Not Lukewarm Podcast with Deanna Bartalini: Recent Episodes
Deanna Bartalini
Welcome to learning and growing into a person who is not lukewarm. Curious as to where “not lukewarm” came from? It is from Revelation 3:16, “So, because you are lukewarm, neither hot nor cold, I will spit you out of my mouth.” Jesus is speaking to one of the seven churches and he is admonishing one for being neither hot nor cold and he tells them he will spit them out of his mouth. The first time I read that I realized I never wanted to be lukewarm, especially in my faith and love for Jesus. Rev 3:16 is a life verse for me, reminding me to the person God is calling me to be, each and every day.
Deanna Bartalini wants to help you live “not lukewarm” too! One of her greatest joys is to walk with people on their faith journey. She believes that the more you know about God and your faith, the more deeply you will fall in love with him. And when you fall in love with God, you want to reach out to others in gratitude. The Not Lukewarm podcast is about journeying together and learning how to live our faith every day.
Kindness is goodThe world can always use another person to spread kindness. Why shouldn’t it be you? I know it’s not always easy, let’s face it – you’ve got just as much going on as the next person. How can you be kind when it’s not easy or you’d rather treat the person the way they are treating others?
3 tips on how to be kind* Remember this: we don’t know what burdens other people are carrying. * Avoid the mentality that says you give back what you get. * Say or do the kind thing when people are unkind, it often disarms them and hopefully makes them think.
What if you don’t have it in you* Take a long pause before you respond to negativity and consider not responding at all if you know what you will say is not kind. * Take a break and refill however is most helpful to you. Take a walk, grab a drink with a friend, pray, read a fun book, sit in silence, play in the leaves, snow, sand (depends on the season and where you live).
This may be a bit (ahem, okay, very) obvious, but be kind to others this week, especially to those who are unkind to you or others.
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What is our true identity?
“We cannot be truly happy until we are truly free, and we to know who it is that we truly are if we are to be truly free.”
Habits of Freedom, pg 20
EveAs in adam and Eve, she engages in a ‘what if ‘ conversation with the snake. She speculates. Wonders. Thinks about what if? Instead of focusing on now and engaging in conversation, aka, prayer, with God.
We do the same thing. Making time for God each day will give us an intimate relationship with him. It keeps us on an even keel and able to handle our lives better.
Jesus’ BaptismIn Luke 3:21-22,
After all the people had been baptized and Jesus also had been baptized and was praying, heaven was opened and the holy Spirit descended upon him in bodily form like a dove. And a voice came from heaven, “You are my beloved Son; with you I am well pleased.”
God the Father is well pleased with Jesus. He is well-pleased with you too!This week, pray and meditate with Luke 3:21-22. Hear what the Father says to Jesus and listen to what He has to say to you.If you’d like to read and discuss the Sunday Mass REadings, join us on Wednesday evenings at 7:30 pm (ET). You can sign up here to receive the link. The post Where does our True Identity come from? (Replay) appeared first on Ultimate Christian Podcast Radio Network.
Sometimes our bad habits can be opportunities to assess, grow, and determine our next steps. When we hold all the important things of our life loosely it is a bit easier to let them go.
Bad HabitsI have a few bad habits:
- I leave my shoes all around the house and then cannot find them when I am going out.
- I remember one more thing I have to say as my husband is leaving the room after we’ve finished talking.
- I often say yes to new ideas, projects, and opportunities without thinking about what else is going on.
- I think I can do it all.
What to Keep, What to Let GoA few months while talking to a good friend, I realized an opportunity might not turn out the way I wanted. She advised me to hold it loosely so that if it happened or not, I was prepared. This is very similar to detachment. Letting the things of this world not be what we hold onto. Rather, have open hands, ready to receive what God gives or able to let go of what God asks us to let go.
I have had some great new opportunities come my way and said yes to them, willing and with great excitement.
But I let go of nothing. And pretty soon, there was a feeling of overload, rather than peace. What did I need to let go?
It’s not GoodbyeI will no longer be recording this podcast. For now. Will I ever do a podcast again? Possibly. I have enjoyed it very much. I hope I have helped you in your faith life. The wide-ranging and numerous authors I have interviewed have been a great blessing. But at this time, I am turning my focus elsewhere.
Please do stay in touch with me. The best way is to subscribe to my newsletter. This will include a video series on praying with scripture and in the next few weeks I’m hosting a webinar about the Examen.
You can follow me on Instagram and Facebook. And of course, email me at deanna (at)livenotlukewarm(dot)com
Website link
Thank you for all your support.
Thank you to the Ultimate Christian Podcast Network for hosting me!
God Bless You all and do your best to
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Our AuthorBelinda Terro Mooney is a mom of 7 adults whom she homeschooled, and a spiritual mother to many. As an author, she writes on Catholic topics like the Saints and Reparation, and mental health and addictions topics. She is a coach for Catholic moms, coaches, and therapists. She holds licenses in social work and addictions and is an Adjunct professor of human services. Belinda enjoys speaking as well. As a Secular Carmelite, she is in ongoing formation with the 3 Carmelite Doctors of the Church and has a consistent prayer life. Learn more on her website, https://belindaterromooney.com/.
Her New BookPray with Us invites us to connect with 365 saints, blesseds, venerables, and servants of God — one for each day of the year. Each day’s entry includes a brief biography of the saint and a prayer. This book provides a concise, approachable format for individuals and families to form the habit of daily prayer and to rely more purposefully on the intercession of the saints. (from OSV.com, click on the link to order your own copy!)
How did Belinda decide on which saints to include?It took time, patience, and prayer to make those decisions. She worked with her editor and wanted to include a variety of people from all over the world. She also looked towards telling the stories of our new saints and those will soon be beatified.
In all, there are 365 Saints, one for each day of the year. The book is a great way to introduce yourself and your family to the saints. Each day there is a short bio on the day’s saint and then a short prayer that asks for the saint’s help or intercession on whatever they are known for or the patron saint of.
Who is this book for?Belinda sees this book as something that can be used by families for daily prayer, busy moms who want something short but informative to read and pray with, and those interested in learning about saints. The book is well laid out and draws you in with the clean format. I encourage you to take a look and order it. November is a great time to begin learning about the saints as we celebrate the Feast of All Saints on Nov 1.
Visit my website.
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Let’s chat a minuteHow are things in your life going? We are well into school year mode around here. And apparently, it is beginning to cool off in some parts of the country. Not where I live. However, I am walking outside rather than on the treadmill at the gym some days. I try to go early when it’s only in the low 80’s. I guess you can say it is cooler than 87° 0r 90 °.
I looked up saints for women who do too much. Sometimes we do too much because we want to be helpful; other times situations occur that need our time and attention and we wind up with too much to do. I saw a few suggestions here and I think I’ll choose St. Rita as the best option. She had great rials but did not waver from her faith.
HappinessI think happiness, or rather, the desire to be happy, is sometimes looked down upon in the spiritual life. We want joy, which is more than happiness. Joy lasts longer than simple happiness.
I’m going to pose a different thought. What if more happiness leads to joy?
A friend of mine suggested this topic. She offers this as things that make her happy: life, sharing faith, Church, ministry, time with family and friends, and nature. She then thought more about the spiritual life and added quiet time to pray, write, be still, and meditate.
I think knowing what makes us happy is a good thing. A quick list of what makes me happy: reading, sewing, walks outside, bike rides, my grandchildren, deep conversations, family.
But what about joyJoy lasts beyond the event or interaction. Happiness is fleeting. Really? Let me pose this scenario: it’s my birthday and my son brings over my favorite spinach dish with gluten-free toast for brunch. I will eat it and enjoy it, along with the company of family. It brings me both joy and happiness. It tastes amazing, I am with my family and I appreciate the time and effort he took to cook for me. When I look back on the event, I have joy knowing I raised a thoughtful son.
When we repeat interactions that bring us happiness we open ourselves up to joy. It helps us see the world in a better light, focusing on what is true, good and beautiful, it helps us to be grateful.
This week’s challengeI bet you can guess this one: make a list of what makes you happy and do a few of them. If you are local, and happiness is a good cup of coffee and conversation, call me. I’m in. I think you will find yourself with a bit more joy in your life.
Let’s talk about having me come to your parish.
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On July 17 to 21, we celebrated the National Eucharistic Congress in Indianapolis, Indiana. I was able to go with my husband and a friend. It was an amazing time, filled with learning, prayer, music, excellent talks, and seeing friends.
A few highlights:standing outside our hotel, when all of a sudden, the people I know from CatholicMom.com are walking by and Allison Gingras, calls out, “Deanna, is that you?’
Praying in Adoration every night in a stadium with 50,000 Catholics and the only sound was the hum of the air conditioner running.
Also, the priests who led us in Adoration were amazing. The reverence and awe for Jesus was present on their faces.
Hearing Fr. Boniface Hicks pray the Litany of Healing and Repentance in the Eucharist.
Matt Maher leading us in worship on Saturday night.
And the closing Mass with Cardinal Luis Antonio Tagle
All of this was amazing and gave me a renewed sense of mission and purpose.
What did we do all day?Each day we went to Mass at Lucas Oil Stadium. Then we went to a specific track for 3 days. John and I went to the Renewal sessions geared toward those in ministry. And those are the takeaways I want to discuss today.
Day 1, Danielle Brown from the USCCBInstead of working in ministry, first pray, fast, and be purified.
Activities in ministry can become false idols.
Ministry not nailed to the cross will be blown away at the first storm.
Day 2, Damon OwensGod reveals things to us that are delightful and painful.
No one likes healing, but we like to be healed.
Holiness is being fully human.
Sara KaczmarekWork with God, not for him.
Find God in the quiet and stillness
Day 3, Julianne Stanz, author with Loyola PressBread that does not rest does not rise and neither can you.
Thanks to all who listen, comment, share it with friends and leave reviews.
If you’d like to have me speak at your parish or group, you can use this link!
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SuscipeThis prayer is from St. Ignatius of Loyola. It appears in week four of his Spiritual Exercises. Suscipe means “receive” in Latin.
Why pray this prayer?It helps us surrender all the “shoulds’ in our lives to God. We ask for his grace and strength to live our lives in the way it best serves him.
More information on the prayerThe Suscipe
An Expanded Version of the Suscipe
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Meet the AuthorAmy J. Cattapan is a middle-school English teacher and Catholic speaker, retreat leader, and author who has written or contributed to several books, including Sweet Jesus, Is It June Yet?, Chicken Soup for the Soul: From Lemons to Lemonade, and the award-winning novels Angelhood and Seven Riddles to Nowhere. She hosts the podcast Cath-Lit Live!, where she interviews Catholic authors with new releases.
Cattapan has appeared on The Katie McGrady Show on SiriusXM, EWTN’s Bookmark, Catholic Faith Network Live, and the Son Rise Morning Show. Her writing has appeared in Highlights for Children, Hopscotch for Girls, Pockets, and Catechist. She also served as the host for Shalom World TV’s BOOK.ed.
