“For Nothing Is Impossible with God” – A JOY-Filled ADVENT # 2

A Production of the Ultimate Christian Podcast Network.
A Joy-Filled Advent - Nothing is Impossible with God

A Joy-Filled Advent The Annunciation- Nothing is Impossible with God

JOY in Nazareth

Welcome to A JOY-filled Advent, Podcast #2.  It’s based on my book The Joy of Advent: Journey with the People, Events and Prayers at the First Coming of Jesus Christ.  Last week we met the Archangel Gabriel, who appeared to Zechariah in the temple after 430 years of silence from heaven. When Zechariah disbelieved his announcement, Gabriel gave him a 9-month silent retreat.  This week, we follow Luke 1: 26 to a small town in Galilee, the hometown of Mary and Joseph, to hear another announcement called The Annunciation in the Catholic Church.  Join our journey today as we visit Mary, hear of a Savior to be born, and learn that “nothing is impossible with God.”

 Another Message from Gabriel (Luke 1: 26-30)

  • The powerful Archangel Gabriel brings the second announcement– this time to a young girl in Nazareth.
  • This most important heavenly Annunciation comes to a girl in a remote village where you might least expect it to occur. BUT God causes miracles to happen in the most unlikely and even ungodly places when people are open to Him.
  • The recipient of the Great Annunciation is Mary, a virgin teenager, engaged to Joseph in the lineage of David, which points to the Old Testament prophesies soon to be fulfilled.

Jesus Name by His Heavenly Father (Luke 1: 31-33)

  • The Baby would be named Jesus, Yeshua in Hebrew and derived from Yahweh – the Most Holy Name of God in the Old Testament. The message is clear: Yahweh God would name His son Yeshua after Himself.
  • Truly, Jesus would be the Son of God and fulfill  Isaiah 7: 14: Therefore the Lord Himself will give you a sign: Behold, a virgin will be with child and bear a son, and she will call His name Immanuel (God with us).

Mary’s Fiat (Luke 1: 34-38)

  • “Fiat” is the first word of Luke 1: 38 in the early Latin Bible translation and it means “let it be.” This was Mary’s “YES.”  
  • Mary received the Word of God, surrendered, and entrusted herself and her life to God’s will. Mary gives us this example of how to seek and accept God’s will: Listen, Dialogue with God, and Surrender.

God’s Power

  • Some may find it hard to believe in the virgin birth. But the virgin birth and incarnation are essential parts of our Christian faith.
  • The incarnation means God became man, reaching out to mankind.  In no other religion does God “become flesh” (John 1: 14), “accept the limitations of humanity,” come to earth to show His love, and then die for the sins of all (Fulton Sheen, 1958, Life of Christ, p. 19). St. Augustine says that when we cannot understand this miracle, “Let us grant that God can do something which we confess we cannot fathom. God is the God of the impossible!” (John Willis, 2002, Teachings of the Church Fathers).
  • For example, Angelo Giuseppe Roncalli told God he felt barren in his old age and then received a great miracle!
  • If you are unsure about God’s power to accomplish miracles or significant changes in your own life, consider this: If God can supernaturally beget the Son of God in a virgin and give an old woman Elizabeth, past her time of conceiving a child, God can fix the barrenness in your life too. If you feel unproductive or barren, ask the Holy Spirit to come upon you in new ways and to open new doors where least expected. He will give you a breakthrough! “For nothing is impossible with God!”

Links

Consider hosting a weekly one-hour Cup of Joy small group study that accompanies one of the podcast series, especially this one:  A Joy-filled Advent: Journey with the People, Events, and Prayers.

Read more on hosting a CUP of JOY Women or Gathering small groups.  For information, please email karen@wrapyourselfinjoy.com

You can download a Bookmark of prayer points from A Joy-filled Advent Podcast #1 at my website: WRAPYourselfinJOY.com.

Check out more podcasts here!

Click here to find the book: The Joy of Advent: Journey with the People, Events and Prayers at the First Coming of Jesus Christ.

Power OF The Holy Spirit- Fr. Dave Pivonka

A Production of the Ultimate Christian Podcast Network.

Power OF The Holy Spirit - Fr. Dave Pivonka | One of the struggles we have in the Church today is that we get exactly what we expect. We do not expect much as a people, parish, and community. We do not see the Lord do great things because we do not expect him to | #christianpodcast #podcast #catholicpodcast #catholicpriest #testimony #CatholicTestimony #MagnificatInt'lConference2023 #PowerOFTheHolySpiritFr.DavePivonka #PowerOFTheHolySpirit #Fr.DavePivonkaPower OF The Holy Spirit – Fr. Dave Pivonka

One of the struggles we have in the Church today is that we get exactly what we expect. We do not expect much as a people, parish, and community. We do not see the Lord do great things because we do not expect him to. If we open our world, we will see God do amazing remarkable things. We need the Holy Spirit. We would then see things that have been there all along, but we just weren’t aware of it. The Holy Spirit wants us to see a world that is supernatural. A world of power, grace, freedom, and mercy. The Holy Spirit is the one that opens that up. There is lot of anxiety in our world today.

‘May the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace so that you may abound in hope by the power of the Holy Spirit.’ Romans 15:3 ‘Hope does not disappoint because God’s love has been poured into our hearts through the Holy Spirit who has been given to us.’ Romans 5:5. Our hope is in God and that can only happen through the power of the Holy Spirit. Because of that we can go through trials and tribulations and not be disappointed. Our question to God then changes from ‘why is this happening’ to ‘what do you want me to see?’

Fr. Pivonka is a well-known Catholic speaker, author, Priest, and President.  He received his undergraduate degree in 1989 from Franciscan University and has since earned a master’s in theology a doctorate in education and an executive juris doctorate.  He was ordained in 1996 and after holding various positions at Franciscan University of Steubenville was elected President of the University in May of 2019.  Fr. Dave has served as Director of Post- Novitiate Formation for Franciscans and hosts the Wild Goose video series on the Holy Spirit, a documentary on St Francis of Assisi and Metanoia.  Fr. Dave is the author of 7 books including Living Metanoia and Finding Freedom and Fulfillment in Christ.  He is the host of Franciscan University Presents and host a popular pod cast, They That Hope.  Fr. Dave believes that God is laying a foundation for revival in our Church and that Franciscan University is being invited to be the center of that revival.

As we too pray for revival in our church, let us place ourselves in the presences of our Heavenly Father, inviting the Holy Spirit to Enter In and allow Him to heal us, fill us and use us as only He can.

Enter In was given at the 17th Magnificat International Leaders Conference in Pittsburgh, PA in October 2023.

To find out more about Magnificat, A Ministry to Catholic Women, visit us www.magnificat-ministry.org

Thank you for being a part of our network of listeners; we appreciate you!

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Connection to God

A Production of the Ultimate Christian Podcast Network.

Connection to God | FEARLESS Chapter 2 Connection to God. Jesus is the bread of life.  He is the food for which we are made. What does food do? It nourishes us, gives us energy. Good food makes us healthy, bad food makes us sick, poisoned food can even kill us, but without food we would die a painful death. Fundamentally, food satisfies us. We eat so that we can live | #Friends #GrowingCharitytoUprootGreed #UprootGreed #GrowingCharity #TipsforConnection #GreaterPeaceJoyandfreedom #Joyfreedom #MargaretVasquezs #GrowingVirtue #ModelofHonesty #TipsforConnection #FEARLESS #fearless #ConnectiontoGod #FEARLESSChapter2 #ConnectiontoGodFEARLESSChapter2Connection to God

FEARLESS Chapter 2 Connection to God. Jesus is the bread of life.  He is the food for which we are made. What does food do? It nourishes us, gives us energy. Good food makes us healthy, bad food makes us sick, poisoned food can even kill us, but without food we would die a painful death. Fundamentally, food satisfies us. We eat so that we can live.

Communion – deep, personal, intimate connection with God – is essential to being healthy and vivacious rather than sick, malnourished, and dying. If our connection to God is only in physical reception of the Eucharist and not in spiritual intimacy, then we are missing out on that for which our soul is ultimately yearning and seeking. He has so much more to offer us than for us to just go through the motions of receiving him. He longs for us to unite ourselves to him fully in every aspect of our person. He wants every facet of us to be nourished and healthy.

We are made for healthy food, but if we do not have access to it, we are still driven to eat. Eventually, we’ll settle for chips, a candy bar, or a soda because our hunger demands to be fed. If we don’t make planful and intentional choices, we will run the risk of making impulsive ones. It is the same way with being fed spiritually, emotionally and relationally. We are made for God who is infinite. Only he can fully satisfy our hunger. If we aren’t feeding on him in all of these ways, who or what are we consuming? Whatever or whomever it is, it won’t fill us because it isn’t able to, no matter how hard we or they try.

If we treat the spiritual life – our communion with God – as dessert or a side dish, nothing will be smooth, peaceful, or fulfilling for very long. Ultimately, we’ll be making unrealistic demands of our very nature as we seek to be patient, understanding and committed to others. We have to be fed first. We cannot give what we don’t have. To try to do so is like jumping off a building and expecting to fly. If we are hoping to be fed by others, we are setting ourselves, and them, up for an impossible task that is bound to end in stagnation, dependence, resentment, or destruction.

Questions for Reflection and Discussion

  1. In what way(s) do you feel like you’re running on empty – emotionally, spiritually or relationally malnourished?
  2. In what way(s) do you find yourself trying to be fed elsewhere? How is that working out?
  3. In what new way(s) can you allow the Lord to feed you?

Prayer

Lord, we are made for you and you generously empty your infinite self for us at every moment. Please bring us to deeper awareness of our need for you and your desire to be our fulfillment. We thank you for longing to answer this prayer beyond our wildest hopes. In Jesus’ name we pray. Amen.

Action Step

Before you check your phone in the morning or get out of bed, ask the Lord to fill you with himself and spend a couple of minutes receiving his love before your feet even hit the floor.

Journaling/Further Reflection

Ask the Lord to show you in what area(s) you are running without his nourishment and how he wants to be your sustenance so you can start to live your life from a place of fulfillment. Note what he puts on your heart.

Scriptures for Meditation

Luke 18:1

John 14:6

John 15:5-7

1 Thessalonians 5:17

Jude 1:21

 

May the Lord give you peace!

Margaret

Never Underestimate Prayer

A Production of the Ultimate Christian Podcast Network.

Never Underestimate Prayer | Do you think your prayers never get answered? I believe you should never underestimate prayer! In this podcast, Felice discusses ways we can shortchange the Lord and what a blessing it is to realize that our prayers have been answered | #christianpodcast #catholicpodcast #Godandmercy #mercifulGod #CelebrateChristmasandAdvent #CelebrateChristmas #NeverUnderestimatePrayerNever Underestimate Prayer ~ Episode 281

Do you think your prayers never get answered? I believe you should never underestimate prayer! In this podcast, Felice discusses ways we can shortchange the Lord and what a blessing it is to realize that our prayers have been answered.

