Love is patient, love is kind. It is not jealous, (love) is not pompous, it is not inflateit is not rude, it does not seek its own interests, it is not quick-tempered, it does not brood over injury, it does not rejoice over wrongdoing but rejoices with the truth. Love bears all things, believes all things, hopes all things, endures all things (1 Corinthians 13).
The past 5 days I have been on vacation in Memphis, where I have an apartment to myself all day and then adventure with my dad in the evenings. The beauty of it is that I have the days all to my self. During this time I chose to not watch television. Instead, I went for walks, took a morning run, and prayed. The weather here is gorgeous; therefore, I was able to truly see God's beauty and see beauty in this world. I have experienced so much peace here, by letting God love me and allowing myself to be wrapped up in the love of God.
Sunday, I went to mass, where I absolutely loved the readings, but then dad and I rode his motorcycle. We rode for three hours through the country and I had the opportunity to absorb the beauty, pray the rosary, and pray the Divine Mercy Chaplet. It was AMAZING, beyond words. While we were riding I kept thinking I love this place. I love the weather here. I love how relaxed and peaceful I've felt. I love, I love, I love. And I began to just reflect on how in love I was. All the while I was missing Columbus, OH because I love home as well. And I realized as I was reflecting on this love that I love all these because I love God. God created all these things that I love, so when I am in love God, my love for other things grows as well because God is in all these things and created all these things.
I discovered this love in silence. In the silence of my dad's apartment. In the silence of prayerful reflection, where there was minimal noise. Today, I encourage you to make silence in your life. Give time for Christ. Allow yourself to fall in love with our Savior, Jesus Christ!
God bless!
Keep praying!
In the love of Jesus & Mary,
Amber
Monday, March 21, 2011
Friday, March 18, 2011
Beauty of Simplicity
When I first became Catholic I wanted to do everything right. I wanted to say all the prayers right, and put on this mask of being extremely holy. In doing this, I developed a true love for God, but that's not the point I want to make. I focused on memorizing prayers so I could recite them. These prayers were empty words. They meant nothing to me; just words I recited. One day I was in mass and pulled out my little Catholic devotionals book to recite my normal prayers before and after communion, and I realized something, it had to come from the Holy Spirit... I realized that God doesn't care what words we use. He doesn't care if it's a beautiful, elegant serenade to him, or if it's simply "I need you." God wants us to simply be with him and be present. He wants us to talk to him and let him know our wants and desires, and then to listen to him - and I don't mean listen with your ears, I mean with your heart. God knows exactly what we need and he will always provide. He always answers our prayers, though not generally in the way we expect. Today, I encourage you to place your trust in Christ. Today, I encourage you to simplify your prayer. Don't be so focused on the words your saying, remove the mask from Christ, you're not tricking Him when you approach the God who created, who knows you better than yourself - so remove the mask and be real and be honest with your creator. Beauty will stem from it. A deeper, more true, more real love will come from this simplicity. You will desire to know God more.
Father, on this day we need you. Help us to simplify our lives and give all to you. Amen
God bless!
In the love of Jesus & Mary,
Amber
Father, on this day we need you. Help us to simplify our lives and give all to you. Amen
God bless!
In the love of Jesus & Mary,
Amber
Tuesday, March 15, 2011
For the Glory of God
John 11 - Raising Lazarus.
We must learn to put our faith in Christ. In John 11 it says "This illness is not to end in death, but is for the glory of God, that the Son of God may be glorified through it." In bad times, in illness, we are meant to glorify God. He is giving us an opportunity to have heroic faith, to choose him, to say Lord, I choose you. Give me the strength to endure. Lift me from this sickness.
"Our friend Lazarus is asleep, but I am going to awaken him." Lazarus represents areas of our faith. There is a place in our faith where we are asleep; however, Jesus is going to wake us up. We are going to be called out that we need to wake up, that we need to change, that we need to grow in our faith. Jesus is then going to give us the opportunity to choose Him, to choose to say 'Jesus, help me grow here. Wake me up Lord.' In our waking, God will be glorified, for the only purpose of our life is to glorify God.
"Did I not tell you that if you believe you will see the glory of God?" Have faith dear children. Place your hope in the promises of Christ. Pray for the desire to desire Jesus. Pray for the virtues you need. Remember Philippians 4:13 - I have strength for all things through Him, who empowers me. Choose Jesus. Allow him to show you his glory. Allow his glory to be shown through you. Allow him to show you your glory.
In the times when we ask, "Jesus, where we you?" or when we say "If only you had been here Lord..." He was there. But were we choosing him? Were we really wanting His help? He was giving us an opportunity for heroic faith. For, in the times when Christ is 'missing', he is there, but he is waiting. He is waiting to give us an opportunity for heroic faith. He is waiting to show his own glory. He is waiting to show your glory, and choosing him, with heroic faith.
