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OK...OK

Tonight I was asked to share my healing experience at one of the healing, holy hour nights.  

Okay, here it is. 

I would like to share with you the healing that happened in my

heart here at one of these holy hour nights.

I was carrying a lot of sorrow and grief and knew I needed

prayer.

I prayed with one of the prayer teams and I presented my

broken heart in front of the blessed Sacrament.

“It’s going to be ok.”

Those were the words that brought healing to my heart.

I couldn’t stop smiling!

Those words not only came from someone who knew grief but

who also knew the goodness of God.

Those words were an answer to my prayers.

They were a reminder to trust in a God who wants to heal the

brokenhearted.

It’s ok to give our hearts to Jesus.

He wants to hold our hearts in his hands.

If we are willing to give him the "OK."  

The healthy do not need a doctor but the sick do.

I invite you to bring your heart before our Eucharistic Lord.

He is a good doctor.

Who wants to heal.

If we give Him the OK.

This was not easy to do. After I spoke I felt sick to my stomach. 

I knew it was anxiety. 

I knew I would second guess myself... 

And I knew I needed prayer.

And thanks be to God, my stomach stopped hurting instantly after asking for prayer. 

I needed to give Jesus the "OK."   

I said goodbye to Facebook. So, hopefully people will still read my blogs. 

I may try and find a different blog website that emails blogs. 

The Last Supper

Just a few weekends ago in Indianapolis, 50,000 Catholics from all over the nation gathered together to celebrate what or rather Who we believe in.

We believe in the Eucharist. 

We believe the Eucharist truly is the body and blood of Jesus Christ. 

Why?

Because Jesus literally, not symbolically, gave us his body and blood at the Last Supper.

The Institution of the Lord’s Supper

When the hour came, he took his place at the table, and the apostles with him. He said to them, “I have eagerly desired to eat this Passover with you before I suffer; for I tell you, I will not eat it until it is fulfilled in the kingdom of God.” Then he took a cup, and after giving thanks he said, “Take this and divide it among yourselves; for I tell you that from now on I will not drink of the fruit of the vine until the kingdom of God comes.” Then he took a loaf of bread, and when he had given thanks, he broke it and gave it to them, saying, “This is my body, which is given for you. Do this in remembrance of me.” And he did the same with the cup after supper, saying, “This cup that is poured out for you is the new covenant in my blood. But see, the one who betrays me is with me, and his hand is on the table. For the Son of Man is going as it has been determined, but woe to that one by whom he is betrayed!”

Luke 22:14-22

It is with deep sorrow that our Lord Jesus Christ was mocked at the 2024 Summer Olympics. 

The Last Supper is the Institution of the Eucharist. 

The Last Supper is the most precious gift Jesus gave us to remember Him by.  

When something brings glory to God, like the Eucharistic Congress, the enemy doesn't like it.  

You see, Satan knows Jesus is truly present in the Eucharist.

Yet, Satan wants to convince us that the Last Supper was just a silly symbol.  

Lucifer, wants to attack Christ's body, the Church. 

The enemy wants to laugh at us and push us further away from our Eucharistic Lord.

However, we must not be discouraged by the evil one's sacrilegious jokes and gimmicks.

Yes, Christianity and Catholicism will suffer persecution.

We are fighting a spiritual battle. 

But there is a war to be won.

I see Jesus writing a line in the sand. 

The line in the sand represents good versus evil. 

Good will win in the end. 

For as often as you eat this bread and drink the cup, you proclaim the Lord’s death until he comes. 

1Corinthians 11:26 

Let us praise and glorify our Eucharistic Lord! 

Blessed be God.

Blessed be his holy Name.

Blessed be Jesus Christ, true God and true Man.

Blessed be the name of Jesus.

Blessed be his most Sacred Heart.

Blessed be his most Precious Blood.

Blessed be Jesus in the most holy Sacrament of the altar.

Blessed be the Holy Spirit, the Paraclete.

Blessed be the great Mother of God, Mary most holy.

Blessed be her holy and Immaculate Conception.

Blessed be her glorious Assumption.

Blessed be the name of Mary, Virgin and Mother.

Blessed be Saint Joseph, her most chaste spouse.

