As you may know, I'm reading a new book called "A Mother's Rule of Life" by Holly Pierlot. I'm truly enjoying it. She's taking me through a schedule a piece at a time and so I'm really able to prioritize my schedule based on what is most important in my life.
The first part of my journey to make a schedule is making time for prayer. So I went through my day in my head, and have decided to say my Rosary at 6am right after I take a shower and before I even turn on this darn computer!! Then I can turn on the computer and do my devotional. I first thought I would stay off the computer all together in the morning because it can really interfere with my routine with my kids, but I think I really need to read the Scripture for the day in the morning. So I'm going to do that and send out my devotionals, and then turn the computer off and be ready for when my kids get up.
Since I'm going to be cutting down my computer time (I think I may use this as a fasting during Lent), I will not be posting as much as I have been. I feel that making sure I'm praying enough and making sure my hubby, kids, and house are taking care of is so important to a happy family.
So I'm not going to NOT get on here at all, I just won't be posting like crazy!! I feel this is a good thing for me. I can really get lost in the Internet information and before I know it, my house is in shambles. I need to really get some self-discipline going here.
So, there's my progress so far. Will keep you all posted on this!!
Showing posts with label Prayer. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Prayer. Show all posts
Tuesday, February 17, 2009
Thursday, February 5, 2009
A Prayer for Inner Healing
Lord God, Father of all, we come before Thee today
empty with our soul in need of healing. We need that
confidence and hope that comes from Your Holy Spirit.
Help us to realize Your love for us and to give that love to
our neighbor. We need to build and renew. There is in
each of us something in our memory that keeps us from
being compassionate and merciful. So deeply rooted are
the gnawing resentments that they obstruct us from the
good You have for us. We ask You to reach into each of our
memories now and heal them. Touch that unforgiving
spirit within us and drive it away, Father. We know You
forgive us, but we find it so hard to forgive ourselves.
Remove all the regrets of the past. Lord Father, we know
You are present now and beg You to remove all of our guilt
and make us new so we can be used by Your Son. Lord
Father, reach in and heal us all and fill us with the love
and compassion that surpasses all understanding.
Amen.
empty with our soul in need of healing. We need that
confidence and hope that comes from Your Holy Spirit.
Help us to realize Your love for us and to give that love to
our neighbor. We need to build and renew. There is in
each of us something in our memory that keeps us from
being compassionate and merciful. So deeply rooted are
the gnawing resentments that they obstruct us from the
good You have for us. We ask You to reach into each of our
memories now and heal them. Touch that unforgiving
spirit within us and drive it away, Father. We know You
forgive us, but we find it so hard to forgive ourselves.
Remove all the regrets of the past. Lord Father, we know
You are present now and beg You to remove all of our guilt
and make us new so we can be used by Your Son. Lord
Father, reach in and heal us all and fill us with the love
and compassion that surpasses all understanding.
Amen.
- Mother Angelica
Thursday, January 29, 2009
Pray for Little Things
How often do we pray for the little things? It's hard to remember to do that because we don't appreciate those little things as much as the big. Well, for me it's that I have to make a conscious effort to remember those little things to pray for.
I think that we also tend not to appreciate those little things that we do for each other, especially our spouses. There are things my husband does that I appreciate, that are little, but I don't say anything. But because he does those little things, like get wood in, fill our heater, come home every night, coach baseball, I know that he loves us. And I try to do little things for him in return. The same can be true of our kids too can't it? I can't even count how many times my kids do little things that are good and sometimes they go unnoticed. I know in my head that that was a nice thing that they did, but I don't vocalize it all the time. But boy, when I vocalize it, it's AMAZING how they react! They are just so proud of themselves.
My point is, is that those little things really add up. And whether we consciously know it or not, those little things are the things that we truly appreciate. So Mother Angelica wants us to ask God for those little things too. Because that's one of the many ways we can show Him that we love Him.
