by Barbara | Jul 14, 2024
St. Paul was elated due to an abundance of revelations from Christ. The Lord allowed a thorn in his flesh, an agent of Satan to beat him. (2Cor 12:7)To be elated is to be ecstatically happy. That's the kind of joy that requires beatings to lessen. I think I want that...
by Barbara | Jul 2, 2024
Dutifully following my new husband, we slid into our circa 1960 Japanese right-hand drive automobile. It was the tiniest car I had ever ridden in besides Autotopia at Disneyland. Maneuvering through the streets of Seoul, S. Korea, felt like Mr. Toad’s Wild Ride. As we...
by Barbara Lishko | Jun 23, 2024
Back in the day, there was a well-known comedy sketch by Bill Cosby. The premise involved a conversation between God and Noah who was asked to build an ark. One of the key lines spoken by God in this humorous exchange is when Noah starts to push back and...
by Barbara Lishko | Jun 16, 2024
My father walked in angry and weary. Lifting up his pant leg he showed his young children the gauze wrapped ankle covered in blood. As a mailman, dogs often stood between him and delivering mail. Dad was the oldest of four children. His parents were of German descent...
by Barbara Lishko | Jun 9, 2024
How many times do we make excuses for our sins? “The serpent tricked me into it, so I ate it.” (Gen 3:13). Sadly, I am guilty. I’d go so far as to say evil doesn’t even have to lift a finger- I fall easily on my own. Bless me, Father, for I have sinned; it’s been...
by Barbara Lishko | Jun 3, 2024
“Amen, I say to you, unless you turn and become like a child, you will not enter the kingdom of heaven. Whoever humbles himself like this child is the greatest in the kingdom of heaven.” Matt 18:3-4 My young life was a preparation for adulthood....
by Barbara Lishko | May 19, 2024
“If you don’t stop and wait for me, I’ll turn around and go home.” Those fateful words burst from my lips, as a new bride. I was in unfamiliar territory and being pulled downstream in a river of Koreans at Kimpo International Airport- Seoul, S. Korea. My husband was...
by Barbara Lishko | May 12, 2024
It’s Mother’s Day once again. I am blessed to have celebrated over forty Mother’s Days. Before we had kids, we were guilty of making “my kid will never…” statements. Words we soon learned to eat. I discovered a clever kitchen towel a few months ago that read, “As soon...
by Barbara Lishko | May 5, 2024
“It was not you who chose me, but I who chose you and appointed you to go and bear fruit that will remain, so that whatever you ask the Father in my name he may give you.” (Jn 15:16) Each time I’ve heard this passage over my lifetime, I assumed it referred...
by Barbara Lishko | Apr 28, 2024
Dawn was breaking as the young man stealthily crawled out of the front bedroom window of our neighbor’s home. Their daughter assisted him and waved goodbye. My friend and I were walking by at that moment decades ago. We knew her father was a single dad; rumor had it...
by Barbara | Apr 15, 2024
If I am not mistaken, these are the exact words shepherds use to call sheep. Or maybe not. The closest I've ever gotten to a sheep was on a dinner plate in France. "Can I get this cooked more, s’il vous plaît!" I've heard today's gospel (Jn 10:11-18) countless...
by Barbara Lishko | Mar 31, 2024
Easter morning, and it is pouring rain in Phoenix, which sounds like a mythical fairytale. Down here in the Southwest, we take it when we get it, even when the water balloon hunt I planned may never come to pass. I know you people in other parts of the country deal...
by Barbara Lishko | Mar 22, 2024
Identifying one of my persistent faults over time has exposed my habit of expectations. I place them on myself, other people, and even God-foolish me. Like you, I have had many pleasant and unfortunate unplanned events in my life. Over the years with various jobs,...
by Barbara Lishko | Mar 10, 2024
I can’t tell you how many times I heard the word help when the kids were growing up. Help! “He’s (insert any descriptor here, looking, laughing, touching, or staring) at me.” Help! “I don’t understand the math assignment.” You’re alone...
by Barbara | Mar 6, 2024
Jesus spoke to his disciples, saying, “Do not think I have come to abolish the law or the prophets. I have come not to abolish but to fulfill.” In fulfilling the law, Jesus is taking the external law and bringing it to completion in Himself and through his actions....
by Barbara | Mar 1, 2024
How is your Lent going? We have almost completed week two. Did you commit to giving up, taking up, and detaching? I started strong and then began to get busy and fizzled out a little bit. Not entirely, mind you, just step-by-step lazy and distracted. I am a continuous...
by Barbara | Feb 14, 2024
Yeah, it’s that time again. Wait! Wasn’t Christmas just last week? Lent begins today, despite being St. Valentine’s Day, and NO, there is no need for a dispensation. I mean, how do we expect to grow stronger and battle-ready by looking for excuses to opt...
by Barbara | Feb 4, 2024
Yesterday, I had the opportunity to watch one of our granddaughters at her swimming lesson. When it was complete, and time for her to change from her wet clothes, I naturally started to assist her. "I can do it myself, grandma." Well, okay then! I'll wait out here....
by Barbara | Jan 9, 2024
Each day brings with it new challenges and struggles. It is easy to get overwhelmed, anxious and exhausted just thinking of how to cope. Why does it have to be so hard at times? A friend told me recently she didn't know that in her retirement she would deal with so...
by Barbara | Jan 1, 2024
I sat there in the first pew staring at the nativity scene before me. What does one give the King of Kings that he doesn't already have? Oh that's easy, said the voice in my head. Give him yourself, your love, your surrender. I already have, piped another voice in my...
by Barbara | Dec 24, 2023
This time of year always brings back memories of Christmases past. I think of the cold Colorado Christmases when we received new pajamas every Christmas eve and the standard photos that followed by the tree. I remember simplicity, the basics and a comfortable...