Thanks to our sponsor – Media Angels, you can find curriculum as well as books such as One More Child and A Few Minutes with God.

Before you ask, no, my prayers do not always get answered, well–let me rephrase that. They do get answered but not how I would like them to be answered. I hope that makes you feel better. But that is no excuse to underestimate the power of prayer. We can pray, sometimes for years (or it seems like years), with no results.

Never Underestimate Prayer

If you haven’t done, so already, I invite you to listen to a previous podcast I did that is on the topic of forgiveness. What does this have to do with prayer? Well, I prayed for many years, and it turned out to be seven years, for a situation that happened in my life. Basically, I was praying for a person who had hurt me. Every time I was upset or felt helpless, I asked the Lord to bless this person. Did I feel like praying was a blessing? No, but felt led by the Lord to pray it anyway.

I invite you to do this. If you are upset with a person or hold a grudge against them, it is always best to go to the Lord in prayer and to pray for this person. The reason is that the enemy dislikes it when we pray for someone. The enemy wants us to be upset and unkind in our thoughts and in our actions, and when we reverse that and pray for a person who we believe has wronged us, then the enemy has no power over us and usually leaves us. In my case, a chance meeting showed me that all of that animosity and hurt feelings and everything else that I was feeling was gone.

This was truly a miracle, and seven years–wow! That’s why we should never underestimate prayer! I didn’t even realize it had been so long. However, the outcome was such a blessing in my life and one that I wanted to share with all of you. It isn’t always easy to admit when we are at fault, and holding grudges and unforgiveness in my heart is an example of being at fault. None of us are exempt from sin.

I learned through perseverance and prayer that the Lord always answers our prayers, and we should never underestimate prayer or his power in our lives, we feel defeated and alone and that no one hears us or understands us, and I think that’s what leads so many people into sin —they think that no one understands them, that God doesn’t hear them until finally a situation crops into their lives that they feel is an answer— but instead the situation becomes worse than the solution.

Friends, we must be steadfast and continue to pray. When I look at the lives of the Saints, those holy men and women who’ve gone before us. I see their lives are marked with struggle, yet they continue on and persevere. What a wonderful example that is for each one of us. Can you imagine if Abraham had given up or if David had stopped worshiping God after sinning? Sure, it took him some time to repent, but eventually God, God wants our hearts and minds to be single, focused and living the best life we can keep him at our center. The key is repentance and prayer.

1 Thessalonians 5:16-18 “Rejoice always, pray continually, give thanks in all circumstances; for this is God’s will for you in Christ Jesus.”

That is a scripture we should commit to memory!

One of my sons started listening to a podcast from a businessman.  He has been very successful, and he wants to share his success with others who are striving to live lives that he calls “striving for excellence.” I may have mentioned this to you in a previous podcast, but it’s worth mentioning again, especially since it has encouraged my son to strive for excellence. I explained that when we strive for excellence we’re striving to put on the mind of Christ. Excellence only comes from God, the same way we receive grace or blessings in our lives. It is a pure gift.

When we strive to live each day the best way we can, we should offer up our day to the Lord. Otherwise, are attempting the impossible, especially with daily temptations.  Striving to do something on your own is a recipe for failure. How can we strive to put on the mind of Christ? One way is to focus on what is important each and every day to our day to the Lord and ask him to come into our lives in a deeper way. I often pray this prayer. I don’t know how successful I am, but I do ask the Lord to come into my life in a deeper way.

We should set aside some time for prayer. How often you can do this depends on what is going on in your life; I know people like the idea of downtime, but what better way than spending time with God? On the days that I can’t spend time with God, I offer my day to him. I try to focus on what is important that day and give it the rest to him.
We can make our lives a prayer to God, and in that way, even if we are not verbalizing our intent, God knows our heart and perhaps will bring a scripture verse to mind or maybe a song of praise. Challenge yourself to memorize a scripture verse this week. Then another one next week. Soon you will have four verses memorized by the end of the month. Can you imagine if we did that monthly?  We’d have 48 verses memorized by the end of the year.

Colossians 3:16 (Read on air.)

Gratitude And Prayer

Can we sing gratitude? I’m sure if we were all in a room together and sharing about how the Lord has answered our prayers, we would be amazed at each of our stories. Each one of us has hardships that we bear, but each one of us has been blessed whether or not we realize it. If not, perhaps you can pray for an attitude check. Praising God in all things, seeing the good in our lives and those around us. This takes prayer, and it takes grace!

One way we can see how we are doing in our faith walk is to look at our lives as a glass that is half full or half empty which is it? Is your life half full, or is it half empty? If you believe your life is half full, meaning that you are blessed, rather than half empty, meaning you are lacking, that is one indication. No, it’s not an exact science, but it is an illustration that shows how we can look at things optimistically or pessimistically. The choice is ours. Believing that God hears all of our prayers is really Important.

Ultimately, when we pray, it is up to the Lord; if he answers the way we would like him to answer or not, if it is a prayer that is important to our salvation, those are the ones that are answered the most. For example, Lord, give me more faith, our Lord, bring me closer to you. Remember, when we pray, it is not a feeling; it is a decision we make. We make a decision to pray similarly to making a decision to forgive ourselves as well as others as we are closer and closer to the Advent season. As I record this, and it will probably play for the first time during December, the season of Advent, let us call to mind how important it is to pray to the Lord and offer our daily struggles to him.

Your challenge this week is to look at answered prayer as a gift and give God all the glory that He rightly deserves.

God Hears & God Answers; Don’t Give Up Hope – A JOY-Filled Advent #1

A Production of the Ultimate Christian Podcast Network.

God Hear & God Answers

Are you waiting for an answer to prayer, or are you about to give up hope?  Join us today as Zechariah, Elizabeth, and Gabriel teach us this lesson: Don’t give up hope – God hears & God answers prayer.

The celebration of ADVENT often surprises me because it comes so quickly. How about you? It was just fall, then Thanksgiving, and then within a week, it’s Advent. So let’s prepare our thinking—our mind and heart with plenty of time to find the JOY of Advent this year. We will cover these points today;

The Meaning of Advent

  • Advent comes from the Latin word “adventus, ” meaning “coming.”
  • The Advent season helps us focus on the present coming of Jesus in our lives and on increasing our desire for His presence every day.

The People, Prayers, and Events

  • This podcast will help you discover the people, prayers, and events so important to Jesus’ first coming.
  • You will meet Zechariah, Elizabeth, the Blessed Virgin Mary, Joseph, John the Baptist, the Angels, the Shepherds, Simeon, Anna, and the Magi.
  • It’s as if we will travel with them and partake in the most meaningful events in their lives.

The First of Two Annunciations

  • For 430 years prior to the birth of Jesus Christ, God had stopped speaking to His people because they had stopped listening to His prophets. Fast forward 430 years and we will drop in on the “first annunciation.” The term “annunciation” in Latin means announcement.
  • When God began speaking again, He sent announcements through His most important heavenly messenger – the Archangel Gabriel.
  • In Luke 1, we read that the first announcement came to Zechariah. He and his wife Elizabeth served God, trusted him for everything, while they waited and prayed for children, which overtime seemed more impossible (Luke 1: 5-7).

Gabriel, The Might of God and No Puny Angel

  •  Gabriel may sound harsh to you, but he has a gentle side too.  We have to consider the circumstances: the GREAT Archangel Gabriel had been sent by God to  O
  • Poor Zechariah—the Archangel Gabriel just couldn’t take his unbelief so with one look he muted Zechariah for the next nine months.
  • Gabriel is no puny angel –  “Gabriel” in New Testament Greek means “the Might of God.”

Personal Reflection

  • After listening to the podcast, please reflect on the powerful message of Zechariah, Elizabeth, and us in the first part of Luke 1: God hears. God answers.  Don’t give up on God.
  • Have you ever prayed for something so long that you gave up? Have you ever received more than you expected – just as you were about to give up?
  • St. Jerome wrote about Zechariah: “Your prayer is heard…that is to say you are given more than you asked for. You prayed for the salvation of the people and you have been given the Precursor” [John the Baptist] (Souvay, 1910, The Catholic Encyclopedia – Zacharias).
  • While Zechariah was praying and waiting and giving up on prayer all those years, he did not know that God was preparing Joseph and Mary and so, he had to wait just a little longer.

Application and Prayer Points

Consider these prayer points because Jesus wants to share His joy while you wait for His answers:

(a) Ask Jesus for a  new and fresh prayer encounter with Him. Ask for new joy and to experience His presence while you look for everyday miracles.

(b) Take Time. Make a point to take some quiet time every day to listen to the Lord, read LUKE 1, and stay connected to the joy of the Lord

(c) Converse. Share with Jesus what you are waiting for. Then keep an open attitude to receive heavenly surprises JOY. (For example, you could pray: Jesus, I have given up on… Please give me new insight. Show me the little places where I see your hand at work.)

(d) Start an ADVENT PRAYER Journal. Why not record your prayer and conversation with Jesus this Advent?  You may be surprised at the transformation to JOY you receive and will want to record during Advent.

(e) Thank God. Let the Lord know that you trust your life and circumstances to Him.

Links

You can download a Bookmark of prayer points from the Advent JOY Podcast #1 at my website: WRAPYourselfinJOY.com.

Check out more podcasts here!

Click here to find the book: The Joy of Advent: Journey with the People, Events and Prayers at the First Coming of Jesus Christ.

What does God say is perfect prayer?

A Production of the Ultimate Christian Podcast Network.

How are we to pray?

So often, we think, because of the way we were taught, that prayer is “talking to God.” And while that is true, we also need to be silent and listen to him and be with him.

Words to Catherine

God’s words to Catherine of Siena: “You see then, that perfect prayer is not arrived at through many words, but through affection or desire, when the soul raises itself to me, knowing itself and my mercy, seasoned one with the other.  Thus, the soul will practice mental and vocal prayer together, for even as the active and contemplative are one, so are they.”  God further goes on to explain vocal and mental prayer, vocal being the type of prayer we say aloud or in our mind, while mental prayer is prayer without words, for being united with God.  He also explains that “mental prayer is reached by exercise and perseverance”  and that vocal prayer, practiced persistently, will lead to “perfect mental prayer.”

Learn more about different types of prayer when you sign up for my newsletter. 

