HOLY SPIRIT!!!



No really, If my heart could explode on to this page (screen) I'm not even sure if it would come close to the magnitude the Holy Spirit consumes my life and the lives of those I love and am surrounded by.

Especially in light that the Holy Spirit is the Spouse of Mary (and the by the power of the Holy Spirit, Mary conceived a son, Jesus), it is beautiful to focus on the Holy Spirit as an indwelling in us. Ya know, "through Him, with Him, IN Him, IN the unity of the Holy Spirit..."  In fact we are consumed with that same indwelling and in a sense are pregnant too, pregnant with the Holy Spirit.

Sometimes we can be heavy hearted or feel that we are bearing a heavy load especially as a deadline, climax, or radical conversion point approaches. Well in fact we are. We, like Mary, are pregnant, long-expecting, bearing a load that may be trying but produces fruit like none before. The fruit we produce is the Fruit of the Spirit by the Gifts of the Spirit that the Holy Spirit has conceived in us by the Grace of Himself that is the Spirit while Mary produces THE Fruit of the World, Jesus Christ Our Lord.

So, we too, say YES and receive and then give of that Gift so that the Fruit in our lives and for our lives is a resounding hymn that speaks of our gratitude for Him.

All Glory Be to God, the Holy Spirit.

Blessed in the Ordinary

Today was just a beautiful day of ordinary events.

I came to realize that all of the happenings of my life today were extremely ordinary, routine, day-to-day occurrences but the fact that I get to experience them is quite extraordinary. I am so blest! I don't think I can stress that enough.

It started with Mass (in communion with Awesome Saints like St. Andrew!), then prayer and Adoration (silence and time to gaze at The Most Beautiful, Christ Himself), followed by filling up my car with gas and grocery shopping filling my cart half with fall produce of 3 types of squashes and eggplant the other half with cheese and a little turkey and sausage and bread (how fortunate am I to leisurely grocery shop and run errands and not worry about not having food to eat or any means to go to work), next came dropping off the recycling (it's nice to feel like a good citizen of Mother Earth), and then to the post office (mailing packages to make someone smile always feels good), then breakfast (fed when most people in the world go hungry), work (yay for helping students understand Calculus), sending e-mails (the invention of the internet connects us and makes us able to progress so rapidly; it's incredible), quick hello to the roommate who was making dinner for both of us, prayer with Jesus exposed, dinner with the most amazing roommate with no other distractions and then a fun conversation of reliving our junior high and high-school days that made us feel like little girls again, a cookie and a brownie and a glass of milk for her and i respectively and off to bed for her and a little math homework for me and then prayer and bed.

I almost want to cry how simple but Beautiful it truly was. This day didn't have any life-changing moments or super-memorable points for years to come but it also didn't have any struggles, drama, tension, or difficulties. Today was such a gift from God who Loved me in each little moment and event.

Serving Joy

"The kingdom of God is not a matter of eating or drinking, but of justice, peace, and the joy that is given by the Holy Spirit. Whoever serves Christ in this way pleases God and wins the esteem of men. Let us, then, make it our aim to work for peace and to strengthen one another."             -Romans 14:17-19

It has been too long since I have updated and today's reading from Morning Prayer is a great starting point to ponder. Especially on a day when we focus on eating and drinking, we give thanks for these things but, we are deeply grateful for those of justice, peace, and joy.

I, myself, am a fan of joy! I am a fan of all the forementioned virtues, but knowing that the kingdom of God is a matter of joy, a gift of the Holy Spirit, makes my heart burn deeply with gratitude and Love. In this time of joy shared by one another may we aim to serve Christ in whatever way He asks us to serve one another for the Glory of God and our Salvation.

Yep, Life is Beautiful. <3

On my drive back from Tulsa late this morning I was surprised with how much beauty I had missed on the way up there. This always seems to happen after spiritual direction and really in any situation after unloading a heavy burden or even a slight inconvenience. When you let go of your burdens you are able to receive so much more which can include more responsibility sometimes but often includes so many gifts.

So back to my drive. There I was traveling along the 1 or 2 miles of side road that I travel before getting on the highway meanwhile spotting some absolutely breathtaking colors of fall foliage on the trees. When this question came to me.

Why is it that certain trees are purely brightly colored on every leaf while planted right next to a tree that is completely brown and another completely green? Do these cluster of trees not receive the same amount of light, do they not have roots in the same soil, are they not watered in the same way? Then why do they produce different colors?

You see though, we are very much like these trees. Though we experience different events and happenings in our lives we also share quite a bit of similarities. Many of us have similar upbringings (roots) and get educated in similar manners (nourished) and receive the same Love from the Father (the sun/Son). Yet we all show many different colors. Why is it that one or two trees outshine the others in the realm of beautiful colors. It is because they are receptive to the nourishment they are given.

Ahh. Receive. In a similar manner that I opened my eyes to receive the beautiful gift of the picturesque landscape before me, letting go of our burdens, our plans, our independence, depending on the Father and Trusting in the Lord allows us to receive whatever He has for us.

