"Yes, just as you can identify a tree by its fruit, so you can identify people by their actions." -Matthew 7:20
The deeper the root, the better the fruit.
Confession
"Whatever you confess won't make Me love you less." -God
***THE SACRAMENT OF PENANCE AND RECONCILIATION***
295. Why did Christ institute the sacraments of Penance and the Anointing of the Sick?
1420-1421
1426
Christ, the physician of our soul and body, instituted these sacraments because the new life that he gives us in the sacraments of Christian initiation can be weakened and even lost because of sin. Therefore, Christ willed that his Church should continue his work of healing and salvation by means of these two sacraments.
296. What is the name of this sacrament?
1422-1424
It is called the sacrament of Penance, the sacrament of Reconciliation, the sacrament of Forgiveness, the sacrament of Confession, and the sacrament of Conversion.
297. Why is there a sacrament of Reconciliation after Baptism?
1425-1426
1484
Since the new life of grace received in Baptism does not abolish the weakness of human nature nor the inclination to sin (that is, concupiscence), Christ instituted this sacrament for the conversion of the baptized who have been separated from him by sin.
298. When did he institute this sacrament?
1485
The risen Lord instituted this sacrament on the evening of Easter when he showed himself to his apostles and said to them, “Receive the Holy Spirit. If you forgive the sins of any, they are forgiven; if you retain the sins of any, they are retained.” (John 20:22-23).
299. Do the baptized have need of conversion?
1427-1429
The call of Christ to conversion continues to resound in the lives of the baptized. Conversion is a continuing obligation for the whole Church. She is holy but includes sinners in her midst.
300. What is interior penance?
1430-1433
1490
It is the movement of a “contrite heart” (Psalm 51:19) drawn by divine grace to respond to the merciful love of God. This entails sorrow for and abhorrence of sins committed, a firm purpose not to sin again in the future and trust in the help of God. It is nourished by hope in divine mercy.
301. What forms does penance take in the Christian life?
1434-1439
Penance can be expressed in many and various ways but above all in fasting, prayer, and almsgiving. These and many other forms of penance can be practiced in the daily life of a Christian, particularly during the time of Lent and on the penitential day of Friday.
302. What are the essential elements of the sacrament of Reconciliation?
1440-1449
The essential elements are two: the acts of the penitent who comes to repentance through the action of the Holy Spirit, and the absolution of the priest who in the name of Christ grants forgiveness and determines the ways of making satisfaction.
303. What are the acts of the penitent?
1450-1460
1487-1492
They are: a careful examination of conscience; contrition (or repentance), which is perfect when it is motivated by love of God and imperfect if it rests on other motives and which includes the determination not to sin again; confession, which consists in the telling of one’s sins to the priest; and satisfaction or the carrying out of certain acts of penance which the confessor imposes upon the penitent to repair the damage caused by sin.
304. Which sins must be confessed?
1456
All grave sins not yet confessed, which a careful examination of conscience brings to mind, must be brought to the sacrament of Penance. The confession of serious sins is the only ordinary way to obtain forgiveness.
305. When is a person obliged to confess mortal sins?
1457
Each of the faithful who has reached the age of discretion is bound to confess his or her mortal sins at least once a year and always before receiving Holy Communion.
306. Why can venial sins also be the object of sacramental confession?
1458
The confession of venial sins is strongly recommended by the Church, even if this is not strictly necessary, because it helps us to form a correct conscience and to fight against evil tendencies. It allows us to be healed by Christ and to progress in the life of the Spirit.
307. Who is the minister of this sacrament?
1461-1466
1495
Christ has entrusted the ministry of Reconciliation to his apostles, to the bishops who are their successors and to the priests who are the collaborators of the bishops, all of whom become thereby instruments of the mercy and justice of God. They exercise their power of forgiving sins in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit.
308. To whom is the absolution of some sins reserved?
1463
The absolution of certain particularly grave sins (like those punished by excommunication) is reserved to the Apostolic See or to the local bishop or to priests who are authorized by them. Any priest, however, can absolve a person who is in danger of death from any sin and excommunication.
309. Is a confessor bound to secrecy?
1467
Given the delicacy and greatness of this ministry and the respect due to people every confessor, without any exception and under very severe penalties, is bound to maintain “the sacramental seal” which means absolute secrecy about the sins revealed to him in confession.
310. What are the effects of this sacrament?
1468-1470
1496
The effects of the sacrament of Penance are: reconciliation with God and therefore the forgiveness of sins; reconciliation with the Church; recovery, if it has been lost, of the state of grace; remission of the eternal punishment merited by mortal sins, and remission, at least in part, of the temporal punishment which is the consequence of sin; peace, serenity of conscience and spiritual consolation; and an increase of spiritual strength for the struggle of Christian living.
311. Can this sacrament be celebrated in some cases with a general confession and general absolution?
1480-1484
In cases of serious necessity (as in imminent danger of death) recourse may be had to a communal celebration of Reconciliation with general confession and general absolution, as long as the norms of the Church are observed and there is the intention of individually confessing one’s grave sins in due time.