Advent Season

Advent begins on December 3, 2023, and ends on December 24, 2023. It is a mere 22 days. Instead of trying to fill it with all the things, consider lighting your Advent wreath or a candle, reading the daily Gospel and then sitting in silence for 15 minutes a day. God desires to fill you with his grace and blessings; give him the time to do that for you.

Pray More Advent Retreat

Learn more about the retreat and sign up to join us!

 

 

Connection Overview

A Production of the Ultimate Christian Podcast Network.

Connection Overview | FEARLESS: Chapter 1 Connection Overview. What is so important about connection and why pair it together with the concept of holiness? We don’t have to look far to see how God regards community. He models it for us in the Holy Trinity | #GrowingVirtue #ModelofHonesty #Friends #GrowingCharitytoUprootGreed #UprootGreed #GrowingCharity #TipsforConnection #GreaterPeaceJoyandfreedom #Joyfreedom #MargaretVasquezs #GrowingVirtue #ModelofHonesty #Friends #GrowingCharitytoUprootGreed #UprootGreed #GrowingCharity #TipsforConnection #FEARLESS #fearless #ConnectionOverviewConnection Overview

FEARLESS: Chapter 1 Connection Overview. What is so important about connection and why pair it together with the concept of holiness? We don’t have to look far to see how God regards community. He models it for us in the Holy Trinity. We see their love, unity and order in relationship to each other. Each knows, values and respects the others. There is diversity and perfect unity. When God the Father sent his Son into the world, Jesus did only what he saw the Father do (John 5:19).  After his Ascension Jesus sent the Holy Spirit, the Spirit of adoption, to bring us into the family of God as brothers and sisters; sons and daughters of our heavenly Father. The Spirit gives us the power to live the life of God. He animates us to make God visible, to incarnate God in our lives.

So much does God desire to be connected to us and for us to be connected to each other, that he condescends to humble himself so far as to transform bread and wine into his body and blood. He remains with us in all the tabernacles of the world, even enduring coldness and indifference, to be with us always so we might know we are never alone. Charity and unity are intimately tied to the Eucharist.  His love for us feeds our hunger for union with him.  The more we consciously and intentionally relate to ourselves and each other with such compassion, the more we draw nearer to him and each other.

In the story of the prodigal son (Luke 15:11-32), when the older brother complains about the younger son’s return, he tries to disassociate himself from his overindulgent brother. The father sought to reconcile the older son to himself, and to bring him wholeness in his relationship with his brother.

It is very important to the Lord that we have communion with him and with each other. God is not just the father of each of us; he is our father. We are siblings. ‘Father’ is a title that not only defines our relationship to him, but also to each other. He is the hub and we are the spokes on the wheel. As we draw closer to him, we draw closer to one another. He desires to draw us all to himself and to each other.

Being united is essential to the nature of the Most Blessed Trinity. It is who they are. It is not an activity. That is to say, their unity is about being, not about doing. Because it is who they are, it is how they relate. It is not a tactic or strategic approach. There is no ulterior motive. Relating in healthy connection to ourselves and others is both holy and fosters wholeness. It is imitation of God.  He set before us life and death and longs for us to choose life, because such things draw us more deeply into the fullness of how he made us to be and the joy of the life he has for us. The Greek word teleios means both wholeness and holiness. Living in healthy, loving, respectful connection calls us to growth on human and spiritual levels. It helps us to make our love of God manifest in our own lives and to those around us.

It stands to reason we are the most fulfilled and at peace when life is lived the way God intended. Science reveals to us that God wired into our physical being a need for social connection. In his TED Talk about social connection3, neuroscientist Matthew Lieberman, Ph. D., tells us that connection to each other even impacts our physical health on a day-to-day basis.

The final aspect of connection is personal integration, connection to self. It’s not something we talk about much, but it is something impacting all of us constantly. Our connection to ourselves is this mode. If we are patient, kind, and understanding toward ourselves, it is going to be much easier for us to relate to our neighbor in the same way. Likewise, if we believe we are lovable, it will be much easier for us to believe God loves us. In fact, I’ve seen time and again that most of us don’t sin because of faulty theology, but a very erroneous ‘me-ology’. That is, our lack of acceptance of ourselves and our belief that we are not worthy of the Lord’s intense, intimate, personal passionate desire for each one of us is what leaves us worshipping all sorts of other gods, in an attempt to medicate our pain, loneliness, and emptiness. We must begin to shift how we see ourselves in order to begin to believe the truth of how God sees us. When we consciously and intentionally stand under the truth of how God sees us, we begin to more fully understand the depth of his passion and compassion for us. Only this will truly satisfy the longing of our hearts.

All three of these dimensions of connection – connection to God, self, and others – are crucial for wholeness and holiness in our lives, much like the legs of a tripod provide balance. Connection to God is the perfection of intimacy and provides us with the essential basis for being truly known and accepted. In this way, we have a firm foundation for self-knowledge and self-acceptance. Then, in truly loving ourselves, we can best be conduits of his love to others. It makes no sense to be harsh and demanding with ourselves for most of our waking hours and then expect the comparatively small amount of time spent in listening to God’s voice to renew our minds.

May the Lord give you peace.

Margaret

 

Joy and Peace

A Production of the Ultimate Christian Podcast Network.

Joy and Peace | Sunday Homily of Bishop David Toups. Two of the themes echoed throughout the weekend are ‘joy and peace.’ The gifts the Lord wants us to go forth with as you return to your homes, Chapters, husbands and children, work, friends, and community | #christianpodcast #podcast #catholicpodcast #catholicpriest #testimony #CatholicTestimony #JoyandPeaceJoy and Peace

Two of the themes echoed throughout the weekend are ‘joy and peace.’ The gifts the Lord wants us to go forth with as you return to your homes, Chapters, husbands and children, work, friends, and community. He wants us to bring joy and peace as our traveling companions. Bishop Toups refers to the scripture from Philippians 4:4-7 in Paul’s epistle.

 Rejoice in the Lord always. I will say it again: Rejoice! Let your gentleness be evident to all. The Lord is near.  Do not be anxious about anything, but in every situation, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.

The word in Greek for Joy is ‘Chara’. It is a greeting, the same word the angel Gabriel greeted Mary. Hail Mary is to be filled with joy.  He wants us to rejoice always. The word in Greek for peace is ‘Eirini,’ to be a peacemaker. Be peaceful, quiet, rest, to be unified, to be calm in the midst of the storm. The most peaceful place in a hurricane is in the eye of the storm. The heart of it, we need to remain in the center of it. That is what the Lord wants us to bring to the table, the table of the Magnificat Meals. It is the gift you have to offer to the women who come to join us. That is the anointing.

Bishop David Toups was appointed Bishop of the Diocese of Beaumont, TX, in 2020.  Before becoming Bishop, he was a previous professor and dean of students at St. Vincent de Paul Seminary in Boynton Beach, FL, becoming Rector/President in 2012, along with numerous other positions Bishop Toups served the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops in Washington, DC.  He is the Arthur of Reclaiming Our Priestly Character and serves as the Spiritual Advisor to the Magnificat Central Service Team.  Bishop Toups’ charisma draws you in, but the real beauty is his interior life and how he lives it for the Lord.   From his ordination in Florida to his studies in Rome to now becoming a Bishop in the state of Texas, it is undeniable that he is on a journey allowing the Lord to send him where he is needed most.

This Homily was given at the 17th Magnificat International Leaders Conference in Pittsburgh, PA, in October 2023.

To find out more about Magnificat, A Ministry to Catholic Women, visit us at magnificat-ministry

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Celebrate Christmas

A Production of the Ultimate Christian Podcast Network.

Celebrate Christmas and Advent | When you celebrate Christmas, does it include Advent? Advent is the time before Christmas. It is the 24-day countdown to the blessed event, the birth of our Lord, Jesus Christ. Advent helps us to put the holiday in perspective. In this podcast, Felice discusses ways you can celebrate this joyous time, whether you are living alone or celebrating as a family | #christianpodcast #catholicpodcast #Godandmercy #mercifulGod #CelebrateChristmasandAdvent #CelebrateChristmasCelebrate Christmas and Advent – Episode 280

When you celebrate Christmas, does it include Advent? Advent is the time before Christmas. It is the 24-day countdown to the blessed event, the birth of our Lord, Jesus Christ. Advent helps us to put the holiday in perspective. In this podcast, Felice discusses ways you can celebrate this joyous time, whether you are living alone or celebrating as a family.

More podcasts on Celebrating Christmas here:

Countdown to Christmas

Christmas Blessings

Christmas is Real

Advent deals with the coming of Christ, yes, but also the openness of our heart to receive our Lord and Savior, as well as the more profound meaning of recognizing he came for a purpose: to open the gates of heaven and to set us free from sin.

In my church, Advent brings in the Christmas season or the start of what is called the liturgical year. This is the season of Christmas and ends in January with the feast of the Epiphany is celebrated—the coming of the wise men to visit Christ.

The liturgical year is also celebrated with special colors worn by the priests at church. They are as follows:

  • White: joy and purity, and the resurrection
  • Green – hope and perseverance the call to continue to listen
  • Purple – penance, waiting and morning
  • Red – martyrdom of Jesus and the sayings
  • Blue is in honor of the Blessed Virgin Mary
  • Pink —solemnity
  • Gold – royalty

Suppose you had to pick a color which would you pick to celebrate Advent. You would think white, possibly, but it is purple. Advent is a time of waiting and morning. It is a time of joy because we know the end of the story, but it is a time of hope and sorrow for what had to be because of the sinfulness, the free will choice of man. When we celebrate Christmas, we can follow the Lenten practice of prayer and fasting. This is difficult to do unless you live alone. But, some families do make this their practice.

One idea is to fast from a particular bad habit or from overeating during the holiday when it seems that cakes, cookies, and parties are abundant. It does not have to follow the strictness of Lent, the 40 days before Easter. The importance is to recognize the Christmas season as a time of reflection.

What can you do to celebrate Christmas? Decorations, sure. But keeping the focus on the “reason for the Season,” the Christ child. In our decorations, be sure to add a Nativity scene or two, a picture of the Holy Family, or something that reminds you of the coming of our Savior.

Isaiah 7:14 (read on air).

Or we can read the geology of Jesus in Matthew 1 – again a reminder of the prophecy of God the Father to Abraham, Genesis 26:4 (Read on air).

While we love the Christmas season for so many reasons, it is also a time of hardship for many. It is difficult because of the loss of a loved one, financial hardships, or perhaps illness. Yet, the key to the season’s joy is not on the external but the internal, the focus on Christ.

Isaiah 9:6-7 (Read on air)

Who doesn’t want to celebrate the season with joy after hearing that? We can each celebrate in a way that makes sense for your individual family. For us, it begins with nightly prayer. This year, Advent begins on December 3. We will begin early because everyone will be home on Thanksgiving. So we will do the first week twice. Each evening, we light one candle and pray from my favorite book.