Receive the picture the Lord has for you and become a beautiful color of Love in this world.

Today we shall rejoice that "God has made us worthy of his calling and powerfully bringing to fulfillment every good purpose" in us and by His grace we shall "not be shaken out of our minds suddenly, or be alarmed either by a 'spirit."

Adaptations of 2 Thessalonians 1: 11 and 2:2

I take time to be a homebody and get some rest as quite a gift.
Very delightful :)

Perspective

Life is beautiful in one perspective, but sometimes looking at it through a different light can be quite breathtaking.

Sweatpants

+

Sweater

+

Tuna Casserole with Peas and Mushrooms

=

Best Dinner at Home

There is always something you can do,

but there is only one person who you are.

Don't let "things" weigh you down

when your existence counts for more!

Phones are a fantastic invention.

God reveals so much in communication. Communicating in person, via letters, via technology of texting, facebook, e-mails, etc., and also over the phone. As I just mentioned to my spiritual director a few days ago, I love to talk. I love to listen as well. And more and more I'm realizing that I love to commune with others because God really is in all of us.

Rejoice, give thanks, and do not be afraid to talk to one another. Talk and LISTEN to God today. He has a beautiful way of sharing Himself.

Two Feet

I don't think I appreciate my own two feet enough.

When I left my office (which has no windows), I was somewhat surprised with how dark it was. So I walked back home in the dark but quite enjoying the weather. It was still warm from the day but a nice breeze was setting in. As I looked to the sky to see if I could see any light of the sun, I noticed the faintest tinge of pink in one of the clouds. I then proceeded to look behind me.

My eyes landed on one of the most beautiful scenes I think this earth produces. A sunset filled with pink-orange clouds filling a dark blue sky, swirled with the faintest bit of light left by the sun. Naturally I walked backwards a few paces, admiring the scene that was behind me this whole time.

You see, this is so much like my life. I look out onto the world and see it as dark. Perhaps, I see the many evil things of this world or perhaps am just gazing upon the numerous events, projects, and things I have to do and stressing myself out over getting it all done. But as soon as I take a different perspective, I see that there has been beauty all along.

I learned something tonight from the sunset. It is good to look back and appreciate what we have done. It's too often that I look at the woes that could come up in my life but I don't thank God enough for everything he has brought me through and quite frankly the past has left quite a beautiful image to behold now.

Oh and it is the moments we do not plan for,

that reveal His Plan.

"When did you see the sunrise this morning break over this land,

warm my face and hands, bringing peace to my mind.

Did you see the sunset this evening, put the earth to bed

confirming in my head that another day is done.

And it's worth staying alive during the night to see the dawn

and it's worth staying alive during the day to see it gone

and when nothing else holds you, baby don't nobody carry on, 

Stay alive, just to see the sun.

In all the pain and sorrow this world pulls us through 

but all the joy and happiness and all the hope too.

In all that is false and all that is true, 

may every sunrise bring a beautiful day to you.

But in all it's power, this world doesn't hold me 

and only in the rising Son will my soul be set free 

and it's worth staying alive during the night to see the dawn

and it's worth staying alive during the day to see it gone

and when nothing else holds me and I don't know how to carry on, 

I stay alive just to see the sun.

I stay alive just to see the Son."

The Sonrise by Luke Spehar 

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TCGnXNixYLg

                

Sunset from eye-level on a roof.

Past, Present, and Peace

While we do not live in the past, we can live fuller lives by it.

I am a person who loves to connect everything, not just connecting the dots, but connecting people, stories, ideas, theologies, history to current events, personalities based on parents, and the list continues. In essence, I like everything to be One. I see Unity as Peace.

And so I connect two ideas into one blog:
One) The Gospel of today from Luke on Jesus stating his purpose not for Peace but Division

Two) What we can gain from understanding our past.

And the beautiful thing is that they can be connected in Today's first reading from Ephesians 3:17-19

"That you, rooted and grounded in love, may have strength to comprehend with all the holy ones what is the breadth and length and height and depth, and to know the love of Christ that surpasses knowledge, so that you may be filled with all the fullness of God."

You see, there is a beauty in knowing your roots and to, in love, use our past and our ancestral past to inform ourselves on our entire personhood which bears fruit of courageously allowing us to truly Know the Lord. You see, the Lord is Truth. THE Truth which is sometimes not easy to hear and more than likely even harder to follow. But THE Truth, Jesus Christ comes for people to KNOW Him that they may have eternal Peace, not just in the past or present but FOREVER! Talk about Unity as Peace.

In hopes, that today "you may be filled with all the fullness of God" but moreso that whether or not today caused division or confliction in your life, you realize that Jesus pushes us sometimes to the uncomfortable and unwanted division as a means of understanding Truth and Eternal Peace.

Praise God!

Hot Chocolate made with Cinnamon Tea instead of water.


Need I say more.

:)

We are not the only ones who wait for the bridegroom.

