WHISpers Podcast: Recent Episodes
Sheila S Ward
My sisters and brothers, WHISpers podcast is a sharing of the soft whispers from within our thoughts, from within our very souls, and from life all around us. WHISpers stands for, W is Word, HIS is God, and pers is softness, creating, WHISpers, Word of God WHISpers! We pray that when we hear His soft WHISpers from within, discernment will follow with inner Peace in our souls, which comes only from God. Our dedication is to help deepen our relationship with Jesus Christ, our Lord and Savior, through Witnessing, Scriptures, Prayers, and Spiritual Music. Jesus Loves You! Amen.
My sisters and brothers, our podcast song is called, ‘Peace, God’s Blessings’. Today’s podcast brings us to the closing of this part of our journey with WHISpers podcast. This podcast is episode 79, and through God’s Word, prayers, and our witnessing from a total of 89 of our spiritual songs, God truly has blessed us with having you, in our family of faith, united in the family of God! Still, all things must come to an end, and only one thing remains, love, love for God, and love for each other. Our ministry is going through a transformation. What this entails we don’t know, only the Lord knows. When we need to know, He will tell us and the Holy Spirit of God will lead us. I’ve had these inner feelings many times in my life, and I recognize the signs. It seems that when ever my inner soul starts to grieve, with no reasons existing, I know what ever mission I am part of, that soon I will no longer be part of, for that part of my journey will come to an end. This is where WHISpers podcast is, for WHISpers podcast is ending in the same way it came into existence, with the Holy Spirit in control. My soul rejoices in what God has done for me. This is very exciting you know, it’s an exciting moment when you’re living for God through the Holy Spirit in you. I remember the time I worked as waitress, I loved my job so much. Then one day out of no where, I felt my inner soul start to grieve, I didn’t understand it, yet somehow without any reasons, I felt my job was coming to an end, and this feeling stayed with me for a little more than a week, I couldn’t shake that grieving. Then I came into work one day, and the place was closed down. I had no job. I took a step back and realized I was not saddened by this sudden event, I understood and realized that Holy Spirit was in control of me. He had already prepared me, and all I was able to feel was this awesome great joy going through me. My soul rejoiced in what God has done for me. My sisters and brothers, do you recognize inner spiritual changes in your life? Can you recognize the promptings of the Holy Spirit’s leading, teaching, speaking to your soul? When our soul experiences Spiritual grieving, it is not the same as when our human bodies experience a loss of a loved one. Just as with God’s Spiritual joy, this joy is not the same as human joy, which is felt only through happy times. Right? Spiritual Joy is felt through all times, deep inside your whole being. Spiritual grieving and Spiritual joy, goes beyond any human experiences. My friends, words can not explain supernatural where a human mind would understand. It is like entering into God’s world, your body maybe in this world but your soul is in God’s world, for the Holy Spirit carries out God’s work in you. The Holy Spirit is mysterious, and is my most precious friend. At Baptism, the Holy Spirit first makes his entrance into the human soul, for it is at that Sacred moment, when the Holy Spirit is mysteriously embodied in the human soul. My friends, that is something to ponder. My sisters and brothers, what ever you do in life, be opened, to the source of all holy inspirations. As we wait on the Holy Spirit to lead us in our ministry, we will continue to pray for you, always. We hope these episodes have strengthen your relationship with our Lord, as it has for us, and may you and I continue to Glorify the Lord in our own lives. God bless you my dear friends. Amen.
My sisters and brothers, today our podcast is about recognizing true joy in our own lives. Our podcast song is ‘ Lord You Fill My Life With Joy’. Back in the middle 70s, I started keeping a folder of all the songs we were writing. If one were to look at this folder, it would appear to them as a bunch of scribbles. This piece was one of our first songs and it was written in 1977. Throughout our journey, whenever I would look back at any of our songs, it would take me back to the place where my heart was at that time. This song took me back to when my little boy Johnny was only six and my little girl Jennifer was between seven and eight. The joy I experienced went far beyond any joy one may have from receiving a birthday gift or anything of that sort. For this joy is the true joy of God within one’s being and life, and the joys I speak of, were the joys of my life, from the very moment they were born, they were my joy. I was home alone one morning and my children were at school. I found myself singing about my children. I seemed to have had moments like these often, where I am thankful to the Lord for all He has given me, and I couldn’t stop singing of my greatest joys. I started scribbling through my tears, and lyrics were following the tune in my soul. No one has ever heard this song, it stayed with me deep inside my soul. When I was looking at this song this past week, and started recording it, my heart was overwhelmed with tears, for it took me back to my little ones, when they were little ones, and the love I felt the Lord loving me with, were through these joys, of my son and of my daughter. My friends, do you see His wonders in your life? The wonders in your life and mine, are the true wisdom of the joys the Lord fills in our lives!
My sisters and brothers, our podcast today is about God’s most precious blessings, babies and children. Our podcast song is ‘ A New Born Babe’. I remember that Great joy which flooded my heart when my doctor came into the recovery room and told me that I gave birth to a beautiful baby girl with soft reddish curls, then he brought her into the room, and I saw her for the first time, and I gently embraced my baby Jennifer. What great joy God has blessed us with. Then 19 months later… our second baby, most handsome little baby boy Johnny with that giggling little smile. Again, what great joy God has blessed us with. I thank God our Father everyday, for these two great joys, and for all blessings in my life! Another great joy that I remember well, is the joy I saw in the faces of my very close friends, Gwen and Joe, when she gave birth to their first born little baby boy, and again 4 years later, to their second born, their baby girl. Wow, so totally amazing are the blessings God showers into our lives. When Gwen gave birth to their first born, her’s and Joe’s faces were as bright as God’s light of love, and my heart was remembering all the joys my babies were and are to me. I could hear soft music playing in my soul, I could hear singing, a song, for Gwen and Joe, of a new born babe, was being born in me. I started writing about the joys of a new born babe, about the love that baby brings into lives. The baby’s smile starting off a new day, without fears or worries, and how that new born baby only feels the lovingness of mom’s and dad’s tenderness. I thank our Lord for this creation, making lives compleat with deep affection. I ask our Lord Jesus to shine His light in their hearts and never from them depart. I ask our Lord Jesus to guide their steps and help them walk in God’s ways, and to give them words when they speak, to their baby, all about the Lord. After it was finished, this song was a dedication to Gwen and Joe, and is also a reminder to us all, about how the power of God’s Blessings in a new born baby, fills our lives with overflowing joy. We want to give them everything good. Right? My sisters and brothers, yes, right.
My sisters and brothers, our podcast today is about, Love, God’s Love. Our podcast song is ‘The Lord Smiled Down On Me’. When This song was first written, it was during the time of my baby steps into God’s healing, in the mid to late seventies, which is described in our book, Journey with Trust and Fire Within. I was discovering Love in my life, God’s Love, in all the people in my life, and in all the people that became part of my life, my families and friends. The more I knew of God’s Love for me, the more I became in love with the Lord my Savior, the more I loved my Lord Jesus, the more I loved my loved ones, my children, my family, and that love kept deepening into my whole being. I remember thinking of how great a mystery God’s Love truly is. I didn’t know love could be so powerful. The power of God’s Love took permanent procession into the center of my heart and soul. Deep in my soul I could hear music, then music being joined with lyrics that flooded my eyes as my inner being was singing. It may be hard to see or even recognize, because this song goes beyond what a human heart may be able to conceive, still, I saw beyond this song of love, for I saw God’s love holding me when no one else would. My sisters and brothers, God smiles down on us, on you, on me, and He gives us people in our lives. But the world doesn’t stop turning, situations in our lives do not stay the same, people evolve, they grow together or apart, nothing of this world stays the same. Only one thing and one thing only remains forever, and that my friends, is God’s Love, nothing can ever keep us from the Love God has for you and for me. Yes, the Lord smiled down on me and gave me love so true, but, love of this world changes and may or may not remain true. Still, in that Love, God’s love remains true, so yes, when He gives you someone to love, God’s love is there, and God’s love remains forever. Maybe walking hand in hand, and together in Faith, you will have that dream live longer in your lives. My friends, there’s the key, two hearts, side by side, walking in Faith, with our Lord God, Lord of their lives. I know, you may be thinking about that love song and how wonderful it is to have a love story come true. And you’re right, it is, even but for a short time. However, the ending for me in that love song, was very hard and inwardly painful, as life situations sometimes are. But here’s the Truth, God’s love remains faithful. God’s love brought me through, and the Lord kept on smiling down on me. Jesus picked me up, every time I fell, and His love held me close to His heart. So my dear friends, remember, no matter what the change, or where your journey takes you, God’s Love will never change, God’s Love is forever picking you up, holding you close to His Heart and loving you. If you remember nothing more, remember this, for God’s love is faithful and true! Amen.
My sisters and brothers, our podcast today is about, people and nations everywhere giving praise to the Lord, and our podcast song is ‘Hallelujah’. This song was written around the same time that our other songs based on Psalms were written, and this one was also used throughout our Ministry Mission Journey, as part of our Catholic Mass Services, but mostly as a Praise Worship song for large groups and gatherings. It was another praise song that was first loved and used by Sister Bernadette Sheldon, SCJ, and Father Bill McCarthy, MSA, bless their Souls. They sometimes would enjoy opening their teachings with it, because it was one of those praising songs that was simply an easy song to catch on to, plus, it brought them right into the sharing of Psalm 117. This song, ‘Hallelujah’, is based on Psalm 117. Looking back I remember in the middle toward later part of the 70s, how one of my special friends, Mickey Raymond, loved the book of Psalms, in fact, it was her favorite book in the Bible, and though she does not know this she inspired me to reading more of the Psalms. Thank you my sweet Mickey. The Psalms are very much like songs to the Lord. When I was looking at this Psalm 117, though it is but only two verses, still, as many Psalms do, it touched my inner soul with music. I absolutely love what these Psalms do to me Spiritually. When I heard Sister Bernadette and Father Bill read and talk about psalm 117, as few verses this Psalm has, there’s a lot being said in these two verses. I went home that day with a song in my heart. And the following week at the Holy Spirit Breakfast, Sister Bernadette had all the people praising the Lord with this song, Hallelujah. They were all lifting their hearts and hands up to the Lord singing: ‘Praise the Lord all nations now, hallelujah. Praise the Lord people of the earth, hallelujah. His Love for us is truly great, hallelujah. His Faithfulness endures forevermore, sing praise to the Lord, hallelujah, praise the Lord, hallelujah!’
My sisters and brothers, our podcast is about, ‘blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord, hosanna in the highest’, our podcast song is ‘Hosanna’. This song was also part of our original writings, which was used throughout our ministry mission journey, along with our music from ‘Come Receive Me’, as part of Catholic Mass Services. This song, ‘Hosanna’, is based on Scripture. Looking at Scripture, it is written in both the Old Testament and the New Testament; Quote: “blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord”. UnQuote. And in the Gospels of Matthew chapter 21, verse 9, and Mark chapter 11, verse 9, the scripture verse continues with; Quote: “hosanna in the highest‘. UnQuote. These are verses of praise which the Catholic Church uses in their liturgy. The Church tells us that these verses also add to Jesus as triumphant Messiah. Now this is how this song, ‘Hosanna’, was composed: One day, many decades ago, when I was listening to a Sunday Mass Reading on ‘The Entry into Jerusalem’, that Scripture reading stayed in my thoughts for many days and into weeks. I didn’t know why, not until I heard music from within my soul singing these words over and over; ‘hosanna, hosanna, hosanna in the highest’, and again, ‘hosanna, hosanna, hosanna in the highest’! That was when I knew, there was a song being born in me. Yet not that these words have not been sung before through all of church history, for I have heard sung in church many songs with some of the same words. Still, it was new in me. Almost like I was hearing them for the first time. I remember driving my children to practice one day, and I heard in my thoughts as I was driving; ‘Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord’. I wondered, where did that thought come from? Then, my thoughts continued, ‘Come, let your hearts rejoice, sing and dance for the Lord, children everywhere, clap your hands to the Lord’. Now I knew, I knew where these thoughts were coming from, these thoughts were making it’s entrance in me and becoming a song. I couldn’t hold it back. It wasn’t waiting for my return back home, it just kept pouring into my soul. I found a pen and paper in the glove compartment, and I started writing what I was hearing, not while I was driving, of course not, when we got to where we were going. My thoughts continued; ‘Jesus our Prince of Peace, came to bring all of His Love. Jesus our King of kings, has redeemed all of his people. Open oh gates up wide, and receive the King of Glory. Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord. Hosanna, Hosanna, Hosanna in the highest.’ And now, this song was finished, and I could not stop my heart from singing it. But I did not write this, though the music was in my soul, and these words were written on paper, it wasn’t me after all, the Holy Spirit wrote it in me, I was the instrument used. The Scripture verses I read are from the Little Rock Catholic Study Bible, Through God’s grace and mercy and the inspirations of the Holy Spirit, this song ‘Hosanna,’ is based on Scripture, music and all added lyrics were written in 1979, ©️1980, first time ®️ 2021.
My sisters and brothers, our podcast is about Psalm 34 from the Holy Bible, and our podcast song is ‘Taste and See’. Taste and See is based on Psalm 34, verses 2-7, & 9, it has been used as a Responsorial Psalm during Catholic Mass Services. Now, as we all know, attentiveness to the nudges of and listening to the Holy Spirit from deep within one’s being is how one becomes aware of God’s Whispers, and again this was true with our song Taste and See. Along with some of the music from both, our ‘Mass of Holy Inspiration’, and ‘Come Receive Me’, Taste and See also was being used during most of our ministry’s mission and journey, in Catholic parishes where we became part of and in their music ministry. But again to be clear, this was not my work, it is the work of the Holy Spirit, I am the instrument of the Lord, God is the music inside me. My sisters and brothers, the book of Psalms are beautiful and up lifting. When I first heard this Psalm, some of these verses stayed in my thoughts, they were comforting to me. I wasn’t sure what kind of song this would turn out to be, but I kept following the Holy Spirit’s lead and entirely enjoyed going where He was taking me. His music and these words filled me with peace beyond that of the world, then I found my soul singing; “Taste and see the goodness of the Lord. I will bless the Lord at all times, His praise shall be ever in my mouth. Let my soul glory in the Lord, the lowly will hear me and be glad. Glorify the Lord with me, let us together exult His Name. I sought the Lord and He answered me, and delivered me from all my fears. Look to Him that you may be radiant with joy, and your faces may not blush with shame. When the afflicted man called out the Lord heard, and from his distress He saved him. Taste and see the goodness of the Lord.” The next thing I knew, was that this song was finished. And it wasn’t me who wrote it. I only followed His lead. The Scripture verses I read are from the Little Rock Catholic Study Bible. Through God’s grace and mercy and the inspirations of the Holy Spirit, this song, ‘Taste and See,’ is based on Psalm 34:2-7 & 9, music and added lyrics were written and ©️1980, first time ®️ 2021.
