to not admit adultery"

"Moses died before he even reached Canada, then Joshua led the Hebrews in the battle of Geritol. The greatest miracle in the Bible is when Joshua told his son to stand still and he obeyed him"

"David was a Hebrew king skilled at playing the liar, he fought with finklesteins, a race of people who lived in Biblical times"

Solomon one of Davids sons had 300 wives and 700 porcupines"

"When Mary heard she was the mother of Jesus she sang magna carta"

"When the 3 wise guys from the east arrived they found Jesus in a manger, Jesus was born because Mary had Immaculate contraptions"

"Jesus enunciated the golden rule, which says to do one to others before they do one to you. He also explained "man doth not live on sweat alone"

"The people who followed the Lord were called the 12 decibles"

"The Epistles were wives of the Apostles"

"St. Paul cavorted to Christianity, he preached Holy acrimony which is a name for marriage"

Picture taken from designedtoat.com

Today is the feast day of St. Godfrey, he was a member of a Franciscan house in Gorkum Holland.

It's also another 5 days until I become a Catholic again, I was baptized on Christmas eve too so I think that's pretty special :-)
It's also about 4 weeks until I leave for the U.S.A, I am going to be there for Christmas too which will be great, and the main reason is to visit my boyfriend

I love visiting the U.S.A and I also love the food!! There is lots of it.
Today I would like to post a nice thank you prayer to Our Lord, in everything we should give thanks, good times and bad times,

Prayer of Thanksgiving to The Father

God and Father Our Lord
Jesus Christ,
I thank You
because in Christ Your Son
You have blessed us
with every manner of spiritual blessing
in the heavenly realm.
those blessings correspond
to Your choice of us in Christ
before the foundation of the world,
that we should be holy and without blemish
in Your sight.
You have filled us
with the grace of Your Son
by imparting to us
all manner of wisdom and practical knowledge
making known to us-
in keeping with Your good pleasure-
in the mystery of Your Will.
For this I thank You.

Image from www.sijcomputers.com

I was saddened to read a Herald Sun article this morning. I have decided to type some of it here:

No Ban On Abortions

Abortions will remain legal in Victoria (Australia) after the state government yesterday ruled out changing the law.

Premier Steve Bracks said there was no strong argument to ban abortions and Victorias regulations on pregnancy terminations were working well.

Governor General Michael Jeffery this weekend backed Senior Howard government front benchers, including Health Minister Tony Abott, who said there were too many abortions in Australia. Some Coalition MP's want to stop medicare support for abortions.

A spokesperson for state Health Minister Bronwyn Pike said she believed abortion was a personal decision for women.


It's obvious here that some leaders don't realize what is at stake here, there are outstanding figures of abortion in this country, I don't know how Premier Steve Bracks (I have never been a fan of his) could say that there is no strong argument to ban abortions.

Our Governor General Michael Jeffery is trying to call for a change, he believes that there are too many abortions in this country. He came out with some figures, and I will write some words here as read on the Sunday Herald Sun:
Maj-Gen Jeffery, 67 said he was not criticizing women who had to make a terrible decision", but 100,000 abortions a year were too many for this country with Australia's population.
"That's as many as our immigration quota. It's an awful lot," Maj-Gen Jeffery said "look at our population. It's a lot of lives. I would agree with any prescription that said that we all have to work together to keep it to an absolute minimum.
"No body likes it. The girls who have to go through it, the families and so on."
Maj-Gen Jeffery said he believed that improved education was the best method to reduce the numbers. With a majority in the new senate, senior Howard Government ministers are proposing a limit on Medicare funded abortions, especially of late term fetuses.

So that was some of that article. I believe that we need to start to focus on what society is saying here, I think that there is a huge lack of education, I know personally of girls who have had abortions and they are quick to forget it, but quick to get back into promiscuity, therefore they do need to be educated on what they have really done, deliberate termination of a life.
I hope and pray that there is some change, I back our Governor General all they way, lets all pray for some change here.

Image from Paternity Angel

Ok Americans, I see you now have George Bush as the president for another 4 years. I am glad that Kerry guy didn't win, I am Australian but I keep very up to date on world news since this is our world as a whole and God gave it to us.

No George Bush is no Saintly character, but more so than John Kerry. I prayed hard for God's will to be done in this election and so did many around the world and that's the best we can all do.

On the bright side, this made our Prime Minister John Howard a happy guy and that is another plus, thanks :))

We live in such a busy world. Life gets hectic, there are not enough hours in the day for some! We often get lost in the day to day life things that occur and it's easy to have "no time" for God. Yeah I have been there and go there.
I know a lot of people some who are Christian and some who are not etc, most people know me as a Christian girl (soon to be Catholic yippee!).
Therefore as Christians I think we can forget to be a sign of God's love, we get too busy and tend to not worry about people around us who might be interested in whatever it is that you "got" that they don't.
I get asked a lot about how I came to be a Christian, I find so many people just want to know!!
So it's important for us to be that sign of God's love. It doesn't have to be a big thing we do each day, just a smile at someone who is having a bad day, a hello or a coffee with someone who is lonely, elderly, driving someone to the store etc etc, just small things like that can mean a huge thing to someone in need of kindness.
We can pray about this here in a prayer that I want to post....Like I don't post enough hehehe

Prayer to Be a Sign for Others

WHEN I wait for the streetcar,
Lord,
I think of You
and keep looking for You
in the impassive faces of others
who are waiting
like me,
I look for a smile,
a sparkle of love,
but see only impatience,
boredom,
fatigue,
and dashes,
there is no personal contact.
Yet they are human
like me,
hallucinated,
in need of love.
I feel a crisis coming.
How can I be for them, too,
a sign of Your love?
Lord, I want to measure
all of myself against Y our love,
because if I accept myself as I am,
You teach me
how to be a true "sign"
of Your love. By Anna Teresa Ciccolini

Sometimes people come along in our lives and leave lasting impressions, inspire us, and make us re examine our own lives. Recently I have read about a girl named Angela Baird
She was a young girl who died a few years ago, but the story on this site, has really left a lasting impression on me and made me re examine how I use my faith in my life. I encourage you to go and have a read, I'm sure this story will touch you in some way :-)

Let us all remember our departed loved ones and all the Souls, prayer is so valuable...

For all the Faithful departed

HEAVENLY Father,
I believe that in Your wisdom and justice
You willed to purify all persons who die
without having attained the state that they need
for all eterntiy,
all who have still to expiate completely
the sins committed on earth.
I also believe that You have mercifully arranged
that this process of purification can be aided
by the prayers of the living,
and especially by the Eucharist.

Help me to pray for my brothers and sisters
who have departed from this world.
May their time of purification be short
and they be quickly guided into that holy light
promised by our Lord to Abraham and his descendants.
I offer You sacrifices and prayers of praise.
Accept them for all the souls of the faithful departed
and admit them all to the eternal joy of heaven.

The invocations to me are so important because my heart goes out to all of these:

MY GOD,
pour forth Your blessings and Your mercies
upon all souls in purgatory for whom
by reason of charity, gratitude, and friendship
I am bound to desire to pray.

Jesus, our Saviour
give us Your blessing,
deliver us from everlasting death,
assist Your holy Church,
give peace to all nations,
and deliver the holy souls suffering in purgatory.

ETERNAL rest grant to them,
O Lord
and let perpetual light shine upon them.
May they rest in peace.

MARY Mother of God and Mother of mercy,
pray for us and for all who have died
in the embrace of the Lord.

HOLY Mary,
our Lady of Deliverance,
pray for us
and for the holy souls in purgatory


Image from Download Free Pictures