During the Advent season, we use a round advent wreath with four candles, three purple and one pink. The pink candle is lit on the third Sunday of Advent to remind us of the momentous occasion that is to come the following week. It is a time of prayer and scripture readings, and our family adds the prayer of thanksgiving. We share what we are the most thankful for each evening after our prayer time. It is wonderful and I celebrate this time with joy with my family.

I’ve given the children advent wreaths to take to college with them so they could celebrate on their own until we gather at Christmas time. It is called the Season of Light: Daily Prayer for the Lighting of the Advent Wreath. I have purchased other books but do not like them as well. The readings are not very long, but they are heartfelt. The suggestion is given to do this during or before a meal.

However you celebrate this Christmas, I pray you are surrounded by joy. Your challenge this week is to think about how you want to prepare in the coming weeks and, as always keep Christ in your heart.

FEARLESS

A Production of the Ultimate Christian Podcast Network.

FEARLESS | FEARLESS Preface & Intro. Many years ago, I noticed that healthy connections to God, self, and others are the foundation of peace and fulfillment in life. Without these connections, we perpetuate lies in our minds that become the basis for our self-talk and how we relate to others | #GrowingVirtue #ModelofHonesty #Friends #GrowingCharitytoUprootGreed #UprootGreed #GrowingCharity #TipsforConnection #GreaterPeaceJoyandfreedom #Joyfreedom #MargaretVasquezs #GrowingVirtue #ModelofHonesty #Friends #GrowingCharitytoUprootGreed #UprootGreed #GrowingCharity #TipsforConnection #FEARLESS #fearlessFEARLESS

Preface

FEARLESS Preface & Intro. Many years ago, I noticed that healthy connections to God, self, and others are the foundation of peace and fulfillment in life. Without these connections, we perpetuate lies in our minds that become the basis for our self-talk and how we relate to others. These lies chip away at our ability to perceive and receive the truth of God’s love for us and leave us feeling like he is far away. With a faith rendered full of holes, we are anxiety-ridden and depressed; we find ourselves perpetuating a cycle of disconnection within ourselves and with those around us.  The remedy is simple. Four scripture-based essentials (respect for boundaries, inherent value as God’s children, recognition of the goodness with which he made us, and openness) are all that is necessary for healthy relating to God, self, and others.  These essentials lead to the abundant life Jesus came to give us. This revelation led me to write this book. I encourage you to pray through it and allow the Lord to minister the truth of his love to you.

Introduction

I’m writing this in the time of lockdown during the coronavirus pandemic. We are being bombarded daily with dire forecasts about the connectedness of humanity.  If we carry the virus, we are told we risk making others sick. Social media is plastered with posts and memes that speak of people longing to once again relate closely. Post after post gives people tips on how to cope with the loss of social contact.  We long for connection. The pandemic of disconnection is far more deadly and far less recognized in our world than any virus.

As a licensed professional clinical counselor and trauma therapist, I’ve practiced intensive trauma therapy with clients of all ages for the past 14+ years. Time and again, I’ve witnessed that the deepest and most damaging human experiences come from fractures in connection.   These fractures leave people isolated, their ability to relate to themselves and others, broken. I’ve been blessed to practice and further develop a highly effective method of treatment. The approach treats the traumas first.   After the trauma is healed, the need for healthy connection invariably comes to the forefront, but knowing how to build these connections is not always a given.  I have watched people expend great fear-based energy trying to control rather than to truly connect, exacerbating their own suffering and the suffering of those around them.

For more than a decade of providing therapy, the most profoundly positive and healing experiences people have shared with me are times they felt connected to God, to others, or to themselves. Over and over again regardless of age, gender, socio-economic background, cognitive level, or any other factor, connection, true, authentic, healthy connection, is the antithesis of trauma. Connection is what we are made for and the climate in which we all flourish.

Real communion, I came to understand, is consistently fostered by boundaries, recognition of value and acceptance, and being seen and heard as a unique and precious individual. These form the core of connection.  They flow throughout sacred scripture and synergistically provide the sense of safety necessary for vulnerability and trust. When these ways of being are operating, people are truly able to perceive and receive each other in love, peace, and joy. These same factors are necessary for a healthy relationship to self and to the Lord, as well. When we know the four elements of healthy connection and why and how they fit and work together, we are able to build on solid ground and to navigate compassionately when relationships become challenging.  Without this knowledge, we can easily lose peace and focus.

Accepting the intimacy of the Blessed Trinity residing in us, we start from a place of fullness with our connection needs met to overflowing.  We are perfectly known, valued, and protected by our all-loving, omnipotent God. His perfect love dispels and replaces our fear. (1 John 4:18) It is essential, and commonly most difficult, for us to accept and imitate such love as we relate to ourselves. The healthier our self-talk and integration of his love, the safer we feel, the less others are viewed as threat or competition, and the more his love flows through us to others. That unshakeable assurance we have in God’s love, transforms our hearts and minds. Such fearlessness flows outward into every aspect of our lives. It is the superabundance of God’s infinite compassion for us that is the truest way to find both sanity and sanctity. This is that same Deep Well from which the saints drank. He is no less available to us when we make ourselves available to him. Much of the focus of therapy is often about identifying lies we believe about ourselves which stem from painful experiences. While this can be a crucial step to healing from the past, it’s imperative for us to adopt a new way of relating for the future. We must begin to relate to ourselves, God, and others the way the Lord does for the truth of his love to transform our minds and lead us into his abundant life.

Jesus’ identity was firmly rooted in being the beloved Son of the Father (Connection to God). He thoroughly internalized that identity (Connection to Self) and he related to others in a way that allowed the love of his Father to flow through himself to them in deep compassion (Connection to Others).  Connection to God, to self, and to others is the ever-deepening work of a lifetime. It is not bad news that we haven’t arrived, but rather something to embrace. It’s not that we aren’t good enough or are still broken if we have room for formation in these areas. Rather, it’s the profound reality that God is infinite and being permeated by his all-loving presence is a process. There is always more of him – more love, more peace, more joy. This is really good news!

As I dug into writing this book and was looking for scriptures for each section, scales fell from my eyes. I had previously seen the four connection principles of boundaries, valued, being known, and openness as a ubiquitous pattern, and mentally and spiritually sound. What struck me was that all of scripture is bursting with these concepts, too. I called a friend and told her my find.  Without missing a beat she responded, “That makes sense.  Scripture is all relationship”.  My jaw dropped. That’s it! These connection principles are how the Lord relates to us and how he teaches us to relate, as well. Is it any wonder that they lead to wholeness and freedom?

May the Lord give you peace.

Margaret

Eucharist Presence Part 3

A Production of the Ultimate Christian Podcast Network.

Eucharist Presence Part 3 | The Eucharist- Part 3- The Presence- presented by Jimmy Seghers. The focus of this segment is on the presence. Jesus promised I will be with you always. It affirms a truth that Catholics have always believed: the blessed Eucharist is the source and the summit of the Christian life | #christianpodcast #podcast #catholicpodcast #catholicpriest #testimony #CatholicTestimony #Eucharisticunion #EucharistPresencePart3 #EucharistPresence #Part3Eucharist Presence Part 3

The Eucharist- Part 3- The Presence- presented by Jimmy Seghers. The focus of this segment is on the presence. Jesus promised I will be with you always. It affirms a truth that Catholics have always believed: the blessed Eucharist is the source and the summit of the Christian life. The Eucharist presents the redemptive sacrifice of Christ on Calvary, and it also unites our modest offering of the sacrifice of Jesus, our head. The Catechism teaches our Lord’s presence under the humble appearance of bread and wine, and it raises the Eucharist above all the sacraments as the perfection of the spiritual life and the goal of all the sacraments. The power of the blessed Eucharist to transform us into Christ is astounding. The blessed Eucharist is designed to form saints. Jimmy shares historical evidence that the Eucharist is the true body, blood, soul, and divinity of Christ.

Jimmy Seghers was born in New Orleans. He was raised in a devout Catholic family. Jimmy has devoted much of his life to the pursuit of learning, teaching, and mentorship.

Jimmy joined the seminary after his sophomore year in high school. He earned his bachelor’s degree from St. Mary’s College with majors in Philosophy, History, Education, and Classical Languages. He followed this by completing a four-year graduate program in Theology and Sacred Scripture at St. Mary’s and earning a master’s degree in history from DePaul University.

Jimmy has taught Sacred Scripture and Apologetics (that is, the defense of the Catholic faith). Jimmy frequently gives retreats, parish missions, and talks on biblical subjects. He is seen on FOCUS with Lisa Flood discussing biblical and religious topics. His classes are approved by the Archdiocese of New Orleans for certification credits for religion teachers. Each week, Jim is heard on the Radio Maria network. He can also be heard each morning on Catholic Community Radio as he gives the daily Gospel reflection. His essays have been published in This Rock, the Clarion-Herald, and he contributed to a catechetical series published by Ave Maria University Press. His most recent book is The Fullness of Truth: A Handbook for Understanding and Explaining the Catholic Faith Biblically. He also has created a completely free video series, Understanding Catholicism to be used by anyone as a tool to teach or learn the faith.

In 1995, Jimmy and his wife, Michelle, formed Totus Tuus Ministries, Inc., a non-profit corporation devoted to evangelizing Catholics. The purpose of this ministry is to evangelize Catholics through essays, media, audio content, retreats, conferences, the study of Sacred Scripture, and defense of the Catholic Faith—called Apologetics.

Jim and Michelle are the parents of nine children.

This is the 3rd of a 3-part series on the Eucharist.

Wrapped in JOY and Armored in Prayer – Joyful & Battle Ready #8

A Production of the Ultimate Christian Podcast Network.
Wrapped in JOY & Armored in Prayer

Pray at Every Opportunity (Ephesians 6:18)

Wrapped in JOY and Armored in Prayer

Is there a way to stay wrapped in Joy and Armored in God? This final podcast of the Joyful and Battle-Ready series focuses on the key to living in  JOY and being protected with armor. So join the podcast today and discover how prayer secures your JOY and activates your armor.  Join us today as we cover these points:

True and Lasting JOY

  • As the Scriptures point out, prayer is the key to staying wrapped in joy and armored.
  • Psalm 16 reminds us that God offers the fullness of JOY in his presence.
  • In John 15 11, Jesus says, Abide in my love…  I have said these things to you so that my joy may be in you and your joy may be complete.
  • To abide in God’s love means we are always in communication with him in prayer.