My sisters and brothers, today our podcast is somewhat different, and is part of our collection of the Catholic Mass Liturgical songs. Our podcast music album is, ‘Mass of Holy Inspiration’. These 15 Liturgical songs are taken from both, our Come Receive Me Mass music from the eighties, and our revised Mass of Holy Inspiration from 2011. Together they include: Penitential Rite, Kyria, Gloria, (2) Gospel Acclamations w/verse, John 10:27, and the second one with, John 15:12-13, Holy Holy Holy, Memorial Acclamation w/Amen A, B & C, (2) The Our Father Prayer, and [ Peace ] The Lamb of God. Attentiveness to the nudges of and listening to the Holy Spirit from deep within my being is how this collection of these Liturgical songs were created. Starting with The Lord’s Prayer in 1979, this was first sung at a Holy Spirit Breakfast lead by Father Bill McCarthy and Sister Bernadette Sheldon at Saint Anthony Church Hall in Bristol, CT. The completed selection was first used in Pittsfield NH in 1985-1988 where I was blessed to be part of Our Lady of Lourdes Church while Father Richard M. Giroux was Pastor, and to also be part of a wonderful and talented folk group. This collection before it was revised for the new Mass in 2011 was titled; ‘Come Receive Me’. ‘All’ and or ‘parts’ of this Mass music was used by choirs and folk groups at a few churches, including these parishes: Our Lady of Lourdes Church in Pittsfield, NH; Saint Joseph Church of Beatrice, NE; Saint Philip the Apostle Church of Lake City, SC; Saint John the Evangelist Church of Enterprise, AL. Also at Saint Francis of Assisi Church of New Britain, CT after it was revised in 2011 into the ‘Mass Of Holy Inspiration’. What a special blessing to be able to have been with so many of God’s beautiful people and what talent they are blessed with. Having one purpose in heart and mind, all for the Glory of God! Thank you to the Precious Holy Spirit who is the very reason this Mass music was created, for the Holy Spirit is the true creator of this work, I am an instrument of the Lord. To my mom and my dad whose love continues to reach to the center of my heart with inspirations. To Father Bill McCarthy and Sister Bernadette Sheldon, for being my Spiritual Father, Mother and Directors, their powerful words and teachings continues to inspire me to be all I can be, and all for the Glory of God! To the many talented musicians I have been blessed in knowing, working with and being part of their groups and choirs, I am so happy and proud to have known you and I will always love you with the love of our Lord! To my parents, my husband, and my families of every direction of my life, which is my children, grandchildren, brother, cousins, brothers and sisters in the Lord, families and friends, those with me and those who have gone before me; it has been your love which has kept my heart full of joy. To the very gifted artist, Janice Ward, my cousin. I expressed to her how I wanted the cover for the Mass music to be, and she created for me much more. What talent she has. Her work is a true gift from God. This album, other albums, songs, concerts, and podcasts, can be found on my YouTube channel, sheila s ward. And last but not least, to you, my sisters and brothers, You are the very reason our Lord called me into podcasting. Thank You. Through God’s grace and mercy and the inspirations of the Holy Spirit, all Music, plus any and all added lyrics was©️1980, Revised in 1984,1998 and was Revised once more for the New Mass in 2011, except for the Penitential Rite and one of the Gospel Acclamation with verse (John 10:27), these two were part of my original recorded work in 1985. The new Revised Mass music for 2011 was also ®️ 2011. The new Revised music for the Our Father Prayer was®️ 2015.
My sisters and brothers, today our podcast is about how Jesus desires to be part of our lives, and how He is the true writer of my songs. Our podcast song is, ‘You’re the Writer of my Songs’. I was blessed with prayer groups, prayerful friends, and teachings of the Gospels and of the life of our Lord Jesus. I became well aware of how important it is to be one with Jesus, and how Jesus desires to be one with us as He is one with the Father. Putting Jesus first in my everyday life is the greatest gift of insight I have received. Jesus opened my heart to see all the gifts and blessings He put into my life. My inner vision became clear, I was no longer seeing through my own eyes, but through the eyes of Jesus. I could see through the eyes of my soul looking beyond the deep of my heart which was manifested in my eyes, and I could see like I’ve never seen before. I discovered Truth, God’s Truth, about me, my children, my gifts, my talents, my work in the ministry life, my life. " I am not the writer or composer of my songs. I am an instrument of the Lord. He is the music inside my being. The Lord is the star shining brightly on high. The Lord is the Love that travels throughout the sky. When I looked into the eyes of my little girl, I saw the Lord looking back at me. I saw the Lord in my little boy even when he was fast asleep. The Lord is the sun-rays that melts a cold heart. He’s the bond that keeps us never to part. I feel God’s presence when in unity we gather around to give Him praise. With words unspoken we kneel in silence to hear all He may want to say. He is the WHISper that will carry us through. He is the writer and the music too."
My sisters and brothers, our podcast today is about the Holy Mother of God. Our podcast hymn is, ‘Ave Maria Ave Ave’. Many years ago I longed to write hymns for our Blessed Mother Mary. I have loved her since I was a child under 5 years. Our Blessed Mary was always there for me, like Jesus our Lord was always there for me, but as a child, I didn’t know. I only knew that our Heavenly Father was part of a prayer called, the Our Father Prayer, which our dad used to teach my brother and me. I knew there had to be a Holy Ghost because that is how our dad taught us to begin our prayers, with the sign of the Cross. You know, In the Name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Ghost, Amen. And of course I knew our Blessed Mary’s Holy Son is Jesus, but as a child, I only recognized Jesus as her Baby Jesus. Of course since childhood, Blessed Mary has shown me the way to Jesus, Blessed Mary lead me to knowing her Son Jesus. My Blessed Mother Mary brought me to Jesus! Now the Holy Rosary prayers were then and always will be, a big part of my life. However in my young life and in all my life, my Blessed Mother Mary was and is much more than just a part of my prayers. Blessed Mary for me, was my mother in a heavenly way, and came to me through my cries in a most Profound happening, and not only at that young age of almost five years, but in different profound happenings throughout my life. These can be found in my ‘Journey with Trust and Fire Within’ book which was published in 2019. Our Blessed Mary is not a requirement that we need to get to heaven or to pray to God, but, my dear friends, our Blessed Mother Mary, is a most treasured gift which has be chosen by God our Heavenly Father, for His Holy Son Jesus, and JESUS from His Cross gave His Holy Mother Mary to be Mother to all the world. Jesus gave His Mother to you and to me. Such a Blessed Gift. Remember in the Gospel of John, chapter 19, in verses 26 & 27. Jesus, from His Cross, looked at His mother and said to her, Quote: “women, behold, your son”, Unquote. and to his apostle John, who was standing there with Mary, He said,Quote: “behold, your mother”. Unquote: Yes, Ave Maria Ave Ave. I pray this hymn brings Glory to God, for when we sing of Mary, we bring Glory to God the Father, Jesus His Only Begotten Son, and the Holy Spirit, Amen.
My friends, today our podcast is about recognizing our Lord’s Love all around us. Our podcast song is, ‘Your Love’s All Around Me’. This song came to me at a time of when I was beginning to see the Lord’s love in everything around me. It makes me think of the times when my mom would say to me, Quote: ‘Sheila, you have to take time to stop and smell the roses’. Unquote. I remember wondering, what did she mean? Years later I realized my mom was right, we do need to take the time to smell the roses. We also need to take time to see the wonders of life around us and in our own lives. After yet another Spirit filled Holy Spirit Breakfast, and hearing over and over Fr. Bill telling us that Jesus Loves us, and Sister Bernadette telling us to see the love of God in life’s beauty around us, simple yet powerful words of Wisdom, I was taking everything in, and believing with wide opened eyes. I love the simple yet so powerful words of Wisdom, which both Fr. Bill and Sister Bernadette would repeatedly instill in us, for when we finally get it, wow, our lives blossom, as those roses that we stop to take time to smell. So my dear sisters and brothers, know that Jesus Loves you, He loves each and everyone of us, and when we truly believe this, we will see the love of God in life’s beauty all around us, and in our own lives. Thank you Father Bill and Sister Bernadette, Bless their Holy Souls. Amen.
My sisters and brothers, today our podcast is about Jesus, Faith and Praise. Our podcast song is, ‘Fairest Lord Jesus’ and this song is about Jesus being the bright Light, His Love Purer than a soft starry night. Jesus is Almighty, giver of all life. Fairest Lord Jesus in whom we Worship and Glorify. He gives eternal life to those who believe. He gave the blind their sight, it was their Faith that set them free. His love is as in a snowy white dove, opens our eyes wide and our hearts keep His Word alive. He’s the creator of unfailing light, His love is greater than all of life. We celebrate the Lord and we proclaim His goodness, and we sing to the Lord our songs of Praise! Amen? So be it! These are all my thoughts that created this song after another teaching on Faith through yet another Holy Spirit Breakfast with my special mentors, Father Bill and Sister Bernadette. Bless their souls. My sisters and brothers, you’ve heard it said that Faith is believing without seeing, without even understanding, without proof. Faith is a precious gift. Our Christian Faith tells us that whoever believes in Jesus, will have eternal life, and Jesus tells us that our Faith will set us free. My friends, do we believe this? Can we, can you, can I, be set free from all our afflictions? Do we believe in Jesus? If Jesus is creator of unfailing light, creator of heaven and earth, if Jesus is Almighty, giver of all life and greater than all of life, if He is the fairest Lord Jesus in whom we worship and glorify, than, we must believe that through Faith, that our Faith can, and will, set us free.
My sisters and brothers, today our podcast is about discovering that the Lord was always there. Our podcast song is, ‘You Were Always There’, and this song is about, that’s right, the Lord always being there. One day many years ago I encountered a revelation about my own life. It was some time after I became more active in following the ways of our Lord. In living the Gospel, life to Gospel and Gospel to life. The closer I grew to Jesus, the deeper my personal relationship with Jesus grew, and the more understanding I was receiving. My whole body experienced some type of transformation. I was singing love songs to Jesus at where ever I would be, in what ever I was doing. This particular love song, ‘You Were Always There’, was created while my thoughts were pondering on my past and at the same time, discovering that the Lord was always in my life.
My sisters and brothers, our podcast today is about making Jesus Lord of our lives. Our podcast song is, ‘Make Jesus Lord of Your Life’. This song was actually written for my dear friend, Sister Bernadette. ‘God bless her soul’, I do miss her dearly. As I have mentioned many times before, Sister Bernadette and Father Bill were giving Holy Spirit Breakfast weekly, and one day she asked me, with her beautiful smile, this question. Quote: Sheila, have you written any songs with echoing chorus parts, you know, where you sing something and the people sing it back, a song where people will acknowledge and desire Jesus as Lord of their lives? Unquote. ‘Well I haven’t yet’, I told her, ‘but I will absolutely work on that’. She smiled and assured me that the Holy Spirit will guide me. And of course you know she was right. Quote, “My sheep hear my voice; I know them, and they follow me”. Unquote. This is my favorite Gospel verse, John 10:27. This verse is my life! Amen!
My sisters and brothers, happy Solemnity of The Most Holy Body and Blood of Christ, also known as Corpus Christi. Jesus tells us: Quote: “I am the living bread that came down from heaven; whoever eats this bread will live forever; and the bread that I will give is my flesh for the life of the world.” Unquote. John 6:51. Today our podcast song is ‘Little White Host’. This song and the story behind it and how it was created, has previously been in our podcast. The first time was in the beginning part of our podcast journey when The Little White Host was broadcast in July of 2020. The second time it was broadcast was this past May at the start of Easter week 5 Little White Host, our podcast then was focused on Faith. Today this song will help us in focusing on the Most Holy Body and Blood of Christ Jesus. Today our podcast will focus only on the Most Holy Body and Blood of our Lord Jesus Christ. My sisters and brothers, Jesus is speaking to you, Jesus is speaking to me. His Words are not only to be read during Sunday or Saturday Mass Service, then after, continue on our way doing what ever it is we do. No! These Words of Jesus are Life! This Host, is the Most Holy Body and Blood of Christ Jesus, this Jesus that we receive within our bodies, is Life! Jesus is giving us life! Amen!
My sisters and brothers, happy Solemnity of the Most Holy Trinity. Our podcast song is ‘Praise You Blessed Trinity’. This song and how it was created was broadcast in the beginning part of our podcast journey of 2020, as Segment 5, with a segment taken from our book, ‘Journey with Trust and Fire Within’. But today we will be taking a closer look at what the Most Holy Trinity means to us as believers. My dear friends, in the first chapter of Ephesians, verse 17, we read, Quote: “that the God of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of glory, may give you a spirit of wisdom and revelation resulting in knowledge of him”. Unquote. And this is my prayer for each of you. I leave you with this blessing from 2 Corinthians, chapter 13, verse 13. Quote: “ The grace of the Lord Jesus Christ and the love of God and the fellowship of the holy Spirit be with all of you”. Unquote. Amen. Have a safe and wonderful Memorial Day weekend everyone!
