prismaticbleed: (angel)
 
"As you set yourselves apart by your obedience to the truth so that you might have genuine affection for your fellow believers, love each other deeply and earnestly." (1 Peter 1:22 CEB)


This is very relevant in regards to "Pride month"-- the "love" that movement claims is only repackaged lust, lewd & lascivious & luciferean. We set ourselves apart from that lie by obeying the Truth of God-- yes, even we who are on Side B as it were-- and through our dedicated faith struggle, we are empowered by the Spirit to know and feel and share REAL LOVE: the Love of God, pure & gracious & humble & beautiful. We who wear rainbows within the Church are CALLED to testify to this! We are to be witnesses for Christ WITHIN the very colorful culture the devil is trying to swallow whole. We are to be beacons of the One True Light, guiding our confused brethren back home to the Lord, Who they may have never known before, and yet Who their hearts still seek inasmuch as they honestly seek Love. 
So stay obedient to Him! Stand strong in the faith! Only then can your own love be sourced from the Source, and so be both genuine and generous, to share with so many thirsty souls! 


john 6:53

Apr. 29th, 2023 07:47 pm
prismaticbleed: (angel)

"So Jesus said again, “I tell you the truth, unless you eat the flesh of the Son of Man and drink His blood, you cannot have eternal life within you." (John 6:53 NLT)

Note the "CANNOT," not just "do not."
All mortal life is replenished by food, and ALL food is the giving of one lifeform's existence or essence to strengthen another's. Light feeds plants, plants feed animals, animals feed humans. Everything is a sacrificial give-and-take. But note this-- IT IS ALL MORTAL. We don't just eat once and that's it forever. No, we also DIE daily, in apoptosis and disease and age. We constantly need new food-- new life-- to continue to exist in these slowly fading bodies. 
This is where Christ steps in.
He is the TRUE Food-- the Bread Of Life. He alone is IMMORTAL, possessing eternal life, untouched by death and forever incorruptible. And what more perfect fulfillment of that maternal instinct, that Self-sacrifice for one's beloved babe, than for Him to play the Pelican and feed us hungry children with His very Blood & Body?
To feed on Him IS to be a helpless infant in His arms. To eat His Flesh & Blood is to accept God's Passover Lamb to save us from doom's swift angel.
What Christ is telling us is true in the most simply profound way: just like no mortal sacrifice could take away sin, so too can no mortal food strengthen our souls. We need something greater, something purer, something real. We need Life and Love. We need HIM. And He GIVES Himself, He Who cannot ever be depleted, both as sacrifice and sustenance, so that we may have His Life-- TRUE Life-- both within and without us, and so be ultimately free of BOTH spiritual & physical death.


prismaticbleed: (angel)


040323

"So the Pharisees said to each other, ‘This is not what we wanted. Look! All the people in the world have left us to go with Him!’" (John 12:19 EASY)

The Pharisees wanted a military king, someone who would drive out the Romans by force & restore earthly glory to the city of Jerusalem... an action which would, in turn, fortify & establish the religious power of the Pharisees. They did not want Jesus, the King of Peace, Who would drive out sin & death, giving glory only to God and His Heavenly Kingdom, stripping all high worldly positions of their pride & power. 
They rejected humility & gentleness, seeking only popular prestige & shows of force. They forsook compassion & mercy, instead practicing cold legalism & inflicting harsh demands.
They did not want His Reign over them. They wanted to rule instead.  

++++++++++++

"Then an exceptionally large crowd gathered and carpeted the road before Him with their cloaks and prayer shawls. Others cut down branches from trees to spread in His path." (Matthew 21:8 TPT)
 
Some immediate thoughts upon reading this:
 
Prayer shawls: worn when ONE ENTERS THE SANCTUARY TO WORSHIP, as Jesus is effectively doing here in a perfected sense; "He Himself IS prayer." The Bible instructed the Israelites to "Look upon these tzitzit [fringed shawls] and you will be reminded of all the mitzvoth (the good things) of God and fulfill them." That is what Christ does to the uttermost: when we look upon Him, we SEE the Goodness of God incarnate, and His Presence IS the fulfillment of God's Laws. Furthermore, His entrance into our "heart-sanctuaries" is what enables us to fulfill those good things as well, through Him. 
 
Cutting down branches: I think of "pruning" in the spiritual sense, as a similar idea. These tall trees sacrifice their leafy limbs FOR CHRIST TO TREAD UPON. It is an act of SERVICE. When we renounce our pride, instead offering our strength & beauty to the Lord, subordinating ourselves to Him, we acknowledge His Kingship & worship Him rightly. We stop "reaching" for gain, we stop "grasping" at status, etc. All of our self-decoration is snapped off. In a way we become stripped, even crippled, in this world, for the sake of the Only One worth anything. 
Also, we are metaphorically placing our "worldly glory" in the dust, beneath His Feet, so that His holiness is honored and NOT "dirtied" by the common road. Again symbolically, this is a "setting apart" of Him, which ultimately ALSO sanctifies us-- because whatever "branches" we break to offer to Jesus in praise, He now uses AS THE ROAD BY WHICH HE ENTERS THE SANCTUARY.
Lastly: Jesus is THE "Branch" from Nazareth; He is the TREE OF LIFE. All other branches & trees of this world, however tall & strong & beautiful, are as dust compared to Him. There's a fitting opposing parallel here, too, in that any branch that is NOT connected to Christ will be trampled underfoot when He comes in His Power. 
 
Lots of depth here. Scripture is beautiful. 
All glory be to God!

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

040723

Some bystanders who heard Him said, “He’s calling for Elijah.” One of them ran and got a sponge soaked in sour wine and lifted it on a stick so He could drink. The others joked, “Don’t be in such a hurry. Let’s see if Elijah comes and saves Him.” (Matthew 27:47‭-‬49 MSG)

This is how so many of us treat the anonymous poor & suffering stranger. They cry out for help, but never to us by name-- instead they plead for "somebody" to respond; they weep "God do something!"
So we stand by, separate and stone-hearted, and carelessly comment: "well, let’s see IF God does something."
Sometimes we even ridicule those who respond in His Name, acting as if this is a presumptuous show, an undeserved luxury, even a sinful enablement. "Don't give them any cash, who knows what they'll spend it on!" "I'm not going to waste my time serving them, they should know to feed themselves." "If you would just get a job, you wouldn't HAVE to ask for help!" Or worst of all, "serves you right, for the way you lived." "People like you don't deserve help. You brought this on yourself."
We stand and watch as they slowly bleed out on the cross. Let God save those wretches, we scoff, if they're even worth saving. I'm not going to get my hands dirty, lest they drag me right down with them.
Yet there are others, too, waiting on Elijah. There are those who avert their eyes at the cardboard signs, who covertly slip the donation forms into the trash, who always have something more pressing in their schedule, in their budget, in their hearts. They don't offer any wine, cheap as it is, solely because they might need it themselves one day, or because they don't want to be labeled as the "sponge guy" amongst joking friends, or because I'm really nervous in public, you know? I'm not worthy to do that for someone, you know? I'd probably make things worse, I'd look like a fool, I'd better not do anything if I can't do it perfectly. I have a sense of pride to uphold, you know?
Meanwhile Jesus is dying of thirst.
Stop handing off the burden of love to the saints. Stop excusing your responsibility on the grounds of difficulty, of doubt, of distance, of disgust.
When God appears to have abandoned someone, don't take that assumption as license to leave them that way.
Elijah was just a man like you, after all, before God called him to His service. What if that feeble cry from the Cross is your call, now? Will you end the drought of love in another's life?
Hurry now, for life is fragile, and time is short. Go as God sends you-- to bring even a drop of His oceanic Mercy to each thirsty soul, and so open the floodgates for His infinite grace to flow through you.
Who else are you waiting for?

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

040823
 
"One bystander ran and got a sponge, soaked it with sour wine, then put it on a stick and held it up for Jesus to drink. But the rest said, “Leave Him alone! Let’s see if Elijah comes to rescue Him.” (Mark 15:36 TPT)

A startling realization: this bystander ran to offer mercy UPON HEARING JESUS ASK WHY GOD HAD FORSAKEN HIM. The immediacy and nature of the unnamed man's response is GOD'S RESPONSE TO THE CONTRARY. 
"Where charity and love prevail, there God is ever found." When Christ could not feel the spiritual consolation of His Father's Presence, muffled as it was beneath the screaming pain, the consolation was sent on a DIFFERENT level-- the level of the Son's broken Body, on the level which most of suffering humanity was imprisoned within. This simple work of mercy, then, was a sign of God's Presence, veiled most mysteriously yet tenderly, entering into tangible reality through the sympathetic heart of a stranger. 

Most strikingly? Jesus died RIGHT AFTER THIS, by audibly commending Himself INTO HIS FATHER'S HANDS. That little taste of wine, however sour, was still a taste of the Kingdom of Heaven. God was still with His Son, even now, through the changing hearts of the people He was actively dying to make His Own.
Jesus did not die alone, in any sense. God answered His prayer. He will never abandon His Son..  and He answers our prayers, through Him, the same way.

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

041123

"There is nobody who hates his own body. Everyone feeds his body and he takes care of it. In the same way, the church is like Christ's body that he takes care of." (Ephesians 5:29 EASY)
 
...This passage highlights why I frequently struggle to understand how Christ could ever care for me, let alone be kind to me: with over two decades worth of abuse, neglect, dysphoria, & eating disorders in my past, I don't know what it's like to NOT hate and fear this body. 
Unless that changes, I fear I will never be able to truly accept my calling to take a place in Christ's Mystical Body. 
This is vital. Pray about it.

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

041223


"God said, “Let there be light!” and there was light." (Genesis 1:3 FBV)
 
Christ proclaims, "I AM the Light of the World" (John 8:12), inasmuch as He Is the WORD of God. These two essential titles COEXIST: As the Word That created all things, His FIRST creation was LIGHT-- the perceptible reflection of What He Is. All things came into being through Him; likewise, the viable warmth & brilliance He Spoke first was the catalyst for all other things to become... just as God, the Light of Lights, enables all of Creation to subsist by His Very Presence. 
So, too, God’s Word works in all who hear it, recreating light through the Light within this darkened world, even as His Spirit-- tenderly, powerfully-- hovers over the chaotic waters of our grieving hearts. 

++++++++++++

"Then Jesus said to his disciples, “Whoever wishes to come after Me must deny himself, take up his cross, and follow Me." (Matthew 16:24 NABRE)

"TO DENY ONESELF IS TO DISOWN ONESELF AS THE CENTER OF ONE'S EXISTENCE"!!!
We must, instead, crown CHRIST as King of our lives, and pledge ourselves as freely willing to die in self-giving love for His sake alone, rather than self-idolatrously surviving for our own fleeting purposes!
 
++++++++++++

""We are being punished fairly. We are getting just what our actions call for. But this man hasn’t done anything wrong.”" (Luke 23:41 NIRV)

Dismas-- himself allegedly a revolutionary-- could SEE the sentence over Jesus's Head: "THE KING OF THE JEWS." And Dismas declares, "This Man has done nothing wrong." Just from watching Christ on the Cross suffering without protest or complaint, just from hearing His bloodied Mouth speak forgiveness & compassion rather than insults & curses, the Good Thief recognized a Goodness beyond anything man could attempt or play at-- especially not within the throes of death. At the same time, this awareness of silent Divinity brought his own brutish weakness into stark contrast. He knew his sins, dark as bloodstains in the light of this sinless One. He knew how much grievance & harm he had caused, as he heard this harmless One comforting others despite His agony. He, finally perhaps, accepted justice against himself. He admitted his disaster of a life. But remember-- this was ONLY possible through grace, through the Presence of God bleeding out beside him. Suddenly Dismas knew, beyond all doubt, that this really WAS the King of the Jews: that His sentence was a coronation, not a condemnation, and although His dying for such a claim was not only undeserved but unjust, He accepted it with astonishing meekness, with a superhuman dignity and honor, even with His broken Body all but reduced to raw meat. Only a King could keep such integrity intact in an execution. Only THE King could face even this excruciating death without fear, knowing that it had no power over His Pure Heart. God would vindicate Him-- the One Who did nothing wrong. 
It is miraculous, that this poor expiring sinner became an eternal herald of that Truth, but even such was inspired through the holy grace of humility. May we all be blessed with equally sincere sight, both of ourselves and of the King! 

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

041323
 
"Whoever continually humbles himself to become like this little child is the greatest one in heaven’s kingdom realm." (Matthew 18:4 TPT)

They will be "greatest" because, in their pure, trusting, total dependence on God, it is HE Who will be great IN them!

++++++++++++

“Whoever accepts a little child like this in My Name is accepting Me." (Mt. 18:5 ERV)
 
From the Divine Mercy Novena... "Eternal Father, turn Your merciful gaze upon meek souls, upon humble souls, and upon the souls of little children, who are all enfolded in the abode of the Most Compassionate Heart of Jesus. These souls bear the closest resemblance to Your Son"!! 
In this subtly profound statement, Jesus is telling us that HIS SOUL is like that of a little child, and rightly so-- for HE alone IS the Greatest in God's Kingdom, as He is the King! (John 13:12-17)


--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

041423

"The voice spoke to him a second time: “Stop treating as unclean what God has made clean.” (Acts 10:15 CJB)

This is relevant to my thinking of my soul "as a leper", even after Christ has touched and healed me. He has restored me to communion with Him. Why, then, do I still focus on where the scabs used to be? Why do I struggle to accept my healing? Am I so used to uncleanness being my entire identity, enforced by society? Do I not trust in God's Will TO heal me, to make me clean?

++++++++++++

"The voice spoke to him again, “When God says that something can be used for food, don't say it isn't fit to eat.” (Acts 10:15 CEV)

This verse is a vital reminder to all the real-food fanatics, scrupulous orthorexics, traumatized hypochondriacs, and nutritional psychotics out there. I'm in the struggle with all of you. 
We're not the ultimate authority, God is. We don't even understand our own bodies; how could we possibly inflict such sweeping claims on another? 
We need to stop obsessing, panicking, and seeking shallow perfection. We need to start focusing on God's Heavenly Kingdom, not the torturous & temporal kingdom of diet culture. God will give us the wisdom of peace even in this pervasive war, if we will only prayerfully listen to Him in His Word.

++++++++++++

"And the voice came to him a second time, “What God has cleansed and pronounced clean, no longer consider common (unholy).” (Acts 10:15 AMP)

When we have been purified of sin through Christ and therefore sanctified for God, we are never to call ourselves "common" again-- for we do not belong to the profane world anymore. Yet remember the fullness of this vision: God does not want the world to remain profaned! It is His ultimate desire to gather all peoples up into a united and purified whole, and we, who were graciously called into that hidden Kingdom even now, are just as graciously sent out to bring others in-- those very others we are prone to consider "unholy" even now, Lord forgive us. 
Yes, as Christians, we are never to act in "common" ways, as do those lost souls who do not know, love, or serve God and who therefore tragically remain stuck in their sinful state. Do we fear being "tainted?" This vision scolds us most specifically! If God has made us clean, then it is HIS WILL that we remain clean... and if we trust in Him, nothing can ever revert us. This is the hope offered to all through Christ, Who sends us to preach Him as witnesses despite our unworthiness. 
Yes, we are to tirelessly & tenderly call the "unholy" TO be purified, and sanctified, that the whole world may one day be cleansed and consecrated to the Lord of All. 
May the Lord redefine the "common" man to his true definition, that of a brother in brotherhood-- that of a shared and sacred unity in the Most Holy Body of Christ!

++++++++++++

"And he said to them, You yourselves are aware how it is not lawful or permissible for a Jew to keep company with or to visit or [even] to come near or to speak first to anyone of another nationality, but God has shown and taught me by words that I should not call any human being common or unhallowed or [ceremonially] unclean." (Acts 10:28 AMPC)
I was raised with this exclusionist mentality, and I am ashamed to find its poison still lingering in me, exacerbated by arrogance, fear, prejudice, or disgust. The worst condemnations are the most subtle... the distancing from schizophrenic siblings, the betrayal of pagan friends, the avoidance of sociable neighbors, the antipathy towards anyone that doesn't fit my narrow subconscious box of "safe and proper and good." What nauseating hubris! And yet, it's there. I must admit & confess it. I forget that I was once "one of those people"-- and too often I still am-- a vapid chatterbox, a schmaltzy heathen, an indulgent hedonist, a crazy freak. Et cetera. It disturbs me, how quickly & easily & critically my mind slams down the judge's hammer. 
 
"What GOD has made unclean, you must NEVER consider unclean!"
 
Remember this verse. I must NEVER judge another human being as "common", in alleged contrast to my not-so-redeemed ass-- NO human bring is EVER inferior, or defiled, or unclean, or impure, or unfit, or even unholy, ESPECIALLY NOT compared to myself-- in fact, it is literally the opposite. If ANYONE is corrupt or profaned or useless or crude, it's ME. 
 
Pray hard about this verse. You've got a LOT of learning & healing to do here. 

 
prismaticbleed: (angel)
 
"Bless the Lord, all you His hosts, You who serve Him and do His will." (Psalm 103:21 AMP)
CHRIST is THE HOST of the Holy Eucharist. When we devoutly receive this Blessed Sacrament, then we, too, become "hosts" of God: not only a sanctified multitude, but Living Tabernacles of He Who Is Present in the Host that transforms us! Through this transformation, we are enabled-- by Christ's Power in us-- to serve The Father and do His Will, for only Christ CAN do so with perfect obedience. As His hosts, by grace, we become blessings to God, through God.

++++++++++++++

"You make wine to cheer human hearts, olive oil to make faces shine, and bread to strengthen human hearts."
(Psalm 104:15 GW)
 
WINE: The Blood of Christ, poured out to expunge our sin, giving eternal joy & cheer to our hearts-- and true vintage, offered in God's Plan from the very beginning of Creation 
OIL: The Spirit’s Anointing, given in the Sacraments in a very literal sense, both shining with light on our softened skin, and filling our softened hearts with His unfading internal Light
BREAD: The Body of Christ, given in the Most Holy Eucharist, the miraculous Living Bread of Eternal Life that strengthens both our mortal bodies and eternal souls to live for His Kingdom 
Lastly: note the emphasis on HUMAN! Although God does provide abundantly for all creatures, it is ONLY TO MAN that He gives these three special sanctified Gifts... because they can ONLY exist WITH MAN'S HELP. God lovingly calls us to cooperate with Him in our own journey of salvation, by letting Him work through our obedient and faithful hands. What a beautifully humbling blessing! 

++++++++++++++

"But when You breathe into anything, it receives life. In that way, You bring new life to the earth." (Psalm 104:30 EASY)

"INSPIRATION" = The "NEW LIFE" of human creativity by the grace of God! He continues to create even now, through us, when we receive the Holy Spirit & act on His Holy Influence. 




prismaticbleed: (angel)


"When I say these things, I am not trying to please people. No, it is God that I want to please. If I only wanted to make people happy, then I would not be a servant of Christ." (Galatians 1:10 EASY)

"If I only wanted to make people happy, I WOULD NOT BE A SERVANT OF CHRIST." That simple statement hits hard.
As a trauma survivor, I tend to instinctively default to "appeasement" behavior in a bid for survival, even in seemingly innocuous situations. I "say what they want to hear" so I won't be attacked; I mindlessly struggle to "entertain" others so they won't see me as a threat; I often judge my entire sense of self-worth based on whether or not others see me as "worth existing"-- if my presence in the room doesn't fill them with disgust, fear, annoyance, or loathing. Even if I'm just seen as a "toy" or a "punching bag," I've still made them "happy", so that means I'm allowed to live, right?
Except it means absolutely nothing in the big picture, and THANK GOD FOR THAT. My life's worth and purpose are NOT based on the opinions of mankind: my life BELONGS TO THE LORD GOD, WHO CREATED ME FOR HIS OWN HAPPINESS! And HIS happiness is HOLY, so it is WORTH striving to serve.
In order for me to adopt that worshipful way of living, to make God's enjoyment of me my ONLY priority, then I have to stop "trying to survive" in this world,in a shockingly real sense. Take up thy cross! If I seek to save my temporal life I shall lose my eternal one! I have died to this world and my true life is hidden with Christ in God! I trust in Him; what can mortal man do to me?
Do not worry about offending others WITH THE WORD AND WORSHIP OF GOD! As long as you live according to His Loving Will, you NEED NOT FEAR. Your actions will be inherently inoffensive when they adhere to God's Law of Righteousness and Truth. If someone takes offense at that Law, then your actual responsibility is to NOT FLAKE OUT ON FAITH BY CHANGING TO APPEASE THE WORLD!! Stand strong with courageous charity! Remember Who your TRUE "boss" is-- the LORD GOD! So don't let proud, finicky, world-serving people boss you around! Proclaim the Gospel by your actions, behavior, emotions, and thoughts. Let God be the focus and goal and motive and greatest love of your life, and everything you do will serve Him. Your humble devotion to His Covenant, against all odds and opposition, will not just please His Holy Heart-- it will make Him sing for joy (Zeph 3:17). And NOTHING ELSE MATTERS.

++++++++++++++++++++++

"Just like a deer that craves streams of water, my whole being craves you, God." (Psalm 42:1 CEB)

A deer doesn't "crave" water unless it is lacking it. If the deer hasn't had anything to drink in a while, if it has only found stagnant puddles instead of streams, if it has been running from a predator, if it is injured, if it is tired... when a deer, or a human, truly "craves" water, it is in response to an immediate and critical need. It is a response of pressing survival. So, too, with our soul and God.
When was the last time you really drank of God? What dirty pools have you been turning to instead? What enemies are pursuing you, clawing at you, making you run for your life? What battle damage do you carry? When was the last time you let your exhausted spirit find true rest?
Christ is the Living Water, the Stream of Life Himself flowing from the very Throne of God. Go to Him. He is both joyfully able and willing to cleanse your wounds, satisfy your thirst, and wash you clean. Follow the sound of His Word, like the sound of a mighty waterfall, through the woods of your life-- look for the Spirit flying before you, and you will arrive at the River of Love soon, safe, and sound.
Don't forget-- He thirsts for your love, too!




122222

Dec. 22nd, 2022 08:17 pm
prismaticbleed: (shatter)
 
Yes I barely got six hours of sleep again BUT I made a promise and I MADE IT TO BIBLE STUDY!
Even so, when I woke up at 7 the body was still painfully hungry? I'm so baffled by that. We're so bloated and nauseous, but we feel hungry. Gotta tell a doc about that.
Anyway, we had to fast whether our body liked it or not, so we packed an emergency Gatorlyte and hopped in the car for 8am mass.
I forgot how "benevolently folksy" the atmosphere at this church is. It's Irish Catholic and it's a small community, mostly old ladies as usual, but everyone's so friendly? And the priest goes out of his way to thank people by name for assisting with the liturgy. He offers prayers for people by name, and he gives homilies and spiritual comments in very frank, simple, conversational language. It's very different from our church-- we're Polish, our priest is very formal & by-the-book, etc. I adore my home parish, and honestly I fit that more structured vibe better, but the "coziness" of this parish is still nice. I love how different every church is.
Anyhow! All the old ladies were absolutely overjoyed to have me back at Bible study, haha! It meant a lot. Father S was, too; he actually knows my siblings from way back in Boy Scouts, and he also knows my aunt??? Which is surreal. But he's such a great guy. Very open, very honest, very personable. He holds the Bible study in the rectory, as I mentioned, and he always has coffee and snacks for people-- today he had nut/ poppy/ apricot rolls, and some Italian lunch options? Like wraps and antipasto I think. Another lady brought in an entire tray of Christmas cookies. I tried the decaf coffee but forgot that coffee makes us incredibly nauseous. We also tried three cookies, just tiny bites of each-- ricotta, orange cranberry, and cherry thumbprint-- but we aren't a fan of desserts so honestly it was just to "be part of the community." It was an action taken to avoid seeming standoffish or disdainful.
The study itself is very informal, which fits the church's vibe, and it's a nice complement to my personal translation/ etymology/ commentary studying at home. We also follow along with a simple Bible Study DVD? It's from 2004, which amuses me greatly-- that was a very good year for us creatively; several Leagueworlds were born then and it was the first full year I shared with Chaos 0. So every time they mention the date for the readings I have to smile. It's a benevolent time machine.
We did the reflection for the Christmas Vigil Mass in the oldschool "Seasonal Missalette," which we had at our church when I was a kid. I enjoyed those reflections a great deal. Today's was about how Christ is the Light of the World, and that all through His Life there were patterns of that Light shining through deepest darkness, notably at His Birth and His Death. The question for reflection was basically, "how have you seen the Light of Christ shining in the darkness of your life?"
...
The DVD went through the readings for the Feast of the Holy Family, which apparently falls on a Friday this year because Sunday is New Year's and that's the Solemnity of Mary. We read from Sirach, Colossians, and Luke.
...

There are always three "group reflection" questions at the end.
(list)
We ended up talking about our inpatient stay.
It felt... we were so ashamed. Talking about "what we're grateful for" and the "good we did" feels damnable. Like it's just sheer arrogance and attention-seeking. And maybe it is. Honestly I can feel when we talk about our alleged "positive qualities" that we're really just subtly screaming "i'm not evil! please look listen other people said i'm capable of good things!! i promise i'm not bad! please believe me!" etc.
...


By the time the study ended (~1045) it was SNOWING!!!
Barely made it home, poor Calvary was skidding everywhere.
Listening to FROST* the whole time YOU KNOW IT SON

Don't even remember getting home, brain an oversocialized disaster zone
Body was a wreck from fasting as well (and the coffee nausea) so concentration was rock bottom
I don't even think i talked to anyone during prep? couldn't pull myself together

don't remember eating breakfast

used the post-meal "coping time" to do more organizational stuff. for some reason panic translates into cleaning and orderliness? "OCD" behavior like grandma. exactitude "or else."
put post-it tabs with expiration dates on everything in the fridge, did math for when we'd need to restock things and wrote those on post-its and stuck them on the pantry door, then did more math for comparing protein options and prices to figure out what our smartest option would be both budget-wise and nutrition-wise

Could not tap into headspace so I sat down at Scherzando
And it immediately turned into a LEAGUEWORK DAY THANK GOD
Came outta nowhere, spent like four solid hours just trying to breathe life back into them at large. We've been neglecting them for too long.
I was focusing mostly on older Worlds that never developed; stuff from 2004-2007 that has stayed "conceptual" until now, or that was previously "shoved into" other Worlds and that didn't work.
I'm "de-fusing" all the World "combos" that some previous kid attempted a few years ago? Nope, the new rule is that every Leagueworld STAYS how it was when it was born. No trying to amalgamate things.
...


SO sick and weak though. it's been several days, getting worse in little but noticeable ways. can't shake it off.
Could barely do any biking; had to go slowly, only just hit 50m. Yesterday we did two hours of decent speed at maximum resistance (8) with no trouble; today, we had it on 5 and were getting heart palpitations and the urge to vomit whenever we tried to exert ourselves. Is this like a crash from overexercising? But then why all the GI distress as well? And we've been dizzy & lightheaded all day, too, even though our blood sugar has been around 82 to 92. Is that feeling from lack of sleep? Geez. Bodies are so weird. We're not used to this at all.
Still. It's a cross, if nothing else. We feel like absolute garbage but if there's one thing the Book of Job is teaching us, it's that you don't EVER complain against God. Even when you're suffering, there IS a reason for it, and in every case humility and trust are essential. God speaks to us and teaches us in a very special way through our pains, IF we listen. Pride and anger kill the soul. So does grumbling and stubbornness. So yeah, I don't like how gross this body looks and feels, but... if it's what God wants me to endure today, then I just need to say, "God, You see me in distress, and if You are allowing it to continue, then You see a good reason in doing so. You only allow suffering if it is for my spiritual benefit. I trust You in that. Help me cooperate with this, to learn what I need to learn, and not to complain or resist." But it's HARD TO DO, man, I really do not like this. Still. Like it or not, I can still love. When I love God, that takes all the sting out of suffering, because it frees your heart from the distrust that is the ultimate root of all complaint.
...

Speaking of Job! We're still studying chapter 36, or at least we were during dinner-- we finally moved on to 37 today, after like a whole month, haha. (We were just doing daily devotions for a while tbh; it's nice to be back into regular reading.) Mainly we were confused about the translations for lines 16-21; today we were focused on 18 & 20. none of the translations on youversion were giving enough clarity, so i looked for commentaries online.
WELL. THAT HELPED A LOT. apparently most of the common translations are not adhering to the original Hebrew? either that, or it's such a debated translation that the "easily read" option is preferred. still, that "easier" option says "Be careful that no one entices you by riches; do not let a large bribe turn you aside." HOWEVER the more "old English" style translations read, "Because there is wrath, beware lest He take thee away with His stroke: then a great ransom cannot deliver thee." BIG DIFFERENCE.
Studying the commentaries and comparing translations, we concluded that this verse is saying two important things, in those two ways of reading the original text. Let me paste my favorite translations here:

"
Job, don’t let your anger fill you with doubt about God. And don’t let the price of forgiveness turn you away." (Job 36:18 ERV)
"...don't let your anger and the pain you endured make you sneer at God." (Job 36:18 CEVDCI)
"For let not wrath entice you into scorning chastisements; and let not the greatness of the ransom [the suffering, if rightly endured] turn you aside." (Job 36:18 AMPC)
“Don’t let your great riches mislead you; don’t think you can bribe your way out of this. Did you plan to buy your way out of this? Not on your life!" (Job 36:18 MSG)

And then verse 21 hits pretty hard:
"Job, don’t let your suffering cause you to choose evil. Be careful not to do wrong." (Job 36:21 ERV)
"Be careful not to turn to evil, which you seem to want more than suffering." (Job 36:21 NCV)
"Take heed and be careful, do not turn to wickedness, For you have chosen this [the vice of complaining against God] rather than [learning from] affliction." (Job 36:21 AMP)
"Be on guard! Don't turn to evil as a way of escape [from suffering]." (Job 36:21 CEVDCI)

...I've been feeling both of those translation-messages far too much lately. Honestly spending time with Mimic is making me think about my less-than-kind reactions to hardship with blunt sincerity.
I do run from suffering. Realizing that shocked and scared me. But, that's why we had bulimia. It's why we still get the urge to throw up whenever we feel even slightly sick, and it's why we're prone to addictions in general. When we're feeling nauseous or gross or depressed or scared or just wrong, our instinct is not to "endure suffering", it's to frickin bail. We dissociate. We look for an exit. We do evil things SOLELY to "stop the pain." I have to admit that. I see that so much with the ED nousfoni now, too-- how if there's the slightest chance that they will get "sick" from a food, they will immediately try to throw it up and throw everything else out. Wastefulness & self-abuse, because they refuse to take the chance of suffering. Yes, it's "survival instinct," but that can be taken way too far. True soldiers and warriors of faith don't prioritize earthly survival. They prioritize righteous behavior and MORAL FORTITUDE, which we truly want but also sadly lack.
...
 

mom called during dinner, 15m call
she got even less sleep than us, poor woman. she doesn't sleep well at all in general. but she had a rough day at work, crashed when she got home and just woke up now apparently? she was just chatting about youtube videos and cookie baking but to be honest i cannot remember the conversation because we felt so sick and we were in the middle of eating so our brain was very confused. so we feel really bad that our attention was awful.

we got so sick after eating? is it because we ate much later than expected?
wanting to throw up afterwards, again. fought it tooth and nail. still wondering why the heck this happens in the evenings. either it's the time, or it's the english muffin we have with dinner. gonna skip it tomorrow and see what happens.
tomorrow is going to be odd. mom wants us at her house for 9am to help her bake for at least five hours. so we have to pack a weird breakfast and have a completely different lunch/dinner mealplan. plus it's supposed to flash freeze in the afternoon so if we see the temp start to drop we have to book it back to our apartment because Calvary does not drive well in winter weather. I barely got up the hill to the apartment this morning, with that bit of snow!


It's 11:59, and I'm still believing, give me that sun red sky blue... yeah that's an ancient reference on my part but it is more relevant than ever tonight and what do you know, my phone alarm just went off.
"19 years. 💙💚🌊💍. Today All day."
...
I haven't typed about that for the same reason I run away from suffering.
I'm terrified of being vulnerable.
I'm terrified of myself.

I feel so unworthy. I feel so sick and wrong. I don't want to think about love or pain because they're the same bloody thing and I'm so empty and numb that... I'm just running and hiding. Pretending nothing is happening. Christmas is in less than 24 hours and I feel like I'm stuck in a timeless interim. Holidays? What are those? My brain has been "on hold" since the hospital! It's a nightmare. Whatever happened to life?
I know it sounds odd-- no, it sounds downright hypocritical to be talking like this, after all my talk of "progress" and "growth" and "hope" in recent days. But both things are true. Yes, we objectively are moving towards a better future in our innerlife, and hopefully even our outerlife, but... then we get days like this. Sick days, hollow days. And all of that good stuff is intangible. Right now I feel like a waste of skin and space. Right now I feel like the scum of the earth. Right now I feel like I'm not worthy or capable of love or joy or hope, and I sure don't deserve anything good. Hideous aberrations like me don't deserve anything but death.
Spiritual warfare, that's what this is. I expected this.
...Still.
It's still our 19th anniversary. Legit right now. It's 12:20 and God forgive me I'm not even going to be home for most of the day, I'll be in hyperspeed trauma-triggering social mode for like six hours, and when I get back I'll probably collapse in furious overwhelmed sobs and I won't be able to function. Why do I expect the worst? It's that bloody trauma, it always is, I've gotten so used to "the worst" being "the norm" that of course I'm going to default to catastrophizing. It's a thought distortion but it's also a protective instinct when your brain has seen and heard enough of disaster to not want to take any risks. Running from suffering. Spineless coward.
Geez this is not healthy language. Is it? I need to be harsh with myself. Laurie has been slacking off. There, I said it. I don't like how "nice" she's become. I've said that before. I miss her brutality. It's why I'm spending so much time with Mimic and his sharp edges. I want Laurie to stop giving me so much leeway. She's too merciful now. What if I want her to push me around again? What if I want her to threaten me with that axe if I'm being an idiot? I don't want to be coddled. I want to be a good person and for some reason I am CONVINCED that I can only be good if I am beaten into that shape.
...and I'm still so spinelessly scared to suffer. WHY.
What happened to the Retributor days? Why do we not get the urge TO self-abuse anymore? I used to adore the sight of all that blood. What happened? Why don't people shove me out of fronting to slice up our limbs anymore? Why is everything so freakishly "level" and numb and bland? Where's the life? Where's the honor? Where's the truth?
Where is all of the love I used to feel?
Why did "gaining weight and getting ugly" destroy my capacity to function positively?