Prayer and JOY

  • Essential points covered in the last eight weeks include: 1) receiving JOY from God the Father, Jesus our Savior, and the Holy Spirit our fruit bearer of JOY, 2) asking God to increase your capacity to receive His Joy and Love, 3) Praising and thanking God-two of the five forms of prayer associated with JOY, 4) Using the Prayer and Holy Imagery to defeat Joy Busters, 6) Rejoicing to stop worry, 7) Reading and Praying scripture leads to deep spiritual JOY.
  • Prayer is the path to JOY.

Prayer and The Armor of God

  • After the armor message of Ephesians 6: 17, verse 18 says: With all prayer and supplication, pray at every opportunity in the Spirit. To that end, be watchful with all perseverance and supplication for all the holy ones (NABRE). The NRSVCE translation says: Pray at all times…
  • Interestingly, PRAYER isn’t called a piece of armor but is connected to the armor.
  • There was not any punctuation or separation of sentences in the original New Testament Greek manuscripts, so the need to pray at all times connects to the armor.
  • We have found that each piece represents Jesus, whom we come to daily, and, in a sense, we “put on Jesus daily.” So we put the armor on with prayer.

Pray at Every Opportunity in the Spirit

  • Prayer to Christians is like oxygen to life- live and breathe with prayer.
  • Many Christians say, “All we can do is pray.” We should say, “We will pray. God will hear, and He will change everything.”
  • When prayer is the atmosphere we breathe, and we keep breathing it, the Holy Spirit is released to work in unimaginable ways, and supernatural graces and gifts are poured out.
  • Heaven will even surprise us when we stay connected with the King of Kings and His Kingdom in prayer!

Pray at all times, Aware of His Presence

  • The Catholic Church defines prayer as a “vital and personal relationship with the living and true God” (CCC 2558). It is “Christian…insofar as it is communion with Jesus Christ” – ” a covenant relationship between God and man in Christ”(CCC 2565, 2564).”
  • Prayer is a relationship with God through Jesus Christ. In relationship with a living God, we are continually communing with our Savior. God is with us always. He is for us. He is our Helper in all things.
  • Praying at all times means you are constantly connecting with your closest friend.

Praying at every opportunity

  • Praying at every opportunity, as translated in the NABRE, conveys that opportunities arise at various times of every day and evening. We need to pause momentarily and give that event or situation to Jesus.
  • For example, in Nehemiah 6:9, he prayed, “But now, O God, strengthen my hands.”

Confidence in Prayer

  • Praying at every opportunity establishes a deep personal bond between you and your Heavenly Father in everything you do. It is always heart-to-heart with your heart speaking directly to the Heart of Jesus. He hears you.
  • Pope Francis says, “Prayer is more than just a physical, emotional, or intellectual act; it is an inner desire to encounter God with confidence.   God has revealed Himself to us in His Son, Jesus Christ. So, the prayer of a Christian brings us into a relationship with God without any fear or trepidation. One can establish a relationship built on confidence with Him in prayer” (May 5, 2020).

Personal Reflection

  • Remember all that God taught you in Ephesians 6 about standing strong and firm in battle. Read Ephesians 6 often.
  • Visualize yourself putting on each piece of the armor of God—the Belt of Truth, the Breastplate of Righteousness, Shoes ready to Proclaim the Gospel of Peace, the Shield of Faith, the Helmet of Salvation, the Sword of the Spirit, which is the Lord of God, plus, Praying at every opportunity in the Spirit. Act it out in your mind. Try it!

 Cup of JOY Women or Cup of JOY Gathering

Consider hosting a weekly one-hour Cup of Joy small group study that accompanies one of the podcast series, especially the one that starts next week:  A Joy-filled Advent: Journey with the People, Events, and Prayers.

Read more on hosting a CUP of JOY Women’s small group.  For information, please email karen@wrapyourselfinjoy.com

Links

 

 

 

Blessed Be The Lord

A Production of the Ultimate Christian Podcast Network.

Blessed Be The Lord | This is a time of Thanksgiving and being grateful. But honestly, we should be singing, Blessed be the Lord" from the rooftops. Too much? At the very least, we need to realize where our blessings come from | #christianpodcast #catholicpodcast #Godandmercy #mercifulGod #BlessedBeTheLord #BlessedBe #TheLordBlessed Be The Lord ~ Episode 279

This is a time of Thanksgiving and being grateful. But honestly, we should be singing, Blessed be the Lord” from the rooftops. Too much? At the very least, we need to realize where our blessings come from. In this podcast, you will be encouraged and leave with hope!

How do you feel when someone says, great job? Or, thanks so much for what you are doing, or you were so helpful. We enjoy being recognized. And while humility is a virtue, it is still nice to receive praise. It makes us want to strive to do better.

Here are some podcasts you may enjoy.

How much more should we be thanking and praising God? He, after all, gave us our lives. He is the Creator of the Universe; He is the Almighty, the King of Kings and Lord of Lords! The scriptures are filled with verse after verse of the words, “Blessed be the name of the Lord.” These are words of worship.

One of my favorite scriptures is Psalm 113:2 – Blessed be the name of the Lord from this time forth and forevermore!

Blessed Be The Name of the Lord

How do you feel hearing this? It fills me with joy. When we are thanking God, we may think we are doing it for Him, but we are doing it for ourselves. God is perfect, and we can do nothing to make him “more perfect.” He does not need our praise, but he deserves it.

Just like we don’t need to be thanked or praised for a job well done, it is still nice to hear it coming, especially from our family. Why is it that we take our own family for granted at times, just like we take the Almighty God and Father for granted?

We feel the eternal, heartfelt joy in the words in Ephesians 1:3 (Read on air.)

What is more important than spiritual blessings? Nothing. That is the greatest gift we can receive. By glorifying God, we are doing the little thing. It is a form of love of obedience, and what God gives us back is joy. An abundance of joy!

There is no way we can outgive God; try it. Anything we do to praise and glorify Him is given back tenfold. Just think of singing praise and worship music. The song, “Blessed Be The Lord God Almighty,” gets stuck in my head when I hear it and sing along. It is as if the Lord is reminding me of that—link to lyrics of the song. 

Singing the refrain reminds us of what is important; it gives us a chance to let go of the cares of this world and the stresses in our lives. It allows us to see the bigger picture, the end goal, and what we should strive to focus on. When we let go and let God, as the saying goes, we allow Him to work in our lives. Amen? For me, music helps. I can’t listen to music and work on anything at the same time because I tend to want to sing along. It’s a good thing the Lord doesn’t care what we sound like.

At church, I often see people who are not singing. We are taught that singing is praising God twice. Even if you can’t sing well, try it- you can sing low!  It is uplifting to sing, and singing prepares you. It opens your heart to hear the Word of God and what the pastor is teaching. It is also helpful to praise God before you open the Bible. When my children were younger, and I didn’t have time to go to church daily, I would pray the one-hour prayer. Not all at once but during the day as I had time. I thought I did a podcast on the one-hour prayer, but I have not. I will do one soon because it was beneficial and so helpful.

In a nutshell, the point of the one-hour prayer was to praise the Lord, repent from sins, and prepare our hearts for reading the Scriptures. It is an abundance of blessings–for us. What a wonderful and merciful God we have.

Today’s topic is probably not anything you don’t already know. Most of you have a relationship with the Lord, most praise the Lord, and most of you listen to praise and worship music, but it is a reminder to us all. First, do not take God for granted. He is worthy of all praise. Second, fill our hearts and minds with glory and praise, and we will find our hearts uplifted. It may even combat fear and depression. And, third, take it to heart. Make it your goal this week to thank God, saying, Blessed be the Lord—amen~and halleluiah. Jesus reigns yesterday, today, and tomorrow.

Rejoice & Be Glad

A Production of the Ultimate Christian Podcast Network.

Rejoice & Be Glad | Saturday Mass Homily – Fr. Bao Thai. Rejoice & Be Glad.  Fr. Bao swags his joyful body up to the podium to give his homily, and the audience laughs at his amusing behavior. He begins with the theme of the gospel reading from Luke, where Christ sends out the 72. Fr. Bao states,” Rejoice and be glad, for your reward will be great in heaven. Rejoice. Your name is written in heaven. | #christianpodcast #podcast #catholicpodcast #catholicpriest #testimony #CatholicTestimony #ThePoweroftheHolySpirit #Rejoice&BeGladSaturdaMassHomilyFr.BaoThai #Rejoice&BeGlad #SaturdaMassHomily #Fr.BaoThaiRejoice & Be Glad

Fr. Bao swags his joyful body up to the podium to give his homily, and the audience laughs at his amusing behavior. He begins with the theme of the gospel reading from Luke, where Christ sends out the 72. Fr. Bao states,” Rejoice and be glad, for your reward will be great in heaven. Rejoice. Your name is written in heaven.”  Fr. Bao shares his trip to Rome with his Bishop from the Diocese of Orange, the 42nd Anniversary of Magnificat, and the Feast of Our Lady of the Rosary. He said jokingly, ‘My homily is about all you can eat.’ Fr. Bao shared special events in his family and how they fell on significant feast days of the Blessed Mother and the Holy Spirit through the intercession of Our Lady of the Rosary. He concludes with how he became Rector of Christ Cathedral by giving his ‘yes’ just as his Mother Mary’s fiat. We are baptized and anointed in the Holy Spirit, so do not be afraid. Be Magnificat sisters to the world, sharing God’s love. It takes courage to change the hearts of the people. Remember, rejoice, and be glad your name is written in heaven.

Fr. Bao Thai was born in Saigon, Vietnam, and moved to the U. S. with his family in 1993.  Fr. Bao was appointed Rector of Christ Cathedral in Garden Grove, CA. in 2022.  He is a fourth-generation Vietnamese-American rector of a cathedral in the United States.  He was instrumental as an advisory board member for the July 2021 dedication of Christ Cathedral Our Lady of La Vang Shrine, an outdoor display devoted to the Virgin Mary.

This Homily was given at the 17th Magnificat International Leaders Conference in Pittsburgh, PA, in October 2023.

The Eucharist Part 2 The Union

A Production of the Ultimate Christian Podcast Network.

Eucharistic Union | Jimmy Seghers. The Eucharistic Sacrifice is something we as Catholics consider common place. In this three part presentation your faith will be renewed | #christianpodcast #podcast #catholicpodcast #catholicpriest #testimony #CatholicTestimony #EucharisticunionThe Eucharist- Part 2- The Union

The Eucharist. Part 2- The Union. The major theme of this segment is ‘the kiss of the bridegroom.’ The Mass procession is a reminder that every Mass is a wedding.