My sisters and brothers, Happy Pentecost Sunday! Today’s podcast song is, ‘Holy Spirit Pentecost’, and our podcast is about how our Easter Season is complete, from the Resurrection of Jesus on Easter, to Pentecost Sunday after the Ascension of Jesus, and all that took place within these seven weeks. One of my memories from the early 80s’ that I hold close to my heart, is about how Pentecost came alive in me and how my song, Holy Spirit Pentecost, came to be. I was going to the teachings on the Holy Spirit and on Pentecost, given by Father Bill McCarthy and Sister Bernadette Sheldon. These teachings were so powerful, they opened my mind like I never felt before and never dreamed possible. I kept wanting more. I deeply wanted the Holy Spirit to use me, to teach me everything, to fill me with Wisdom, to control me completely. The Holy Spirit truly became my Most Treasured Friend. It was at that time that my Holy Spirit Pentecost song, was created. It was at that time the Holy Spirit made his presence know to me with understanding, and inspired this song in me, and yes, this song does belong to the Holy Spirit, for after all, the Holy Spirit is the true writer in me, I am only the instrument. Praise be to God, Amen!
My sisters and brothers, Happy 7th week of Easter, and also the Ascension of the Lord. Today our podcast song is ‘Praise Be To You Jesus Christ’. Now the first part of this song was written as part of an Acclamation to be used for Catholic Mass Services, which I have used in many Catholic Churches from the middle of Nebraska to the Southern states throughout my journey. Although when we use this song as an Acclamation, the verses are not sung. However, when we sing it during a meditation, the whole song is sung. In the March of 1983, for meditation at a Catholic Mass Service, I sang this song for my Aunt Edna’s Funeral, (my dad’s sister), by request of her children. It was our way of celebrating her love and her life! This song is about how through the Cross of our Lord Jesus, we have been redeemed. How through the Blood of our Lord Jesus, we have been cleansed within. Our soul cries out, ‘Praise be to You Jesus Christ’! For within our very being, we have the heart of a bride on the wings of the Spirit of God! We are asking God to make us worthy to receive Him, to keep us wholly onto Him, so that we can be complete in Him. We are aware that we are unable to do anything unless He enables us. For Jesus is the Bread of Life eternal, Jesus heals our every need. Praise be to Jesus Christ forever and always! My friends, such a Mystery we have before our eyes. Jesus is the living bread, our Bread of Life Eternal. If you and I believe that we have been redeemed by the Blood of Jesus, then we must also believe we will be taken up with Him, as a bride on the wings of the Spirit of God, for the Spirit of God is in us. If I believe in the Mystery of my God, I must be ready for Him when He comes for me. If you believe in the Mystery of God, you must be ready for Him when He comes for you. The question is, are we ready? Do we, you and I, belong to Jesus? Well, lets see, are you doing as He wills in your life? Am I doing as He wills in my life? If we believe in Him and follow His ways, His commandments, then yes, we do belong to Jesus. We, you and I, hold A Mystery of our Religion. No, we can not understand this mystery, but all we need is Faith, remember, Faith is believing is what you can not see nor understand!
My dear friends, Happy 6th week of Easter, and, today is another Special Day, it’s Mother’s Day, a day of passing Love through your smile, send them your love, tell them of your love for them! My sisters and my brothers, for all our mothers, and, for all mothers everywhere, here with us on earth, or looking over us with their inner Spiritual smiles of Love from their heavenly home, a very happy and blessed Mother’s Day to all! You know, I love and miss my mom so much, and sometimes the memory of the way she would smile at me her smile of love, fills me with such joy, and I thank the Lord for her smile still blessing my life! Today’s podcast is about how Love, through just a smile, can be healing. Our podcast song is, ‘Pass That Smile’, and that smile we pass, is Love. God is in that smile, God is Love! Love is also at work in just a smile. Our song, ‘Pass that Smile’, is just a simple little song reminding us of God’s Love in a simple little smile. It was written while living in Goodlettsville, TN. Only twenty minutes from St. Joseph Catholic Church in Nashville, which was the church we were going to on Sunday mornings. It was in that church where the Holy Spirit kept nudging me with thoughts. The Reverend there gave a beautiful homily. Though I do not remember the words he spoke, I do remember the peacefulness of this church and the people therein. I stayed after the Mass Service, for I was aware of the promptings of the Holy Spirit. I usually keep my Spiritual Journal with me to be ready for times like these, and I must have stayed there until the inspirations within me were written down. Of course at that time, I wasn’t aware that these thoughts would be composed into a song. I was only writing what came into my thoughts. Like the reaching out to people I was witnessing, or the smiles I noticed being passed, and in response the brightness on faces from that simple little smile. I started realizing that a simple little smile is a form of God’s Love within us, and when we share that smile, we share part of God’s Love. What a blessing, right?
My sisters and brothers, Happy 5th week of Easter. Today’s podcast is about Faith, our podcast song is, ‘Little White Host’. This song was used in one of my earlier podcast. It’s on Faith, and Faith is believing without seeing. Faith gives hope. What is Faith? Faith is believing in something you can not see. When we receive Jesus in the form of bread and wine, in the form of a Little White Host, during Holy Eucharist at Mass, our faith tells us, this is JESUS we are receiving! Little White Host was composed in the middle eighties, it was Sister Bernadette, my special friend’s favorite song. Little White Host was written while I was living in the loft of a Colchester Log Cabin Home. I was attending a Catholic Church in the small town of Colchester, CT. At that time, the Church was having prayer meetings, which I loved going to, and the Priest there, was offering a one day a week course for 12 weeks on the Holy Eucharist. Again I found myself becoming more in love with our Divine Outcast, Jesus. Before this 12 week course was completed, this song, Little White Host, was born in me from the very Breath of God. Soon, though I did not know till a few years later, I would be commissioned as a Eucharistic minister in a smaller town of Pittsfield, NH. in the March of 1987’. I didn’t t know then, but I understand now, that our Lord was preparing me for my journey and ministry. God’s work in us is not always clear in our thoughts, however, our Faith in God is all we really need. I truly believe and I testify to you right now, that during my prayer time with Jesus, when I hear His soft whispers within me, I follow where He leads me. My sisters and my brothers, I know your thoughts, I have been asked before, ‘how do you know you are hearing the whispers of the Lord? How do you know it’s not your own thoughts? I hear you my friends, these are good questions. Now when I believe it’s the Holy Spirit nudging at my inner self, which is also the soft whispers of our Lord, then I take notice, and I listen for more, and I follow through, for when the Lord gives you the wisdom of His will, He also provides you with His strength to follow through. With all my heart and soul, I know that the Lord knows my desire is to follow His will, therefore, if I should take the wrong path, and I have, I know that He will in His mercy, lead me to the right path, and He has! The Lord knows my trust in Him is complete. If my heart and my desires are focus on the Lord, this alone is pleasing to the Lord. Like a parent who sees their child’s heart’s desire to do good, even if that child should make a mistake, doesn’t the child’s effort alone please that parent? So if you are focus on the Lord and you desire His will in you, this is pleasing to the Lord. Amen? Oh yes, Amen!!!
My sisters and brothers, Happy 4th week of Easter. Today’s podcast is about Praising the Lord and our podcast song is, ‘Praise The Lord’. This song has been with me and sung throughout all my journey for five decades. It was written for retreat gatherings, prayer groups, gospel shows and concerts, presentations, and also now and previously used in my podcasting. As I’ve mentioned in my previous podcast, the life of this song started with just a thought, while meditating on Scriptures. The traveling from Providence/Warwick retreat centers in R.I., to the Immaculata Retreat Center in Willimantic, CT., then back to My Father’s House Retreat Center in Moodus, CT., gave me opportunities for meditation on the scriptures that would stay in my thoughts, but I wasn’t aware of why, not until the Holy Spirit’s nudging became alive deep inside me. Did I mention, this song is another get up, clap your hands, dancing and singing Praises to the Lord? Yes, another ALLELUIA Praise the Lord song! Amen!
My sisters and brothers, Happy 3rd week of Easter. I’ll be wishing you this for 4 more weeks, because there are 7 weeks of Easter. The Church prepares us during these weeks for the Ascension of the Lord, which is on the 7th week, and also for the following week of Pentecost Sunday. The song for this podcast is, ‘Help Me Find The Way’. It came to me during many of my ‘centering prayer’ rituals, until it was completed. I spoke of ‘Centering Prayer’ in one of my previous podcast, also know as, ‘Contemplative Prayer’. It is a form of prayer which brings you deeper into relationship with Jesus. Now this song is a bitter sweet song to Jesus. I am expressing to Jesus how much I know of His Love for me and how much I know He cares, and at the same time, how much I can see in His eyes within my heart, that He is worried, and how much He’s troubled and hurting. I’m asking Jesus how can I help Him, and I’m asking Jesus to help me find the way to His promised Land. Yes, Bitter Sweet. My special friend, Gwen, again helps me with putting another song on paper. And again, I was able to sing this song with her choir on a special day. A day which my son, John, was saying yes in his own way to the Lord, and receiving Jesus in the Holy Eucharist for the first time, for this day was his First Holy Communion day.
My sisters and brothers, I pray that your Easter Season fills your lives with the Blessings of the Resurrection of Jesus. Our podcast song is, ‘Prince of Peace, King of Kings’. Now this song made it’s entrance giving all Glory, Honor and Praise to our Lord, Jesus Christ, in a captivating melodic way. The tune is quite catchy and has a get up, clap your hands and dance joyfully for the Lord, sound. This song was getting its energy deep inside my being, one verse at a time every time I would be with Sister Bernadette, for she also would be so joyful and encouraging with my songwriting. So, once again here’s another song of many, in deep memory of my First Spiritual Director, who has always made me feel like ‘her special friend’. Now I played my12 string Ovation and sang this song at countless prayer gatherings. It was part of celebrations at retreat centers, churches, prayer groups and Spiritual gatherings. It was especially engaging at Father Bill’s and Sister Bernadette’s Holy Spirit Breakfast in Bristol, CT., and following them into, ‘My Father’s House Retreat Center’ in Moodus, CT. Yes, for sure, I loved being with them and serving in which ever way I could at their retreat center, for this place also was a very special place to grow in the Lord.
Good morning my sisters and brothers, Happy and Blessed Easter and may you experience the Resurrection of Jesus in your very own heart and soul. Our podcast song is, ‘JESUS Lives’. This song was written while on my 15 year mission. It was while living in Pittsfield, N. H. I was a music minister there at our Catholic Church of Our Lady of Lourdes, and wrote this with my guitar, for Easter morning. My folk group and I went over it during the beginning part of Holy Week, and also just before Mass started on Easter morning. We sang it there for the Easter morning entrance and again at the end of Mass. They were absolutely great and they sang it so beautifully. Unfortunately, that year there was also our last year together, for we moved on to continue on our journey. In the churches that I ministered in music, while on my mission, this song was always my Easter morning song, bringing all Glory, Honor and Praise to our Lord Jesus Christ! This song came alive as I pondered on our Blessed Mary, and how she must have been so joyful to see her risen Son conquered death and darkness, and rule in Majesty! Then thoughts of the Resurrection of Jesus filled my soul with so much joy, and to know that He will raise us also, if we believe in Him. Wow, in the Gospel of John 6:40, Jesus himself tells us: Quote: “For this is the will of my Father, that everyone who sees the Son and believes in him may have eternal life, and I shall raise him [on] the last day.” Unquote. This is the promise Jesus made to us!
My sisters and brothers, Palm and Passion Sunday starts Holy Week. Our podcast song is, CRUCIFIXION. This song is also based on Holy Scripture from the Crucifixion of Jesus. In the later part of the seventies, I was at the beginning part of my thirsting for Jesus. I so desired for a personal relationship with Jesus my Lord and Savior. I found myself many a times where I would be alone in my home just longing to know more and more, and it seemed I could not get enough to satisfy my thirst. Always going to Father Bill’s and Sister Bernadette’s Holy Spirit Breakfast each Wednesday for deeper understanding. This particular year at the start of lent was a very special time for me, I found myself in love with the Divine Outcast. I was in love with the Word of God, with the Will of God, with God’s love that He has for each of His children, for you, and me. That Lenten season opened not only my heart, but my mind as well. I remember during lent of 1977, the haunting of my inner soul, as I longed to be receiving a deeper and more personal relationship with my Lord Jesus. This CRUCIFIXION song came to me with the music’s haunting sound that played its melody over and over till this song was complete. But, not without much support from my very dear and special friend, Gwen, who helped me put it onto music sheets with those notes and different parts, that stirred my inner soul. Thank you my dear Gwen, your special friendship is a true blessing in my life!
My dear brothers and sisters, we are into the 5th. week of Lent and the song for this podcast is, ‘Father, Forgive Them’. This song is about the last words of Jesus when He was Crucified, and again, this song also was deeply haunting my inner self until it came alive in me. My brothers and sisters, another deep soul searching prayer. Jesus gave his life for you and for me. Would we do the same? Would you give your life for your friends? Would I give my life for my friends? We like to think we would, we may even answer quickly and without hesitation, yes. But when I ponder on what our Lord Jesus went through for each and every one of us, I can not help but think that I would not be strong enough to. I desperately pray that the strength of Jesus enters my body and soul, so that I may be able to give my life for my friends. I know there is no greatest love then this. The Gospel tells us in John, chapter 15, verse 13. Jesus says, Quote: “No one has greater love than this, to lay down one’s life for one’s friends.” Unquote. Each year during Lent, the church reads from the New Testament about the Crucifixion of Jesus. We hear those last seven sayings Jesus spoke as He hung there on the Cross. Not one Gospel writer will give us all seven sayings Jesus spoke, however, each of the four Apostles combined tells the story on the Crucifixion of Jesus.