...
I didn't draw myself, and I probably won't, even for this anniversary. I can't even say "our." I'm too much of a corruptive influence. I'm disgusting and at this point I'm... I'm so sick of life that I'm tempted to "throw out the world and become a nun" just like the pseudocore from 2018-2022 has been doing. Literally burning our history to cinders, and refusing to acknowledge a future, because she hated the world and only wanted to pray forever. The eating disorder took full advantage of that. Oh sure, you can easily pray for 5+ hours a day, just occupy the body with this! AND it'll make sure you suffer horribly every day, which ALWAYS brings you closer to God and prevents you from ever "liking" the world OR your life!! Absolute hell.
Still. I'm so tired.
I'm so tired of life. I'm so tired of physicality. I hate how often we update about food and daily events because "that's our life now, and if we don't write it down we forget days at a clip and our depressive despair gets even worse!" well dude maybe we should forget everything but headspace and religion? i don't care at all about daily life anymore i am so bloody tired of existence.
except.
except i share every single day with my baby girl now. my beautiful daughter. who cares dearly about me and does everything she can to encourage me. i hope to God i'm worth something to her life in return. lord knows i do try but i'm so utterly worthless. i'm no good for anyone. what the heck sort of benefit could my stupid isolated disgusting boring life do to anyone? i'm ashamed to think of how much success and honor and intelligence and accomplishment all the kids from our school and all our old acquaintances have achieved. even with their struggles they succeeded. our mom always pointed that out. "they can do it, why the heck can't you?" "why did god give me such freaks for children?" etc. someone is always better, smarter, prettier, stronger, more creative, more intelligent, more worthy of love. me? i'm just pond scum. i'm just a waste of flesh. i'm someone you wish you never met. "kill yourself you faggot/ bigot/ jerk/ monster/ etc."
so so tired of existing
and you wonder why i'm running away from "my" anniversary yet again.
...
he doesn't deserve this. he doesn't deserve such a punishment as me.
on the other side of the coin, who do i think i am having the absolute bloody gall to "love" him???

stupid body is hungry again
shut up. i am not giving you anything. i don't care if the blood sugar tanks. i'm tired, god help me, i'm so bloody tired of physicality. but i'm "scared of going back to the hospital," especially for christmas. i have to sing for it. i want to sing for it, rather. isn't that selfish?
god what do i do
why this suffering, what sin are You trying to correct? what are You trying to teach me? what good are You striving to bring out of this? please, i have no idea, i just keep screwing everything up, i'm so freaking scared i'm exhausted but please I don't want to be the villain anymore i don't want to do evil just because i feel dead, please give me some real hope of life beyond this absolute garbage bin of a "person" i am. this wreck of a self. this deplorable thing called "me."

i don't see a future for myself. at all.
i... if i try really hard to have hope, i can say that when i can feel the system, then i want a future, with them, but... right now, i feel alone and dead. literally dead. no hope at all. it's the self-hatred; it puts up plague-walls and nothing can get in.
...well isn't that just the problem. the plague. calcification.

i'm so sick of myself.
how am i supposed to exist when i live in this loathsome body. why is that so intensely disturbing to me.

another thing. slight topic switch.
i haven't been talking to chaos 0 at all lately. i'm not spending time with him at all. i only see him at night when i go to sleep and i get so many hideous flashbacks i haven't been really interacting with him even then.
i've forgotten how to love. i'm so tired. i'm so disgusted. i'm like... repulsed by intimacy. repulsed by anything vaguely like romance. it makes me feel filthy and evil. the instant resulting self-abuse is so maniacally violent it scares me. i want to die if someone so much as looks at me the wrong way. too many flashbacks.
i hate it. everything gets filtered through that bloody lens of past experiences that shook me to the foundations. i hate it. i hate that my brain is constantly so hypervigilant that it sees the tiniest similarities and screams murder about it. no chances. no risks. no remembering. no repeating. run and gun. get the heck out of there and if something or someone gets too close you snap and fight. like a wildfire. turns everything hydrophobic.
...god i want to sob but i can't feel a thing.

...wow this entry got really dark really fast.
that usually happens though. i let the automated stuff type out the daily notes, banal and embarrassing as they are, and then that humiliation just spirals down into this. "stop talking about yourself and the demeaning junkpile you call a life. shut the heck up before someone beats that arrogant stupidity out of you." except i wish someone would, especially a certain purple someone who used to be violet, i swear if i wasn't afraid of how demonic it makes me feel i would force her to switch hues myself, i'm sure i could wield that much power in here, but it would dehumanize me entirely.
what kind of a "human" am i anyway, oh wait, i guess i am "human" if i'm such a disgusting pig and a filthy whore.
i hate being "human" honestly. i always did, even as a kid. never "identified" as one. so grossed out by physical bodies and how other people acted. detestable stuff. i wanted nothing to do with any of it. i still don't.
but now i'm forced to admit and realize just how evil i actually am. and that "makes me human." it dooms me to obscenity. no wonder i want to die.
but job 36:20... don't be so bloody stupid. do you really want to die like this?
no. no i don't. it's why i refused to actually follow through with the suicide attempts in nc. refused to die in that filthy bathroom. refused to die in that atrocious state of life. refused to "let the devil win." put the pills down. put the alcohol down. put the knives down. step away from the ledge. you know the drill. yeah i was still an absolutely intolerable beast to the people around me, but hey, at least i didn't kill myself! you selfish abusive slut, maybe you SHOULD HAVE.

what in the world am i even typing
it's 111
i'm only going to get 6 hours of sleep again
then up that terrible house tomorrow with all the noise and flashbacks i am going to cry.
baby. stupid fat ugly baby. shut your whore mouth. crying is for the weak. crying is for manipulative abusers. crying is evil and offensive and disgusting annd wrong
i'm just spouting internalized trash at this point
wow no wonder we're so prone to bingepurges, how much glutted garbage is already in our psyche???

i want out
god i want out
i want to
"want want want" more slutty language shut up before i cut your tongue out

how ironic. talking about this with mimic all month.
"you have to want to change" "you have to want a better life"
well look at me, i refuse to admit that i do because that makes me a cowardly bastard. "i don't deserve better." etc.
don't want to be like this don't want to drag anyone else down with me no
absolute poltroon. get a freaking life
joke's on you, people like me deserve to be dead

"love doesn't use the word 'deserve'"

you know what the worst part of this is?
i'm going to burn out, stumble into that redlit bedroom, and that riverblooded creature is going to be there for me, and he's not going to hate me, and i won't know what to do at all.
i don't. i really don't.

i don't see him during the day anymore
i wonder why
no that's not rhetorical.
i mean i wonder if my subconscious has labeled him as "too sacred" to drag into my detestable daily struggle.
and yet we were all just discussing the incarnation again today, and how that choice of divinity to become human with ALL its abhorrence and wretchedness was a choice of love. god, literally GOD, decided to put apparent perfection aside and walk in the mud with us. because he wanted to give us the hope of a life better than this. something transcendent. and yet he also didn't want us to hate our current bodies. oh i know that goes completely against the fire and brimstone i learned. but it's true. jesus didn't hate his body. he didn't hate anyone else's, too. yes humanity is a fallen race but we aren't supposed to be. that's jesus's entire goal: transformation. restoration. recovery of truth. we're meant for light and love, REALLY we are, not all this cruel callous coldness. not all this rage and violence and bitterness. no fake tears, no panic attacks, no blame games, no manipulative schemes, no flashbacks, no abused people abusing people. what am i even trying to say

i'm so tired of feeling like love is too pure an emotion for a vile thing like me to ever feel.

this is why i run away from every relationship that gets too close, or looks at me too kindly
it makes me too acutely aware of the maggot-infested moirass i call a self
i'm a lethal contagion, get away from me, you'll end up dead or worse.

but it's been nineteen years
and even when i tell him to leave he won't.
even when i try to leave i can't.

i guess that counts for something.

it's almost 1:40. i'm too crushed spiritually to type any more.
six hours of sleep is pushing it at this point.

i really don't know how i'm going to deal with collapsing into bed and having him be right there. maybe i'll finally crack, let the light in, who knows.
it says a lot that i've been refusing to listen to music lately. that's proof of an internal hardening. music is cathartic. right now i'm blocking out all the options.
i really think it's trauma "prevention" nonsense. too many "near misses" in therapy, even at the beginning. too much "around the corner" horror threatening to burst onto the scene shrieking and covered in blood. really don't want to look at any of it. but i can't erase it. i've tried. it's been buried a long time but the hourly flashbacks are proof that it's clawing its way out of the coffin, thanks stupid weight gain triggers.
sorry. don't want to go down that route of vitriol again.

god help me please.
i could laugh, it hurts, i want to say "give me grace" but you always just point in that direction. "i did," you say. "you've got to open your heart to it first."
part of me angry at that but really the anger is just pain. wanting to cry. still can't.
god why. i'm not supposed to love him. or anyone. but especially not him.
why not, i am asked.
because i'm filthy dirty wrong stupid and he's not? because i'm just a faggot queer abomination remember? a laughingstock, an object of both mockery and hatred? someone who has committed too many sins to ever be able to function as a decent being ever again?
because he's nonhuman and nonphysical and that's "weird." and i'm stupid. and i'm not "doing what religion and culture and society obligates me to do" but god i'm so tired. i can't do it. i cannot. i cannot do it
i can't deny this either
i want to. lord i've tried. i am trying right now. stubbornly insisting that it's all fake, it was never real, i never actually cared, i don't even like him, haha it was all a ruse, game over, goodbye.
but then what? then what? what is my life then?
i have to turn off my heart to talk like that and that fact alone speaks volumes.
but "emotions are evil" my panicked "conscience" says. malformed as ever. "emotions are of the devil. that's why saints in paintings never smile. they always have flat faces and empty expressions because goodness doesn't feel anything. emotions are bad and wrong. if you feel them you are going to hell" etc etc etc
so what, making myself decidedly incapable of love is going to make me "good"???? i don't think so.

still.
too much trauma.
too much self-hatred.
legit terrified of someone wanting to get that close to me. scariest thing in the world
deep down i don't want to be scared of it. don't want to be afraid to be with him.
but i am. i'm scared of everybody right now because i'm so afraid of myself.

body getting real sick again
dizzy, heart skipping, shaky, nauseous. chest pain. headache coming back.
need to sleep. so tired inside and out.
god is this suffering punishment what did i do wrong please tell me so i can stop being so bad
is it the self hatred? is that it?
wouldnt that be ironic

god give me strength
yeah that's ironic too isn't it

don't let me die tonight
there's gotta be hope somewhere in all this
let me know your love in the morning
please.
i need hope. i need healing. i need to get my life together it's christmas for heaven's sakes

155am. i'm going to sleep.
hey by the way
tomorrow is still the anniversary. no amount of self-loathing can change that fact.
i know that makes you angry right now but please
stop and just read about what led up to this okay? if you can't feel anything on your own then read and remember.

there is hope, i promise you that, god is love itself and that's the ultimate fact of the universe
somehow everything is going to be okay

don't give up
it's gonna be all right

prismaticbleed: (angel)
 
Getting gutpunched by the translations on this passage.


POINT ONE:

Have the same concern for everyone.
Live in harmony with each other.
Be friendly with everyone.
Live together in peace with each other.
Live happily together in a spirit of harmony, and be as mindful of another’s worth as you are your own
Bless your enemies; no cursing under your breath. Laugh with your happy friends when they’re happy; share tears when they’re down.
Be of the same mind one toward another.
Always try to be friends with other Christians and don’t argue with them.
Be of the same mind one toward another.

POINT TWO:

Do not be proud, but accept humble duties.
Don’t be too proud to enjoy the company of ordinary people.
Don't be proud and feel that you know more than others.
Don’t be proud, but be willing to be friends with people who are not important to others.
Make friends with ordinary people.
Do not be haughty (snobbish, high-minded, exclusive), but readily adjust yourself to [people, things] and give yourselves to humble tasks.
Do not be haughty [conceited, self-important, exclusive], but associate with humble people [those with a realistic self-view].
Don’t live with a lofty mind-set, thinking you are too important to serve others, but be willing to do menial tasks and identify with those who are humble minded.
Get along with each other; don’t be stuck-up. Make friends with "nobodies."
Set not your mind on high things, but condescend to things that are lowly.
Don’t think to yourself, “I’m too good to be with them.” Sit down with anybody and be their friend.
Consider everyone as equal, and don’t think that you’re better than anyone else. Instead, associate with people who have no status.


POINT THREE:

Do not think of yourselves as wise.
And don’t think you know it all!
Never overestimate yourself or be wise in your own conceits.
Do not overestimate yourself.
Don’t think of yourself as smarter than everyone else.
Don’t be smug or even think for a moment that you know it all.
Don’t be the great "somebody."
Remember, you don’t know everything.
Don’t think that you’re so smart.
 
...

 
prismaticbleed: (angel)

struck by the translations on this, and the harrowing depth they add to these passages.
Effectively:

"God punishes the wicked for their evil deeds in plain sight, where everyone can see them, because they:

-turned away, turned aside, turned back from, & stopped following Him
-revolted against Him
-refused to obey Him
-abandoned their pursuit of Him

AND

-had no respect for His ways
-did not regard His ways
-would not consider His ways
-could not understand His ways
-refused to comprehend His ways
-ignored all His commands
-would not pay attention to Him


This hit me because there's a conscious choice in it, and it is actively malicious. You don't just casually "revolt" against God! You can't "gently refuse" or "kindly abandon" Him. And if you WERE following Him, and then turned back... NO ONE DID THAT FOR YOU.


The next verse effectively says:

"It is right to say/ has anyone said/ have you said to God that:

- you have endured punishment
- you have borne just chastisement
- you acknowledge that you are guilty
- you confess your sins to God
- you have taken away from others

AND

- you will not offend God any more
- you will not sin any more
- you will not act corruptly or wrongly
- you will not pervert justice
- you will not act wickedly
- you will stop your immoral behavior
- you will promise to do better


This appears simple but I really was moved by the extent of the synonyms, as it were. It's a lead-in to a thorough confession, to be able to HONESTLY say these things.
What punishment have you endured? What chastisement have you borne? I know I can readily list specific examples, and I know WHY that discipline occurred-- because I am GUILTY. I have SINNED. I have acted in ways that not only offend God, but "take away from others," and pervert justice, and act corruptly... to really convict oneself like this allows for SOLID CONTRITION, which is mandatory for a legitimate confession AND repentant conversion of life.



The next half of the verse is as vital as it is beautiful.

"Have you also asked God to:

- teach you what you cannot see
- tell you what evil you have done
- point out what you did wrong
- show you your faults
- reveal your hidden sins
- instruct you as to what you are ignorant of

SO THAT...

- if you have done wrong, you will not do it again
- if you have sinned, you will stop at once
- if you have done iniquity, you will do no more
- if you have spoken unfairly, you will add no more
- if you have committed unrighteousness, you will not repeat it
- if you have done evil, you agree to quit


...


and then there's the slamdunk of verse 33:

- Should God then reward you on your terms, when you refuse to repent?
- Must God tailor His justice to your demands? But you have rejected Him!
- Shall God repay on your terms, because you have rejected His?
-
Do you make the rules, or does God?
- Since you object to what God does, can you expect Him to do what you want?
- Just because you refuse to live on God’s terms, do you think He should start living on yours?

https://biblehub.com/commentaries/job/34-33.htm




prismaticbleed: (angel)

"For by grace you have been saved by faith. Nothing you did could ever earn this salvation, for it was the love gift from God that brought us to Christ! So no one will ever be able to boast, for salvation is never a reward for good works or human striving."
(Ephesians 2:8‭-‬9 TPT)
 

Key takeaways from this beautiful translation:
1. Our very faith, which allows us TO be saved, is itself a gift of grace! Yes, we have been saved, but how? Because we have faith in God's ability TO save. But how did we GET such faith? BY GRACE. Honestly that hits so hard; I can't emphasize it enough.
2. We can NEVER "earn" salvation. Putting that in a positive light: no matter how much good we do, it ALL pales in comparison to the immeasurable Good that is the gift of salvation through Christ's Death. It is SO Good that it cannot be cheapened enough TO be "bought" or "deserved". The sheer magnitude of it is ineffably gorgeous. Furthermore: our good works in and of themselves are enabled by grace! We don't "get more grace" BY doing good-- instead, we are GIVEN grace so we CAN do good in the first place. We don't get "spending power" here; if we don't act on grace, we "lose it." It cannot be used otherwise; the works we do BY it are a RESULT of the salvation that gives it TO us! So "earning" that very cause by means OF the cause is impossible.
3. The most moving part of this to me: that grace is a "LOVE-GIFT." It's not obligatory, it's not forced, it's not deserved, it's not owed, it's not even asked for. It is an incomprehensibly selfless and loving GIFT, lavished on us solely because God IS Love and He can't help BUT love us so extravagantly. Grace is priceless, so it's "freely  given" by its very nature, and as such it can only be given IN LOVE. Consider that! God loves us SO MUCH that He GAVE us the grace of faith to begin with, WHILE we were still degenerates lost in sin, completely "unworthy" of such a Divine present. And yet, there was Christ on the Cross, dying FOR US in order to show us exactly WHAT we were to have faith in: GOD'S LOVE, the very Love that enables faith through grace. THAT is what true faith IS, at its very core, the inevitable fruit of ALL grace... faith is believing in God because we love Him, and trusting in God because He loves us. THIS is childlike faith, with no doubt whatsoever: that innate, absolute assurance of and participation in mutual love. That grace-gift of loving faith will ALWAYS bring us to Christ, for He IS Love Incarnate, and our hearts WILL recognize that, and desire to enter into that sacredly requited relationship no matter what. His arms are always open to us.
4. We cannot boast because that is of pride, and pride virtually mandates a "blindness to one's flaws," making us feel "perfect" and therefore-- in this case ironically-- BARRING us FROM salvation, for we refuse to admit we NEED to be saved-- from ourselves!! To boast even that "yes I sinned, BUT I did SO much good after that God OWED salvation to me" is heinous. God DOES NOT owe us anything. We owe HIM; for ALL.we have is FROM Him, ESPECIALLY the ability TO do good. If we are boasting of our "holiness" and "charity," I would fearfully doubt the legitimacy of those virtues. Pride likes to wear splendid masks, to hide its own garish ugliness. And pride CANNOT LOVE!! If we "boast" of salvation, then we have missed the heart of it ENTIRELY. Sin is what costs us everything. Salvation is the total opposite.
5. On that note, to conclude... Salvation is NEVER a "REWARD." I honestly love that fact. THAT would cheapen it more than anything, AND it would exclude the souls who need it the most! Think about that. When we DO face our sins and grasp the terrible extent of our own corruption and depravity, it can be absolutely unbearable; it is existentially horrific. BUT consider this: that compunction... IS OF GRACE. And it is meant to lead us TO THE CROSS, where salvation is POURED OUT IN ABUNDANCE for the most unworthy of all, who come to Him IN that gracious faith and hope, trusting that, despite all odds, God STILL LOVES US. The Savior on the Cross is PROOF of that. And I repeat: ANY "striving" of ours TO "live better" and "make restitution" is a COOPERATION WITH THE CROSS. The Cross itself isn't a reward, it is the MEANS, and it is a GIFT. It is BEYOND us and yet it is BESTOWED on us. That is where its wonder comes from. It is of heaven! We could never gain or achieve or even imagine such a thing with earthly means! Yet God GIVES it. If He didn't, we would be lost forever. He refuses to lose us. THAT is how much He loves us: to BECOME one of us, and to live and die for love of us, so we could be healed and whole... and, in being so graciously restored, to love Him in return, forever. It's all a gift. It's priceless. And yet, it is ours.
Believe that God loves you, because your very faith is proof of it. Give thanks for that grace, and live your life in and for that love. Child of God! Salvation has been freely given to you! Rejoice! 


prismaticbleed: (angel)


"So then, whenever we have an opportunity, let us do good to all people, and especially to those who belong to the family of faith." (Galatians 6:10 NET)

The phrase "whenever we have an opportunity" is so vital. It suggests that we should ALWAYS keep an open eye-- and an open heart-- FOR opportunities to do good to people... ALL people. This, in turn, sets the stage for said opportunities: there are no exceptions! Every human being on earth is someone we are called to love and serve. Keeping this in mind, we quickly realize that ALL our actions are opportunities. We do not exist in a vacuum. "No man is an island." Whatever we do, we must do not only for the glory of God, but ALSO for the benefit of others-- which glorifies God in a very real and tangible way. Honestly I love this verse. It's such a beautiful call to action, a call that declares every moment to be fertile ground for the flowers of compassion. If we pause, at any time, and ask: "how can I do good for others, right now, in exactly what I'm doing?" You don't necessarily have to stop and do something different! That's the beautiful part. When your heart is set on serving God at all times, then you can and will literally use ALL times as events of grace. Every moment can be a blessing for others, if we enter into it as such. This, too, will enable us to discern even greater opportunities to do good, because in starting small yet sincere, we can transmute our lives at the most basic level, keeping us from being blinded by proud ambition and instead moving us to meet the most humble souls in their most vulnerable states. Even just a prayer, said during everyday duties done with honest integrity and love, is a powerful gift in the hands of God. So don't worry about "seeking" opportunities-- you're in one right now! The "whenever" is gorgeously universal. Rejoice in this.

+++++++++++++++++++++


"God look you full in the face and make you prosper." (Numbers 6:26 MSG)

This feels like the sunlight beaming glorious and bright upon a tiny flower, filling it with life and strength and beauty.
I just... love this. "May God look at you," not just in a passing glance or brief blip of attention, not sidelong or halfway, but "full in the face"!! Just imagine that! God focusing His Heart on you, little you, His eyes meeting yours, turned completely towards you. Full attention, full love. It's like the entire sun, hitting your soul like a diamond and filling every facet of you with rainbows.
This is how you truly prosper. It's not about wealth or influence or talent or prestige. It's when God sits right across from you at the table of love with His face in His hands and just smiles, directly at you, and everything in you just sets aflame with joy. Your heart will bloom like a bouquet of roses. That is where life finds all its bounty and beauty-- in the glow of that divine gaze.
May God look YOU full in the face today. May you be forever illuminated by that amazingly personal love.

+++++++++++++++++++++

"Now faith is being sure of what we hope for, being convinced of what we do not see."
(Hebrews 11:1 NET)

This hits hard, in light of recent trials. Sometimes I face struggles and terrors that shake me up so badly, all I can hope for is survival-- but even that is doubtful. Nevertheless, I've realized that my poor heart always settles on one amazingly solid conviction: that God is STILL GOOD. Even when I DON'T see His Goodness, even when I DO doubt if He will help me in what I plead for, I am STILL SURE that He IS GOOD. Sometimes that surety feels insane, I'll admit. "How can you believe that God is good when He's letting you suffer through THIS?" Well, look at Jesus. There is a sacredness to ALL suffering, now, united with His. Perhaps that is God's motivation here-- to humble and purify me, to drive me TO this point of desperate prayer. Am I not so painfully close to God when I feel Death's hand on my shoulder? And besides, does it not glorify God MORE to trust Him in trials, rather than in easy times? The devil can give all sorts of faux "blessings" with worldly power. But ONLY GOD can take our scariest moments and transmute them into grace. There's the distinction: the devil only wants me damned. God only wants me saved! Scripture attests so powerfully to this, despite all my fears and worries. I can take refuge in that Truth-- I can find safety even here in the dark shadow of His wings.
To be totally honest, what I most deeply hope for in those situations IS God's Goodness. Whether I live or die, I just hope God loves me enough to sanctify and save my soul, to have mercy on me and redeem me from my stupidity and sin. And... deep down, as deep as it gets, I DO KNOW that He will. He must; He Himself has said that He "does not delight in the destruction of the wicked," and that He "came to call sinners" in Christ-- "your faith has saved you!" And what is that faith? It is TRUST IN GOD, being sure that He CAN and WILL do what is objectively right & good, no matter what happens; it is being absolutely unshakably sure that God will do everything in His Power TO save us, and that He LOVES us... enough to live and die for us. So our hope is in Him alone. We need not hope for anything else. And "hope does not disappoint," for "God IS faithful!"
Lastly... conviction in the reality of the unseen. I would like to affectionately debate that phrase. "Unseen" is incompatible with faith, because when we DO trust in God, it is impossible NOT to see Him! "Blessed are the pure in heart..." When God is sincerely our sole aim and focus, we can and will recognize Him everywhere, by proofs of His Goodness and Love. Scripture is the obvious example, but so is our religion in general. God gave us this grace, that church community, that pastor! God gave us our parents and friends and spouses and children! God gave us spring flowers and summer rains and autumn leaves and winter snow... oceans and sunsets and hummingbirds and stars. Everywhere I look, even in this fallen world, I still see evidence of God-- dim yet honest reflections of His beauty and compassion. But that testimony is in the tough times, too... maybe even more starkly, despite all circumstances. Sometimes I feel so wrecked that I wonder if God truly loves me? Then... I remember that Jesus died for me. He is suffering WITH me, and I with Him. That fact can move my heart more than all the beauty in the world, in those moments, because it proves that God cannot be stopped by difficulties. Where false "gods" sneer and cringe and run, refusing to get their hands dirty or to endure discomfort themselves, the One True God trudges valiantly into the mud and darkness with us, to embrace us, and give us a hope that transcends even temporal deliverance-- He gives us the hope of the Cross, and the Resurrection that follows. Even if we cannot see that, we know it is real. Even if we must stay on the cross until we die, we know there is a life after this, one brilliant with light and song and eternal joy... and that means we can endure anything and everything, here, if we remember that it is all from His hands. He IS Good, and He WILL work all things for your good... for you who love Him.
Have faith. It is all you need. 


prismaticbleed: (angel)

When I am farthest away from everything else, I am nearest to God. When I feel abandoned and rejected by my family, and have no friends to turn to; when finances crash and my health fails and I see no way out; when facing my past is terrifying and facing my future reveals a void; when my own stupidity and weakness and sinfulness crushes me to near despairing… God is close to me. When I am hollowed out with grief, He fills me with His loving Presence. No matter what I suffer and lose on earth, God is my inheritance forever. He will never leave or betray me. He holds both my past and my future in His caring hands. When my heart is broken to pieces, then He can touch it most gently, putting it back together as precious art, with the gold of faith. When I crack under stress, His Light pours in through the shattered places, beams of hope through the darkness. When I weep, He promises me joy in Him, but He also gives me a bittersweet and beautiful joy in my tears, for He always, weeps with me. He never downplays my grief, or laughs it off, or says its no big deal. He cares, deeply and completely, to the point of feeling everything I feel. How else could He understand so sincerely? How else could He heal so thoroughly? How else could He love so totally? He heals my hurts but He shares them first. He bleeds with me. He carries my scars. He knows my suffering, and through it, He points me to the Cross– the sacred place where I am nearest to Him, where I am delivered from all discouragement, where my wrecked and weeping earthly body dies with Him… to be reborn new and joyous and free with Him, with the promise of eternal life… of eternal Love. My broken heart is a doorway inviting me to participate in Christ’s suffering just as He participates in mine– to come into His Passion where I will learn compassion, mirroring His own pierced Heart on the Cross, pouring out mercy and empathy for all the aching hearts who seek refuge in His. Let my pain, too, then, bring me to Him. Let it all be blessed. Let me throw my arms around this Cross on which we both hang in hope between heaven and earth. The Lord is close, closest to me then.

(Reflection on Psalm 34:18)

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

When you are struggling with addiction relapses, do not despair, beloved! Although such setbacks are crushing, they are not fatal, if you hold courageously to hope in God’s power to save. He will fight for you.

It might take time. I know; I have been there in the pit too. But keep praying. Keep trusting God’s timing and care, that He WILL vanquish the addiction at the proper time. Until then, keep your heart and mind grounded in hope. Prepare for His victory. It will come.

You have fallen, yes, but Christ fell under the Cross too. He understands; He knows exactly how it feels, and how to help you stand again.

Addiction is illness; it is not truth. You are not, and cannot, be defined by it. God will restore you; it is inevitable. He is the Divine Physician. Your wounded soul will be healed. Just keep asking Him. Persistence shows dogged faith, and such faith is powerful. It brings miracles from His Hand.


---------------------------------------------------------------------------------


Spiritual warfare becomes brutal on holy days; the devil refuses to give God any allowance. As holiness increases, so does suffering. Remember this! Be vigilant and watchful in prayer, fasting, and almsgiving-- this Lent and always. Your only preparation for such demonic ambushes is closeness with God, an intimacy which you cannot achieve if you are instead wrapped up in the world. So pray always. Be humble, mortify the passions, and do works of mercy, however small but sincere. You will still be attacked. Christ was, too. Satan will war against God's children until the end of the age; we must never seek to be excluded from that paradoxical honor of suffering for Christ. But we must also never try to fight without Him.

On those holy days, when trials and temptations increase, cry out to God! Run to Him and pray for His merciful grace-- for the armor of God! He will give it to you. He will dress you in it. Then fight with prayer, humility, and courage, trusting only in God, Who alone can deliver. Even if you stumble, God will catch you, and help you up. You may still bleed, and weep, and struggle bravely, but you will not be destroyed, for You belong to Him and He will save you.

Maybe you won't grasp just how much God has saved you from until the "war is over," and He calls you home. But He does give grace, in every battle until then, if you pray for it & open your heart to receive it. He will come to you and help you.

Resist the devil, and he will flee from you-- not because of your resistance, for he could crush you in a moment-- but because now he sees Christ the Conqueror-- your victorious King-- standing beside his trusting child, and all hell is utterly powerless before Him.


---------------------------------------------------------------------------------

petitefleuriste:

Thank You Lord, for not answering any of my ignorant prayers.

He does answer them, though.

Not a single prayer goes unheard or unanswered. God does not snub us, even in our ignorance. He loves us enough to always respond with compassion.

He says “No, my beloved child, I cannot give you that. You do not understand what you are asking. But I do. You beg for stones that sparkle but do not satisfy. Instead, I will give you bread. I will give you what is far better, far sweeter, far more beautiful than anything you are even able to ask for right now. Trust Me in this refusal. It is a redirection. I will give you exactly what your yearning soul needs.”


---------------------------------------------------------------------------------


Sigrid Blomberg, The Annunciation, 1899

This is gorgeous.

I adore the position of her hands-- she is essentially exposing her heart to God. She has "removed the veil" for the Lord to enter her inmost sanctuary, and for Her to also enter into such intimacy with Him; God's Presence shall now dwell in Her as His Tabernacle, and take on His own "veil" of humanity there (Hebrews 10:20). Long before the Crucifixion occurred in time, the Body of Christ-- the "veil" through which we enter God's Presence-- opened that sacred door to and through Mary, His Mother, from whom His very Body and Blood would be born. She is the "Portal of the Sky"; the first gateway from heaven to earth.

And her face... what total trust, what peace, what ecstasy, what love for God! This is the moment she says 'YES' to the divine Incarnation, the moment that changed human history forever. There is something utterly timeless in her expression; something eternal in that serene bliss. That, too, is a glimpse of Heaven.

Her left foot is uncovered. I think of Exodus 3:5 and Isaiah 52:7-- where she kneels is holy ground, she who is to there become the Bringer of the Good News. It may also be a play on words... she has "bared her soul/sole" before God. Lastly, if I may be so symbolic... In Hebraic thought, the right represents the spiritual and the left represents the physical. In my thoughts here, for her left foot to be uncovered-- even unveiled-- speaks of humility and humanity, of what is spiritual becoming physical; of God Himself gaining feet so as to walk with us, to become so shockingly human. God Himself will trod the earth, will be the Good News, will take on our dust without becoming it-- will turn that dust to gold. And Mary's foot is there, pure and naked, crushing the serpent's head forever.

I have a lot of feelings about this artwork; it truly touches my heart. God bless the sculptor; may her soul rest in peace.

Mary, Mother of Christ, Handmaiden of God, pray for us your children, those your Son was born to save. We love you.


---------------------------------------------------------------------------------


lauramakabresku:

Shelter

There are not only sparrows at His feet, but also a woodpecker, and both are tenderly touching His Wounded Feet with their tiny beaks. How they worship in their own small ways! How profound and pure is that worship! The bird that eats from holes it bores into trees, now finds food everlasting in the nail-holes from the Tree of the Cross. The bird that is deemed the least of all, offered as a poor man’s sacrifice, finds an understanding Heart through proof of Blood spilled to redeem the most impoverished and despised souls.

The Lamb embraces a lamb, innocent and unblemished, despite the single red stain on its hip joint– the sciatic nerve, which allows the body to stand upright; the place touched by an angel, a touch that both wounds the body and heals the soul. There, this little lamb is a testament to both the weakness of creation and the power of God– blessed by a curse, purified by what was thought to be impure, given life through death, and triumph through defeat. It carries blemish to the eyes of man but in the eyes of God it is faultless. So is the Lamb. And so are we, if, although we wrestle sorely with His Cross we refuse to let go, for God alone is victorious, and in surrendering to His glory in our defeat we are given a new name, a new purpose, a new life, yet carrying the scars as He did. Grace is given, not won, and it is only when we are humbled by the Lord that He can lift us up in truth. We are blessed with Blood, clothed in spotless white, yet always holding that salvific red, the holy humiliation that kills all perfect pride.

Christ holds us all in His caring embrace, and yet those very Hands and Feet speak of the suffering He endured through the same motive. It was for Love that He died; it was through Love that He rose again. His wounds sing of that Love always, and invite us into His very self– the Source of all Sweetness, the Tree of Eternal Life, the One Who kisses the fragile head of every sparrow. When they fall, He picks them up tenderly; when they die, He weeps. So He does with us. What holy pain unbearable, to see our sinful agony! How much more would He tend for our broken bodies if He so loves the sparrows– indeed, He was moved to destroy death itself. Thus it was that Christ died in our place… He let Himself be pierced through, falling to the ground, so that by the power of His healing grace, every tiny soul can fly again.

In His Wounds, the weary soul finds perfect rest. In His Heart, all find a home.

The animals recognize the Love in His Wounds and they adore. Through the Holy Spirit, the tiny bird singing in our hearts even now, let us do the same.



Don't leave me alone, a fugitive. I want your hands
To carry my heart. I long for the bread of your voice,
I long for everything. I long for myself... I long for you.


Mahmoud Darwish, Give Birth to Me Again That I May Know (tr. Abdullah al-Udhari)
 

 
 

Praying love poems to Jesus...

I think I've prayed the exact soul of this poem so many times, especially when my packed schedule keeps me from attending Mass, or when I am slumped against a doorframe at 3am.

Don't abandon me to this isolating darkness. Carry my heart when it is so heavy with blood, saturated with tears. Let me recieve You-- let me hear Your Word, let me touch You, taste You, be with You.

I long for everything. I can only exist within You.

---------------------------------------------------------------------------------



Sometimes you really do need to get dreadfully lost in order to find what is of true meaning in life. The false "world" we are tangled in, the daily grind of man-made society-- out at sea, does it matter? No. Then what does? What persists, but what is untouched by man-- what exists despite human plans? Out in the waves, who are you? What speaks in your mind, your heart, your soul? That is the most important. Out there, it is just you, and God.

Matthew 14:25. Perhaps we're not the ones doing the finding. Perhaps we need to lose "everything" to be found by Everything.


---------------------------------------------------------------------------------



There is something about sunsets over the sea that pulls at my heart. They’re so different than my familiar mountain sunsets– brighter, clearer, wider somehow. They feel like the closing credits of a movie, full of joyful promise of the future unseen, but aching bittersweet with the fact of an ending. Perhaps its the water, the ocean infinite, reflecting the glowing sky into greater endless light. But it’s beautiful. It is the paradoxical comfort of feeling at home on the open waves– a sense of deep reassurance despite having nowhere to call your own… nowhere but the sea, the sky.

All those boats. All those little travels. And those cats, wanderers at heart. How lovely, how tender it all is.

I think about how Christ lived in a little fishing village, too. He watched these sunsets with joy untold– He, Who sang them into existence before any human drew breath.

I wonder if the sunsets remember that every evening.



Just step outdoors, see the light on the hills, the stars at night-- that's enough.

-Anaïs Nin, from “The diary of Anaïs Nin, vol. 3: 1939-1944”

 

 

The fragile and grandiose beauty of this… it makes me weep.

Just… it’s enough. Lift up your eyes, lift up your hope. Breathe it in. Whatever wound is tormenting your poor heart tonight, it can be soothed, it can be hummed to sleep by the loving stars, by the light, by the gentle and ancient hills.

God is there in it all, the soul knows. We feel the brush of His fingertips in the night breeze. It is enough. It is, forever, enough.

---------------------------------------------------------------------------------



Deep in our hearts we all were made for this blessed freedom-- for the open sky, the endless road, the rolling hills, the calling sea. All of our most beloved clichés exist because they speak to an intrinsic longing, a global truth, a sort of mutual human need for something greater than the daily grind. We know in our bones that the world spins on regardless of our little schemes, our businesses and finances and societies and cities. It's all temporary, unreal at best, serving a fleeting purpose then returning to conceptual dust. But the green of springtime endures. The blue of the heavens endures. And as long as the beat of our hearts endures as well, they will never stop reaching out to us, waiting for us to reach back, calling us home.