Cattapan earned a bachelor’s degree in English secondary education from Marquette University, a master’s degree in instruction for secondary education language arts from Northeastern Illinois University, and a doctorate in curriculum and instruction from Loyola University Chicago. She has spoken at a variety of conferences, including NCEA, NCTE, the Los Angeles Religious Education Congress, and the C3 Conference.
All the Saints! Let’s face it, it is easier to be a teacher if you have your saint squad helping you! Amy has gathered and organized 45 saints according to various needs: creativity, patience, building strong relationships, teaching in difficult times and more. Choose the topic that fits your situation and then read about a few saints who overcame difficulties and obstacles.
Published by Ave Maria Press.
Download free prayers for teachers including a Litany of Saints from the book on Amy’s website.
And do yourself a favor and follow her on Instagram.
Do a bit of research on a saint, choose one thing about them you admire and adopt that quality or virtue.
Please contact me to speak at your parish or group!
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Meet our AuthorMaria V. Gallagher is an author, advocate, speaker, and life coach. Her latest book is Glorious Encounters with Mary: A Guide to Living the Mysteries of the Rosary. Her other books include Mercy’s Power and Joyful Encounters with Mary. Maria previously worked as an award-winning radio reporter and television news producer. She is a member of the worldwide Cursillo Movement, the mother of one beautiful ballerina, and a mentor to many. Her books are available from Marian Press at Shop Mercy.
My Key Take-a Ways* Mary is a sign of hope * turn to Mary in times of need and she will help you * look for her intercession and thank her and God for it * write those “Mary Moments” down * focus less on the cross and more on the blessings * Our Lady Undoer of Knots wants to smooth out the ribbon of our life
Learn more about MariaHer Website
Instagram
This week, uncover the “Mary Moments” in your life and write them down!
Contact Deanna here to learn about speaking for your parish or group!
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It’s SummerAnd this year I’ve set aside July to do some deep work in my soul. I need it. It’s been a tumultuous year and I have a desire to reconnect with God and me!
Random ThoughtsA few random thoughts about hazard lights and blinkers; “homemade food” in restaurants and some fun or maybe odd things about me.
Upcoming EpisodesFind out what is coming in July with some great author interviews. I also review the mysteries of the rosary.
VarietyThis episode is meant to be fun and lighthearted, like those variety shows we watched when we were kids. Like the Donny and Marie Osmond show! A little bit of this and little bit of that. So listen and enjoy!
Connect with me on Instagram or contract me via email at Deanna (at) livenotlukewarm(dot) com.
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Our AuthorsBarb Szyszkiewicz is a wife, mother of three young adults, a music minister at her parish, and a Secular Franciscan. She is the editor at CatholicMom and blogs at FranciscanMom.com. Barb enjoys writing, cooking, and reading. She is the author of The Handy Little Guide to Prayer and The Handy Little Guide to the Liturgy of the Hours published by Our Sunday Visitor.
Allison Gingras is the founder of ReconciledToYou, where she shares the love of Jesus and her Catholic faith with relational stories, laughter, and authentic honesty through everyday, ordinary life occurrences. Allison is a Catholic social media and digital specialist for Family Rosary, Catholic Mom, and the Diocese of Fall River.
Gingras developed the Stay Connected Journals for Women series, including her volumes The Gift of Invitation: 7 Ways Jesus Invites You to a Life of Grace and Seeking Peace: A Spiritual Journey from Worry to Trust, and a new volume coming in 2025 from OSV. The story of her daughter’s adoption was shared in Encountering Signs of Faith; Unexpected Journey with Sacramentals, the Saints, and the Abundant Grace of God (Ave Maria Press). She has also contributed to numerous books, including Our Friend Faustina ; the CPA award-winning The Ave Prayer Book for Catholic Mothers and Called by Name Daily Devotional for Catholic Women; and Living the Word Catholic Women’s Bible. She joyfully lives out her vocation as a deacon’s wife and the mother of three.
Key Points of Our Conversation* There are many different ways to pray. * God appreciates our efforts; we don’t need to be perfect. * The types of prayer we use will change and vary over time and depend on our life circumstances. * All prayer helps us know God better.
This week, choose a new prayer or type of prayer and pray it.
Learn more about prayer when you sign up for my newsletter!
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PrayerLet nothing disturb you,
Let nothing frighten you,
All things are passing away:
God never changes.
Patience obtains all things
Whoever has God lacks nothing;
God alone suffices.
— St. Teresa of Avila
Scripture
Jesus Calms a Storm at Sea, Mark 4:35-41
ReflectionHow about instead of asking Jesus to calm the storm we ask him to help us rest like he is? That’s my discussion on this episode!
And there are a few random thoughts about weather, moisturizer and my problem reading an eye chart. Enjoy!
Need a speaker? Let’s talk!
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What does trust mean?What does the word trust mean? “A firm belief in the reliability, truth, ability or strength of someone or something.”
Who do you trust? What things do you place your trust in? Has someone ever broken your trust? Have you ever caused a person to stop trusting you? When we think about trust we see how easy it is to both take it for granted and abuse it at the same time. Maybe we do that with God.
Our human relationships often mirror our relationship with God, until we learn that God is not
like people. Thank God! He is far more forgiving, all-knowing, loving, faithful, giving, loving, wise, patient, kind, and and and, fill in your word, than we are in our dealings with each other and with him. Yet he is faithful to us, always allowing us to return to him when we seek him.
Scripture* Do you have a firm belief in God being reliable? Deuteronomy 32:4 * Do you know that he is Truth? John 14:6-7 * Do you know that he has great ability? Luke 8:24-25 * Do you know his strength? Psalm 73:26
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What is Metanioa?It is change, a conversion toward God. In the book, Our Lady of Hoy Messes, Getting Real with God in Dive Bars and Confessionals by Leticia Ochoa Adams she says this about metanoia:
“Metanoia is not just any change in any direction, but a radical 180-degree turn in the opposite direction. That change is not easy because it begins with the acknowledgment that you are going the wrong way. It is not easy because it is not done once in a life and then everything is fine. Life has a lot of 180-degree turns. Healing, repentance, and conversion happen over and over in life. Just when I think I’m going in the right direction, I learn something about myself and have to repent all over again.”
Scripture
“Turn away your face from my sins; blot out all my iniquities.A clean heart create for me, God; renew within me a steadfast spirit.Do not drive me from before your face, nor take from me your holy spirit.Restore to me the gladness of your salvation; uphold me with a willing spirit.”: Psalm 51:11-14
Links for this episodeHoly Spirit PrayerConnect with me about speaking Pray with Psalm 51 and ask God where you need repentance. Invite the Holy Spirit in when you begin your prayer time.
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God’s not Dead was a popular song a few years back. And he certainly is not dead, but very much alive. As are we. How often do we think about a relationship with him? If we believe in him and love him, then a desire to have a relationship follows.
Prayer is a Living RelationshipThe desire to know God and understand God and be closer to God grows as our faith does. Prayer is what we need to grow closer to God. It is spending time with him. Spending time with people is how we grow in our relationships with our friends physically with us, so why not do the same with God?
Contemplation, Ignatian StyleWhat is it? a communion in which the Holy Trinity conforms man, the image of God, “to his likeness.” * the Father strengthens our inner being with power through his Spirit “that Christ may dwell in (our) hearts through faith” and we may be “grounded in love” * also turns its gaze on the mysteries of the life of Christ; we learn the “interior knowledge of our Lord,” the more to love him and follow him. Ignatius of Loyola* * the Holy Spirit makes the mystery of Christ come alive in contemplative prayer so that our charity will manifest it in our acts
What does it mean to enter into contemplative prayer?We “gather up” the heart, recollect our whole being under the prompting of the Holy Spirit, abide in the dwelling place of the Lord which we are, awaken our faith in order to enter into the presence of him who awaits us. We let our masks fall and turn our hearts back to the Lord who loves us, so as to hand ourselves over to him as an offering to be purified and transformed.
How to Pray Contemplative Prayer1. Bless yourself and begin with a prayer; call on the Holy Spirit 2. Sit in silence, placing yourself in the presence of God, settle your mind and soul 3. Ask the Lord to give you a specific grace or state a prayer request 4. Read the scripture passage once or twice to get the general sense of it, put it aside and close your eyes 5. Place yourself in the passage; are you watching the scene or a part of it as a person who interacts with Jesus? Do not decide ahead of time, rather, wait and see what rises up in you 1. 1. Allow the story to unfold before you (what do you hear, see, smell, notice?) 2. Allow your imagination freedom 3. Pay attention to your feelings during prayer 6. Have a conversation with God 1. Talk about what happened 2. Ask God what it means 3. Listen to what He says 4. End with the Our Father 5. Journal your encounter; even a few sentences help to process what occurred 7. What word or words touched you during the prayer time? 8. What feelings did the prayer evoke in you? 9. What do you sense God is saying to you or where is He leading you?
Scripture Passages Luke 19:1-10; John 15:1-11; Acts 2:1-4
Need some prayer support?Contact me and let me know how I can help!
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“Contemplative prayer [oracion mental] in my opinion is nothing else than a close sharing between friends; it means taking time frequently to be alone with him who we know loves us.” St. Teresa of Avila
Contemplative PrayerWhat is contemplative prayer? (Catechism of the Catholic Church, #2709-19)
- the prayer of the child of God
- the poor and humble surrender to the loving will of the Father in ever deeper union with his beloved Son
- the simplest expression of the mystery of prayer
- a gift, a grace; it can be accepted only in humility and poverty
- a covenant relationship established by God within our hearts
- an intense time of prayer
- a gaze of faith, fixed on Jesus; “I look at him and he looks at me,” said a farmer to St. John Vianney
- a focus on Jesus; a renunciation of self; His gaze purifies our heart
- hearing the Word of God; the Father speaking to us his incarnate Word
- silence where the Spirit of adoption enables us to share in the prayer of Jesus
- a communion of love bearing Life for the multitude
ScripturePsalm 42:7-9
Pray with Psalm 42, and listen to what God wants you to know. Spen 10 to 20 minutes in quiet and then, write down your thoughts and feelings from your prayer time.
If you are interested in learning more about inviting me to speak, you can find information on my speaking page!
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Bare Bones Show Notes!Here’s the thing: I love to speak, and I love to write, but for some reason, show notes. UGH! I might want to take some of the advice I give in this episode about the way I am and see if it changes. We shall see.
Scripture Quoted
Revelation 21: 5 “The one who sat on the throne said, “Behold, I make all things new.”
2 Corinthians 5:17 : “So whoever is in Christ is a new creation: the old things have passed away; behold, new things have come.”
The main pointWhen we say, “That’s just the way I am,” we put ourselves in a box and deny the possibility of change, which we can do with God’s help.
Pray with this question: God, what do you want to make new?
Would you like to pray together or learn ways of praying to help you change with God’s help? Please contact me.
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It’s Good to Prepare for PrayerSometimes, prayer becomes difficult because we can’t decide what to do, when to pray, or where is the best place—so many questions when all we want to do is sit down and focus on the Lord for a bit. As I listened and talked with people, I realized that often, what is lacking is a concrete plan to make prayer happen. I pulled a few of my favorite ways to be ready when it is time to pray.