My dear brothers and sisters, this is the 4th. Week of Lent and the song for this podcast is, ‘Keep Watch With Me’. When I first wrote this song it didn’t end with, ‘Keep Watch With Me’, but it continued with a short talk and then right into the Last Words of Jesus, in the song, ‘Father, Forgive Them’. It was written actually as a meditative piece, a prayer in music form, for Holy Week. And even though it was copyright, it was not complete because this piece was never recorded, until now. Only now it will be a two part prayer in music form, this week, ‘Keep Watch With Me’, and next week when it continues into, ‘Father, Forgive Them’. Holy Week for me was always a haunting deep in my soul longing to come alive in me. These two songs came alive through my meditation during Lenten season one year. Again it was during the weekly Holy Spirit Breakfast with Father Bill and Sister Bernadette, who’s teachings on the Holy Bible truly were powerful and deeply heartfelt. If I haven’t shared my feelings of them before, I’m sharing it right now, these two Holy people of God, are Saints who walked among us, and brought those of us who were there at the Holy Spirit Breakfast and are still here on earth, to Jesus. My sisters and my brothers, ‘Keep Watch with Me’ is a deep soul searching prayer. Imagine yourself knowing that you will be going through torture, but, you’re nearly to the point of extreme physical and or mental fatigue. A condition that I can’t even begin to comprehend, this is a heart heart wrenching condition.
My dear brothers and sisters, this is the 3rd week of Lent, our podcast song is, ‘His Sorrows’, and is based on the ‘15 Prayers revealed by our Lord to Saint Bridget of Sweden’. Taken from the Prayers of St. Bridget: Quote: As St. Bridget for a long time wanted to know the number of blows Our Lord received during His Passion, He one day appeared to her and said: “I received 5480 blows on My Body. If you wish to honor them in some way, say 15 Our Fathers and 15 Hail Marys with the following Prayers for a whole year. When the year is up, you will have honored each one of My Wounds.”Pope Pius IX took notice of these 15 Prayers with the prologue; and he approved them on May 31, 1862, recognizing them as true and for the good of souls. This sentence of Pope Pius IX has been confirmed by the realization of the promises by all persons who have recited the prayers and by numerous supernatural facts by which God wanted to make known their exact truth. A collection of small books, these prayers among them, was approved by the Great congress of Malines on August 22, 1863. These prayers can serve as the Way of the Cross. Unquote. To continue, the St. Bridget of Sweden Parish website states, Quote: Pope Benedict XV said that while belief in the promises is not mandated by the Church, it is permissible to believe in them "out of human faith." Now that we've covered that, let's take a look at these beautiful prayers. Unquote. Then he goes on to say, Quote: Taken together, they serve as a meditation on the Passion and death of Jesus, focusing especially on the physical suffering He endured. They are beautiful, but intense. Unquote. Now this song, His Sorrows, came to me through my meditation on these prayers. I learned of these prayers through the weekly Holy Spirit Breakfast I was attending.
My dear brothers and sisters, today my podcast song is, ‘There’s a War’. As I mentioned in the first week of lent, last week, lent is also a perfect opportunity, for you and for me, to examine our own hearts, on where we are, where are we going, and, to ask ourselves, is my life centered on God, or, myself? I mention this again only because this song, There’s a War, has brought back into my thoughts, my Christmas Reflection, from where I was, and where I was going. This song was written about actual events that took place. My brothers and sisters, I know, you’re thinking, why is she talking about a Christmas reflection during Lent, right? Well, bear with me my friends, while I share with you how this Christmas reflection fits into Lent. Now in the late seventies into the beginning of the eighties, I wrote a few articles in the Bristol Press for their little corner story of their newspaper. It was Christmas season and I was reflecting on the Crucified Christ, because, at that time, I became more aware of God’s sadness. Now this sadness I speak of is written in my Christmas Reflection.
My dear brothers and sisters, today my podcast song is, ‘Blessed Mary of Seven Sorrows’. This is our first week of Lent. Happy Lent everyone. Lent is also a perfect opportunity, for you and for me, to examine our own hearts, on where we are, and where are we going, and to ask ourselves, is my life centered on God, or, myself? You know it’s good for us to take time to examine ourselves. I like to do this as often as I can, but I don’t do it as often as I’d like. Ironic, right? So, when opportunities like this present themselves to me, I literally become joyful and my heart opens to Blessed Mary’s Heart, for I know she wants and desires with all her heart, yes With All Her HEART, to lead me to her Son, Jesus, and to know Jesus. A-ha, do you, my brothers and sisters, know why? Why our Blessed Mary wants you, and me, to know Jesus? Because to know Jesus, is to know, Love, Peace and Joy. The heart of Mary is open, what better heart is there, than the Faithful Heart of the Holy Mother of God, our Mother too, who deeply loves you, and me. Here’s the experience I received in this song’s creation. I believe the first time the Seven Sorrows of Blessed Mary became vividly real to me, was while I was still in my twenties, and I could not deterred these events from my thoughts, nor would I want to, still, this music inside me, kept haunting my Spirit until this song was complete, in the early spring of 1978.
My dear friends, today we will be talking on the subject of how sometimes we have blinders on our eyes, and our ears become deaf, and our podcast song, called ‘Jesus’, concurs with our witnessing. This song dates back to my earlier years when my weeks were being introduced to prayer groups, Bible teachings, and listening of the heart. And what thunderstruck me, was how easily distraction would make its way into my thoughts, especially while seeking to see Jesus more clearly, seeking to hear Jesus deeper in my being. Tell me my friends, have your thoughts been twisting in ways which stopped you from what you were seeking out to do? And the worst, has it confused you from knowing the Truth, the Truth which you already knew inside you, but still questioned it? If so my friends, you are not alone.
My dear brothers and sisters, today’s podcast song is, ‘Talk To Jesus’. This song is one of my earlier songs from the beginning of my song writings. It was while my children were in first and second grade. In fact, though they may not be aware of it, they were the reason this song was created, it was written with them in mind, in my heart and my thoughts. Around that time, I was doing volunteer work for a Catholic book store. Often I would buy little books and things for my children. A few hanging trinkets and a card with Jennifer’s name and what the name means, on it, a Bible for Johnny, oh, but not just any Bible, this was a comic book style Catholic Bible for children. He must have read it over and over, as he did his other comic books. I also brought home many children’s Picture Christian books with its own story telling tapes filled with songs and music. They both were impressed with these, and Johnny especially took a shine to them. He would come home from school with his little friend from up the street, and they both would sit with these story books that Johnny so loved to share. My heart held on to what I was witnessing in my little boy as he would explain ‘Jesus’ to his friend.
My dear friends, today’s podcast song, again brings me back in time, to a familiar place where changes and growth were deepening my Faith in God. This song, ‘This Faith I Have’, was written while I was just a baby Christain. By that I mean, I was just learning. Like, how the Holy Spirit is more than part of a Blessing, before and after a prayer or prayers are prayed, you know, “In the Name of the Father, and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, amen”. I’ve mentioned previously how I started going to prayer meetings, and how I would be attentive to the Bible teachings given by Fr. Bill and Sister Bernadette at their Holy Spirit Breakfast. Their teachings made Truth come alive for me. Faith, my dear friends, comes from hearing. It was through these teachings that my heart longed to know more about Jesus, about the Holy Spirit. At the same time of being filled Spiritually, I also encountered rejections and difficulties. And yet, it was as though Jesus Himself was listening to my heart. And I know He was. He hears our heart’s cries and He hears the joys our hearts sings. This song really is pretty much telling this type of story, the before and the after. Faith, I asked Jesus in my life. Faith, I told Jesus my thoughts. Faith, I have a relationship with God. Faith, God answered my cries and replaced my tears with His Gift of Joy! Faith, is a precious Gift. This song is one of my first deep prayers to Jesus.
My sisters and my brothers, today’s podcast takes me back in time to where life for me, and for those in and surrounding my life, would no longer be living in the familiar way that was known, because now, changes, growth, losses, and stepping into an unfamiliar new journey, was near and becoming real for me. The year of 1983 was to be, a year of preparation of the uncertainties of what was to be, my life. I have little by little, given myself to the Lord. A dying to self so that I may become all that I was intended to be, so that Jesus can truly be alive in me. I wanted to know the Will of Jesus, who was calling me into His ministry. I wanted our Lord to teach me His ways, to follow Him. As much as my Yes to Jesus was certain, and as much as I was filled with the Joy of God Himself, there was also sadness deeply absorbing my heart and my mind. Yet, I could not oscillate myself from this deep Trust I have in the Lord. You see, God has done great things for me in my life, His Blessings overfilled my being, I could not take back my Yes to God, nor, would I ever want to. My greatest desire was then and is now, for His Will to be done in me, in my life. His will, not mine, my own will is so limited, why would I ever consider mine? Right?
This song, ‘To Follow You’, is about my prayer to God from that time in 1983. This song is one of my deepest prayers to Jesus.
My sisters and brothers, today’s podcast is about following the Will of God, and the song title is, ‘Follow His Will.’ It was written near the end of the seventies, at a time where prayer meetings were very important to my way of life. As I mentioned in my previous podcasts, my dear friend Gwen introduced me to the Office of Readings, and to Prayer meetings. It was also around the same time where our good friend, the Reverend, Father Tom, would visit with us and be a part of our circle of Prayers. Gwen not only introduced me to this wonderful book of the Divine Office, and to prayer meetings, she also lead me right into the next chapter in my life, the weekly Holy Spirit Breakfast with Father Bill and Sister Bernadette. Or rather a more correct way of saying this is, the Holy Spirit of God lead Gwen to help me on my journey through prayer. I find it so wonderfully amazing how God speaks to us, through prayers, through nature, and through people. And all that we really need, to either receive His Words or be a Messenger of His Words, is to be open to His Words with our whole being, which is, to walk humbly with our Lord, which is, to be open to the Will of God.
My dear friends, are we? Are you, am I, open to the Will of God? Do you, do I, silently listen for God’s Words in our thoughts, in our surroundings, in people? Do we take time to listen? Even through the quietness of what seems to be nothingness, God is there. Even through the loudness of what seems to be pointlessness, God is still there. God is always there, right where you are, right where I am. The difference is, we may not feel His presence because, we won’t hear His Words through the loudness, you and I need to be quiet to listen, so as to be able to hear His WHISpers, His Words.
The song ‘Follow His Will’, tells about someone who is goodness to all people, who brings peace to all people, who loves all people with God’s Love. It is also about the hardship he suffered from within and in his life. I dedicate this song for whom it was written, our good friend, the Reverend, Father Tom. This song is also, for you who’s listening, sometimes discouragement can truly weigh us down. My mom, bless her soul, Lord, has countless times pulled me through my countless discouraging days, weeks, months and even years. She would tell me to follow my heart, as I too would tell my Children to follow their heart, and as I tell you also. Follow your heart, be not afraid, follow that dream, God has planed out for you. Be open to His will for you, rays of His light will guide you. Follow His Will.
My friends, today’s podcast is about the Baptism of Jesus. This Feast ends the Christmas season, and also marks the first week in ordinary time. My song, ‘With You I Am Well Pleased’, is about Jesus being baptized, and is also based on Holy Scripture. Three of the four Holy Gospel Writers, Matthew, Mark and Luke, wrote about, “The Baptism of Jesus.” These stories from the Holy Bible is what stirred my thoughts, and my soul filled with so much joy as this song, ‘With You I Am Well Pleased’, was coming alive inside me. John the Baptist starts this song with him proclaiming that he baptize with water, but that one more powerful than he will come, the straps of whose sandals he is not worthy to untie. Then John Baptized Jesus in the Jordan. And as a Dove, the Spirit rested on Jesus. A voice came from Heaven, and said, ‘You are my Son whom I love, with You I am well pleased. As soon as Jesus came up out from the water, He saw the heavens being torn open.’ And this my friends, is how our song was created. Amen.
My sisters and brothers, today’s podcast is focused on the Epiphany of our Lord, which is on the Sunday between January 2 and January 8, depending on which day the Holy Birth of Jesus —Christmas Day, takes place. The reason for these changing dates are not to confuse us, but quite the opposite, to make accessible these Holy Days for us the people. The first Sunday following the Birth of Jesus, the Church celebrates the Feast of the Holy Family. Eight days following the Birth of Jesus, the Octave of Christmas, the Church celebrates the Solemnity of Mary – the Holy Mother of God, which takes place on which ever day the 1st. of January falls on. The second Sunday following the Birth of Jesus, the Church celebrates the Solemnity of the Epiphany of our Lord and the Most Holy Name of Jesus, even though, Epiphany is 12 days after the Birth of Jesus. The third Sunday following the Birth of Jesus, the Church celebrates the Baptism of the Lord, which marks the last day of the Christmas Season, and following the Baptism of the Lord, is the first week of ordinary time. See where I’m going with these specific dates? As I mentioned earlier, these dates are not to confuse us, but rather quite the opposite, they are simply to make accessible to us, these Holy and Blessed Days of the life of Jesus through Holy Scriptures. My song is about the three kings, and how these Wise Men were lead by a guiding Star to the little town of Bethlehem, where they found Baby Jesus in a small and cold stable wrapped in swaddling sheets. They traveled from distant lands and brought their gifts most rare, and placed them with Him there, beside His manger bed, where Jesus laid His head. These wise men knew that Jesus is Lord. We know that Jesus is Lord through history handed down to us, through the Holy Bible. We hear of the Birth of Jesus through the Church’s teachings. And, we may not be following a guiding star, but, we too can come to see this tiny Prince of Peace, we too can come to see this mighty King of kings. We can sing our songs of praise to Him. We, you and I, can also worship and adore Him, for Jesus is the Christ, He is Immanuel, God is with us! In Hebrew, the name Immanuel means, God is with us. What a wonder this is, to know God is with us! Amen.
My friends, for 4 weeks we have been focusing on the coming of Jesus. Christmas Day is very near. Jesus is almost here. Our hearts must be filled with such joy for this precious Gift of Love that our Father sends us. I remember my heart overfilling with joy for this precious Gift of Love, through our first song for this 4th Advent week called, ‘I Saw’. This song came to me during my dream. I could see clearly but, not with my eyes, it seemed I was seeing with the eyes of my heart. I saw Bethlehem, a tiny manger, a star so bright, the Birth of Jesus Christ. Then I saw Joseph’s smiling eyes, and the love Blessed Mary has, a sleeping baby, our King, our Prince of Peace. Our second song is called, ‘Born for you and me’. It is based on Scriptures: Matthew Chapter 1, verse 23, & Luke Chapter 2, verses 9-12. Our third song is called ‘Christ our Savior was born this day’. Being one of my first songs written in 1978, I was blessed to have my special friend Gwen help me with the notes and chords on music sheets, Gwen was my Chord Arranger. Thank you my dear friend! This song tells the birth of our Savior and also tells of His ministry. It’s a Christmas hymn filled with hope, peace and love, as we give Praise to Jesus.
