Monday, November 21, 2016
Sunday, November 13, 2016
Wholeheartedly
Lord, please help me stop loving so poorly.
Please show me the ways to love unconditionally.
St. Francis Prayer:
Lord, make me an instrument of Your peace.
Where there is hatred let me sow love.
Where there is injury, pardon;
Where there is doubt, faith;
Where there is despair, hope;
Where there is darkness, light;
Where there is sadness, joy.
O Divine master, grant that I may not so much seek to be consoled as to console;
to be understood as to understand;
to be loved as to love;
For it is in giving that we receive;
It is in pardoning that we are pardoned;
It is in dying that we are born again to eternal life.
Tuesday, November 8, 2016
November 9
"I have a prediction. I know exactly what November 9 will bring. Another day of God’s perfect sovereignty. He will still be in charge. His throne will still be occupied. He will still manage the affairs of the world. Never before has His providence depended on a king, president, or ruler. And it won’t on November 9, 2016."
- Max Lucado
“A king's heart is channeled water in the hand of the Lord; God directs it wherever he pleases.” (Proverbs 21:1).
"Understanding God’s sovereignty over the nations opens the door to peace. When we realize that God influences the hearts of all rulers, we can then choose to pray for them rather than fret about them. Rather than wring our hands we bend our knees, we select prayer over despair."
-Max Lucado
Saturday, November 5, 2016
God, I choose to love you
...even if I keep failing.
“This is what it means to live in heroic confidence: To be able to say I am Yours. Jesus, you hold me in your hands and even if I experience death, no one can snatch me from your hands. Jesus, you are the good shepherd. I belong to you, and even if my life never recovers and that my heart is always broken. Even if I lose everything. I will always be held by you. This is what it is to have heroic confidence. To say I am yours God. Even if. “
-from a talk by Fr. Mike Schmitz
Monday, October 31, 2016
Small Lens
How do we live life with the recognition of our brothers and sisters in Christ that are suffering through things we may never fully understand? How can we connect our hearts with theirs not just for the mere moments when we hear of news, but in the midst of our days and throughout our lives? What is to blame than my own fallenness to prioritize my self and seek fulfillment before being shaken to the core to realize that I am not the center of the world.
"I wish to lose myself and never find myself except in God."
-St. John Vianney
Thursday, October 27, 2016
Thursday, October 20, 2016
The Ocean
"Whenever you find yourself inclined to diffidence, lift up your heart lovingly to God, and be assured that your defects are, in the sight of His infinite goodness, but as a few threads of tow cast into a sea of fire. Figure to yourself a burning surface, as vast as the hemisphere we inhabit; if a piece of tow were thrown into it, would---it not be so absorbed in the fire as instantly to disappear? "Our God is a consuming fire," and our imperfections, compared with His goodness, are what a piece of tow is to the furnace. When, therefore, we have fallen, let us humble ourselves sorrowfully in His presence, and then, with an act of unbounded confidence, let us throw ourselves into the ocean of His goodness, where every failing will be canceled, and anxiety will be turned into love."
- St. Paul of the Cross
with sincerity,
Ahhhh-me
Sunday, October 2, 2016
Longing His Will
Repeating this quote in my head (+1000 times)
"If it is not an act of love, it is not the will of God."
-Fr. Larry Richard
Friday, September 30, 2016
Strong Enough
A friend of mine recently shared this quote that was hand written in the front of his Magnificat:
"Accept with joy the circumstances that are placed in your life, because these are the means God has placed for you to become holy."
The quote came from a book he had read. I am still trying to find the book source.
Fr. Mike actually talks about that too, in his youtube video titled Will God Heal My Wounds?
Lord, grant that we may fix our eyes on your Cross. In times of gladness and sadness, that we may unite it with your love for us. Help us to be attentive to others. Fill us with your graces to distinguish compassion and pity when others are in distress. Purify our hearts. Amen.
Sunday, September 18, 2016
Suscipe
[Photos from a morning jog through the fog]
I recently learned that "suscipe" is the Latin word for "receive."