I think that we also tend not to appreciate those little things that we do for each other, especially our spouses. There are things my husband does that I appreciate, that are little, but I don't say anything. But because he does those little things, like get wood in, fill our heater, come home every night, coach baseball, I know that he loves us. And I try to do little things for him in return. The same can be true of our kids too can't it? I can't even count how many times my kids do little things that are good and sometimes they go unnoticed. I know in my head that that was a nice thing that they did, but I don't vocalize it all the time. But boy, when I vocalize it, it's AMAZING how they react! They are just so proud of themselves.
My point is, is that those little things really add up. And whether we consciously know it or not, those little things are the things that we truly appreciate. So Mother Angelica wants us to ask God for those little things too. Because that's one of the many ways we can show Him that we love Him.
Wednesday, January 28, 2009
Thursday, January 22, 2009
Prayer of Frustration
I swear God hears our prayers and really does His best to answer them. Yes, I know that we don't always like the answer, but He answers. I spent some time last night pondering over a particular situation, and then said a quick little, informal prayer to God this morning to ask for His help in pulling me out of this mental mess.
I cracked open Mother Angelica and entered in the Fourth Degree of Prayer, and then kept reading. The next section, lo and behold, was on frustration. And it is weird, but I didn't highlight anything in that section. But it's amazing how much it applies to life, more than we realize.
When we are in a situation where we can't see the light, His light, it's difficult to think that there is something good He has in store for us. Mother says that we must remember to pray in the Present Moment. What I think she means by that is to remember Him, even in our times of frustration.
My most recent time of frustration has been in the past couple of days. I feel so deeply rooted in learning all I can about being Catholic and trying to speak the truth, that I get frustrated. My family and I when I was little, went to Church. While I don't remember looking forward to going, I don't remember fighting with my parents about it either. I remember having to be quiet, but not much else. I remember talking to my friends and wondering why my Church didn't sing more. As an adult, I understand a little bit more about why we do what we do, and now I can explain that to my kids so they can understand better too.
Well, I got my Communion, one of my other brothers got Communion, and soon after that, we stopped going. Mom and Dad said it was because the priest talked too much about money. Which may be true, but we didn't find another Church to go to. So I guess Church wasn't a priority to my parents. That's not a knock-down, it's just maybe the way it was.
But I always felt this closeness that I wanted with God, even after we stopped going to Church. I wanted to be this perfect little girl that God loved very much. What I didn't realize was that He already did. I don't remember anyone telling me that God loved me.
As an adult, after having 3 children, I felt the need to hit Church again. I took up an RCIA class and learned all about God's love. God's love?? How enthralling! I was excited. I finished RCIA and began reading "A Woman After God's Own Heart" by Elizabeth George. After picking it up and putting it down quite a bit, I finally finished it and it was probably one of the best reads I had in a long time. That book changed the course of my life with God. While it was not a "Catholic" book per say, it was a book that explained how much He loves me, all of us, and how I can show my love for Him. It was wonderful.
As I adopted certain principles in the book, my marriage got stronger, and I became a better mother. I now had the words to be able to talk to my kids about God's love and what He expects from us. Something that I didn't have when I was growing up. I'm not saying my life was bad, I'm just saying I was missing God.
Mom, Dad, if you're reading this, for the record, I think you guys did a great job raising us. We all turned out as contributing members of our society, married, having wonderful children. So I don't want you to think that I think you did a bad job. You took your childhood and turned it around so we had a good one. God sees what you did, and I'm sure He's happy.
Anyway. I feel blessed to have found God and developed this love for my Catholic faith. And there are a lot of people out there who have their opinions, which are often stereotypes, about our faith. It happens and stereotypes will not go away. But how we treat each other can.
That's the part that's frustrating for me this morning. I'm frustrated with the way people treat each other. I'm frustrated with the cruel words that come out on the Internet about people. Not just in my own experience, but for anyone. There is a lot of hate in the world, and I just need to calm down and come back to prayer and let God show us our erroneous ways.
So, I'm going to ask you guys what you like about being Catholic? What is it that keeps you going to Church? What is it that you love about the Mass? What is it that changes, or has changed, your life in regards to being Catholic in particular?
Can't wait to hear your responses!