312. What are indulgences?
1471-1479
1498
Indulgences are the remission before God of the temporal punishment due to sins whose guilt has already been forgiven. The faithful Christian who is duly disposed gains the indulgence under prescribed conditions for either himself or the departed. Indulgences are granted through the ministry of the Church which, as the dispenser of the grace of redemption, distributes the treasury of the merits of Christ and the Saints.
1420-1421
1426
Christ, the physician of our soul and body, instituted these sacraments because the new life that he gives us in the sacraments of Christian initiation can be weakened and even lost because of sin. Therefore, Christ willed that his Church should continue his work of healing and salvation by means of these two sacraments.
296. What is the name of this sacrament?
1422-1424
It is called the sacrament of Penance, the sacrament of Reconciliation, the sacrament of Forgiveness, the sacrament of Confession, and the sacrament of Conversion.
297. Why is there a sacrament of Reconciliation after Baptism?
1425-1426
1484
Since the new life of grace received in Baptism does not abolish the weakness of human nature nor the inclination to sin (that is, concupiscence), Christ instituted this sacrament for the conversion of the baptized who have been separated from him by sin.
298. When did he institute this sacrament?
1485
The risen Lord instituted this sacrament on the evening of Easter when he showed himself to his apostles and said to them, “Receive the Holy Spirit. If you forgive the sins of any, they are forgiven; if you retain the sins of any, they are retained.” (John 20:22-23).
299. Do the baptized have need of conversion?
1427-1429
The call of Christ to conversion continues to resound in the lives of the baptized. Conversion is a continuing obligation for the whole Church. She is holy but includes sinners in her midst.
300. What is interior penance?
1430-1433
1490
It is the movement of a “contrite heart” (Psalm 51:19) drawn by divine grace to respond to the merciful love of God. This entails sorrow for and abhorrence of sins committed, a firm purpose not to sin again in the future and trust in the help of God. It is nourished by hope in divine mercy.
301. What forms does penance take in the Christian life?
1434-1439
Penance can be expressed in many and various ways but above all in fasting, prayer, and almsgiving. These and many other forms of penance can be practiced in the daily life of a Christian, particularly during the time of Lent and on the penitential day of Friday.
302. What are the essential elements of the sacrament of Reconciliation?
1440-1449
The essential elements are two: the acts of the penitent who comes to repentance through the action of the Holy Spirit, and the absolution of the priest who in the name of Christ grants forgiveness and determines the ways of making satisfaction.
303. What are the acts of the penitent?
1450-1460
1487-1492
They are: a careful examination of conscience; contrition (or repentance), which is perfect when it is motivated by love of God and imperfect if it rests on other motives and which includes the determination not to sin again; confession, which consists in the telling of one’s sins to the priest; and satisfaction or the carrying out of certain acts of penance which the confessor imposes upon the penitent to repair the damage caused by sin.
304. Which sins must be confessed?
1456
All grave sins not yet confessed, which a careful examination of conscience brings to mind, must be brought to the sacrament of Penance. The confession of serious sins is the only ordinary way to obtain forgiveness.
305. When is a person obliged to confess mortal sins?
1457
Each of the faithful who has reached the age of discretion is bound to confess his or her mortal sins at least once a year and always before receiving Holy Communion.
306. Why can venial sins also be the object of sacramental confession?
1458
The confession of venial sins is strongly recommended by the Church, even if this is not strictly necessary, because it helps us to form a correct conscience and to fight against evil tendencies. It allows us to be healed by Christ and to progress in the life of the Spirit.
307. Who is the minister of this sacrament?
1461-1466
1495
Christ has entrusted the ministry of Reconciliation to his apostles, to the bishops who are their successors and to the priests who are the collaborators of the bishops, all of whom become thereby instruments of the mercy and justice of God. They exercise their power of forgiving sins in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit.
308. To whom is the absolution of some sins reserved?
1463
The absolution of certain particularly grave sins (like those punished by excommunication) is reserved to the Apostolic See or to the local bishop or to priests who are authorized by them. Any priest, however, can absolve a person who is in danger of death from any sin and excommunication.
309. Is a confessor bound to secrecy?
1467
Given the delicacy and greatness of this ministry and the respect due to people every confessor, without any exception and under very severe penalties, is bound to maintain “the sacramental seal” which means absolute secrecy about the sins revealed to him in confession.
310. What are the effects of this sacrament?
1468-1470
1496
The effects of the sacrament of Penance are: reconciliation with God and therefore the forgiveness of sins; reconciliation with the Church; recovery, if it has been lost, of the state of grace; remission of the eternal punishment merited by mortal sins, and remission, at least in part, of the temporal punishment which is the consequence of sin; peace, serenity of conscience and spiritual consolation; and an increase of spiritual strength for the struggle of Christian living.
311. Can this sacrament be celebrated in some cases with a general confession and general absolution?
1480-1484
In cases of serious necessity (as in imminent danger of death) recourse may be had to a communal celebration of Reconciliation with general confession and general absolution, as long as the norms of the Church are observed and there is the intention of individually confessing one’s grave sins in due time.
