A Great Incentive...

How may I practice Christian virtues in my daily walk?
If only I remember God's presence...within me...at all times - this simple appreciation will give me a great incentive to walk in His ways.

The thought that God's eyes are upon me 24/7...animates me and gives me courage to choose to do good in order to please my Creator and Lord!

Do I work hard enough to please my spouse, my supervisor at the office, my children, and others whom I love and wish to bring happiness to? This is still not sufficient if I'm aware of God-with-me at all times.

In order to remain intimately connected with God...I must seek Him outside of myself as well: at the Blessed Sacrament (daily Mass...silent adoration before the tabernacle...)...in reading and meditating upon Holy Scripture (the Bible...Yes! the Bible is easier and more fun to read than any other book out there...)

And, finally, I walk in union with God when I honor His image in others (and that means every single living soul...famous or unknown, rich or poor, important or insignificant, learned or illiterate...)

David was filled with joy and consolation whenever he thought of God: "I remembered God and was delighted." (Psalm 76:4)  Do I wish to live a life delighting in God's presence everyday? Absolutely!

If we could see more clearly today...

If we could see the way God sees, our lives would be a steady walk toward perfection...
We would only want what God wants for us because these are the gifts that help us to grow...

When I was at my weakest point in a hospital bed years ago, I put my trust in the doctors who would know what was best for me to heal from my broken state after a serious car accident. I did not (and could not) walk away or self-prescribe a cure.
How much more am I to put my trust in God who knows - from all time - what is best for me?
The more I see the way God wills (or permits) my every step this day...
the more I will be open to connecting with all of the persons God lets me share this day with.

Dear Lord, do not let me waste a single moment, a single encounter, a single breath this day.
May I serve your divine providence with an open heart and a cheerful spirit...no matter the cost! Amen.

On the blessing of the Cross

It is written that if we shall die with Christ (and we believe) we shall also live together with Christ (Romans 6:8)

In my struggles, Christ already reigns victor -
In my darkness, Christ is the Light -
In my dying, Christ gives me true Life...

Let me be constantly reminded of the blessing of the Cross.
And even as my anguish intensifies in these days...
let it all be for the reasons God has set apart for me to grow in union with my Beloved...

The chalice is so deep,
and I need the constancy of Christ
in order to persevere in my quest for ultimate union.

The way to perfect charity is arduous...

Delighting in a beautiful sunset the other day when I was working late at the office, I realized how God delights in giving me little joys and consolations...and that I must not purposely seek these little delights because they are not the way to perfect charity...

Strange-sounding you might say? The path to perfection is not self-seeking. I must learn to completely conquer my human tendency for self-love, and this involves a constant struggle against self. Every single day, my natural tendencies are tu nurture self: I brush my teeth, bathe, dress, eat, drink, etc...When tired, I seek to lie down and rest. When in pain, I seek some form of remedy to alleviate or completely take away the pain. In other words, my human reaction to living, is to seek consolation; pleasure instead of pain, and relaxation instead of work.

Who is it that intentionally looks for pain instead of pleasure? Looks for hard work and suffering instead of relaxation and "feeling good"?...

My relationship with a merciful and loving God urges me (yes, urges me) to want to surrender all of myself to His Divine Providence...I am no longer the leader in control of my journey...in fact, I've never been the one "in control of my walk"...My beloved Crucified is my leader from now on. As I gaze upon God's only begotten Son surrendering Himself on the cross for love of little me...I cannot help but cry out in sorrow and joy: "Abba, Father, How great Thou Art!" "Have mercy on me!"

This is the day the Lord has made...

Rejoice in this day with me as I celebrate my wedding anniversary and my departed father's birthday...

Join me in prayer, please!!!

I will ponder on the following verse from Proverbs 3:5-6
"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"