5 Ideas for You1. Decide ahead of time what type of prayer you will pray. There are many options, and it can be overwhelming. Choosing in advance means one less thing to think about. You might even make up a weekly schedule of different types of prayer each day. 2. Put together your prayer tools. If you are using a Bible, journal, pen, or pencil, put it in a bag or basket. If you are reading a book or praying a specific novena – whatever it is, leave it out or near your prayer space. Which brings me to 3. be consistent in your place and time of prayer. At times, we may go elsewhere to pray in Adoration or outdoors, but where is your usual place? What is your usual time? Pro tip: pick a time when you are not sleepy. If it helps, schedule it in your calendar. 4. Keep it simple. Focus on God and quiet, not the externals of candles, special lighting, incense, music. The more that has to be set up, the less time for actual prayer! 5. If you are distracted in prayer, before settling down to pray, make a list of what is going on in your mind. Then, when prayer time is over, it will still be there. And solutions may come to you during prayer for some problems.
BonusI believe quiet and silence are non-negotiables in prayer. No matter how, when, or where, I encourage you to spend time looking at God and allowing him to look at you. Silence gives God room to make himself known. He comes to us in stillness, not noise.
I’d love to come speak to your group or parish. You can look here for previous talks but know that I love to craft new talks specific to your needs.
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Lent – it’s not only about you“Where is your brother?” is the second question Pope Francis asks in his Lenten message for 2024.
The first is, “where are you?” which I talked about in the previous episode, Where are You?
In the book of Exodus, God reaches out to the Israelites. They are so downtrodden that they are unable to even call out to God for help. But God cares for them. And cares for each of us.
3 Pillars of LentPrayer, fasting, and almsgiving are not meant to be three separate acts. One leads to the other, pulling together the three leads us to learn how to detach from created things of this world that separate us from God.
The three together, as Pope Francis says, create an openness and self-emptying that rids us of attachments.
Then, we are able to better care for those around us.
Our attitude has an effect on others.
Connect with me here!
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Scripture
Even now, says the LORD,
return to me with your whole heart,
with fasting, and weeping, and mourning;
Rend your hearts, not your garments,
and return to the LORD, your God.
For gracious and merciful is he,
slow to anger, rich in kindness,
and relenting in punishment. Joel 2: 12-13
AshesOn Ash Wednesday, as ashes are placed on our foreheads, we hear one of two possible phrases:
“Repent and believe in the Gospel,” or “Remember that you are dust, and to dust you shall return. ”
Lenten MessageHere is Pope Francis’ Message for Lent 2024
He reminds us during Lent, we go through the desert and God leads us to freedom. However, we need to desire to “open our eyes to reality” to answer the question, “Where are you?” (Genesis 3:9).
When we know where we are in relation to God, then we will know our sins and what our focus is on during the time in the desert.
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What does the Catechism say about prayer?Take a look at Part Four, Christian Prayer. In this episode, I refer to #s 2558-2565
“For me, prayer is a surge of the heart;
it is a simple look turned toward heaven,
it is a cry of recognition and of love,
embracing both trial and joy.” St. Therese of Lisieux“Prayer is the raising of one’s mind and heart to God or the requesting of good things from God.” St. John Damascene
2024 is a Year of PrayerSome important points from the press conference:
- We are asked to intensify prayer, renew and rebuild our spiritual practices
- prayer is nourishment for the Christian life of faith, hope, and charity
- the Church and people of God are to become a concrete sign of hope
- let’s get back to basics
Look at your week and focus on a different type of prayer each day:
Sunday: Mass; Monday: silence; Tuesday: petition Wednesday: rosary; Thursday: thanksgiving; Friday: scripture; Saturday: Confession and contrition
Sign up for my newsletter to learn more about prayer!
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Begin with Prayer
“Once our motives are pure and upright and we seek not our own interests, but those of our Lord and Master, He has constant care over us, because He is infinitely good.” St. Ignatius Loyola
Some IdeasConsider having goals of your own with your spouse and family. Have a few that are spiritual, something fun; others can be professional or health-related.
Looking Forward to LentJoin me for a Lenten Prayer Group called Lightworks beginning the week of Feb 5. It’s on Tuesdays at 7 pm or Thursdays at 2:30 pm (eastern time). Contact me here or via Facebook or Instagram.
This week’s challenge, Plan with God! Ask this question in prayer: What do you want me to do that will give glory to you?
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Scripture
“And I tell you, ask and you will receive; seek and you will find; knock and the door will be opened to you.” Luke 11:9
Why Pray Each Day?Because God has something to say to you, and you can’t hear him if you are not silent. Each day, spend some time with the Word, silence, and your journal. And by journal, it can be a sticky note on the page you re reading. Something to write what you hear in your time of listening to God.
What will your commitment be to God for quiet prayer, dedicated time just for him?
Need a Speaker?Contact me and we can talk about it!
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How are we to pray?So often, we think, because of the way we were taught, that prayer is “talking to God.” And while that is true, we also need to be silent and listen to him and be with him.
Words to CatherineGod’s words to Catherine of Siena: “You see then, that perfect prayer is not arrived at through many words, but through affection or desire, when the soul raises itself to me, knowing itself and my mercy, seasoned one with the other. Thus, the soul will practice mental and vocal prayer together, for even as the active and contemplative are one, so are they.” God further goes on to explain vocal and mental prayer, vocal being the type of prayer we say aloud or in our mind, while mental prayer is prayer without words, for being united with God. He also explains that “mental prayer is reached by exercise and perseverance” and that vocal prayer, practiced persistently, will lead to “perfect mental prayer.”
Learn more about different types of prayer when you sign up for my newsletter.
Advent Season Advent begins on December 3, 2023, and ends on December 24, 2023. It is a mere 22 days. Instead of trying to fill it with all the things, consider lighting your Advent wreath or a candle, reading the daily Gospel and then sitting in silence for 15 minutes a day. God desires to fill you with his grace and blessings; give him the time to do that for you.
Pray More Advent RetreatLearn more about the retreat and sign up to join us!
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A Saint and A PrayerSt. Charles de Foucauld may be a new saint to you. He was to me. Here is some information about his life and work. He lived and served as a priest, hermit, and missionary in France and Algeria.
Here is the Prayer of Abandon
Father, I abandon myself into your hands, do with me what you will.
Whatever you may do, I thank you: I am ready for all, I accept all.
Let only your will be done in me and in all your creatures.
I wish no more than this, O Lord. Into your hands, I commend my soul;
I offer it to you with all the love of my heart;
For I love you, Lord, and so need to give myself:
To surrender myself into your hands without reserve and with boundless confidence. For you are my Father.
When You Cannot Find the Words to PrayLife can wear us down, and our prayer life can suffer. If you can’t find the words to pray, use the words of others!
This prayer, in particular, will help you know and understand God’s will for your life. The line that stands out for me is, “I love you, Lord, and need to give myself, to surrender myself not your hands, without reserve and with boundless confidence, for you are my Father.”
Give your all to the One who gave you all!
Pray the Prayer of Abandon every day this week.
If you’d like to invite me to speak at your parish or organization, let’s start the conversation!
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“The gifts of grace increase as the struggles increase. ” St. Rose of Lima
What is Grace?* A gift from God that helps us live out our Christian life * It is referenced in both the Old and New Testaments * In the Old Testament, grace is similar to mercy * Thanksgiving is the action corresponding to grace in a loving relationship * We have a loving relationship with the Father
Actual GraceWe want actual grace – that is, the grace supplied for a particular reason or purpose.
Consider reading scripture to find what you are looking for. God’s Word is the living word that lives in you!
Use your BibleYou can try this online concordance, BibleGateway. Set the version you use and then type in the topic to get results.
I prefer a Bible I can hold in my hands and write in and put notes in it. Make it yours!
Here are the verses I mentioned in the episode:
Exodus 14:14, Deuteronomy 7:6-9, Isaiah 43:1-7, 1 Samuel 17:41-54
In particular, 1 Samuel 17:50.
Pick a few verses that strike you and pray them when you need an infusion of grace!
I’d love to come and speak to your ministry or parish. This page on my website has information for you on talks I’ve done in the past and how to reach me.
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St. FrancisWe celebrate St. Francis on October 4. He was the founder of the Franciscan Order and embraced the vows of poverty, chastity, and obedience. The prayer below is a favorite of mine!
Prayer before the Crucifix
Most High, glorious God, enlighten the darkness of my heart and give me true faith, certain hope, and perfect charity, sense and knowledge, Lord, that I may carry out
Your holy and true command. Amen.
Grace
- underserved gift or help freely and lovingly provided by God, but above all the utterly basic gift of being saved in Christ through faith, a grace that God wishes to give all human beings
- Brings us new birth and gift of the Holy Spirit
- Makes us a new creation
- Transforms human nature
- Anticipates a future in heaven
from A Concise Dictionary of Theology, O’Collins and Farrugia, S.J.
What does a parking lot have to do with grace? Listen and you’ll find out!
Types of Grace* Sacramental – the graces we receive through the sacraments * Efficacious – Grace offered by God and freely accepted * Sanctifying or Habitual – being made holy by the Holy Spirit, always with us; God sharing his divine life with us * Actual – a specific grace supplied for a particular need or reason * Special – also called charisms, which we are given to help build up the Church
Why do we need Grace?* it helps us respond to God’s call to be his * It gives us an awareness of sin and the ability to avoid it * to live out our daily life, as each of us is individually called to do * Takes our natural gifts, makes them more usable and to the service of God and others
What are the effects of Grace?HOLINESS! And we all want to be a bit holier, right?
This week, pray St. Francis’ prayer above.
Interested in having me speak to your group? Let me know; I’d love to come in person or virtually!
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Glimmer or God?I’ve been hearing about ‘glimmers’ on social media lately. I’ve seen a few memes. And while I liked the thought of a glimmer as opposed to a trigger, I wasn’t happy with the advice to look for the glimmer.
You see, to me, a glimmer is not about looking for something good, but it is God breaking through, reaching out to offer us hope, grace, a bit of pat on the back that says, “I’ ‘m here for ya!” from the Lord.
Finding and Seeing GodWhat the world and pop culture call glimmers, I say, they are from God. God loves us so much that he does reach out to us. But we ran around in a noisy, fast-paced world where we don’t pause often enough to say thanks for the good things that come our way.
- No red lights on the way to work.
- Your favorite song on the radio.
- A call from a friend.
- What’s on your list?
This notion of looking for God each day comes from St. Ignatius of Loyola. I may have mentioned him a time or two before. This week, our Not Lukewarm challenge is to answer the question, “Where did I see God today?”, every night.
And if you are interested in learning more about Ignatius and prayer, sign up for my newsletter to receive 4 Ways to Pray with Scripture and learn about a new offering on the Spiritual Exercises coming up soon.