Life is all for the glory of God, will you CHOOSE to glorify him?
God bless!
In the love of Jesus & Mary,
Amber
We must learn to put our faith in Christ. In John 11 it says "This illness is not to end in death, but is for the glory of God, that the Son of God may be glorified through it." In bad times, in illness, we are meant to glorify God. He is giving us an opportunity to have heroic faith, to choose him, to say Lord, I choose you. Give me the strength to endure. Lift me from this sickness.
"Our friend Lazarus is asleep, but I am going to awaken him." Lazarus represents areas of our faith. There is a place in our faith where we are asleep; however, Jesus is going to wake us up. We are going to be called out that we need to wake up, that we need to change, that we need to grow in our faith. Jesus is then going to give us the opportunity to choose Him, to choose to say 'Jesus, help me grow here. Wake me up Lord.' In our waking, God will be glorified, for the only purpose of our life is to glorify God.
"Did I not tell you that if you believe you will see the glory of God?" Have faith dear children. Place your hope in the promises of Christ. Pray for the desire to desire Jesus. Pray for the virtues you need. Remember Philippians 4:13 - I have strength for all things through Him, who empowers me. Choose Jesus. Allow him to show you his glory. Allow his glory to be shown through you. Allow him to show you your glory.
In the times when we ask, "Jesus, where we you?" or when we say "If only you had been here Lord..." He was there. But were we choosing him? Were we really wanting His help? He was giving us an opportunity for heroic faith. For, in the times when Christ is 'missing', he is there, but he is waiting. He is waiting to give us an opportunity for heroic faith. He is waiting to show his own glory. He is waiting to show your glory, and choosing him, with heroic faith.
Life is all for the glory of God, will you CHOOSE to glorify him?
God bless!
In the love of Jesus & Mary,
Amber
Sunday, March 13, 2011
Our Greatest Fear
Our deepest fear is not that we are inadequate.
Our deepest fear is that we are powerful beyond measure.
It is our light not our darkness that most frightens us.
We ask ourselves, who am I to be brilliant, gorgeous,
talented and fabulous?
Actually, who are you not to be?
You are a child of God.
Your playing small does not serve the world.
There's nothing enlightened about shrinking so that other
people won't feel insecure around you.
We were born to make manifest the glory of
God that is within us.
It's not just in some of us; it's in everyone.
And as we let our own light shine,
we unconsciously give other people
permission to do the same.
As we are liberated from our own fear,
Our presence automatically liberates others.
—Marianne Williamson
Our deepest fear is that we are powerful beyond measure.
It is our light not our darkness that most frightens us.
We ask ourselves, who am I to be brilliant, gorgeous,
talented and fabulous?
Actually, who are you not to be?
You are a child of God.
Your playing small does not serve the world.
There's nothing enlightened about shrinking so that other
people won't feel insecure around you.
We were born to make manifest the glory of
God that is within us.
It's not just in some of us; it's in everyone.
And as we let our own light shine,
we unconsciously give other people
permission to do the same.
As we are liberated from our own fear,
Our presence automatically liberates others.
—Marianne Williamson
Sunday, March 6, 2011
Be Silent
Whenever anything disagreeable or displeasing happens to you remember Christ crucified and be silent.
~St. John of the Cross
Lately my life has been nuts. I have school, friends, family, graduation, figuring out college, and probably more...all occurring at once. Last night, it all piled up. I was having computer issues, thinking too much about the future, stressing about school, struggling with my emotions & feelings for a guy, and felt completely overwhelmed. I then proceeded to freak out to my friend, who had messaged asking me how I was. Since I went on a retreat in February, my life was great. I'd made decisions to make changes in my life and that's what I was doing. Everything had been going great, then slowly things piled up and I pushed aside my stresses, knowing that Christ would take care of them, but I also started cutting my time with Christ shorter and shorter each day until it dwindled down to just about nothing yesterday. I had been so distracted in my prayer, and trying to rely on my own strength that I broke down. The noise of my life disrupted my peace, and it often disrupts many of our lives.
Noise in our life has the potential to disrupt our peace. When there is too much noise in our life we become stressed, and we eventually have break downs until we hand over our struggles to Christ. Today, I encourage you to make a point to have silence in your life. As we enter lent season this week, make a point to have more silence in your life. Give God time. Allow God to work in your life. Be silent and allow the Lord to speak to you heart. When the Lord is in your heart, the Holy Spirit is guiding you and all things come together in accordance to God's divine plan.
Be silent, dear children, and allow Christ to pursue your heart so that you may receive the peace and joy you deserve; the grace you need to lead a life of faith, where your hope is in Christ, and your love stems from Him.
May God bless you!
Keep praying!