Blessed be God in his angels and in his saints.

Amen.

More and More Everyday

On July 11th, 1964, my grandparents professed their wedding vows in holy matrimony.

They professed from that day forward to love each other more and more everyday. 

Yesterday we celebrated 60 years of that love with the family they built together. 

My eyes filled with tears as we all watched these two dance to their first dance song on their wedding day.

They are a beautiful example of what love should be. 

Choosing to love someone more and more everyday.

Grandma and Grandpa live these lyrics in their marriage. 

They said our love was just emotion

That time would slowly fade away

But time's just deepened my devotion

I love you more and more every day

The day you made those tender vows beside me

My joy was more than words could ever say

And darling still it grows and grows inside me

I love you more and more every day

The day you made those tender vows beside me

My joy was more than words could ever say

And darling still it grows and grows inside me

I love you more and more every day

I love you more and more every day

The goodness of Jesus

 When you pray before the Eucharist, allow your desire for the things of God to intensify; allow your heart and soul to expand. Pray, "Lord, make me ready to receive the gifts you want to give," or even,  "Lord Jesus, surprise me."
Bishop Barron - Bridging the Great Divide 

The melancholic in me often forgets to look for the good in life.

The melancholic in me also doesn't like surprises.

I read that prayer during Adoration and asked to see the good. 

I asked Jesus to surprise me. 

And He did surprise me.

I saw with my eyes and my heart, the Good. 

The goodness of Jesus. 

"The tabernacle is the guarantee that Jesus has set his tent among us. Every moment of prayer, especially before our Lord in the tabernacle, is a sure, positive gain. The time we spend in having our daily audience with God is the most precious part of the whole day." Mother Teresa 

 

Broken Glass

I keep thinking of the image I saw a couple years ago.

The image was a glass wall between me and a crucifix in a church.  

I remember thinking if I open the door to the glass wall it would break. 

I didn’t know what that exactly meant. 

What would happen if I opened the door and the glass broke? 

 I meditated with this last night while trying to fall asleep. 

I visualized the same crucifix but this time the wall of glass is all shattered on the floor. 

Broken pieces of glass everywhere.

Again, what does this mean? 

Let me "break" it down...

The broken glass symbolizes our broken and suffering world. 

I’m now seeing that I can’t fix all the broken pieces of glass. 

I have to give this brokenness to Jesus on the cross. 

Only Jesus can restore what is broken.  

I listened to this song for the first time today and it fits this blog well. 

A Story of Hope

Servant of God, Chiara Corbello Petrillo, is one of my favorite saints in the making! 

Birth into Heaven 

"The picture of Chiara smiling with a patch on her eye is extraordinary if you consider that it was taken in April of 2012, which was a little more than ten days after she discovered to be a terminal patient. In the weeks that followed, she prepared for her encounter with Christ alongside her husband in a house far from the city and close to the sea. They received the Sacraments daily by Fr. Vito, who accompanied them through this intense time. Chiara and Enrico were strengthened more than ever by the faithfulness of God and a deep joy."

"Chiara died at noon on June 13, 2012 after she said her goodbyes to her family and friends, one by one. She told everyone I love you."

https://www.chiaracorbellapetrillo.org/en/the-story-of-chiara/

Consecration Prayer to Mary

O Virgin Mary,

you are my Mother, 

who on behalf of God love me so much. 

Accept today my desire to consecrate myself to you. 

I give you my whole self

and my very life,

I give you my body,

my thoughts and feelings,

my deepest capacity

to love and to know the truth.

Everything that I have is yours

and so belongs to you. 

I give it to you

so that I might totally 

belong to Christ,

the life of my life.

With trust and love, I repeat to you>

Morning Star 

who leads me to Jesus.

Totus Tuus.

The Unimaginable

There are moments that the words don't reach

There is suffering too terrible to name

You hold your child as tight as you can

And push away the unimaginable

There are moments that the words don't reach

There's a grace too powerful to name

We push away what we can never understand

We push away the unimaginable."  

Lyrics from Hamilton the Musical  

Michael and Courtney,

 I have pushed away writing this blog.

Day by day and night by night, the unimaginable is being lived.