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Banter Need a bit of a laugh? Listen to my pretend banter about my haircut and eyebrows! Saintly Wisdom on Happiness “The secret of happiness is to live moment by moment and to thank God for all that he, in his goodness, sends to us day after day.” […]
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Let’s begin with a prayer Let nothing disturb you, Let nothing frighten you, All things are passing away: God never changes. Patience obtains all things Whoever has God lacks nothing; God alone suffices. St. Teresa of Avila God is Faithful “If we are faithless, he remains […]
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Joseph in the Old Testament In the story of Joseph, we find an example of forgiveness. Joseph not only forgives his brothers for the wrong they did to him but restores and blesses them. The verses below show a small piece of the story. Scripture ” Joseph prepared his chariot and went up to meet […]
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In the Beginning… In the very first chapter of Genesis, it tells us that “God said” and the earth was formed. There was listening. How to listen When listening to another person, it is important that we: listen with the intention to understand and respond let go of our own experiences and the need to […]
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Keaton Douglas Meet Keaton Douglas, who wrote The Road to Hope: Responding to the Crisis of Addiction with Lindsay Schlegel, a book that Keaton hopes gets into the hands of all who want to be an apostle. Who is Keaton Douglas? She is the Executive Director of the I THIRST Initiative, a Mission of the […]
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End your day with prayer Echo the psalmist as he says, Search me, O God, and know my heart; test me and know my thoughts. See if there is any wicked way in me,and lead me in the way everlasting. […]
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Road Trip In some ways, I can’t believe we really did it; 4000 miles in 9 days. But then again, we are about living NOT lukewarm!!!!! I’m glad we went. We rested, we talked, and we drank great beers. We spent time in prayer before, during, and after. At the Shrine, we were able to […]
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The Question What is going on in your soul as you go about your daily life? That is your interior disposition! Your attitude as you go about your life. Do you look at the chores and mundane pieces and tasks of your life as burdens? No one is paying attention, thankful, or offering accolades. You […]
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A New Book As always, learning about a new book is a joy and even more so when the author is a friend! Maria Gallagher has written another book, Mercy’s Power, published by Marian Press. It is a guidebook of how to bring the corporal works of mercy into your life to help us recreate […]
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Waiting can be Difficult I stink at waiting, especially when waiting for a decision to be made. Living in that in-between space, neither here nor there, can seem like a waste of time. We want to get onto the next thing. But sometimes, we are asked to wait, to have some patience. Liminal Space Liminal […]
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What is Ordinary Time?This is one of the seasons in the Church’s Liturgical Year. We have various liturgical seasons, just as there are natural seasons. Ordinary time happens two times a year, and now it is beginning again, from May 29 until December 2. For more information, you can read this post.
On to the Acrostic!Here is one word for each letter of “ordinary” that gives us something to consider about Ordinary Time.
Opportunity – to take stock; grow in our spiritual life; to renew
Renewal – this can be a time of renewing our faith, certain practices
Dig – take a look and learn about our faith, dig into a specific book of the Bible, a saint, new prayer practice
Immediate – focus on now, not the next event, but what is happening now
Needed – we need this time to maintain, to be on an even keel
Accounting – what is working, what isn’t in your spiritual life
Rest – rest, simply rest in a way that restores and rejuvenates you
Yearning – to deeply desire more in your spiritual life
Make your own Acrostic and leave it in the comments for us to see! Consider how you will use this Ordinary Time to grow in your spiritual life. And remember, I’m happy to connect with you and would love for your to sign up for the Live Not Lukewarm newsletter. It comes with a video series on prayer and scripture!
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Micro ChangesSmall changes can help us change our habits. Changing our habits leads us to better outcomes. We can break big changes or shifts into small segments and increase over time. We do not have to do it all at once. This can set us up for failure, rather than success.
You are the average of the five habits you repaet most. James Clear
Scripture The Ten Commandments are all great foundations for good habits! Read Exodus 20 for God’s instructions.
Put God first, don’t swear, go to Church on Sundays, honor your parents, be faithful, don’t lie – all good habits for living your life in way that honors God and others, and yourself.
The person who is trustworthy in very small matters is also trustworthy in great ones; and the person who is dishonest in very small matters is also dishonest in great ones. Luke 16:10
Day by DayThe song, If You Want Your Dream to Be…(San Damiano Song) By Donovan really fits well here, so please excuse the 70s throwback to my youth. This is not the scene I describe in the podcast, but the song itself.
If you want your dream to be, build it slow and surely. Small beginnings, greater ends, heartfelt work grows purely.
If you want to live life free, take your time, go slowly. Do few things but do them well, simple joys are holy.
Day by day, stone by stone, build your secret slowly. Day by day, you’ll grow too, you’ll know heaven’s glory.
If you want your dream to be, build it slow and surely. Small beginnings, greater ends, heartfelt work grows purely. If you want to live life free, take your time go slowly.
In prayer, ask God where and how you can be better.
Would you like to discuss how to be better? Interested in joining us for the Pentecost Novena? Get in touch with me here.
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For this last episode of the series on Hope, we turn to God’s Word. His word guides and sustains us like nothing else. I’ve chosen three passages to ponder and I highly recommend you read the entire passage, not just the one verse to get the full meaning.
The Verses
He set me free in the open; he rescued me because he loves me. Psalm 18:20
Say to the fearful of heart: Be strong, do not fear! Here is your God, he comes with vindication; With divine recompense he comes to save you. Isaiah 34:4
For I am convinced that neither death, nor life, nor angels, nor principalities, nor present things, nor future things, nor powers,nor height, nor depth, nor any other creature will be able to separate us from the love of God in Christ Jesus our Lord. Romans 8:38-39
What is God telling us?He loves us. And in that love, there is the certain hope that he saves us, protects us, and is close to us. In Isaiah when it says that God comes with divine recompense, this means that our restoration will be beyond our expectations. It is divine and what GOd gives is always more than we expect.In Romans, St. Paul reminds us that we cannot be separated from he love of God in Christ Jesus.There is our HOPE!!!!! And, to quote a priest’s homily, Hope has a name. It is Jesus Christ.I encourage you to pray with Psalm 18, Isaiah 35, and Romans 8:31-39. From those passages, choose at least one verse that reminds you to have hope.Learn 4 Ways to Pray with Scripture and join the Live Not Lukewarm community!The post Scriptures of Hope appeared first on Ultimate Christian Podcast Radio Network.
Who is Catherine of Siena?Born in 1347, Catherine was a 3rd Order Dominican. She left for us The Dialogue, which is a conversation between Catherine and Giod while she was in ecstasy. It was transcribed by her secretaries as Catherine spoke.
Catherine died in 1380 in Rome. In 1461 she was canonized by Pope Pius II and later named a Doctor of the Chruch by Pope POaul VI. She was the first layperson to be given that title.
Quotes from The Dialogue
God to Catherine:
I never fail those who never fail in thier hope. I provide for them as a kind compassionate Father.
The devil is not able to resist yoyur humle hope in My goodness.
I wish souls to hope in my mercy at the pioint of death…During thier life Iuse this sweet rick with them, makining them hope greatly in My mercy.
Catherine :
Put your hope decisively in God and not in this mortal life. I beg you, as ransomed servants, to set your desirte and your soul’s affection intently on your Savior who has ransomed you.
Hope & Mercy“But the soul, exercising herself in virtue, begins to lose her fear, knowing that fear alone is not sufficient to give her Eternal LIfe, as I have already told thee when speaking of the second stage of the soul. And so she proceeds, with love, to know herself and My goodness in her, and begins to hope in My mercy in which her heart feels joy. Sorrow for her grief, mingled with the joy of her hope in My mercy, causes her eye to weep, which tears issue from the very fountain of her heart.” God to Catherine (and us)
When you feel you are losing hope, say this brief prayer, an aspiration: “God, my hope is in You!”
Learn 4 Ways to Pray with Scripture or continue the conversation here.
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The Theological VirtuesFrom the Catechism of the Catholic Church
The theological virtues are the foundation of Christian moral activity; they animate it and give it its special character. They inform and give life to all the moral virtues. They are infused by God into the souls of the faithful to make them capable of acting as his children and of meriting eternal life. They are the pledge of the presence and action of the Holy Spirit in the faculties of the human being. There are three theological virtues: faith, hope, and charity (love.) #1813
These virtues are gifts from God!
The Virtue of HopeFrom the Catechism of the Catholic Church
Hope is the theological virtue by which we desire the kingdom of heaven and eternal life as our happiness, placing our trust in Christ’s promises and relying not on our own strength, but on the help of the grace of the Holy Spirit. “Let us hold fast the confession of our hope without wavering, for he who promised is faithful.” #1817
3 Points About Hope* We hope for what we don’t have and can’t see * Sometimes it is difficult to hope * we can have hope by relying on God’s undeniable power
Act of HopeMy God, I hope with a firm confidence that you will give me, by the merits of Jesus Christ, your grace in this world, and, if I observe your commandments, your glory in the next, because you have promised it to me, and because you are supremely faithful in your promises. (Charles Peguy)
Pray the Act of Hope Prayer each day as a reminder to rely on God.
Consider praying with Mark 4:26-32.
Contact Deanna.
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Sometimes we go to all the liturgies of Holy Thursday, Good Friday, and Easter but never seem to ponder or pray with the scripture. We wonder, is there more? Can I go deeper? What is there in these words forme?
Guided MeditationsThis podcast episode offers you two guided meditations, one for Good Friday and the other for Easter.
The Good Friday meditation is based on the Gospel of Mark, chapter 15; I invite you to pause and reflect today on all that Jesus has done for us.
The Easter mediation is based on John 20:1-9. Here are the questions I pose for reflection:
- In times of grief, do you want to be alone or need others around you?
- Have you ever not known where Jesus was in your own life?
- What helped you find him?
- I have had many resurrections in my life; how about you? Find some time to think about those, maybe write them down, and praise and thank God for them.
I didn’t give a Not Lukewarm challenge this week. Instead, I encourage you to spend time in prayer with the reflection questions and scripture passages.
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Get out of your RutThe first four chapters of Habits of Freedom have us looking inward and being contemplative. The last chapter, 5, is about looking outward, getting out of your rut, and acting on your life experience.
How to become a Contemplative in Action?* Experience – what goes on around us through our senses * Understand – the experience, what happened * Judgment – do I need to do something with this information * Act – or not, based on the nature of the judgment
Desolation requires ActionOnce we are stuck in a rut, we need to move out of it by going against ourselves. Often when we feel spiritually desolate, we withdraw and turn in on ourselves. Collins suggested we focus outward instead.
As St. Augustine says about sin – an inclination to cave in on ourselves
Scripture: John 21:15-17
Final Quote
“God invites me to stay stil, open, and receptive to how he wants to appraoch me and find me and call me home to ttrue life and freedom.”
Connect with us at our website by clicking on the logo above!
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In this episode, we talk about Chapter 4, Talk it Out, from the book, Habits of Freedom: 5 Ignatian tools for Clearing your Mind and Resting Daily in the Lord by Fr. Christopher J. Collins, SJ.
Deacon John and I had similar yet different takeaways from this chapter. First, the idea or rather, the reality that as children and young people growing up in our families, Jesus was not mentioned outside of church. We went to Mass and maybe talked a bit about the homily on the walk home and then that was all until next week. A great irony when you think about what John and I both do now!
Jesus is not only an intellectual pursuit or study. Yes, we can learn about Him and talk about Him but we also need to talk to Him!
