Candlemas Day coming on February 2 marks the very first time when Blessed Mary and Joseph bring Jesus into the holy temple. Forty days have passed since His birth. Mary enters full of joy seeking to receive her new Mother blessing. Joseph as always, is at her side. Anna looks on lovingly at the child Mary holds in her arms. All of a sudden the prayerful silence is broken. The loud cry of an old man’s voice echoes throughout the temple. “Where is He?” “Where is the Child so that I may behold him?” Old Simeon was waiting inside the temple for years. But this day was different. Something wonderful was taking place not far from where he sat. The sounds of a Child fill his heart with magnificent splendor. The infant Jesus. He goes from room to room frantically searching for where the…
I always begin a new year with a set of heart centered life “aspirations” to accomplish over the next twelve months. These are goals and experiences to challenge and enrich my life. Instead of resolutions, I define a “mindset” theme to remind and push me towards my goals. It is the big idea for the year. This year’s centering mindset theme is freedom. In 2019, I will work on freeing up more ways to bring serenity, growth and new experiences into daily living. With a freedom mindset , I can work harder to open more creative space into my day and set up the necessary conditions to be successful. It also means changing or freeing myself from a few habits that typically hold me back. When setting your goals, be honest about the areas where growth opportunities truly exist. You want to strive to accomplish…
Advent – A Time of Reflection and Anticipation The word “Advent” is derived from the Latin word adventus, meaning “coming” With hearts full of joy and great anticipation, we await the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ. Now is the time to quiet ourselves and be still so that we can hear the whisper of His voice. In quiet surroundings, we hear what it is God wants us to know. Though we may try to slow our pace, being still away from the noise of the world can be very difficult. For many, life has presented different hardships that call for a different kind of waiting. Waiting for prayers to be answered. For loved ones to get well. Waiting for the will to walk again after losing a loved one in senseless tragedy. Perhaps, it is waiting for a heart of forgiveness to enter. Even at this blessed time of…
Thought to start the year reading a book about ways to bring grace filled habits into my morning routine. Kat’s book is filled with simply ideas and wonderful experiences from her own life that help bring meaning to her God + Plan + Move three minute morning routine. I love her constant reflection on Psalm 143:8 and now say this prayer during the early hours of my day. In particular I loved the story she shares about a sailing trip she took with her brother and father and what happened when they were engulfed in a sudden storm. You’ll have to read the book to find out! This is a great book for working mothers trying to balance so much into a day. Kat provides lots of fun ideas to keep the kids happy while maintaining mom’s own morning rhythm. She offers wonderful reasons to…
Faith is indeed a choice. I understand what it means to tragically lose someone you love in just a few breaths. To experience the permanent taking away of another human being you adored with your soul in a matter of seconds. After the September 11, 2001 attack, my life instantly became a devastating, heart exploding blur. I did all I could to spiritually and physically cope with the indescribable and profound loss of my younger brother James taken from our family that day. Only 26, James was a young apprentice just two weeks into his training as an IBEW Local Union electrician. I was the only person on the outside world able to speak with him just after the planes hit the South Tower. Through God’s grace, we were brought together to speak by phone three times. James and so many others were trapped on the 105th floor…