St. Ignatius of Loyola wrote a prayer titled Suscipe:
Receive, O Lord, all my liberty. Take my memory, my understanding, and my entire will. Whatsoever I have or possess Thou hast bestowed upon me; I give it all back to Thee and surrender it wholly to be governed by Thy Will. Give me love for Thee alone along with Thy grace, and I am rich enough and ask for nothing more.
I recently learned that "suscipe" is the Latin word for "receive."
St. Ignatius of Loyola wrote a prayer titled Suscipe:
Receive, O Lord, all my liberty. Take my memory, my understanding, and my entire will. Whatsoever I have or possess Thou hast bestowed upon me; I give it all back to Thee and surrender it wholly to be governed by Thy Will. Give me love for Thee alone along with Thy grace, and I am rich enough and ask for nothing more.
Now Playing: Touch The Sky by Hillsong UNITED |
Tuesday, September 13, 2016
To the girl without a father
I pray for you.
I long for you to know your worth.
I pray for you to realize that you are beautiful.
I know that you may be confused, frustrated, exhausted.
Sometimes you may feel lonely, fighting the good fight alone.
and that you have to keep eyes on your back, to always be on guard.
As if in this world, you are unprotected.
You may have fallen into the trap of letting the words of the wrong man define you.
You may experience that deep sense of longing.
A long for protection, affection, through love.
My fear is that you fell into the lies that this world feeds on.
Or settle for a man that cannot see you as God sees you.
What could have first looked as assertiveness could turn to possessiveness and aggression.
Yet that spark in your eyes and that hole in your heart keep steering your sight.
and what you deeply want is
just to see the truth.
and sense of courage
and to be in sync with the Spirit that guides your soul to the path of the Cross.
But at times, the days look dull.
Yet you pull a front face, while in truth, how delicate are your bones.
It is a fact, that growing up fatherless can pierce a part of child's life.
---
God please,
heal the souls of the broken.
---
God is with you.
He will hold you.
He will protect you.
and He will always love you.
Maybe we all are like this butterfly that has a broken wing.
Nevertheless, beautiful creations.
Only made complete through Him.
Monday, September 5, 2016
Vocation to Charity
"Love to be real, it must cost-it must hurt- it must empty us of self."
-Mother Teresa
Missionaries of Charity convent in DC. |
A gift from the sisters. |
-Pope Francis
(News article from C.N.A.)
This picture makes me so happy. I remember the sight of it all. |
"Perhaps I don't speak their language, but I can smile."
-Mother Teresa
Sunday, August 28, 2016
Evening Post
Today's homily reminded me:
Not just to wait until someone asks me how I am doing, but to already have the mindset and attitude that we are truly blessed.
As a silly side post. I am preparing myself for another day. A gift. Truly thankful for coffeeeeeeee!
To be honestly grateful.
The look of DC through lenses |
As a silly side post. I am preparing myself for another day. A gift. Truly thankful for coffeeeeeeee!
Notice the caption. Some may say it is true for them too. :P
Buenos Nachos,
Ahhhh-meee.
Sunday, August 21, 2016
Graces For Every Day
Here is a prayer (revised) from a book titled "Graces For Every Day" that captivated my heart when I heard it this past week. Thank you to Sheryl for introducing it to me:
"Lord, fill us with Your love. Help us to look at others as You look at us, for we never know what another soul is feeling or going through. Lord, keep us from becoming cold and hardened by the world. Teach us Your compassion; may we always be willing to help our neighbors without first having to be ask. Please bless us. In Jesus name we pray. Amen."
Summer sunset in the Midwest |
"Lord, fill us with Your love. Help us to look at others as You look at us, for we never know what another soul is feeling or going through. Lord, keep us from becoming cold and hardened by the world. Teach us Your compassion; may we always be willing to help our neighbors without first having to be ask. Please bless us. In Jesus name we pray. Amen."
Foggy morning |
with love,
Ahhh-me
Monday, August 15, 2016
Smile
We are made in His image
Now Playing: You've Got A Friend by McFly
The music video really hits my heart. May we never forget to love. May we never forget to pray for others.