Consolation/DesolationConversation with others can lead us to desolation or consolation. If we are having a “pity party” and our companion adds to it all then we fall deeper into desolation, maybe withdraw a bit more and keep turning inward. This is not a good idea. In these times, allow “Jesus to interrupt you.” I (Deanna) also liked the idea of talking aloud to Jesus.
John had a bit to say about how his thoughts have changed over time about my need to talk, but I think it’s more interesting to listen to him than have me write it!
Ultimately, reaching out to another helps us tremendously in receiving consolation.
Not Lukewarm ChallengeWhen you begin to feel like you are spending too much in your thoughts or head and it’s leading you down a path you don’t want to go, find one trusted person to talk to; it can help!
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Continuing with Habits of Freedom by Christopher S. Collins, SJChapter 3, Reject the LieJesus’ identity was rooted in God the Father. He knew He was God’s beloved Son. We see that right after His baptism, Jesus is tempted in the desert by the evil one.
Let’s not quickly dismiss Jesus’ ability to withstand temptation, as it says on page 42, Jesus is very good at not falling for the tricks and manipulations of the enemy. I think sometimes we say, well, of course, He is Jesus, He can stand up to the evil one.
So can we!Our identity is rooted in the same place, the love of God the Father; we are His Beloved child.
Life is full of desolation and consolation. And most of us prefer consolation. Yet we can easily fall into desolation, especially when we do this one that Fr. Collins admits he does, and I know I do it. We question God! We don’t accept the good the Father has for us; we “talk back.”
We hear, “You are my beloved, I delight in you. You give so much of yourself to others; thank you.” And instead of saying thanks, God. We say, “but the other day I screwed up and I’m annoyed with my co-worker and snapped, and, well it can be an endless explanation to the Father as to why He ought not to think well of you!
When we stay in the present, not the past or the future, we are less likely to fall into desolation.
This week, when you pray, listen to what God has to say to you. How you are good and a delight and the apple of His eye. Whatever the words or sense or image you receive, write it down. And when you find yourself going toward a downward spiral of I’m not good enough, read what God gave you in prayer. And accept it with gratitude and love.
I’m also going to tell you this, I have created a course around this topic of getting rid of the past lies we believe and negative thinking that prevents us from living in the truth of how much we are loved and cherished by God. Take a look here to get a free download or sign up for a free webinar.
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What is our true identity?
“We cannot be truly happy until we are truly free, and we to know who it is that we truly are if we are to be truly free.”
Habits of Freedom, pg 20
EveAs in adam and Eve, she engages in a ‘what if ‘ conversation with the snake. She speculates. Wonders. Thinks about what if? Instead of focusing on now and engaging in conversation, aka, prayer, with God.
We do the same thing. Making time for God each day will give us an intimate relationship with him. It keeps us on an even keel and able to handle our lives better.
Jesus’ BaptismIn Luke 3:21-22,
After all the people had been baptized and Jesus also had been baptized and was praying, heaven was opened and the holy Spirit descended upon him in bodily form like a dove. And a voice came from heaven, “You are my beloved Son; with you I am well pleased.”
God the Father is well pleased with Jesus. He is well-pleased with you too!This week, pray and meditate with Luke 3:21-22. Hear what the Father says to Jesus and listen to what He has to say to you.If you’d like to read and discuss the Sunday Mass REadings, join us on Wednesday evenings at 7:30 pm (ET). You can sign up here to receive the link. The post Where does our True Identity come from? appeared first on Ultimate Christian Podcast Radio Network.
We are continuing our series of Habits of Freedom: 5 Ignatian Tools for Calming Your Mind and Resting in the Lord by Christopher S. Collins, SJ.
God often calls us out of our usual to get our attention. In the scripture, we see him call people to the desert, recall the Israelites in the desert after leaving Egypt and Jesus there for 40 days before he begins his public ministry.
He also uses suffering to draw us closer to him. The desert, suffering – both are ways that we turn and rely more fully on God than in other times.
St. Ignatius teaches us to have a “holy indifference” in that no matter our circumstances, we choose to turn to God.
DiscernmentDiscernment is an ongoing and daily process. It asks us to look each day at where we have been, what we have done, and where we have encountered God. This is our Examen. A time to reflect on our day, with the help of the Holy Spirit and ask for help for the next day.
Allow your life to be disruptedFr. Collins makes this point about how we can be disposed to receive grace: “putting my self into unknown, uncertain, somewhat insecure circumstances has a way of disposing me to receive something greater that I could have expected.” (pg. 10)
It is good to allow our lives to be disrupted for, with and by God. “Allow ourselves to be displaced, decentered. To be opened up to something different. And then to allow the Holy Spirit to move, to act, to allow the Word of God to be spoken and heard by me, by us.” (pg.15)
This week, take some quiet time to think about a time when your life was disrupted. What happened? How was the situation resolved? Where was God in it? What did you learn?
Would you like to banish the lies that hold you back from freedom in Christ? Receive a free guide from me to help!
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NormalWe want our life to go back to normal. And what exactly does normal mean? I think, instead, let’s consider grounding ourselves in Christ. When we are with him, life will be on a more even keel. When we begin with him, Jesus helps us get through life.
A SeriesThe next few episodes will be focused on discussing the book, Habits of Freedom: 5 Ignatian Tools for Clearing your Mind and Resting Daily in the Lord by Fr. Christopher J. Collins, SJ.
The book is short and each chapter gives you a way to pray and process life from Ignatian prayer. There are prayer prompts and scripture to guide you as you develop your own prayer practice.
IntroductionThere are 14 Rules for Discernment from St. Ignatius; this book reviews the first 7 and then uses them throughout the text.
Here is a brief summary: (I explain more in the podcast)
- When a person is moving away from God, meaning they are in sin, there is a sting of conscience.
- A person who is moving toward or is with God, the enemy tries to unsettle the person. Here though, the Good Spirit gives consolation.
- Consolation is when we feel the love of God, and have an increase in faith, hope and love..
- Desolation is a feeling of being low, unhappiness, separated from God
- When a person is in desolation, no change should be made; stick to your plan.
- When a person is stuck in desolation, go against your natural inclination, don’t give in to the enemy.
- Be patient; consolation will return. (from Collins, xi-xii)
Interested in the guide? Click here.
If you make a purchase via a link on this page, I may receive a small commission. There will be no added cost to you. Thank you!
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Do you pray for yourself?I have met many people who don’t think to pray for themselves. Some think it is selfish; others, maybe a bit burdensome to God, who already has enough to concern himself with. But I think we are to pray for ourselves.
Jesus prayed for HimselfIn scripture, we see many times Jesus goes off either before the day or at the end, certainly in preparation for big decisions, by himself to spend time with the Father.
In Mathew 26:39, Mark 14:36 and Luke 22:42 we see him in the Garden of Gethsemane praying very specifically for his needs as he faces the cross.
It is in the Gospel of John that we hear Jesus pray for himself,
When Jesus had said this, he raised his eyes to heaven and said, “Father, the hour has come. Give glory to your son, so that your son may glorify you, just as you gave him authority over all people, so that he may give eternal life to all you gave him. Now this is eternal life, that they should know you, the only true God, and the one whom you sent, Jesus Christ. I glorified you on earth by accomplishing the work that you gave me to do. Now glorify me, Father, with you, with the glory that I had with you before the world began. John 17:1-5
Jesus prays for glory, so the Father is glorified. And that is key! When you pray for yourself, do it with the heart and mind that says you are at the service of the will of God. You want to glorify God, not have your prayers answered out of selfishness. This week, pray for yourself. Go to God with all that is in your soul and allow him to give you whatever you need. Strength, healing, comfort, peace, to know that you are loved – ask in humility and trust.If you are interested in being better prepared for Mass each Sunday, join us to discuss the readings in the Live Not Lukewarm Community.The post Pray for Yourself appeared first on Ultimate Christian Podcast Radio Network.
