As you read the replies that follow, in the Letters section, I would remind you of the story of Elijah who stood at the mouth of the cave and waited for the Lord.  God wasn’t in the thunder, the earthquake, or the fire.  God was in the little breeze. 

     God is working in all our situations.  We can find Him if we don’t limit our vision of what we expect Him to do.  Look for Him in the little things.  He IS there with us today.  He WILL BE there tomorrow.  We have to let Him do His work—in His way—and in His time. 

     Let us thank Him for His faithfulness and stay faithful ourselves, in our prayer life.

     If you will allow me to make a special prayer request of each of you, my husband Bob will be having knee replacement surgery on November 30.  Please keep him in your prayers that the surgery will be successful and that he will have a speedy and complete recovery. 

     May God bless all of us and grant us His Peace.

Peace,

++I think the best thing to do is to keeping praying of course, but not to put yourself in the situation of getting together when you are going to go to mass on Christmas.  In this way you keep the communication and keep things happy and you can pray at mass.

++Our prodigals have caused us so much pain this year however this has brought my husband and I closer than ever and has made us that much more committed to our daily rosaries. In some ways, we are like small children asking and asking our beloved Father and Mother for the return of our prodigals and yet we often are the last to return the gift of a grateful thank you prayer for the smallest, simplest blessing that we failed to immediately see. In reflection, we are grateful for the many gifts from our Holy Father and Blessed Mother for sustaining us this year through many difficulties.

      We are forever grateful to a loving God, who in his kindness, wants to spare all of us from the painful consequences of sin. We are truly blessed.

++Just wanted to share that my son is becoming more mature and thoughtful. I believe the Spirit is moving and hope this progress will continue to bring him back to the Church.

++Thanks for asking!  I am thankful for the care of the angels because my son is "into" the dangerous motorcycle speed riding throughout the Kansas City area on Friday nights. 

     I suggested that he go to confession and be in the state of grace when riding,

and he said, he is "good with God".

     I have learned that indeed God holds us safely as He waits for us. I am trusting God in His relationship with my son.  I remember that Mary watches over him with her motherly concern.  It allows me to sleep well at night. 

     I pray for all of the prodigals, knowing their return is God's will.  Prayer is our powerful tool.  One day we will see the effects!

++My prodigal son called a couple of weeks ago to say he & live in girlfriend (who has had engagement ring for 2 years) went to Antigua & got married on the beach!  I know this is not a sacramental marriage, but as my director said, this is the most they are capable of at the moment.  We are thrilled because now when they come home at Christmas they will stay with us & we can have a party for them & celebrate.  They are ON THE WAY – we continue to pray and make sacrifices.  This has opened the door just a crack – like the good thief, who only asked Jesus to remember him – was given Paradise!!!  So we are hopeful of more good things to come & HOPE is a great virtue for us all!

++The time waiting for my prodigal has been a time for finding God and discovering his love and mercy.  I have much less fear now than ever before.  I realize now that God is there to save, not to catch me out and condemn me.  He gives me every means and opportunity to reconcile fully with him using the sacraments.  

     God searches me out.  He uses times of hardship and emptiness to knock on my door and remind me that he is there waiting.  I don't blame God for the pain - that is a product of sin in this world.  But God is there to fill the gap while I wait for my prodigal.  The peace God gives is so different to the peace of this world.  It does not take away all the pain.  But it does make me stronger like an athlete enduring the exertions of a contest. I am seeing that God does help me.

     With God's help I trust that my prodigal will come back.  But I will be a different person when that happens and I trust, with my prayers, my prodigal will also find God as I have.

    A trusting child rests assured that it will be safe when the loving parent is nearby. That is God for us, a loving parent.  He best shows his love when we act like trusting children.  The saints have said many times that God answers the prayers of those who trust, provided what is asked for is good for the soul.   Jesus once revealed that he never refused St Gertrude anything because of her trust in him. So I trust in God.  Jesus said to knock, seek and ask.  And I keep praying for the return of my prodigal and for the return of the prodigals of others.  God bless all who wait.

++Life is beginning to settle down a bit.  I seem to have a kind of peace staying longer than I've ever known before.  I think we should seriously thank God for what he has bestowed on us, even if it's not perfect, it's way more than a lot of people have.  Thank God for friends and family because they truly are our guardian angels.  Happy Holidays

 ++I was so excited to receive one of your rosary novena booklets for return to the Faith of our wayward sons. My daughter gave it to me and told me she had met you.  I have said the original rosary novena of 54 days at least 6 times for sobriety for my husband.  After 15 years he quit drinking and that was about 25 years ago.   So you know I have a strong faith in the novena.  Our 2 sons haven’t gone to church in many years and I pray for them every day so now I am almost ½ done with this new novena and know that in God’s good time they will return to their faith.

 ++I just found out that my daughter whom I have been praying for has changed her mind on abortion.  She now is against it.  It is a step in the right direction!

++My son is seeing God work in his life and is recognizing that he is blessed.  His wife is becoming more spiritually minded, too.  I can tell from her emails.  For my part, I must have patience…and I must keep praying for their return to the sacraments.

Psalm 105:8-9,35

He has remembered His covenant forever,  The word which He commanded to a  thousand generations, For He has  satisfied the thirsty soul,    And the  hungry soul He has filled with what is good. He changes a wilderness into a pool of water And a dry land into springs of water;

Holy Alphabet   (Sent in by Marlene)

Although things are not perfect

Because of trial or pain

Continue in thanksgiving

Do not begin to blame

Even when the times are hard

Fierce winds are bound to blow

God is forever able

Hold on to what you know

Imagine life without His love

J oy would cease to be

Keep thanking Him for all the things

Love imparts to thee

Move out of "Camp Complaining"

No weapon that is known

On earth can yield the power

Praise can do alone

Quit looking at the future

Redeem the time at hand

Start every day with worship

To "thank" is a command

Until we see Him coming

Victorious in the sky

We'll run the race with gratitude

X alting God most high

Y es, there'll be good times and yes some will be bad, but...

Z ion waits in glory...where none are ever sad!

     ~Author Unknown~

SILENT STRENGTH PRESENTATION

     MaryAnn is tentatively scheduled to give her presentation “Silent Strength:  Has Someone You Love Left the Church” at Cure’ of Ars Church in Leawood, Kansas on January 30, 2005.  Watch the web site and future updates for more information, or contact MaryAnn through email or at 913-526-8977 if you have questions.

     If you would like more information about getting this talk scheduled in your parish, please email maryann@marianmantle.com.  There is no fee asked other than travel expenses.

PRAYER GROUPS

     Please pray for those who are working to form a new Silent Strength prayer group in Shawnee, KS.

NEWSLETTER

     Our long-awaited newsletter should be a reality soon as work on it has begun in earnest. Look for more information in the next update.  Meanwhile, please keep us in your prayers.  If you would be interested in helping with the newsletter, please let us know by email or phone.

PLEASE SHARE YOUR STORY**

--If you are seeing prayers answered, we want to hear about it.**

--Do you have a question you would like to ask the group to answer?**

**Please email maryann@marianmantle.com or phone 913-526-8977.  If no one

answers, please leave your name and phone number and a good time to return

your call and MaryAnn will call you back as soon