I cracked open Mother Angelica and entered in the Fourth Degree of Prayer, and then kept reading. The next section, lo and behold, was on frustration. And it is weird, but I didn't highlight anything in that section. But it's amazing how much it applies to life, more than we realize.
When we are in a situation where we can't see the light, His light, it's difficult to think that there is something good He has in store for us. Mother says that we must remember to pray in the Present Moment. What I think she means by that is to remember Him, even in our times of frustration.
My most recent time of frustration has been in the past couple of days. I feel so deeply rooted in learning all I can about being Catholic and trying to speak the truth, that I get frustrated. My family and I when I was little, went to Church. While I don't remember looking forward to going, I don't remember fighting with my parents about it either. I remember having to be quiet, but not much else. I remember talking to my friends and wondering why my Church didn't sing more. As an adult, I understand a little bit more about why we do what we do, and now I can explain that to my kids so they can understand better too.
Well, I got my Communion, one of my other brothers got Communion, and soon after that, we stopped going. Mom and Dad said it was because the priest talked too much about money. Which may be true, but we didn't find another Church to go to. So I guess Church wasn't a priority to my parents. That's not a knock-down, it's just maybe the way it was.
But I always felt this closeness that I wanted with God, even after we stopped going to Church. I wanted to be this perfect little girl that God loved very much. What I didn't realize was that He already did. I don't remember anyone telling me that God loved me.
As an adult, after having 3 children, I felt the need to hit Church again. I took up an RCIA class and learned all about God's love. God's love?? How enthralling! I was excited. I finished RCIA and began reading "A Woman After God's Own Heart" by Elizabeth George. After picking it up and putting it down quite a bit, I finally finished it and it was probably one of the best reads I had in a long time. That book changed the course of my life with God. While it was not a "Catholic" book per say, it was a book that explained how much He loves me, all of us, and how I can show my love for Him. It was wonderful.
As I adopted certain principles in the book, my marriage got stronger, and I became a better mother. I now had the words to be able to talk to my kids about God's love and what He expects from us. Something that I didn't have when I was growing up. I'm not saying my life was bad, I'm just saying I was missing God.
Mom, Dad, if you're reading this, for the record, I think you guys did a great job raising us. We all turned out as contributing members of our society, married, having wonderful children. So I don't want you to think that I think you did a bad job. You took your childhood and turned it around so we had a good one. God sees what you did, and I'm sure He's happy.
Anyway. I feel blessed to have found God and developed this love for my Catholic faith. And there are a lot of people out there who have their opinions, which are often stereotypes, about our faith. It happens and stereotypes will not go away. But how we treat each other can.
That's the part that's frustrating for me this morning. I'm frustrated with the way people treat each other. I'm frustrated with the cruel words that come out on the Internet about people. Not just in my own experience, but for anyone. There is a lot of hate in the world, and I just need to calm down and come back to prayer and let God show us our erroneous ways.
So, I'm going to ask you guys what you like about being Catholic? What is it that keeps you going to Church? What is it that you love about the Mass? What is it that changes, or has changed, your life in regards to being Catholic in particular?
Can't wait to hear your responses!
Saturday, January 17, 2009
Four Degrees of Prayer
The next section of Mother Angelica's book deals more with prayer. More specifically, it deals with Four Degrees of Prayer: Strength, Heart, Mind, and Soul.
So stay with me next week where I will post each day with an explanation of what each one entails.
Have a safe, wonderful, and Blessed weekend!
So stay with me next week where I will post each day with an explanation of what each one entails.
Have a safe, wonderful, and Blessed weekend!
Thursday, January 15, 2009
Silence for God
This is something that is a little hard for me to explain. At first, I thought Mother Angelica wanted me to turn off my t.v., my radio, quiet my kids, maybe go to a quiet room, so I could concentrate on God in silence. But I don't think that's what she means.
She says that our "...powers of concentration are so diverted that [we] cannot concentrate on God." So what I'm thinking is that we should be in a sort of meditative state. We should erase our worries from our minds. Take away thoughts that divert our thinking from God. "[We] have to feel that silent place in the depths of [our] soul, in that place where [we]can always concentrate on God."