312. What are indulgences?
1471-1479
1498
Indulgences are the remission before God of the temporal punishment due to sins whose guilt has already been forgiven. The faithful Christian who is duly disposed gains the indulgence under prescribed conditions for either himself or the departed. Indulgences are granted through the ministry of the Church which, as the dispenser of the grace of redemption, distributes the treasury of the merits of Christ and the Saints.
Labels:
Love
The Seed of Choice
[Genesis 2:4 - 3:24]
He placed one scoop of clay upon another until a form lay lifeless on the ground….
All were silent as the Creator reached in Himself and removed something yet unseen. “It’s called ‘choice’. The seed of choice.”
Creation stood in silence and gazed upon the lifeless form.
An angel spoke, “But what if he…”
“What if he chooses not to love?” the Creator finished. “Come, I will show you.”
Unbound by today, God and the angel walked into the realm of tomorrow…
The angel gasped at what he saw. Spontaneous love. Voluntary devotion. Never had he seen anything like these… The angel stood speechless as they passed through the centuries of repugnance. Never had he seen such filth. Rotten hearts. Ruptured promises. Forgotten loyalties…
The Creator walked on in time, further and further into the future, until He stood by a tree. A tree that would be fashioned into a cradle. Even then He could smell the hay that would surround Him…
“Wouldn’t it be easier to not plant the seed? Wouldn’t it be easier to not give the choice?”
“It would,” the Creator spoke slowly. “But to remove the choice is to remove the love.”
They stepped into the Garden again. The Maker looked earnestly at the clay creation. A monsoon of love swelled up within Him. He had died for the creation before He had made him. God’s form bent over the sculptured face and breathed. Dust stirred on the lips of the new one. The chest rose, cracking the red mud. The cheeks fleshened. A finger move. And an eye opened.
But more incredible than the moving of the flesh was the stirring of the spirit. Those who could see the unseen gasped.
Perhaps it was the wind who said it first. Perhaps what the star saw that moment is what has made it blink ever since. Maybe it was left to an angel to whisper it:
“It looks like…it appears so much like…it is Him!”
The angel wasn’t speaking of the face, the features, or the body. He was looking inside—at the soul.
“It’s eternal!” gasped another.
Within man, God had placed a divine seed. A seed of His Self. The God of might had created earth’s mightiest. The Creator had created, not a creature, but another creator. And the One who had chosen to love had created one who could love in return.
Now it’s our choice.
(From In The Eye of the Storm by Max Lucado)
Labels:
Love
Fearless
Joshua De Gracia
Part I of the “Fearless” series
Feel free to answer and e-mail us your answer to this question: “what do you fear?” –KnowGodknowlove808@gmail.com
A phobia, (from Greek “fear”), is an abnormal, persistent fear of situations, objects, activities, of persons. The main symptom of this disorder is the excessive, unreasonable desire to avoid the feared subject.
The term phobia is also used in a non-medical sense for aversions of all sorts and types of fobias and fears. A number of neologisms have appeared with the suffix -phobia, which are not phobias in the clinical sense, but rather describe a negative attitude towards something.
There are well over 1,000 different types of fears in the world. Let’s take a look at a few: Angrophobia is the fear of anger, Gamophobia is the fear of marriage, Tropophobia is the fear of moving or making changes, Scolionophobia is the fear of school and Anuptaphobia is the fear of being/staying single.
In the definition of “phobia,” its main symptom was an obsessive desire to avoid the feared object. In a spiritual sense, this is the goal of the devil as he brings fear into our lives. F.E.A.R. means “False Evidence Appearing Real.” Like it says in Jeremiah 29:11, God has a plan and a purpose for our lives and Satan will do whatever it takes for us to fall out of that purpose, no matter what it may be.
Suicide is a major tragedy that is happening in our world as we speak. Last year, statistics showed that an individual took their life in the United States every 30 minutes. You do the math and it comes out to 48 people a day. The sad reality of it is suicide is a sin and the Bible says that if we sin without repenting, we will not be able to enter the Kingdom of Heaven.
On the topic of suicides, what would cause someone to take their own life? It could be lost purpose, gave up on living, different stresses amounted and the list could go on and on.
We weren’t made to be alone, however, there are times in which the enemy makes us feel like we have nothing to live for and no one to turn to but death itself.
God’s answer:
Deuteronomy 31:6
“Be strong and courageous. Do not be afraid or terrified, for the LORD your God goes with you; he will never leave you nor forsake you.”
For those of you who feel like you have no sense of purpose in life. Let me be the first to tell you that God has a plan for your life, no matter how much you think your are dealing with. Don’t give into the lies of the enemy who wants to oppress your life. You were made in God’s image and be assured that no matter where you go and what you do in life, God is always right there by your side. Fight that fear with faith.