Gratitude is an Answer Often times we don’t think about our blessings and daily life as gifts, but they are. It’s not good luck or being in the right place at the right time. When we feel mired down in problems, turn to gratitude. Shift your focus. Praying the Psalms Here is a list of […]
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New Book about Our Blessed Mother I have always known we have a generous and loving Mother in Heaven. But Mary also comes to people here on earth to guide and give a message of hope or words of exhortation when needed. In 1859, this is what happened in Door County, Wisconsin to a girl […]
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Decisions to be made How often do we wonder, is this what I should do? What will be the best decision? We think and pray and ask a few or twenty-five, people, what they think, instead of going to the Holy Spirit. Or maybe you do go to the Holy Spirit but still, ask questions. […]
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What is my purpose? “Each one of us has been called from all eternity to fulfil a divine vocation. God the Father brought us into life (no one has been born by accident). He created our soul. He drew us into his intimate life through the Sacrament of Baptism. By means of this sacrament God […]
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A New Book It is always a pleasure when I talk with an author and doubly so when she is a friend! You’ve met Allison Gingras before, but today it’s all about her own new book, Encountering SIgns of Faith: My Unexpected Journey with Sacramentals, the Saints and the Abundant Grace of God. What’s it […]
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We all do it Or at least it seems so to me. Worry that is, looking forward or back, wondering what we could have or should have or ought to do better or differently. The preoccupation with the possibilities instead of what is does not help us. Scripture “I am the God of your faither, […]
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Fine Line There is a fine line between true, good, and holy desires and grasping for more. Our world tells us that we are not enough or maybe too much; that we need to do more, be more, and have more. Always striving for an ideal that is beyond reach. That is not of God. […]
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Learning to Wait Not my strong suit. Same as being still, not always easy, as I said in the last episode! But there is beauty in stillness; it builds trust, trust in God. And God will always come through for you. Trust in the Slow Work of God Above all, trust in the slow work […]
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What to do when you don’t know what to do Often times our inclination is to do something. And that may be the wrong answer. We may be doing something that is not within our scope of influence or concern. We may be getting in God’s way! So what is the answer? The LORD will […]
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How did this book come about? One day, Isabel went to camp and was made fun of for wearing a medal of Mary, Our Blessed Mother. She was broken-hearted, and neither her mother or aunt (Alyssa Bormes) could console her. She she and her aunt wrote a letter to a priest friend, Fr. Paul Murray. […]
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What does trust mean? What does the word trust mean? “A firm belief in the reliability, truth, ability or strength of someone or something.” We have belief in God. He is reliable. He is truth. His ability is above all, as is His strength. We can trust Him. Yet we falter at times. The Word […]
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A few weeks ago I interviewed Rachel Balducci about her new book, No Such Thing as Ordinary and we talked about how oftentimes, we are waiting to do something big and important for God and miss what is in front of us. Reminder from God I have lots of insomnia lately and so the middle […]
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Suscipe or Surrender Prayer Take Lord, and receive all my liberty, my memory, my understanding, and my will, all that I have and cherish you have given to me; I surrender it all to be guided by your will. Your grace and strength are wealth enough for me. I ask for this and nothing more. […]
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How to Be Happy as You Age There are 7 indicators, based on a Harvard Study that indicate how happy and well you will be later in life. A full explanation is here. Briefly, the 7 are: Don’t smoke Do not abuse alcohol Maintain healthy body weight Exercise Adaptive coping style Education Stable, long-term relationships […]
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A New Book It’s always a treat to interview authors whose books I’ve read. Rachel Balducci is a speaker, writer and co-host of The Gist on Catholic TV. She teaches journalism at Augusta University and is married to Paul. They have five sons and one daughter. Her latest book, No Such Thing as Ordinary: Unlocking Your […]
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Scripture He entered a boat, made the crossing, and came into his own town. And there people brought to him a paralytic lying on a stretcher. When Jesus saw their faith, he said to the paralytic, “Courage, child, your sins are forgiven.” At that, some of the scribes said to themselves, “This man is blaspheming.” […]
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What is Spiritual Direction? “It is the guidance of a person into a life truly under the dominion of the Holy Sprit, who is the primary director.” from Seeking Spiritual Direction by Thomas Dubay, S.J. “Spiritual direction is concerned with helping a person directly with his or her realtionship with God…the most fundamental issue is […]
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Catholics having a revival Yes, we are, starting on June 19, 2022, until July 17, 2024. That is two years to unpack the riches of the Eucharist, grow individually in your personal relationship with the Lord, and change the world! Take a look here at the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops’ National Eucharistic Revival […]
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Thoughts from St. Hildegard “But the Father is revealed through the Son, the Son through the beginning of created things, and the Holy Spirit through the incarnate Son. How is this? It is the Father who before time engendered the Son; it is the Son through whom all things were created by the Father at […]
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Come, Holy Spirit The Feast of Pentecost is a theophany, a manifestation of God! Luke, the writer of Acts, uses the retelling as a way to remind us that the Jews also celebrated Pentecost. For them, it was the celebration of Moses receiving the Torah from God on Mt. Sinai. The same wind and fire […]
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Our soul needs care just as our body does. This week, I’m offering 5 suggestions that help me be the Christian witness I want to be and live notlukewarm! Five Ways Start your day with a prayer. Read scripture. Spend time in nature, noticing the beauty of God’s creation. Sit in silence for a short […]
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About Catherine Catherine of Siena was born in Siena, Italy in 1347. She was a twin but her sister died shortly after birth. The following year the Black Death entered Siena. She had a vision of Jesus as a young child and from then knew she wanted to give her life to God and renew […]
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A new book! Maria Gallagher has written, Joyful Encounters with Mary: A Woman’s Guide to Living the Mysteries of the Rosary, a wonderful way to learn more about the joyful mysteries, virtues and the saints while living out your faith every day! 5 Joyful Mysteries The 5 joyful mysteries are the Annunciation, the Visitation, the […]
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Happy Easter I hope that if you pull this up on Good Friday, you wait for another day to listen. This is a resurrection meditation! Filled with the good news of Jesus’ triumph over death. A Fresh Hope Each year we celebrate Easter to remind ourselves, yet again, that Jesus gave us our salvation. The […]
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Who are they? Saints Hildegard of Bingen, Catherine of Siena, Teresa of Avila, and Therese of Lisieux are the four women Doctors of the Church! Why are they called Doctors? In honoring these women with this title, the Chuch is recognizing that the work and contributions each of these saints made has withstood the test […]
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Scripture “I cannot do anything on my own; I judge as I hear, and my judgment is just, because I do not seek my own will but the will of the one who sent me.” John 5:30 Reflection If Jesus, who is the one speaking, makes the point that he cannot do anything on his […]
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Begin with Scripture “Indeed, the word of God is living and effective, sharper than any two-edged sword, penetrating even between soul and spirit, joints and marrow, and able to discern reflections and thoughts of the heart. No creature is concealed from him, but everything is naked and exposed to the eyes of him to whom […]
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Life can be heavy All of us in this world has both good and bad things going on. There are moments of joy and despair, all intermingled, sometimes in the same moments. And where we focus often determines our attitude. Scripture “Then all who trust in you will be glad and forever shout for joy. […]
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Teaching Prayer Teaching a person to pray using Ignatian Contemplative Prayer is not an easy task. It takes time and repetition to learn. The other point to consider when teaching someone is that you want the person to enter into the prayer based on their needs, not the person teaching. In his new book, Imagine […]
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Asceticism – not a word you use every day Lent is approaching and I’ve been considering the idea of asceticism. Which is different from minimalism. But rather than my words, let’s look a the definition from A Concise Dictionary of Theology. “Asceticism is the ways and mean sdopted by Christians under the action of the […]
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A Saint and some Scripture We are reading The Way of Perfection by St. Teresa of Avila with the LiveNotLukewarm community. The book is filled with wisdom, which is why she is a Doctor of the Church! This struck me: “May our Lord assist me in everything that I shall do, that all things may […]
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Author Introduction I had a fun conversation with Claire McGarry, the author of Grace in Tension: Discover Peace with Martha and Mary, published by Our Sunday Visitor. Her website is Shifting my Perspective and you can find links to her books and recent writing there. Instagram […]
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Back home I’m back home after two weeks away to finish my spiritual direction certificate. I graduated on January 30, 2022, and received my Spiritual Direction Certificate from the Cenacle of Our Lady of Divine Providence School of Spiritual Direction in association with the Franciscan University of Steubenville. It was a grace-filled time with lots […]
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Let’s talk That phrase could be the answer to “how to strike fear in the heart of my husband?” But it isn’t. Honest. Dating your spouse and keeping your marriage at the forefront of your life can be difficult. What you might need is to take a look at this book from Dana Nygaard for […]
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What does ‘not lukewarm’ mean? To me, it means being all in, first with my spiritual life so then, the rest of life will follow. Life will never be perfect, but when grounded in faith, especially prayer and scripture, we all stand a better chance of dealing with life. Scripture points “but showing love down […]
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It’s easy to get sucked in New Year’s resolutions, goals, plans — good, especially if they work for you. What’s not good is coming away with the thought that you have to change because you are not enough or not quite up to the world’s standards. We are bombarded with messages of do it this […]
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A New Year Each year we have the opportunity to begin something new. And while many people take stock of their life in the new year, it can be done at any time. This episode is a fun one as my husband joins me in a conversation about our word for the year and goals. […]
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Quite a year Our year began with an episode that encouraged us to begin a spiritual makeover by “Changing our Hearts.” Later in the year, I talked about Rhythm, Routines and Habits, a good one to listen to as you begin planning for a new year, be it in your personal or professional life. I […]
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Our Three Quotes “Faith is the fundamental response to the love that has offered itself up for me.” Fr. Hans von Balthasar “Faith is the realization of what is hoped for and evidence of things not seen.” Hebrews 11:1 “It is because of faith that we exchange the present for the future. […]
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We begin with scripture “Without cost you have received, without cost you are to give” (Mark 10:8b). Gratitude. Humility. Thankful. Sacrifice. Share. These are all words that come to my mind as I read those verses, Mark 10:6-8. And I ponder what I have received without cost. And then it hits me, everything I have […]
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Mary’s Yes “Mary said, Behold, I am the handmaid of the Lord. May it be done to me according to your word.” Luke 1:38 And at that moment the Incarnation began. Mary did not hesitate. In The Reed of God, Caryll Houselander describes that trust of Mary’s yes. We too can have that trust which […]
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Catherine of Siena “Start being brave about everything, driving out darkness and spreading light as well. Don’t look at your weakness, but realize that in Christ crucified you can do everything.” Shift your focus It’s so easy when we are feeling all of our weaknesses that we dwell there and go down a rabbit hole […]
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This post and podcast was done in collaboration with my husband, Deacon John; hope you enjoy it. God the Father in heaven sent His Son to us here on earth as a manifestation of His merciful love for us. By the Holy Spirit, Jesus was incarnate of the Virgin Mary. He left actual footprints where […]
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Meet Christy Wilkens She is a wife and mother of six, is a speaker and writer who lives outside Austin, TX. She blogs at FaithfulNotSuccessful.com about disability, faith, doubt, suffering, community, and good reads. Her first book, Awakening at Lourdes: How an Unanswered Prayer Healed Our Family and Restored Our Faith, a memoir about a […]
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No one likes struggles However, in our world they are inevitable. I do believe they can help us tough, in becoming the person God created. If we learn from our struggles, we have confidence that God will be there with us the next time. God’s Word “So then you are no longer strangers and sojourners, […]
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Who do you listen to? There are many voices in the world who clamor for our attention and think they can guide us on the best path. Ultimately, though, only God wants what is best for us and will be with us always. In Luke 5:1-11, Jesus calls Simon (Peter) to follow him. But first, […]
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Courage! Do we have courage or are we more like the Cowardly Lion? I’d say there are many times when I am like him and other times not. Life can be difficult and courage helps us stand up for what we believe, overcome mental, emotional and physical pain. Scripture Of course, I’d rather God inform […]
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New Book My best life includes a steady supply of books and time to read them. How about you? This week I spoke with Kelly Ann Guest, the author of Saintly Moms, 25 Stories of Holiness published by Our Sunday Visitor. Who are these Saintly Moms? 25 women, from the Blessed Mother to Saint […]