This meditative state keeps out influences that are not God's. She tells us that this place we go is somewhere we have control of. No one can come in unless they are invited. So if we don't invite the devil, he cannot come in. So I'm thinking this silent place must be a place of peace where we are always in tune with God and what He wants so that we can stay on the right path.
If this sounds right, let me know!! If you have something else to share, please do that too! This was a tough one!
She says that our "...powers of concentration are so diverted that [we] cannot concentrate on God." So what I'm thinking is that we should be in a sort of meditative state. We should erase our worries from our minds. Take away thoughts that divert our thinking from God. "[We] have to feel that silent place in the depths of [our] soul, in that place where [we]can always concentrate on God."
This meditative state keeps out influences that are not God's. She tells us that this place we go is somewhere we have control of. No one can come in unless they are invited. So if we don't invite the devil, he cannot come in. So I'm thinking this silent place must be a place of peace where we are always in tune with God and what He wants so that we can stay on the right path.
If this sounds right, let me know!! If you have something else to share, please do that too! This was a tough one!
Wednesday, January 14, 2009
Tuesday, January 13, 2009
GIMME
Mother Angelica reminds us that prayer isn't always about us. If we see our brother in pain or in need of God's help we should pray for him. If we see our brother sinning, we should pray for him: "If anyone sees his brother sinning, if the sin is not deadly, he should pray to God and He will give him life." (1 John 5:16) I posted more on that at Daily Catholic Devotionals.
So not only think about you when you pray, open your mind and your heart to others who may need Him, especially if they don't know they do....
So not only think about you when you pray, open your mind and your heart to others who may need Him, especially if they don't know they do....
Monday, January 12, 2009
PRAY!
The next section of Mother Angelica's book deals in prayer. I think this is something that we significantly lack as a whole as Christians. Some of us are afraid to pray because we're not sure if we're doing it right. Others of us pray for something to go our way, and then get upset when it doesn't come out the way we want it to.
Well, I'm just going to share a couple of quotes from the beginning of the chapter today, and continue to share thoughts and quotes throughout the week.
Prayer creates a disposition of assurance- not that you're going to get every answer that you want- but assurance of God's presence and His love.
God is always here. If you want to be able to count on someone all the time, God is your man. Have you ever had something that you want to talk about so badly that you feel like you're going to explode? And you call your best friend, wife, husband, sister, brother, mother, father, daughter, son and they weren't there? I have! So who do you talk to? GOD! "A lot of people today pray, but they never talk to God." Mother tells us that we don't have to wait for that magnificent thing to happen, but "talk to Him about everyday things right now."
The closer that I become to Him, the more I find myself talking to Him. In my van, making breakfast, doing chores around the house.... He's becoming more like a best friend. I can talk to God about ANYTHING. And why not? He knows everything anyway! I ask Him questions, I ask for help, I give Him thanks. I do that many times throughout the day. It keeps Him in my mind and in my heart. And the more I do it, the more I don't even realize I do it because it's such a big part of my life.
Well, I'm just going to share a couple of quotes from the beginning of the chapter today, and continue to share thoughts and quotes throughout the week.
Prayer creates a disposition of assurance- not that you're going to get every answer that you want- but assurance of God's presence and His love.
God is always here. If you want to be able to count on someone all the time, God is your man. Have you ever had something that you want to talk about so badly that you feel like you're going to explode? And you call your best friend, wife, husband, sister, brother, mother, father, daughter, son and they weren't there? I have! So who do you talk to? GOD! "A lot of people today pray, but they never talk to God." Mother tells us that we don't have to wait for that magnificent thing to happen, but "talk to Him about everyday things right now."
The closer that I become to Him, the more I find myself talking to Him. In my van, making breakfast, doing chores around the house.... He's becoming more like a best friend. I can talk to God about ANYTHING. And why not? He knows everything anyway! I ask Him questions, I ask for help, I give Him thanks. I do that many times throughout the day. It keeps Him in my mind and in my heart. And the more I do it, the more I don't even realize I do it because it's such a big part of my life.
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