God knit all things together in love, in harmony, in beautiful cooperation. We are meant to live in Creation with every enthusiastic ounce of joy it elicits from our soul. We are meant to share in the absolute Divine bliss that shaped cosmos out of chaos and fashioned atoms into apple trees and alligators and Adam himself. We are meant to recognize and embrace and embody the Love that breathed us into individual being, and to give thanks with every breath, and to love every other blessed thing on earth in return. God is love, and in the end and in the beginning, that's all we ever really want, all we ever really look for in life, all we ever really need.

It is in that Love that we find our freedom, and we feel it with a heart-aching conviction every once in a blessed while, under the sky, with grass beneath bare feet.

---------------------------------------------------------------------------------



I just love people so much, honestly I do; every soul is infinitely precious and loved by God and really, you can't help but love every soul in gracious resonance with that.

Sitting in airports, heart bursting with affection for everyone who walks by, traversing that bittersweetly beautiful interspace between each personal story of here and there... driving home at night and getting indigo-hued glimpses into sweet simple life through lamplit windows... striking up tiny yet treasured conversations with passerby folks in grocery stores and doctors offices and churches, the temporalily shared lives of strangers intersecting for an unexpectedly intimate minute... all of this and so much more.

It's beautiful. People are beautiful. God loves us, loves them, loves you. Love people for God's sake. We're all priceless fragile things.

Our bodies are indeed temples of God. So remember that when you meet another soul. Everyday life is holy because of this. Love God through love of neighbor. Little moments comprise our lives. Make every one a prayer.



“The black sky was underpinned with long silver streaks that looked like scaffolding and depth on depth behind it were thousands of stars that all seemed to be moving very slowly as if they were about some vast construction work that involved the whole order of the universe and would take all time to complete. No one was paying any attention to the sky.”

Wise Blood Flannery O'Connor
 

 

This both breaks my heart and moves me to tears. Just… this is every moment of our lives, do you realize that? God is perpetually working and moving in His Creation and the sky is always a gorgeous construction of infinite delicate complexity and how often do we really pay attention to it? All of this holy grandeur and we don’t even notice. It’s a Divine Love song that’s always being sung and we don’t even hear it. It’s heartbreaking and yet, it’s such an unbearably beautiful truth– for when we do finally take notice, we are staggered by the thought: how long have I been ignorant of this? How much sky have I failed to pay attention to?

But it’s there nevertheless. No one is looking but it exists in magnificent mystery nevertheless. God is looking and singing and loving and that is enough. And there’s something profoundly hopeful about that: to know that our failures cannot damage or diminish that glory in the slightest. But at the same time, God waits for it to be noticed. He waits, with a similar sorrowful joy, for His creations to notice… and, by finally looking and listening, join in His eternal love song.


Every life leaves an impression. We are God’s fingerprints.

-Noah benShea

 

Thinking deeply about this. “Christ has no body now but yours, no hands but yours…” God continues to tangibly touch our lives through other lives. We’re all His children; we all exist because of Him, for Him, through Him. So when we touch another life, God inevitably touches them through us, however faintly. But are you letting His fingerprints be felt? Or are your own hands too dirty? What impression are you leaving– the pure love of the Father, or the sin-stained fumbling of your own mortality? How much do your own hands get in the way of His? Reflect on this.

 

sunflorally: repeat after me: my body is not wrong, or ugly, or too thin, or too big, or too pale, or too dark. it is the vessel of a precious life and that is always more than enough.

 

The very words “my body” still feel ugly and sick and wrong. The very concept of “my” is still poisoned with a deeply hidden, lingering self-loathing, injected by the abusive nightmares that made the word “body” sound like a torture chamber. The two words together are still so terrifying they make my emotions shut right down, unable to cope with what would surface otherwise.

It shocks me that, despite all the healing I have done and am still actively doing, this ancient horror still hasn’t faded. The wound won’t close, let alone scab or scar. I know I still believe the trauma lies somewhere and until I don’t, I’ll keep bleeding. But it’s very hard. Nevertheless, I know it must be done.

…The other thing that struck me about this is the phrase, “a precious life.” Me? My life is precious? It sounds utterly impossible, incredible, ridiculous. I can’t take it seriously; the very concept is beyond respect. My life is not precious… except, I’m a Catholic. And if there’s one thing I find super hard to believe, it’s the FACT that Jesus Christ has declared my wretched stupid life to be so precious that He chose to DIE a bloody death in order to save it from destruction. That’s a FACT that I cannot dispute. I can only look at it in helpless sobbing confused frustrated wonder, my bitter self-hatred faltering in the shadow of the Cross. It’s the only place I can learn how to love. It’s the only place I can learn how to finally accept that my life is, bewilderingly, actually precious… that my cursed “body” is also something Christ wants to bless and save and heal… that the possibility of both those profound changes in mindset are not only possible but already achieved in Him.

Yes, I’m still mentally sick in a lot of ways. I will shamefully admit that. But Jesus came into this world to heal sick souls like me, and if I have faith in that truth with all my heart, then I have a hope that cannot fail. And I’ll hold on to that, and keep re-reading this little message, until I believe its simple but pure truth, too.


---------------------------------------------------------------------------------



"God will not numb your feelings or put you to sleep"-- how did I never realize that truth before?? When I am tempted by self-loathing to just give up and fall into that abyss, when I just want to rip my arms and legs and stomach wide open red, can I just... wait? Can I choose that terrifically difficult yet powerful virtue of faith instead? Can I choose hope? Can I choose patience, and gentleness, and longsuffering?

Can I rest in the knowledge that God is greater, that God is still Good, that He is forever victorious over every sin and struggle? Can I acknowledge that peace and rest in it? Can I surrender that totally? Can I beg for mercy from Mercy Himself instead of mercilessly attacking myself? Can I ignore the screaming rage of my head and instead sit in total silence before Him?

Yes, by His Grace, I can. And I must, or my poor soul will die.

Return to Christ. He will not abandon you. I need to remember that... I need to believe that. God is not like people. Jesus will not hurt me. Jesus will not suddenly decide that I'm not worth loving anymore. Jesus does not have a cold shoulder or a hard heart. Jesus loves me and forgives me and wants me to be healed and He is waiting for me. God is Love and that cannot change, no matter how evil I fear I am, no matter how badly I feel I deserve to die. God still wants to defeat those devils and bring me home.

Just wait for Him. Even if it takes time. God hears. God knows. God is working for you right now, and He is on His way. Wait for Him. He will be here, at the perfect time.

---------------------------------------------------------------------------------



That single duck is what hits me about this. It’s just living, just swimming in total innocent simplicity, beneath this absolute breathtaking grandeur of snow and trees and soaring mountains.

And then there’s that tiny home, nestled in the frozen pines, built by the hands of a human who was almost definitely deeply humbled at the sight of that same natural majesty.

We have been blessed with the intelligence to feel awe, to contemplate our smallness, to be struck to the heart by beauty such as this. The duck may be blessed to live effortlessly beside it, but it cannot appreciate it as we can, we who may only get to see it in photos, and who seek and treasure such glimpses with joy.

The world is beautiful. Always take the time to truly see it, and so sincerely thank God for both it, and your blessed eyes.


---------------------------------------------------------------------------------


Choose your own adventure, they say. Yet I never felt I had a choice, in the way the pathway of my life progressed. Little did I realize there is always a choice, even if the options are miserable, even if hope is minimal, even if the choosing itself is uninformed and rushed and afraid and instinctive. There’s still choice.

And, well, now that I am aware of this, then I choose this. I choose recovery, I choose healing, I choose joy and light and life and hope and love. Wherever I find it, wherever I can follow its sunlit footsteps, I shall do so. I will make those tiny choices and they will add up into a march of blazing beauty that will utterly overcome every shadow that haunted my past.

The terror may be ancient, but it is still just a shade. This too shall pass, no exceptions. Love is the only truth and if it’s not love then it’s going to melt into dust and be forgotten in the waves of compassionate bliss that the universe itself radiates with every heartbeat, on and on and on. I will step into that sea of hope, I will wade into the depths of tenderness, I will walk into the very ocean with a smile on my face and let it wash away everything that held me shackled far from shore.

God’s got me in His hands. He’s calling me home. Our Lady has crushed the snake beneath her heel and Our Lord has proclaimed Himself to be the Omega as well as the Alpha and no matter what came before, this is the turning of the page, this is the renewal of my soul, this is unconditional love and eternal hope proclaiming “It Is Finished” to the sins of the past, and all the trauma and horror they brought. God hung all of those on a tree and opened the garden gate to a new life that we could never have imagined before.

I choose that. I choose love. I choose the ending, and I embrace the beginning again. I choose to come home.



"Do we not try to find good, tangible security in observances, in the reassuring feeling that, thanks to our fidelity, everything is in order in our relationship with the Lord? And when Jesus asks us one day to count on him alone, without telling us in advance what he is going to ask of us, and without explaining to us where he wants us to go, we tremble." (A Carthusian)


This hits hard. To rely so completely on the faithfulness of Christ that you no longer need "tangible proofs" to believe in His trustworthiness... that is walking by faith, not by sight-- that is the true road of the Cross. But it's a step into darkness, and that frightens us-- at least, unless we remember that we are following the Light Himself.

God is never obligated to reveal His ways or plans to us. He owes us no clarification, no explanation. Humility accepts this. Humility makes us recognize our unworthiness to know such divine things, let alone demand them. God doesn't have to tell us anything. But He does. He does comfort and guide and reassure us; He knows our weakness and He soothes us, leads us with the utmost tenderness, His little children. But children grow. And the day will come when He will suddenly step back, tell us to do something, and leave it at that. No explanation. No preparation. No understanding on our part. Will we still trust in Him, then? Will we remember how trustworthy and faithful He has always been, going forwards now with no immediate or tangible reminder of it? Will we surrender to our love for Him and walk with blindfold on, with road shrouded in fog, with shadows setting in? Will we step forward in faith alone, believing with all our heart that Our Savior will never lead us astray? That He will never abandon us, even if the new journey is long and cold and lonely? Will we hold on to faith?

It will happen. It will frighten us, as humans, as children. Deep down, we are afraid of the unknown. We are scared of the dark. But remember, dear hearts, remember that He is trustworthy and He knows where and why you are going. You can count on Him. You can count on Jesus even when, and especially when, there is no one and nothing else to rely on.

Have faith. Even if it's only a mustard seed. Plant it in love, and wait. It will grow in God's time, even if you can't see or sense anything until suddenly... it sprouts. It dies in the dark, to live in the light. So shall you.

Have faith in God, Who is real and trustworthy. Have hope in His faithfulness when we can't see it yet. Have love for God, Who IS Love, Who loves you endlessly, and Who will strengthen you for all that He leads you to... and through.

Plant faith, and trust Him, and do whatever He tells you.

 

godmechanic:

actually a little embarrassing how well the “omg surprise psalm today!” thing works

Oh man I have wept at how relevant the Compline psalms are some nights. It’s unreal.

I have the Universalis app, which I love, as it allows me to play the audio for each hour, which is indispensable when I have severe brain fog and/or poor cognition and cannot read. I always listen to Lauds & the Office of Readings as I start my day schedule, and the “surprise” at what Psalms I will hear then (and in the other variant places in the Office) is both a source of deeply interested joy, and of unfailingly edifying application to my life. God just… knows, man. Even though millions of folks are praying the exact same words, they are specially & specifically significant to each soul. It’s wonderful, even when it’s convicting. God loves us in all circumstances.

It’s not embarrassing, love; it’s genuinely heartwarming to hear that you have such experiences with it too.


 

godmechanic:

we like to forget how hard psalm 42 hits. but i am just here to remind everybody that it hits

fellas is your soul is athirst for God? athirst for the living God? have your tears have been your meat day and night? do you wonder why your soul is so full of heaviness and disquieted within you? boy do i have a psalm for you

Psalm 42 legitimately saved my life a decade ago. It’s been burned into the fibers of my heart since then. It is a beautiful, aching Psalm, a raw and sincere prayer wrenched from the very core. I love it dearly and pray it frequently; it never fails to bring tears to my eyes.


To justify my neighbor’s suffering is a scandal. “My neighbor’s suffering is beyond justification; it is, in a word, meaningless.” Referring to Levinas, Batnitzky writes, “The Jewish tradition often maintains a difficult balancing act when it affirms both the theological and ethical value of suffering for others, while denying the necessity of suffering itself.” One cannot justify suffering. Thus an end to all theodicy, and “to all attempts, theological or otherwise, to justify suffering.”

Michael Purcell, “When God Hides His Face: The Inexperience of God”, The Experience of God: A Postmodern Response, ed. Kevin Hart and Barbara E. Wall
 

(Disclaimer: I am a Catholic, and so my reflection on this is within that context. I give all grateful respect to the Jewish perspective here, as it is the notable inspiration for my response.)

This hits me where it hurts. I’ve been raised to always justify suffering, which ultimately hardens one’s heart and makes one’s hands cold– if you believe that suffering is “deserved,” you smother compassion, and do nothing to relieve that suffering. Instead you say, “it builds character,” or “you’ll learn and grow from this,” or “well you must’ve brought this on yourself,” or just “offer it up,” without making a move to comfort them or care for them or remove the suffering altogether. Yes, suffering can teach, it can help us grow in virtue, it can have redemptive merit, but not inherently. Suffering in and of itself is just suffering. It’s the result of a fallen human nature and the inevitable consequences of sin=death, but sin is unnatural and suffering is therefore unnecessary. Yet it persists, in this life. Yes, this life is not all there is, but that shouldn’t cause complacency!! We can either sit there and shrug at people’s pain, or we can stand up and refuse to let it have its way. We can fight it. We should fight it. I say this because God fights it too.

God mandates compassion. God insists we care for our fellow man and relieve their suffering. As a Christian, I think of how Jesus healed so many who were ill, how he told parables of radical love, how He never said “you get what you deserve” to a suffering soul. No. Christ came to us as a healer, as a lover, as an instrument of mercy, Who literally died on a Cross that He could never deserve in order to destroy ALL human judgment of anyone “deserving” suffering like that. He took it all. Yes, all have sinned, and so suffering exists through sin, but God alone judges, and if I may be so bold, I say that HE deems suffering as absolutely unnecessary too. Sin is unnatural, remember? He didn’t create it! He doesn’t want it! He “takes no pleasure in the death of the wicked man” (Ezekiel 18:33 & 23:11)! He wants us to have life, abundant life, in direct opposition to sin’s destructiveness (John 10:10). So Christ took every “deserved” pain onto Himself and now we must act on that grace of mercy. No one has to die or be destroyed. No one “deserves to die.” He sure didn’t. But He did die, taking the place of everyone who was ever judged as deserving it, so now we can never speak those words about anyone.

Take up your cross, yes, because suffering is inevitable in this life, but carry it knowing that through uniting it to Christ’s love, it now holds the weight of the sins of the world. When we bear our own crosses, we don’t abandon others to theirs! We’re not in this alone; Christ didn’t carry His “own” in the first place! He carried ours, so now we carry everyone’s crosses together. We are Simon and Veronica and Magdalene and Mary and Christ to each other. We live in hope of eternal life, where all pain ceases, and so until then, we reflect that hope to others as often as we can– we must manifest it. How can you hope for what you cannot comprehend? How can you yearn for relief if you don’t know it’s a possibility? We must give that hope and sustain it. We must make hope real, through real love, and real faith. Only then is suffering bearable– only then does our awareness of its meaninglessness become a strange sort of joy. Yes, it’s unnecessary. But therefore, it’s not forever, and until then, there are people acting as angels to make that truth absolutely tangible.

I hope this makes sense; it’s hard to put into proper words. But it struck me to the heart, that quote, especially as my life is saturated with suffering right now and my old ugly instinct is to just say “it’s deserved; let it be”. No. That is not God’s way. God hears the cry of the poor and lame and sick and sorrowful and hungry and frightened and lost, and when God hears HE ACTS. That is how we must live, or we are not His children. That is what we must do, or we are not disciples of Christ. We must bind up the broken, bandage the wounded, wipe away the blood and sweat and tears and spit and everything else. Compassionate works must be our only response to suffering. I don’t care what they’ve done. That’s not my concern. My job is to love.

Suffering is unnecessary, because we’ve been commanded to heal it.



"We will recognize that, whether we like it or not, what happens happens; to be upset about it is useless, and moreover deprives us of the crown of patience and shows us to be in revolt against the will of God."
- Saint Peter of Damaskos

This is a powerful truth. If we do not perpetually pray, "Thy Will be done," we will instead seek our own will, which is stunted by ignorance and corrupted by passions. Resistance to our God-given circumstances, because they don't match our plans or hopes or wants or dreams or expectations, is at its deepest root a rebellion-- however small, it is still ultimately fatal-- against God's authority and wisdom. Patience is a fruit of love, and love always trusts, always hopes, always perseveres. When we love God, we have the courage to say, "May it be done to me according to Your word," and whatever "it" is, we embrace it as coming from His heart out of love for us. To reject that ultimate divine motivation is to blind ourselves to the blessings He constantly showers upon us, especially in the paradox of the Cross: "The message of the cross is foolish to those who are headed for destruction! But we who are being saved know it is the very power of God." (1 Corinthians 4:18) It is only through Christ's loving obedience in submitting patiently to the Cross that He was able to win our salvation; we must follow Him in that exact respect to obtain that new and eternal life. Such radical surrender to God's will in all circumstances-- that absolute relinquishment of control and even understanding-- is madness to those who live for this world alone. They have no hope of eternal joy with God, and therefore no reason to patiently endure suffering, let alone choose it for the sake of Christ. But we do, whether we "like it or not", because we're not motivated by "like", only love. And love counts it all as joy.

Some further illustrations from Scripture:

"We must not put Christ to the test... nor grumble, as some of them did and were destroyed by the Destroyer... No temptation has overtaken you that is not common to man. God is faithful, and he will not let you be tempted beyond your ability, but with the temptation he will also provide the way of escape, that you may be able to endure it." (1 Corinthians 10:9-10, 13)

"...We rejoice in our sufferings, knowing that suffering produces endurance, and endurance produces character, and character produces hope, and hope does not put us to shame, because God's love has been poured into our hearts through the Holy Spirit who has been given to us." (Romans 5:3-5)

"The mind of the flesh is death, but the mind of the Spirit is life and peace, because the mind of the flesh is hostile to God: It does not submit to God’s law, nor can it do so. Those controlled by the flesh cannot please God." (Romans 8:6-8)

"I want to know Christ—yes, to know the power of His resurrection and participation in His sufferings, becoming like Him in His death, and so, somehow, attaining to the resurrection from the dead... [but] many live as enemies of the cross of Christ. Their destiny is destruction, their god is their stomach, and their glory is in their shame. Their mind is set on earthly things. But our citizenship is in heaven." (Philippians 3:10-11, 18-20)

"Submit yourselves therefore to God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you. Draw near to God, and he will draw near to you." (James 4:7-8)

"...You do not know what tomorrow will bring. What is your life? For you are a mist that appears for a little time and then vanishes. Instead you ought to say, “If the Lord wills, we will live and do this or that.”" (James 4:14-15)

"And He said to all, “If anyone would come after Me, let him deny himself and take up his cross daily and follow Me. For whoever would save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for my sake will save it." (Luke 9:23-24)

"For I have come down from heaven, not to do my own will but the will of Him who sent me." (John 6:38)

"Since therefore Christ suffered in the flesh, arm yourselves with the same way of thinking, for whoever has suffered in the flesh has ceased from sin, so as to live for the rest of the time in the flesh no longer for human passions but for the will of God... The end of all things is at hand; therefore be self-controlled and sober-minded for the sake of your prayers. " (1 Peter 4:1-3, 7)

"And we know that for those who love God all things work together for good, for those who are called according to his purpose. " (Romans 8:28)

"Rejoice always, pray without ceasing, give thanks in all circumstances; for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus for you. Do not quench the Spirit." (1 Corinthians 5:16-19)

"Dear brothers and sisters, when troubles of any kind come your way, consider it an opportunity for great joy. For you know that when your faith is tested, your endurance has a chance to grow. So let it grow, for when your endurance is fully developed, you will be perfect and complete, needing nothing... God blesses those who patiently endure testing and temptation. Afterward they will receive the crown of life that God has promised to those who love Him." (James 1:1-4, 12)

---------------------------------------------------------------------------------




A personal expositional summary of how this slammed into me:

“…God shouts to [you] in [your] pain [as] it insists on being [heard and] attended to. [This is because pain is sanctified in the life of a faithful Christian, playing a great purpose: every instance of your suffering] fits into a pattern for good, [as God is using it to confirm you to the image of] His Son. [Therefore, take courage and know that] nothing [painful] can come into your life without your Heavenly Father’s permission, [and when] God uses [your] circumstances, their source makes no difference to Him; [their instigator, be it human or spirit,] is irrelevant. [In every distressing circumstance, without exception,] God [says,] "I will make it fit into My Plan for your life, to make you like [my Son,] Jesus Christ.” [Remember that] God used the challenges, conflicts, and circumstances of life to prepare His Son for His destiny, [so since you are a disciple of His Son, He will] do the same in [your life, towards the same blessed end. If you remember this in your fear, then] instead of trying to escape your circumstances, [you can courageously] learn from them and [so] grow stronger [in faith by more closely imitating Christ].“

This is powerfully applicable to my own current circumstances. Thank you OP, and may God bless you. 🙏


---------------------------------------------------------------------------------



Honestly this is a vital reminder, especially for Lent. Repentance is repeatedly mandated by Christ, yes, but it is no heavy burden-- rather, it removes those weights from our hearts! The idea of being "ordered to do something objectively beneficial" may seem totally foreign to many of us Catholics, who are used to the negative "Thou Shalt Not's" that are probably haunting us during these 40 days. But repentance is wholly good for us. It, and those commandments it encompasses, only sound scary because they sharply bring to mind all the ways in which we've failed to avoid sin. But at their very core, they are meant to heal and help us.

Nevertheless, yes, it might absolutely be terrifying to examine one's conscience, just like preparing to clean out a coal cellar for the first time in years-- the amount of filth facing you may be overwhelming. But here's the thing... you don't have to clean it. You just have to point out that dirt to Jesus, specifically and honestly, and He will immediately and absolutely purify even the most rotten corners of your soul. For free. As often as you need.

Can you imagine, calling a plumber to drain your flooded basement and unclog the festering pipes, but not an hour after he leaves, you stuff them full of garbage again? And you call him back in a panic in the middle of the night? And he comes right over and fixes it all again? With a genuine smile? And doesn't charge anything? And this happens at least once a week, if not every day?

That's the staggering magnitude of forgiveness God offers to every repentant soul. That's the Sacrament of Confession!

We forget that we can repent whenever. Literally whenever, wherever, whoever you are, whatever you've done. Yet we are afraid to call the plumber even though we already did 458 times and not once has He ever complained or hung up. We are afraid He's going to lose His temper and charge us a fortune or leave us helpless with dammed-up pipes and sewage up to our waist... we're terrified of hearing "why??" or "how??" because our shame would choke and drown us more than all the black water in the world ever could.

But it has never happened, and it will never happen, so why don't you pick up the phone and give Him a call?


---------------------------------------------------------------------------------
 

Anonymous asked,
I always wonder why god made dinosaurs and if they had a relationship to god or if animals feel god’s presence.. what do you think?

iscariotapologist:

i think god probably made dinosaurs because they were sick as hell. actually though i’m not really aware of any dinosaur….theology? theology about dinosaurs? although i would CERTAINLY like to be. i do think there are relationships between god and animals, although they are necessarily going to be different than ours.
 


I always like to think about how the first two kinds of creatures God created in Genesis are birds & fish. Birds are the avian descendants of dinosaurs, and they are technically reptiles. Genesis’s “birds” could very well be referring to dinosaurs, in that roundabout respect. Plus, jawless fish were the first vertebrates to evolve, period. So the timeframe is accurate! (Mammals showed up a day later, haha.)

I was actually just thinking today about God’s relationship to animals. While they do not have a “living soul” like a human does (Gen 1:26; 2:7), they still have life and consciousness, which are from God. I believe that, by simple virtue of existence, every created thing yearns for God and can feel Him on some level. Only humans can know God, but I hope it’s theologically legitimate to say that nevertheless animals can still sense Him.

Scripture itself references animals “sensing God” notably in Ezekiel 38:20, implies it in Psalm 145:21, and of course we have Balaam’s dear donkey in Numbers 22. If we want to stretch the interpretation, we have even the donkeys that carried Jesus Himself in Matthew 21, and the one(s?) that carried the Holy Family to and from Bethlehem when they were fleeing Herod in Matthew 2… Noah’s dove, Elijah’s ravens, Jonah’s whale, Daniel’s lions… God works through animals a lot, so they must be spiritually receptive to Him, if they are so readily responsive to His influence. (God help us to be so obedient, too!)

Furthermore, there are so many common stories of both little children and animals apparently perceiving and reacting to ‘presences’ unseen by adults, potentially angels, for all we know– plus we must include all the Christian folktales of donkeys and lambs and even spiders at the Manger, all recognizing and adoring the Christ Child. Blessed Anne Catherine Emmerich even speaks of “gladness throughout all nature,” with the animals being “joyfully agitated” at both Christ’s birth and Mary’s birth. We have Saint Roche’s dog, Saint Columba’s horse, Saint Jerome’s lion, Saint Ciaran’s boar, Saint Francis’s wolf… and my arguable favorite, Saint Anthony’s mule. Just as animals fear those with malicious hearts, they respect and befriend those with loving hearts– and since God is love, I think there’s definitely something to that, in its utter simplicity. I don’t know what exactly they feel, but… they do. They know, in their own way.

I apologize for the huge response but this is a topic that’s actually quite dear to my heart, and I was moved to offer my thoughts on it, may they glorify God.

But yes, I daresay dinosaurs are objectively super cool. God has the best imagination, after all!

---------------------------------------------------------------------------------



lauramakabresku
:

Birds listening to God’s pulse

The heartbeat of God is music so beautiful, so rapturous, that even the very songbirds cannot help but hear its sweetness in silent awe.

---------------------------------------------------------------------------------


traumacatholic:

My favourite thing about the ‘Psalter and Rosary of the Virgin (from f. 27), in two versions, and other devotional texts, including a litany’ is that there’s just many pages dedicated to drops of blood. (x, x)

From the source:

“…The text begins with three pages, each painted black, on which large drops of blood trickle down. The third page has been thoroughly worn, which may be the result of kissing; part of it has been rubbed and smudged rather than merely kissed…”

That is the devotion that defines a Christian. Thanks be to God that this beautiful testament to such heartfelt adoration still exists for our edification. May the love proven through these prayerfully-kissed pages inflame our own hearts with ardor to do the same!

-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------


When you are in pain, and frightened because you don't know what's wrong, remember that God knows what is wrong, and even if He currently withholds the answers you seek, He is with you in love. His timing and wisdom are still trustworthy. Rest in His knowledge, in solid hope, for He holds your entire situation in His caring hands. You are not lost or forgotten.

I pray that He does give you answers soon, and that until then, He comforts you in your pain, and alleviates as much of it as He wills. May He grant you deepest peace and healing! 🙏

-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

We all have needs that can only be met by God. That is such a key truth of life that is frequently forgotten.

And those needs aren’t strictly spiritual, either! My life crises as of late have proven to me, quite strikingly, that I have an awful amount of physical needs that I cannot meet on my own– only God can. I am helpless; He is all-powerful. I am foolish and frightened; He is Wisdom and Peace Himself. I am wracked by misery; He soothes me with mercy. I feel abandoned and alone… He loves me to all eternity. Deep down, those are my truest needs; GOD Himself is What I need to thrive. My survival needs will be met as He sees fit, if I trust Him to meet them– because, again, I cannot, and desperately trying to do so anyway will (and does) only make me more distraught and drive me to despair. However, prayerfully placing all my hopes in God, surrendering my life into His hands, and doing what I can without worrying about MY success but HIS… that gets me through. God’s Love never fails.

God knows I need this body to survive in order to serve Him here, and He will ensure that. He’s not ignorant; He “knows I am but dust.” But I am His dust, destined for redemption by the grace of Christ, and that truth is enough refuge for any new crisis. Even if I do die, it’s on His timing; and– have mercy on me a sinner– after the storms of life are over, I have an eternity in His arms to look forward to. Until then, I must live with my entire life geared towards that. “Seek ye first the Kingdom of God.” That’s what Jesus means. God will provide the needs of your journey to Him, but stay on the journey! The ultimate goal is of ultimate importance; no matter how short or difficult our journey is, it will end one day, and then it won’t matter how tough things were prior. So trust. Don’t worry. God’s got this; God’s got you.

If you are in need today, any need– poor health, emotional distress, financial fears, physical pain, future panic, anything– remember that you don’t have the ability to solve those massive problems and that is both okay and intentional. NO human can do so… because GOD CAN, and He loves us so much He wants you to ask Him for help. Like an adoring Father cares for His children, He must let us try & learn on our own in order to grow, but when we stumble and cry out, He is always there to pick us up and help us to do what we cannot do alone.

And maturing in spirit isn’t about learning to do those things alone. Spiritally, we are always going to be God’s children. We’re little! We’re weak and ignorant and helpless, like a baby is… but babies are meant to be helped and loved and cherished and if we– if only through failed struggles– admit that we are just children, God will care for us as such… otherwise we’re trying too hard to be “grown up” in ways we cannot force, and we push our Father away through proud striving and/or shame. Don’t do that. Ask Him for help. Be simple and pure of heart.

There are things we will always need God’s help for, and when you put that in the proper perspective it is an absolute joy. God is our greatest need, our ultimate goal, our Protector in every trial, and our Provider in every situation. Even when we suffer, it’s under His watchful and compassionate Eye– “a Father disciplines those He loves.” Doesn’t suffering give you a unique opportunity to cling closer than ever to Him? Doesn’t it give you “strength training” for patience, trust, hope, perseverance, courage, surrender, faith? Doesn’t it give you a testing-fire to prove the power of grace in you? Yes it is hard to be gentle, kind, joyful, temperate, meek, and even loving when we are in the throes of suffering, but it’s only hard because we’re focusing so much on the suffering, and not on God, Who gives us the grace TO embody those virtues of His! I can attest to this firsthand. Fix your focus on God. Trust in His Power to save, against all odds, despite all confusion, especially if you can’t see or imagine a way out. He can, and He will. Look at your life! Hasn’t He already brought you safely in soul to this very moment? He has never once failed you. He is utterly faithful, worthy of all our trust, and that will never change.

Today, place your trust in your Father anew. Go to Him with all your aches of heart, and put them into His open hands. Ask Him for help… then rest. Rest, dear child. God will take care of you. You will never, ever have to struggle alone. He will meet your daily needs when you cannot; He doesn’t expect or want you to try otherwise. God will provide for you and the sparrows both.

Just remember… in Him, your deepest needs are already fulfilled. And that is how we thrive.



Anonymous asked,
I just sent [you a donation]
-an atheist who doesn’t want anyone to suffer the way it sounds like you’re suffering

 

I must still say “God bless you,” in my honest gratitude for your sincere charity. The sentiment holds true, even though our beliefs differ– I hope the highest good for you, in return for your interest in mine… and I firmly believe that my God can, will, and does do that for any compassionate soul, whether or not they share my religion. You’re human; by virtue of that fact alone, you are included in that divine care.

More generally: thank you for your generous kindness. Humanity is truly illuminated by our capacity to love; in this little testament to it, you have lit up my life a little more. 🙏


I arise today
Through a mighty strength, the invocation of the Trinity, 
Through a belief in the Threeness, 
Through confession of the Oneness 
Of the Creator of creation.

I arise today 
Through the strength of Christ's birth and His baptism, 
Through the strength of His crucifixion and His burial, 
Through the strength of His resurrection and His ascension, 
Through the strength of His descent for the judgment of doom.

I arise today
Through the strength of the love of cherubim, 
In obedience of angels, 
In service of archangels, 
In the hope of resurrection to meet with reward, 
In the prayers of patriarchs, 
In preachings of the apostles, 
In faiths of confessors, 
In innocence of virgins, 
In deeds of righteous men.

I arise today
Through the strength of heaven; 
Light of the sun, 
Splendor of fire, 
Speed of lightning, 
Swiftness of the wind, 
Depth of the sea, 
Stability of the earth, 
Firmness of the rock.

I arise today
Through God's strength to pilot me; 
God's might to uphold me, 
God's wisdom to guide me, 
God's eye to look before me, 
God's ear to hear me, 
God's word to speak for me, 
God's hand to guard me, 
God's way to lie before me, 
God's shield to protect me, 
God's hosts to save me 
From snares of the devil, 
From temptations of vices, 
From every one who desires me ill, 
Afar and anear, 
Alone or in a mulitude.

I summon today all these powers between me and evil, 
Against every cruel merciless power that opposes my body and soul, 
Against incantations of false prophets, 
Against black laws of pagandom, 
Against false laws of heretics, 
Against craft of idolatry, 
Against spells of women and smiths and wizards, 
Against every knowledge that corrupts man's body and soul. 
Christ shield me today 
Against poison, against burning, 
Against drowning, against wounding, 
So that reward may come to me in abundance.

Christ with me, Christ before me, Christ behind me, 
Christ in me, Christ beneath me, Christ above me, 
Christ on my right, Christ on my left, 
Christ when I lie down, Christ when I sit down, 
Christ in the heart of every man who thinks of me, 
Christ in the mouth of every man who speaks of me, 
Christ in the eye that sees me, 
Christ in the ear that hears me.

I arise today
Through a mighty strength, the invocation of the Trinity, 
Through a belief in the Threeness, 
Through a confession of the Oneness
Of the Creator of creation

St. Patrick (ca. 377)



 

 

This is forever my favorite prayer. It strikes me to the heart every time I speak it, and moves me to tears without fail.

Thank God for Saint Patrick. Thank God for his beautiful faith, and for his devotion in bringing that same faith to the people of Ireland. May he intercede for us today and always, that we too may all share in the heartfelt confession of the Oneness of the Creator of Creation, and so, through Him, be brought fully into the oneness of His Church, by the powerful grace and love of Jesus Christ, Who Is King of all nations forever. Amen. 💚🙏✝️☘
 

...However. I'm reblogging this particular instance of this beloved prayer, not only for the cleareformatting, but also because it lacks a period in the last stanza. That actually touches me deeply, even if it was an accidental omission.

That lack of a closing mark, immediately after the proclamation of the Trinity, speaks silent volumes of the infinitude of that very Creator, omnipresent and eternal, with no beginning or end. We are left with a blessedly "unfinished" prayer, refusing to conclude itself, standing forever open and thus overflowing into time beyond itself.

We confess our faith in the Creator of Creation, and though the words leave our lips, they remain in our souls. Their sound lingers in the air like music, an unresolved yet perfect chord, inviting our perpetual participation in this prayer, the secret purpose for which it was spoken in the first place.

This prayer is our breastplate, affixed to our heart always, repeated in every breath, realized in every circumstance. Christ is in all of it. He is present everywhere, always, never ending, enduring forever, and every atom of the universe confesses Him.

Don't "finish" this prayer. Let it continue through the rest of your life.



Nonetheless, Philothea, you must not rest satisfied with general desires and aspirations, but rather turn them into special resolutions for your individual correction and amendment. For instance, when you meditate upon the first of our Saviour's words from the Cross, you will assuredly feel a desire to imitate Him, to forgive and love your enemies. But that desire is worth little unless you proceed to some practical resolution, such as "I will no longer be angry at the irritating words which such a one says to me or of me; nor at the annoyance caused me by another; on the contrary, I will do and say all I can to soothe and them" - and so forth. In this way you will soon correct your faults, whereas mere desires will have but few and tardy results.