----------
Krinda Joy Carlson
Part II of the “Fearless” series
The English dictionary is too small! In our modern language, we lose the depth of meaning which so many words were meant to impart, and the word “fear” suffers the same misunderstanding. When speaking of fear and the fear of the Lord in Biblical terms, we must consider the origin of this word to fully comprehend this concept.
Original Origin of Biblical “Fear”
Since the Old Testament’s original text was Hebrew, let’s embark on a mini Hebraic lesson. First off, when looking up the word “fear” in Hebrew, you will not find one word, but about a million! (Ok, so it seems like a million). However, the one most commonly used in the Bible, especially in reference to the Lord, is yir’ah, or ya’re in verb form. Psalm 33:8 gives an example: “Let all the earth fear the Lord; let all the people of the world revere Him.” This verse actually defines for us what fear meant for the Jewish community – it meant actual fear, combined with “awe” or fear at the awesomeness of someone/something!
I have heard many times that the “fear of the Lord” simply means respect, but in actuality, one who fears the Lord really does possess a form of dread. For to have true respect and awe for God means we contain some form of understanding that His judgment is to be feared if we turn against Him. After all, even our Webster’s Dictionary defines “awe” as “an emotion variously combining dread, veneration, and wonder that is inspired by authority or by the sacred or sublime.” Thus, we must understand that He is THE ONE whom we should concern ourselves with, for His authority deserves both our honor and our dread; we are to live in fearful awe of Him simply because He is God – the sacred and sublime not for His actions, but because He is Alpha and Omega. This is true fear of the Lord.
Re-Defining Fear in English
Now! Unless we compare the Hebrew definition of fear with our modern definition, the above paragraph could hinder the intimate relationship we are meant to have with the Lord. Our, understanding of “fear” and “dread” is misconstrued because the origin for our word comes from the old English word synonymous with “calamity, disaster”; and, the Germanic verb meaning, “to terrify, take by surprise.” Thus, today when we think of fear, it involves an event which inspires the emotion of fear. It is the exterior world working upon our mind and body in a way that causes disaster to us either physically or emotionally. This is the type of fear God commands us NOT to have, when He says, “fear not.” And, THIS IS NOT THE WAY WE ARE TO FEAR GOD.
The fear of the Lord must be understood from the Hebraic origin so that we can truly have life, and life abundant as God promises. To ya’re God is to have an inherent awe, dread, and wonder in who He is, and realizes He is supreme over all things! It’s not about events, actions, or “punishment” He can invoke, for that misrepresents God’s heart and causes us to run from Him, not to Him. For example, when we have a healthy fear of our parents, we understand that they have the power to affect our lives so we obey and honor them, but we know they act only out of love to ensure good flows into our lives. This is a relationship mixed with respect. (I understand that, sadly, all parents do not posses this type of love intended by God, but it is the model).
We are to approach God with this same attitude! “I will give them singleness of heart and action so that they will always fear me for their own good and the good of their children after them. I will make an everlasting covenant with them: I will never stop doing good to them, and I will inspire them to fear me, so that they will never turn away from me” (Jeremiah 32:39-40). Living fearless is to not have fear by modern day definition, it is to have a “ya’re-fear” of the Lord, because with it, we understand that He will “never stop doing good” to us! This releases us to love and live in confidence, and no longer tremble at the disasters and calamities of the world!
Part I of the “Fearless” series
Feel free to answer and e-mail us your answer to this question: “what do you fear?” –KnowGodknowlove808@gmail.com
A phobia, (from Greek “fear”), is an abnormal, persistent fear of situations, objects, activities, of persons. The main symptom of this disorder is the excessive, unreasonable desire to avoid the feared subject.
The term phobia is also used in a non-medical sense for aversions of all sorts and types of fobias and fears. A number of neologisms have appeared with the suffix -phobia, which are not phobias in the clinical sense, but rather describe a negative attitude towards something.
There are well over 1,000 different types of fears in the world. Let’s take a look at a few: Angrophobia is the fear of anger, Gamophobia is the fear of marriage, Tropophobia is the fear of moving or making changes, Scolionophobia is the fear of school and Anuptaphobia is the fear of being/staying single.
In the definition of “phobia,” its main symptom was an obsessive desire to avoid the feared object. In a spiritual sense, this is the goal of the devil as he brings fear into our lives. F.E.A.R. means “False Evidence Appearing Real.” Like it says in Jeremiah 29:11, God has a plan and a purpose for our lives and Satan will do whatever it takes for us to fall out of that purpose, no matter what it may be.
Suicide is a major tragedy that is happening in our world as we speak. Last year, statistics showed that an individual took their life in the United States every 30 minutes. You do the math and it comes out to 48 people a day. The sad reality of it is suicide is a sin and the Bible says that if we sin without repenting, we will not be able to enter the Kingdom of Heaven.
On the topic of suicides, what would cause someone to take their own life? It could be lost purpose, gave up on living, different stresses amounted and the list could go on and on.
We weren’t made to be alone, however, there are times in which the enemy makes us feel like we have nothing to live for and no one to turn to but death itself.