I keep thinking of our Sorrowful Mother Mary looking up at the One she 

once carried inside her. 

Unimaginable. 

She clings to the Cross. 

Standing by our Sorrowful Mother are St. Mary Magdalene, St. John the Beloved and the women at the Cross.

I have felt ever so close to St. Mary Magdalene these past few weeks. 

Mary Magdalene stood by the sorrowful Mother and her child at the hour of death.

There is nothing I can do to make the unimaginable go away.  

I can and will, stand by and with you at the Cross.

In the hope of the Resurrection. 

  

“Jesus wants to restore us to what man had in the Garden of Eden: nakedness-vulnerability-without shame (Genesis 2:25). He longs to break those chains that tether us to a life of existence instead of a life of abundance.” 

Be Still - Daily Devotional by Lisa Brenninkmeyer 

Asking your little flower to help us live for the abundant life. 

A life unimaginable in the beautiful garden.  

"O Jesus, give us thy heart, as a pledge of thy love, and as a place of refuge, that we may find therein a secure-repose during life, and a sweet comfort at the hour of death. My Savior! Hide me in thy sacred heart, until the storm of life is past." 

A prayer from the St. Vincent’s Manual that expresses this sentiment of asking to be placed within Jesus’ heart while the storm of life rages on.

 

Dear Ralph

My heart broke when I heard the news.

One of my dearest friends, Ralph Sprute, passed away.

I knew this day would come. I knew I would have to say goodbye. 

And now, that day has come and gone.

 I cried hard.  

Through tears the only words I could respond with out loud were, "he was one of my best friends."

I have always cherished our friendship and will continue to cherish it forever. 

 If it weren't for volunteering eleven years ago with the senior citizens, I would not have met Ralph or Marie. 

I want to thank Grandma and Grandpa Rehder for welcoming me into their friend circle. 

Ralph, every Tuesday for almost ten years would ask me, "How is Miss Cottonwood?" 

He never failed to put a smile on my face. 

Ralph brought so much joy to the world. 

So much joy to my heart.

Ralph could brighten the darkest day.

His smile was captivating. (Pun intended...Ralph's nickname was "Cap." 

I will always be thankful for all the birthdays we celebrated together. 

And speaking of birthdays, I am so grateful I called you on your 97th birthday a few weeks ago. 

I didn't know it would be the last time I'd hear your voice.  

However, it won't be the last time you hear from me. Now we have a lot more to talk about. 

I pray you shine your light from heaven. 

 

April Showers

  April showers bring May flowers!

This was a really special day to celebrate with the future bride.

It was a busy weekend to host a bridal shower on but it turned out so beautifully. 

I am so grateful for all the extra help to make the day go so smoothly.

So much love was poured out on Nicole.

I had fun planning the games and prizes. 

We played He said/She said, Bridal Bingo and Guess how many Hershey Kisses. 

There were four wedding lottery scratch ticket winners.

Our guests were happy about the bridal shower starting and ending early. 

We made little butterfly ice cubes for the mimosa and bubbly bar. 

Mom made breakfast casserole and homemade maple frosting for maple bars. 

The balloon arch was composed by the professionals. I couldn't have done it without help! 

Seriously, I would have blown up like a balloon from the latex allergy. Haha! Thank you! 

Thank you to Hope and all the family for helping set up and clean up! 

Only one more month until the wedding! 

One week later, this past weekend, I went to McCall for a quick girls' trip with my sisters and mom before the wedding. 

We enjoyed massages and the hot springs at Shore Lodge.

We've never done a girls' trip, so this was extra special. 

 Lots of laughs and fun over the weekend. 

Lots of love.

To the BRIDE! 

Great Joy

This was an action packed weekend for everyone!  

So much to celebrate! 

Confirmation, grand march, hosting a bridal shower and first communion! 

I wouldn't be telling the truth if I said there weren't any doubts about how this weekend would unfold. 

All around there was so much going on but God made everything that needed to happen, happen!  

Trust in the LORD with all your heart, and do not rely on your own insight. In all your ways acknowledge him, and he will make straight your paths. Proverbs 3:5-6

God blessed and made each moment beautiful and memorable.

The weekend was complete by celebrating my godson's first communion. 