- St. Francis de Sales, Introduction to the Devout Life, Part 2: Counsels Concerning the Soul's Approach f God in Prayer and the Sacraments, Chapter 6: Third Part of Meditation - Affections and Resolutions

This is VERY edifying advice for Lent.

Desire alone will only produce dreams of possible results. Deciding on a specific goal-- something practical and achievable-- will guarantee results, with the grace of God helping you through prayer.

God wants you to be free of sin! He will assist you in doing so, but you must know and recognize where you are bound first, or your prayers will be vague and unfocused. Show Him a specific struggle you have with sin, determine your weakest spots, get a battle plan, and resolve to fight with Christian virtue!

Small steps of virtue are still significant steps. Our Lord could work miracles with but a word or a touch. You do not need to do grandiose acts for Lent in order to draw closer to Him. Resolve to let His Living Water wash away your iniquities, be it drop by drop... but direct those drops to hit your wounds. You will heal. God always gets results.

(Saint Francis de Sales words this perfectly succinctly, but my hearts was nevertheless moved to elaborate from personal experience, for I too desperately need this advice. All thanks be to God!)



"Today, I shall do an act of charity for a poor or suffering person, even if I have to go out of my way to do it."

This is a beautiful challenge of charity.

Let us all keep our eyes, ears, hearts, and hands open today-- and through all of Lent-- for opportunities to help those in need, whatever that need may be, whoever may need it. Let us pray for the grace & discernment to act in compassion when God leads us to such an opportunity, not out of moral obligation or self-righteousness, but out of tender mercy and genuine love for our fellow man. Let us act in charity because we cannot help but do so. May the love that Christ had-- and forever has-- for the poor & needy overflow from our hearts today and always!




Bartolomé Esteban Murillo, Man of Sorrows (detail), 17th century

You can see the sorrow in His face, here– in the downturned humility of His gaze, in the slight but notable curve of His eyebrows, in the dark lines below His eyes… in His quiet mouth, like a Lamb led to slaughter.

A single thorn draws a bead of brilliant Blood from His forehead. The wretched crown wreathes His hair like a halo.

By His Wounds, we have been healed– but oh, so too by His sorrows, we have been comforted! What blessed, tragic paradox! What agonies our Lord endured for our sake!

God became a man, a man of sorrows, so that we, in our own miseries, would never suffer alone. We would, forever, have an Advocate of empathy, a Lord Who had bled and wept and feared just like us. Christ knows our pain.

Let your aching heart take refuge in Him.

 

akosuaa: I don’t want to be lukewarm loved

 slain-in-the-spirit: Imagine how God feels.

thatetherealgirl: This hit me.

363ci: Revelation 3:16 = So because you are lukewarm - neither hot nor cold - I am about to spit you out of my mouth.

Yea this hits right now too.

 

Lukewarm “love” isn’t worthy of the name, when the heart of Love Himself is on fire.

God’s heart burns with love for us. When that hits us, it cannot help but spark a similar flame in our own hearts, however small it may start.

Feed that flame of love! Do not let it fizzle out or fade! Work it into a blazing ardor through acts of devotion and prayer. Start small, for your fire is yet a candle-light, but it will increase with every ounce of charity-fuel you put into it. Prayer gives you that fuel through grace. Without it, we’re helpless– we have no means to kindle a divine spark ourselves! But if God gives it, He will protect it. Pray for this!

During these 40 days of Lent, a spiritual desert whose nights bring terrible coldness & dark, set your eyes firmly on the heart of Christ, aflame with love for you– for you!!– and let that burning truth fill your own heart with zeal, pressing on towards the Cross, where that divine Love was proved… and is proven still.

Your cross, too, proves the heat of your love for God. Carry it! It us bringing you to Him!

 


-----------------------------------------------------------------------------


Catholicism is inherently “weird & creepy” with “crazy ideas” according to the world; yes, we may affectionately and humorously use those terms for ourselves, but in truth we must also realize the bitter judgment behind them externally. It pains my heart to hear such comments because it implies the commenter only sees those qualities in our faith, not the beauty & mercy & love. We must pray sincerely for those people; their hearts are closed through misunderstanding, fear, or hatred, and Christ longs for their hearts to soften, repent, and return home to Him too.

Nevertheless, I am humbly grateful to be weird, creepy, & crazy, if that is how my relationship with Christ and His Church is perceived by the yet-unfaithful. It is a small yet significant joy & honor to see so many of us proclaiming the same.



“Yet even now,” declares the LORD, “return to Me with all your heart, with fasting, weeping, and mourning.”
Joel 2:12 BSB

To "break down the barriers separating your heart from God"-- to truly rend your heart-- you must first identify those barriers, those places so hardened and stiff they must be rent asunder lest you perish. It's tragically easy to find those spots-- whenever you feel resistance to His presence & input in a situation, whenever you feel unwilling or unable to pray, whenever you cannot hear His Voice or even remember what it sounds like-- all these frightening instances are barriers between your heart and His. They need to be removed-- destroyed completely, reduced to dust & ashes, beyond rebuilding-- but we have no strength to do that alone! All we can do is beg for help; all we can do is seek Him out, with feeble fervor if we must, but seek Him we must. When you cannot "pray," you can still cry to Him without words. When you cannot hear, you can still read Scripture. And when you feel that awful resistance, that is your greatest opportunity-- you can then show God EXACTLY where that obstacle is, and with hopeful trust, plead Him to remove it by His merciful grace. Then you must let Him work. You need only stand with Him and watch Him.

Over and over, moment to moment, breath by breath, you must constantly refocus on God. You must let Him into your broken heart, so He can remake it in His liking. The demolition is a rebirth. We fast from the world to feed upon Him. We weep for our sins to be grateful for His mercy. We mourn for Him Who died for us, because of us, so that we may feel the joy of the salvation His Blood bought for us.

When you let Him remove the chains shackling your soul to the secular world, you become free to embrace Him. Even if your wrists are bloodied and bruised, His pains to free you were greater, and you can take comfort in knowing that no amount of damage your soul or body may bear will ever deter Him from pulling you close. He is the Divine Physician; when He sees your wounds, He will kiss them to healing. Thus you must admit you have them, uncover them, offer them up to the divine scalpel and sutures if need be. Yes, the process is painful, but it is essential for life. Pain does not mean death, not if it is acted upon; it is only an alert that something needs to be rectified... and as you progress in penance, you shall find that what was once seen as suffering to the flesh is now sweet to your soul.

The call to penance is not a call to separation. In the very midst of our mortification, we are drawing closer to Christ. We are returning to the One Who loves us. We are coming home.

---------------------------------------------------------------------------

HAPPY FORGIVENESS SUNDAY!

I’m not Orthodox, but the entire concept & celebration of Forgiveness Sunday is both deeply humbling and deeply beautiful.

Ask for forgiveness from God, ask for forgiveness from your neighbor– and then offer forgiveness to your neighbor in return, as we have received forgiveness from God.

Lent is all about forgiveness, mercy, & repentance. It’s a time to grow closer to God and act more like Christ, by loving & serving God and His people, and turning away from all sin, which harms those relationships.

Let us all look forward in hope to this time of penitence, for it is a time of restoration, and at the end of this desert road– by the way of the Cross– new life awaits us; life in the Lord!

Happy Forgiveness Sunday indeed! 🙏❤

---------------------------------------------------------------------------




This statement is not wrong, but it is not completely right, either. It is a basic observation from a genuinely religious people, who are simply unaware of the transcendent nature of that other religion's building.

Let me begin by correctly affirming the implication here of divinity within nature:

"The entire material universe speaks of God’s love, His boundless affection for us. Soil, water, mountains: everything is, as it were, a caress of God... God has written a precious book, “whose letters are the multitude of created things present in the universe,” [and] no creature is excluded from this manifestation of God." (Pope Francis)

God absolutely speaks to all people through nature; the created world is our most direct and immediately universal revelation of the beauty of the Creator. "Natural religion" is called that for a reason; it is an instinctive response to the divinity we see reflected in the blessed earth around us. Some cultures stop there, and worship nature itself-- not realizing that nature is our sister, not our mother (as Saint Francis beautifully penned). Some cultures do imagine "gods" in control of nature, but they are not creators, not of the very hearts of things; nor do they satisfy the even deeper human desire for something greater-- something we can know and touch, here, to tell us vividly of God, of the Heart of beauty itself.

Honestly? I say we still miss the Garden. We still dream of Paradise, after being cast out from it. Our "wanting more" was misplaced, as we already had everything... everything except loss. So we lost everything, and now we ache to return, not because it was lovely, but because of why it was lovely... because of Who created it and us.

That is the deeper point. For the Christian-- and especially Catholic-- soul, there is a recognition and explanation of the innately longed-for depth beyond the surface sparkle:

"When we immerse ourselves in the beauty of nature and be attentive to what is going on in our soul, we find that we have a longing for even greater beauty. No one ever said, “That sunset was all I ever wanted to see.” We always want one that’s a little brighter, a little longer, a little more picturesque. The beauty in nature awakens in us the desire for Infinite Beauty, Jesus Christ Himself." (Christian Williams)

And THAT is where the "building" comes in. It is not 'necessary' for worship, or for prayer, or for talking and listening to God. Nature is, indeed, a wonderful place for all those things. But nature has not been specifically instituted by God as a memorial of His Saving Sacrifice, as a specific and sacred spot of spacetime where He can still be with us physically. God is there in nature, yes, but not literally so. You can only touch God through the hands of a priest, and such a staggering miracle both deserves and demands a particular place to occur, something "set apart" from even the beauty of the natural world, which-- although inherently good-- can easily get tangled up in pagan pantheism, and whose greatest beauty pales spectacularly in the Presence of Christ.

We go inside a building to talk to God because He is literally there. We built Him a house we can visit Him in, like a friend, like a lover-- a place uniquely His own, built by His family on earth, something tenderly human and beloved even in its flaws. A church is not a sunset, but oh, once you have met the Lord there, you would gladly give up ever seeing another sunset, if it meant you could stay with Him instead, and taste Heaven on earth.

You will never have to hunger for Paradise again.

---------------------------------------------------------------------------
 

 

‘Eve After the Fall’. Auguste Rodin. 1886.

This is terribly powerful in its simplicity.

Consider: this is the first woman. The very first! She was created pure, joyful, as simple and guileless as a child. She had no shame, no guilt, no fear. She walked with God in Paradise, and the very concept of suffering– of sin & evil– was alien to her.

However… yes, she was pure, but she was not perfect. She was still fallible– she had free will, and the possibility of choosing wrongly was an inherent risk of that liberty.

Satan knew this.

One day, as Eve was admiring the one tree she was forbidden to eat from, a strange serpent slithered into her sight and hissed the first human temptation– mistrust in God.

“Did God really say that…?”

Eve’s faith was not perfect. Some key part of her heart was not fixed on her Lord. She doubted, she desired, she took the fruit that was not hers to take… and suddenly, she knew.

She knew she had sinned.

And look at her now! Look, at this first woman, this poor young child of God, once a stranger to death but now she has tasted it firsthand. Look at what that knowledge has done to her. Her legs are crossed in shameful self-awareness, one foot held back and hesitant, betraying her new inner instability. She has one arm wrapped tightly around her chest in a gesture of unquestionable distress, hiding not only her breasts but also her heart: two parts of her body once innocent, now tainted by the suggestions of sin. Her other arm speaks volumes. It is crossed over the other, closing her body language totally, but the hand is raised– feebly, not to shield from a blow but to deter all contact, all comfort. Don’t look at me, it says. Don’t touch me. Her guilt is too great. She turns her head away, but does not bury it completely; she has not fallen entirely into self-pity. Perhaps she is holding on to hope, to the only light she has left within reach– “her offspring will attack the serpent’s head.” Somewhere in the future, her now-miserable body will once again cooperate with God’s will, and then– oh, so soon, she prays– evil will be crushed. Perhaps then she could return to Paradise, to her Lord, and leave behind this terrible curse.

Until then, here she stands… fallen, but not forgotten.


---------------------------------------------------------------------------


I apologize for not posting anything specifically about Lent. I know it's tomorrow. I've been thinking about it constantly. But I've also been very sick, in and out of the ER, and that suffering is eating up my focus as well. I feel like a wreck of a Christian, struggling so much just with everyday living. I don't know what else I can give up, other than my fears and anxieties, so that is my goal. I will pray more, and panic less, and be merciful to myself and others, and hold tightly to my hope in God, and a life with Him after this. Lent means so much to me. I am grateful it is here, even if I am weaker and more pitiful spiritually than ever. God have mercy on me during this penitential season. I pray that this time heals my poor soul.

May Our Lord bless you all this Lent. May your devotion bring you ever closer to the Heart of Christ.

 


012222

Jan. 22nd, 2022 10:13 pm
prismaticbleed: (angel)
 I'm studying John 5 atm and it is STAGGERING.

I can now GENUINELY grasp just HOW Jesus is equal to God IN the works He does, AND what it means for Him to be our JUDGE & INTERCESSOR BOTH.
His work is GIVING LIFE and JUDGING SOULS. ⭐He does that which it is IMPOSSIBLE for any creature TO do, OR to even be honored with; therefore He MUST be God by merit OF His honors & works!
⭐"amen amen I say to you" = grave subject matter, which is DIVINELY REVEALED & UNCONTESTABLY TRUE= we could not know it on our own, but now we know it beyond all doubt.
⭐Christ ONLY DOES WHAT GOD DOES, and IN THE SAME MANNER-- the same authority, liberty, & wisdom.
⭐THE SON IS TO THE CHURCH WHAT THE FATHER IS TO THE WORLD. Hence all the Genesis parallels in Johns gospel. Christ creates & sustains the NEW EARTH = KINGDOM OF HEAVEN. This is also why He is the NEW ADAM & Mary is the NEW EVE.
God shows Jesus what He does to rule Heaven, so that Christ can DUPLICATE THAT WORK of CREATION & PROVIDENCE IN THE CHURCH= THE "WORLD TO COME"!! Like a teaching father, God SHOWS in order to BE LOVINGLY IMITATED. THAT SUCH ACTION IS CHRIST'S ENTIRE LIFE. What He is shown in order to do, He does, and NOTHING ELSE.
⭐Christ's miracles are such because they have DIVINE POWER= on its own, nature could never accomplish such works by ANY means, AND DIVINE AUTHORITY= Christ can and does change BOTH NATURAL LAW AND RELIGIOUS LAW to accomplish them, something ONLY GOD CAN DO.
⭐Marveling at Christ's miracles honors Him, even by an unbeliever-- BUT only in BELIEVING IN HIM can we BENEFIT from those miracles, OR have Him work them in OUR lives!!
⭐GOD ALONE HAS THE AUTHORITY TO JUDGE AND EXECUTE JUDGMENT. NO CREATED THING CAN. Similarly, ALL POWER TO GIVE LIFE & RAISE THE DEAD IS DIVINELY GIVEN, AND ALL KNOWLEDGE OF IT IS BY DIVINE REVELATION!!! Concerning both those points, Christ can "keep alive or slay" whom He wills SOLELY BECAUSE HE HAS THE DIVINE WISDOM & SOVEREIGNTY TO DO SO. He works according to the Father's Will, which is All Good, so Christ's discretion to heal or let die is ALWAYS VALID AND JUST. HE IS THE WORD OF LIFE ITSELF; NO CREATED THING CAN DECIDE WHAT HE "SHOULD" DO WITH THAT LIFE. All life and all goodness is at His free disposal. All created things DEPEND ON HIM FOR EXISTENCE; GOD ALONE IS SELF-EXISTENT.
⭐THE WORLD OF THE CHURCH IS THEREFORE DEPENDENT ON CHRIST FOR ALL ITS SPIRITUAL SUSTENANCE. THIS IS WHAT HE MEANT ABOUT BEING BORN AGAIN OF THE SPIRIT, AND OF DYING / RESURRECTING VIA THE CROSS!!!! Nature fails to accomplish either BECAUSE THE CHURCH IS A NEW NATURE, A NEW CREATION THROUGH CHRIST.
⭐CHRIST RESURRECTS THROUGH HIS WORD. HE SPOKE TO EVERYONE HE BROUGHT FROM DEATH TO LIFE!!!! THIS IS WHY THE GOSPEL, AND PREACHING IT TO ALL, IS SO VITAL-- IT IS THE WORD OF GOD!!!
⭐That is so, so important. All our lives, we can hear people read the Gospel, but do we HEAR THE WORD OF CHRIST? Do we hear HIM, speaking to us? Or do we just hear empty letters being recited at us? When grace allows us to HEAR JESUS SPEAKING, I believe it is THEN that our dead souls begin to breathe.
On the last day, it is the VOICE OF JESUS that will resurrect ALL THE DEAD. It is irresistible.
⭐(Jn 5:30) Jesus always judges rightly & properly because He judges AS HE HEARS HIS FATHER JUDGE; Christ seeks GOD'S WILL, not His own! So He cannot be accused of frivolity in healing one man but not another; He acts according to OBEDIENT LOVE, not opinion or feeling. We can rest secure in His discretion, even when He does not heal us as we ask-- remember Gethsemane!
⭐Just like school, to "know" His Word is not empty memorization of verses, nor is it a general familiarity with the subject matter &/or stories due to hearing them in church for years. No-- to KNOW it is to DRINK IT IN, to absorb and ponder and chew on it, to effectively "write it on our hearts." We need to be intimately familiar with His Words, like we are with a favorite poem, or the voice of a loved one. Just like hearing "I love you" never gets old, so must it be with our hearing the Gospel-- God's love letter to us.
⭐HEARING IN AND OF ITSELF is NOT passive, either, in this regard. You can "hear" music playing in the background, but if you're not actually PAYING ATTENTION to it, you might not even remember it after. You heard music, yes, but you didn't hear a SONG. If you can't sing it back, what did you actually Hear? Your ears, although functional, were closed. So too we must be ATTENTIVE to God's Word through Christ-- do you hear the Word, or just words? Do you hear a voice, or His Voice? Are the ears of your heart open, where you can sing it back to Him?
⭐Matthew Henry puts this beautifully: "Christ's design is to bring us to God and, as He is the first original of all grace, so is He the last object of all faith. Christ is our way; God is our rest."


GOODNESS= PLEASING TO GOD & OF BENEFIT TO OTHERS.


Last night I got LAW VS GRACE. matthew Henry commentary.
But on Thursday I somehow ABSOLUTELY UNDERSTOOD the terror of sin and exactly how NECESSARY the Atonement was. I prayed the divine mercy chaplet TREMBLING.
But... I "forgot" it now. I must revisit what I read. John's gospel & the Catechism mainly. But pray & REMEMBER. It's there, just hidden.

Also the Grail is the ROBE????

prismaticbleed: (angel)


The reason why we are supposed to love our enemies and act like Christ even to the on godly is because only God can convert souls and only by imitating Christ can we bring presence of Christ to others, therefore allowing him to convert them!  If we act in evil or selfishly than we are not bringing any of Christ's presence into their presence, And as a result no good is accomplished on either side. Again we must bring Christ to others in order for their hearts to receive Christ.


Eucharistic Adoration-- His Heart IS His Face; His Face shows us HIS HEART; to recognize Jesus is to see BOTH AS ONE, and in Adoration it is all we CAN SEE. That is MONUMENTAL


“The other day, a man, a journalist, asked me a strange question. He asked me, “Even you, do you have to go to confession?” I said, “Yes, I go to con­fession every week.” And he said, “Then God must be very demanding if you have to go to confession.” And I said, “Your own child sometimes does some­thing wrong. What happens when your child comes to you and says, ‘Daddy, I’m sorry’? What do you do? You put both of your arms around your child and kiss him. Why? Because that’s your way of telling him that you love him. God does the same thing. He loves you tenderly.” Even when we sin or make a mistake, let’s allow that to help us grow closer to God. Let’s tell Him humbly, “I know I shouldn’t have done this, but even this failure I offer to you.” If we have sinned or made a mistake, let us go to Him and say, “I’m sorry! I repent.” God is a forgiving Father. His mercy is greater than our sins. He will forgive us.”

— Saint Teresa of Calcutta (1910-1997), founder of the Missionary Sisters of Charity
No Greater Love

“Even this failure I offer to you.” That struck my heart so strongly.

It is a gesture of radically surrendering love to offer even our humiliating weaknesses to our Father, hiding nothing, withholding nothing, giving Him literally everything we have, for Him to use as He will. If we do that, we will inevitably grow close to Him, for we are not letting anything come between us.

Always repent, and always confess, as swiftly and sincerely as possible. Always say you’re sorry, and run to your Father’s loving heart, where you will find both the mercy and forgiveness you desperately need, and the strength and compassion to keep trying to live even more lovingly in return.



“She saw the limitations of all her efforts. She remained small and very far off from the unfailing love that she would wish to practice. She understood then that it was on this very littleness that she must lean to ask God’s help.”

—St. Therese Church, Alhambra, CA Website

…I’m beginning to finally understand why Saint Therese is so beloved.

I feel this same way, dearest sister, unbearably so. Pray for me, that I too may surrender my fear of uselessness and instead run to God Our Father, leaning on Him, letting Him use my littleness as littleness for His Great Purposes. It is only through Him that I can achieve anything at all, and if He so uses me, then even the most seemingly insignificant action becomes profoundly blessed through His Power.

Dear Saint Therese, little flower, pray for us, your fellow tiny blooms in God’s garden, that we may learn from you how to love and trust and serve God ever more deeply, no matter how useless we may feel, for God always has a beautifully perfect use for everything.

 

mysticismmess: Having a plague during lent is so medieval I love

celtic-pyro: Now EVERYONE is making sacrifices.
 

“Come back to me with all your heart, fasting, weeping, mourning. Let your hearts be broken, not your garments torn, turn to the Lord your God again, for he is all tenderness and compassion, slow to anger, rich in graciousness, and ready to relent.” (Joel 2:12-13)

Honestly I see God’s terrible and wonderful Hand in even this, as an act of both chastisement and mercy. Penance and repentance are desperately needed in our fallen world, for the good of our souls, and this virus scare is a powerful impetus to bring about both.

If we accept this time as such, with unshakable faith in Him, then no matter what happens, He will use it all for the good of our souls. All glory and gratitude be to our Sovereign Loving Lord.



 

smol-catholic-bean: Dioceses shouldn’t be canceling Masses. If anything they should be creating more Mass times so people have more options and are more spread out. Anyone else agree?

 

Absolutely. A church IS an essential service in society– arguably THE essential service, at the heart of things. Yes, our bodies need food, but so do our souls, and we Must remember this, Especially in such times of mortal crisis.

I heard that some churches are indeed celebrating multiple masses per day, in order to keep attendance low (10-15 folks or so, I’d assume) without depriving anyone. I would love to see this nationwide. Priests should be profoundly grateful for this opportunity to offer an extra, deeply sanctifying sacrifice of time and effort for such a vital cause. And people should follow suit, realizing in the face of threatened deprivation, just how indispensable the Mass is in their lives, and making the effort to devotedly attend not just now, but forever after.

Nevertheless, even if we cannot attend a Mass right now, they ARE occurring and we must attend them spiritually. We must pray, we must do penance, we must act with charity, we must LIVE the essence of the Mass– because we ARE the Body of Christ, through Him and with Him and in Him, even if we cannot currently receive the Most Holy Eucharist to literally manifest that mysterious truth. We must let our hunger for God during this time of notable fasting, both physical and spiritual, motivate us to seek and pursue and adore Him all the more in His immediate ‘absence,’ driven by indefatigable hope, so that when He does return to us– in whatever sense– we will not take Him for granted, but run to embrace Him with tearful ardor and gratitude, relief and joy, living our restored lives with a new and driving sense of faith and love.

The short answer, though? Yes, more masses. We need them now more than ever.


“There’s one thing we need above everything else; It’s something we don’t talk about these days. We need a mighty avalanche of conviction of sin.”
-Leonard Ravenhill
 

It’s the first solid step in truly surrendering one’s life to Christ, and as such it is VITAL. Without a genuine conviction of sin, you cannot genuinely accept a Savior. And without Christ, we are lost!

Christ is our greatest need– therefore, the humbling heartbreak of contrition that drives us TO Him in earnest is, just as much, a need.


“You shouldn’t want to do things to gain merit, nor out of fear of the punishments of Purgatory. From now on, and always, you should make the effort to do everything, even the smallest things, to please Jesus.”

— St. Josemaria Escriva

Our hearts and motives are only pure when they are anchored and focused solely on serving God out of love, as simply and joyously as a child doting on a beloved parent. Any motives of fear, gain, loss, reward, or selfishness in any sense are impure as they are not oriented towards God. And this does sadden Him! Please, always examine your heart about this and pray for the grace to surrender all self-interest and give everything to God out of love. Trust Him; He will take care of the details. ❤

“Whether therefore ye eat, or drink, or whatsoever ye do, do all to the glory of God.” (1 Corinthians 10:31 KJV)


“Anything that does not lead you to God is a hindrance. Root it out and throw it far from you.”

— St. Josemaria Escriva

No exceptions, no excuses. We’re the Church Militant– this is a war against sin, and we cannot afford to be so hindered! Indeed, the more we grow to love God, the more unbearable such hindrances will become, as they are keeping us away from our Beloved.

If you are scared, hesitant, or unsure, ask the Holy Spirit for help in both discernment and courage. He will help you; He wants to throw out those obstacles even more than you do!


“Love for the Roman Pontiff must be in us a delightful passion, for in him we see Christ.”

— Josemaria Escriva, In Love with the Church, 13

We must love all people for this same reason, but yes, the Pope does have a sacred inheritance directly from the hands of Christ, and therefore his mirroring of Our Lord must be at the forefront of our hearts when obeying and respecting him. The Pope is not Christ, nor are we, but every Christian worth his salt should still love him with a special enthusiasm, seeing Jesus echoed in him in a unique and powerful way.

Describing our love of Christ in others as a “delightful passion” is really beautiful and moving in any case. After all, it is only through loving them that we can love Christ directly in this physical world. Remember that, and live it ardently.


“Purgatory shows God’s great mercy and washes away the defects of those who long to become one with Him.”

— St. Josemaria Escriva

The revelation of Purgatory has always been such a huge source of gratitude and hope for my soul. As a struggling sinner, I know my soul desperately needs purification in a literal sense before I can step into heaven. I want this. And Purgatory accomplishes this. It is, indeed, a showing of deepest mercy by our loving God.

Pray for those souls always!


“A task which presents no difficulties lacks human appeal - and supernatural appeal too. If you find no resistance when hammering a nail into a wall, what can you expect to hang on it?”

— St. Josemaría Escrivá

If you ever find a “nail” in your life too difficult to hammer home, just ask The Carpenter Himself– our dear Jesus Christ. Believe me, no one ever had to deal with nails more difficult than He did.



“God is here, This truth should fill our lives, and every Christmas should be for us a new and special meeting with God, when we allow His light and grace to enter deep into our soul.”

— St. Josemaria Escriva, Christ is Passing By

Christmas is such a deeply sacred and jubilant holiday for this very reason– a reason which surpasses all others. God is here! We cannot imagine anything more glorious, life-changing, or all-encompassing. God is with us now, and every celebration of His nativity should indeed bring fresh joy, hope, wonder, inspiration, and grace.

But it should never cease after Christmas, nor should it only begin there! The manger continues to exist in our hearts, awaiting His blessed birth daily, allowing us to meet Him brand-new and beautiful in every moment, every encounter, every prayer. Christmas is absolutely the time to let special snowdrift-deep grace and light and truth fill our souls, but don’t forget that the little Child in the cold continued to live and grow into the warmth of summer and beyond. But we don’t see His childhood, do we, even in the Bible. It’s a mystery, something hidden yet believed, a fact that nevertheless gives no details. But He is here, still, learning and laughing and loving us just the same.

And so, even if the Child stays a secret as the weather warms, the triumphant truth of Christmas should still fill our lives with His Presence year-round, sustaining us with its gorgeous reality of generous grace… until the snow returns with its pure white promise and we can once again meet Him and see Him and touch Him who our hearts have long and lovingly held in hope.



"Your job is not to judge. Your job is not to figure out if someone deserves something. Your job is to lift the fallen, to restore the broken, and to heal the hurting."


First, let me say that only God can decide who will or will not be damned. No human has the authority or knowledge or understanding to make such a judgment. Hell exists, and God can, will, and has sent people there. These are truths that we must accept at their most raw.

Even so...

God is the only Judge, for He alone is just, righteous, wise, and pure. His Love will be the final say in all things. But this judgment is moral, and spiritual. Here on earth, living our mortal lives, God forbids us from judging as it is not, and never can be, our job.

Our job is to love. Our job is to minister to others, ALL others, without exception or prejudice. “Deserve” is a dirty word that mocks charity and mercy. Love counts no cost, nor does it even calculate one. Love simply gives, boundlessly and with sincere dedication, driven by courage and enthusiasm and zealous compassion, its only motive and goal being love itself– love of God and love of neighbor, at any cost, with any sacrifice. Love never stops; Love never runs; Love never ends.

If your neighbor trips, stumbles, falls, or collapses, help them up with a strong hand and loving heart, and if they need further help to stand or walk, continue to help them with utmost gentleness.

If your neighbor is damaged, cracked, bruised, fragile, or broken to pieces, help them mend with patience, tenderness and an open heart, remembering that broken pieces may both bleed and cut, handling each fragment with care and sincere compassion.

If your neighbor is hurting in any way– physically, emotionally, spiritually, mentally, financially, morally, creatively, et cetera– help them heal by soothing that ache however you can, even if you can only offer a bandage, a hug, a prayer, a listening ear, a dollar bill, a gentle correction, a word of inspiration… whatever you can give, whatever you have, give it. If all you have is a song, then sing with all the love in your heart. Put your hands to mending and holding and carrying and guiding and reaching out. Put your feet to rescuing and delivering and pursuing and working for the benefit of all. Put your mind to good thoughts to motivate and move you, put your mouth to good words to motivate and move others. In all things, love without limit. In all things, find the pain and kiss it better. In every human encounter, ask what they need and give all you can supply. Do it all with love.

This is the call of every Christian. This is what it means to imitate Christ. He, the Divine Physician, came to not only call sinners, but also to forgive and heal them. He came to minister to the sick and feeble, He came to cure our ills and infirmities, He was born to deliver us from death. He IS Love, and if we are in Him, then we will bring His Love to the world. We, too, will become healers and helpers to all peoples. We, too, will– indeed, we must– become Love in action.

There are infinite ways to serve others in every moment, and Love is just as infinite, for it is never diminished by the smallness of an action. You can help someone right now. You can love someone right now. You can help heal someone right now. This is the blessed reality of life, the silver lining of suffering– in the face of darkness, light shines all the more triumphantly, and its power is felt all the more strongly. You can be a candle of Love’s fire, a mirror of divine Light right now… even just with a sincere smile, a kind hello, or a loving thought. It all matters. It all makes a difference.

Rejoice, and do it!


Genesis 27:3 =
"The fact that the prophet asks Esau for food by giving him an order signifies the call that the Word addresses to the first people when he asks them for the fruit of the works of justice, that justice which was considered to be a nourishment for the Father. In fact, the words “go out to the field, and hunt game for me” signify worldly life." (Hippolytus of Rome)


⭐THE "FOOD OF GOD" IS JUSTICE!!!

Reflect on this in context; unlike Isaac, God is all powerful and can "feed Himself" so to speak? (This is said somewhere.)... HOWEVER??? He cannot "harvest His own fruit" in a sense?? And WANTS to need us to get it for Him, and feed Him? FATHERS LOVE BEING FED BY THEIR KIDS, JUST TO DELIGHT IN THAT LOVE. And vice versa.

⭐"I THIRST" + "GIVE ME A DRINK" etc.!!


"...The people, inflated with their personal glory, would not be justified by their faith but by being proud of their wars would ask for a tyrant as their king." (Hippolytus of Rome)

⭐TOO PROUD to LET themselves be justified by faith!!! That requires ADMISSION OF HELPLESSNESS AND TOTAL POWERLESSNESS TO JUSTIFY ONESELF. So part of why people deny Christ's Atonement is that they seek their own glory? Must instead be like a child-- "I cant do it, I have to have Dad help me" and THEN thank Him UNRESERVEDLY, in total acknowledgement that "Dad" did ALL the work, and REJOICING IN THAT. Even showing off "look what my Dad did for me"-- NO SHAME in the personal inability this reveals; no, the child "GLORIFIES IN WEAKNESS" precisely because it glorifies his Father!!!



prismaticbleed: (angel)


"If ye love Me, keep My Commandments." (John 14:15)
So simple, yet so vital.
To walk in our Lord’s footsteps, we must keep His commandments, which are basically this: to love God with every atom of our being, and to show that same love to our neighbor for His sake. Effectively, Jesus calls us– insists, truly– to let our love of God permeate everything we do, seeking justice & mercy, peace & truth, compassion & charity, service & sacrifice at all times, just like He did, in obedience to His Father.
A child that loves their parents obeys them not out of generic duty, but he obeys them because he loves them and truly delights to see them happy and pleased with his obedience, and with his extra acts of love and affection, which will inevitably occur in such an obedient heart. So must we also be.
Let us be children, running after our Lord in the sand, so enraptured with love of Him that our single concern is keeping up, getting closer, letting our footprints fall into His as much as we can, and delighting in feeling the imprint of His blessed feet with each step!


“One day I expressed surprise that God does not give an equal amount of glory to all the elect in Heaven. I was afraid that they would not all be quite happy. She [her sister Pauline] sent me to fetch Papa’s big tumbler, and put it beside my tiny thimble, then, filling both with water, she asked me which seemed the fuller. I replied that one was as full as the other it was impossible to pour more water into either of them, for they could not hold it. In this way, Pauline made it clear to me that in Heaven, the least of the Blessed does not envy the happiness of the greatest; and so, by bringing the highest mysteries down to the level of my understanding, she gave my soul the food it needed.”
— Story of a Soul
I’ve been thinking a lot lately about the differing levels of glory given to the saints in heaven, and honesty getting very distraught over the thought that I’d only ever be a thimble, if even that, if God was merciful enough to even let me in to heaven at all. And it’s not about envy or pride, no. At heart it’s a mourning, that I felt I could never be a pitcher of water for God, that my heart’s aching yearning to both fill itself with Him and pour itself out for Him was doomed by my illnesses and faults, tragically hampered by my weaknesses to the point where I could never be as close to Him as I wanted, that I’d never be able to glorify Him even on earth as much as He deserved and I honestly desired. And it’s been an unbearable thought.
Yes, it’s a motivation. It’s a desperate drive. It’s making me strive ever harder to make my heart grow in love, emptying out as much extraneous junk as I can to fit more of God in my life. Yet that fear stays. Will I ever feel close enough to God? Will I ever be able to praise Him as fervently as I wish? Will I be miserable in heaven– an impossibility, truly, but still– because I will see what I could have become for our Lord, and through my failures, didn’t?
This tiny story from Saint Thérèse calms my soul substantially. “One was as full as the other,” never less than completely, and yet never “too much.” What we cannot hold, He will not force on us, yet we will be nevertheless full to the brim. That’s a comfort. And I doubt our good Lord would judge me for being a thimble rather than a pitcher, if my thimble-ness still pleased Him by offering its entire self up for Him even so.
I want to be a pitcher of water. Heck, God knows I’d love to be an entire bathtub full in comparison if I could hold so much of Him. But if I cannot– honestly, if my poor battered brain and body cannot hold so much holy water without bursting and breaking from structural faults– then I must remember that my dear Savior will then pick up my poor tiny thimble of a soul and, with the utmost tenderness and love, fill me with His love to the very last drop I can possibly carry. And He will be delighted.

"Prayer is a remedy for Sorrow and despondency.” (Saint Neilos the Ascetic)

It truly is. Prayer immediately lifts our hearts & minds, our affections & thoughts, to God, Who is good, faithful, true, just, merciful, and loving. Despondency and sorrow disappear in the light of prayer, for the nearness of God in our communication with Him soothes every fear.