Curled up all cozy in bed on a rainy morning hitting snooze is fantastic until you realize that your "maximum snooze of 7:45 to get out of bed time" has past and now it is 7:50. If you aren't in your car in 5 min. you will be late...eek! So you quickly grab your contacts, put them in while going the bathroom, wash your hands, brush your teeth while making your bed, dump the dirty laundry basket out (which you were meaning to do today anyhow) grab rainy-day jeans, old chacos, t-shirt and comfy sweater.

Great, you think, you still can make it to Mass on time, except you were going to take the recycling afterwards and so have to put it in your car, and there's the trash to take out, and since you haven't taken recycling in almost 3 weeks there is an excessive amount which needs two trips to carry. Still, you throw the first load of recycling in the car, dump the trash in the dumpster and start to head upstairs to grab the last of the recycling.

But then you hear it.
The bells.
Tolling 8 o'clock.

Well, you start to pray the Angelus in your head hoping by the time you finish you too can be close enough to the Church parking lot and join them for all of Mass. You of course kneel at "the Word was made Flesh" at the bottom of your stairs with load numero dos of recycling in hand when you realize you are definitely going to be late. You throw the recycling in the car, close the trunk, hop in the drivers seat, throw the lights and windshield wipers on and pull out of the parking lot, moving quickly but still driving carefully, catching all the stop lights, you know you are late, but hopefully won't miss the first reading.

As you pull in the parking lot, observing the badly done parking job of a large white SUV making it hard to whip around in "your spot," you park further away from the door, not looking forward to the extra rain-drops you are about to be pelted with walking the extra distance to the door you are late to walk through.

But then you notice as you reach out to open the glass door, there are a few men talking by the entrance. You think to yourself, "Don't they know Mass is going on? Why are they not in the Church? Did something happen to someone medically; did the building fall apart?" And then you hear and see.

Father is Late! YES! God, You are so good; when I am running late you waited for me to get there.

Sometimes our desires take control of our minds, bodies, and/or spirits. What do we do? A friend recently pointed this out to me.

"So that we might obtain this life of happiness, he who is true life itself taught us to pray, not in many words as though speaking longer could gain us a hearing. After all, we pray to one who, as the Lord himself tells us, knows what we need before we ask for it. 

Why he should ask us to pray, when he knows what we need before we ask him, may perplex us if we do not realize that our Lord and God does not want to know what we want (for he cannot fail to know it) but wants us rather to exercise our desire through our prayers, so that we may be able to receive what he is preparing to give us. His gift is very great indeed, but our capacity is too small and limited to receive it. That is why we are told: Enlarge your desires, do not bear the yoke with unbelievers.

The deepr our faith, the stronger our hope, the greater the desire, the larger will be our capacity to receive that gift, which is very great indeed."          -St. Augustine

It is a beautiful perspective on desire. I believe pleasure is an unfulfilled attempt of happiness. So many times we desire happiness but our desires are quieted by pleasure. But our desires are really never sufficed until they are fulfilled. So what will fulfill your desires? What will make you truly happy?

These are not necessarily easy questions to answer. I hope with a little digging, a lot of trust, and choosing a positive outlook will unearth your desires so that you can fulfill them.

Happiness. It is not just a state. It is not just some object. It is a fulfillment of desire.

The truth is God wants us to desire much, to be fulfilled much, to be happy much. God wants much for us. Do you want much for yourself?

"He comforts us in all our afflictions and thus enables us to comfort those who are in trouble, with the same consolation we have received from Him. " -2 Corinthians 1:4

Everything we have is a gift just disguised in different packages and experienced in different unwrappings.

Faith

"Your Faith has saved you." Luke 17:19

This saving faith is not a faith of knowing but a Faith of showing God that you realize that He is the reason and meaning behind All! This recognition is humbly glorifying God with your gratitude.

A faith to be not afraid to go back to dark places because the Lord is at your side. This faith of thanksgiving saves!

Simply present yourself in His presence, 

and you will be Gifted.

Something hard to do, I know, especially amidst all the activities and to-do lists we have, but I believe the more we just are in His presence in our daily lives the more Gifts He pours out on us.

Have you been outside today?

No really! Have you BEen outside today?
Go outside. Be.

Feel the coolness that creeps through your cardigan. Sit on the soft grass and get embraced by warm rays of the sun. Hear the wind move through the leaves and watch all the colors especially those that fall to the ground.

Smile. Because the Creator of all this, created You!

"Free from the hands of our enemies, free to worship him without fear, holy and righteous in his sight."

Free from the hands of our enemies. Free from daily stresses. Free from daily temptations. Free from daily schedules.

For this I am grateful to You Lord. For I receive this moment every day where I come and sit in this pew, and in a very small portion to the reality of what is happening, I realize that You are coming to spend time with me. Oh, what Love!

Unexpected Gratitude

 "We should be grateful to the Lord our God, for putting us to the test. It is by way of admonition that he chastises those who are close to him." -Judith 8:25, 27


Even in times of trouble, give Praise and thanksgiving to the Lord; for then you know how close He is to you!

A little bit of gratitude floods despairs roots.