Presented by Jimmy Seghers

Jesus’ wedding reception begins in the upper room on Holy Thursday. It continues on Good Friday when our sins nailed him to his wedding bed and will be celebrated triumphantly in heaven as the marriage supper of the lamb. Jimmy takes us through scripture from the Song of Songs, Ezekial, and Jerimiah, to Ephesians, Galatians, and Revelations, explaining the relationship and union of the bridegroom, ‘Jesus,’ and his bride, ‘the Church.’ He shares how the bridegroom is deeply rooted in the covenant God established with his people, and its bond forms a nuptial relationship with God. Jimmy concludes by explaining the ‘three kisses’ and how we are transformed as we receive holy communion. Leading to the fulfillment of Jesus prayer, “Father, that they may be all in one, as you, Father, are in me and I in thee, that they may also be in us.”

Jimmy Seghers was born in New Orleans. He was raised in a devout Catholic family. Jimmy has devoted much of his life to learning, teaching, and mentorship.

Jimmy joined the seminary after his sophomore year in high school. He earned his bachelor’s degree from St. Mary’s College with majors in Philosophy, History, Education, and Classical Languages. He completed a four-year graduate program in Theology and Sacred Scripture at St. Mary’s and earned a master’s degree in history from DePaul University.

Jimmy has taught Sacred Scripture and Apologetics (the defense of the Catholic faith). Jimmy frequently gives retreats, parish missions, and talks on biblical subjects. He is seen on FOCUS with Lisa Flood discussing biblical and religious topics. The Archdiocese of New Orleans approves his classes for certification credits for religion teachers. Each week, Jim is heard on the Radio Maria network. He can also be heard each morning on Catholic Community Radio as he gives the daily Gospel reflection. His essays have been published in This Rock and the Clarion-Herald, and he contributed to a catechetical series published by Ave Maria University Press. His most recent book is The Fullness of Truth: A Handbook for Understanding and Explaining the Catholic Faith Biblically. He also has created a completely free video series, Understanding Catholicism, to be used by anyone as a tool to teach or learn the faith.

In 1995, Jimmy and his wife, Michelle, formed Totus Tuus Ministries, Inc., a non-profit corporation devoted to evangelizing Catholics. The purpose of this ministry is to evangelize Catholics through essays, media, audio content, retreats, conferences, the study of Sacred Scripture, and defense of the Catholic Faith—called Apologetics.

Jim and Michelle are the parents of nine children.

This is the 2nd of a 3-part series on the Eucharist.

Vocations and Integration

A Production of the Ultimate Christian Podcast Network.

Vocations and Integration | Vocations and Integration with Fr. Jonathan McElhone, TOR. Margaret:  Do/how do you see a lack of human and spiritual integration in people today | #GrowingVirtue #ModelofHonesty #Friends #GrowingCharitytoUprootGreed #UprootGreed #GrowingCharity #TipsforConnection #GreaterPeaceJoyandfreedom #Joyfreedom #MargaretVasquezs #GrowingVirtue #ModelofHonesty #Friends #GrowingCharitytoUprootGreed #UprootGreed #GrowingCharity #TipsforConnection #GreaterPeaceJoyandfreedom #TheStruggleisReal! #InterconnectedPsychology&Spirituality #InterconnectedPsychologyandSpirituality #VocationsandIntegrationVocations and Integration

Vocations and Integration with Fr. Jonathan McElhone, TOR.

Margaret:  Do/how do you see a lack of human and spiritual integration in people today?

Fr. Jonathan McElhone, TOR:  People are afraid to make mistakes. At times, I’ve seen people confuse their vocation with their salvation. Vocation is tied to our mission, our path toward holiness. Salvation is connected to how I receive God’s love and mercy in my life. Confusing these leads to the belief that God will be disappointed with me if I choose the wrong vocation.

Margaret:  How do you see a lack of human and spiritual integration in people today?

Fr. Jonathan:  IDENTITY – so often, people are concerned with what others think of them and their identity, and in the midst of the cancel culture, they are afraid of being rejected.  This often leads them to hide their authentic spirituality.  With the instant news/social posts of videos, snippets, and soundbites, which often attack the dignity of the human person, published from an ‘agenda,’ people become afraid to even speak the truth or speak honestly.

At times, people over-spiritualize and romanticize to an extreme what they think they need to do to ‘please’ God. For example, St. Francis of Assisi had severe fasts, which some speculated led to his early death.  Yes, self-denial is necessary in the spiritual life, but doing so should still respect the dignity of the human person.

Margaret:  Is human and spiritual integration necessary, especially for the living out of one’s vocation?  Especially in religious communities?

Fr. Jonathan:  YES!  My own experience as a Franciscan, where fraternal life holds an important place, I’ve witnessed a direct connection between my spiritual life and how I am able to embrace and live out my Franciscan vocation and vise versa.  When I’m responding well to the graces of God’s love (close in prayer, not always feelings), it is so much easier to accept my identity as a child of God, offering me a perspective on how I see others and situations. It is easier to live in the truth of the light of Jesus.   If I find myself far from the Lord (struggling with sin), then often I’ve witnessed my response to others and even my own self-narrative becomes much less life giving.

Margaret:  What are some of the qualities/aspects of someone’s life you look for in potential candidates?

Fr. Jonathan:  A person of prayer, actively seeking holiness and a life conformed to Christ Jesus and has a generous heart. I look for someone who is mature, well integrated, who doesn’t make discernment about emotions, or fantasies.  Do they have a clear understanding of their own identity as a child of God? Are they aware of their own strength and weaknesses, and willing to address and work on those weaknesses (TOR charism of ongoing conversion).  Are they open to formation, instruction and correction? Do they seem like a person who could embrace and live the vows of poverty, chastity and obedience?  Do they get along well with a wide diversity of people?  Do they really want to serve the Lord (or are they looking for a free ride)?  Are they educatable (MA degrees).  Do they have important life skills and experiences (laundry, cooking, holding a real job, finances, etc.)

Margaret:  Any recommendations (human and/or spiritual) for young people to be prepared to live out a religious vocation?

Fr. Jonathan:  Grow deeper in prayer daily, participate in the sacraments regularly (more than once a week).  Get to know yourself, strengths, weaknesses, talents, gifts à live out of these.

Stop only thinking about discernment and actually do something: talk to a priest or religious, visit a community, get involved in ministry, go on a mission trip, etc. Action gives the material for the heart to discern with. Both the heart and the mind are required for healthy discernment. Evaluate your heart after an action and look for the fruit of the Holy Spirit, especially peace and joy.

Margaret:  How can interested men contact you regarding discerning a vocation to the Franciscan TOR Friars of the Province of the Most Sacred Heart of Jesus?

Fr. Jonathan:  The best way… website: Franciscanstor.org and click the tab “Vocations contact” where they can submit contact info and I’ll be sure to reach out to them quickly.

The Banquet

A Production of the Ultimate Christian Podcast Network.

The Banquet | The Banquet by Deacon David Hockwalt. This is the time of year for holiday parties. Decisions need to be made. What will be the best date? Who should we invite? What kind of meal | #christianpodcast #podcast #catholicpodcast #catholicpriest #testimony #CatholicTestimony #ThePoweroftheHolySpirit #TheBanquetThe Banquet

The Banquet Parable Lk. 14:15-24 by Deacon David Hockwalt. This is the time of year for holiday parties. Decisions need to be made. What will be the best date? Who should we invite? What kind of meal? In Lukes parable of the Banquet the host prepared a delicious meal and invited guests with a social standing who were his relatives, friends, and business associates.

For one reason or another the invited guest declined the invitation. The Master then told his servants to go out into the streets and invite those with no social standing, the lame, the blind, the deaf, and the poor so that his house may be filled. The parable points to another kind of banquet, the banquet of God the Father. The ultimate banquet, ‘the bread of life and cup of salvation’ which is the Mass. At the end of Mass, we are commissioned to ‘go forth’ and extend an invitation to others also to share in the banqueting feast.

DEACON DAVID HOCKWALT was ordained a Permanent Deacon in the Diocese of San Bernardino in 2012. He continues in active ministry today and is the spiritual advisor to the vicariate Life in the Spirit team.

We pray that today may be a special day in your life as you experience the presence of Jesus Christ among us through this reflection. Magnificat, taken from Luke: 1, is the great hymn of praise that Mary prayed while visiting her cousin, Elizabeth. We trust that this reflection will help us all better understand that we are truly children of God, made in His image and likeness. We want to come together in God’s presence and proclaim that the Almighty has done great things for you and me and holy is His Name!

To find out more about Magnificat, A Ministry to Catholic Women, visit us at www.magnificat-ministry.org

Holidays and Faith

A Production of the Ultimate Christian Podcast Network.

Holidays and Faith | Faith takes a back seat when you get busy, especially during the holidays. This episode explores holidays and faith, keeping God in the forefront—simple ways to get in the holiday mood without taking your focus off of the Lord | #christianpodcast #catholicpodcast #Godandmercy #mercifulGod #FaithfulChristian #HolidaysandFaithHolidays and Faith ~ Episode 278

Faith takes a back seat when you get busy, especially during the holidays. This episode explores holidays and faith, keeping God in the forefront—simple ways to get in the holiday mood without taking your focus off of the Lord.

Thanks to our sponsor, Media Angels, with books for parents and children.

Here are some great podcasts you will want to listen to.

Rejoice! The kingdom of God is at hand. Friends, this is a time for rejoicing even if we don’t feel it. We are being bombarded from every side with personal, spiritual, and financial issues—some insurmountable. But nothing is too big for God, and during this time, when people turn their backs on him, we can still praise Him! When we get too busy, praise Him. When we don’t think we can go on, praise Him!

He is worthy of our praise.

Holidays and Faith Begins With The True God.

I was searching holidays and faith and was shocked by what I found on a popular search engine. The first one was a pagan holiday, and there were two other pagan holidays listed. I clicked the link to see what else I’d find and was sent to a website where I had to scroll almost to the bottom to find Christian/Catholic – Christmas. Seriously? Should I be surprised?  Probably not.

But you and I? We can make a difference, first in our own lives and then in the lives of others. If we were in charge of the search engine analytics, we would ensure Judaism, Christianity, and Catholicism were front and center.

Hebrews 11:1 (Read on air.)

What a wonderful encouragement. We have been blessed! We have been given the most incredible gift: faith in God. We see evidence of this in our lives and the lives of those holy men and women of God whom we respect and admire. For many of us, faith is something we live daily. But when we get busy, we sometimes forget to prioritize the most important thing: our relationship with the Almighty God.

Christian holidays are focused on the essentials of our faith—Christmas centers on the birth of Jesus, and Easter, his death and resurrection. Whatever the holiday, even if it is Thanksgiving or Valentine’s Day we can still pull in the Christian elements. Our faith transcends secular holidays, and we are reminded of the Divine. Especially since we know God is the way, the truth, and the life. He has given us a gift, a priceless gift, and that is faith.