"Seize the little things of everyday life, ordinary life. To be a saint it is not necessary to do great things, but only to do little things greatly." St. Rafael Arnaiz Baron 

I have total confidence that great things are in store for this kid! 

He takes up a great amount of space in my heart and always will.

It is with great joy to stand by this boy's side and to watch him receive Jesus in the Eucharist!

He has my whole heart! 

"Become a saint, a great saint!" St. Maximilian Kolbe 

 

Balance

How would you describe a balanced life? 

This question brought up some good discussion last night at my bible study.

No doubt, life would be better if it was more balanced. 

However, the problem with balancing is staying there and choosing not to move. 

Settling for less with what looks like more. 

Balance can be confused with perfection to gain comfort. 

Balance has come up before and a dear friend reminded me,

We are not made to have balanced lives.

Just like how the late Pope Benedict XVI reminded us that we are not made for comfort. 

Jesus did not have a balanced life.

There is nothing balanced about the Cross.

The Cross Jesus carried was not perfectly balanced but it was perfectly carried for what the world calls unbalanced.

 "According to Saint Teresa, we see that Christianity is much more than living commendable life. It is about knowing our true selves and recognizing that we are nothing apart from God. It is about breaking out of the smallness of our lives and conforming our will to His. It is about picking up our cross and being willing to follow in the footsteps of Christ." Teacher of Prayer - Teresa of Avila 

Painting by Erin McAtee 

Heart Doctor

My doctor appointments are scheduled every six months for Fall and Spring.

However, April is always the hardest month of the year. 

April brings back traumatic memories of heart failure. 

I never know what to expect from these Cardiac appointments.

Will it be a good appointment or a bad appointment?

Well this April I had to schedule two separate trips to Spokane because of scheduling with two doctors. 

The drive and appointment days are very tiresome.  

I was really dreading my first appointment last week.

This appointment wasn't fun but it went better than I thought. 

I thought I would be scheduling a date to replace my pacemaker but will plan on scheduling that in the Fall. 

The next appointment was for today. 

And guess what today is...

Today is St. Bernadette's Feast Day! 

I didn't plan that whatsoever. 

It was a great appointment with my Cardiologist. 

One of the best visits I've had and not just because I didn't receive bad news.

It was great because I knew my heart was in good hands. 

Not just the hands of my Cardiac doctor and Pacemaker doctor but in the hands of 

THE BEST HEART DOCTOR, GOD THE FATHER! 

Become Broken

I want to revisit this quote I used in my latest blog, 

"His abiding presence flowing and through our brokenness becomes a healing remedy to all we encounter. Individually and corporately we become the living Body of Christ, bringing the reality of Jesus' presence to a hungry and lonely world." 

Be Transformed - The Healing Power of the Sacraments by Bob Schuchts

The word "becomes" speaks to my heart today.

"Our brokenness becomes a healing." 

Sit with those words a moment.

We live in a very broken world that is in need of healing. 

Healing to become who God created us to be. 

"We become the living Body of Christ." 

In order to become we must first receive.

Receive the Body of Christ.

"The Church is not a museum of saints, but a hospital for sinners." St. Augustine 

We're all broken and in need of healing. 

Brokenness doesn't become healing without our consent. 

  Allowing our hearts to become broken makes us whole. 

Quote of the Day

"Therefore, my brother, scorned as you are by men, lashed as it were by God, do not despair. Do not be depressed. Do not let your weakness make you impatient. Instead, let the serenity of your spirit shine through your face. Let the joy of your mind burst forth. Let words of thanks break from your lips."

–St. Peter Damian

"Even if the healing doesn't come" are the lyrics but when I first heard the song growing up all I heard was "Healing doesn't come." I avoided this song. Today I share it with a smile on my face and sing 

"You are God You are good! Forever faithful One!

Even if the healing doesn't come!"

Take, Break and Give

I am reading this book "Be Transformed" with one of my bible study groups and the words that struck me are worth sharing. 

Allow these words about Our Eucharistic Lord to transform your heart.

Be Transformed - The Healing Power of the Sacraments by Bob Schuchts

"Jesus "takes us," "breaks us," and "gives us" so that we can participate in his holy self-offering. 