In the love of Jesus & Mary,
Amber
~St. John of the Cross
Lately my life has been nuts. I have school, friends, family, graduation, figuring out college, and probably more...all occurring at once. Last night, it all piled up. I was having computer issues, thinking too much about the future, stressing about school, struggling with my emotions & feelings for a guy, and felt completely overwhelmed. I then proceeded to freak out to my friend, who had messaged asking me how I was. Since I went on a retreat in February, my life was great. I'd made decisions to make changes in my life and that's what I was doing. Everything had been going great, then slowly things piled up and I pushed aside my stresses, knowing that Christ would take care of them, but I also started cutting my time with Christ shorter and shorter each day until it dwindled down to just about nothing yesterday. I had been so distracted in my prayer, and trying to rely on my own strength that I broke down. The noise of my life disrupted my peace, and it often disrupts many of our lives.
Noise in our life has the potential to disrupt our peace. When there is too much noise in our life we become stressed, and we eventually have break downs until we hand over our struggles to Christ. Today, I encourage you to make a point to have silence in your life. As we enter lent season this week, make a point to have more silence in your life. Give God time. Allow God to work in your life. Be silent and allow the Lord to speak to you heart. When the Lord is in your heart, the Holy Spirit is guiding you and all things come together in accordance to God's divine plan.
Be silent, dear children, and allow Christ to pursue your heart so that you may receive the peace and joy you deserve; the grace you need to lead a life of faith, where your hope is in Christ, and your love stems from Him.
May God bless you!
Keep praying!
In the love of Jesus & Mary,
Amber
Wednesday, March 2, 2011
Puppy Faith
Today I took a walk in the woods. It's where my prayer life first took root not so long ago, and today I returned to my roots. It was a beautiful experience. My dog decided to follow me. She was outside and upon spotting me heading to the woods, she came running to join me. She did not know where I was going or what I was doing, but she trusted that I, her master, was going to guide her and keep her safe. She strayed from my particular path, but stayed within close range. She also kept circling back around to make sure I was still present. After checking in on me, she would continue wandering in curiosity. I was not exactly sure where I was going when I took off on this walk. I grabbed my rosary and took off. I ended up finding a spot similar to the one where I sat when I first started my relationship with Christ. Therefore, I took a seat, finished my rosary sitting in that spot, and then continued to pray after finishing the rosary. All the while, my dog remained close by. She would wander off, but all the while, I could still hear her and see her. She would continue to check in with me, making sure I was still present, as she continued her own adventure.
We are all familiar with the phrase "child-like faith"; it's a well-known trait of St. Therese. Throughout my walk, the dog had faith in me that I was guiding her and keeping her safe. This dog represents us, as children of Christ. The dog places full trust in its master. Children place full trust in their parents to care for them and protect them; they know no better. We are supposed to mimic this faith. We are called to look to Christ as our master, and trust that he will protect us and we will care for us. We are to continue coming back to him, seeking his direction, and following him.
Today, I was reading my friend's website and in a letter, he made this statement that really stood out to me - "The Lord has been challenging me to follow after Him even though I have been less than sure about my direction. He has been asking me to follow without seeing the destination, instead calling me to simply walk in his footsteps knowing He is my shepherd"(Jake Stuermer)
What stood out to me from this statement was the line "instead calling me to simply walk in his footsteps, knowing He is my shepherd" because this is what we are all called to do. Christ is our shepherd, he is our master, he is our parent - and we are called to have this faith where we follow in Christ's footsteps. We may not know where He is leading us, but we must trust that He has a perfect plan and have faith, following closely in the footsteps of Christ.
We are all familiar with the phrase "child-like faith"; it's a well-known trait of St. Therese. Throughout my walk, the dog had faith in me that I was guiding her and keeping her safe. This dog represents us, as children of Christ. The dog places full trust in its master. Children place full trust in their parents to care for them and protect them; they know no better. We are supposed to mimic this faith. We are called to look to Christ as our master, and trust that he will protect us and we will care for us. We are to continue coming back to him, seeking his direction, and following him.
Today, I was reading my friend's website and in a letter, he made this statement that really stood out to me - "The Lord has been challenging me to follow after Him even though I have been less than sure about my direction. He has been asking me to follow without seeing the destination, instead calling me to simply walk in his footsteps knowing He is my shepherd"(Jake Stuermer)
What stood out to me from this statement was the line "instead calling me to simply walk in his footsteps, knowing He is my shepherd" because this is what we are all called to do. Christ is our shepherd, he is our master, he is our parent - and we are called to have this faith where we follow in Christ's footsteps. We may not know where He is leading us, but we must trust that He has a perfect plan and have faith, following closely in the footsteps of Christ.
Proverbs 3:5-6 - Trust in the Lord with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding; in all your ways acknowledge him, and he will make you paths straight
Pray for the virtue of faith that we may have expectant, child-like faith, trust, and full reliance on Christ.
God bless!
In the love of Jesus & Mary,
Amber
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