.My friends, this is the third week of Advent. We will continue to focus on the coming of Jesus, with music. Our first song of this this Advent week is called, ‘Dear Lord’. It came to me while I was living in Nebraska. It was the year of 1992 during the Advent season. In fact, most of my Christmas and Advent songs came to me during this time of 1992. A time when I was feeling my heart break from being so far from my own family. This second song is called, ‘God Loves Us So’. In this song I’m witnessing what I know to be true about how God Loves us so much. The third song is called, ‘Christ Emmanuel’. It is a song of the Lord coming to us through His Holy Son, the angels singing to God to honor Christ our King, telling the world of Christ Emmanuel. It is also about a Virgin, an Infant Child, a King, us being released from our sins, our Hearts burning with His light, the light of God, the Word of God.
My friends, we are into the second week of Advent. As we continue our focus on music taking us through our Advent mini journeys, and continue to wait for Jesus, we start this second week with the song, ‘Show us Your Baby Jesus’, which is also based on Luke 1: 28, 35 & 32. The second song is called, ‘Flame of Love’. Here we are asking our Blessed Mary, the Mother of God, to bind us to Her Immaculate Heart, and to prepare our hearts for the coming of Jesus. This song is more of hymn praise to our Blessed Mary. Our third song takes us into a more familiar way of preparing our hearts and our live. This song is called, ‘Peace on Earth and Goodwill to All’.
My dear friends, these four weeks of Advent will be focused on music taking us through Advent mini journeys. The song starting our journeys, is called, Rejoice Blessed Mary Rejoice. This song was written at a time where my dearest prayer partner and friend, Gwen, introduced me to the Liturgy of the Hours, she also was my chord arranger for this Hymn, and many others. The Liturgy of the Hours also played a big part in this song, for it was through reading the, ‘Common of the Blessed Virgin Mary Evening Prayer I’, that this song was created and is based on. The second song includes the Hail Mary Prayer called, Mother Mary, this one is with my special Franciscan sister and singing partner, Huguette, who has many times opened a Christmas concert with me, singing ‘Mother Mary’. The third song will be on the Gospel of Luke, about Mary’s Praise, verses 46-55, and this song is called, ‘Magnificat’.
My sisters and brothers, Cornfritters and Kolaches is our podcast song today. This podcast is about the Prairieland Country Fest and how this song was born. My friends, I know what you’re thinking, because it’s what I also was thinking, how can a song be called Cornfritters and Kolaches? Right? I hear you. But I assure you, it is. It was the year of 1991 in the Prairies of Nebraska, with their corn husking and all their pig and cow farms everywhere. Every year there would be a Hugh festival going on at one of the larger Country Festivals. This place is called Prairieland Country Fest, and they have their own camping ground for the public, making them the largest! These Country Festivals are so entertaining and so interesting with all their different kinds of crafts and events and shows going on. Families love these for there’s something for everyone. This year they were having a Songwriter’s event. Though I was no stranger in performing at Country festivals all over, this would be my first for a Songwriter’s event. I know, you’re thinking why wouldn’t I want to, Right? The truth is, I just never gave it any thought. While singing, writing and praising the Lord is my passion, I just wasn’t sure about a songwriter’s event. Now after all the artists did their performances, we were all backstage together when the festival’s owner came over to us and asked for us to be part of a songwriter’s event. It took me some time to think about it but I did come around, and after agreeing, he went onto the stage and announced to the people at the festival, that this following week they will be having a songwriters event opened to everyone. Then he called us up onto the stage again and said, our performers will be participating. They had a big barrel type looking hat on stage, what seemed to be filled with lots of tiny pieces of paper. We each were told to pull one out and hold on to it until further notice. After everyone who was going to be part of this event, (way too many to count), we were all told this: Look at your piece of paper. What ever is written on that piece of paper has to be the Title of your song, and that Title must be included in your song, after everyone has performed their song, 10 singers will be chosen for their broadcast studio to record their new Prairieland Country Fest. of 1991 Cassettes, with 5 songs on each side. Then he said; go now and do this and return next week with your new song. My piece of paper? It said, Cornfritters and Kolaches. Wow, what is Kolaches? Now I know I needed to find a Library! We didn’t have cell phones or computers back then, this was 1991!
My dear sisters and brothers, today’s podcast song is actually a hymn based on the Holy Scripture, Psalm 96, verses 1-5,7,8, and 11-13, and the title of this Psalm is, ‘King of the Earth’, and this podcast is about our Lord Jesus Christ the King! In the month of November, the last Sunday of the Liturgical Calendar, is the Solemnity of Christ the King of the Universe. The website of the Divine office.org tells us this: Quote: ‘On this day we celebrate the supreme authority of our Lord Jesus Christ as King of the Universe. This Sunday’s solemnity reminds us that his divine reign invites all mankind to “seek the peace of Christ in the Kingdom of Christ.” After the Second Vatican Council, this celebration was placed on the last Sunday before the beginning of Advent on the Liturgical Calendar’. UnQuote.
In the late seventies as I was becoming more familiar with the meaning of this celebration of the last Sunday of the Liturgical calendar, my heart kept singing Praises to Jesus Christ, our Lord, our King, our God. I heard music coming from inside me with words I remembered reading from one of the Psalms, and I kept singing this from within my soul until I realized, this is the hymn the Lord God wants. So I began to put the music on paper with the words based on Psalm 96, and through the grace of Jesus, this hymn, Sing to the Lord, was created, and sung, during Mass celebration in churches of many States, and also at Father Bill’s and Sister Bernadette’s Holy Spirit Breakfast.
My dear friends, todays song and prayer is called, Heal my ways Dear Lord To the Likeness of Jesus Christ, and it is about the Lord healing us to His likeness, if we ask Him to.
This song was written during a baffling time in my life, but it was also during a time of learning. From 1979 to1984, a five year preparation time for my journey ahead, even while I had no idea of this journey or what it would entail. At this time I only knew the longing I so desired in knowing Jesus, following Jesus, and having a personal relationship with my Lord and Savior. I found myself seeking God’s Wisdom, nonetheless, I remember thinking, could one like myself who is without college education, be kept from being in ministry? I’m not holy, though I’d like to be, I’m not religious, and my younger self lived in lies of fear, not peace. I so desired a personal relationship with the Lord, but is what I desire, reachable? When we get on our knees and we ask Him to touch us, He does. When we tell the Lord how sorry we are for the wrong we have caused and for what we have failed to do, He forgives us and molds us by scraping away the lies we held on to, and the bitterness that poisoned our lives. When we ask the Lord to heal our ways, to help us walk in His paths, in His ways, God rejoices and He does help us. He touches the eyes of our hearts with understanding. He kindles in us His burning light so that we may see clearly His ways, He gives us wisdom, to know His will in our lives, and He strengthens us to be able to follow His ways. I know this is true, for I witness to what I have seen and heard, when my heart sang to the Lord this song of prayer, He answered me. When I ask the Lord to take my heart and my mind and mold them to His likeness, He touched my eyes, the eyes of my heart He touched with wisdom, and He kindled in me His burning light. He Heal my ways. He is teacher of unity, of peace and harmony. He taught me how to walk in the ways, how to follow Him. How to follow His examples, Jesus Christ, who died for you, for me, so you and I can have life eternal. He saved me and healed my ways to the likeness of Jesus Christ. He will save you, and heal your ways, to the likeness of Jesus Christ also. Isn’t this what we want? Jesus in our lives? Yes. Amen.
My sisters and brothers, today’s podcast brings to my thoughts a memory of one of my beloved aunts, bless her soul. This song, ‘Somebody Needs You, my Lord Jesus’, was composed during one of the sadist times in my aunt Yvette’s life. It was during these days she asked me to pray for my uncle Adrien, her husband, who was very sick. ‘Yes, of course aunt Yvette, I will pray for him’, I told her. Nevertheless, when I got off the phone with her, I was distraught, for I knew, she was really searching for a miracle, and, I had no idea what the Lord was asking of me, except, to comfort and to pray. Praying, much praying, is what I did, and I knew while this was comforting her, be that as it may, I also knew that I could not give to her what she desperately wanted. During that week my aunt’s beloved husband and my cousins’ beloved father, passed on from this life. Now when my own beloved mom passed from this earthly life, I could feel my dad’s heart break, bless his soul, and all that he went through, seemed so impossible for anyone to bear. Now this song, ‘Somebody needs You my Lord Jesus, was born through my prayers during the time of my aunt’s sufferings. “I’m praying to the Lord about someone’s eyes crying, the loneliness someone is feeling, the heartbreak, and I’m asking for the Lord to help her understand God’s plan, to take away her fears, to dry her tears and to give her a peaceful heart again. I’m praying to the Lord for her to be able to carry on, to guide her during the days and through the nights. I’m telling the Lord she knows her beloved husband is with Him, but that her loss is so hard for her to bear.” Now while this song was written for my beloved aunt in her time of need, it is prayed to the Lord, for every person who has suffered beloved loss in their lives. Amen.
My sisters and brothers, our podcast today is about the teachings our Lord instills in us, and our podcast song is, ‘Teach Me Lord’. The story behind our song is about a Baby Christain wanting to know everything, and yes, I am that baby Christain. I hear your thoughts my friends, right now you are thinking, wasn’t she a teenager once and didn’t she know everything as a teen? Yes, perhaps I did, or at the very least thought I did. And now you’re thinking, what happened? Right? I became an adult is what happened, and the smarts I had, or thought I had, was very short lived. Young adults and young parents alike are discovering that they never stop learning. And as both a young adult and young parent in my late twenties, I was indeed on this path of Knowing, that I, did not know everything! And that I never will! As I mentioned, this Baby Christain wanted to know everything. I had a longing inside me that kept my heart searching to know more, I was attending daily Mass, going to teachings, going to prayer groups. In fact, our parish Deacon, my very dear friend, Mickey, (who has a powerful love for the book of Psalms), and I, the three of us, would hold prayer meetings in our Church. I loved these. Still, my heart longed for more, and yet it seemed the more I learned about the Lord, the less I knew, and I just could not quench this hunger and thirst inside me. I was also going to Father Bill’s and Sister Bernadette’s Holy Spirit Breakfast every week, where my thirst for the Lord did not only fill my soul, but kept growing more and more. Then the Lord reminded me that through the waters He will save me, He told me not to be afraid for He will be my strength. He is greater than life. He is all Mighty God. And I knew that I would make it through with the Lord, for with the Lord, all things are possible. You see, my Dependence truly is on the Lord! And this is how our song was created. Amen.
My sisters and brothers, today’s podcast is about God’s Calling us, and our podcast song is ‘Here I Am Lord’. I know you also must have heard other songs with that same title. There’s two beautiful ones I can think of which I’ve heard sung in church, one is by Dan Schutte and the other is by Michael Ward, (no, no relation to me, that I know of). You may have also heard sermons or teachings, or Scripture readings with the words here I am, in them. The Bible has many Scripture verses with them.
One day many years ago during the silence of my centering prayer, which led me into contemplative prayer, I heard soft Whispers Calling to me. Sometimes I would hear, ‘my small one’, sometimes the Whispers would say, ‘my little one’, sometimes ‘my child’, or ‘my own, or daughter, or friend, or my name sheila’, but no matter how the Whispers would Call out to me, I would answer, here I am Lord. Then, God’s presence and action truly would bring me into an un-awareness of anything outside my own being. These prayers are truly so powerful. I have been praying Centering Prayer for a very long time, ever since my Spiritual Directors, Father Bill McCathy and Sister Bernadette Sheldon taught me this way of praying. Centering Prayer is a Christian silent prayer that prepares oneself into contemplative prayer. During this prayer, you receive and experience God’s presence deep within you, deeper than breathing and even deeper than consciousness itself, for you are truly and clearly aware of everything taking place within you, while at the same time you are also unaware of anything outside your own body, you become enveloped into a truly mystic experience. Oh how I longed for these to never end. During this Contemplative prayer, I experienced in the deepest part of me, singing prayers to the Lord, and hearing the beginning creation of my song, ‘Here I Am Lord’. In this song, I am longing for that oneness with God. My friends, Meditate on the Word of God daily, talk to Him in your prayers. Listen for His soft Whispers in the silence of your prayers. Breathe in and out the Holy Name of Jesus. This practice will bring you into deeper relationship with God the Father, God the Son and God the Holy Spirit. Amen.
My dear sisters and brothers, Trust In Jesus (with every Beat of your Heart). This is our podcast song today. And the question is, do we really trust in Jesus? Do I trust in Him with every Beat of my Heart? We’ll come back to that question.
How about a child of God. If I am a child of our Heavenly Father, then shouldn’t I trust in the Lord as I did with my own earthly Father? When we where children, did we not trust that our parents would do the very best for us? Did we not trust our parents completely? As children we do, we trust in the one who takes care of us, the one who feeds us, who cloths us, who comforts us, who dries our tears and heals our wounds. As we can imagine the list truly is endless, but you see where I’m going with this. As a child, we do trust, in our parents or whoever is taking care of us and we trust with our whole being. Now, that question in the beginning, do we really trust in Jesus? Do I trust in Him with every Beat of my Heart who gives me life? By the way, with every beat of my heart is not a mistake. The reason behind the beat is, a beating heart, every Beat is our Father’s Love. Through the grace and mercy of God, His Love is in every breath I breathe.
NOW, what was that question again? Oh yes, do I really trust in Jesus with every Beat of my Heart? I do, with my whole being. Jesus came to me in my heart, assuring me He will never leave me. He will never leave you either. He reached out for me and I reached for Him. He’s reaching for you also. I did not depend on my own strength, for it was in my weakness where He gave me His strength. He will be your strength too. He brought me out of darkness and into His light, and keeps me safe. He will bring you out from the dark and into the light and keep you safe. I talk to the Lord in prayer, and He answers me, He knows my heart. Talk to the Lord in your prayers, He hears your heart. I do and forever will put All my Trust in Jesus, with every Beat of my Heart. Trust in Jesus my friends. God is Love! And this is how this song was written. Through the Holy Spirit, through God’s Love, amen.