First, Jesus takes us and makes us an eternal offering to the Father, with himself. We are reminded that our lives do not belong to us. We were given to the Father in Baptism. Every time we celebrate Holy Communion, we are invited to reaffirm the reality that we are one with Jesus and an integral part of his body, the Church. 

After taking us into his hands, Jesus then blesses us. Blessing, as we have already noted, is receiving the presence and grace of God in our lives. When we receive him in Holy Communion, Jesus sanctifies us and makes us holy. We in turn bless him with our praise and thanksgiving (CCC 1078). In the Eucharist, which literally means "great thanksgiving," we become a thanksgiving offering in communion with Jesus. He blesses us so that we can share his presence with others. But first we need to be broken.

Following the blessing, Jesus breaks us. This is the part most of us want to avoid. I can personally testify. The breaking process is not always easy or fun, but neither was the cross for Jesus. Without the breaking of our pride and sufficiency, we cannot have unity or true communion with Jesus or one another.

 Finally, after Jesus takes us, blesses us, and breaks us, he gives us as a gift to the Father for the good of others. His abiding presence flowing and through our brokenness becomes a healing remedy to all we encounter. Individually and corporately we become the living Body of Christ, bringing the reality of Jesus' presence to a hungry and lonely world. Taking, blessing, breaking and giving - this is what it means for us to authentically celebrate Holy Communion with Jesus."    

Drawing by Erin McAtee 

Merciful Side

On this Divine Mercy Sunday, I had the opportunity to go to confession.

Part of my penance was to give glory and thanks. 

Give thanks to the LORD, for he is good, his love is everlasting. Psalm 136 

I give thanks for His divine love and mercy! 

"Put your finger here and see my hands, 

and bring your hand and put it into my side,

and do not be unbelieving, but believe."

Thomas answered and said to him, 

"My Lord and my God!" 

John 20:27 

Jesus, thank you for staying by my side. 

O Fount of Life, unfathomable Divine Mercy, envelop the whole world and empty yourself out upon us. O Blood and Water, which gushed forth from the Heart of Jesus as a fountain of Mercy for us, I trust in you!

His mercy endures forever. Psalm 136 

Put your hand in my side 

Watercolor by Erin K. McAtee 

Easter 2024

“Why do you look for the living among the dead? He is not here, but has risen." Luke 24:5

Happy Easter! 

Christ is risen! 

I love Easter! 

Easter brings new life and gives us hope.

The Easter Vigil begins at sun down. 

It begins with candle light coming into the darkness. 

"The light shines in the darkness, and the darkness did not overtake it." John 1:5

Glory to God for His Resurrection and Life! 

Glory to God for sharing His light! 

"Even the darkness is not dark to you;

the night is as bright as the day,

for darkness is as light to you."

Psalm 139:12 

God's light shined at the Easter Vigil in an extra special way this year. 

We celebrated my future brother-in-law coming into the Catholic Church. 

God's light continues to shine through you, Dalton.

Your Easter joy and faith are a true witness to our Risen Lord!

Alleluia! 

St. Michael and St Benedict, pray for us! 

Painting by Erin K. McAtee 

Let it be

"Two hearts, Mother and Son." 

Yesterday I watched the movie the Passion with a dear friend of mine who was watching it for the first time. 

This wasn't my first time watching the Passion movie but it was my first time focusing on Mary's surrender at the Cross.  

Mary's strength was found in her surrender.

Mary had to surrender her Son. 

Her ONLY Son.

God the Father's Son.

Mary had to surrender.

Mary's words "Let it be" stood out to me from the Hallow Pray 40 challenge this past week. 

These are words of surrender.

"Let it be done according to Your word." Luke 1:38

Mary couldn't stop the suffering and torture of her Son''s passion and death. 

She couldn't stop her heart from breaking. 

Two hearts died that day. 

However, Mary, clings to hope when darkness took away her light. 

She continues to pray, "Let it be." 

 Mary stayed with him, watching him sorrowfully to the bitter end.  

Her surrender through the sorrowful mysteries gives me strength to hope as Mary hoped at the Cross and tomb of her most beloved Son.