"When you kneel before an altar, do it in such a way that others may be able to recognize that you know before whom you kneel" (Saint Maximilian Kolbe)

I think about this constantly; it applies to public life too! Make the sign of the Cross when passing a church. Bow to every crucifix. Treat all sacramentals with respect. Your love of Christ must be evident and active in all aspects of your life; but yes, Especially at Mass!

"The most important miracle to be sought for in prayer is the union of our whole being with God-- 'that good part, which shall not be taken away' (Luke 10:42) from us by death." (Archmandrite Sophrony)

We hope to achieve the Beatific Vision after we die, so it only makes spiritual sense to seek to grow, through the grace of prayer, as close as we possibly can to that heavenly finality while we still live on earth and progress towards that death.




prosperosfootnotes: Tradition, Canon Law, and good sense all agree that you’re exempt from fasting for health reasons; try adopting a new spiritual discipline instead!



I’m 30 years old and 87 pounds. I fasted for 18 hours today before I nearly passed out and I felt awful but I HAD to eat a full meal. I would absolutely love to fast hardcore for Lent but even my parish priest expressly forbade me to, again, for obvious health reasons. However. Why do we fast during Lent? To mortify our flesh, to practice self-denial and sacrifice, to focus more completely on God, to dedicate more of our time and effort to religion and not worldly ritual… the list goes on. But if you cannot fast from food in the traditional sense, you can STILL FAST in other ways as long as all your fasts achieve this greater purpose!
Lent is a holy desert bringing us closer to Christ, but no one is obligated to put their life at risk by doing so, especially not if that will make it even harder for you to truly serve God– after all, if you’re too sick to even stand up from not eating, you can’t do the charity work you otherwise could have, etc. So be prudent and merciful as well as devoted and willing to sacrifice whatever you can. God knows your heart. Have a blessed Lent. 💜




prismaticbleed: (angel)

Matthew 11:28-30
Jesus has compassion on the burdened. He WANTS to give us rest, and take the heavy weight of sin off our shoulders. He wants to relieve us of the anxious stress of "trying to be perfect" in the Law alone, and so He calls us to carry HIS yoke, which is LOVE, and the stressless perfection of the Law THROUGH love of Him.
But remember He offers REST!! And He says He WILL give it, to those who come to Him and paradoxically take His yoke upon them.
He also says LEARN FROM ME, His meekness and humility, for THERE is where we find rest FOR OUR SOULS!!! Jesus does not offer a lazy or inactive life. He STILL gives us a "burden," but it is LIGHT AND EASY, IF WE LEARN FROM HIM HOW TO CARRY IT.
And this rest is profound, able to touch us even in the hardest physical labor or psychological strain.
1. Come to Jesus
2. Learn from Jesus
3. You will find rest for your soul
 


Jesus, you are constantly coming to Your people, even when we fail to see You. In each and every moment that we are blessed to recognize You here and now, give us the courage to leap with joy at Your coming. Amen.


Gosh, this just made me realize– how many people failed to see, know, or recognize Christ while He was hidden in Mary’s womb! Remember that Saint Elizabeth and John the Baptist both felt His Presence assumedly before Mary even showed any notable signs of her divine pregnancy. Their hearts saw Him, recognized Him– what utter bliss! And yet… countless crowds passed Him and His mother by, knowing nothing of the world-changing miracle in their very midst.
O God, even now, You are all around us, hidden and yet clear as day to grace-filled hearts. We pray that we always recognize You and rejoice in that meeting. Open the eyes of our hearts, that we may celebrate the truth of Christmas every day!


“Many are the plans in a person’s heart, but it is the Lord’s purpose that prevails.” (Proverbs 19:21)
Today I challenge you to pray that God reveals His plan for your life to you.

And, once you pray, listen. Don’t block your ears. Don’t close your eyes. Listen, even if you’re scared. After all, God’s plan for your life might be the exact opposite of what you had planned for yourself, and it might demand more time, effort, finances, humility, inconveniences, sacrifices, change, upheaval, and general radical trust than you feel you can give or endure. But rest in this truth: God’s will for you is always what’s best for you, and He will carry you both to and through it, for His glory and good purpose.
So pray, listen, and then obey. Even if you start with just one tiny, shaky, frightened baby step, make that step with a fierce courage and trust in God regardless, and that timidity will rapidly melt away in the fire of divine love.
Oh, and a note of discernment– if it doesn’t glorify God, and if it doesn’t have love of God as it’s ultimate end and aim, then it’s not His will for your life. Remember this, because the devil will try to confuse and trick you every chance he gets.
God, your plans always prevail. Show me the way You want me to walk, and then graciously help me to do so!


"The seditious mob [at the U.S. Capital] was motivated... by an unholy amalgamation of white supremacy and Christianity."


This is deeply disturbing. TRUE Christianity has nothing to do with idolatrous violence, rage, & mayhem. The fact that Christianity in America has nevertheless become scandalized by such associations makes my heart sick. Please pray for the rioters and the politicians both. Also! You CAN be a baptized Christian and STILL be corrupt. Sin doesn't cancel out your religion-- otherwise Divine Mercy wouldn't be so amazing-- but sin DOES rot your soul, so that your religious affiliation is now a horrid scandal. Christ does NOT take this lightly. REPENT.

Remember that EVERYONE can potentially end up in hell OR heaven. Being a Christian does NOT make you "immune" or “incapable of doing wrong” even if you claim it's “for God." Newsflash: malformed consciences are a thing. Stop, read your Bible, and PRAY about it humbly. Love your enemies.



When the Bible says "do not lean on your own understanding," the Bible is being serious. Your heart is deceitful, your emotions fluctuate, your understanding does not see the overall, big picture. God never lies, God never changes, God knows all. Trust Him.

Humility demands that we actively and constantly acknowledge this. Our emotions, guesses, reasonings, perceptions, and imaginations are constantly falling short of truth, inevitably so. We are wrong and mistaken in our judgements so often it’s honestly laughable– and yet, we stubbornly (and fearfully) insist that “we know what we’re doing.” We really don’t, though. Only God does. And that’s the biggest relief, the most profound reassurance, the deepest peace– the fact that God cannot make mistakes.

So loosen your tight grip on life. Stop hypermanaging the details, stop insisting on your way or the highway. Stop being afraid of failure, and instead surrender every choice to your Father in heaven, who will never fail. Lean on Him like a trusting child, and He will carry you through it all.



Advertising tries to stimulate our sensuous desires, converting luxuries into necessities, but it only intensifies man’s inner misery. The business world is bent on creating hungers which its wares never satisfy, and thus it adds to the frustrations and broken minds of our times.

Archbishop Fulton Sheen, Lift Up Your Heart

The only way out of the beartrap of sensuality is to make up our minds, solemnly and honorably, to desire God alone. If we constantly check our cravings with this pledge, being brutally honest in our motives, then the Spirit will give us the grace to break the chains of luxury– sometimes link by link, but breaking free nevertheless.

Inner misery comes from one thing: seeking happiness in anything other than Christ. Once we humbly realize and admit this– and it does take serious humility to endure that shock of acknowledging our own corrupted desires and decisions– we can turn our hungering hearts to Him at last, all the more fully day by day, and finally experience the true and real joy in God that He’s wanted us to have all along.

Take a hard look at your life right now. Are you feeling hungry, miserable, unsatisfied, unfulfilled? When you feel that pang of luxury and want, turn to God. Remember that this life is temporary and only God is eternal. Look to the roots of your desperate clinging and ask yourself: what is it you truly want? It’s not things, it’s a feeling– the feeling of finally being happy, satisfied, fulfilled, at peace. But you haven’t yet truly acknowledged the fact that this world, being ruled by death, cannot ever give you those things. It’s a scary truth, yes… but only until you remember that God IS those Good Things, and will give them to the heart of those that turn to Him alone as the Source and Giver of them.

No matter what you may be desiring in life right now, God is greater, better, and more beautiful. God is ultimate fulfillment. Turn to Him!




“The crisis of nothingness is a summons to the everything which is God.”

— Archbishop Fulton Sheen, Three to Get Married

The raw experience of nothingness– of a sudden collapse into poverty, a scourge of disease, a loss of property, a death of a loved one– such a brutal and absolute encounter with emptiness and the utter inability of this world to satisfy the soul, let alone survive for long in its inevitable ephemerality… this awakens us to the truth. It’s a hard, sudden, shocking awakening, flinging us headlong into the abrupt acknowledgment of Light, only fully knowable now because we have been dragged from such depths of darkness. When we have honestly found ourselves at rock bottom, scrabbling at the dusty walls of a coal cellar, desperate to breathe now that the air is so thin– our tolerance of terror has been exhausted; we can no longer bear the awful weight of nothingness, the paradoxically crushing burden of now knowing, firsthand, that the way of the world is ultimately naught– then we helplessly turn our eyes upwards, desperate for a glimmer of something real, something untarnishable, something other than the fleeting pleasures and phenomena of the physical world. And of course Satan will do his darndest to lie to us in the most grandiose ways during this time, offering floodlights and banquets and golden decorations for our tomb, but none of it ever relieves that hollow feeling, that starvation for something more in a cosmic sense.

God is everything. God is the only “something,” the only real and beautiful and eternal thing. And no matter how long we may have been drowning in “nothing,” crushed under its terrible gravity, the moment we sincerely reach up to God He will take our hand and lift us higher. But how can we reach something– Someone– we do not acknowledge, let alone even know is there? Well, that’s the ironic beauty of it all. Falling into the debasing gutter of emptiness can slingshot us into the yearning for God’s boundless heavens better than anything else. God allows it for that very reason.

Are you currently in a crisis of nothingness? Are you experiencing, right now, the jarring and absolute revelation of just how fleeting the things of this world are? Are your finances failing, is your health declining, are your friends and family leaving, is your life falling apart? Then run to God, the only True and Lasting One, an impregnable stronghold, the very Source of all the peace and hope and light and life that your heart so desperately seeks and needs.

It is only through understanding what nothingness is, that we are able to know What nothingness isn’t.




“The Church is not a continuous phenomenon through history, rather, it is something that has been through a thousand Resurrections after a thousand crucifixions. The bell is always sounding for its execution which, by some great power of God, is everlastingly postponed.”

— Archbishop Fulton Sheen, Three to Get Married

I feel that, as God exists outside of time and therefore the Crucifixion and Resurrection are always occurring in a very real sense… it is only fitting that, as Christ’s Body, the Church in time would share in that perpetual dying and rising, always growing closer to God despite all odds, always both hanging on the Cross and rising from the tomb.

It’s something to meditate upon for sure.




heartcrymissionary:

My only resolution for this New Year - God is my first priority. I’ve run after people and I desired things. I’ve given importance to each and everything except God. And I’ve learned my lessons. Nothing is permanent and even though I got what I wanted, I’m not happy and there’s always a void or dissatisfaction. I can feel it in my heart that only God can satisfy my soul but I was pretty reluctant to obey him. But, God works in mysterious ways. He let me wander so that I personally experience the difference and now I’m the Prodigal Son who came back to his father. My God didn’t push me and he accepted me just the way I am. His Love is True. His Grace is so Deep. If you’re going through this phase, now is the time to start over. Come to Jesus. Start a New Life. Be Blessed. #ToNewBeginnings

I can echo this prayer so exactly it hurts… but what a paradoxically blissful pain it is, to now realize– quite powerfully– the truth that God is all I ever needed or will need.

No one is guaranteed tomorrow; every moment alive comes from God’s tender mercies. Therefore let us use every one of those moments for His glory, without procrastination, excuse, or timidity!

Let 2020 be the year that you, too, come fully home to God, that you begin to choose Him and His Truth over all else, that you seek Him first with no exceptions or excuses. Let 2020 be the first year of your new life in Christ, living in the unshakable joy of His Presence and spurning the empty entertainment of this fleeting world.

It’s never too late, as long as we are breathing, to return to God. He is always waiting for us with open arms and loving heart.
 



"For the time is coming when people will not endure sound teaching, but having itching ears they will accumulate for themselves teachers to suit their own passions." (2 Timothy 4:3)

That time is now.

Furthermore, it’s disturbing how thoroughly those false teachers and itching ears can utterly blind a soul to the fact that they’re living in a “comfortable hell”– lounging in front of the TV while the world burns around them, as it were.

The pain of “enduring sound teaching” is a divine ache, a growing pain, an indication of pruning and healing and breaking out of chains. It’s like a child avoiding a vaccination because they’re afraid of the needle & pinch– understandable, true, but ultimately foolish and dangerous, for without that brief pain, they are at serious risk of suffering far greater pain, perhaps even death, as a result of disease.

Either you endure the blessed ache of conversion, or you numb yourself to the demands of holiness and end up burning later.

Do you want heaven, even if it hurts to get there, or would you rather just have your comfy chair and happy lies in hell?



Sweet Jesus, talking
   his melancholy madness,
     stood up in the boat
       and the sea lay down,

silky and sorry.
   So everybody was saved
      that night.
         But you know how it is

when something
    different crosses
       the threshold -- the uncles
          mutter together,

the women walk away,
   the young brother begins
      to sharpen his knife.
         Nobody knows what the soul is.

It comes and goes
   like the wind over the water --
      sometimes, for days,
        you don't think of it.

 Maybe, after the sermon,
   after the multitude was fed,
     one or two of them felt
       the soul slip forth

like a tremor of pure sunlight
   before exhaustion,
      that wants to swallow everything,
         gripped their bones and left them

miserable and sleepy,
    as they are now, forgetting
       how the wind tore at the sails
          before he rose and talked to it --

tender and luminous and demanding
   as he always was --
      a thousand times more frightening
         than the killer storm.


Mary Oliver, “Maybe,” from House of Light (1990)


The fear of God is wrapped up in the realization of Who and What God IS. To have seen that ageless and irresistible power manifest in Jesus– to see the wild terror of nature utterly collapse in obedience to Him– would have made any witness acutely aware of not only His divinity, but also of their own frailty, and the greater reality that encompassed them both.

Remembering Jesus makes it impossible to forget one’s soul– makes it impossible to ignore the truth of sin and mercy and judgment and life after death. Such a recollection can be honestly frightening, to a soul that has been asleep… and so the very reality of Jesus is indeed frightening as well.

The utter majesty of God is a thousand times more frightening than anything. And maybe no human ever can or will know what the soul is. But when we look at Jesus, we become so powerfully aware of both these things. And perhaps, the fact that such a being loves us, is frightening only in its initial incomprehensibility.

It’s this gorgeously dramatic paradox. The very God who both stirs up and silences the hurricanes and tidal waves of our lives, is the same God who yearns to wrap us in His arms with boundless love, even if it takes a typhoon to get us there.

But fear of God is rooted in reverence, and that reverence blooms into love, when we listen to Jesus tell us that this unfathomably great God is Our Father, through Him. This, too, carries a hugely fearful responsibility at first… which, like all else, melts away into love as we humbly admit our childlike helplessness before Him, and run to Him as such.


 

Devotion to Mary is simply giving her permission to form us into an image of Christ.

 

The simplicity of this profundity just floored me.

Mary, as our mother, then becomes to us who she literally only was to Jesus Christ. Calling her “mother” then puts us in the position OF her beloved Son, our Savior… and so she will joyfully raise us AS such.

It’s a staggering, humbling honor, a huge responsibility, and an unfathomable grace, to be able to not only grow closer to Christ in this way, but also to have such an opportunity of special intimacy with Him, under His mother’s care, her eyes recognizing Him in us and lovingly forming us into an ever-truer likeness of Him.

Mary was, and is, the mother of Christ. If we love Him, then devotion to her should follow suit.



prismaticbleed: (angel)

 

"What began in the Immaculate Conception, runs without a fault or break straight to the Blessed Sacrament. The one mystery answers to the other; the one illuminates the other; the one completes and consummates the other. The Blood that is in the Chalice is from the living Heart of Jesus. It was shed in the Passion before it was shed in the Chalice. It had lived long in His Sacred Heart before He shed it; and He took it at the first, with His spotless Flesh, from the Immaculate Heart of Mary; and that it was sinless and stainless there was from the Immaculate Conception. And so at one end of the avenue is Mary’s sinless flesh, prepared for her as for the Mother of God, and at the other end the sinful flesh of man made immortal and incorruptible by the Flesh of Jesus, Mary’s Son, and the sinful soul of man bathed to a glorious purity in the Blood of Jesus, Mary’s Son, through the mystery of His sweet Sacrament of love; and the light that lies ahead, the light we are all approaching, and have not yet attained, the glow and splendour of our heavenly home, it is by the same sweet Sacrament that we shall attain it, and make it ours at last. So at every mass, and in each communion we look up to the Immaculate Conception. The light of that far-reaching mystery is in our faces on the altar-step. It beams direct upon us, and so full is it of the same light as the Blessed Sacrament that we seem almost to hear our Mother’s voice from that distant fountain, “Eat, O friends, and drink, and be inebriated, my dearly beloved.”"
-(Fr. Faber)

 

God created Mary without sin– the Immaculate Conception who would immaculately conceive His Only Son in turn… His pure body was formed within hers, His Body and Blood gaining their very Substance from hers. When Christ died upon the Cross, He then mysteriously and wonderfully imitated His Mother in that He now gives US His Body and Blood, so that we might be born anew in Him, purified by His redemptive Sacrifice… but from that same Cross He also gives us His Mother, so that she may also “conceive” us, through her Son, as new holy children– His Flesh and Blood now flowing back to her in a sense, to be born again through Him, through her. It’s amazing. Heaven came to earth in Jesus, by Mary’s ‘Fiat,’ and we can taste that same firstfruits of promise in the Most Holy Eucharist, wherein we tangibly and really participate in the mystery of not only Jesus’s death, but also– paradoxically and beautifully– His birth. And Mary was inextricably present as participant in both, in the joy of His coming and the “birth pangs” of His Passion and Death, before His Resurrection– the new “birth” He promises to all who unite themselves in love to Him in this total sacred cycle. And Mary is the one standing at the threshold of it all, the one who opens the gate, the one who joyfully declares “May it be done to me according to your word”… Indeed, by God’s Word Himself. And so it must be with us, to enter into the life of God with her, the New Eve, the Mother of Mankind as it is reborn in her Son… Mary, the Immaculate Conception.


-------------------------------------------


“I question whether the defenses of the gospel are not sheer impertinences. The gospel does not need defending. If Jesus Christ is not alive and cannot fight His own battles, then Christianity is in a bad state. But He is alive, and we have only to preach His gospel in all its naked simplicity, and the power that goes with it will be the evidence of its divinity.”
- Charles Spurgeon

I personally think we should defend its honor and truth, for the sake of living the integrity of our faith, instead of being complacent in the face of blasphemy– but indeed, the Gospel is true and real and honorable no matter what we do or don’t do. We don’t need to “prove” anything. The real issue is not personal power, but personal fidelity. The last line of this quote sums that up wonderfully.


-----------------------------------------------

"Not to us, Lord, not to us
    but to Your Name be the glory,
    because of Your love and faithfulness."

(Psalm 115:1)


This is such a core confession of Christianity, but I don’t think we fully grasp just how universal this praise must be.

Yes, let your prayers and hymns and good deeds glorify God. But let everything else do so, too. And I mean everything.

Are you at work? Glorify God through it. Are you reading a book? Glorify God through it. Are you shopping for groceries? Glorify God through it. Are you painting a picture, dressing a child, balancing your checkbook, driving a car, playing a video game, washing your hair, dusting the furniture, exercising at the gym, watching television, telling a story, planting a garden, changing a tire, eating breakfast, or doing any other little blessedly mundane thing of life? Glorify God through it. I’m serious. God is already in ALL the times and places and things of our existence– therefore it is our lovingly faithful duty to actively acknowledge and praise and glorify Him within those moments, without fail, without exception.

In everything we do, all glory be to God.


-----------------------------------

"What you see may seem small compared to what God promised you, it’s easy to dismiss it and think it’s nothing. But God can take a small cloud and bring a big blessing. He can take what looks insignificant and cause it to turn into something amazing."


The essence of this– trust in God– is good and true, but quotes such as this bother my spirit with their consistent focus on more, on big, on amazing… words which I fear are are being used in human terms here. And the very notion of “dismissing” ANY gift from God, let alone because it doesn’t meet our expectations, is frankly deplorable.

God promises us Himself. That is big and amazing enough, and infinitely more than we could ever even dream. But as for the temporal things of this life, the “smaller” manifestations of this ultimate blessing, we need to stop looking for “something more.” That has the scent of greed and entitlement and it opposes the Christian spirit of humility, surrender, gratitude and radical trust.

Consider the alternative: God purposely sent you that “small cloud.” It’s “amazing” just as it is because He sent it. It might “appear” drab, plain, unexciting, or otherwise uninteresting, but that doesn’t matter. It’s His will.

And hey– maybe God will send you a bigger cloud, something amazing and significant for sure– a huge terrific thunderhead, black with rain and lightning and wind to turn your life upside down. You should still get on your knees and thank Him, because both the blue skies and blustery storms come from His Hand and serve His Purposes. For all you know, that awful disaster could– or did– bring unfathomable blessings, that you might never even see. But God does. Trust in that. And above all, trust Him, who is making Himself evident within that cloud, thereby giving you the greatest gift of all, no matter what the circumstances may seem to suggest.

Stop judging, dismissing, weighing, and critiquing God’s working in your life. Start accepting everything He gives with humble gratitude, complete trust and resignation to His Will, and total cooperation. Seek Him, desire Him, and love Him above all else, and you won’t need to keep “looking for blessings”– you’ll realize that in Him, you already have everything you could ever need.


--------------------------------------------------------


“The fault this body has is that the more comfort we try to give it the more needs it discovers. It’s amazing how much comfort it wants.”
-St. Teresa of Avila
 

 

I am reminded of this daily, often to startling extents. The flesh cannot ever be satisfied or consoled. Trying to do so is utterly useless.

Instead, strive to comfort your soul, through Christ. Satisfy your heart with Him; console your mind with Him. He will meet and exceed every spiritual yearning you have.

--------------------------------------------

“Anyone God uses significantly is always deeply wounded.”

— Brennan Manning, Ruthless Trust: The Ragamuffin’s Path to God
 

Then may God wound me ever deeper, so that I may serve Him all the more wholeheartedly. I surrender to Your Cross.

-----------------------------------------


“You aren’t as bad as you think you are, you’re worse. And God doesn’t love you as much as you think he does, he loves you more.“”

Chris DeLuna

I could meditate on this for hours… but honestly it’s a daily, lifetime reflection. It’s profound in humility, contrition, gratitude, discipline, comfort, awe, and love.

We are sinners and we are deplorable. But God, through Christ, loves us so much that while we were still sinners, He died for us, so that we can be forgiven and justified, therefore becoming able to live with Him in love for eternity. That’s unfathomable. That’s true. And that’s something we must remember always.

-------------------------------------------------


“…the greatest thing each person can do is to give himself to God utterly and unconditionally - weaknesses, fears, and all.”
Soren Kierkegaard

We must give our most ugly, painful, raw, wounded places to God, else they will never be healed or soothed or corrected. Hiding them in shame only prolongs our sinful suffering.

Give your ALL to God! Surrender in weeping joy. He is all you need. He is peace and life and hope. When you give every moment and every atom to Him, over and over, then everything in your life will be put into the right place, by your obedience to His Will.


------------------------------------------------


“The Jesus Prayer is not a method.  Properly, it is a relationship, something personal, emotional.  If one treats it as a method, intellectually, then you are missing the whole point, the main point of it, which is a slowly developing relationship
with the person of Jesus.”

~Archimandrite George of Grigoriou

The Jesus Prayer is spoken directly to Christ. It is the beginning of an ever-deepening conversation with Him, a humble and wholehearted cry for mercy, doors thrown achingly open to Love. If you pray thus without love, without ardent attention to the Beloved, without personal sincerity and honesty, then it is not a prayer at all in truth. You must pour your entire being into it– you must offer your entire self to Him.

-----------------------------------------------------


“God is love, and therefore the preaching of His word must always proceed from love. Then both preacher and listener will profit. But if you do nothing but condemn, the soul of the people will not heed you, and no good will come of it.”

~taken from the book Saint Silouan the Athonite, by Archimandrite Sophronius Sakharov

 

Correction is good and has its proper place– it must work upon the foundation of humility and love. Condemnation of sin, although just, will only feel like violence, if it is spoken without mercy. It is not our place to pass judgment– that is Christ’s power alone. We are called to forgive, to instruct, and above all, to bring souls to Christ… including our own. If preacher and listener both intend to reach heaven, they must so act as striving saints together now!

If you speak, do so with love. If you are silent, do so with love. And in all things, act for the love and glory of God!

---------------------------------------------------------


"When you persist in prayer, you receive what you need, you receive what you do not have, and you receive all that is necessary to be a blessing to those that are in your household."


That bit about becoming a blessing to one's household-- I desperately need that. Lord, please help me persist in prayer always, so that I may never be a disgrace or dishonor to my family or to Your most Holy Name!!

----------------------------------------------------------

"The appropriate word you left unsaid; the joke you didn't tell; the cheerful smile for those who bother you; that silence when you're unjustly accused; your kind conversation with people you find boring and tactless; the daily effort to overlook one irritating detail or another in those who live with you... this, with perseverance, is indeed solid interior mortification."
- Saint Josemaria Escriva

Mortification is a vital exercise of faith that we need to practice constantly. It is anchored in humility and love, in patience and mercy, and it brings us ever closer to Christ both in imitation and intimacy.

----------------------------------------------------

 

I find it quite impossible, reading the New Testament on the one hand and the newspaper on the other, to suppose that there will be no ultimate condemnation, no final loss, no human being to whom, as C.S. Lewis puts it, God will eventually say, “Thy will be done.” I wish it were otherwise, but one cannot forever whistle “There’s a wideness in God’s mercy” in the darkness of Hiroshima, of Auschwitz, of the murder of children and the careless greed that enslaves millions with debts not their own. Humankind cannot, alas, bear very much reality, and the massive denial of reality by the cheap and cheerful universalism of Western liberalism has a lot to answer for.

~N.T. Wright, Surprised by Hope: Rethinking Heaven, the Resurrection, and the Mission of the Church, 180.

 

Mercy requires repentance. You cannot show mercy where one denies the undeserving need of it in the first place.

Sin will be punished with strict justice wherever it is found. The only hope of expunging its stain is the Blood of Christ. And we cannot receive that without genuine faith in Him.

Those who commit such atrocities with a sense of pride, self-righteousness, and/or “a good reason”… there will be an ultimate condemnation. God’s Will will be done. This is reality.

-------------------------------------------------


“Sin, we note, is not the breaking of arbitrary rules; rather, the rules are the thumbnail sketches of different types of dehumanizing behavior.”

— N.T. Wright, Surprised by Hope: Rethinking Heaven, the Resurrection, and the Mission of the Church, 180.

 

YES. The letter of the Law is only a summary of its Spirit.

You cannot keep the letter and yet deny the essence, nor can you claim to be respecting its heart while breaking its word.

Sin will always exalt its own ideas, motives, and goals. If you find yourself trying to exalt yourself above another in your behavior, in letter or in spirit… you’re sinning.

There are limitless sins, and they are everywhere. Our only refuge is to live in an unflinchingly humble love of God. When our sole idea, goal, and motive is love and respect for Him… then sin cannot topple us, however it may rage.

---------------------------------------------------------


“But judgment is necessary–unless we were to conclude, absurdly, that nothing much is wrong or, blasphemously, that God doesn’t mind very much.”

— N.T. Wright, Surprised by Hope: Rethinking Heaven, the Resurrection, and the Mission of the Church, 179.

Judgment is discernment. It is not proud self-exaltation. To judge something as right or wrong is necessary to live well; to be able to discern what will or won’t glorify God is essential to choose rightly. The heart of it is simple– love of God above all, even at our own expense– but the practice of it, made difficult by our weakness and temptation and sinful inclinations, requires that we have a healthy sense of judgment, and the graceful gravity to obey those Spirit-given conclusions.

A lot is wrong, and God minds very much. Hence the Cross. Hence the entire plan of salvation.

Christ is our Just Judge. Follow His instructions, and judge well!

-------------------------------------------------------------

“Obey your leaders and submit to them, for they are keeping watch over your souls and will give an account. Let them do this with joy and not with sighing–for that would be harmful for you.” (Hebrews 13:17)
 

I have been shamefully guilty of causing such sighing, and I will admit it is because I am often afraid of correction– afraid because my sinful nature is so strong, and I am so guilty.

To obey and submit will bring me great joy and peace, as well as to those in authority over me for the good of my soul. To see exasperation in those individuals indicates that I am being stubborn and proud– resisting the yoke of humility, and thus putting my soul in great danger. That would cause great sighs of concern, worry, and frustration in any person who cared about my highest good!!

-----------------------------------------------------------------


“Do not neglect to do good and to share what you have, for such sacrifices are pleasing to God.” (Hebrews 13:16)
 

The word “sacrifices” here is so important. Do good, be kind, share and give and bless, even when to do so would be difficult, frustrating, or inconvenient– indeed, especially then.

It is in the face of spiritual adversity that virtues grow the most strongly. We will be tested, so surrender to the Spirit and pray for the grace to do what honors God with loving joy.

---------------------------------------------------------


“People who persevere in error are so far away from acknowledging their sin that they even defend it as the height of righteousness. Therefore it is impossible for them to be forgiven.”

— Martin Luther, “Lectures on Galatians” in Luther’s Works, vol. 27, 33.

I also want to add that this disturbing modern attitude of treating sin and sinfulness as funny, trendy, or even desirable, is exactly what this quote warns against, even though the “sin” is being acknowledged… the horror is that the sin is being redefined as righteousness while still calling it a sin.

There are individuals who will admit, with a proud smile, “oh I absolutely have sinned! I know I am a sinner! But there’s nothing wrong with sin!” Ironically, this carefree embracing of one’s sinful nature is the deepest rejection of it. It is a rejection of Christian morality, an attempt to justify and absolve oneself, by denying the very possibility that one even needs justification and absolution. If you lie, but say “it’s okay though!” and explain why, you are entirely deluded. If you steal, but say “I had a good reason though!” you have completely missed the point. If you entertain thoughts of violence and hatred and revenge, claiming it’s “fine” if you don’t act on them, you are mistaken. If you celebrate lust and promiscuity and shamelessness, declaring that they are “natural feelings” to be “proud of,” you are devastatingly lost. Sin is sin. Sin is ALWAYS wrong, we cannot alter that, we cannot cut corners or make excuses, and our very inclination to is blatant proof of just how weak we are and how powerful temptation is. We NEED a Savior to deliver us from our own corrupt nature– another truth the sin-celebrators will refuse utterly. They don’t want to admit guilt, helplessness, or shame. They are afraid. But defending and denying their crimes instead, out of fear of judgment, is just worsening the problem… because it bars them from being contrite, and therefore being forgiven. Pride and humility cannot coexist.

So be brutally honest with your examination of conscience. Are you insisting your sin was righteous in some area? Are you making excuses or allowances for a behavior that you know deep down was wrong? Lay it all down before Christ! Admit your weakness, admit your fear, admit your shame and guilt and regret. It is only when you have been so crushed and humbled that the chains of sin can be broken along with your heart. Christ can and will forgive even your most terrifying sin… if you have wept over it, and if you give it to him raw– no sugarcoating, no gilding, no smoothing over.

Acknowledge your sins, acknowledge your error, admit that you are not righteous, admit that you need forgiveness. Only from this sincerely lowly position can we be healed and brought to the heights of heaven. If you try to grab heaven on your own, you’ll catch nothing but delusions. It’s God’s Way, or no way at all.
 

---------------------------------------------------------

 

“Everyone whom the Father gives me will come to me, and the one who comes to me I will never send away.” (John 6:37)

 

God cannot lie. That “never” is a glorious promise that moves my wretched heart to joyful weeping.

We have been given, and received in absolute love. That is truly something to remember during this most holy Christmas season!

---------------------------------------------------------


“God did not choose perfect people to form his church, but rather sinners who have experienced his love and forgiveness.”

No one is perfect; only God is perfect. If we think of ourselves as such, we will be unable to see or receive Him.

We are all sinners, and when we confess this and turn to God in contrite humility, He will help and heal us, and this foundation of Christ’s endless love for us unworthy yet penitent souls is a great beauty of the Church.


 

prismaticbleed: (angel)


(These are my personal reflections; I claim no authority or accuracy on these matters. I am no teacher; I only wish to share what I pray is spiritually sound insight.)

 

Abel being named "vanity" was ironic.

Cain was, according to many translations, initially seen as a Christ figure-- as the fulfillment of God's promise of deliverance to Eve, his mother. John Gill notes: "some render [her exclamation], "I have gotten a man, the Lord"; that promised seed that should break the serpents head; by which it would appear, that she took that seed to be a divine person"... So by this perspective, what good was a second male child to her? Abel was seen as useless, extra, vain. Contrasted against Cain's alleged significance, Abel was as insignificant as could be. Thus pride and humility were personified in the two sons.

Furthermore, we see here the unusual but noteworthy rashness of her hope-- a holy feeling damaged by sinful impulse. She wanted forgiveness and restoration so badly, she could not bear any further suffering, any further penance. So her first son became the focal point of all her desperate yearning. He was seen as a Lord himself, as an angel to deliver her, as her treasured possession and her most honored begotten one. Yet he was born in sin. Eve failed to consider the effects of such rashly placed hope in the first human being born without knowledge of prior innocence. Cain was doomed to fail from the beginning. He was no savior-- in truth, he was the anti-type. But Eve clung to hope in him, and in doing so, effectively repeated her damning sin, the first sin, the true seed that birthed Cain: she, in labeling him so, idolized him, and so chose the creature over the Creator yet again. Her hope should have been set in God alone to deliver her in due time, yet her pained impatience pushed her to seek relief elsewhere, in something more immediate, in someone she may have assumed would be more "merciful" to her plea. Surely her own son would not abandon her; surely he would revenge and restore his own mother to the purity she lost and lamented! But God, in His terrible true judgement, showed Cain's true nature in contrast to His Own. Cain sought revenge, yes, but that was never the right of man... and in so doing, brought more sorrow to his race. He destroyed the purity he saw, moved to wrath at its meekness, having never felt it himself, being incapable of understanding it. The child Eve judged to be "vain" was likewise judged as such by his twin, who slew him in envy, seeing him as worthless as opposed to himself. This self-serving pride was an echo of Eve's fallen choice, both seeking to exalt themselves over what God had placed above them, refusing to accept a lower position. Therefore now Cain was "Lord" only to himself... an empty title, having struck the wrong head.

A summary of the infamous crime: Cain murdered Abel when he was "inexplicably" favored above him-- above his elder brother, the honored firstborn, the inheritor, the assumed promised one! Yet Abel did not seek this favor, nor did he flaunt it. He quietly received God's blessing with humble joy. But Cain seethed with rage; he burned with humiliated envy, and in this slighted hatred, he murdered his innocent twin.

Thus Abel showed the vanity of Cain.

 

prismaticbleed: (angel)



“God’s pursuit of you is always greater than your ability to wander away from him.”

Thank Him for this daily.

God, if you’ve gotta drag me back, then please do so. I am terrified of wandering away because I do and I’m so weak. But You are strong and won’t allow me to stay lost. Help me stay close to You, but when I stray… prove this quote with all Your might!!


“Everyone that is close to the Lord, the enemy attacks.”

The enemy attacks with hatred. Satan wants to make us suffer if we draw close to God, as a vitriolic vengeance against his Creator, who he refuses to submit to and wants no one to submit to. Hence all the wiles and schemes to get people to rebel through sin, just like every devil did and does.

Stand strong in the faith. Satan is forever at war with God, and this world is the battlefield, and you will be wounded as long as you’re on the heavenly side of it. That’s nothing to worry about though. Christ was wounded more than anyone, and He now lives eternally! The devil cannot separate you from Christ, no matter how he tries, no matter how much you may bleed at his hateful hands. God is still victorious, and Christ is still at your side. So smile and endure with a peaceful, patient heart. You wouldn’t be a target if you weren’t marked for heaven.
 