My dear sisters and brothers, before we continue today, I wanted to bring into detailed clarity the process of putting my songs from the 70s and 80s onto music sheets from the cassette recordings. I think I’ve mentioned my special friend Gwen to you before. Gwen, besides being my Spiritual sister and being spiritually instrumental in helping me grow in prayers and prayer groups, she also has tremendously helped me with my music. Yes, I had a piano so finding the notes was easy, and yes, with the guitar that I received from Santa one year, the chords too were familiar, but putting it on music sheets, from a voice recording, well, that took professionalism. And that is not me. Gwen helped me transfer my recording tapes onto music sheets, with the key signature, the time signature, the chord arrangements, all the different kinds of notes including triplets, and all that was needed. Then they were ready for copyright, and even more importantly, ready for a musician, like Gwen, to play them, and she played my songs so beautifully, as I would hear them within my own soul. Gwen and her husband Joe, have been and are truly deep blessings in my life. Thank you Gwen, thank you Joe!
God is so good, He not only gives us life, but He provides for all our needs. We may not always realize this at the time, but if we, you and I, examine our own lives, we will begin to see a pattern, and if we open our minds to the deep discoveries, wow, we barely will be able to hold back our tearful eyes from the awesomeness of God’s Love! Now this is exactly what happened to me in the year of 1982.
The song is, ‘I Look at my Life Lord’ and the story behind this song is nothing less than amazing. Within this song is the Twist of Faith, an awakening of God’s Love.
My sisters and brothers, today is yet a another podcast that brings us back to my yesteryears with a song called, Your Will would be done, written of course, through God’s Grace and mercy and the Inspirations of the Holy Spirit. The story behind this song tells a time of troublesome in our world. Back in those days I was attending weekly Holy Spirit Breakfast. These meetings would have guest speakers giving witness, and later we would continue with teachings from Father Bill and Sister Bernadette, and somewhere in between we had praising songs. Now this was called the Holy Spirit Breakfast because it was our inner spirits being fed and lifted with food for our minds. Although these meeting would start with coffee, tea and pastries, the real deal as we all know, were the rest of the stories and teachings. This song also brings my thoughts to how it wasn’t only the seventies and eighties that my heart would sing to Jesus or Blessed Mary, but it was all through my life. I was always somewhere either in the backyard woods, or on a small mountain, or hiking, or biking, but what ever it was that I was doing, I was usually alone and singing to the Lord His praises, or just speaking to the Lord or Blessed Mother Mary in song. I never gave much thought on what I was doing, I just did what came natural to me. Isn’t that what children do, what they naturally enjoy doing? That’s it. Plus this is where I found my Joy. It was later in my life, more like the seventies, where I would actually start singing my own songs on recording tapes so as to be able to later put them on music sheets. At that time, I had no musical instruments, so I could not add music with my singing. I do not remember if my thoughts went any further than that. I only knew that inside me I was feeling this was what I should do, and so I did.
Little by little, as I was going to these teachings, I found my ears being opened more and more, and my understanding was growing, and my eyes were also beginning to open wider, so much so that my heart was feeling the sufferings of this troublesome world we live in. I suppose if we walk around with blinders, we become deaf to the cry’s of people around us. It’s so sad how we may not see the pain of others, its like being immune to our surroundings. My friends, have you carried these burdens, or burdens like these, such as I have? We need more than ever, to bring His Gospel to the world. In a sense, to live the Gospel, not only speak the Gospel but to live the Gospel, going from Gospel to life and life to Gospel. This my friends, is what Jesus calls you and me to be. Amen.
My sisters and brothers, for sure, this journey is one of Faith. Today our podcast song is, my ‘Prayer of Abandonment’ called I Love Thee, and this podcast is on abandonment, abandonment of self to God’s Will. These past few weeks have brought me back to the times and places of where I was in my life, where my thoughts were, and how I could feel the changes taking place in me. Jesus was slowly removing the twisted knots from my past that was causing me inner suffering, and replacing them with His Love, His Peace, His Forgiveness and His Joy. I remember walking one day with one of my special friend and cousin, Terri, on a street near to her home. (Terri is married to my close cousin, Roland, and their family were and are a special part of our very large family of cousins.) I remember wanting to tell her all about the changes that seemed to be taking root in me. I knew that the views we once shared were becoming different from the dreams we looked forward to. We shared similar dreams that included a love for horses, and though I do love horses, I no longer shared the dream of owning any, while Terri grew in her desires and dreams. I wanted so to share with her how my life was changing, but I didn’t know how. At that time I was but a baby Christian with not enough knowledge about Jesus. I hungered for the knowledge of Jesus, how can I not, for the more I would go to Father Bill’s and Sister Bernadette’s teachings on Jesus, the more my heart desired to know Jesus and the ways of Jesus. The more I became aware of the ways of Jesus, the more I found myself speaking softer to my children and doing all I could do for them. The more I found myself loving Jesus, the more I loved my children and my family. I found myself singing these words to Him, ‘I love Thee’, and I kept singing until this song was written, ‘I Love Thee’. This is my Prayer of Abandonment of myself to Jesus. It is my surrendering to God prayer. Amen.
My brothers and my sisters, this past week brought back to me so much memories as I was recording this song and prayer, ‘Do with me as You Will’. Although it is true, all these songs brings me back to the time and place of writing them.
This song was written in the years of my growing in the Lord, of saying my yes to the Lord’s calling, but not of knowing what lay ahead of me.
I was being prepared for the new chapter that was to come into my life. The uncertainties of this road that I would be traveling was a great weight on my heart, and only through the grace and mercy of God, the one thing that I was certain about, is my complete trust in Jesus.
My sisters and brothers, our podcast is about the story behind this hymn ‘Mother Mary’, the Hail Mary Prayer, and our podcast song is ‘Mother Mary’. Now the music used for ‘Mother Mary’ was originally written for ‘Blessed Mary of Seven Sorrows’ in 1978. In that same year our ‘Ave Maria Ave Ave’ was written for Worship and Praise Concerts, large groups and gatherings. This hymn also has the Hail Mary Prayer included, with a few words revised. Now one decade later, 1988, the original music for Blessed Mary of Seven Sorrows, also was used for Mother Mary, which The Hail Mary Prayer is part of. This music belongs to our Blessed Mary, and it seems as though our Blessed Mother Mary herself desires her music to be used again for her prayer. And so, it is. I played my 12 string Ovation and we sang this hymn to our Blessed Mother Mary throughout our ministry mission journey, but it didn’t get recorded until 2007 at which time it was produced as a song/video for our Mother Mary prayer/hymn, and later published in YouTube.
When my mom first heard me sing and play this prayer/hymn at our parish Church in Enterprise, AL. in 1995, it became her favorite hymn, it was already her favorite prayer. When my mom was very young, she was one of the children of the ‘Congregation Of The Children Of Mary’, at her Church in Lewiston ME, and she always held a very special place in her heart for our Blessed Mother Mary. My mom is no longer with me on earth, but the memory of her last hour when I saw the most beautiful peaceful Love in her smile, this is with me, and will be forever inspiring my heart to keep singing this special prayer. This hymn/prayer is dedicated to both, my mom, and our Blessed Mother Mary.
Thank you to my dear Franciscan sister, Huguette Dube, a special sister and duet singing partner, for agreeing to sing this Mother Mary hymn with me at many Church Services, concerts and special events.
My sisters and brothers, our podcast song is, ‘You are Bread of Life’, and our podcast is about Jesus, our Bread of Life. The Gospels are the life of Jesus. Years ago when I received teachings on these stories in the Bible, Jesus became alive in my thoughts. I remember how important the Gospels became to me. One day I was reading and meditating on the Gospel of John, chapter 9, verses 1 - 7. I began reading about the time that Jesus healed the blind. Reading about the blind, I wanted to also know how Jesus healed the lame. So I read the Gospel of John, Chapter 5, verses 2 - 9. I continued to read the 6th Chapter of John, verses 8-13, about the 5 loaves of bread and the two fish. I couldn’t stop myself. Again I continued reading chapter 6, verses 50-52. And this is how our song, You are Bread of Life, was created, it is all based on our meditation on these Scriptures.
My sisters and brothers, today our podcast is about the Power on inner prayer. Our podcast song is, Help Me To Remember Lord. Speaking of remembering, I remember the first time I heard teachings on the Power of inner prayer. It was the year of 1978, Father Bill and Sister Bernadette were giving teachings on the Power of inner prayer, the many ways to hear God speaking to us, daily readings from the Bible, praying the scriptures, the importance of keeping a spiritual journal, God speaking in our thoughts, and having a personal relationship with Jesus! This touched me deeply; these were simple yet powerful teachings I could not live without. The more I received, the more I needed to receive.” And I so much desired this. At that time I was just a ‘baby Christian, and of course I wanted all of these, now. I was in a hurry to learn as much as I could and as quickly as I could, like maybe, just leaping over, and jumping right into the depths of this Inner prayer?
Well, this is the story of how our song, ‘Help Me To Remember Lord’ was actually created. You see, I needed to remember that with a true heart commitment, I should not be skipping prayer time, but I thought I had no time to pray, after all, I needed to get to the prayer meeting. Right? Right! Or, being so much in a hurry to hear teachings on Jesus, yet, thinking I had no time to sit and talk with Jesus in my own prayer time? Wow, A little ironic, yes. Praise God He understands us, and He understood me more then even I understood myself.
My song was written more as a wake up call. You see, if your life gets clutter as mine was, then yes, you will miss God speaking to you, not because Jesus won’t speak to you, but because, you won’t hear His soft WHISpers through all the clutter. I needed a more simpler way of life. Alone at home one day, I was pondering these words to my Lord. “Help me to remember Lord, when I have no time to pray that’s when I have no time not to pray. Help me to remember Lord, when I have no time to sit and talk with You that’s when I have no time not to”. After crying out to the Lord these words that became my prayer, our song, ‘Help Me To Remember Lord’, the Lord heard my cry, and He did help me to remember. He gently rescued me from myself, and brought me to Himself. I had to slow down so that I could get to where the Lord was leading me. He slowed me down. Strangely enough, slowing down actually gave me more time to do all I needed to do. I had more prayer times, and most importantly, more times to sit and talk with Jesus. Yes, I was living a simpler life, the Lord was scrapping away the clutter, and in its place was His over flowing Peace inside me.
My sisters and brothers, today we will be speaking on the Salt of the earth and the light of the world. The title of our song is, Salt of the Earth light of the World. It was around the year of 1982 when I was on a ministry team at the Immaculata Retreat House in Willimantic, Connecticut. Young adults, in their teen years, were arriving for a weekend retreat. It was a recommended retreat for their Conformation classes from the churches near by. They made their way in, registered, and found their way into the large gathering room, where they helped themselves to the table with juices, cookies and fruits. After a while, they found themselves talking with friends they knew, and friends did not know. Soon they were greeted with some of the music members of our team, Bill and Kathy, Danny, and myself. After a few songs, Father Ray came in and welcomed them all, and our program began. We all went into the nearby room with chairs, took our places and listened to some stories from the Bible. That weekend was very uplifting for our young adults, for me too, and for all of us there. The young adults gathered in groups, each with a team member from the ministry. All groups were given sheets that were passed out to the team members, and on these sheets, each different from the other, were a few words on it, and these words were to be their assignment used as the topic or theme for their presentation. They were all given the rest of that day for it, and it would be presented the following morning after breakfast.The assignment that my group received had these words ‘Salt and Light’ written on it. As we talked about salt and light, we read that passage in Matthew again. After breakfast the following day, my group with such happy smiles, presented their topic with the song, You are salt of the Earth, You are Light of the World!
Greetings my sisters and brothers, our podcast today is about having the Lord in our lives. Our podcast song is, Since I Have You Lord, now the beginning of our song’s creation was so amazingly beautiful, but before I get into the how and where, I need to first let you know the facts on why my heart was always rejoicing. You see, on Wednesdays of each week, I was going to a Holy Spirit Breakfast for Spiritual food, and this food were the teachings on the power of inner prayer, and the many ways to hear God speaking to us. These powerful teachings were given by two Holy People of God, Father Bill McCathy and Sister Bernadette Sheldon, who were also my Spiritual Directors, bless their souls. Sister Bern was also my dear and special friend. She, along with Father Bill, where what I believe to be, God’s special saints on earth, doing as God was leading them. And I Praise God for these blessings!
On this one particular Wednesday, I headed home right after the Holy Spirit Breakfast, to prepare for the up coming weekend skying trip in Vermont that my little family and I would be enjoying. It was early Winter of 1979, and snow was starting to cover softly on the ground. That weekend we signed our children into the beginner’s class of skying. We watch their joyful faces as they were learning to sky. Then, we went onto the intermediate slopes. Sitting on those chairs on our way up to the top, I was filled with all the wonders my eyes and ears were experiencing. The children’s laughters, the birds singing, the trees so tall, the gentle wind against my face. These stayed with me as we reached the top. Then off the chairs and onto the snow, as we made our way to the beginning of this impressive looking slope we were about to embark upon, this Joy in me took over. I was skiing these slopes and singing to my God, my heart’s joys. I was alive in the Spirit and the Spirit was alive in me. A tune kept playing in my head, I could not stop from singing it, and I knew inside me, a song was being created. This kept repeating every time at every slope I skied. On the second time down the slope, I said to the Lord, “Oh Lord my God, do not let me forget this song, these words and this time with You!” And He did not let me forget. This song is about that day, my little family, my children’s joy, and it was about having my Lord with me!
