Tag: Perspective

Inspiration

Day 6: Gods Language, Silence

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Reflection by Jacquelyne Rocan

Did I sit in silence to be with God today?  

The world seems so noisy today and it can be hard for me to find times to be quiet and sit in silence to pray.  Between work and other obligations, I do make time for prayers and reading the Bible, but often that time becomes filled with me talking to God, rather than focusing on contemplative or centering prayer and listening for God’s voice.  I find it hard at times just to sit in the silence and have to fight the urge to do something or say something.

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Inspiration

Day 5: Being Beloved

Smitten With Goodness
Reflection by Jacquelyne Rocan

Did I remember to rest in the truth that I am a beloved child of God?

My family enjoyed a blessing in February with the addition of a new family member:  a sweet, healthy, happy baby girl!  I was fortunate to have the opportunity to meet her in person on the day that she was born and to hold her for a time.  It is amazing how quickly we love these new babies that come into our lives.  Babies are so precious — of course they are easy to love as we look into their sweet faces and hold them close.

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Inspiration

Day 4: Honoring Those Before Us 

Smitten With Goodness
Reflection by Jacquelyne Rocan

Do I remember and honor my dead family and friends?

The past few years have been filled with heartbreaking news — the Covid-19 pandemic, natural disasters, mass shootings, economic hardships, and the war that continues to be waged in Ukraine.  The death tolls from each of these events are reported and it is easy to be overwhelmed by the number of people that lost their lives and the impacts of those deaths on their family, friends, and communities.  

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Inspiration

Day 3: Enjoying Life

Smitten With Goodness
Reflection by Jacquelyne Rocan

Do I take time to enjoy my family and friends?

As the new year begins, I am always excited to open my new calendar and stare at the blank pages, imagining all of the wonderful events and activities that will fill the new year.  I start to write down upcoming activities, appointments, and reminders, and suddenly those blank pages are filled and I become overwhelmed with all that I believe I need to accomplish.  I look at these filled pages and become tired, before I really begin the new year.

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Inspiration

Day 2: Where Do You Turn?

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Do you turn to God in the struggle?

Recently I was in a group of trusted people receiving some feedback. A question I asked to them was how to get through feeling stuck when asked a question during a spiritual direction session. One person invited me to dig a bit deeper around the fear of feeling disappointment in not responding how the directee might expect. Another person suggested I get comfortable with the uncomfortable.  

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Inspiration

Day 1: Listening to God’s Voice

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What is God telling you to do?

God‘s presence is in all of creation and speaks to us in more ways that we can imagine. One specific way to become familiar with God’s language is by contemplating scripture, especially the gospels. 

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Inspiration

Are You Prepared For Lent?

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Better yet, are you questioning if you should even bother to prepare? As I spiritually mature, I’m learning the error of my ways and the diligence it takes to be in alignment with God. Spending time in prayer and reflection draws us towards authenticity. By examining our conscience, we become aware of the burdens we carry that weigh us down when we don’t have God as our center.

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Inspiration

How Do You Reconnect With God? 

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Reflections for Contemplative Living

As we prepare ourselves for the season of Lent, I’m spending time in prayer asking God to nudge my conscience towards the ways I sin and live in disconnection. I remember the words, “Behold, I am with you always until the end of the age” (Matthew 28:20) and know that through my stubborn self-will, I choose to turn away and do things MY way.

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