“Are they not therefore foolish who, for momentary delights, bind themselves to so many perpetual evils?”

— St. Gregory

Every sin has consequences. Sin itself has the ultimate consequence of death. Sinful behavior rebels against God’s will and God’s love, and in choosing to sin– even if such behavior is “enjoyable” for a brief time– means choosing to distance ourselves ever further from God.

Sins add up. Every single one is a new link in the chain of worldly bondage. Break the chain! Forsake the momentary and choose the true– sacrifice delight and gain joy! Choose Christ and His perpetual Good– the only other option is endless wickedness.


“Even Death and Destruction hold no secrets from the Lord . How much more does he know the human heart!”

— Proverbs 15:11

This is so profound, and equally humbling. We humans don’t understand death and destruction at all. We theorize about it constantly– we study it, probe it, analyze it; we invent stories and myths about it, we are haunted by its dark reality. And yet God fully comprehends them both. We can’t even imagine! So indeed, how much more does He understand the baffling paradoxes of our hearts– how completely He understands our most confusing thoughts and complex feelings, our most troubling struggles and overwhelming concerns! All the dark places of our souls, all the shadows within us that terrify us… God knows it all, and He comprehends it.

This truth alone should motivate us all to seek His help all the more ardently in our daily trials. When we feel utterly lost and helpless, surrounded by death and destruction inside and out… then let us turn to God. He understands what’s going on, and He knows how to manage it, and He knows how to get through it, and if we ask Him, He will lovingly help us to do so.

 

'Commit this sin, and confess it afterwards.' Behold the deceitful artifice by which the devil has brought so many thousands of Christians to hell.
-Saint Alphonsus Liguori

 

To sin with the intention to confess later actually corrupts the conscience– it fools the heart into thinking that sin has no consequences. But confession is nullified by such brazen thoughts. Confessing is only valid, and therefore only followed by absolution, if the confessor is truly sorry for their sin, and vows firmly to amend their life. In other words, contrition and conversion are mandatory aspects of Reconciliation. If you confess a sin and intend to commit it again, your confession becomes void. Similarly, if you willingly sin and use the possibility of confession as an excuse, or a “free pass,” you not only commit a sacrilege against the Sacrament, but you also numb and harden your own soul.

Don’t ever do anything that you even might have to confess after. Let that be your true litmus test– “if I do this, will I have to confess it?” If yes, then don’t do it; no excuses!! And don’t ever try to justify your sins. There IS no justification for sin to begin with! All sin deserves death; that’s the very nature of sin. You cannot alter that. The only justification any of us sinners can ever hope to have comes through Jesus Christ– and to willingly sin, once we know this fact, is a damnable offense.

Be careful!! Resist the devil, and stand strong in your faith!

 

Repentance is less about confessing how horrible you are and more about confessing how glorious Christ is.

Sean Smith

This wording is tricky. Yes, we ARE “horrible,” in that we’re all hopeless sinners without God. But there’s the light– with God, we have hope! And such is repentance. When we recognize that God is not only just, but merciful, and in His love He calls us TO repent, not out of self-loathing but out of love for Him, and sorrow for acting against love… then our repentance changes from “I’m a horrible person, I can’t stand myself, I have to change my ways or else” to “I’ve done horrible things but God still forgives me; I want to live in grateful honor of Him now.”

Repentance can only stick if it’s motivated by love of God, and driven by hope in Him. Otherwise it is just an empty striving against self-hatred.
 

enchantedsuggest:

no one is ever too broken to recover. whatever’s hurting you, depression, anxiety, trauma, eating disorders, rejection, you are never a lost cause, and you deserve to feel happy, and you can get there someday.

As someone struggling with all of those things, I really needed this hope tonight. Thank you.

I’m not a lost cause. God has kept me alive thus far; He will restore my soul as He sees fit. If anything is damaging my soul, hurting my heart, keeping me from Him… He will get rid of it. He will fix me in a way that glorifies Him. That’s all that matters and that’s all I want.

I’ve been broken but God can put me back together better. He can fill the fractures with gold. Someday, I hope He will deliver me from this mental illness hell. I pray He will. But until then let Him be my only strength. Perhaps that is the purpose of the waiting. Humility, trust, and compassion. So I pray for the grace to carry this cross in a way that glorifies Him. I will keep praying.



yourbigsisnissi:

When we sin it doesn’t stop God from loving us. But sin does disrupt the relationship we have with God. So when you’re making the choice to sin or not, it’s not about whether or not God will hate you for it. It’s really about whether the choice to sin is more important than your relationship with God.

God hates the sin, not you. But sin pushes you away from Him. The very act of sinning turns our minds and hearts away from God, in focus and priority and worship, in every case. God will always love us and perpetually calls us to repent and return to Him, but sin deafens us, blinds us, numbs us by it’s very nature. You can feel it, literally, and it is both sickening and utterly terrifying.

So for heavens sakes PLEASE look at the gravity of temptation like this! “When you’re making the choice to sin or not.It really IS that black and white. Either you’re honoring God, or you’re dishonoring Him. Either you’re acting out of love for God, or you’re acting in rebellion against God. Either you’re being kind and respectful and forgiving towards your neighbor, or you are being cruel and disrespectful and half-hearted towards them. There are only ever two choices and you CAN boil down everything you do, in genuine honesty, to be serving either God or the world… to be humility or pride… to be obedience or sin.

“Is your choice to sin more important than your relationship with God?” Because it really does boil down to just that. It’s just that simple, just that huge. It’s the choice between heaven and hell, on a daily basis. Choose wisely. It adds up, and one day, that tally WILL determine your permanent fate. You can’t claim to love God and then constantly trash your relationship. You can’t be His child and yet refuse to obey Him as your Father. You cannot choose to serve the world and then want to live in God’s kingdom. You must marry one or the other, as it were.

God must be the most important thing in our lives, and our every choice must reflect this priority. Think of the terror of losing Him by choosing hell, and let that motivate you to resist the devil at every turn.

God loves you. Honor and embrace that relationship. Choose Him.



“My son, don’t reject the Lord’s discipline, and don’t be angry when He corrects you. The Lord corrects the one He loves, just as a father corrects a child He cares about.”

— Proverbs 3:11-12

When God disciplines you, He’s just telling you that He loves you too much to leave you with your own foolishness that will destroy you in the end. 

This is why humility is required for holiness– to accept and apply the Lord’s discipline, we must be willing and able to admit that we’re fools. We make really foolish choices, we constantly end up tangled in the consequences of those choices, and inevitably we all find ourselves crying out to God, scared and helpless and ashamed and contrite, begging for mercy and deliverance, aware of and full of regret for our ignorance and folly.

All of that pain could have been avoided if we had just obeyed God in the first place.

That’s why He is, quite honestly, unflinchingly adamant and firm in His corrections. God knows how easily we fall, and how dangerous sin is, and how rampant temptation is. Satan is waging war against us, cruel and conniving. So God cannot afford to be lax in His discipline– just like training soldiers, that discipline will ultimately make the difference between life and death on the spiritual battlefield.

God loves you dearly. He is your Father, and you are His utterly beloved child. He will not take any chances with keeping you safe, and He will constantly look for ways to strengthen and instruct you in holiness, so that you continue to grow. We all start life as foolish children, but foolishness is not an inherently damning quality. It’s just a starting point. But we mustn’t stay there, or we’re easy targets for the devil and his attacks. We must move on from foolishness, and only God can show us the way… for as Scripture tells us, to fear the Lord– to honor and respect and rightly tremble at His unfathomable power and knowledge and love– is the first step on the way to wisdom.

God will free you from your fatal foolishness, if you let Him. So joyfully, gratefully accept and obey your corrections. The pain of regret lasts a lot longer than the pain of discipline, and brings only misery. But correction is a pruning of our souls, and in the end, it will make us radiant and thriving. Take heart; you are loved!!


i-walkbyfaith:

Indeed, God uses the brokenness of people to help someone in ways that they could not even imagine.

Today my struggle with mental illness had me in tears, as I feel it hinders me from doing so much for my church and my faith. I couldn’t imagine why God gave me this humiliating, frustrating, limiting cross. But He gave it. And I might never understand. All I’m called to do is live according to His Word and His Will as completely as I can, even if I am hindered in many ways. God will still use this brokenness for His glory, somehow, some way. I must have hope in that; I must be brave and persistent in faith. Otherwise despair will kill me.

God uses the broken and humble, not the proud and powerful. If my mental illness is able to make me what God wants me to be, then so be it. I’ll trust in Him. God just grant me the grace to turn to You in my weakness, always. Use me and my crosses for Your greater good, please. That’s all I’ll ever want.


Be real with God, even if it’s ugly. Lay it down at His feet.

Be real with God, ESPECIALLY if it’s ugly! He alone will not condemn you for your honesty in such an awful matter– instead, in your humble confession, in your surrender to His mercy, He will show you mercy.

God already knows. God knows it’s ugly and He knows it hurts and He knows you are ashamed and afraid and would rather deny that ugly thing than admit that it exists, so blatantly and regretfully, in your life. He knows, so don’t hide. Surrender, and you will find peace at last. Open up, show it to Him, and then let Him heal you of that ugliness, however He wishes to. Give it to God, don’t take it back, and watch Him work miracles in your life.

 

The sin that is most destructive in your life right now is the one you are most defensive about.

Tim Keller

We defend those sins because, in one way or another, we want to commit them. We fear letting them go– we fear living without them, fear the vast freedom Christ calls us to. We are so used to living in our little jails that we consider them ‘comfy’ and familiar…and forget how beautiful true life is outside of them– we forget that Christ is infinitely better.

The very act of defending a sin makes it the most destructive– because that means it has its hooks in our hearts, and it will eat us alive if we continue to keep it in such close company. Make the courageous choice to surrender, to NOT defend it, even just once– to instead admit you are afraid, and addicted, and weak, and in need of repentance and salvation– choose humility instead of pride, and watch the shackles begin to fall, by the grace of God.


koinohnia:

If you want to love Jesus, you have to stop degrading yourself and seeing yourself as some sexual object or tool for someone to want or use because you’re worth more than that. Jesus purchased you with His life, so that you could belong to only Him.

As someone recovering from years of nightmarish sexual sin, trauma, and toxicity, I need to be reminded of this constantly.

I am not an object, I am not a toy, I am not a pet or a plaything or a pleasure cruise. I am not a consumable object. I do not exist to entertain those who “love” me for what I can do for them.

I belong to Christ. I was created for Christ. I will live for Christ, and no one else. If I am worth anything, it is only through Christ… and He has called me to be His beloved child. That is more than the entire world can ever offer… and it also means I am worth more to God than I can ever imagine.

Jesus loves me, and sees the truth in me. If I want to truly love Him in return, I must accept His love for me, or else my sin-twisted feelings of unworthiness and self-hatred will push me away from Him… and will make me treat myself abusively in turn. Imagine how that hurts Him– He who died for love of me, to purge those terrors from me, to make me whole and wholly His own– to see me treating myself so unkindly! If I say I love Him, I must not hurt Him… and if I hurt someone He loves, it hurts Him terribly.

I am someone He loves.

Remember that always.


“Not only is all your affliction momentary, not only is all your affliction light in comparison to eternity and the glory there, but all of it is totally meaningful. Every millisecond of your pain from the fallen nature of fallen men, every millisecond of your misery in the path of obedience is producing a peculiar glory you will get because of that. I don’t care if it was cancer or criticism. I don’t care if it was slander or sickness. It wasn’t meaningless. It’s doing something! It’s not meaningless! Of course you can’t see what it’s doing. Don’t look to what is seen. When your mom dies, when your kid dies, when you’ve got cancer at 40, when a car careens into the sidewalk and takes her out, don’t say, ‘That’s meaningless!’ It’s not. It’s working for you an eternal weight of glory. Therefore, therefore, do not lose heart. But take these truths and day by day focus on them. Preach them to yourself every morning. Get alone with God and preach his Word into your mind until your heart sings with confidence that you are new and cared for.”

— John Piper (via newlifepureheart)

So many people take offense to the truth that “everything happens for a reason,” but this quote expands upon that truth powerfully.

Everything that we experience in our lives comes from the will of God, either directly or through allowance. God is not directly responsible for the evil deeds of humans, but He does allow them the free will to choose evil… and then, He opens doors for His Glory to be proclaimed in beautiful victory over that evil. Good will always prevail in the end, for God is forever victorious. But to share in His victory now, we MUST face our sufferings with trust in God and His Good Purposes, or we will drown in confused blind despair.

In the end, all our mortal pains will be as dust in His hands. He will wipe our tears away and welcome us into the everlasting joy of His Kingdom, of His Presence. Trust Him now… for this is not the end of the story. Even if we don’t understand, we have faith in Him, and we use every experience to grow closer to Him until we finally meet Him face to face. Do not lose heart.
 

 

crownedbythelord:

Today I just realized again that all I need is God. No matter what happens, he is there to catch me. He is there - with his love, strength, peace, faithfulness, holiness - I can’t describe how beautiful it is to live in his presence. I can’t describe how thankful I am to have him and to belong to him. The moment I step out of his presence I am lost. But thank God, my shepherd always knows where to find me. I love you Jesus.

cheeryblueheart: Amen. I needed to Read this today. I don’t want to exist Outside of Christ.

I don’t ever want to exist outside of Christ, either… and by His Grace, I pray that I never ever will. Outside of Christ it is literally hell.

And that is the paradox of this life. Truly, we cannot exist outside of Christ– but in this fallen world, it can sure feel like we do. Sin distances us from Christ, giving us a real taste of Hell, and of its horrifying existential emptiness and terror. But when we have been burnt by sin’s flames, and chilled by sin’s desolation, we are blessed beyond comprehension to have, in this mortal life, the chance to turn around and run back Home… to step back into the Presence of God, of our Good Shepherd, Jesus Christ, who is waiting for us with open arms of eternal love… and who, indeed, is always closer than we think, even in the depths of our misery.

No matter what happens, Jesus is there. He holds us close to His Heart, and we belong to Him forever. The Father gave us to Him and nothing can take us out of His arms. (John 10:29)

I, too, am grateful to the point of tears that God is always there, that I belong to Him, and that with Him I am never lost. He is all I have, all I could ever want, and all that I will ever need, forever.

 

“If God gives you a few more years, remember, it is not yours. Your time must honor God, your home must honor God, your activity must honor God, and everything you do must honor God.”
-A.W. Tozer

 

 

As someone in recovery from both serious trauma and serious sin, this is vitally important.

Everything I do must honor God. This is only right and just– He could have let me rot and die in my brazen sins. But He didn’t– He mercifully and powerfully saved me. Not only that, but I still haven’t died from my own stupidity, and that is due to His good grace alone. The simple fact that God has me held so completely in His hands, is astounding. I’m humbled and struck by holy fear. In recognition of that, there is only one thing I want… and that is, indeed, to praise and thank and honor Him, admitting my sinful frailty and begging for the mercy to continue to repent and serve Him.

God, give me the grace, for Your sake!!

 

"The devil attacks some people more and others less. We can never know how dramatic the situation in each person's heart may be... It's amazing how we can disguise our passions as virtues..."

 

We must never make excuses for our own sins. We must never try to justify our failings. We must never look at our struggles with sin and try to stick a proud label onto it. So we might not share a certain temptation or sinful inclination or weakness with our fellow in faith. So what? They do not share many of ours either. But we both struggle, and we are both sinners. There is no merit or praise to be had here. We cannot pretend that the devil’s decisions are any credit to us. He attacks us all– we have no right or reason to judge others based on the percieved manner or frequency of such warfare.

In short: be humble. Your neighbor is still fighting the devil. Have mercy. God forbid you condemn them for “being more tempted than you,” only to suddenly face more temptations than ever! Humble yourself or you will be humbled… and for the proud, the process will be humiliating.

 

inchrist: The hardest thing about living a Christian life isn’t going to church, praying, receiving the sacraments, or reading scripture. It’s learning to forgive those who made your life hell and dissolving the grudge you hold against them.

dragonpuppies: “Love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you” is one of those things a lot of Christians get told as a kid and never really think about, which is a shame because when you do think about it, it’s the most flooring, impossible, life-altering command. 

caffeinatedcatholic: During my very first confession about a month before my confirmation, I told my priest about my grandfather, who was a protestant pastor and a pedophile who molested me all through my childhood, and about all the anger and sinful habits that resulted from it.

My confessor is such a kind a thoughtful priest and I love him, but the penance he gave me was the hardest I’ve ever ever done.

He told me to say 3 Our Fathers for my grandfather. My grandfather died shortly after I came forward about the abuse, of a heart attack. My priest said it doesn’t matter that he’s dead. It doesn’t matter that he’s probably in hell, it doesn’t matter where he is in the afterlife at all. Because my penance is for me, for my healing.

We don’t pray bc God needs to hear us say certain things, we don’t even pray for His benefit at all. It’s for ours. It’s for our healing, for our reconciliation, for us to draw our spirits close to His.

My priest told me, “Pray for him. Especially where the Our Father says, ‘And forgive us our sins as we forgive those who have sinned against us.’ Your prayer won’t affect your grandfather, wherever he is, and it doesn’t need to. Your penance is for you, to help you let go and forgive.”

It took me an hour to say my penance. I was shaking with anger and fear and resentment, with the ache of longing to let it go. Especially since I spent a majority of my childhood praying and begging God to let him be in hell bc if he was somehow in heaven, I didn’t want to go.

And I finally did my penance and honestly nothing magical happened. It hurt a lot. I still try to pray for him and it still goes against everything in me. It’s a lot of work. But little by little I’m letting go, and it’s one less thing that I have to drag around with me every day.

Praying for your persecutors, your abusers, it’s freaking hard. And obviously not everyone is in the same situation as me and praying for your persecutors may actually also help them and be a turning point in their lives. Or it might not do anything for them. We dont know God’s will for their lives or the states of their hearts. But we know God wants us to give up our hate. Praying for your enemies will soften your heart, it makes you humble and lighter and kinder. Praying for your enemies is a conversion. Deny yourself.

This is such an important addition; thank you sincerely for sharing.

Our prayers and penance cannot change the past. Nor can it change the hearts of our enemies– only God can do that. But sincerely praying for them absolutely changes our hearts. It completely shifts the focus of our thoughts and emotions, rerouting us to humility and faith and mercy, instead of being stuck in lethal hardness and bitterness. God demands that His children strive to live in obedience to Him, and in honor to Him, and we cannot do either of those things by holding on to hatred.

Praying for your enemies is a conversion.” We must remember this. God will heal our hearts, if we meet Him there. However long it takes, no word is wasted, if it springs from faith and humility.

And above all, remember Christ, who died for us while we were still absolutely degenerate sinners, so that we could be absolved and forgiven and restored to friendship with Him. Remember this, this love that He has for you AND your abuser, this great desire He has to save and absolve BOTH your souls. You cannot save your abuser, but Christ can, and your praying to forgive them is going to help your salvation too… because it is helping realign your heart to imitate Christ’s. We’ve all sinned, we all deserve just punishment, but Christ offers mercy. Remember this, and humbly pray for your enemies. See their souls as separate from their sins– forgiveness does not justify their behavior, but it does allow for the possibility of change, even if only in your mind, from a toxic person to a healthy one. See that hope, even if they are no longer alive. Pray for mercy for them. Pray for the grace to will the best for them. Pray as Christ wants us to pray– for God’s will to be done, but also to forgive and be forgiven in turn. And in all this, Christ will teach you to honestly love all. I’m sure.

I apologize if this is rambling. My heart is just moved very strongly about all this.

 


 

 

inchrist: The hardest thing about living a Christian life isn’t going to church, praying, receiving the sacraments, or reading scripture. It’s learning to forgive those who made your life hell and dissolving the grudge you hold against them.

dragonpuppies: “Love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you” is one of those things a lot of Christians get told as a kid and never really think about, which is a shame because when you do think about it, it’s the most flooring, impossible, life-altering command. 

everlastinglyanna: And when you do it, despite how you might be burning on the inside or really don’t feel like it, God begins to change your heart. It’s beautiful. This helps us to obtain true charity. And get this, Proverbs 25:21-22 lets us know that if we serve our enemies or do good to them, it will be as heaping “coals of fire upon their head.” So not only does your heart begin to change, but apparently theirs does too! 

I’ve been struggling with forgiving a very toxic friend lately– difficult because not only can she cannot comprehend or admit that she harmed me so devastatingly, but also because she afterward spitefully refused to even consider the thought and instead declared that she would perpetuate such behavior. I’ve never felt such bitter pain and regret and sorrow and rage in my entire life and it’s terrifying. Literally all I can do is pray. I still love my friend but I hate what she did and is doing and that hatred is suffocating me. All I can do is pray, that my heart be softened to genuine mercy and forgiveness… and that my friend and I both will be brought ever closer to God through contrition.

It really is difficult– it often feels frighteningly impossible. But God can do anything, including changing my heart to follow His command of divinely merciful love. And God, I do beg you for the grace.



“The most beautiful creed we pronounce is the one we pronounce in our hour of darkness.”

Padre Pio (1887 – 1968)

When we are tested to our very limits, when the storms of life batter us to the brink, then the strength and foundation of our faith is revealed. The creed we pronounce when we have every reason to doubt and rage and abandon ship, the creed we steadfastly proclaim with the last ounce of hope in our heart… that is the one that carries diamonds, that holds the most graceful truth.


“Nothing is due to me. I am not a miracle worker. Left to my own devices, I can do nothing but sin.”

St. Pio of Pietrelcina

The fact that Saint Padre Pio said this is both shocking and humbly reassuring– as a sinner who is devastated by their own horrific iniquity, knowing that even the saints were well aware that “everything good in me comes from God alone” gives me hope. Left to my own devices I am an absolute abomination. But my weak and wrecked nature is not a solid sentence of hell, if only God’s grace intervenes on my behalf. Maybe one day I too can become a saint through God’s salvific and sovereign power. That gives me great hope. And so I pray.

Grace alone has preserved my life. Grace alone will keep me alive today. Grace alone will grant me a future. Everything, past present and future, is from God.

 

“We know that when He shall appear, we shall be like Him, for we shall see Him as He is. That is the end; there perpetual praising, there Alleluia always without fail.” —St. Augustine (Homily 10 on the First Epistle of John)

This most blessed and glorious hope moves me to tears and is often the only thing getting me through the day. In the end, in the gracious end, there is only God and love of Him, forever!

 

“When your body is injured, do you know what you body immediately does to heal itself? Blood aggressively moves towards the injury. Your body reveals the nature of God; wherever there is sin, here comes aggressive forgiveness of His Blood.”

— Pastor Judah Smith

This is such an eye-opening realization… it changes the way we look at sin. Sin is injury– it is soul damage! And without the Blood of Christ, it cannot heal. We need the blessedly aggressive forgiveness of Jesus’s atonement as much as we need literal blood in our veins… and our hearts need Him just as much.


Take heart; Jesus has overcome the world!
John 16:33

[We are often told that "The battle is over; the victory is won."] No, the WAR has already been won, but the BATTLES continue. This is how we participate in Christ’s victory. @strategic-social-media

Amen to this. Spiritual warfare is real and will continue until Christ’s return in final victory. But no matter how many battlefields we must brave in the meantime, God is triumphant over it all, and sin IS defeated… just outside of our personal time. Sin refuses to accept this fact and so it fights bitterly, rebelliously, vengefully. But have hope, have faith, and soldier on! Christ is with us– still and always. And He will continue to overcome this world, as long as it continues to oppose Him. Take heart!


I met God, Who slowly, painfully, and divinely pieced me back together.


Sin tore me to shreds, but God picked me up– powerfully, but gently. Putting me back together would take a great deal of time… understandably, considering how delicate and careful the process was (and is). To rush would have been not only disrespectful, but also disastrous. I am grateful for the mending, but I cannot deny the pain– sewing torn skin and soul, setting cracked bones and being, soothing shocked head and heart. I still ache; I still have flashbacks and nightmares, illness and sickness. But I am safe now. I am, through His divine love, whole now. No longer am I ripping out parts of my spirit and handing them out to greedy wolves who believed they were just “misunderstood sheep.” Their ravenous appetites swore otherwise. And my Shepherd knew the truth, and He found me, and He delivered me into the sanctuary of His arms… where I wish to remain for the rest of my life, all the more healed and happy and holy each morning.

I met God, who saved me from myself, and now I joyfully live for Him. All glory, honor, and praise be to The Lord!!


Believing the right things about Jesus isn’t enough. You’re not adopted as God’s child until you confess and turn away from your wrongdoing and receive the freely offered gift of forgiveness and eternal life that Jesus purchased with his death on the cross. Until you do that, you’ll always be on the outside looking in.

Lee Strobel

Always remember James 2:19… “You believe that there is one God. You do well. Even the demons believe—and tremble!” In this we realize, strikingly, that believing the truth does not mandate obedience to it, or even respect for it! Demons believe, but then they oppose– they attack, they rebel, they scorn, they desecrate. But they still quake in terror at the truth. That does not make them holy. Similarly, no amount of belief or acknowledgement of truth on our part can make us a child of God… for a child not only believes his parents, but obeys and respects and loves them also– with humility!! A good child knows he is not greater or wiser than his father and he honors that difference in wisdom. And so we do this by confessing our Father’s infinite wisdom and righteousness, confessing our own sinfulness and foolishness before Him, and gratefully accepting the salvation from such a state that ONLY God can give, and has given, through His Son. No devil will ever, or can ever, do any of those three steps. A demon has no honor of God, no humility of heart, and no salvation. So yes, you do well to believe… but you must live that belief, for faith without works is dead!

 

“The only really practical type of a rebellion is that which is also a repentance. All real reform springs from this sense of something wrong, not only in our surroundings, but in ourselves.”

— G.K. Chesterton

To rebel without repentance is to rebel in pride; it is an offensive act against something outside of us that we disagree with or detest, while maintaining our own “righteousness.” It is, in essence, a refusal to see oneself as blameworthy or mistaken. This is a dangerous act that fuels arrogance and sinful selfishness, and crushes the capacity for humility and spiritual growth.

However, to rebel with repentance is something I never even considered until now. It means that the disagreement and disgust is with ourselves– it means that the thing we wish to stand against and act in opposition to is in us, not just outside us– it means that we recognize that the roots of the illness in society spring from our own souls, not the other way around.

Rebellion of the virtuous sort therefore requires serious courage, as it first requires that we actively take a stand against our own selfish impulses. To see, admit, and then oppose our own sinful inclinations is mandatory for holiness but it is also very difficult– Scripture itself attests to this (Galatians 5:17)!

Ultimately I think we can best grasp the gravity of this distinction by reviewing the root definition of “rebellion”… which is “war waged against a government by some portion of its subjects.” Which spiritual government are you rebelling against? Are you rebelling against the gentle yoke of Christ, preferring the seductive snares of sin? Or are you rebelling against the heavy chains of the flesh, choosing instead to follow Christ to true freedom? You cannot serve two masters, but ultimately you will serve one.

Make sure your soul is being governed by God… and if it’s not? Then repent, rebel, and reform.


“If anything, let your pain be the passion for your prayer.”

— p.j. {1 Thessalonians 5:17}

Frequently, the pain is so overwhelming it makes formal prayer difficult, and this is both horrible and terrifying. So when it’s that bad, don’t despair! Pour out your heart to God in the pain, as the pain. If words aren’t possible, then speak in feelings. Ask the Holy Spirit to intercede for you, to give you the grace to pray somehow, so that your suffering never drives you away from God… even if all you can do is cling to His pierced feet and weep. Hold on to Him with every ounce of strength you have. This is prayer.

 ------------------------------------------------------------------


We no longer suffer from “suffering” when we recognize and embrace it all as God’s loving will for us. This is one of the dearest, most beautiful blessings of God’s grace to us as His Children. ❤

Salvation - What is truly required? 

lovechangeseverythang:

What won’t save you :

- how often you go to church / pray / read Scriptures
- your good works
- how “spiritual” or “religious” you are
- the faith of your family members / friends

What will save you :

- Romans 10:9-10, “that if you confess with your mouth the Lord Jesus and believe in your heart that God has raised Him from the dead, you will be saved. For with the heart one believes unto righteousness, and with the mouth confession is made unto salvation.”

Lets get the idea out of our heads that our religiosity is what saves us. It’s a bold statement, but I say it with full confidence: Jesus saves you, and that’s it. Everything else comes after, and is needed for spiritual growth, but like I said… it comes after! Don’t get caught up in trying to do this thing, or that thing, or be this person, or that person. Once He changes your heart, your desires change too, and TRUST ME, He will transform you into who you’re supposed to be if you let Him take over your life! Over time you’ll develop spiritual discipline that will lead you to pray, go to church, read Scriptures, carry out good works, etc. But those don’t save you, and our God is more concerned with your heart than all of those things!
 

Everything else comes after. That is such a powerful hope, such a joyful truth. I can attest to that with my whole heart. Jesus WILL transform you if you surrender to Him with love! It takes time but it’s beautiful time, even when it’s scary, even when it hurts, because through it all you know that it is ALL drawing you closer to Him. Obedience to God practically guarantees persecution and suffering in this world, but those trials are like dust compared to the ultimate end our obedience points to– life in Christ, forever.

And that’s what saves us… Christ’s love, Christ’s mercy, Christ’s power, Christ’s cross. He changes us and we no longer have to struggle in fear to “do good or else,” because once we life for Him, doing good is no longer a challenge of our weak wills, but it becomes a loving response to God’s love. Our good works bloom FROM our faith, as effortlessly as flowers, but requiring the same amount of time and effort, too. It’s a glorious paradox. But in the end, I must reiterate, those works are NOT what save us– they come after we are already saved, through faith in our Savior.

Faith makes Christ the new center of our lives, instead of the world. Spiritual growth comes from becoming part of the True Vine, from whom all good things flow. Prayer and fasting and sacrifice and all sorts of Christian activities will eventually become our joyful nature, not a hard decision. Have faith. God will change your heart to resemble His, more every day. He does all the hard work. All we have to do is truly believe in Him, through His Son, and the Spirit will carry us through the rest of this life, through happiness and horror, through peace and pain, until we reach the doors of death and meet our Father at last.

No matter what you do or don’t do, it won’t save you. Paradoxically, because Christ alone saves us, your works or lack thereof won’t damn you, either… because once you have faith, you will do works. It‘s the inevitable result of a changed heart. You’ll no longer worry about “being enough,” because Christ is enough, and living for Him becomes a fearless act of love, instead of a chore.

Faith comes first. Everything else comes after.

 

God says:
I closed off all easy roads leading to Me.
But I am reachable, if you're willing to go the extra mile.

Matthew 7:14. “But small is the gate and narrow the road that leads to life, and only a few find it.”

Jeremiah 29:13. “You will seek me and find me when you seek me with all your heart.”

God is always reachable, but we must prove our pure intentions in seeking Him out. No casually curious souls will be granted access. The road to God is difficult but this is a testament to His glory– only those willing to be made worthy through faithful endurance of its trials will make it through that extra mile.

But we can. God wants us to seek and find Him. And He rejoices in our steadfast pursuit of Him. So forget the easy roads– they may seem pleasant at first but they’re all dead ends. Choose the roughest road– the road of the Cross– for only that road leads to heaven.


alistairradley:

“You didn’t find Jesus, He found you. He wasn’t lost, you were.”

— Matt Chandler

You have not chosen Me, but I have chosen you!

—Jesus

This is an important truth to humbly remember when we inevitably struggle in our faith lives. We may be terribly lost, unsure how to find God again, too weak to properly choose the right things… but God is seeking us always, choosing us again and again, giving us the Grace needed to live in Him anew every morning… if we admit that we are lost, weak, and confused. If we deny our state of lack and sin, we cannot be found, strengthened, corrected, or led.

But, if and when we remember that our salvation is of Christ and ONLY of Christ, by His will and power, and not by any speck of our own merit… then, in all grateful humility, we allow ourselves to be found… we allow ourselves to be chosen, and then, we can choose Him, too.


“AT THE END OF A DAY, I WANT PEOPLE TO THINK AND SAY, { MY HEART LOOKS LIKE YOURS JESUS.}”

Crowned with thorns of humility, pierced with a lance of persecution, and afire with love for humanity.

Seriously though. Our hearts must imitate both Christ’s love and His suffering, for the two are forever intertwined. His love was the most powerfully proved by His suffering, after all– that’s why we have the Cross!


Sometimes I don’t need to understand…

just trust in the Lord.

Trust creates peace.

We humans understand so little the way it is. How could we ever trust God if we demanded to understand Him first? By His very nature, He is unfathomable! His ways are infinitely above our ways. But His ways are also always good. So what does it matter if we don’t understand? We know the bottom line. God is trustworthy. So trust Him.

This, indeed, grants our hearts an equally unfathomable peace.

 

When a church changes their values to match current culture, they're no longer following the Bible, they're following the lost.


God never changes. His Word is whole and true for eternity. There is never any reason for His church to mutate itself to match a fickle, shifting, fading culture. We must instead stand strong as a bulwark of truth amidst the whirling winds of the world.
 

“A man who lacks judgment derides his neighbor, but a man of understanding holds his tongue.”

— Proverbs 11:12

All our words should be edifying, honest, and merciful. True judgment is accompanied by compassion and humility. It does no good to deride anyone.
 

Christians are guilty of telling more lies to God on Sundays than on any other day. You know why? Because it is on Sundays that they sing so many hymns - such as, “All to Jesus I surrender”, “Take my silver and my gold, not a mite would I withhold”, etc.

You may sing those words because they’re in the hymnbook. But you don’t mean them. And you don’t realize that you’re speaking directly to God when you sing such hymns. Maybe you are more conscious of the tune than of the words. That’s when you tell lies to God.

Jesus said that we would have to give an account to God in the day of judgment for every careless word that we spoke (Matthew 12:36).

-Zac Poonen “God Centred Praying”

Especially in church, every single word we say must come from our heart in both frank sincerity and solemn awareness of the binding quality of words. If you say something mindlessly or automatically, where is the honor in your words? Where is their value?

I am a cantor at my church and I am often left in tears and trembling from what I sing in those hymns. God knows I mean every word, for His glory and for His love, and I pray with every breath that He grants me the grace I so dearly need to keep those promises and confessions.

But I am very aware how deadly a careless hymn is to the soul. It is just as lethal as hollow prayer, for hymns are indeed just prayers set to music– and in both, we must be fully and humbly aware of Who is listening. He knows your heart, and whether or not it is in your words. So be honest. Mean what you sing. And if you cannot sing with sincerity, then seriously pray about that. But don’t ever sing emptily.
 

I will be like a shepherd looking for his scattered flock. I will find my sheep and rescue them from all the places where they were scattered on that dark and cloudy day. (NLT) -Ezekiel 34:12

 

God considers each of His children to be a lost sheep. We are all prone to wandering away from Him, lured by the shallow enticements of the world, and ultimately ending up terribly lost, sometimes to the point of losing hope. But fear not! As one of His precious sheep, He will seek you out and find you to bring you back to His flock. Oh, how much He loves you, to ensure that you do not get lost along the way! You are too important for Him to overlook, and you should never doubt that. He is your Good Shepherd.

 

If you cling to your life, you will lose it; but if you give up your life for me, you will find it. (NLT) -Matthew 10:39

 

The emphasis here is not on losing your life and all of your possessions, but rather on turning your focus away from those possessions. We sometimes lose sight of the important things in life: such as strengthening the bond with your parents or mending wounds with friends. God calls us to love both our neighbors and our enemies, so by focusing on building Godly relationships, we honor Him. Maybe it has been a long time since you shared a special moment with your brothers or sisters, let alone a special moment with God. We become so busy in life that our priorities can be flipped upside down, and that is truly “losing” our life. Without God and neighbor taking priority over stuff and status, our lives will become living deaths. We must change our way of thinking and prioritize in a healthy and Godly way by putting God, our spouse, and our family first.