And he will destroy on this mountain

the shroud that is cast over all peoples,

the sheet that is spread over all nations;

he will swallow up death forever.

Then the Lord God will wipe away the tears from all faces,

and the disgrace of his people he will take away from all the earth,

for the Lord has spoken.

It will be said on that day,

Lo, this is our God; we have waited for him, so that he might save us.

This is the Lord for whom we have waited;

let us be glad and rejoice in his salvation.

Isaiah 25:7-9 

Artwork by Erin K. McAtee

Gift of Surrender

I was listening to a Dynamic Catholic video and was reminded of the power in offering up our suffering.

This Lent has been an act of surrender. 

And here we are on the day of His Passion and Death. 

Our Lord offered up Himself for our salvation.

All for love. 

His words, "I commend my spirit."  

The ultimate GIFT of surrender.

“There is no evil to be faced that Christ does not face with us. There is no enemy that Christ has not already conquered. There is no cross to bear that Christ has not already borne for us, and does not now bear with us.”

Pope Saint John Paul II 

"But he was wounded for our transgressions,

crushed for our iniquities;

upon him was the punishment that made us whole,

and by his bruises we are healed." 

Isaiah 53:5 

Artwork by Erin K. McAtee  

This is the Night

This is the night. 

The dark night.

Darkness kissed the night.

The night innocent blood was betrayed.

The night He sweated blood. 

The night His blood was poured out. 

Yet, that same night He gave us something to behold. 

"Then he took a loaf of bread, and when he had given thanks, he broke it and gave it to them, saying, “This is my body, which is given for you. Do this in remembrance of me.” And he did the same with the cup after supper, saying, “This cup that is poured out for you is the new covenant in my blood." 

Luke 22:19-20

Body and Blood.

Soul and Divinity. 

Himself poured out for you and for me.

Surely he has borne our infirmities

and carried our diseases;

yet we accounted him stricken,

struck down by God, and afflicted.

But he was wounded for our transgressions,

crushed for our iniquities;

upon him was the punishment that made us whole,

and by his bruises we are healed.

All we like sheep have gone astray;

we have all turned to our own way,

and the Lord has laid on him

the iniquity of us all.

He was oppressed, and he was afflicted,

yet he did not open his mouth;

like a lamb that is led to the slaughter,

and like a sheep that before its shearers is silent,

so he did not open his mouth.

Isaiah 53:4-7

“Behold! The Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world!" John 1:29 

Images by Erin McAtee 

Not Giving Up

On this Palm Sunday, I listened to Father Mike Schmidt's homily on the Hallow App's Lenten Challenge.

I learned that surrender is not giving up. Surrender is giving access. 

It is an act of trust by accepting God's will and giving Him access to our hearts. 

"Pain on it's own is just painful. Suffering on it's own just hurts. We know that on its own, the cross simply crushes. Without Jesus, pain is just pain. But united with Jesus Christ, your cross and my cross has a new power." 

It means uniting our suffering with surrendering. 

Uniting with the One who surrendered and suffered it all for all of us. 

"Why do we voluntarily embrace suffering as Christians? Because we know that suffering is not senseless. We know that when we say "yes" to God's will in this moment it has power. When we surrender we are participating in the salvation of the world." 

Do not waste your suffering. 

Check out the "Sunday Sermon: Enter the Story" session in Hallow: https://hallow.app.link/AoHbE6KAeIb

O Humble Carpenter.

Lent and Sacrifice go together.  

Lent and Surrender do too. 

We need to make the sacrifice by surrendering our own will to God's will. 

This Lent has shown me that there are opportunities to surrender each and every day. 

Sacrifice becomes Surrender.  

Surrender becomes Sacrifice.

The act of surrender is a yes to sacrifice.  

This Lent has taught me that we are all called to sacrifice and to surrender our hearts to the Lord.

 "Pour out your life in small moments because it's only these moments that add up to the monumental...The only way to live a truly remarkable life is not to get everyone to notice you, but to leave noticeable marks of His love everywhere you go...Love is so large it has to live in the holiness of very small moments of sacrifice." 

Ann Voskamp, Be the Gift 

Notes I took from Ann Voskamp: 

"Not make impressions, make a difference. Not to one up but help each other up."  