In Romans 21:21-22 (Read on air.)

So, any time we get too busy or overwhelmed, we pray. Jesus said, “Whatever you ask for in prayer with faith, you will receive.” Right? The key is in prayer with faith. God will hear us always; the answer isn’t always “yes.”

Our state of mind is in direct proportion to our spiritual life. I had to take myself to task about this recently. I was feeling down, overwhelmed and really couldn’t handle the least little thing without extreme worry. I began an internal evaluation.

Checklist of Faith:

  1. Praying? Check.
  2. Attending church regularly? Check.
  3. Thanking God during the day? Check.
  4. Praise and worship music. No.
  5. Spending time with the Lord. No.

I had plenty of excuses, and as I shared on the last podcast, “All in For God,” we need to be done with our excuses. We need to say, “Here I am, Lord!” Amen? I started staying a little later at Mass, praying yes–but spending time in quiet. My mind may wander, but I bring it back to God out of determination. The evil one doesn’t want us to spend any time with God and will put all kinds of thoughts in our heads, even good ones. Yet, we need to be strong, determined, and focused.

During the holidays, things seem to ramp up on our time and emotional well-being. People are either happy or sad during the holidays. People are lonely, or they’ve lost loved ones, and people are overwhelmed and worried about the money they don’t have to spend on gifts. But, if we give some time in prayer to the Lord and spend it with him, enjoying the beauty of the outdoors and seeing the glory of God in the landscape, it is all a way to realize this world is so much bigger than just us.

How do we get to a place to celebrate the holidays and ensure our prayer life is not overlooked? That, dear friends, is up to you. Spend some time and think about what you have to do, how you will do it in the time you have, and what you can cut out. That is one of the most significant dilemmas we have.

Matthew 15:13 (read on air.)

There, we claim hope in the precious Name of God. We ask the Lord to fill us with his joy and peace. We pray that this holiday, whether a major calendar holiday, a birthday, or an anniversary, is filled with joy. You see, joy is a decision. Faith is a decision to accept what is freely given. There are so few things we have control over, yet we do control our minds and faith.

This leads me to our challenge for this week: to be aware if we find ourselves leaving God out of our family celebrations, no matter what the time or the season. Let’s put God first, and everything else will follow.

 

The JOY of Scripture & Wielding the Sword of the Spirit (Joyful & Battle Ready #7)

A Production of the Ultimate Christian Podcast Network.

Did you know that JOY is associated with reading and praying with scripture? The Word of God promises a deep spiritual joy in interacting with God via His Word.  Join the podcast today as we cover the pleasures found in the Word of God and how to use the Word as a Sword of the Spirit to protect your mind and emotions from attacks of the evil one.

Join us today as we cover these points:

Deep Spiritual JOY

  • Happy in Psalm 1 (ASRAI in Hebrew) more closely means—a deep spiritual joy (Ross, A. P. (2011).
  • The BENEFIT is the deep, joyous pleasure and satisfaction that will come when you listen to the Lord in verses of Scripture and interact with Him around the verses.

Four Stages of Prayer

  • In The Armchair Mystic, Rev. Mark Thibodeaux describes four stages of prayer, summarized as: Talking at God, Talking to God. Listening to God speak in Scripture daily and Resting in God’s presence,
  • Stage 4 is the goal.

Joy and Healing

  • Another benefit of reading and praying God’s word: HEALING
  • Basil the Great said: “The Holy Spirit composed the Scriptures so that in them, as in a pharmacy open to all souls, we might each of us be able to find the medicine suited to our own particular illness… (Spidlik, T., & Drake, P. (1993).

 WRAP – Simplified Lectio Divina for Reading and Praying with Scripture

  • WRAP is an acronym for reading, praying, and reflecting on Scripture, and it works best if you journal what you hear (from WRAP Yourself in Scripture, a book by Karen & Larry Dwyer, Institute of Priestly Formation,
  • WRAP aims to foster a personal encounter with Jesus in the Scriptures so that the words come alive and you hear God speak to YOUR HEART.
  • It’s a form of Lectio Divina— which the Catechism of the Catholic Church defines as reading to hear God speak to you and meditating on His Words so that it becomes your prayer (CCC 1177).

WRAP Method

  • W: Write down the verse that inspires you or seems to arise out of the passage.
  • R: Reflect on the principles/ ideas the verse is inspiring in you & record your thoughts. (Mull Over, Mentally Picture, Mutter, & Memorize.)
  • A: Apply the principles. Write down your response to the Scripture & how it applies to your life today.
  • P: Pray and praise. Talk with Jesus about what the verse opened in your heart.

The Sword of the Spirit

  • In Ephesians 6:17, Paul calls the Word the Sword of the Spirit.
  • The Roman soldier carried his sword in his belt (or girdle).
  • The Romans employed two types of swords: the “rpomphaia” (Revelation 1,2), a large, long, and broad sword that took two hands to wield, and the “makchaira” ( Ephesians 6: 17), a short 6” to 18” sharp and piercing dagger for hand-to-hand combat.

A Formidable and Sure Defense

  • Hebrews 4:12 describes the WORD of God as “living and active, sharper than any two-edged sword, …able to judge the thoughts and intentions of the heart.
  • The Word brings truth where there is falsehood, light where there is darkness, and joy where there is sorrow. Psalm 119: 11, 105
  • Luke 4: 1-13 shows Jesus using the Word of God in defense all three times.
  • We can speak the Scriptures to help us stand firm against temptations, discouragement, fear, or other attack on our faith.

An Offensive Weapon

  • You can hide God’s Word in your heart to help identify and reject sin and strengthen your inner person.
  • When you share the Word with someone—especially a word that deeply moved you—it is a sword that pierces another’s heart.

Personal Reflection: Sword of the Spirit Declarations

  • You can WIELD THE SWORD OF THE SPIRIT with these Declarations from God’s Word:
  1. I will love and read God’s Word daily (Psalm 119: 11, NRSVCE).
  2. The Word of God is “a lamp to my feet and a light to my path” (Psalm 119: 105, NRSVCE).
  3. The Word of God is my defensive weapon as Jesus showed in his fight with the evil one (Matthew 4:10-11, NRSVCE).
  4. When I gently share the Word of God with others, I can be confident that God’s Word is “living and active (Hebrews 4:12, NRSVCE).

  Cup of JOY Women

Consider hosting a weekly one-hour cup of Joy women’s small group study accompanying this podcast.  It’s free! The next opportunity if for Advent JOY.

  • For information, please email karen@wrapyourselfinjoy.com

Links

The Power of the Holy Spirit

A Production of the Ultimate Christian Podcast Network.

The Power of the Holy Spirit | Bishop David Zubik, Bishop of the Diocese of Pittsburgh welcomed the women of Magnificat to Pittsburgh, PA, and how we were all brought together by the Holy Spirit | #christianpodcast #podcast #catholicpodcast #catholicpriest #testimony #CatholicTestimony #ThePoweroftheHolySpiritThe Power of the Holy Spirit

Bishop David Zubik, Bishop of the Diocese of Pittsburgh welcomed the women of Magnificat to Pittsburgh, PA, and how we were all brought together by the Holy Spirit. Bishop Zubik reflected on Luke’s gospel and the power of the Holy in the visitation of Mary and Elizabeth, who were recipients of the promises of God through the Holy Spirit. Bishop Zubik shared a story of the arch enemy the devil wanting to stop the power of God from spreading. He wanted to stop the good news of God’s love. The devil and his cohorts came up with a plan to delay God’s plan by influencing the people not to take God’s word seriously which resulted in their exile. It is apropos and necessary in our own times, as we too do not listen and put God’s plan aside as we live out our own selfish desires.  Bishop Zubik enthusiastically encouraged the women of Magnificat to be moved by the power of the Holy Spirit and stay true to the 5 principle objectives of the Ministry: the Meal, fellowship, praise, personal testimonies, and intentional prayer.

Bishop Zubik was appointed auxiliary Bishop of the Diocese of Pittsburgh in 1997, eleventh Bishop of the Diocese of Green Bay in 2003 by Pope John Paul II and twelfth Bishop of Pittsburgh by Pope Benedict XVI in 2007.  Bishop Zubik has had numerous assignments including, Parochial Vicar, Vice Principal, Chaplain, Spiritual Director, Administrative Secretary to then Pittsburgh Bishiop Anthony J. Bevilacqua, Administrative Secretary and Master of Ceremonies to then Pittsburgh Bishop Donald W. Wuerl, Director of Clergy Personnel, Associate General Secretary and Chancellor, and Vicar General and General Secretary.

This Homily was given at the 17th Magnificat International Leaders Conference in Pittsburgh, PA in October 2023.

To find out more about Magnificat, A Ministry to Catholic Women, visit us www.magnificat-ministry.org

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Teaching Self-Talk to Children

A Production of the Ultimate Christian Podcast Network.

Teaching Self-Talk to Children | Teaching Self-Talk to Children. Positive self-talk is one of the most important interior skills a person can have.  Unfortunately, it rarely, if ever, gets taught.  Since we listen to ourselves far more than we listen to anyone else, it’s an essential skill to have | #GrowingVirtue #ModelofHonesty #Friends #GrowingCharitytoUprootGreed #UprootGreed #GrowingCharity #TipsforConnection #GreaterPeaceJoyandfreedom #Joyfreedom #MargaretVasquezs #GrowingVirtue #ModelofHonesty #Friends #GrowingCharitytoUprootGreed #UprootGreed #GrowingCharity #TipsforConnection #GreaterPeaceJoyandfreedom #TheStruggleisReal! #InterconnectedPsychology&Spirituality #InterconnectedPsychologyandSpirituality #TeachingSelf-TalktoChildrenTeaching Self-Talk to Children

Teaching Self-Talk to Children. Positive self-talk is one of the most important interior skills a person can have.  Unfortunately, it rarely, if ever, gets taught.  Since we listen to ourselves far more than we listen to anyone else, it’s an essential skill to have.  When we have positive self-talk, almost any situation can be handled with confidence and peace.  When we lack it, we can quickly become dependent on others for affirmation and validation.  At best, that positions a child to be a follower in the crowd and, at worst, leaves a child vulnerable to teasing and bullying, which can be quite destructive and traumatizing.

If you haven’t already, you might want to listen to my podcasts, How to Talk to Yourself and How to Talk to Mean Voices, because learning to talk to yourself in a healthy way will help you teach the same to your child.  The most effective self-talk isn’t just talking to yourself but from your true/wise self.  That means speaking from a calm, confident, and compassionate place to whatever part of us struggles.

Here are a few principles to teach children for positive self-talk:

  • Emotions are information.
  • Emotions are only one source of information.
  • We have emotions. We aren’t emotions.
  • The true/wise self can see the information the emotional part is struggling with and can also present other information.
  • Personify the emotions for the sake of being able to treat them compassionately.