 

Then Christ will make his home in your hearts as you trust in him. Your roots will grow down into God’s love and keep you strong. (NLT) -Ephesians 3:17

 

When you place your faith in God and trust that His plans for you are better than you can imagine, Christ will send the Holy Spirit to you. Through prayer and daily reading of the Bible, a relationship will grow. This relationship is unlike any other, and it will sharpen you to constantly grow to be more like Christ. Stay rooted in God’s love, and focus on strengthening your loving relationship with Him daily.
 

“And suddenly I realized that every single thing in my life is fleeting, and that only God is eternal.”

sad and yet gloriously sweet realization…

“This too shall pass.” Every earthly joy and sorrow will fade. But if we anchor our lives on God, our true joy and true life, not even the passing away of this entire world will shake us, for our hope is in Heaven with the Lord of Eternity.
 

Even on my darkest and twistiest of days, God is still there. No matter how hollow my chest feels or how heavy my bones are, He is there always whispering encouragement.


“Keep pushing. I’m not done yet.”

God isn’t done with you, so never give up. Our strength isn’t what matters here– God’s strength is. So no matter how weak, helpless, tired, scared, or useless we may feel, that doesn’t matter– God will carry us through for His sake, by His will, and God is unstoppable. If we cling to Him in obedient faith and ardent hope, we will share in the joy of His victory over death in our lives, by the grace of Christ.

Keep pushing– God will give you the strength. He isn’t done, so don’t be afraid. Until the very end and beyond, He is with you… and in this loving trust, not even the end can scare you.

 

Don't forget God when you get what you prayed for.

God isn’t a vending machine! God is the CREATOR, the Giver and Maker of All! When He gives you what you pray for, it is because He wills it, and He is glorified in the giving– God owns all things and gives them to His children as He chooses. So humbly remember this when you receive such gifts. Thank Him for His generous goodness, and His loving mercy in answering you so!
 

pray even when the waters are calm

especially when the waters are calm

When the waters are calm, we can see all the way to the bottom. There are a lot of terrible things hiding down there, trust me. Just because they aren’t moving right now doesn’t mean they’re out of the picture. One day again they shall turn the seas into a maelstrom. So when the waters are calm, it’s the best time to reflect on just how much we have been delivered from, and just how blessed we are to have hope in Christ, who alone calms the waters, no matter how severe the storm.

Pray then, pray now, pray always. Prayer is praise and love and wonder and awe and humility and sorrow and pleading and gratitude. Prayer is the heart speaking to God in any and all circumstances. Pray in tough times, pray in tranquil times. Never stop, because you always need it… for you always need God.


Do what makes you happy holy.

Holiness is true happiness-- and we will never be happy if we are not striving to be holy first!


"Within the covers of the Bible are the answers for all the problems men face."
-Ronald Reagan

The bottom line: put God first in all things. Obey and honor Him as your first priority– the answers you seek will naturally follow.


"It is not a matter of time so much as a matter of heart; if you have the heart to pray, you will find the time."
-Charles Spurgeon

Time is a sacrifice too, and a precious one– we never know if this is our final hour. And yet, blessed irony, this truth of temporality should move us all the more strongly to offer every moment to God!

Furthermore, we give our time most naturally to what we love… to what our hearts deem worthy of attention, of worship. If God does not hold the highest place– nay, the only place– on that list, you must fix your priorities. If you truly love God above all else, you will make time for Him, even in your most potent stress, even in your most heavy fatigue, even in the face of death.

If you have the heart to pray, no excuse will ever prevent you from praying.

 

"Blessed, however, are those who’ve managed to simplify their life and become liberated from the web of this world’s development of numerous conveniences (i.e. many inconveniences), and were released from the frightening stress of our present age."
-St Paisios of Mount Athos

This present age is a tangled knot of useless stressors indeed. We are born with nothing and we die with nothing. God is all that matters.

 

“A fool vents all his feelings, But a wise man holds them back.”

— Proverbs 29:11 (nkjv)

Feelings are temporary and transient. They flare up and die down as quickly and chaotically as a flame. Venting them as they roar by is foolish indeed– wisdom lies in silence, in patient discretion. We must calmly assess our feelings for truth and propriety, before we give words to any of them.
 

“Good sense and discretion make a man slow to anger, And it is his honor and glory to overlook a transgression or an offense without seeking revenge and harboring resentment.”

— Proverbs 19:11 (AMP)

God is merciful to us; let us then be merciful to all our brethren.

If there is to be any vengeance, it is God’s, never ours. We are to forgive in humble compassion, to pray for the souls of those who offend us, and to seek their good. Resentment will rot our hearts. Both good sense and holiness quench the harmful heat of anger. Always choose what will bring honor to Christ.
 

thewordfortheday:

Jesus understands that our flesh is contaminated by sin and extremely weak when it comes to spiritual things. But He tells us to seek His strength so that we may live for Him and not succumb to our flesh. Knowing that our flesh is not able to do what our spirit desires, Jesus encourages us to pray –
“Watch and pray, that you enter not into temptation.” (Matthew 26:41) Each of us has certain areas where we are more vulnerable to temptation and susceptible to sin. Jesus tells us that we should always be alert to the possibility of satan’s temptation, especially in these areas. Jesus also encourages us to pray, bringing our needs and weaknesses “specifically” before the throne of God in order to receive His help.

Our flesh is not able to do what our spirit desires.” This is the shocking, humbling truth. This is why we must be vigilant in prayer, for we are at perpetual risk for temptation and sin, as weak as we are. But God will help us for His glory and in His love.

Also, remember the emphasis on “specifically.” The most powerful intercession is given to the most radical honesty & surrender. When you’re struggling, tell God the details– lay your heart bare. Yes, He already knows, but what faith and trust and humility it grows in you to confess it to Him so directly, so totally!

 

The challenge of our faith is not our inability to hear God’s voice, but rather our willingness to entertain other voices

Bill Johnson

Too many other voices are talking over Christ’s Word in our hearts; in our world we are bombarded by chatter and noise. We must constantly endeavor to listen to God all the more closely, and fill all our senses with Him, to overpower the cacophony of the world.

 

justcallmebishop:

Its fascinating to me just how possible it is to know God, yet how committed I can be to only learn more about myself.

In knowing God more, we come to truly know ourselves more, too… after all, what meaning is there to life and self without God? All self-reflection born from proud curiosity and self-worship is bound to collapse emptily in the end. I can gravely attest to this. The only self-knowledge worth anything is the knowledge of who we are in Christ, who we are to God, and who we can and will become through God’s salvific grace.

Read your Bible. Pray without ceasing. Make knowledge of God your truest commitment. This will ultimately also teach you more about yourself than anything else ever can.

 

justcallmebishop:

It’s the new Christian fad to see maps everywhere, in churches and in homes, because every Christian wants to reach the nation’s, but so painfully few want to reach their neighbors.

Thinking “globally” can become so abstract, that it takes the feeling of urgency away from evangelization and charity both. But when your starving, struggling, sin-wracked neighbors are next door, or in your own family, the call to do God’s work becomes more urgent than ever– and you can’t hang up that divine call without willful ignorance.

It’s a staggering reality, to see that we are surrounded right now by people in desperate need of God, and we can’t rely on any corporation, celebrity, or community outreach to do the hard work for us, whereas globally we can make a donation or mission trip or prayer group and feel “accomplished.” But although it is good to give this sort of national help, it is far better– and I daresay more Christian– to do the humble hidden work here at home.

Talk to your neighbors about Christ. Talk to your family. Care for the sick, elderly, disabled, and lonely in your hometown, on your street. Cook meals, run errands, care for children and pets, assist with bills, even just visit someone who needs the comfort of a fellow soul. Do all of these things and more for God’s sake– because you love Him, and you love His children. If you call yourself a Christian, your life must honor His life. Do as He would do, and help those who need your help, personally.

 

Those that forever seek the Word of God are overrun by those who do It.
-Reinhard Bonnke

Seek God’s will, but when you find it– and you WILL, for God promises this– do it!

We can all too easily “pretend” we don’t know God’s will if we’re afraid to obey it, or if we don’t understand it. But His will is right there in Scripture. It’s engraved upon our hearts. It’s given in response to honest prayer. Deep down, whenever we ask in faith, we WILL receive in faith. The important bit is acting on it with the same amount of faith and trust.

Seek His will, find His will, and do His will. There are always three steps. If you don’t do it, then you disobey it. There is no other option. Remember this.

 

hisprincess:

Stop taking your eyes off of Christ. Without Him you’ll end up in the exact place you keep telling yourself you don’t want to be.

Reminder to self.

Think of the world as a raging sea, and think of your life as a boat out in the storm. Now think of Christ as a lighthouse– as a lodestar, as the sole guiding brilliance of your ship, the sole hope of safety, the sole signpost of survival and salvation from the wild tempests. That is how dearly you should value Christ– as your only hope; as THE only hope! Fix your eyes on His light just as unflinchingly as a sailor in such a storm would fix his eyes on the beacon proclaiming safe shores. Without Christ, you will not only become desperately lost– you will also die out there, in the merciless maelstrom.

You don’t want to be lost at sea. So keep your eyes on Christ, and follow Him.

 

“We are all one in sin, one in failure, one in hopelessness, one in need of the Lord Jesus Christ and His great salvation.”

— Martyn Lloyd-Jones

Jesus is the One for Everyone.

Remember this: there are no exceptions. Every person on this earth has sinned, and cannot save themselves. But Christ has opened the Way to every person, too. Have mercy on your brethren, and walk with them together to His Cross of Salvation!


“God seeks churches and households that love the lost, not love the blessing God bestows on them for reaching the lost. God seeks those who sacrificially give for the advance of the gospel because Jesus is worth it, not because Jesus will make it worth it.”

— Dick Brogden

If Jesus is not enough motivation for you to sacrifice, then you need to seriously examine your heart as a Christian. If you’re “in it” for temporal blessings, your heart is in the wrong place. Love the lost because God loves them, and because you love God, and because He quite honestly commanded that we love all our fellow humans– all our fellow creations of God, all our fellow souls in need of salvation.

Jesus Christ alone– love and glory and praise of Him– is enough motivation to make the most generous sacrifices. Everything is already worth it, if it’s for Him.

 

koinohnia:

Jesus was nailed to the cross so His love could pierce your hard heart to make it soft.

The mental imagery of this alone can shatter a heart of stone.

Reflect on this profound suffering love whenever sin hardens your heart. Let the nails pierce you through. Let love break you open so that grace can enter in again.

 

Trust God in the tunnel, and He will lead you into Light.

God never leads us into dead ends. Every path we take through faith in Him ultimately leads to Him. So if following Him leads you somewhere dark and dreary, remember that it’s only a temporary thing… there’s an exit somewhere, sometime. Even if that exit is the end of your life, do not fear! If you’re following God, you’ll reach Him in the end. Trust Him in the meantime, no matter what.


 

Turn away from evil and do good. Search for peace, and work to maintain it. (NLT) -Psalms 34:14

 

God wants us to live peaceful lives. God hates the insecurity and fear evil brings to our lives. Thus, a part of being a Christ follower is being a peace seeker- for following Him brings true peace. Make a list of how you can be an agent of peace in your community. Do you feel moved to make amends with neighbors? Co-workers? Family members? Maybe you feel called to speak against a particular injustice? It could be that you are nudged to finally are agree to volunteer in your local church. Rest assured that Christ has placed these peaceful nudges into your heart for His sake and the sake of His Kingdom. Make steps to be a peacemaker today!

 

"If we could only see the joy of our guardian angel when he sees us fighting temptations."
- St. John Vianney.

This is a powerful love-driven motivator.

Love is really the only motivation for good. Remember this in your struggles. Without love, you’re stuck. With love, you’re already free.


preparation-and-acceleration:

Father, please show me whenever I am not thinking in ways that will cultivate my heart for You so I can unroot that mindset

Show me, and then please, give me the grace TO unroot those thought processes. I cannot do it myself. Only You can. So please, God… show me Your will, and enable me to do it, for Your sake.

 

“I am profoundly grateful to God that He did not grant me certain things for which I asked, and that He shut certain doors in my face.”

— Martin Lloyd Jones

God’s will is always better than ours, for His knowledge, wisdom, and purity is always infinitely greater than ours.

If God shuts a door, rejoice. If He denies a request, rejoice. He knows what He’s doing. You are being protected and guided by His powerful hand. Then, with grateful humility, obey His rerouting.

 

My worth is found in Christ and only in Christ.

No matter what the world says about you, good or bad, in the end Christ is all that matters, and all that is worth anything. If you cling to Him, no earthly abandonment or demonic lies can shake you. Without Christ, though– without God– is there anything worthwhile? No. Everything outside of Him will pass away and come to naught. But Christ died to conquer death, to make us worthy who believe in Him. No amount of money, fame, power, possessions, praises, or prizes can do that. But if God calls you worthy through His Son, then nothing on earth can take that away from you. Hold on to that joyful hope.
 

“And so I tell you, keep on asking, and you will receive what you ask for. Keep on seeking, and you will find. Keep on knocking, and the door will be opened to you.” (NLT) -Luke 11:9

The power of persistent prayer is incredible. Strength rises up in your voice as you continuously seek God’s answer to your prayers. This persistence proves that you are not seeking instant gratification, that you trust that God hears you and will respond in His divine timing, and that you both realize and trust in the power and importance of honest prayer itself. Rest assured that, no matter how long it may take to see an answer, God will always answer: through fulfillment of your prayer, a firm “no,” or by guiding your heart in a different direction, causing you to no longer seek the answer to that prayer. God always hears us, especially in the silence that moves our hearts. Go ahead and pray a specific prayer daily, and wait faithfully for His response.

 

 The use of many words in prayer is helpful, if only because our consciousness is in this way fixed upon the holy words for a longer time. Even if we are not completely absorbed in the meaning of the words we utter, but only diverted from trifles, from vain agitation, worry, impure thoughts - even that is a great gain. And if we add to this a vivid sense of no more than one hundredth of what we read, the soul acquires countless treasures.

-Diary of a Russian Priest

Prayer is always a great benefit to the soul. This emphasis on the holy focus of lengthy prayer is very important to remember. It is indeed far better to devote our spare time to prayer than to trifles, and claiming “it’s hard to concentrate” or the like is no excuse in light of this truth… and that is joyfully encouraging! No prayer is ever wasted. No effort is ever lost. So pray– pray always, and never be discouraged!

 

You don't need a reason to help people.

But you’ve got one nevertheless: John 15:12, and Luke 10:36-37!

 



koinohnia:

 

koinohnia:

Remember, Shadrach, Meshasch, and Abednego. God didn’t put out the fire. He just put Jesus in there with them and they came out without smoke. It’s not about God stopping all the things that look bad; it’s about who is in there with you... God didn’t put the fire out nor did they need it to be put out. They believed God would deliver them but were content in giving their lives to honor the word and kindness of God if He had not. And that’s amazing. Amazing grace.

realjoyismine: Remember this: those boys didn’t know that they’d be saved out of the fire. They were ready to die for the Lord. That is what they told King Nebachadnezzar. The outcome? They didn’t care. They just stood for what was right: honoring and glorifying God at all costs.

This was my favorite Bible story as a child. It still is.

They didn’t need the fire to be put out because that wasn’t the point– they only cared about glorifying God, even if that meant dying for His sake.

That truth, that faith, still pierces me to the core. God, I pray that my own faith may be so unflinchingly steadfast, for love of You!!

 

Once you become aware that the main business that you are here for is to know God, most of life’s problems fall into place of their own accord.

J.I. Packer, Knowing God

No matter how long or short our life is, knowing and serving God is all that matters. Making that our top priority will inevitably cause all our other cares and concerns to find their proper place in service to it. Everything that doesn’t serve God must go.

It’s a blissful courageous streamlining of life that honestly makes life under any circumstances worth living, because when our earthly life is for God, we can rest assured that we will have a life with Him after this one is over. And all else is dust in comparison.

 

Paul learned to be content with what he had. Which is remarkable since he had so little. He had a jail cell instead of a house. He had four walls instead of the mission field. He had chains instead of jewelry, a guard instead of a wife. How could he be so content? Simple. He focused on a different list.
He had eternal life. He had the love of God. He had forgiveness of sins. He had the surety of salvation. He had Christ, and Christ was enough. What he had in Christ was greater than what he didn't have in life.

 

God, present in His Son, is always enough.

This life is temporary… the life to come is eternal. Saint Paul knew that true joy and contentment come from fixing our hearts on the latter. No matter what we have or don’t have here… in the end, in eternity, what truly matters is having God… and we do have Him in Christ. When our hearts genuinely know this, all else is as dust in comparison to that blessed joy.

 

 

 

syney: Some Christians have a hard time praying because they don’t think it works for them.

God says that if we ask and do not receive, it is because we ask with the wrong motives; for personal pleasure. He also says that if we ask according to His will, He will hear us. So if he hears us - whatevever we ask - we can know that we have what we have asked of Him.

The first step is changing our motives. The next step is faith.

everlastinglyanna: This is good! Prayer is vitally important. How you pray matters. Luke 18 is one of my favorite examples of how to pray. 

If we’re not praying, how will we ever know what God requires of us? How will we know what he has to say concerning our issues or the things we go through daily? More importantly, how do we expect God to move for us or to develop a relationship with him if we don’t talk to him? Men ought to always pray & not faint. 

And if he doesn’t answer right then and there, just wait. Waiting is not just to sit down as if you’re in a waiting room, but you continue to seek Him until he gives you the answer. Continue to work unto Him! To wait, by definition, is to look forward expectantly. To be ready and available. It may not happen right now, but be expectant, be ready!

Isaiah 59:1 lets me know that his ear is not so heavy that he can’t hear me. I have to believe that!

Without faith, it is impossible to please God. 

Our prayers must ultimately be rooted in our faith– in our love of God, and in glory to Him. If what we are praying for does not glorify Him, or testify to our love of Him and His commandments… then our motives need to change, because God will not grant any request that goes against His Holy Will. The Holy Spirit will convict you if this is the case, in my humbling experience.

But waiting is so important too. It shows, actively, that we trust God’s timing as much as we trust His will. Prayer us ultimately about God, not about us. We are not entitled to get our requests fulfilled, let alone fulfilled now, or in the manner we choose. None of that is our choice.

When we are waiting on a response, do so with joyful surrender to whatever God’s answer is… whether it is yes, no, not now, or not in that way. But absolutely be ready to get a yes, too– sometimes having a prayer answered affirmatively and quickly is a bigger test of faith than the alternative. If you pray for a healing, are you truly ready to change your life to accommodate that God-given change in health? Or are you secretly afraid of getting better because you aren’t sure how not to be sick? Similarly, if you pray for deliverance from a certain repetitive sin or addictive temptation, are you prepared for the gap that will leave in your life, that the devil will try to fill again? Are you prepared for the increase in holy activity you will need to cultivate in order to prevent relapse? I give these examples because that is my current struggle, and it speaks volumes as to the importance of motivation, trust, surrender, faith, and readiness in prayer.

We must be willing to do the work required to live in the will of God, when we pray for it. His will WILL be done, no matter what. So… let us pray, above and with all else, to be conformed TO His Will, in both our prayers and in our lives.


“Rose early to seek God and found Him whom my soul loveth. Who would not rise early to meet such company?”
— Robert Murray M'Cheyne

He is up all night anyway, watching over us with mercy and compassion. So the moment we awake, He is already there, full of love, brighter and warmer than the sun.

Rise early, and watch the sun rise with your Beloved, with God who created both it and you, and who rejoices in your loving company too.

 

sojourneronearth: Why live if my purpose isn’t immediately to preach the gospel anymore. If I cannot do that, what is the point?

 

Make every moment a preaching, then. May every tiny thing you do be done out of acknowledgement and honor of Christ’s grace working in you, even if only God sees you. Start there.

God will give you the opportunity to preach the Gospel in greater situations and with greater means when He determines the time is right.

Your purpose is always to preach the Gospel, so do not worry… but that preaching must become a way of living first. That’s what makes it immediate.

Do not despair; there is always hope through Christ. He is the point.🙏❤


“Let us not only take care to defend ourselves from the contagion of evil but also to promote the good, sustain it, give witness to it, defend it, and multiply it. We must take responsibility for the fact that the world is suffering from evil stemming from our lukewarmness.”

— Pope John XXIII
 

We are the carriers of Christ’s Light. It is absolutely our responsibility to shine it in the face of evil, for ourselves and for all others.
Defend it, promote it, sustain it, witness it, multiply it. Remember this.


That's the excitement in obedience: finding out later what God had in mind.

Living life with faithful obedience-- doing what God calls us to do even if we don’t understand the details at the moment-- is such a joyful, liberating, exciting experience. When we surrender to God’s will with love, every moment becomes a genuine gift. You never know what He has in mind until you open the present, as it were.

 


"If we were asked how wise we were, most of us wouldn't know exactly how to answer. We talk a lot about intelligence, but not very much about wisdom, so we don't always know what wisdom looks like.
Solomon gives one sign that helps us recognize wisdom in our own life and the lives of others when he writes of wisdom: "Her ways are pleasant ways, and all her paths are peace" (Proverbs 3:17).
Nobody's life is always and only pleasant. No one walks exclusively on paths of peace. Not even our Lord, Jesus Christ, experienced such a life, and He was the wisest man Who ever lived.
But there still can be great insight gained by asking the question "Do my decisions, attitudes, words, and lifestyle create peace or discord?" How we answer might suggest something about our current state of wisdom-- and how we may become wiser with God's help.
Lord, give me the gift of wisdom that I may walk in paths of peace. Amen."


-Thomas Nelson

True peace is grounded in obedient faith, and resides in the heart. True, our outer circumstances might still be tumultuous, but how are we affecting them? Are our choices serving God, no matter how discordant my environment may be? Is my way of life honoring God? Are my thoughts resting on Him? Is my attitude befitting a child of God? Indeed, herein lies wisdom-- even when we may not have any solid answers, even when we are helpless and confused, or even when we cannot see any hope of external peace... we can still be wise, and so still experience and create true peace, if we simply turn to God in all things. Choose to serve Him in any and every way you can, in any moment, even if all you can do is pray, or be patient, or be humble. We can always serve God. And if we do, then we are both being wise and walking in the most pleasant ways, for God is joy and hope itself, even on the road to Calvary.

 



"God's provision for communion with Him through prayer says a lot about His character. He sought us and established this divine channel of prayer. He listens for our cry as a mother listens for her young.
He knows my voice and attends to my cries. Such is my God: a God of loving initiative Who seeks me, a God of great sensitivity Who listens for me, a God of intimacy who knows me, and a God of grace Who attends to my needs.
God's plan for marriage is to bring together a husband and wife in order that they might become "one flesh"-- spirit, soul, and body. Spiritual oneness through mutual prayer is part of God's plan.
It's not surprising that the world's order for marriage is exactly the opposite: "Let's be physically intimate, then see if friendship develops. If later it seems important, we will explore our spiritual life." Many couples carry the pain of these misplaced priorities for decades, unaware that God has made provision to restore His priorities. Critical to this restoration process is tapping into the power and potential of prayer.
Thanks, Lord, for the special privilege of sharing together in prayer!
Prayer should play a vital part in the life of married believers. It's important to pray and entreat God's attention and favor for your spouse. Prayers of thanksgiving can draw a couple together in closeness. Prayers for the children help a couple be of one mind when it comes to rearing their kids. Requesting prayer as one spouse leaves for the office in the morning gives the couple the opportunity to be like-minded during the day.
God is willing to give ear to our prayers, both those said individually and those offered as a couple. We should make sure we take the time to enjoy this wonderful privilege.
At what times of the day and under what circumstances will you and your spouse share together in prayer?"


- David & Teresa Ferguson


This is what marriage is about and for. This is why the church stands firmly against the modern secular ideas of marriage, which eschew prayer and religious priority, instead focusing on sexuality and desire. Christian marriage is about family– about being part of God’s adopted family in Christ, and in raising children within that same truth, teaching them through God’s word to be good abd faithful members of the human family as well, both at home and in the world. Secular “marriage” frequently rejects this anchor of family, not only rejecting the idea of parenthood, and therefore of raising and/or bearing children, but also rejecting the call to be a child of God, instead choosing to serve their own interests and opinions, seeking self-idolatry through sensuality and carefree living.

God is our Parent, a loving Father who Mothers us as well. If we reject this truth, we cannot truly live as His Children… and then how could we ever raise children ourselves, let alone be parents, if we do not have that divine Example to follow?

And how could we ever truly have a unitive loving relationship with a spouse, if we do not first seek loving unity with God, who loves us more than any human ever can? How could we ever truly communicate with our spouse, if we do not communicate with God in prayer?

Marriage is a sacrament, a holy event of our faith, and it must always be recognized and honored as such, or else it will collapse, as all things will if they are chopped off at the very root.


 




prismaticbleed: (angel)

Begin to know Him now, and finish never.
-Oswald Chambers

God is infinite; we can never fully know Him, for there is always more to know, more to discover, more to honor and adore… and for someone in Love, that fact is blissful.

 

foreverheloves: Pray, then let it go. Don’t try and manipulate or force the outcome. Just trust God to open the right doors at the right time.

kings–kid: So many times we say we have forgiving but never truly have let go. But until we learning how to forgive and let GOD,we will never be healed from our wounds.

If you’re scared of the outcome, and are afraid to trust God, please tell Him so. Talk to Him about it. Confess your doubt and fear, explain the turmoil in your heart and head, and pray for the grace to let go and let God do His work. Then loosen your grip a little. God is listening, and He will help, but we must meet Him at the door and cooperate with His grace!

Keep praying as often & long as you need to. Prayer is very powerful. And the more we turn to God, the easier it is to trust Him.


There’s a reason I am not writing the story and God is.
He knows how it all works out, where it all leads, what it all means.
I don’t.
– Ann Voskamp

It is scary to your ego to surrender everything to God, especially control. To know and admit that you don’t know everything, cannot know everything, and probably are mistaken or quite shortsighted in much of what you do know… to confess that compared to God we know nothing at all, takes immense humility and trust and faith in God. The only way to do this is to love God enough to gratefully surrender the steering wheel of life to Him… only then can we sit back and enjoy the ride in joy, no matter how stormy the weather or how bumpy the road.

 

“Don’t compare yourself to others who call themselves Christians. Compare yourself to Scripture.”
— Paul Washer

alistairradley: Too many times we look to other people how to live our lives instead of focusing on Christ.

Our eyes must be on Christ alone. Our fellow Christians are also fellow sinners, imperfect and striving to live more fully by God’s Grace. They can inspire or warn. Either way, they are not our role models. Christ is. Read His Word and put it into practice with obedient love. Let that be the measure of your conduct… not proud & fearful comparison.


Faith means that you have peace even when you don't have all the answers.

We don’t need all the answers, nor should we have them. We’re fallible, forgetful, foolish mortals– such knowledge is too great for us. But God knows all, and He knows what He’s doing, and what He’s doing is infinitely Good. All we have to do is surrender to that in childlike faith. The blessing of peace that follows is incomparable.


jspark3000:

Some days I pray, “Lord, have mercy on me, a sinner.” Other days it’s, “Lord, please slap me upside the head, for I am an idiot.”

Forever relevant.

They’re both perfectly valid and important prayers, too– humbly recognizing and admitting our sinfulness openly to God.
 

anchorsandjesus: “If you don’t think Jesus can fill that emptiness, you’re wrong. And He will.”
— something I’m learning

But first you must admit that you are empty without Him. Jesus cannot fill a soul that insists it has no room, or that it is full enough. We must be humble and trusting enough to surrender it all– to confess that ultimately, in this world, we have nothing, and want nothing of it… only then will we truly gain everything in Christ.

Don’t be afraid of letting go of fleeting desires and empty pleasures. Christ is infinitely better; He is worth more than it all, He is more beautiful than it all, and He will fill you with endless joy.

 


 

khadlja: pray a lot!! pray for everything, even/especially if it seems silly or impossible or ridiculous and you can barely voice it. pray for the little things and the big things and everything in between. keep that connection between you and God open all day, every day. pray and then watch how tiny miracles fill your life. 

nia-confesses-to-the-internet: There are times it seems hard, seems pointless. God going to do what he’s gonna do. But he says to pray, so pray for faith, pray that you’ll see the point.

Prayer is also more than asking for blessings. Prayer is gratitude and praise and awe and honor and worship. Prayer is the spontaneous song of the soul to its Creator. Prayer is an outpouring of Love, of trust, of hope, of faith and surrender. Prayer is conversation, prayer is listening… prayer is sharing, prayer is opening to receive. Prayer is our quickest line of connection to God. Prayer is necessary for Life.

So yes… pray a lot! Make every step, every breath, every word and every deed into a prayer– an act of worship to our Heavenly Father. Like a little child, learn to trust Him with everything– don’t ever be afraid to share something with Him. He loves you, and He is listening. Think of it in techno terms: keep the chat window open. Don’t hang up the phone. Live like God and you are in a state of perpetual interaction– because you are!

And lastly, don’t forget this on the bad days, and in the hard times. That is when you need prayer the most. That is when you need s friend and a loving voice the most… and you have one, the best one, in God. He is there. Turn to Him.


“If you reject discipline, you only harm yourself; but if you listen to correction, you grow in understanding.”

Proverbs‬ ‭15:32‬ ‭

Listen to & obey wise instruction and amend your ways, no matter how much the discipline may sting or humiliate you. This correction is good for your soul, but your sinful flesh will reject it! Be aware of this battle, pray for the grace to submit to the helpful teaching, and you will grow in holiness.
 

Proverbs 15:16 (NLT) -
Better to have little, with fear for the LORD,
   than to have great treasure and inner turmoil.

Great treasure is often obtained by dishonest and/or selfish, greedy means. This will only bring turmoil to our hearts and distress our conscience. Better to lovingly trust in God to provide– for He will– then torment ourselves by faithlessly grasping for more.

God will provide for all we need. If we have little, trust in Him and rejoice in His unfailing love nevertheless. To be ungrateful and greedy, entitled and complaining, seeking more than God has given in His good judgment… this only leads to sorrow and disaster.

“He fills the hungry with good things, but the rich he sends empty away ”!
 

 

You need great discrimination in order to distinguish between good and evil. So do not readily or lightly put your trust in appearances, but weigh things well, and after testing everything carefully cleave to what is good and reject what is evil (1 Thes. 5:21-2). You must test and discriminate before you give credence to anything. You must also be aware that the effects of grace are self-evident, and that even if the devil does transform himself he cannot produce these effects: he cannot induce you to be gentle, or forbearing, or humble, or joyful, or serene, or stable in your thoughts; he cannot make you hate what is worldly, or cut off sensual indulgence and the working of the passions, as grace does.
-St Gregory of Sinai

 

This is a game-changing realization. The devil cannot produce or induce virtue– he cannot ever cause the effects of grace! No matter how he may try to justify his lies, or falsely sell his sinfulness as righteousness, his works will ALWAYS cause a malignant end. Sin will never coexist with grace.

Be discerning in this way! Be vigilant!

 
 

delightfullyloved: even when it hurts, i will praise You. even when it hurts, i will turn to You. even when it hurts, i will hope in You. even when it hurts, i will wait. i will wait. i will wait. i will wait and believe.

And when He calls you to obey, even if it hurts more, obey. Remember Christ on the Cross. Even if the pain leads to death, literal or metaphorical, if you enter that death with Christ, you will enter resurrection with Him, too.


 

Never mind if you cannot feel His presence. He is there, never for one moment forgetting you.
-Elisabeth Elliot

 

 

Feelings can lie, feelings can fade, feelings can be confused and numbed and fabricated. But love isn’t a feeling. Love is a Truth, Love is a Way, Love is a PERSON… Love is God, all-powerful and all-knowing, rich in mercy and patience, unfailingly just and righteous. God, Love Himself, never lies, fades, confuses, chills, or manipulates, for those things are unloving. God is honest, constant, true, compassionate, and guiding, a dear Father to all His children.

God knows you, even when you forget who you are.

God is there, even when the world has abandoned you.

God loves you, always. God waits for you, always. His heart and His arms are open. Even if you feel scraped out and empty, He is overflowing with grace.

Go to Him!


 

Consider Saint Francis.
He saw sinful clergymen and corruption in the Church.
Francis tries to reform it. He doesn't start a new church.
He first reforms himself.
Francis is a saint.
Be like Francis!

If there is any sin and corruption in the Church, I assure you it began in the hearts of its members first.

We are all still sinners, although we are called to be holy as members of the Church. It does not happen automatically, nor does anyone get a ‘free pass’ for persisting in sin after becoming part of the community of faith– indeed, to do so is scandal, a terrible sin! God is merciful but He is also just, and if you abuse His His long-suffering with you, He will let you suffocate yourself in iniquity. But this is secondary. The first thing is to obey, and to strive to be holy through living in Love through Grace. This is what Saint Francis knew, and what we must also practice.

In every case, if we want to prevent corruption in the Church, we must begin by reforming our hearts through the grace of God.

We cannot change anyone else, and we have no right or ability to– that is God’s job. All we are called to do is love, pray, serve, sacrifice, warn, help, and counsel… to be examples of Christ as Christians. If we do this, all else will follow rightly.

 

Once you've tasted how good God is, how could we ever depart from Him? I can't depart from Him like I have in the past. I won't leave Him; I will cling to Him forever!

May God constantly remind our hearts of His sufficiency, His goodness, and His deliverance… through constantly reminding us of the emptiness, dishonesty, and tribulation of the world and its fleeting desires.

 

 

His love and long-suffering isn’t passivity; it’s opportunity.

Remember this, too, when you are tempted to impatience with others! God is mercifully patient with our sins so that we can learn humility and contrition, and repent. He loves us enough to give us this graciously undeserved opportunity. So we must love others the same way, for God loves them so graciously too! Remember the parable of the unforgiving servant. Be merciful as your Father and Lord is merciful. Love one another.

 


“Talk to GOD more than you talk about Him.”

We can’t talk truthfully about Him if we don’t know Him. And you only get to know someone– God included!– through spending genuine time with them, being with them and talking to them.


“We best defend the Lord’s glory by speaking first TO Him about unbelieving men rather than speaking first ABOUT Him to unbelieving men.”

— Sinclair B. Ferguson

Always turn to the Lord in humble prayer first! It’s not about us or our reputation… it’s about Him– His Truth and His Glory. Then, when you speak of the Lord to those who do not believe, you will have the grace to speak in genuine love, for their soul’s sake, and for God’s sake… not for yourself. We’re the messengers, not the Message!
 
 

“Sometimes we don’t want to know God’s will because of the sneaking suspicion that it’s not what we’ve planned.”

- Sr. Bethany Madonna

This is why humility is VITAL to faith! Without it, we stay stuck in fear and fallen nature. We must surrender our hearts to His Love, no matter how hard it may oppose our worldly plans… indeed, we should be moved to courageous submission because of that very holy opposition. “Thy will be done” at all costs!

 

“There are those who seek knowledge for the sake of knowledge; that is Curiosity. There are those who seek knowledge to be known by others; that is Vanity. There are those who seek knowledge in order to serve; that is Love.”

— Saint Bernard of Clairvaux

Without Love, all is in vain, even curiosity– for seeking knowledge for its own sake is still ultimately serving yourself. Unless we take that knowledge and use it for serving God and others, internally and externally, then it is essentially useless. Let all that you do be done in love!
 

Theirs is an endless road, a hopeless maze, who seek for goods before they seek for God. 

St Bernard of Clairvaux

A simple but staggering truth. Christ is The Way– the ONLY Way. Every other path is doomed to a dead end.

Seek ye first the Kingdom of God, and God shall provide for you all that you need. Seek the world before God, and you will inevitably end up bereft and lost.
 

