Deep in the soul

As time wore on, Mariam felt there was fundamental change deep in her soul

She asked the Rabbi, "What happened to that girl I was ten years ago?"

And the Rabbi answered, "She deepened."

Mariam and the squatter camp

Mariam felt called to work voluntarily in her time off at a squatter camp.

She wondered whether this inner call was prompted by God.

Mariam; "Lord, what do you want from me out there?"

Jesus; "Your prayerful presence, giving strength."

Painful Memories

Mariam was working through very painful memories.
Jesus said, "You see the spring waters? 
They bubble from the ground with total innocence and strength, always new; the same source, always different water. 
Let the water of your heart bubble away the poison of these memories."

The heart has the ability through the healing inner waters of love and forgiveness
to work through the most painful memories.

*Photograph taken by Rev Catherine Nicolette. Please feel free to use copyright free for any worthy purpose

Unfounded accusations made

Unfounded accusations were made against Mariam.
Mariam was devastated. "What should I do, Lord?"
Jesus answered, "Fight these false accusations with all your might and main."

*Photograph taken by Rev Catehrine Nicolette. With thanks to the marble artist

Who are you, Jesus?

Mariam asked, "Who are you, Jesus?"
Jesus answered; "A simple man. I like the simple things, the valuable things of life - the things that live, and grow and are.
I like things to be simple and easy, not difficult and miserable.
I like harmony, not fighting.
I love life, not death.
I love building up relationship, taking away hurt, washing away tensions, and cannot understand the selfishness that seeks to hurt and destroy another living being's soul."

*Photograph taken by Rev Catherine Nicolette. With thanks to the glass artist

Worry about finances

Mariam was worrying about a financial problem.
Jesus said, "How can you worry so over a few euros when I love you so."

*Photograph taken by Rev Catherine Nicolette. Please feel free to use copyright free for any worthy purpose

Speaking about God

Mariam was insulted verbally in public while speaking about God.
She was deeply upset.
Mary, Jesus' Mother, said to her;
"If you do brave work, you must expect to be wounded."

A Child had been Crying

Mariam watched a child leave her office.
The little orphan had been crying, and Mariam had spoken to her, given her a hug and a biscuit.
Jesus said, "Mariam, don't ever let anyone leave your presence feeling unloved, unwelcome, unwanted."

*Photograph taken by Rev Catherine Nicolette. Please feel free to use copyright free for any worthy purpose

Being mocked

Two people had laughed at Mariam, rather mockingly.
Mariam felt humiliated, and told Jesus about it.
Jesus said gently, "Absolute sincerity always looks slightly ridiculous to the eyes of the worldly."

*Photograph taken by Rev Catherine Nicolette. Please feel free to use copyright free for any worthy purpose

How will I ever cope?

Experiencing a difficulty.
Mariam asked, "Lord, how will I cope?"
Jesus answered, "By coping."

Sometimes we just have to make up our mind and get on with dealing with the difficulty, 
unpleasant though it is.
Jesus will always be there with His strength to help.

Safe Anchor

Mariam was at prayer for her Holy Hour.
Jesus remarked to her, "If you are anchored in me, you will survive anything.
Before I formed you in the womb I knew you.
Before you were born I consecrated you.
Don't you think I wrote these words for you, too?"

*Jeremiah Chapter 1, verse 5;
'Before I formed you in the womb I knew you;
before you came to birth I consecrated you..."

*Photograph taken by Rev Catherine Nicolette.
Please feel free to use copyright free for any worthy purpose

The golden rule

Mariam asked, "Jesus, what must I do to become a saint?"
Jesus answered, "Be kind, be kind, be kind, be kind, be kind."

*Photograph taken by Rev Catherine Nicolette. Please feel free to use copyright free for 
any worthy purpose

Devastating retort

Mariam was about to make a devastating, yet witty, retort.

Jesus quickly intervened; "Mariam, to be kind is always better than to be clever."

The Unkind Word

Mariam was tempted to sharpness.
Jesus said to her, "It needs faith to stifle an unkind word and to put on a smile.
Blessed are you who are faithful in small things first."


The gentle mastery of Christ
"Come to me, all you who labour and are overburdened, and I will give you rest.
Shoulder my yoke and learn from me, for I am gentle and humble in heart,
and you will find rest for your souls.
Yes, my yoke is easy and my burden light.