God’s answer:
Deuteronomy 31:6
“Be strong and courageous. Do not be afraid or terrified, for the LORD your God goes with you; he will never leave you nor forsake you.”
For those of you who feel like you have no sense of purpose in life. Let me be the first to tell you that God has a plan for your life, no matter how much you think your are dealing with. Don’t give into the lies of the enemy who wants to oppress your life. You were made in God’s image and be assured that no matter where you go and what you do in life, God is always right there by your side. Fight that fear with faith.
----------
Krinda Joy Carlson
Part II of the “Fearless” series
The English dictionary is too small! In our modern language, we lose the depth of meaning which so many words were meant to impart, and the word “fear” suffers the same misunderstanding. When speaking of fear and the fear of the Lord in Biblical terms, we must consider the origin of this word to fully comprehend this concept.
Original Origin of Biblical “Fear”
Since the Old Testament’s original text was Hebrew, let’s embark on a mini Hebraic lesson. First off, when looking up the word “fear” in Hebrew, you will not find one word, but about a million! (Ok, so it seems like a million). However, the one most commonly used in the Bible, especially in reference to the Lord, is yir’ah, or ya’re in verb form. Psalm 33:8 gives an example: “Let all the earth fear the Lord; let all the people of the world revere Him.” This verse actually defines for us what fear meant for the Jewish community – it meant actual fear, combined with “awe” or fear at the awesomeness of someone/something!
I have heard many times that the “fear of the Lord” simply means respect, but in actuality, one who fears the Lord really does possess a form of dread. For to have true respect and awe for God means we contain some form of understanding that His judgment is to be feared if we turn against Him. After all, even our Webster’s Dictionary defines “awe” as “an emotion variously combining dread, veneration, and wonder that is inspired by authority or by the sacred or sublime.” Thus, we must understand that He is THE ONE whom we should concern ourselves with, for His authority deserves both our honor and our dread; we are to live in fearful awe of Him simply because He is God – the sacred and sublime not for His actions, but because He is Alpha and Omega. This is true fear of the Lord.
Re-Defining Fear in English
Now! Unless we compare the Hebrew definition of fear with our modern definition, the above paragraph could hinder the intimate relationship we are meant to have with the Lord. Our, understanding of “fear” and “dread” is misconstrued because the origin for our word comes from the old English word synonymous with “calamity, disaster”; and, the Germanic verb meaning, “to terrify, take by surprise.” Thus, today when we think of fear, it involves an event which inspires the emotion of fear. It is the exterior world working upon our mind and body in a way that causes disaster to us either physically or emotionally. This is the type of fear God commands us NOT to have, when He says, “fear not.” And, THIS IS NOT THE WAY WE ARE TO FEAR GOD.
The fear of the Lord must be understood from the Hebraic origin so that we can truly have life, and life abundant as God promises. To ya’re God is to have an inherent awe, dread, and wonder in who He is, and realizes He is supreme over all things! It’s not about events, actions, or “punishment” He can invoke, for that misrepresents God’s heart and causes us to run from Him, not to Him. For example, when we have a healthy fear of our parents, we understand that they have the power to affect our lives so we obey and honor them, but we know they act only out of love to ensure good flows into our lives. This is a relationship mixed with respect. (I understand that, sadly, all parents do not posses this type of love intended by God, but it is the model).
We are to approach God with this same attitude! “I will give them singleness of heart and action so that they will always fear me for their own good and the good of their children after them. I will make an everlasting covenant with them: I will never stop doing good to them, and I will inspire them to fear me, so that they will never turn away from me” (Jeremiah 32:39-40). Living fearless is to not have fear by modern day definition, it is to have a “ya’re-fear” of the Lord, because with it, we understand that He will “never stop doing good” to us! This releases us to love and live in confidence, and no longer tremble at the disasters and calamities of the world!
Labels:
Faith
Dinner
“Some of the most Important conversations in your life,
Will happen at the table in which you share food at.”
The stories that you share with those who care after a long wait,
The most exciting thing that you may do the whole day.
All of which are spent in a place that is designed to talk at.
Extensive work goes into what to serve and who to invite,
So much goes into what happens at the place we see so often.
It would only make sense that amazing things tend to happen.
Amazing joy, great sadness, future success, great failure,
Huge fights, understandable compromise, bitter silence, unbearable noise,
Morbid break-ups and beautiful engagements to name a few.
Even one of the greatest events in our Faith occurred at a dinner table.
For some reason I always relate everything with food and music.
What could be better than food and music you ask?
Friends, Family and Loved Ones. (and great conversation)Eat Wisely.
Labels:
Virtues
Correction
“Let the godly strike me! It will be a kindness! If they correct me, it is soothing medicine. Don’t let me refuse it.” - Psalm 141:5.
"Correction is a soothing medicine. Is that my everyday perspective? I don’t know about you, but I struggle with allowing pride to get the best of me. Yet, in his Psalm, David demonstrates his humility by refusing to refuse correction. He understands that correction builds character and nourishes growth. Medicine makes us better when were sick. In the same way, correction makes us better people when we make mistakes. I want to be more like David.