My sisters and brothers, today’s podcast is about a little song titled, ‘It’s Really Me’, and it was written in the late seventies. But the way this song was created is what my Spiritual Directors, Sister Bernadette and Father Bill, shared with me, as being one of the unknown mystics that takes hold of one’s inner self, leaving one searching for more and more until that part of the mystery is revealed. This lasted three days for me, the constant suffering of tears being cried inside my body, and not knowing any answers of why or what it might be. Everything I was feeling was so confusing, and what I was singing was not in my native tongue so understanding was not yet clear. After these three days of darkness I was in passed, a light started to open my mind, and then came the creation of this song, and I understood the tears that were cried. It all had to do with this teaching I was receiving at the Holy Spirit Breakfast given by Father Bill and Sister Bernadette. One day, in 1978, at the Holy Spirit Breakfast, they had a presentation on the leaflet that were being distributed by the Knights of Columbus. This leaflet on one side, had Significant Events In A New Life. My sisters and brothers, did you know or do you know, the specifics of the development and functions of a new life? I know that I didn’t, not until I was at this teaching. Some of these significant events in a new life are: Immediately upon conception, cellular development begins. But did you know that before implantation the sex of the new life can be determined? Yes. At implantation, the new life is composed of hundreds of cells and has developed a protective hormone to prevent the mother’s body from rejecting it as a foreign tissue. Now I was astonished on hearing these proven Chronology of the New Human Life.
Now the other side of that leaflet, it is about a Diary Of An Unborn Child. It starts with an unborn child saying, ‘today my life began’. Now we won’t go into these weeks, however, our song, ‘It’s Really Me’, is actually based on this diary of an unborn child. I believe our song is one of sharing a part of creation, not of any judgement, but that of a loving, forgiving, and merciful God. It is one of teaching, of learning, and with much prayer, of understanding’. Our song, ‘It’s Really Me’, is about a baby singing of the happiness she is feeling as she gets closer to being born; You will feel her joy in this song, you will also feel her tears. This song has traveled with us and has been sung throughout our journey, in many different states, from the north eastern states to the middle of Nebraska, into the southern states, and at many different conferences. One of these, where we were asked to minister through this song, was at a conferences held in Montgomery Alabama, for Clergy, Catholic Priests and the Bishops from southern Alabama. We pray this song brings all people everywhere to a search of God’s Holy Will will bring deep inner peace in every soul. Amen.
My sisters and brothers, today’s podcast is about Praising the Lord in every way possible! Through the grace and mercy of Jesus and the inspirations of the Holy Spirit, I do have a song for this podcast, and you probably already know the name of my song, yes, you guessed it, it is called, ‘Praise The Lord’! This song has been around for decades. It was written for retreat gatherings, prayer groups, gospel shows and concerts, presentations, and now podcasting. It has been sung throughout my journey. The life of this song began with just a thought as I pondered on the Scriptures while traveling from My Father’s House Retreat Center in Moodus, CT. to Providence/Warwick retreat centers in R. I. Then back to the Immaculata Retreat Center in Willimantic, CT. I was also very blessed one year, to be able to bring my daughter Jennifer to one of these weekend retreats when she was 12, almost a teenager, at the Immaculata in Willamantic. Now from the R.I. and Willamantic, retreat centers, we were pretty much back and forth and sometimes even within the same weekend. Talk about praising the Lord, these young adults also really got into Praising the Lord. Amen! Alleluia! Did I mention, this song is another get up, clap your hands, dancing and singing Praises to the Lord? Yes, another ALLELUIA Praise the Lord song! Amen!
My sisters and brothers, today our podcast is about Centering Prayer, and our podcast song is, Pray For Me, Centering Prayer. My friends, have you ever wondered what Centering Prayer is really about? My sister and brothers, are you familiar with Centering prayer? Are you familiar with Contemplative prayer? These prayers, though they are not popular, have been around for many many centuries.
The first time ever I heard teachings on this way of praying was in the late seventies by Father William J. McCarthy, MSA, and Sister Bernadette Sheldon, SCJ, bless their souls. Anyone who has been to their teachings, received deep inner blessings, I know, for their teachings came alive in me. In one of Father Bill’s smaller books, “ Listening to God”, which I absolutely love, his steps of the method are for keeping a Spiritual Journal and praying the Scriptures which describes these teachings. Fr. Bill would start with the familiar Psalm 46, verse 11, Quote: “Be still and know that I am God.” UnQuote. Then this quote from His book, Listening To God, is the summary of these prayers; Quote: “Contemplative prayer — just looking at God and God looking at you — heart to heart and much deeper than words.” Unquote.
Now this song, Pray For Me, Centering Prayer, is a deep rooted prayer. Part of the chorus is actually part of a letter written to me from my close friend, Pam, who was my singing partner at St. Joseph’s Catholic Church in the small town of Beatrice, Nebraska. Her words to me were an inspiration, she may never know how her words became a prayer deep within me, haunting my every breath, until this song was completed before leaving this small town of Beatrice. Pray For Me is a ‘Centering Prayer’ deep within my own being, and I’m guessing it must be Pam’s also, for her letter was as a prayer for me. Thank you my dear Pam.
My sisters and brothers, today’s podcast is about, the Love Jesus has for us, for you and for me. Our podcast song is, As I Have Loved You, and these words are powerful words which our Lord Jesus Himself speaks to us, to you and me through the Gospels. I love reading the Gospels. I know that if your childhood was anything like mine, then Scriptures were left unread, because you were not encouraged to read them. Time has changed since I was a child, and now we are encouraged to pray the Scriptures. To be able to pray the Scriptures is a true blessing. A blessing that our parents did not have in those days, it was quite the opposite, you know, for the church did not encourage Bible reading, not before Vatican two. Only since Vatican Two has the Church encouraged Bible reading. And I, my friends, encourage you through the inspirations of the Holy Spirit to read the Scriptures. Start with the New Testament, read the four Gospels for they are all about Jesus, and the words of Jesus truly will capture your heart. The Gospels are a powerful tool which we have been given through the inspirations of the Holy Spirit. These are about Jesus, His works, His Words, His Healing, His Ministry, and yes His Cross, but also His promise. God is Love.
I remember in the year of 1987. I was living in Pittsfield, N. H. where I became a music minister for a little Catholic Church there called, Our Lady of Lourdes. I was also engaged in Bible classes there. Yes, the Bible was being read and we all took part in reading it. I remember meditating on the words, ‘God is Love’, and how deeply His love is for all His people. As I read this Gospel passage on John 15: 9-17, I could hear something that seemed to sound like music inside my very soul. I wasn’t sure what I was hearing, but when I picked up my guitar to play it, words with music just kept pouring out of me as I fought back my tears. Yes, tears, but these tears were of joy. I receive tears of joy every time the Lord puts a new song in my heart. Just knowing that our songs come from God’s Love, touches me so deeply every time. I am always in Awe of God’s Love! God’s love for you, me, for everyone of us.
My sisters and my brothers, today’s podcast is about Faith, our podcast song is, ‘Little White Host’. This song, it’s on Faith, and Faith is believing without seeing. Faith gives hope. What is Faith? Faith is believing in something you can not see. When we receive Jesus in the form of bread and wine, in the form of a Little White Host, during Holy Eucharist at Mass, our faith tells us, this is JESUS we are receiving! Little White Host was composed in the middle eighties, it was Sister Bernadette, my special friend’s favorite song.
Little White Host was written while I was living in the loft of a Colchester Log Cabin Home. I was attending a Catholic Church in the small town of Colchester, CT. At that time, the Church was having prayer meetings, which I loved going to, and the Priest there, was offering a one day a week course for 12 weeks on the Holy Eucharist. Again I found myself becoming more in love with our Divine Outcast, Jesus. Before this 12 week course was completed, this song, Little White Host, was born in me from the very Breath of God. Soon, though I did not know till a few years later, I would be commissioned as a Eucharistic minister in a smaller town of Pittsfield, NH. in the March of 1987’. I didn’t t know then, but I understand now, that our Lord was preparing me for my journey and ministry. God’s work in us is not always clear in our thoughts, however, our Faith in God is all we really need. I truly believe and I testify to you right now, that during my prayer time with Jesus, when I hear His soft whispers within me, I follow where He leads me.
My sisters and my brothers, I know your thoughts, I have been asked before, ‘how do you know you are hearing the whispers of the Lord? How do you know it’s not your own thoughts? I hear you, I hear you my friends, these are good questions. Now when I believe it’s the Holy Spirit nudging at my inner self, which is also the soft whispers of our Lord, then I take notice, and I listen for more, and I follow through, for when the Lord gives you the wisdom of His will, He also provides you with His strength to follow through. With all my heart and soul, I know that the Lord knows my desire is to follow His will, therefore, if I should take the wrong path, and I have, I know that He will in His mercy, lead me to the right path, and He has! The Lord knows my trust in Him is complete. If my heart and my desires are focus on the Lord, this alone is pleasing to the Lord. Like a parent who sees their child’s heart’s desire to do good, even if that child should make a mistake, doesn’t the child’s effort alone please that parent? Yes. So, if you are focus on the Lord and you desire His will in you, this is pleasing to the Lord. Amen? Oh yes, Amen!!!
Scripture verses I read are from the Little Rock Catholic Study Bible. Through God’s grace and mercy and the inspirations of the Holy Spirit. Little White Host was written & ©️ in 1985,®️in 1994, was re-®️2020
My sisters and brothers, through God’s grace and mercy and the inspiration of the Holy Spirit, this song, Most Sacred Heart of Jesus, was composed, July 15th. 1981, but again, it was not recorded until many years later. Here’s the story behind this song and why it was recorded at this time. In these trying times, and this Global Pandemic still in our world, we need to keep remembering that we are not alone, that we are all in this together, and that Jesus is with us together, in all of our uncertainties, and adversities. You, and I, need to not lose hope, but instead, be hope, be the one who brings light to those in darkness. You know, and I know, that darkness comes in so many different forms, we see this day after day after day, the misunderstandings, the lies and misinformed messages, the misguided in social media everywhere, and the list goes on and seems to have no end. You must be a light, I must be a light, we need to bring the light of Jesus to our world!
In July, of 1981, the Most Sacred Heart of Jesus, along with these verses from Holy Scripture, truly made a place in my heart, and of these, this song was born. I know this to be true, for I have and always will, put all my trust in Jesus. While I know I can not be light on my own, I also know that I will receive what I ask for, if, I ask in Jesus Name. My friends, the Key words being, in Jesus’s Name. This Prayer is deeper than one can conceive. So in Jesus Name, what ever we ask the Father, we can have complete Trust in the Most Sacred Heart of Jesus, that it will be His will done, not ours. How much more is His love for us. Amen.
My sisters and brothers, today our podcast is about Pentecost Sunday, for in a few days, it will be Pentecost Sunday. Our podcast song is ‘Holy Spirit Pentecost’. Now I bet you think today we will be talking about Pentecost, just so we could be ready for this Sunday, right? Well, yes, you would be right in thinking that, I do admit, for after all, it is one of my favorite Scripture readings.
Here’s a memory from the early 80s’ that I hold close to my heart. Through God’s Grace and Mercy and the Inspiration of the Holy Spirit, I was going to teachings on the Holy Spirit and on Pentecost, given by Father Bill McCarthy and Sister Bernadette Sheldon. Let me tell you, these teachings were so powerful, they opened my mind like I never felt before and never dreamed possible. I kept wanting more. I deeply wanted the Holy Spirit to use me, to teach me everything, to fill me with Wisdom, to control me completely, the Holy Spirit truly became my Most Treasured Friend. And it was at that time that my Holy Spirit Pentecost song, was created, and yes, it does belong to the Holy Spirit, as do all my songs. May you receive the richness of God’s blessings of Joy, this Pentecost Sunday! Happy Pentecost Sunday Everyone! Alleluia! Amen!
My sisters and brothers, this past week a seed was planted in my thoughts by my husband as we were talking, and he made me realize, that while I have been sharing my songs and stories behind them, I never shared with you why most of our songs have not been recorded. The reason is simply because, while some were recorded for Mass Services, and Concerts given throughout our journey, most of them stayed in our music zippered briefcase. I also didn’t share with you why they are being recorded now. This is to fulfill what the Lord foretold to me long ago during my inner contemplation prayer. I may not have understood my mission fully when the Lord called me, but I do understand now, fulfillment of His Will, is in His hands, and timing is His, not ours. We come to know, when it is time for us to know, timing belongs to God alone. Since the start of our WHISpers podcast in the early part of year 2020, you have been, and are, hearing the first recordings of most of our songs through our podcasting! I should think that I would feel uneasy but I do not, much the opposite. It feels normal going through my music and waiting on the Holy Spirit to nudge me to which song will be recorded for the next week’s podcast. I find this is so amazing, yet at the same time, not at all surprising. For this actually is part of having a personal relationship with Jesus, the Holy Spirit, and our Heavenly Father. Jesus, who calls me to Himself, the Holy Spirit, who empowers me in my life, and the soft Whispers I listen for within my thoughts. I can not, I must not, I will not, deny what is His, and I must decrease in me, and He must increase in me.
The song chosen for this week’s podcast is called, ‘In Your Image Lord’. The story behind it is in the message I received through one small bible verse from the Gospel of John, chapter 3, verse 30. This verse touched me in such a way that the understanding of this message was crying out of me the very same words that St. John the Baptist spoke when he said, Quote: ‘He must increase, I must decrease’. UnQuote. So profound is this message that my heart could not stop from singing my prayer to Jesus. Amen.