See link
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7v8CU9bA0ow
With thanks to Youtube and Danielclee1

*Photograph taken by Rev Catherine Nicolette
Please feel free to use copyright free for any worthy purpose

Sickness and the need for healing

Mariam was ill with a severe ear infection, which disorientated her balance. She turned to Jesus for healing.

Jesus answered, "I will always protect you."

Jesus protects us as surely as this lady's hands protect the bird

See link

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=36np176rqnE&feature=relmfu

With thanks to Youtube and the Mormon Channel
*Photograph taken by Rev Catherine Nicolette.
Please feel free to use copyright free for any worthy purpose

Unpopularity and rejection

Mariam was unpopular and feeling rejected.
Mariam; "Jesus, I am suffering.
Some people do not like me because my personality is unacceptable to them."
Jesus; "So were those of my prophets."


*Isaiah 53;3 He was despised and rejected by men, a man of sorrows, and familiar with suffering.
Like one from whom men hide their faces, he was despised and we esteemed him not.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CEg84KVjDJI
With thanks to Youtube and NCMI Live
*Photograph taken by Catherine Nicolette

Lonely

Lonely, reaching out.
Mariam; "Jesus, please pray for me."
Jesus; "But I am prayer."

See link;
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YzmbLWIqUBk&feature=relmfu
With thanks to Youtube and Mormon Channel
*Photograph taken by Catherine Nicolette

Be courageous

Mariam was struggling inwardly. In prayer she turned towards Jesus during the day, and asked Him for help. 
She wanted to run away from the difficult issue she was facing.
Jesus said; "Be courageous as Mary was."

See link;
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ig0W3HaNmjg
With thanks to Youtube and the Mormon Channel

Which career is the best to choose?

Mariam; "I have been thinking about careers. Which career is the best one to help us to reach God?"
Jesus; "My dear Mariam, all careers are good.
To wash clothes, feed the sick, care for babies, read the scriptures, raise a family.
The important thing is to do all these in the state of grace.
Then you will grow holy and reach heaven."

DIFFICULTIES AT WORK

Mariam was undergoing difficulties at work, and felt discouraged. She asked the Master tearfully, "Why do I have to undergo such times?"
Rabbi Jesus answered, "If your soul is being hammered, it is because it is true gold."

THE STORY OF JESUS AND MARIAM

Let me tell you a story...

Jesus of Nazareth, otherwise known as Yeshua Bar-Yosef, is a friend to each and every one of us who wishes to have Him as a friend.
Man or woman; child or adult; toddler coming to understanding or senior; all are welcome to friendship.

One friend Jesus has is Mary of Magdala.
After His Resurrection, Mary stood outside the grave area of Jesus, crying bitterly.
His heart went out to her, when He saw this faithful and loving woman, weeping because she thought He was gone for ever from this earth.
Newly changed from earthly life to heavenly life, He had not yet completed His cycle of ascending to heaven.

But He could not resist the call of His heart.
He could not go without showing this gracious lady whom He loved that indeed; He is alive.
And that she was truly loved.
so the wonderful words of the Gospel of St John tells us that, when Mary supposed Him to be the gardener and begged Him to tell her where to find the executed body of Jesus so she could rebury Him, showing Him respect for the dead, He tenderly called her name, 'Mary.'
She turned around, saw for the first time through the tears which had blinded her eyes that Jesus, alive and well, stood - miraculously - before her, and said to him in Hebrew, 'Rabbuni!' which  means Master.

Thereupon the joyous reality dawned. 
Jesus of Nazareth was, in fact alive. 
And always would be.

The reality for us is that it is possible for us to have friendship with Him today in prayer.

In this blog, short conversations with Jesus will appear.
They will be about anything and everything - much as our conversations with our close friends always are.
They are a look at the wisdom and love of Jesus in everyday situations, and at His being companion in our difficulties.
Each of us has a gospel - a life story - that is our own.

The story I will be telling will be of the friendship between Jesus and Mariam.
Here is the gospel - the story - of Mariam and Jesus, the Rabbi who has taught her in the everyday little things to become the best Mariam she could be.
I hope you enjoy it!