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Kindness is good The world can always use another person to spread kindness. Why shouldn’t it be you? I know it’s not always easy, let’s face it – you’ve got just as much going on as the next person. How can you be kind when it’s not easy or you’d rather treat the person the […]
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Praying What does it mean to pray? And is there a right or wrong way to pray? Simply put, prayer is talking to God. It is sitting with the One who made you and listening to what he has to say as well as telling him your thoughts. Often though, we forget to say thanks […]
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Sounds a bit boring? Rhythm, routines and habits sound a bit boring, isn’t the fun in life unplanned and spontaneous. Yes and no. I like having a rhythm and routine in my life and habits make life easier, so you make fewer decisions all day long. Plan my day I find when I plan […]
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Why pray with your spouse? Jesus tells us in Matthew 18:19-20, “Again, [amen,] I say to you, if two of you agree on earth about anything for which they are to pray, it shall be granted to them by my heavenly Father. For where two or three are gathered together in my name, there am […]
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Hits all the high points! Talking with Barbara Lee reminded me why Ignatian Spirituality is so important. It is relatable, easy to approach and helpful as you go through life, no matter what age or stage you are in. A Way to Pray Answering God’s Call: A Scripture Based Journey for Older Adults by Barbara […]
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A quote “Grace is not a strange, magic substance which is subtly filtered into our souls to act as a kind of spiritual penicillin. Grace is unity, oneness within ourselves, oneness with God.” Thomas Merton Different Graces There are different types of grace, for different purposes; but all come from God and are gifts given […]
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Meet Melanie Rigney Melanie is an author of three great books, Sisterhood of Saints; Radical Saints and Menopause Moments. Our interview focused mainly on Menopause Moments, published by Twenty-Third Publications. She also writes for Living Faith, Catholic Update and Viva Mercy. Why this journal? Aging and change are a part of life. Menopause is inevitable […]
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What’s different? Let’s be honest, there are so many devotionals that it can be hard to choose. What makes this new devotional, Called by Name from Women in the New Evangelization edited by Kelly M. Wahlquist, Allison Gingras and Alyssa Bormes different? First, there are new voices; second, the daily devotions are brief yet […]
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Who is St. Ignatius? Ignatius was born in Spain in 1491 and at 16 began serving at court and enjoying the good life of romance, fine clothes and gambling. He joined the army and in a battle in 1521 was struck by a cannonball to the knee and the trajectory of his life changed. 500 […]
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Unexpected! Karina Fabian loves to write speculative fiction, fantasy, science fiction and horror stories. She reminds us that God gave us our imagination, it is a sacred gift for us to use to create something wonderful. Do you expect to see nuns in space? Or a gumshoe dragon named Vern? The beginnings While dating her […]
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Who needs worship? Is it God or us? God does not need our worship. We need to worship him. It makes us more inclined to give him honor and reverence and awe. It reminds us to love God above all other people and things. What are we to worship? We are meant to worship the […]
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A new Book by Erin McCole Cupp It is always a pleasure to talk to people I have gotten to know from their writing and social media. I’ve read Erin’s blog and known her work for some time. I was excited to learn about her new book, All Things New: Breaking the Cycle & Raising […]
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Restoration and Healing People often wonder, when terrible things happen, how those involved recover. How do they find their way back to wholeness? This book, Finding Sanctuary, How the Wild Work of Peace Restored the Heart of a Sandy Hook Mother by Jennifer Hubbard, published by Ave Maria Press, is the story of just that, […]
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A new book Love and Care for the Marginalized, 40 Meditations, Spiritual Outreach Reflections for Catholics by Anne DeSantis is about learning to be kind and loving disciples of Jesus. That’s it. These meditations include a quote, a reflection, a prayer and a call to action. It is not enough to know what we are […]
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What did you do when you turned 40? Lara Patangan wanted to mark the milestone with a year of mercy. She decided to embrace the corporal and spiritual works of mercy by doing them all year long. And what began as an experiment of sorts became a turning point in her faith life. What are […]
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Works of Mercy How can we serve others? The Church talks about the Spiritual and Corporal Works of Mercy, a means of helping those around you in very real and tangible ways. Here are 2 images that break it down for you When you look at these lists and explanations […]
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Tired of feeling weary? Do you ever feel like no matter what you do it is not enough? You are not just tired but weary of trying to do all the things for all the people. Enter Erin Whalen, a life coach who wants to help you go from weariness to hope. Erin journeys with […]
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Do you like being comfortable? I do. In the spiritual life though, comfortable can mean stagnant. Or stuck. Not moving toward greatness. Two quotes “The world promises you comfort, but you were not made for comfort. You were made for greatness.” Pope Benedict XVI “If you are always comfortable, nothing really happens, nothing changes. Embrace […]
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What is prayer? Prayer is time with God. A conversation. A lifting of our mind and heart to him. There are different types of prayer We can pray with others or by ourselves. There are vocal prayers, often those we have memorized. We can pray those aloud or inside our mind, but there are words […]
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Meet Danielle Danielle Bean is brand manager at CatholicMom.com, an apostolate of Holy Cross Family Ministries. She is creator and host of the Girlfriends podcast and co-host of The Gist on CatholicTV. Danielle is also author of several books including Momnipotent, You Are Enough, and Giving Thanks and Letting Go. She is a retreat leader and a popular […]
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Meet the authors Anne DeSantis and Bill Synder are the people who worked together along with other contributors and college students to put together this unique book. Why do Is ay unique? Because the questions are not what they think college students need to know about but are actual questions from students! Bill is the […]
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Not quite Easter Save listening to this for Easter Monday! Deacon John Bartalini, my other half, better half, whichever you prefer, leads us in a guided meditation on John chapter 20. Pause it as you wish to allow yourself time to enter into the scene with Mary Magdalene and the apostles. Imagine you’re right there, […]
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A new book It’s no secret that I love books! Interviewing authors is always a chance to learn more about the person behind the words. In Mary Lenaberg’s case, she is just as down-to-earth and honest on paper as in person. As she said, she only has time to be one Mary, no matter where […]
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What is sin? Simply put, it is missing the mark. In the Gospels, the story of Peter denying Jesus and then being able to be forgiven by Jesus after the resurrection is such a clear example of how much love Jesus has for each one of us. Scripture John 18: 17, 25-27 is where you […]
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Repentance True sorrow and a desire to change is the repentance God is asking from us. When we sin, we hurt ourselves, others and our relationship with God. God calls us to look at ourselves with honesty and decide what needs to be changed. Not out of shame, but because we desire to live more […]
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A new book Letters to Women: Embracing the Femmine Genius in Everyday Life is a collection of letters put together by Chloe Langr. There are 30 letters from different women for different times and seasons of life. Some a specific, letter to those who want to be married or have suffered a miscarriage. Others are […]
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What is Lent? Lent is 40 days before Easter, it begins on Ash Wednesday and ends on the Wednesday before Holy Thursday. It is a time of prayer, fasting and almsgiving; a way to prepare ourselves for the Passion, Death and Resurrection of Jesus Christ. Sacrifice or Action? I say both! Give up something and […]
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The 1st Commandment Then God spoke all these words: I am the LORD your God, who brought you out of the land of Egypt, out of the house of slavery. You shall not have other gods beside me. You shall not make for yourself an idol or a likeness of anything in the heavens above or […]
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What kind of passion am I talking about? I’m talking about the kind of passion that propels your life in a positive direction, and ideally, of course, toward God and for his glory. 5 things I’m passionate about My faith: specifically Scripture, Sacraments and most especially the Eucharist My family People – getting to know […]
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It was an honor and a pleasure to speak with Bishop Byrne about his priesthood, new appointment as Bishop of Springfield, MA and his new book. Things to know about Bishop Byrne He grew up in Washington, D.C. , the youngest of 8 children. When he told his parents his parents he wanted to become […]
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We live in a fallen world. No news there. We long for something to help us. We often look in many places before coming to the One who can help us. Unbound is a prayer process that can help us rid ourselves of past sins and hurts by others. Even those of us who receive […]
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What is the Sacrament of Penance and Reconciliation? This sacrament forgives our sins, reconciles us to God and his people, and gives us the grace to not sin again. In John 20: 22b-23 Jesus is with the apostles, “he breathed on them and said to them, “Receive the holy Spirit. Whose sins you forgive are forgiven them, […]
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Why Vn. Pierre Toussaint? I find his story compelling and an excellent example for our times. In the face of many obstacles he lived a life of holiness and virtue. His faith guided his life. A bit about his life He was born a slave in what is now Haiti in 1766. His master allowed […]
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Spiritual Makeover continues… God calls to us and offers to change our stony hearts for those of flesh. Jesus also calls us to conversion. The Gospels are full of stories which point to Jesus healing and leading people to a relationship with God. 2 Stories In Mark 2:1-12 we see Jesus healing the paralytic. The […]
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Happy New Year! Thoughts often turn to resolutions and changes and how will I solve all problems this year as a new year begins. And while making change can be good and beneficial, we need to care first for our soul. Turn to God A few scriptures from the Old Testament that tell us what […]
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What’s your strength? Did you ever wonder what your strengths or gifts or talents are? I have. I’ve also thought about what is the best fit between who I am and what I do in my life. That’s where it can be a big help to learn what your unique strengths are and Lisa Mladinich, […]
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Almost Christmas! There’s no need for many words. So I offer yo this mediation based on Luke 1. Read it and then give a listen in a quiet, prayerful place. And surprise, it’s not me, it my husband you’ll hear. A voice for radio A little story – a few years ago my husband and […]
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Mary’s Fiat Such a simple word that changed the world for all of us. Fiat, yes, I will. It was surrender and trust. Surrender to the world and absolute trust in God. It’s what we all say we want; the idea of total surrender; “thy will be done.” But we are afraid. What will people […]
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It’s an often asked question of people, are you an optimist or pessimist? If we are living as God calls us, then our answer is hopefully, optimist. We have a God of abundance, not scarcity. What does the Bible say? I’m going to focus on two passages. From the Old Testament we have the story […]
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What does it mean? Integrity is honesty, strong moral principles and an upstanding character trait. I think it is essential. A person of integrity is someone you can trust to do the right thing and do what they say they will. You can count on them. What does God say about integrity? Observe the person […]
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Why Pray I pray to keep focused. I pray to remind myself that I am not alone. I pray to ask for guidance. And sometimes I pray for direction. Who am I kidding, I pray for that reason lots! This prayer from Thomas Merton has been in my prayer box for quite some time. Some […]
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Foundational Virtue Humility is the virtue on which all others are built. CS Lewis said this, “Humility is not thinking less of yourself, but thinking of yourself less.” We are not being asked to not think of ourselves at all, but to not forget others. For many people, it is difficult to let go of […]
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The Advice Or were they comments? I’m not sure. But like many of us, I can recall things my mom said that were meant to be a help as I went through life. you know, don’t touch a hot stove, run with scissors, and stop hitting your sister. She also said things that have stuck […]
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A Prayer O holy St. Philip Neri, patron saint of joy, you who trusted scripture’s promise that the Lord is always at hand and that we need not have anxiety about anything, in your compassion heal our worries and sorrows and lift the burdens from our hearts. We come to you as one whose heart swells […]
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Facts about Teresa of Avila born in Avila, Spain on March 28, 1515 entered the Carmelites on 1535 began reforming the order and founded her first convent, St. Joesph, in 1562 in 1575 she was told to stop and made to retire to Costile due to a dispute between the two different Carmelite groups in […]
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Do you like to read? Reading is my favorite way to relax! I’ve read a few of Carolyn Astfalk’s books and thought it would be nice to talk about how she got started writing fiction. How did she get started? A few years ago when she had only 2 children and a husband who traveled […]
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Some Facts about the Psalms There are 150 psalms David wrote about half of them There are different types of psalms Types of Psalms Hymn Thanksgiving Lament Royal Wisdom Pilgrimage or procession Prophetic speech What else? The psalms cover the entire range of human emotion and experience and so can be very helpful in prayer. […]