My sisters and brothers, our podcast song is, ‘Holy Spirit Breath of God’, and this is song segment 7 of 7 from our book, ‘Journey with Trust and Fire Within’. It is our last of the song segment in this book, and as all our songs, it was written many years ago but not recorded until years later. However, as with these seven songs, along with some of our other songs, with voices and guitar we ministered through them throughout our mission journey of our ministry. Now this book segment is about our ministry going through a transformation. At the time of this transformation, we really didn’t understand what it actually entailed, we only knew that the Holy Spirit was speaking from the depths of our soul about our ministry, but the feeling inside my own soul felt as though it was intensely grieving. The grieving started the day before Pentecost Sunday, and on that Pentecost Sunday, the day of our concert, this transformation took place. Now here’s that segment. Quote: “The next day, it was Pentecost Sunday. I’m able to function but as to what degree was still questionable. I knew where I was supposed to be. I’m not a stranger to stepping out into the unknown. If I know nothing else, I know this: my complete trust is in Him who was calling me there. Trust in me? Never. But trust in God? Always and forever! So off I went. There was a Pentecost Sunday Mass Service with Fr. Bill McCarthy, then followed by the concert. But what about this concert? My body was no longer fighting, and it seems to be somewhat relaxing. Mass service is over and then it happened. The concert was given, and a transformation was taking taking place right before my very eyes. I felt on fire, and the dark place my soul was in was over taken by this “fire within”! Everything was clear! I could see God’s works. I could feel God’s holy breath breathing on me. I could hear the soft voice of Jesus in my thoughts again. I was on fire again. I had “fire within” me, and I could not keep it silenced! That very moment, I felt the Holy Spirit taking over, taking control! The breath of God filled the room from the very first song, Holy Spirit Breath of God”. UnQuote.
My sisters and brothers, our podcast song is, ‘I Am Yours’, this podcast will be continuing into our book, ‘Journey with Trust and Fire Within’, with song segment 6 of 7. Though this song was composed in 1981, it was not recorded till many years later as most of our songs. The story behind this song started many years ago with just a seed that Father Bill McCarthy and Sister Bernadette Sheldon planted in me. That seed carried me through all our journeys, and all our songs. This little prayer became another praising song which Sister Bernadette loved to have everyone sing before some of her teachings. When everyone would join in singing, I Am Yours, this simple little song became a deep surrendering prayer. These words became a personal prayer. These words are a personal prayer. For whenever you pray this prayer, or sing this song, you give glory, honor and praise to the Father, to Jesus, and to the Holy Spirit.
‘FATHER, to you I give my heart, keep me near and never let me part, grant me grace to do what pleases You, I love You, my life I give You, for I am Yours.
JESUS, to you I give my heart, keep me near and never let me part, grant me grace to do what pleases You, I love You, my life I give You, for I am Yours.
SPIRIT, to you I give my heart, keep me near and never let me part, grant me grace to do what pleases You, I love You, my life I give You, for I am Yours.’
The following is the 6th. song segment of our book, which starts with Jesus saying; Quote: “My sheep hear My voice, I know them, and they follow Me”, (John 10:27) I live by this scripture, and I can live no other way. I follow His voice because He makes all things possible. He brings my darkest nights into everlasting light. Through His mercy and grace, He forgives my sins and brings me to Himself. He is life! If nothing more than this, I pray you, who are reading this book or listening to my testimony right now, please pay close attention to your inner self, to your surroundings, to His soft voice within your very own thoughts, and to your dreams. God is not limited. He speaks to each one of us differently and in ways all around us. God works in you and through you. See with God’s eyes His miracles in you.
My sisters and brothers, Today we are going into a 5th. Segment of our book. Our podcast song is, Praise You Blessed Trinity. Through God’s grace and mercy and the inspiration of the Holy Spirit, Praise You Blessed Trinity was written in 1980, but it was not recorded till many years later. And now here’s the segment and story behind this song. Quote: “I continued my morning ritual, and going to Father Bill and Sister Bern’s teachings every Wednesday. On one Wednesday, Sister Bernadette and Father Bill were teaching on the importance of staying focused on the Lord; to be strong as to not allow the evil one to rob us of God’s gifts. The closer in prayer you are to Jesus, the more the devil will try to stop and rob you, but I was convinced nothing was going to get in my way of following the Lord. One day, we (my little family and I) thought we would surprise my dad. He had a lot of wood to split for his fireplace. So off we went to my parent’s home. I was inside the house, and Jennifer and Johnny were outside with their dad who was splitting a cord of firewood for my dad. Johnny came running in, screaming, “Dad needs you, Mom! Dad needs you! I went outside and wrapped a towel around Neil’s bloody arms, and we rushed him to the emergency room at the hospital. The doctor took Neil into surgery, and my children and I waited in the waiting room. As I was praying for him and his doctor, I had a sense he would be fine. However, within minutes of that, I also felt something was wrong with my dad. I couldn’t shake that feeling. I prayed for him and my mom. I tried calling from the hospital, but no one answered. Still, I had a strong feeling my dad was in trouble. I prayed more. Later that night, talking on the phone with my mom, I found out what had happened. My dad was assaulted and robbed at gunpoint. He was thrown into the backseat of his own car, about to be kidnapped. As the car was moving, my dad opened the door and fell out, the thieves did not stop. A very kind lady saw him on the ground and helped him into her car, then took him to the hospital. God bless you, Mrs. Stewart, for caring for my dad. When I got off the phone with my mom, I knelt down in prayer to thank God for sparing the lives of my dad and my children’s dad. I stood up with conviction and said, ‘I rebuke you, satan, in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit and cast you, satan, into the netherworld never to return. Amen’! Then, back on my knees, I prayed a prayer to the Father, Son, and the Holy Spirit, and this new hymn was created at that very moment. ‘Praise You, Blessed Trinity.’ Praise you, Father. Praise you, Jesus. Praise you, Holy Spirit. Praise you, blessed Trinity!” UnQuote. My friends, Draw near to God, and he will draw near to you!
My sisters and brothers, our podcast song is, ‘Lead Me Lord’, and today we will be continuing into our forth song segment of our book, ‘Journey with Trust and Fire Within’. Lead me Lord was written in 1978 but like many of my songs in those early years, it would not be recorded till many years later. It was written at a time in my life where I could feel the power of God’s work coming alive in me, and at the same time I would encounter so many disturbances in my life, trying to keep me from following the path of Jesus. Doing as you know the Lord wills you to do may be, or not, easy, but the hard part is dodging all the interferences that so desperately want to stop you. However, being persistent in following the lead of the Holy Spirit, and paying no mind to the criticisms you are receiving, from people in every circle of your life and even those you deeply love, you receive inner strength and a deeper joy because God’s work is in you.
I became one of the music leaders for St. Joseph’s Catholic Church with a girl I befriended named Pam who sang the best harmonies I ever heard. I was also doing country, opry, and gospel shows there. I had my own band plus was in other country bands and a great gospel band, which I loved most of all. The leader’s name in the gospel band is Francine, and she and I became very good friends. As in Francine’s life, gospel and spiritual songs and sharing about God in my life made me come alive.
My sisters and brothers, our podcast song is, ‘Magnificat’, and today we will be continuing into our third song segment of our book, ‘Journey with Trust and Fire Within’.The music being used for Magnificat was originally written in 1978 for ‘Blessed Mary of Seven Sorrows’. Then one decade later, in 1988, we used this same music for Mother Mary, which the Hail Mary Prayer is part of. This music belongs to our Blessed Mary, and it seemed as though our Blessed Mary desired for her music to be used for her prayer. And so, it was. Then in the year of 2017, this same music once again found its 3rd. way into the heart of Mary, and quite appropriately since all three of these song/hymns belong to our Blessed Mary. ‘Blessed Mary of Seven Sorrows’, ‘Mother Mary’, and ‘Magnificat’.
The Magnificat is also known as Mary’s Canticle, and Mary’s Prayer, and is in the Gospel of Luke, chapter 1, verses 46–55. Let’s look at what Mary is saying in this Scripture, Mary’s Canticle: Quote: “46. And Mary said:* “My soul proclaims the greatness of the Lord; 47. my spirit rejoices in God my savior. 48. For he has looked upon his handmaid’s lowliness; behold, from now on will all ages call me blessed. 49. The Mighty One has done great things for me, and holy is his name. 50. His mercy is from age to age to those who fear him. 51. He has shown might with his arm, dispersed the arrogant of mind and heart. 52. He has thrown down the rulers from their thrones but lifted up the lowly. 53. The hungry he has filled with good things; the rich he has sent away empty. 54. He has helped Israel his servant, remembering his mercy, 55. according to his promise to our fathers, to Abraham and to his descendants forever.” UnQuote.
Mary’s Prayer is also used as Evening Prayer in the Liturgy of the Hours.
My sisters and brothers, today our podcast is about understanding the secrets within the Lord’s Prayer, our podcast song is, ‘The Lord’s Prayer. This is day 2 song segment of my book, ‘Journey with Trust and Fire Within’. Here, we will share with you how the secrets and the understanding and the music came alive in me, through this segment on ‘The Lord’s Prayer’.
The Scripture verses I read are from the Little Rock Catholic Study Bible, The segment part I read are from pages 69 - 72 of our book ‘Journey With Trust and Fire Within’, Through God’s grace and mercy and the inspirations of the Holy Spirit music for Our Father The Lord’s Prayer was written in 1979, ©️1995, revised in 2012, and ®️ 2015.
My sisters and brothers, today we will be starting our first segment of the seven little segments of our book titled, ‘Journey with Trust and Fire Within’. This book was published in January of 2019, and is sold on the Internet, including Amazon. These little segments are either how our songs were created, or where they were used in the different chapters of our book, but not necessarily in the order they appear in the book. Today we will share with you song 1 of 7 songs which are included in our book. Here’s day 1 song, Stand By You: Stand by You was written in the late seventies. Here’s the story behind that song from the segment in our book: “Later that day in the early evening hours, I had a prayer meeting to go to at a little church building. Prayers were offered, and we were able to go up to the front and ask for anything we want to be prayed for. I did just that. I asked for the gift of ‘discernment of spirits’. People prayed over me. I felt my body gently fall back and lower to the floor. This was my first experience of being “baptized in the Spirit” or, “releasing of the Spirit.” I remember thinking, “Are you here, Lord?” Then I saw with the eyes of my heart again. This was the Lord’s invisible covering of love as I heard Him say to me, “I love you, my child. Be not afraid. I will always stand by you, and you will have discernment of spirits. You are mine.” With joyful, tear-filled eyes, I stood up, went back to my seat, and praised God my Savior!” The following day I pondered His words in my heart and in my thoughts. Then His words, “I will always stand by you,” kept playing in my mind, and this happened for several days, until one day, His words with music came alive in me and this song was created, ‘Stand by You’.
My friends, this podcast is on the Chaplet of the Divine Mercy with the story behind the Chaplet, the Divine Image, this and the Prayer for the Intercession of St. Faustina.
Now the story behind this Chaplet Music is: “It was 1994, in Montgomery, AL. where I, with my 12 string guitar and vocal chords, was deeply involved in prayer revivals. Knowing I wrote songs, one of the team members asked me if I would write music for the Chaplet of the Divine Mercy. And so through our Lord’s mercy and grace, it was written, and at the revival, I handed her copies for everyone, then we all Prayed in song this powerful Chaplet of the Divine Mercy.” Thank You Jesus.
My friends, today my Crucifixion song is haunting my inner soul and I know I must share it with you. Through the mercy and grace of God, and the inspiration of the Holy Spirit, this song was written in the late seventies, but not without much support from my very dear and special friend, Gwen, who helped me put it onto music sheets with all those notes and different parts, that I was hearing and feeling inside my being. I could hear a choir singing, with deep voices on one side and higher voices on the other side, both men and women voices going back and forth. And somewhere in the middle of the song, there was one single voice as a solo part. Gwen is amazing, putting those different parts on paper, but wait, there’s more, Gwen, at that time, being our Music Director for the St. Gregory’s Catholic Church choir in Bristol, CT, also arranged for us to be able to sing this Crucifixion song with the choir, as written with the different parts, on Passion Sunday. Yes indeed, Gwen is amazing. Thank you my dear Gwen, your special friendship is a true blessing in my life!
My sisters and brothers, our first podcast song is, Do All You Can For Jesus Our King, and today is our first time podcasting on Podcast Platforms. Our podcast name is WHISpers Podcast. WHISpers is a sharing of the soft whispers from within our thoughts, from within our very souls, and from life all around us. WHISpers stands for, W is Word, HIS is God, and pers is softness, creating, WHISpers, Word of God WHISpers! Our dedication is to help deepen our relationship with Jesus Christ, our Lord and Savior, through witnessing, scriptures, prayers, and spiritual music. This is the story of how WHISpers podcast became part of our ministry, a new chapter in our journey.
It was late August of 2019, when I first heard His Whispers Calling me into a podcast ministry. I had no Idea on how to do a podcast, write a podcast, or broadcast a podcast, all I could truly do was pray this prayer: ‘Lord, You know me, I belong to You, let it be done to me Lord as You will!’ From that moment the Holy Spirit has been directing me into the ways of all that has been and continues to be needed for this podcast ministry. It started with my Yes to the Lord, for the New Year’s Resolution of 2020, then the Holy Spirit lead me into podcasting the 'Divine Mercy Chaplet Prayers' every Friday on our Facebook Page, which is called 'WHISpers podcast', starting with the first Friday of Year 2020. That day was also an added blessing for me because January 3rd. is my brother's birthday, Bless His Soul. Thank You Lord. But I didn’t know, that by Holy Week in April, I would be broadcasting more podcasts and on more Podcast Platforms. Yet, here we are, fulfilling the Lord’s will. Praise God!
Now it seemed fitting that the song in this first podcast should be 'Do all we can for Jesus our King’, and here’s the story behind this song. Many years ago in the late seventies, I wrote one of my first songs, well, not really my first song, however, it was one of the first songs that I put on paper and kept. I was writing songs, prayers, in the fifties and sixties while being alone by myself to be with my Blessed Mother Mary and the Lord, and I would sing my heartfelt prayers to them. But those songs never went on paper, they came from my heart, I don’t even think I knew that I was writing songs, I was just doing what I always did.
This song, Do All You Can For Jesus Our King, was written at a time of difficulties in my own life, but it was as though Jesus Himself was helping me find joy in my own sufferings. What I realized, after it was written, was that this little song was teaching me to keep Jesus with me no matter how sad or what my life was going through, and by keeping Jesus within me, He was filling me with His joy. Now this song has another reason why it’s close to my heart. Not only was my special friend Gwen, my personal Chord arranger, for at that time I didn’t play the guitar, Gwen, being our adult Choir and children’s Choir Director, also prepared the children’s choir to sing this song at the Mass Service of Christ the King Feast, and they sung it beautifully! Thank you Gwen.