Faith is a gift as well as a virtue. It’s a gift of God in that it’s a light infused by him into our souls. But it’s a virtue in that our soul must exercise itself to practice it.
Continue reading “A Lively Faith”A Lively Faith
Tag: Virtue
Mystery of Relationship
Tomorrow is Valentine’s Day where we honor our love relationships, whether a spouse, trusted friend or child. As you prepare your cards, gifts or make reservations for a special dinner, have you taken the time to reflect on the quality of the relationship you are celebrating?
Relationships are not to be understood and fixed and solved. They are the mysteries of life to be enjoyed and help us grow.
How are your relationships helping you stretch and grow into the best version of yourself? If not, where is the love?
Just Say No
Do you have a hard time with boundaries, keeping the right order in your life? Once something is allowed to creep past its appropriate place in your life and you are unable to say no to it, it becomes idolatry. And our hearts are idol making factories.
When God created the first couple (Adam and Eve), He instructed them, “You are free to eat from any tree of the garden, but you must not eat from the tree of the knowledge of good and evil, for on the day you eat from it, you will certainly die” (Gen. 2:16-17).
Inherent in this command was the recognition of their ability to say “no.” God had instilled in His highest creation the strength they needed to honor what He commanded.
They could resist and choose to honor God.
They could say “no” to the serpent’s temptation.
How well do you say no to things in your life that distract you for God. Have you fallen asleep to His voice and nudging? Start saying no and live in freedom, let’s not act as slaves!
How’s It Going?
What if I told you that true freedom isn’t about doing whatever you want—but about being free to live as God calls you to live? That’s what real freedom is: the ability to do God’s will, to worship Him, and to love as He loves.
And here’s the truth: many of us are held back by the comforts and distractions of this world. Too often we have a disordered amount of screen time, unhealthy food or drink habits, and/or a lack of discipline pull us away from the freedom Christ offers. We are Christians but we live as slaves.
Last year, I read the bible in its entirety with the Ascension Bible in a Year podcast. I was in tears as I finished. It was such a gift to immerse myself in Gods word, get to know his character and hear him speak to me. It changed my heart. It was tough to remain faithful but through perseverance I was able to achieve the goal. I thank my son for his nudging a few years ago who said you’re a Christian but haven’t read the Bible?
I’m certain God is stretching me this year into a deeper understanding and relationship. My mantra is:
Make. Every. Effort.
It’s hard for me to stay focused and go deep into things. All the “good” things out there are overwhelming and always seem to catch my attention. I know I’m tired of living on the surface which is where distractions lead me. Freedom is worth fighting for, once we know what it is.
True Freedom
“And above all, be on your guard not to want to get anything done by force, because God has given free will to everyone and wants to force no one, but only proposes, invites and counsels.”— St. Angela Merici
We have difficulty understanding this, just as a blind man has difficulty understanding color, but our difficulty doesn’t alter this fact: God’s omnipotence and omniscience respects our freedom. In the core of our being we remain free to accept or reject God’s action in our lives—and to accept or reject it more or less intensely. God wants us to accept him with all our ‘heart, soul, mind, and strength’—in other words, as intensely as possible. But he also knows that we are burdened with selfishness and beset by the devil, so it will take a great effort on our part to correspond to his grace. … Every time our conscience nudges us to refrain from sharing or tolerating that little bit of gossip, every time we feel a tug in our hearts to say a prayer or give a little more effort, every time we detect an opportunity to do a hidden act of kindness to someone in need, we are faced with an opportunity to please the Lord by putting our faith in his will.” —Fr. John Bartunek, The Better Part
Taste and See
O Lord, you are the Word of life. As a new day dawns, we pray:
Jesus, light our way.
O Lord, your Word gives wisdom to the simple:
– make us simple of heart.
O Lord, your Word is sweet to the taste:
– grant us the discernment to prefer its taste to any empty words we may hear this evening.
O Lord, your Word is steadfast, abiding for ever:
– keep our feet firmly on the path to everlasting life.
May the word of Christ dwell in us richly, and bring us to life everlasting! (Col 3:16)
Amen
THE JUBILEE PRAYER
Father in heaven,
may the faith You have given us in Your son, Jesus Christ, our brother, and the flame of charity enkindled in our hearts by the Holy Spirit, reawaken in us the blessed hope for the coming of Your Kingdom.
May Your grace transform us
into tireless cultivators of the seeds of the Gospel.
May those seeds transform from within both humanity and the whole cosmos in the sure expectation
of a new heaven and a new earth, when, with the powers of evil vanquished, Your glory will shine eternally.
May the grace of the Jubilee reawaken in us, Pilgrims of Hope, a yearning for the treasures of heaven.
May that same grace spread the joy and peace of our Redeemer throughout the earth.
To You our God, eternally blessed, be glory and praise forever.
Amen.
Grace Be With You
In a recent session with my Spiritual Director, we were discussing distractions and growth in the spirit. As I commend my spirit to my Creator, grace surely follows. Enjoy the following meditation she shared with me.
GOD’S LOVE FLOWS FROM ME AS GRACE
If I understand another person’s circumstances, grace flows from me easily. But if I witness mistreatment or injustice, my capacity for understanding may shrink. In these moments when I wish to reclaim the gift of God’s grace, I turn within to open my heart.
I remember the magnificent spark of God shines in every person. People’s actions and behaviors may not always reflect their divine nature, but if I am able to see them as divine beings, I can access the healing power of grace. I still recognize when something isn’t right or fair, but I do so lovingly, holding in mind and affirming each person’s inherent value. I honor myself and my loved ones while maintaining a spirit of forgiveness, allowing kindness to surge through me.
The Lord be with your spirit. Grace be with you.
—2 Timothy 4:22
Trust Issues?
Love. Forgive. Pray. Turn it over to God. The solution to trust issues.
Too Comfortable?
Choose me over your comfort.
As the One who called you to this surrendered life, I am trustworthy to guide you through it. As you lean on me and my understanding, I will empower you to walk in the way of love with every step. Submit your ways to mine, and you will find that your life is overflowing with mercy and grace. I have called you to an overcoming life, but you cannot overcome the world by your own strength. You must rely on my power at work within you to do it, and you have access to my limitless might through fellowship with my Spirit.
You have heard it said that my ways are above your human ways and my thoughts are higher than your own. This is true. I know you better than you know yourself, and I will lead you into everlasting life as you depend on me. Greater joy is yours through my Spirit-life than any you could imagine experiencing outside of me. There is fulfillment of every longing. No one can escape pain in this life, but you can also experience endless delight in me as you venture through it. So join your life to mine in full surrender today.
From I Hear His Whisper for Women written by Brian Simmons
Smitten With Goodness 