//Proverbs 10:17// People who accept discipline are on the pathway to life, but those who ignore correction will go astray.
//Proverbs 12:1// To learn, you must love discipline; it is stupid to hate correction.
//Proverbs 13:1// A wise child accepts a parent’s discipline; a mocker refuses to listen to correction.
//Proverbs 13:18// If you ignore criticism, you will end in poverty and disgrace; if you accept correction, you will be honored.
//Proverbs 15:5// Only a fool despises a parent’s discipline; whoever learns from correction is wise.
//Proverbs 15:10// Whoever abandons the right path will be severely disciplined; whoever hates correction will die.
//Proverbs 15:32// If you reject discipline, you only harm yourself; but if you listen to correction, you grow in understanding.
God has a lot to say on correction."
Labels:
Virtues
Salvation
"For by grace you have been saved through faith. And this is not your own doing; it is the gift of God." -Ephesians 2:8
"I said to myself, "Relax and rest. God has showered you with blessings. Soul, you've been rescued from death; Eye, you've been rescued from tears; And you, Foot, were kept from stumbling." -Psalm 116:7-8
"Only fools would indicate that Salvation can only be achieved by those who do good deeds but what if the intentions were wrong?, you see the truth is Salvation, can and would only be achieved by the mercy of God and God alone." -Anonymous
"God didn't save us because He made us, He saved us because He loved us." -Mikey Raymundo
"I said to myself, "Relax and rest. God has showered you with blessings. Soul, you've been rescued from death; Eye, you've been rescued from tears; And you, Foot, were kept from stumbling." -Psalm 116:7-8
"Only fools would indicate that Salvation can only be achieved by those who do good deeds but what if the intentions were wrong?, you see the truth is Salvation, can and would only be achieved by the mercy of God and God alone." -Anonymous
"God didn't save us because He made us, He saved us because He loved us." -Mikey Raymundo
Labels:
Faith
Expectations
"Without cost you have received, without cost you are to give." -Matthew 10:8
"I don't think it matters if the people you put first puts you second. The fact that you are put in their life, and they're put into yours is a blessing. And when you grow to have no expectation, and you're still friends... love just grew in your relationship. Why ask for more? If you're hurt its your fault for having so much expectation in the first place." -Alo Galedo
"Put your expectations on God, not on people." -Joyce Meyer
"Do you feel a need for affirmation? Does your self-esteem need attention? You don't need to drop names or show off. You need only to pause at the base of the cross and be reminded of this: The Maker of the stars would rather die for you and than live without you. And that is a fact. So if you need to brag, brag about that." -Max Lucado
"Why is it that when PEOPLE let us down we're so quick to turn our backs on God? People will choose to walk out of our lives, boyfriends and girlfriends will come and go, bestfriends will sometimes become enemies…and in some cases even family will turn their backs on you when you need them most…but its truly amazing to know that GOD never never will. “….Never will I leave you; never will I forsake you.” (Hebrews 13:5). Forsake means to quit or leave entirely; abandon;desert. God is never going to abandon us, NEVER! He is the only constant in this crazy thing called life. It took me too long to come to that understanding. It was my belief that people, money, and material things could take His place..and was I ever wrong. There is absolutely nothing comparable to GOD’s love. He cant be replaced, substituted, or duplicated. Don’t ever punish GOD for other peoples failures. He is the ONLY one that can and will be there for you always.
"I don't think it matters if the people you put first puts you second. The fact that you are put in their life, and they're put into yours is a blessing. And when you grow to have no expectation, and you're still friends... love just grew in your relationship. Why ask for more? If you're hurt its your fault for having so much expectation in the first place." -Alo Galedo
"Put your expectations on God, not on people." -Joyce Meyer
"Do you feel a need for affirmation? Does your self-esteem need attention? You don't need to drop names or show off. You need only to pause at the base of the cross and be reminded of this: The Maker of the stars would rather die for you and than live without you. And that is a fact. So if you need to brag, brag about that." -Max Lucado
"Why is it that when PEOPLE let us down we're so quick to turn our backs on God? People will choose to walk out of our lives, boyfriends and girlfriends will come and go, bestfriends will sometimes become enemies…and in some cases even family will turn their backs on you when you need them most…but its truly amazing to know that GOD never never will. “….Never will I leave you; never will I forsake you.” (Hebrews 13:5). Forsake means to quit or leave entirely; abandon;desert. God is never going to abandon us, NEVER! He is the only constant in this crazy thing called life. It took me too long to come to that understanding. It was my belief that people, money, and material things could take His place..and was I ever wrong. There is absolutely nothing comparable to GOD’s love. He cant be replaced, substituted, or duplicated. Don’t ever punish GOD for other peoples failures. He is the ONLY one that can and will be there for you always.