 

“Many of the people who look forward to a long life put off doing good works, since they think that they will have plenty of time before they die. As for me, I prefer to be among those who consider that they have no time to lose if they wish to give God all the glory that they can before they die.” ~St. Margaret of Hungary

 

No human is ever guaranteed tomorrow. Every new day is a gift from God. This alone should motivate us to use our time wisely and faithfully. But Saint Margaret deepens this motive with love– she wants to give God as much glory as possible before she dies, whether she lives for five more minutes or fifty more years. Thinking this way, why would anyone postpone doing good? The only reason to delay virtuous work is selfishness. Putting off a kind word or helpful deed until tomorrow just betrays the hidden fact that you really don’t consider it important enough to do now… or that you truly don’t want to do it at all. If we do this, then our hearts are not in order! Dear Saint Margaret, pray for us fellow Christians, that we may be filled with zeal for Christ and His people, and so do as much sincere and loving good as we possibly can with every moment we are given! Whether our lives are long short, may they be lived as a testament to our faith, so that even in our passing our memory wil give glory to God

 

“Dear Christians, the way we love our neighbor carries a lot more weight than how much scripture we can quote.”

Anyone can quote Scripture, but it takes a true Christian to live Scripture. Faith without works is dead, and words without actions are hollow. Let us glorify God by showing His love alive and at work in us!

 

 

livin4themosthigh: God has perfect timing. God is not in a hurry. You are. That’s exactly why you are tired. That’s why you are anxious, stressed, and disappointed. Trust in God’s perfect timing. Trust that what was meant to be yours, will be yours.

And what is not meant for you, will never happen. So when you wait on God, wait without expectations. Wait with only one desire– that His will be done. God may make you wait for years, and He may ultimately give you something you never expected. Yet His timing and His giving and His withholding are all perfect.

Surrender into that. Rest in that. Trust in that. God will sustain you in faith, hope, and love no matter what.


“The highest point of philosophy is to be both wise and simple; this is the angelic life.”

— St. John Chrysostom

Humanity, in its pride, tends to overcomplicate things. Complexity does not indicate wisdom. Indeed, genuine wisdom is pure and simple, understood by children, grasped by the most humble hearts. Angels exist to glorify God… in this sole cause is all wisdom found.
 

[breathe.]
there is no mountain God can't move.

If He wills it, it will happen. If He wills not, then it won't.
Have faith and trust in Him no matter what.
 

 

Let me alone, sheltered in my cell.

 

Let me be with God, who alone is good.

Why should I move out of my cell?

Back to that which I left?

Let me be.

I want to cry and mourn over the days and nights I have wasted.

- St. Symeon the New Theologian
 

 

I’m feeling this same heartache so hard today.

God is all I want. God is all I need. God have mercy on me for not realizing or living this truth sooner. God keep me close to your heart and never let me stray back to that old life, that broken world.

Let me be with the One who Is.


God has the ability to string natural events to fulfill His purpose.

Pastor Paolo Punzalan, Grace Changes Everything

He’s in charge of all things, remember. Sometimes we can forget this, which is dumbfounding– every snowflake, earthquake, hailstorm, rainstorm, thundercloud and waterspout is wrought by His Hand. Each tornado, volcano, drought and fire obeys the command of His Voice. And yet, we might still forget that these truly-named “acts of God” are indeed just that! So we worry and panic and fear, powerless and small as we are, without resting in the power and greatness of God, who has not forgotten us in the forecast. When we realize this– that everything we experience is happening in God’s sight, and by His direction or allowance, it becomes much easier to surrender in faithful trust, and to endure in hopeful courage, because even if we don’t understand, we know that He is Good, and so we can humbly acquiesce to His Will… even if our hands are shaking. We can still fold them in prayer, after all.

 

goandannouce:

Reverence, indicated by Communion on the tongue, means, in turn, that Communion is not of “ordinary bread and wine, “but rather the Body and Blood of the Lord.

 It is recorded that one of the greatest worries of the pope was that, with the introduction of the practice *, the Eucharist would end up being compared to ordinary bread or to simply blessed bread.  … 

This danger does not exists with Communion on the tongue.

*of Communion in the hand

Most Rev. Juan Rodolfo Laise, Communion in the hand, Documents and History

My parish priest once said that recieving Communion on the tongue was also a beautiful symbol of its utter distinction from normal “eating,” because there are only three other times any human will receive their food on the tongue, without touching it themselves, with perfect surrender…

1. When we are infants, and are fed by our loving mothers,

2. When we are elderly, and are fed by our loving caretakers,

3. When we are in love, and are fed by our lovers. Just think of the wedding cake!

And consider that sweet simple trust in all of these: “here, try this, it’s delicious”… “here, eat this, it’s healthy for you”… “here, have some, it’ll give you strength”… in every case, we trust the other person completely. Food is what we need for our bodies to survive in this world. If what we eat is harmful or unhealthy, it will hurt our bodies. In extreme scenarios, such as in diseases and allergies, eating the wrong thing can kill us! So normally we carefully discern this for ourselves. But, when we let someone else feed us, we are implicitly trusting them with our life. This absolute surrender is often completely unrealized, so great is our faith in their goodness towards us… so great is our love for them.

And that’s the Eucharist. Just look at that picture– look at the intimacy, the adoration, the absolute trust visible between Christ and His dear Child! And so it is at every Mass: the priest– Christ’s representative– feeds us as a mother feeds as a child, as a child feeds a mother, as a spouse feeds a spouse. We trust, love, and surrender entirely, gratefully recieving this food for our precious souls… and when we realize that Christ is feeding us with His own body in the Eucharist, then the love deepens even more– for now He feeds us as only a mother can on earth, by literally offering us His flesh and blood as our only source of sustenance, so helpless we are, and so completely dependent on Him to live!

Recieving the Eucharist by hand completely misses all of this. Then it just becomes a gift– an utterly priceless gift, true, but one which we are showing no special reverence to. Some people take and eat potato chips with more zeal and anticipation than they do the Host, and that is a very subtle form of blasphemy. When we truly realize what is occurring in Holy Communion, we cannot help but fall to our knees, and receive Him with loving trust!

 

goandannouce:

 The Christian veneration of images is not contrary to the first commandment which proscribes idols. Indeed, “the honor rendered to an image passes to its prototype,” and “whoever venerates an image venerates the person portrayed in it.”The honor paid to sacred images is a “respectful veneration,” not the adoration due to God alone:

Religious worship is not directed to images in themselves, considered as mere things, but under their distinctive aspect as images leading us on to God incarnate. the movement toward the image does not terminate in it as image, but tends toward that whose image it is.

I’m not sure what article may have been quoting this, but it’s in the Catechism!

This is a vital distinction! The images and sculptures are “bridges” to those portrayed; since we cannot show literal veneration to God– except in Eucharistic Exposition, blessedly– we venerate images of Jesus Christ to show our love for Him, in this physical world, in our physical bodies. We know He isn’t literally the statue or picture. But we also know that images are important, and symbols of greater truths and realities, and so entirely valid of respect. You wouldn’t rip up a photograph of your earthly beloved, and you know that they aren’t literally embodied in the photo, yet you might still carry it with you in fondness, and kiss it in sudden outpourings of love, when they are not physically nearby. Our veneration of holy images is the same.

Related, this is basically the difference between our veneration of images of Christ– God Incarnate– and images of angels & saints, notably His Blessed Mother. We still love them and honor them as our literal friends and family in Christ, but we know they aren’t God. They just love Him too, in ways courageous and humble and beautiful enough for us to look up to them in hopeful inspiration, asking them to pray for us, that we may imitate their love in their humanity all the more. In honoring their images, we show our love for them as we do to all the people close to our hearts, and we show our love for God through our recognition of their love of Him and devotion to Him.

There is this truly sweet and moving hierarchy of “cascading love” from God to His Son to His Spirit, all the way down to us, through steps upon blessed steps of His children. Honoring the saints is a very intimate way of recognizing this, and our place in it.

 

Imagine Jesus crucified in your arms and on your chest, and say a hundred times as you kiss His chest, “This is my hope, the living source of my happiness; this is the heart of my soul; nothing will ever separate me from His love.”

 

-Saint Padre Pio
 

Every single time I read this, I break down in tears.

Dearest Jesus, my Lord and my God, inscribe this prayer into the very atoms of my own heart. May I reflect on Your love and Your sacrifice, both unfathomable in their greatness, and may I honor and comfort You with every breath. Jesus, I have no hope but You. I have no happiness apart from You, no joy outside of You. May I love you with everything I am. You are the heart of my soul. You are the heart of my soul. You are everything I have, You are everything I could ever need, You are the only thing I will ever want. Nothing can ever separate us; I consecrate myself to you forever. Your love has been proven forever on the Cross– may I prove mine to You by joining You there, here, in my heart nailed to Yours. I love you.

 

"Jesus hath many lovers of His Heavenly Kingdom, but few bearers of His Cross."
-Thomas à Kempis

And yet, there is no way to heaven outside of the Cross. Jesus is the Way, and that is the Way He walked, in all humble obedience to His Father, and in all love for His Father’s people. If we hope to share in His resurrection, if we hope to follow Him to heaven, then we must follow in His footsteps… and that means walking the road of Calvary with Him, with the same humble obedience and love.

 


"If you find yourself with a cross, you find yourself with Jesus."
-Fr. Mike Schmitz

This alone should move us to accept all our crosses with unshakable joy.


"When you are obedient I take away your weakness and replace it with My Strength. I am very surprised that souls do not want to make that exchange with Me."
-Jesus, to Saint Faustina

I think many of us poor souls don’t have enough faith in this truth! We doubt– “but I’m too weak,” or “will He really help me do this?” Pride and fear stifle the obedient surrender to His Grace that allows His strength to flow through us.

Dear Lord, increase our faith, so that we may take great leaps of it in joyful service to you!
 

christusvincit:

I have never found greater peace, deeper joy, or the true presence of Almighty God so much as in the times I have spent alone with Him in a silent church, especially before the exposed Blessed Sacrament.

God is Literally Present with us in Eucharistic Exposition. To be able to even exist in the same room as Him is a staggering honor and privilege that numberless souls before Christ’s coming could only dream of having. We have seen the face of God and lived. And why? Because He loves us so much that He WANTS to be with us, here on earth, even now, and chooses to be with us, as ineffably humble and fragile and powerful and glorious as in that tiny white Host. He gives us all the opportunity to “stay with Him one hour,” to comfort and console Him, to love Him in return, to experience His peace and joy in a world wracked by sin.

Pray. Visit the Lord and pray, with all your heart, in sorrow and pain and joy and gratitude and everything else. Pray to Him, for He waits for you, and He is listening to you, and He loves you.

 

“God can use you to do great things if you believe more in his love than in your own weakness.”

— Mother Teresa of Calcutta (via burning-lampstand)

Focusing on our weaknesses and inability is a subtle form of pride– it says, “why try, if I might fail or look foolish or be laughed at?” Pride looks for excuses not to do God’s work, if that work can’t be done by human power, or without human glory. But God doesn’t factor those things into the equation at all! God looks at our weak spots and says, “that’s what I’m going to use in you, to bring glory to My divine power.” And it’s scary to obey that at first, with pride still shouting in self-preservation. But if we humbly surrender– “Thy will be done”– and rely on faith in His strength to achieve what we cannot, then He will achieve it. God is not in this for pride or fame or accolades. God wants to glorify Himself because He alone is worthy of glory– because He IS Love and Truth and Justice and Mercy.

God can and will use you as an instrument of love if you respond to His call in love. Surrender joyfully to His direction, and watch Him do great things in the world around you. It’s like being a literal musical instrument, a violin perhaps, unable to make any music on its own. You may be afraid to be used, as you may not think you are well-made, or because all other musicians who played you were poor in talent… but God is THE virtuoso, and He WILL bring beautiful melodies out of you; music that can move hearts and touch souls and change lives. The praise is not for the violin, but the violinist. Yet what an honor and privilege it is to be such an intimate part of His plan!

Fear not; we’re all here for God’s purposes, and He will strengthen us to achieve them if we trust in Him. His power is made perfect in our weaknesses, and against all odds. Rest in the peace of His sovereignty.

 

“Lord, take me from myself and give me to Yourself.”

— St. Catherine of Siena (via faustinarockandroll)

The imagery of this is deeply striking; to “take” oneself from the self, which selfishly clings and hoards, and “give” oneself to God, as lovingly and selflessly as a Christmas present. It’s an admission of one’s fallen nature, one’s helplessness to change without grace, one’s daily struggle with sin… and it’s an admission of the omnipotence of God, the worthiness of God over the world in claiming us, and the gentle love of God in effectively saving us from ourselves to deliver us into compassion.

It’s a beautiful, powerful little prayer, and we should all pray it in our own lives, as often as we stumble.
 

“There are only two kinds of people in the end: those who say to God, “Thy will be done,” and those to whom God says in the end, “Thy will be done.””

— C S Lewis (via gloryfromdust)

This is a terribly succinct warning. We all must remember this in every decision, every single moment.

 

eternal-echoes:

Holiness should be the goal, not happiness.

Genuine happiness is only found in holiness, which seems ironic in the eyes of the world, but which is the most self-evident truth to he eyes of faith. And Christian happiness is more than just happiness– it is unshakable joy!

Psalm 100 expresses the heart of holy happiness briefly and well: “Earth, sing to the Lord! Be happy as you serve the Lord! Come before him with happy songs! Know that the Lord is God. He made us, and we belong to him. We are his people, the sheep he takes care of. Come through the gates to his Temple giving thanks to him. Enter his courtyards with songs of praise. Honor him and bless his name. The Lord is good! There is no end to his faithful love. We can trust him forever and ever!” (Psalm 100:1‭-‬5 ERV)

This Christian happiness is also completely subversive to the ways of the world. It is anchored in Christ, and so it is untouched by external circumstances– and in fact flourishes in difficult times, whereas worldly ‘happiness’ crumbles in the face of hardship and discomfort. Saint Paul illustrates this most beautifully: “God showed me so many things that were very great and special. But he did not want me to start thinking, as a result, that I myself was too great or special. So, he let me have something sharp and painful in my body, to stop me from thinking like that. This painful thing is an angel from Satan, that he sent to hurt me. But he said to me: ‘I myself will help you and I will make you strong. I am everything that you need. When you are weak, then I will be powerful in you. Then I will show more completely how powerful I myself am.’ So, I am very happy to speak about how weak I am. When I am weak, then Christ’s power stays over me. That is why I am very happy to be weak. I am happy when people say bad things about me. Sometimes I do not have things that I need. But I am happy then too. I am happy when people cause trouble and pain for me. I am happy when I am in difficulties. I am happy about these things because of Christ. Because when I am weak, then I am strong.” (2 Corinthians 12:7‭, ‬9‭-‬10 EASY)

Holiness is achieved by striving to obey the will of God and become more and more like Christ. As we do so, our happiness and joy increases accordingly. Yes, true happiness is to be found in serving God alone, for He alone is Good, Worthy, and Everlasting. Rejoice in what a blessed privilege it is to be called His People– the very sheep of His beloved flock!

 

albertfinch:

The biggest problem in America – the American Church is telling people you can have God and have the world.  It is unbiblical and unscriptural.

“Do not love the world or anything that belongs to the world. If you love the world, you do not love the Father. Everything that belongs to the world — what the sinful self desires, what people see and want, and everything in this world that people are so proud of — none of this comes from the Father; it all comes from the world. The world and everything in it that people desire is passing away; but those who do the will of God live for ever.” (1 John 2:15‭-‬17 GNBDK)

Another unique translation that says it straight:

“Don’t love the world’s ways. Don’t love the world’s goods. Love of the world squeezes out love for the Father. Practically everything that goes on in the world—wanting your own way, wanting everything for yourself, wanting to appear important—has nothing to do with the Father. It just isolates you from him. The world and all its wanting, wanting, wanting is on the way out—but whoever does what God wants is set for eternity.” (1 John 2:15‭-‬17 MSG)

 

albertfinch:

We are not here to gather people, we are here to see lives transformed – see people changed.  It’s not about accepting Christ.  It’s about surrendering to Christ. It’s about giving up everything you have.

The wording here is shocking, but it is true. You can easily “accept Christ” as a Savior, as a Redeemer, but He does not become your Savior and your Redeemer until you surrender your life to Him. Acceptance does not imply obedience. Acceptance is a mental action– surrender and transformation are heart actions. Acceptance is logic, surrender is love. “Gathering followers” is what you do on Tumblr, not in a church! The church’s goal is to build up the body of Christ, to call sinners to Him to be saved, to show the path to Heaven through the Son… and we cannot be part of His body, of His life, until we give Him ours. We cannot be saved if we don’t admit and understand our depravity and humble ourselves before Him. We cannot come to heaven without dying to hell, and that means dying to sin… dying to self. Again, accepting all these things as true does not mean doing them. They are two distinct things. Acceptance comes first, but without surrender following, our faith remains hollow.

Is your faith based on your acceptance of the Truth alone? Is that acceptance bearing fruit, and transforming your life? Have you truly surrendered all aspects of your life to Jesus, or are you holding on in fear, unwilling to give Him all that you have? When you say Jesus is your Savior, are you proving that by imitating Him in your actions? Or is that just something you say, but don’t truly testify to? Examine your heart today. Deepen your faith. Give everything to Christ. He’s waiting for you!

 

"Do you not know that your body is a temple of the Holy Spirit, who is in you, whom you have received from God? You are not your own."
(1 Corinthians 6:19)

We need to be reminded of this daily.

God has sent His Spirit to us, to dwell in our hearts and guide us… and His Son, through the Eucharist, gives Himself to us in the same way, tangibly. And ultimately, every atom in our bodies is shaped by God, and belongs to Him, to be returned to Him when we die.

Everything about our body is holy. The only thing desecrating it is sin. Today, and always, we pray that, through our baptism into Christ, we will be washed ever the more clean by His Precious Blood, and so keep His earthly temples holy!


“You have to be humble to treasure the Sacrament of Reconciliation. Arrogant people do not go to confession.”

— Fr. Donald Calloway

I make it a point to make a thorough confession every weekend now, and it has gracefully gotten me into the habit of constant self-examination. It is, honestly, humiliating, and thank God for that. Going to regular confession made me realize just how much I was sinning– how many of my sins were repetitive, addictive, ingrained, unquestioned… now my heart is ever more rightly disposed to think through every action and thought, to be vigilant against temptation, and to be aware of my moral weak spots, because it knows that, every Saturday evening, I have to confess all of it. But it’s not a legal compulsion. Confession is humbling because it’s a sacrament of mercy and love. I go into that tiny chamber and I agonizedly admit ALL the evils I have been responsible for over the past week, aching with tearful remorse, and you know what happens next? God pardons me. Through His blessed Priest, He sends forgiveness like an ocean to wash away the stains of sin from my soul, so I can try again– better this time, wiser, humbled, more loving, more prayerful, more reliant on God instead of my sorry self. I strive to avoid sinning because I am utterly ashamed of it, yes, but why am I ashamed? Because sin hurts God and I love Him. Confession is flat-out admitting that I’ve been a terrible friend, that I’ve been a poor partner, that I’ve been a dishonourable child– to GOD, above all. And that love that I’ve failed to live up to is the absolute core of my contrition.

Confession requires humility, and humility requires love.

Go to confession. It will change your life.

 

“Make no mistake; God is not mocked, for a person will reap only what he sows.”

Galatians 6:7

I think about this constantly. It is an absolutely vital warning against hypocrisy, and the lethal danger of assuming God’s mercy.

Yes, God is merciful, but He is not a pushover. Ever. God demands holiness and righteousness. God hates sin and pride and lukewarmness. If we sow sin, whether through self-indulgence or unforgiveness or scandal or shirking responsibility, we WILL reap sin. God will not hand-wave it off because we’re allegedly “trying” yet know full well that we’re not trying hard enough. We can’t plant rotten, spoiled, half-eaten seeds and expect God to magically grant us a good harvest. No. We must do our part as Christians. We must HONOR GOD in our lives! Think about it– is your behavior currently testifying to the glory of God, or are you mocking Him by living like a sin-soaked citizen of this fallen world, and yet calling yourself Christian?

We will reap what we sow. In the end, only the wheat gets gathered up into the barn. Your very soul is at stake. Be diligent.

 


Effort is a reflection of interest.

How interested are you in your faith? Does it capture your attention more than the latest celebrity news? Does it occupy your thoughts more than your latest fandom? Does it claim your focus more than sex, food, travel, gossip, culture, and comedy? When you are bored and listless, do you pick up your phone or do you pray? Do you spend more time scrolling on Tumblr or studying Scripture? Do you put all your effort into faith, or fun?

 

If you were to die tomorrow, would the interests of today still interest you?

If your faith is lukewarm and stagnant, it’s a sign that your true attention is oriented elsewhere. Set your heart on heaven, not hedonism. We’re all guilty of worldliness in our own ways, and we’re all too aware that such fleeting pleasures never satisfy. It’s time to get our priorities in the proper order. Get interested in your soul, and get interested in your Savior. Everything else will follow.


“There is no prayer more agreeable to God, or more profitable to the soul, than that which is made during the thanksgiving after Communion”

- St. Alphonsus 

In those moments, we are truly praying in the name of the Lord, for He is literally within us at that time. Physically as well as spiritually. Do you realize how numinously profound that is? After receiving the Eucharist, we have the honorable opportunity to pray in union with Christ. That is huge. Just contemplating it makes my knees weak.

We are so, so blessed. Our gratitude must be equally limitless.

 

Sometimes we expect God to make some big, existential request.

But perhaps you are useful to him just by existing and trying your best to live out the Gospel.

–An email from Ascension Presents

As someone living with a disability, who frequently feels useless and helpless in this world… this is deeply reassuring, and deeply moving.

God values my life right where it’s at. He brought me to this place and position for a purpose. Maybe all He needs me to do right now is love Him where I’m at, with all the humility and sacrifice and dedication that entails. Nothing bigger, nothing smaller. Just existing for Him. That is enough.

Thank you for sharing this.

 

"It took many years for me to reach the depths of the abyss in which God found me. Why would I ever think it would take less time, less effort to climb His Holy Mountain?"
This is a profoundly humbling, hopeful truth. It’s a game-changer, really, on the path of holiness. We must be as patient as we are diligent.

 

 

ordopraedicatorum:

Let us detach ourselves from the earth by a profound piety.

I’ve been praying for this every day lately. Oh, that every moment of my life would be like that– focused entirely on my Lord!

God, increase our piety through love of You, so that we may be affixed to You alone!

 

The Lord greatly loves the repenting sinner and mercifully presses him to His bosom: “Where were you, My child? I was waiting a long time for you.” The Lord calls all to Himself with the voice of the Gospel, and his voice is heard in all the world: “Come to me, my sheep. I created you, and I love you. My love for you brought Me to earth, and I suffered all things for the sake of your salvation, and I want you all to know my love, and to say, like the apostles on Tabor: Lord, it is good for us to be with You.”

 

St. Silouan

 

This moves me to absolute tears. What love God has for us poor sinners! When we feel lost in sin, we must remember this. We are all prodigal children.

It is so, so Good to be with our Lord… and best of all, He wants us to be with Him. Go home to Him. He is waiting with open arms.

 

onevoiceunited:

there’s something beautiful that happens when God becomes your only option.

We are surrounded by a cacophany of sounds and signs and choices and options. So much to fill our minds to the point of overflowing. Yet what is it that is pouring into us and thus out of us? We feel that we have more options today than any day in history. And it is so. The truth, though, is that we have never needed more options. Our deception is in the desire for more. We have always needed just one. My God, how I have needed just one.

I am honestly moved to tears at this. It is absolute truth.

I have endured a great deal of loss in life. I have very little left in the world. But now, I see it was all by the loving mercy of God, for I never needed any of it– I needed Him. I need Him now; I will always need Him, and in Him, all my needs are met.

My God, You are the One I need. Just You. Only You.

…And I have You. By Your grace, by Your love, by Your Son, I have You… and oh, in that truth, You have me, too… and I neither desire nor need anything more, forever.

There is nothing more beautiful than that.
 

 

“The Eucharist is the Sacrament of Love; it signifies love, it produces love. The Eucharist is the consummation of the whole spiritual life.”

— St. Thomas Aquinas (via sic-deus-dilexit-mundum)

God is Love. God, as Christ Jesus, is truly Present in the Eucharist. In humbling Himself to become our bread, we see the depth and ardor of His Love… the Host itself is the living symbol of the ultimate Love of God, who sacrificed Himself to save sinners and then sought even further to dwell within their very bodies, making us holy and making us whole. This intimate union with Love Himself literally transforms us into that Love, through Him. Therefore we cannot help but grow in Love, as Love grows in us.

To receive our very Savior, so closely, so truly, so sincerely… how it moves the heart to tremble! Indeed, we cannot get any closer to heaven while on earth, than when we partake of the Eucharist!

You could write whole libraries full of exultations of the Eucharist and still never cease to have more to say. It is an eternal wellspring of gracious joy and gratitude and love. It is utterly wonderful. How blessed we are!!

 

“It is impossible for a person who prays regularly to remain in serious sin; because the two are incompatible, one or the other will have to be given up.”
-Saint Teresa of Avila
It’s like trying to pour two different liquids into a cup. The more we pray, the less room there is for sin… and vice versa. Eventually, we will become filled with one or the other, either vice or virtue, and that will spill out of our hearts into the world around us. The choice is ours, but either way, the cup will be filled.


onevoiceunited:

God please give me the grace to believe that You do forgive my past. That the guilt of my sin is washed away. Out of the darkness of my past you call me into Your light of today. Let my life be forgotten even as I have forgotten you. Be the life that I have forsaken, that Your love may pour out onto all that surround me.

Crucify me with you. This is the only path.

☝️Amen.

Forgive me, for I knew not what I did.

Correct me, so that I know what it is I have done.

Direct me, that I may do Your will alone.

You are the only Way, and you are the only Truth, and you must become my only Life. Crucify me with you, that I may die to everything else, and be reborn through Your merciful love.

 

“No earthly pleasures, no kingdoms of this world can benefit me in any way. I prefer death in Christ Jesus to power over the farthest limits of the earth. He who died in place of us is the one object of my quest. He who rose for our sakes is my one desire. Do not talk about Jesus Christ as long as you love this world.”

— St. Ignatius of Antioch (via confessionsofsomeoneanonymous)

Christ alone is worthy, Christ alone is gain. Jesus, the Son of God, is to be treasured above everything else in existence, for He created it all, and is greater than it all, and will exist beyond it all. Literally nothing in the world is of any interest or desire to a fervent Christian, for they feel this fact in their very bones. Christ must be our world, our universe; our only home, our only love.

Meditate on this quote. Let it soak into your soul and ring from your lips. It is truth. May we all live it sincerely as such.
 

“If we but paused for a moment to consider attentively what takes place in this Sacrament, I am sure that the thought of Christ’s love for us would transform the coldness of our hearts into a fire of love and gratitude.”

St. Angela of Foligno

I can attest to this truth. Christ, our God become man, gives His very self to us as divine food, so we can literally make Him part of ourselves– so He can be closer to us than He was incarnate. The humility, the compassion, the love, are unfathomable and ineffable and heartbreakingly profound. But our heart grasps a glimmer, and that alone sets it utterly aflame.

May we always remember this truth, in every moment of our lives, and may we ever more adore the Lord in the most holy Eucharist!
 

“He who prays most receives most.”

St. Alphonsus de Liguori 

Ask and you shall receive– but the asking must be born of honest faith! We must show our trust and reliance on God through frequent sincere prayer. God delights to help all who ask Him, just as any good father delights to help his children.

 


“I tell you, that every man who delights in his own will, and is subdued to his own thoughts, and takes up the things sown in his heart, and rejoices in them, and supposes in his heart that these are some great mystery, and justifies himself in what he does- the soul of such a man is a lair of evil spirits, counselling him to evil, and his body a store of evil mysteries in which it hides itself.”

— Saint Anthony

 

 

This is EXACTLY how I thought and lived while afflicted with D.I.D. I was so obsessed with deciphering, cataloging, and exploring my “inner lore” that I had no time for God– even worse, was the fact that I thought I was spending all my time in worship, convinced that immersing myself in my thoughts and feelings was leading me to discover secret truths about God. Little did I know, I was only worshipping myself. I trusted the voices I heard, I followed their advice, I believed they were angels come to help me heal… but I forgot that when angels fall, they become demons… and that anything that idolizes “I” is a false teacher, no matter how mystical and beautiful and intelligent and gentle they appear… and no matter how loving they claim to be. Self-love is still pride, and a flower-strewn stroll to hell is still ending in damnation. And I had no idea. I fell for it hook, line, and sinker.

And then one day it all collapsed in on itself, and God swept me back up into His arms, and my heart suddenly, tragically, joyfully, devastatedly realized how abjectly hollow and horrid my life had truly been without Him.

Now, I see my past for what it was. I was completely deluded. I lost a lot of friends with this realization, as they claimed I was “no longer the person they loved” and that’s true. The person they loved was a self-centered fool, who didn’t even know who they were to begin with– because they didn’t know God. I was my own idol back then, and when I shockingly realized that my “friends” thought the same way about themselves– well, I had to cut everything off cold. I left it all behind and went back to Christ, utterly alone and poor and afraid and disoriented, but full of genuine hope for the first time in my life.

I’m still recovering. I still have a lot of toxic habits to unlearn. I still struggle with a lot of sinful compulsions. But God has never given up on me, not once in fifteen solid years of utter madness and “evil mysteries.” I am learning to subdue my will and humble my soul under God’s hand, and yes it is frightening and difficult at times, but the joy and love are ever present. That is something my mental illness never had. And by God’s grace, I will never go back.

I need to read this over and over, to remember the pit from whence I was mercifully dragged. Thank God, thank God, thank God!!

 

“Just consider the Christian who is trying, even in a small way, to save his soul. Everything around him inclines him to evil; he can hardly lift his eyes without being tempted, in spite of all his prayers and penances. And yet a hardened sinner, who for the past twenty years has been wallowing in sin, will tell you that he is not tempted! So much the worse, my friend, so much the worse! That is precisely what should make you tremble—that you do not know what temptations are….St. Augustine tells us that the greatest temptation is not to have temptations because this means that one is a person who has been rejected, abandoned by God, and left entirely in the grip of one’s own passions.”

— St. John Vianney

This is SO IMPORTANT!

Temptation is a test for our soul. To be able to be tempted at all, there must be something to tempt us away from! For example, if you feel the temptation to steal, then you are aware that stealing is wrong, and this is a test for you– will you give in to the world’s coercion, to its mandate of selfish interest and desire, or will you resist, and stand strong in God’s will– to sacrifice our self-indulgence and suffer for the sake of Christ? Will you reject the desire to have more, or to rely on self sufficiency, instead of depending on God and trusting Him to provide according to His Good Will? To experience temptation means we are being given the opportunity to practice that choice… to prove the allegiance of our heart. If someone does not feel a “temptation” to steal, but instead takes what they want without remorse or even a sense of impropriety, then they are living so deeply in sinful indulgence that they have lost the very desire to do what is right, because they can no longer see it– they see their sin as being right; they see “nothing wrong” with their evil act, or even see it as justified, and thus they are blind to the very thought of another option, one of righteous self-sacrifice… and so they do not experience temptation.

If you struggle with temptation, then you are still fighting the spiritual war, and that is good– it means you are not a prisoner of the world. Christ has redeemed us from bondage, but He has not taken away our battles. The world is fighting Him to try and steal you away from Him, but Christ is already and forever the Victor… so no matter how much we may have to endure, we can do so with steadfast courage, knowing that ultimately, sin loses. Temptation is the siren song of the enemy’s strategy, promising us comfort and pleasure and excitement and power, failing to mention that we’ll die if we taste that fruit; no matter how delicious it may be, it is ash in our stomach, and can never satisfy. Resist it! If we must go hungry in this world for the sake of the Kingdom, so be it– for we have the Bread of Life, worth infinitely more than any earthly delight! When you are tempted, remember this.

The devil will never cease trying to lure you away from God, but no amount of empty riches or pleasures will ever amount to anything true or lasting. Seek God instead, reject the sinful urge, and hold fast to hope and prayer. Temptation will then only serve to strengthen your resolve to follow Christ. God grant us all the grace to set our hearts on Him alone, and to never be numb to the test!

 

“Withdraw your heart from the world before God takes your body from it.”

— St. John of Avila (via by-grace-of-god)

We may die at any moment! We do not know God’s timing… but we do know His will for our lives until then– to worship Him, to love Him, to love our fellow man, and to live for His Kingdom.

If our heart is attached to the world, it cannot do those things, because love of the world results in selfishness, greed, lust, impatience, impurity, self-worship, idleness, desire, anger, neurosis, depression, hollowness, and all other such vices. That is because the world is fallen, and shackled to death through sin! So to focus on the world is to be enslaved to death. It is a prison with no hope of reprieve, and the existential dread of a worldly life is a terror I daresay we have all tasted at some point in our temporal lives.

Turn to God, for He is life, light, and love. When our hearts cling to Christ, they learn joy, patience, compassion, generosity, gentleness, purity, perseverance, hope, courage, wisdom, grace, and a multitude of other virtues. This is because now, our sights are set on a deeper life– on heaven, unity with God! This gives us the strength to not only happily let go of all interest in this world, but also to endure all hardships within it, because we are full of love for God and our hope is secure, so we can focus on showing and testifying to that love no matter what.

Our time is short, but if you’re still breathing, you can always return to God. If you seek life, renounce the culture of death. Live for the sake of your soul and its true home with God, and death will hold no fear for you.
 

------------------------------------------------------------

Blessed are they who hunger and thirst FOR RIGHTEOUSNESS. they will be satisfied.

NOT the hungry alone! There is NO PROMISE that they will be fed physically. That is a bodily need, but spiritual need trumps even that. Our SOULS hunger WILL be satisfied.

Seeking the face of God, psalm 42-- hungering for Him. Jesus TOLD US how to see God-- God is IN HIM, and Jesus is IN THE "LEAST OF HIS PEOPLE." THIS is why saints are so zealous for the poor and rejected-- in them, THE FACE OF GOD-- who humbled Himself to be humiliated and mortified and suffer-- IS IN THEIR FACES!

prismaticbleed: (angel)
☆THE REASON WHY IT IS THE TREE OF KNOWLEDGE OF GOOD AND EVIL=

Adam and eve were created pure and obedient. They COULD not come to know evil on their own, as God is Good and they followed him entirely.

EVIL COULD THEREFORE ONLY OCCUR THROUGH DISOBEDIENCE.

AND THE ONLY WAY THEY COULD DISOBEY, AND THEREFORE LEARN EVIL, IS IF GOD GAVE THEM AN ORDER THAT COULD BE DISOBEYED!

Therefore the tree of knowledge WAS REQUIRED TO BE FORBIDDEN, OTHERWISE IT COULD NOT BESTOW SUCH KNOWLEDGE OF EVIL IN THE FIRST PLACE.

The snake, therefore, was indeed SUPPOSED to be in the tree, as a tempter-- "temptation" in the TEST sense!!

Therefore God did NOT "create" Evil. Evil is an ABSENCE of God. God just allowed the circumstances that would ENABLE such an absence to exist-- through rebellion against God, which is sin, which is evil.

EVERYTHING that occurs as a result of that absence is UNCREATED and UNNATURAL.

☆the hypnotist said, "sin" backwards is just "live"! How can we refute that with the Word of God? How does Genesis show the flaws in that argument-- or the ironic truth?

☆the irony is that "live" is the REVERSE of "evil." DUH.

= the devil and backmasking; lies, sneakiness. Undermining the whole.

Profile

prismaticbleed: (Default)
prismaticbleed

June 2025

S M T W T F S
1234567
89101112 1314
15161718192021
22232425262728
2930     

Syndicate

RSS Atom

Most Popular Tags

Style Credit

Expand Cut Tags

No cut tags
Page generated Jul. 5th, 2025 10:55 pm
Powered by Dreamwidth Studios