Tag: Perspective

In my quest to learn what it means to love, I am constantly amazed at the way the Spirit shows me how to love. Recently, I’m finding the link between the quality of my prayer life and the practice of fasting. The strength of these two practices directly correlate to how strongly I am tethered to a loving spirit and frame of mind. As I’m learning more about disciplines that lead me deeper to know God’s goodness, I’m seeing the cause and effect of these two practices.  We are taught how to do this:

Continue reading “Week Twenty-Three. Fortitude in Love. Love and Discipline.” →

When I persevere in loving myself in a rightly ordered way, I have moments of understanding what it means to “Be Not Afraid.” These three words are cited 365 times in the Bible, signifying their importance. I like to think of it as one for each day of my year.

Continue reading “Week Twenty-Three. Fortitude in Love. Courage.” →

How do I remain in God’s love? Jesus instructs us in the way of loving others with God’s love:

Remain in my love. If you keep my commandments, you will remain in my love, just as I have kept my Father’s commandments and remain in his love.

John 15:9-11

Continue reading “Week Twenty-Three. Fortitude in Love. Remain.” →

Today is Pentecost, one of my favorite celebrations in the Church. This is the Paschal Mystery brought to completion, where by the power of the Holy Spirit we are united with God’s Only Begotten Son. This is the same Spirit, as the Church came to birth, opened all peoples to the knowledge of God and brought together the many languages of the earth in the profession of the one faith. It’s pretty cool to think that for those of us who believe, we have this fire of divine love within.

Continue reading “Week Twenty-Three. Fortitude in Love. Fire Within.” →

Month Five. Fortitude to love myself, expands my hope and kindness

Looking for God’s Goodness in contemplation and prayer. The Narrow Gate of Contemplation

Who mentors you on how to live life? Research shows that we are influenced by those we surround ourselves with.  As I was called to love, I’m realizing how important it is that I, the vine cling to love, the branch of Christ. If I’m to know pure love, I must be attached to love. This is the spiritual journey of becoming. The narrow gate of contemplation is a path to transformation, allowing me the gift of loving my whole self and bringing gentleness into the world.

Continue reading “Week Twenty-Two. Gentleness. Looking for God’s Goodness and Weekly Reflection Summary.” →

We can win the spiritual battle of envy with kindness.  Do you struggle with envy at times like I do? I’m convinced it is part of our human condition but we can prevail if we walk the gentle path of kindness.  Kindness or wishing the best for others helps me overcome my sin of envy.  As I learn to love myself, I become more accepting of myself, allowing me to be more accepting of others without bias or spite.  God blesses each of us in different ways and it is through these gifts that He fulfills His purpose in the world.

Continue reading “Week Twenty-Two. Gentleness. Winning the Battle.” →

It has been said that life is for enjoyment. It is not a race to see how much you can get done.

Continue reading “Week Twenty-Two. Gentleness. Enjoying It.” →

Today is the Feast of the Visitation that commemorates the Virgin Mary’s visit to her cousin Elizabeth when May was pregnant with Jesus and when Elizabeth was pregnant with John the Baptist, which was a truly joyful and unique event.  We see Mary responding to the prompting of the Holy Spirit to set out on a mission of charity. She shows us what it means to love our neighbor and that we aren’t meant to go it alone.

Continue reading “Week Twenty-Two. Gentleness. Living for Mission.” →

On what is the whole of your life built? Is your foundation currently strong? Do you follow a blueprint to build or maintain a solid foundation? As I walk the spiritual path, I’m learning the importance of applying Jesus’ teachings. As we see in the Sermon on the Mount in Matthew 7:21, “Everyone who listens to these words of mine and acts on them will be like a wise man who built his house on rock. The rain fell, the floods came, and the winds blew and buffeted the house. But it did not collapse.” 

Continue reading “Week Twenty-Two. Gentleness. My Blueprint.” →