Painting by Erin McAtee

 Happy birthday today, Erin! 

Your heart shines beautifully in all of your artwork! Thank you for sharing your beautiful heart and talent!  

The song "Wood and Nails" was playing in my head this morning. 

"O Humble Carpenter" keeps replaying over and over in my mind.

The One who gave the ultimate Sacrifice and the One who teaches us to Surrender. 

Come to Jesus

The Surrender Novena

Day 1

"Why do you confuse yourselves by worrying? Leave the care of your affairs to me and everything will be peaceful. I say to you in truth that every act of true, blind, complete surrender to me produces the effect that you desire and resolves all difficult situations."

O Jesus, I surrender myself to you, take care of everything! (10 times)

I have been listening to the "Lent Pray40" on the Hallow app. and praying with these words to surrender. 

I have learned that surrender is an act of trust. 

 Yesterday I went to the last two episodes of Season 4 of the Chosen.

This Season will pierce a lot of hearts. 

An hour or so after leaving the theater, I had a heat flash, which I am not used to experiencing. 

I sat down, drank some water, ate some food, and felt a lot better. 

However, I knew it was Jesus who was giving me relief. 

I came home and journaled before bed. 

My eyes filled with tears because the exact scripture I had written down was printed at the bottom of my notebook paper without me realizing it.   

“Come to me, all you that are weary and are carrying heavy burdens, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you, and learn from me; for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls." Matthew 11:28-30 

This was a "Come to Jesus" moment. 

Surrender. Trust.

"Trust is not trust if I need to know why to trust." Fr. Mike Schmitz 

Rest with these words and song lyrics. 

Come

This Lent I am learning about St. Ignatius of Loyola's Spiritual Exercises. 

At a Spiritual Exercise presentation, one of the teachings that stood out to me was make time for prayer. 

This is an exercise I need to work on. 

I love praying throughout my day but specific time to pray is also needed. 

Another one of the exercises I am easing into is taking time to pray with Scripture.

Today I prayed with Jeremiah 29:10-15. 

These are the verses that I highlighted:

"Then you will call on me and come and pray to me, and I will listen to you. You will seek me and find me when you seek me with all your heart." Jeremiah 29:12-13 

The words "Come" and "I will listen" spoke to my heart.

God wants us to show up for prayer. 

He wants to listen. 

Come!

And here "comes" the bride and groom! Happy 34th Anniversary, Mom and Dad! 

Thank you for your vocation and for living lives centered around prayer. 

Love you both! 

 

Precious Dust

Remember you are dust and to dust you shall return. Genesis 3:19 

I find it beautiful that Ash Wednesday and Valentine's Day are on the same day this year. 

Both represent a giving heart. 

"The only way to love God... is to give to people. Love for Him has to turn into giving, or it was never love." 

Ann Voskamp, Be the Gift 

Today my mom quoted my great aunt, Sister Mary Geis, 

"Remember you are dust, but very precious dust." 

A reminder of whose we are and who we give our hearts to. 

A reminder of how truly loved we are.

Artwork by Erin McAtee 

Hearts Shared

Today at seniors I wanted to share my heart with the people I love and serve. 

I felt inspired to hand out my Prayer for Hope cards.  

I know this is not a typical Valentine card. 

However, it definitely comes straight from the heart. 

And today hearts were shared. 

Hope is needed. Prayer is needed. 

"While there is deep wisdom in reserving our hearts with those who don’t love through Christ’s broken heart, there’s even deeper wisdom in trusting enough to share our broken hearts with those who do. The more we seek Christ’s broken heart in others, maybe the more we will find it, and the safer we’ll find we are to share our own broken hearts with them." Ann Voskamp, Be the Gift 

Lent begins tomorrow on Valentine's day and Ash Wednesday.

The best offering is the offering of our hearts to the Lord. 

 "Everything given out of our brokenness can show greater love through our willingness to suffer."  Ann Voskamp, Be the Gift

Real Life - Real Heart

 “Real life is happening, and it’s happening right now. What if instead of waiting for good enough things to happen to us, we could be the good thing to happen to someone else who’s waiting? What if instead of sitting in life’s waiting room, waiting for a chance for something good enough to happen to check off a bucket list-what if abundant living isn’t about what you can expect from life, but what life can expect from you?” 