Thursday, July 28, 2016
Cake Topper
“Love is a mutual self-giving which ends in self-recovery.”
- Arcbishop Fulton Sheen
A cake topper from a friend's wedding. There is something magical about the natural bokeh effect that appears when using telephoto lenses.
Buenos nachos,
Ahhh me
Sunday, June 19, 2016
Sunsets and Joy
Now Playing: River Flows In You by Yiruma
"Talking about our problems has become our greatest addiction. Break the habit – talk about your joys."
-Rita Schiano
Spring time in the midwest |
Another spring time sunset |
Today my joy were from the people I encountered, because God allowed the opportunity for us to greet each other with a smile, and therefore; to love.
Good night,
Amy
Thursday, June 2, 2016
Wednesday, May 11, 2016
Monday, April 18, 2016
Humility and holiness
Happy Monday!
Here are two quotes from a saint that showed the beauty in humility. She felt called to serve the poorest. Also known as the silent saint.
Here are two quotes from a saint that showed the beauty in humility. She felt called to serve the poorest. Also known as the silent saint.
"Refuse God nothing... We must do everything through love."
"My little ones, never forget that the poor are our Lord. In caring for the poor say to yourself, this is for my Jesus- what a great grace!"
-st. Jeanne
From the Little Sisters of the Poor
Thursday, April 7, 2016
The Perfect Joy
Happy Thursday!
So I am reading Mother Angelica's Little Book of Life Lessons and Everyday Spirituality, and this little snippet was something that struck me:
Sincerely,
Yellow-Balloon Amy
Tuesday, March 29, 2016
Sunday, March 13, 2016
Saturday, March 12, 2016
Trusting God in the desolated times
Now Playing: Yet I will praise you - Vineyard Music
"and I will not forget that you hung on the Cross. Lord, you bled and died for me.
and if I have to suffer, I know that You've been there, and I know that You are here now. "
"Even when my heart is torn, I will trust you Lord.
Even when I feel deserted, I will trust you Lord.
Even in the darkest valleys, I will trust you Lord.
and when my world is shattered, and it seems all hope is gone.
Yet I will praise you Lord. "
In times of suffering, it is truly hard to see the beauty in our life. Yet, there is so much beauty to be found in the midst of suffering, and in ways these are the times when we can come closer to knowing God and offer up our pains for the souls of others.
As hard as it for me to acknowledge this sometimes, I pray that those in the midst of suffering can attempt to find truth, beauty, and goodness in the midst of suffering.
You are not alone in these trialled times. God loves you so much!
Even if you can't see that or feel a hint of that, I hope that you have that seed of faith that will soon blossom to something so big and beautiful.
Jesus, I trust in You.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
and because some of us like "recipes" for dealing with things:
- Pray
- Let this suffering be in your prayers as an offering for special intentions
- Sing, kneel, or just sit on a pew. There is no recipe for this, God wants you as you are.
- "Prayer is not asking. Prayer is putting oneself in the hands of God, at his disposition, and listening to His voice in the depth of our hearts." - Blessed Mother Teresa
- Attend Daily Mass
- Don't be discouraged by your emotions to prevent you from going. God loves you, knows you, and wants to heal you. Let Go and Let God.
- Visit Adoration chapel (or just a chapel)
- Again, don't be discourage of passing this opportunity because of your emotions.
- Console with loved ones (do not bottle things)
- This applies to everyone differently, but do not let yourself sink from this suffering.
- Go to Confession
in a lighter tone, here are things to do:
- Be with friends and/or family (if you are ready)
- Serve others (you have a gift that can be given)
- Be outside (running, walking, biking, etc)
in a lighter lighter tone....
- Go to a Petland and play with puppies! (They let you play with them for free)
This puppy was adorable! She was so melancholic at first, because she just wanted to lay in the ground and put her head down. If I could keep her, I would name her Eeyore. I joked that she empathize with me. It brought a joy that she became playful after lots of petting.
Lastly, I would say that there are good and bad ways to deal with suffering. I pray that God grants you the ability to distinguish between the two.
You are loved!
Ahhhh-meee
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