Tag: Pope Francis

Inspiration

Growing In Good Works

Smitten With Goodness

I hope this post finds you settling into your word of the year as well as having a plan mapped out to get to know your Saint buddy. My prayer time this week included a plea for guidance on how to best get to know mine, St. Joseph. The next day, I was listening to the Godsplaining podcast and low and behold, they were discussing the Year of St. Joseph. This conversation gave me a good starting point for my plan. I love how God works! Do you have a plan to nourish your mind this year? Another practice I wanted to share that supports my growth is identifying twelve books that will challenge my thinking. Getting through this stack feels good when I complete in December.

Have you started thinking about Lent? 

Continue reading “Growing In Good Works” →
Guide to Goodness

Awakening My Soul To Goodness

Smitten With Goodness
The beautiful nativity gifted to us for Christmas by my sister and brother in law!

Do you need more time like I do to bask in the spirit and joy of Christmas? To invite Christ to be your center and North star?  After the year we have had, I really want this gift of goodness to continue, especially to influence the new year.  Goodness is about tapping into Christ born in us.  It is created by God’s grace and my response to it.  When I respond with tears of gratitude for His love and mercy, that is goodness.  He is always inviting us forward and I can accept that invitation or not.  When I focus on the things that feed my soul, I can see the pathway to holiness a little clearer each year and be Smitten with Goodness.

Continue reading “Awakening My Soul To Goodness” →
His

I’m Choosing Joy!

Smitten With Goodness
Photo from http://www.strengthenmyheart.com

Happy Third Sunday of Advent. Today is Gaudete Sunday which means rejoice! Besides lighting the rose-colored candle on the Advent wreath, we celebrate that our hopeful anticipation for the coming of Christ at Christmas is almost over. This beautiful liturgical color signifies joy. 

Continue reading “I’m Choosing Joy!” →
His

How Much Simple Love is in Your Heart?

Smitten With Goodness
Image by Joy! Digital

A few years ago, I realized that I had a divided heart.  I was being drawn closer to spiritual love and less satisfied with the worldly things that took up much of my time and attention.  During this time of discerning and yearning, I contemplated what love means and its transforming power and goodness.  Love is a superpower each of us holds within us. It is the true essence of who we are and how we are called to treat each other yet we have strayed away from love.   It is an action we are called to perform.  Love, for even our enemies, is the key to the solution of the problems of our world.  This radical philosophy, so much of what Martin Luther King, Jr.’s advocated for in his platform of nonviolence and love of our enemies, resonates for me as I contemplate love.

Continue reading “How Much Simple Love is in Your Heart?” →
His

Is Your Heart Full of Hope?

Smitten With Goodness

Our world was made from love and goodness as we are assured in the origin story of Genesis. Throughout time, God ensures us that the light shines in the darkness, and the darkness does not overcome the light. 

Continue reading “Is Your Heart Full of Hope?” →