Ann Voskamp, Be the Gift 

This quote reminds me to see the good in "real" life. 

Real life means making myself available. 

And through availability I find purpose. 

"He's inviting me to heal, but also to see my most meaningful calling; to be His healing to the hurting. My own brokenness, driving me into Christ's, is exactly where I can touch the brokenhearted. Our most meaningful purpose can be found exactly in our most painful brokenness. I'm not sure I'd known: we can be broken of healing exactly where we have known the most brokenness." Ann Voskamp, Be the Gift  

This is what makes life really REAL. 

Really living and loving from the heart. 

Make my heart available, Lord. 

Painting on Fabric by Erin McAtee 

Love is the Answer

Today we not only celebrate our freedom to march for life but celebrate life itself. 

We have overturned Roe Vs Wade! 

Love is the answer! 

Put politics aside! 

It takes courage to love.

"If we want to genuinely practice our faith, don't we need to genuinely listen? How would the world change if we all became masters in the art of hearing heartbeats? God's and His people's."

  Be the Gift, Ann Voskamp 

If you're reading this, your heart is beating. 

Check out the video below - I watched and cried listening to the speakers at Life-fest. 

Even from miles and miles away, my heart was beating with those in our Nation's capital, who are reminding us to love. 

Again, love is the answer. 

Make Heaven

"Live every day like you're terminal. 

Because you are. 

Live every day like your soul’s eternal. 

Because it is." 

Ann Voskamp, Be the Gift 

Eternal and Eternity. 

The Eternal is within us. 

Eternity is ahead of us.

It is our choice to wait an eternity on earth or live now for the Eternal in Heaven.  

Too many days are spent looking forward or backward. 

Today is all we have on earth. 

"If today were your last, would you do what you're doing? Or would you love more, give more, forgive more? Then do so! Forgive and give as if it were your last opportunity. Love like there's no tomorrow, and if tomorrow comes, love again." Max Lucado    

Listen to the Spencer Sisters' song, "Make Heaven" in the link below. 

The lyrics are written from their hearts and speak to all of our hearts as a reminder from our Eternal Father in Heaven, 

https://www.boomplay.com/lyrics/152305036

Safe

 "You are the most loved not when you’re pretending to have it all together; you are actually the most loved when you feel broken and falling apart...There is a cross that makes us all safe. Jesus is drawn to the broken parts of us we would never want to draw attention to. Jesus is the most attracted to the busted and sees the broken as the most beautiful. And our God wants the most unwanted parts of us most...Nothing pleases God more than letting Him touch the places you think don’t please Him. God is drawn to broken things - so He can draw the most beautiful things. " Ann Voskamp, Be the Gift 

Among the most beautiful things Jesus gave us is the cross. 

From the cross He gave us His love.

For our brokenness.

That doesn't make the cross safe but a cross that saves. 

Real love is never safe; real love is sacrifice. 

Safe in His love. 

"The cross makes us all safe." 

Painting by Erin K. McAtee 

Spiritual Communion

"Holiness is not something we do for ourselves; it is something God does in us when we cooperate." 

33 Days to Eucharistic Glory 

Cooperation has to come from the heart. 

The whole heart.

Jesus, I give you my heart. 

"Trust. Surrender. Believe. Receive." 33 Days to Eucharistic Glory  

Spiritual Communion Prayer 

Jesus, 

I believe that You are truly present in the Most Holy Sacrament of the Eucharist. 

Everyday  I long for more of You.

I love you above all things, and I desire to receive You into my soul.

Since I cannot receive You sacramentally at this moment, I invite You to come and dwell in my heart. 

May this spiritual communion increase my desire for the Eucharist. 

You are the healer of my soul. 

Take the blindness from my eyes, 

the deafness from my ears, 

the darkness from my mind, 

and the hardness from my heart.  

Fill me with the grace, wisdom, and courage to do Your will in all things. 

My Lord and my God, draw me close to You, nearer than ever before. 

Amen.   

Prayer from 33 Days to Eucharistic Glory 

Painting by Erin McAtee