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Meet Anne Kidder, the woman show who runs Kidderbug Kreations! Anne loves to sew and create special gifts for others. She created the items in her online store to give people an opportunity to give meaningful handcrafted gifts. She says, “there is a memory in every moment.” And there is! What types of gifts are […]
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What does it mean to magnify? It means to make something appear larger, to enlarge, increase, enhance. The archaic meaning is a bit different and more in line with what we think of in relation to God. It means, to extol, glorify, praise, bless, worship, venerate and adore. Scripture PS 34:2-4 I will bless the […]
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In the Catholic Church, there is a group of men, called permanent deacons who are married and serve in various ways. This episode looks at how one man heard his call to become a deacon and acted on it. Who is it? It’s my husband, Deacon John, and I am happy to have you hear […]
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Have you ever wondered, what is a Doctor of the Church? Well, wonder no more. I’ll explain, in broad strokes what that means. How does one become a Doctor of the Church? First, you must be a saint. A saint is someone who has great holiness. A Doctor of the Church has holiness that is […]
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Amy Brooks, a former middle and high school teacher, has written a journal for boys! She is a mom of 3, 1 son and a set of twins – a son and a daughter. Besides taking care of her family, she is behind quite a few websites (the list is below) and now the author […]
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I recently spoke with Jen Frost, a sewist and fabric designer who wrote a book on living out the liturgical year. I didn’t mention it to Jen, but this is one of my favorite topics! How we can incorporate the Church seasons into our daily life is something I think is so important. It truly […]
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Who was Maximilian Kolbe? He was a Polish Franciscan priest born in 1894. He entered the seminary and began studying in 1910 and in 1918 was ordained a priest. While in seminary he formed a group with 6 other men called the Militia Immaculata, an organization devoted to being an instrument of Mary, our Blessed […]
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July 31 is the feast day of St. Ignatius of Loyola. One of the greatest gifts St. Ignatius gave the Church is the Spiritual Exercises. The Spiritual Exercises are a way to grow closer to God, to learn to live for him and for the world. In week 2, day 4 of the Exercises he […]
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Welcome to Christina Semmens, author, speaker and spiritual mentor from Say Yes to Holiness. Christina’s book, Say Yes, Discovering Purpose, Peace and Abundance in your Daily Life was written in response to her own personal experiences and others who are seeking to become saints. A convert to Catholicism, Christina’s life change when a friend invited […]
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In the past few weeks, I have found myself saying “I don’t know” far too often. I was starting to annoy myself and honestly, feeling a bit dumb. It was not possible that I don’t know that much. But there is much confusion and maybe even chaos happening and it can be hard to have […]
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It was a pleasure to talk with Lisa Hendey about her book, “I am God’s Storyteller” with illustrations by Eric Carlson. Lisa is the founder of CatholicMom.com and a writer of adult non-fiction before she began writing for children. She began with the Chime Traveler’s, a series of illustrated saint stories written in chapter format […]
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Marriage isn’t for everyone, right? Or is it? Julieanne Bartlett, based on scripture and Church teachings thinks it is for everyone! Her ministry, Passion of Hope speaks to the heart of people who long for a spouse. Their world and culture may look and think they have it all – education, career, good income, fun […]
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We all want to live our best, growing and learning to live out the fruit of the Spirit. For many of us, patience, self-control, gentleness and love will come when we focus on being more like Christ and knowing the Word. Scripture to guide us St. Peter tells us, “Therefore, beloved, since you await these […]
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When we are filled with the Holy Spirit, others can see it by how we live our lives. “Is your life bearing fruit?”, is a good question to ask ourselves regularly. In this episode, I take a look at 5 fruit: joy, peace, faithfulness, generosity, and kindness. It is helpful to look at these from […]
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Holy Boldness! That’s what the gifts of the Holy Spirit give us. Our last episode looked at the gifts of wisdom, understanding and counsel. Let’s look at the gifts of knowledge, fortitude, piety and fear of the Lord. Knowledge propels us to know God and ourselves and to use that knowledge to grow toward perfect […]
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The Spirit is present from the beginning of time – “A mighty wind sweeping over the waters” (Gn 1:2b). As part of the Trinity, God the Holy Spirit moves and acts in accord with the Father and the Son, bringing order from chaos. The gifts of the Holy Spirit come from Isaiah 11:2, “The spirit […]
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Do you ever struggle in prayer? Right, of course, doesn’t everyone at some point or another? Often times, the struggle comes not when we are praying prayers we have memorized or are reading, but when we are trying to meditate or contemplate, to reflect and be with God. We become distracted; we lose focus. Today […]
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Mary is our Mother who loves us and wants to help us. Ever since I was a little girl I have prayed this very special prayer asking for Mary to intercede, The Memorare. The image of prayers flying up to her in heaven where she then offers them to Jesus for me is very hopeful. […]
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Mary, the Blessed Mother, mother of Jesus and our mother too wants to help us always. We can turn to her in prayer and ask for help. A recently re-discovered title of Mary is Mary Undoer or Untier of Knots. It is a famous painting in Augsburg, Germany. Pope Francis, when he was the Archbishop […]
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Allison Gingras and I talked about her new bible study, part of the Stay Connected Journals for Catholic Women published by Our Sunday Visitor. The newest title is Seeking Peace: From Worry to Trust. It has all the great features of the other journals: prayers, plenty of space to write in you thoughts, images to […]
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Spoiler alert: the answer is “No!” “When the fullness of time had come, God sent his Son, born of a woman.” Gal 4:4 We venerate, honor, and have great respect for Mary. We ask for her intercession because she is so close to Jesus. But we do not worship her. Worship is for God. Mary […]
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I think of saints as my friends. Let me introduce you to my friends, Catherine of Siena. Born in Siena, Italy in 1347 she was one of 25 children, though only 13 lived. In fact, she was a twin but her sister died as an infant. As a child, Catherine was considered a sweet and […]
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Good Friday is a difficult day as we remember Jesus’ passion, crucifixion, death and burial. It is a day of sadness even though we know He rises. This meditation is offered from the Gospel of Mark, chapter 15 to invite you to pause and reflect today on all that Jesus has done for us.
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Families are the foundation of society yet often overlooked and not supported. Heidi Indahl has written a book to support you and your family. It’s not a self-help guide, but rather, a journal that takes you through the steps of finding out what your mission is as a family. Just as each person has a […]
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Many times we have challenges in our life that we don’t expect. And where can we turn? For me, turning to scripture offers me comfort and encouragement. Old Testament Verses: Joshua 1:9: I command you: be strong and steadfast! Do not fear nor be dismayed, for the LORD, your God, is with you wherever you […]
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When you can’t get to Church It’s tough when we are separated from our Church family no matter what the circumstances. In difficult times, it is even worse. We can feel lost or isolated. As Catholics, we mourn the loss of the Eucharist. It can help us to remember though, that Jesus is present in […]
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Faith is a gift from God that we can use to overcome our fears. It isn’t always easy, but we have many examples of faith around us and in scripture. Right in the beginning of Genesis, Abram is an example of faith in God, indeed it says in Gen 15:6, “Abram put his faith in […]
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I had the opportunity to interview Tim Lucchesi, the founder of Chaste Love, a ministry for those who are trying to live as God calls us, chastely, rather than how the culture calls us. A former youth minister, Tim saw so many people wounded from bad relationships, leaving them with a distorted view of what […]
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To live in the abundance of the gifts God has given us is not always easy. We may know it in our heads, but it is not in our heart or soul yet. It requires deliberate thought and action on our part. Why? Because it is countercultural; we are human and inclined to sin; we […]
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Grace is one of my favorites gifts from God. I know I need it and use it and ask for it very regularly. Without grace, I would not be the person I am. What is Grace? Grace is any “underserved gift or help freely and lovingly provided by God, but above all the utterly basic […]
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February – if you live in a cold, wintery climate it can seem like the longest month. Maybe that’s why we celebrate love this month, something to warm us up and thaw us out. Who knows? This episode is not about romantic love, but about God’s, which is more fulfilling and constant and true than […]
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When I think of Legos I recall, not very fondly, all those little pieces that needed to be picked up off the floor. Secretly, I was glad my children played with them occasionally rather than having them out all the time with works in progress. John Kraemer though, has them out all the time, pretty […]
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The Gospel of Matthew is the focus of the Sunday Gospel readings. It can be helpful to have some context when we are reading the Word to help us better understand it. This Gospel was written sometime between 70 and 100 A.D., after the fall of the temple in Jerusalem. It was written for Jewish […]
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The Church Year We’re looking at the seasons of the Church year and what is part of each season. The year begins with Advent (Dec 1, 2019), then Christmas (Dec 25, 2019), Ordinary Time (Jan 13-Feb 25, 2020), Lent (Feb 26-April 9, 2020), Triduum (April 9- 12, 2020), Easter (April 13-May 31, 2020), and Ordinary […]
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The Catholic Church has seasons, just like the natural world does. Our seasons are based on what is happening in the Church as to what season it is. We have 6 seasons: Advent, Christmas, Lent, Paschal Triduum, Easter and Ordinary Time. Ordinary time occurs twice, between Christmas and Lent and then again between Easter and […]
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Deep down, I think we all long for holiness – yet it seems unattainable or at least, very difficult. But Sara Estabrooks has given us guidance in the form of a new bible study that is part of the series of the Stay Connected Journals published by Our Sunday Visitor. Sara and I spoke about […]
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God is faithful always in all ways. We sometimes forget that. In the last month or so, I keep being reminded about that and have been praying with it to better understand what God is asking of me. He wants surrender. Not the wave the white faith, you win, I’m defeated type surrender, but the […]
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A book review and interview with Lindsay Schlegel, author of Don’t Forget to Say Thank You: And Other Parenting Lessons That Brought Me Closer to God. I’m sure many of us can say “don’t forget” is a common refrain we say to ourselves and others, parents or not. Lindsay Schlegel talks about how she came […]
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Books are the best! I rarely regret buying the book or reading the book. I do regret have given away books, especially those I can’t replace. I’m sharing a few of my past favorites today, books I pick up again just to read what I underlined or the notes I jotted down. It’s like seeing […]
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It is all well and good to tell people to pray. But sometimes, because of lack of experience, tiredness, or maybe even a spiritual dryness, you don’t know what to say. That’s where ACTS comes in; it is a way to pray, a little formula you can use to get on track and stay focused. […]
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Prayer helps us stay grounded, reminding us that we need God and that he is there, waiting to listen. A few quotes on prayer Have no anxiety at all, but in everything, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, make your requests known to God. Phil 4:6 For me, prayer is an aspiration of the heart, it […]
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Do you believe in miracles? If you have read the Bible, Old Testament or New, you see miracles everywhere. God comes to his people in a burning bush, an ark, water, mud, fire, wind, rain and quiet. Jesus feeds five thousand people; heals the blind, the lame, those processed by demons and raises the dead. […]
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“Therefore, since we are surrounded by so great a cloud of witnesses, let us rid ourselves of every burden and sin that clings to us and persevere in running the race that lies before us.” Hebrews 12:1 What is the communion of saints? It is made up of all the people who are part of the […]
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Hans von Balthasar says that “Faith is the fundamental response to the love that has offered itself up for me.” That love is God giving up his Son so that we might have eternal life. That love is Christ crucified. I believe that God offered up his love for me, just as he did for […]
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The Holy Spirit is the Third Person of the Blessed Trinity. He is made known to us from the beginning of the Old Testament, in Genesis 1:2, “and the earth was without form or shape, with darkness over the abyss and a mighty wind sweeping over the waters” that wind is the Holy Spirit. Then […]
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Do you ever wonder where we would be without Jesus? I know I would not be a tenth of the person I am today without him and my faith in him So who is Jesus, well, he is the second person of the Trinity, God the Son. He is incarnate, which means he took on […]
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God the Father is the first person of the Most Holy Trinity. God the Son, Jesus and God the Holy Spirit are the second and third persons of the Trinity. He is the origin of all life. Life begins with the Father. He created us out of and because of love. God loves us so […]
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Not Lukewarm, a new podcast with Deanna Bartalini – There are many voices asking to be heard in this world today. Some are the voices of those we know and love – family and friends, those we serve in ministry, those we care about. There are other voices as well – cultural icons, sports figures, […]
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