“It is better to trust in the LORD than to put confidence in man.” -Psalm 118:8
-Adriana Maravilla
"Is your love selfless or selfish? Selfish love demands something in return. Love, acceptance, kindness, concern- something. It gives, therefore it wants to get. Selfish love is always thinking, “What’s in it for me?” And it’s always asking, “Why should I love you when you won’t love me back?” But selfish love isn’t really love at all, because true love thinks nothing of itself but focuses on loving others in order to serve them and Christ, who is our example of selfless love. Unconditional love is something we all want as human beings. We want to be loved no matter what we do, but how often are we willing to return love the same way? We make demands and set rules on our love, but true love doesn’t make demands. It is given freely and abundantly. The only rule when it comes to giving love is that love for a human can never come before our love for Him. Our love should never try to replace the Holy Spirit but should flow from his presence. How many times do you give kindness and then scream when you get anger in return? How many times do you give advice and then complain when it isn’t followed? Do you resent it when you give return? The love you give to others should never be conditional on what you get back but should come from knowing the man above who first loved you. You should be compelled by his love, not the response from other people. You should be defined by his love, not the actions of others. When your focus is not getting but giving, then your love will grow, and through that all other virtues will flow.
Spread Love because EVERYONE deserves it." -sspreadlove
"Expectation is the root of all heartache." -William Shakespeare
Labels:
Love
1 John 4:20
“Whoever claims to love God yet hates a brother or sister is a liar. For whoever does not love their brother and sister, whom they have seen, cannot love God, whom they have not seen.”
Labels:
Faith
Compromise
"Compromising is a sure sign of not possessing the truth. When a man yields in matters of ideals, of honor, or of faith, that man is without ideals, without honor, and without faith." -St. Jose Maria Escriva "The Way, 394"
"Do not be like them, for your Father knows what you need before you ask Him." -Matthew 6:8
"Do not be like them, for your Father knows what you need before you ask Him." -Matthew 6:8
Labels:
Virtues
Listen
"For God is greater than any human being. So why are you bringing a charge against Him? Why say He does not respond to people’s complaints? For God speaks again and again, though people do not recognize it." -Job 33:12-14 // NLT (via adarkhorse)
"We wonder with so many miraculous testimonies around us, how we could escape God. But somehow we do. We live in an art gallery of divine creativity and yet are content to gaze only at the carpet.
"We wonder with so many miraculous testimonies around us, how we could escape God. But somehow we do. We live in an art gallery of divine creativity and yet are content to gaze only at the carpet.
The next time you hear a baby laugh or see an ocean wave, take note. Pause and listen as His majesty whispers ever so gently, 'I’m here.'" -Max Lucado
Labels:
Virtues
Wisdom
"People know where to mine silver and how to refine gold…But do people know where to find wisdom? Where can they find understanding?…Wisdom is more valuable than gold and crystal. It cannot be purchased with jewels mounted in fine gold…God alone understands the way to wisdom; he knows where it can be found…And this is what he says to all humanity: ‘The fear of the Lord is true wisdom; to forsake evil is real understanding.’" -Job 28:1, 12, 17, 23, & 28 // NLT (via adarkhorse)
Labels:
Virtues
Plowing & Planting
"I’m in the middle of a refining season. If I looked around me, I would easily get discouraged by all the things that seem to be narrowing in my life. However, with my gaze set on Higher things [things above me and in front of me], I am excited [literally looking forward to my future], knowing that this is the time right before something incredible will be birthed [the contraction before the expansion]. 2011 is going to be an explosive year of growth for me.
I had already been thinking to name 2011 ‘Growth’ and it has now been confirmed in multiple ways.
1. I was reading Ezra 3 about preparations to build the Temple. In the middle of this passage, my Bible has this commentary:
“The people of Israel spent months just preparing to build the Temple…How much prep time do you take before doing a project? Most of us would rather do a job than prepare for it. Preparation time may not feel heroic or spiritual, but it is vital to any project you want to do well.”
Since I am now His temple & He lives in me opposed to dwelling in a building, I take Ezra 3 as a metaphor for the season I’m in. It confirmed that I am being prepared for some major [re]construction. Before you rebuild you have to tear down, and I’ve been in a season of tearing down lately.
2. That same night, I read this verse:
You drench the plowed ground with rain, melting the clods and leveling the ridges. You soften the earth with showers and bless its abundant crops. -Psalm 65:8
It really resonated with me, but I couldn’t quite place my finger on why [Holy Spirit, anyone?]. So I researched plowing:
“The plow…is a tool used in farming for initial cultivation of soil IN PREPARATION for sowing seed or planting…The primary purpose of ploughing is to turn over the upper layer of the soil, bringing fresh nutrients to the surface, while burying weeds and the remains of previous crops, allowing them to break down. It also aerates the soil, and allows it to hold moisture better. -Wikipedia
Wow.
God is plowing my heart, refining it, redefining it. He is burying & breaking down the weeds in my world. He is overturning things I once clung to and bringing fresh nutrients to the surface. He is plowing and planting in my soul.
And it says that He drenches the plowed ground. Not just sprinkles, not just rains on; drenches. When this season has passed there will be abundant crops.
3. I was talking with one of my best friends, who has been going through similar seasons as me (as in, we are on the same sentence of the same page of the same chapter of our lives) about a month or so ago. We had both named our year this year the same thing, and I mentioned that I was thinking about naming next year Growth. She just looked at me, and said something like, “That’s exactly what I’ve been thinking for me.” To have someone I’m on the same page as be thinking similarly to me signifies that I’m heading in the right direction.
I’ve got a colossal future ahead of me." -adarkhorse
True Self
"When I find You, I'll find me." -Anonymous
"For me to be a saint means for me to be myself." -Thomas Merton
"You can do something I cannot do. I can do something you cannot do. Together let us do something beautiful for God." -Mother Theresa
"...Holiness consists of being true to the person God created. In other words, being holy means being your true self." -James Martin, SJ
"The problem comes when we begin to believe that we have to be someone else to be holy. We use someone else's map to heaven when God has already planted in our soul all the directions we need. In this way we ignore our own call to sanctity. When admirers used to visit Calcutta to see Mother Theresa, she would tell many of them, "Find your own Calcutta." In other words, bloom where you are planted. Discover sanctity in your own life." -James Martin, SJ
"But by the grace of God I am what I am." -1 Corinthians 15:10
"To be nobody but yourself in a world that's doing its best to make you somebody else, is to fight the hardest battle you are ever going to fight. Never stop fighting." -E. E. Cummings
"We are not at peace with others because we are not at peace with ourselves, and we are not at peace with ourselves because we are not at peace with God." -Thomas Merton
"12, 15, 25, 39, 40, 54, 101. Since when do numbers define how old we have to be to love? Fat, ugly, skinny, pretty, gorgeous, disgusting. Since when do adjectives define our physical appearance? A+, B-, C+, D-, F. Since when does one grade define how smart we are? Nice clothes, cheap clothes, decent house, mansion, luxary car, iphone, $100 purses. Since when does the stuff we own define how happy we are? Since when did you think everyone will hurt you just because one person did? Since when did you lose your smile because of one bad thing that happened? Since when did you change yourself because one person didn't like who you were? Since when did you start thinking and acting a certain way because you saw someone else doing it? Since when did you become the same when you were born to be different?" -Anonymous
"For so many years, as stupid as this may seem, I didn’t understand what it meant to be me. I found that a good portion of my life I had spent it trying to please others and strive for their approval. I couldn’t find the fine line between doing what’s right, and doing what’s right in everybody else’s eyes. But the truth is, I only need to please one Being." -Ria Manansala
"There is someone that I love, even though I don’t approve of what he does. There is someone I accept, though some of his thoughts and actions revolt me. There is someone I forgive, though he hurts the people I love the most. That person is me." -C.S. Lewis
"Every man who seeks the kingdom of God finds himself." -Pope John Paul II
"For me to be a saint means for me to be myself." -Thomas Merton
"You can do something I cannot do. I can do something you cannot do. Together let us do something beautiful for God." -Mother Theresa
"...Holiness consists of being true to the person God created. In other words, being holy means being your true self." -James Martin, SJ
"The problem comes when we begin to believe that we have to be someone else to be holy. We use someone else's map to heaven when God has already planted in our soul all the directions we need. In this way we ignore our own call to sanctity. When admirers used to visit Calcutta to see Mother Theresa, she would tell many of them, "Find your own Calcutta." In other words, bloom where you are planted. Discover sanctity in your own life." -James Martin, SJ
"But by the grace of God I am what I am." -1 Corinthians 15:10
"To be nobody but yourself in a world that's doing its best to make you somebody else, is to fight the hardest battle you are ever going to fight. Never stop fighting." -E. E. Cummings
"We are not at peace with others because we are not at peace with ourselves, and we are not at peace with ourselves because we are not at peace with God." -Thomas Merton
"12, 15, 25, 39, 40, 54, 101. Since when do numbers define how old we have to be to love? Fat, ugly, skinny, pretty, gorgeous, disgusting. Since when do adjectives define our physical appearance? A+, B-, C+, D-, F. Since when does one grade define how smart we are? Nice clothes, cheap clothes, decent house, mansion, luxary car, iphone, $100 purses. Since when does the stuff we own define how happy we are? Since when did you think everyone will hurt you just because one person did? Since when did you lose your smile because of one bad thing that happened? Since when did you change yourself because one person didn't like who you were? Since when did you start thinking and acting a certain way because you saw someone else doing it? Since when did you become the same when you were born to be different?" -Anonymous
"For so many years, as stupid as this may seem, I didn’t understand what it meant to be me. I found that a good portion of my life I had spent it trying to please others and strive for their approval. I couldn’t find the fine line between doing what’s right, and doing what’s right in everybody else’s eyes. But the truth is, I only need to please one Being." -Ria Manansala
"There is someone that I love, even though I don’t approve of what he does. There is someone I accept, though some of his thoughts and actions revolt me. There is someone I forgive, though he hurts the people I love the most. That person is me." -C.S. Lewis
"Every man who seeks the kingdom of God finds himself." -Pope John Paul II
Labels:
Love
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