The autonomy, self-efficacy, emotional regulation, and confidence that can come from practicing positive self-talk is hard to overstate.  The first young child I used this with was my nephew when he was three years old and by it, he resolved what had become a dramatic situation quite quickly and peacefully.  I was astounded.  Listen to the podcast to hear the story.  I had a young mother tell me she had similar results with her five-year-old daughter.  I think the only reason it might sound complicated to us as adults is because we may have had years of believing we really are the emotions we’re experiencing, relying on others to soothe us, or even believing that we’re mentally unstable if we talk to ourselves.

Teach your child to talk to himself as Jesus would talk to him and you won’t regret it and he won’t either.

May the Lord give you peace!

Margaret

All In For God

A Production of the Ultimate Christian Podcast Network.

All In For God | What are your priorities? Somewhere in that list, does God make it to the top? In this episode, we will explore how we can be all in for God today and always. It is an easy way to restructure our priorities | #christianpodcast #catholicpodcast #Godandmercy #mercifulGod #FaithfulChristian #KeystoUnlockingYourFaith #UnlockingYourFaith #AllInForGod All In For God ~ Episode 277

What are your priorities? Somewhere in that list, does God make it to the top? In this episode, we will explore how we can be all in for God today and always. It is an easy way to restructure our priorities.

Thanks to our sponsor, Media Angels, with books, self-paced classes, and printables. Check out the website for more information.

I belong to a women’s ministry, Magnificat. It is an international ministry that brings women together within the context of a meal. We pray, praise, and worship, and host a speaker who tells us how they have grown in the love of the Lord and how they got to the point they were all in for God. Most of the time, it is a call to action. A call to change our lives for the better and to focus on the most important thing: our faith.

In prayer recently, we felt the Lord was calling us to go deeper, yes, but to be single-minded in our focus on Him. The time of excuses, dear friends, is over. We all have them. I’m too busy; I have too many people who need me, my job, my home, my faith community. All are excuses. I know. I use them. Often.

The Lord is steadfast in love, yes – but he is a jealous God. Exodus 20:5 – You shall not bow down to them or worship them; for I the Lord your God am a jealous God, punishing children for the iniquity of parents, to the third and the fourth generation of those who reject me…

and then we read in Exodus 34:6 (Read on air).

The Lord passed before him and proclaimed, “The Lord, the Lorda God merciful and gracious, slow to anger, and abounding in steadfast love and faithfulness. 

Are we willing to reject God? We may not worship false idols in the sense of the people of Israel, statutes that they sacrificed even their children. Yet, today we see abortion is a type of sacrifice. It is a sacrifice of free will, an offering to evil in order. Parenting is hard work, and it is sacrificial. It is the element of self-sacrifice that has been lost. It is self sacrifice that will lead us closer to the Lord, not away from Him. When we die to self we

 

 

 

 

Stop Worry, Return to JOY and Put on the Helmet of Salvation – Joyful & Battle Ready #6

A Production of the Ultimate Christian Podcast Network.
Stop Worry, Return to JOY and Put on the Helmet of Salvation

Stop Worry, Return to JOY and Put on the Helmet of Salvation

Stop Worry, Return to JOY and Put on the Helmet of Salvation (Joyful & Battle Ready #6)

Are you ready to stop the worry and return to JOY?  Worry is the big JOY thief that brings on fretting. In only a few dances with fretting, you will be exhausted. Your JOY will be sidelined. Join us today and discover how to stop the worry, return to JOY, and put on the Helmet of Salvation to protect your thoughts and reasoning about what God has done for you.

Join us today as we cover these points:

Do You Worry?

  • You will find that worry is not only a joybuster but also a joy thief.
  • In Matthew 6: 25 34, Jesus talks directly to us about worry.

Worry Defined

  • The Cambridge Dictionary defines –  to give way to anxiety or uneasiness, to allow one’s mind to continually dwell on difficulties and troubles, to think about problems and become distracted.
  • Even Jesus shows the anxiety and distraction connection.
  • Martha, Martha, you are worried and distracted by many things, but there is a need for only one thing (Luke 10 41- 42).

Fretting

  • The Hebrew word we translate as fretting includes firing up rage and kindling anger.
  • The Merriam-Webster Dictionary defines a fret as a worry, an annoyance, a discontentment that gnaws at you.
  • Fretting eats away at your peace.
  • Psalm 37 advises, Do NOT fret.

Actions Advised in Philippians 4: 4-7

  • Rejoice means to return to joy. Actively be glad, actively pursue joy.
  • In prayer and supplication, make your requests known to the Lord.
  • For every need you express in prayer, offer a thanksgiving about something related.
  • Receive peace. The peace of God will guard your hearts and minds in Christ Jesus.

The Helmet of Salvation

  • Ephesians 6:17 says we must “take the helmet of salvation.
  • Pope Francis says the helmet is “not so much that of acknowledging the Resurrection of Jesus — everyone believes in it — but of believing in the resurrection of the dead.”
  • The helmet of a Roman soldier called a galea, was designed to cover the head with thick leather enclosed in beaten metals of iron and bronze, protecting the head from weapons of warfare causing injury.
  • The helmet of salvation shows that Satan’s flaming arrows target our minds and are directed at our faith in Jesus, who paid the price for our salvation with his passion, death, and resurrection.
  • The devil will try to discourage you and destroy your faith.

Personal Reflection: Helmet of Salvation Declarations

  • Take the Helmet of Salvation in defense against the evil one who pushes doubts to divert you from the truth of eternal life in Jesus Christ.
  • Starting today, say the Apostles Creed often.
  • Remind yourself of the Helmet of Salvation Declarations with the truths from Scripture:
  1. Eternal life is in Jesus, and it’s for me (Romans 8: 12).
  2. I will not be anxious about my salvation (Romans 5: 8-9).
  3. I do not need to worry; I can know I have eternal life (1 John 5: 11-13).

  Cup of JOY Women

Consider hosting a weekly one-hour cup of joy women’s small group study that accompanies this podcast, and you can begin anytime.  It’s free!

  • For information, please email karen@wrapyourselfinjoy.com

Links

 

 

 

Eucharistic Sacrifice

A Production of the Ultimate Christian Podcast Network.

Eucharistic Sacrifice | Jimmy Seghers. The Eucharistic Sacrifice is something we as Catholics consider common place. In this three part presentation your faith will be renewed | #christianpodcast #podcast #catholicpodcast #catholicpriest #testimony #CatholicTestimony #EucharisticSacrificEucharistic Sacrifice ~ Jimmy Seghers 

The Eucharistic Sacrifice is something we as Catholics consider common place. In this three part presentation your faith will be renewed.

Eucharistic Sacrifice Explained

Eucharist Sacrifice. By Jimmy Seghers explains what we participate in at every Mass and how the Eucharist is a mystery of incomprehensible love. He answers why the Eucharist is a sacrifice once, and for all and how in Jesus self-sacrificing love to the Father, he is suffering for us and saving us from our sins for all eternity. Listen to Jimmy’s profound delineation as he unfolds the mystery of the Eucharist.

Jimmy Seghers was born in New Orleans. He was raised in a devout Catholic family. Jimmy has devoted much of his life to the pursuit of learning, teaching, and mentorship. Jimmy joined the seminary after his sophomore year in high school. He earned his bachelor’s degree from St. Mary’s College with majors in Philosophy, History, Education, and Classical Languages. He followed this by completing a four-year graduate program at St. Mary’s in Theology and Sacred Scripture, and earned a master’s degree in History from DePaul University.

Jimmy has taught Sacred Scripture and Apologetics (that is, the defense of the Catholic faith). Jimmy frequently gives retreats, parish missions, and talks on biblical subjects. He is seen on FOCUS with Lisa Flood discussing biblical and religious topics. His classes are approved by the Archdiocese of New Orleans for certification credits for religion teachers. Each week, Jim is heard on the Radio Maria network. He can also be heard each morning on Catholic Community Radio as he gives the daily Gospel reflection. His essays have been published in This Rock, the Clarion-Herald, and he contributed to a catechetical series published by Ave Maria University Press. His most recent book is The Fullness of Truth: A Handbook for Understanding and Explaining the Catholic Faith Biblically. He also has created a completely free video series Understanding Catholicism to be used by anyone as a tool to teach or learn the faith.

In 1995, Jimmy and his wife, Michelle formed Totus Tuus Ministries, Inc., a non-profit corporation devoted to evangelizing Catholics. The purpose of this ministry is to evangelize Catholics through essays, media, audio content, retreats, conferences, the study of Sacred Scripture, and defense of the Catholic Faith—called Apologetics.

Jim and Michelle are the parents of nine children.

This is the 1st of a 3-part series on the Eucharist.

 

The Kingdom of God Is At Hand

A Production of the Ultimate Christian Podcast Network.

The Kingdom of God Is At Hand | Magnificat 2023 Thursday Homily.  The kingdom of God is at hand, and Fr. Dave Privonka dives into the Gospel reading of Luke 10:1-12 | #christianpodcast #podcast #catholicpodcast #catholicpriest #testimony #CatholicTestimony #MagnificatInt'lConference2023 #TheKingdomofGodIsAtHandThe Kingdom of God Is At Hand 

Fr. Dave Pivonka, TOR. The Thursday evening opening Mass at the Magnificat Int’l Conference 2023 was held on November 5th, the Feast of St. Faustina and Blessed Francis Xavier Seelos, in the ballroom of the Pittsburgh Airport Hyatt Hotel. Bishop David Toups, Ministry Spiritual Advisor and Bishop of the Diocese of Beaumont, Texas, was the presider to open the Conference weekend. Fr. Dave Pivonka, TOR president of Franciscan University, Steubenville, OH, was the homilist. The first reading is from Nehemiah 8:1-4a, 5-6,7b-12.

The Kingdom of God is at Hand

The Gospel reading is Luke 10:1-12. Fr. Dave Pivonka recalled in his homily how the Israelite people had been exiled for generations and were coming back to rebuild the temple and hear the law from the prophet Ezra. The Word of God moved them, and they began to fall in worship, repentance, and tears. They were raising their hands and praising God. They spent their whole life longing for the Messiah, for Him to come with His Kingdom and reign. The kingdom of God is at hand; It is in our midst. It should stir something in your heart. The reality is that He is present in our midst. The Lord wants us to come with freshness as we celebrate the Eucharist, as we eat his body and drink his blood so that we have new life in us. We would then approach the Eucharist differently. Our lives should be profoundly changed in the Mass. We would experience the longing, the hope, and the hunger. Come, Lord Jesus, the kingdom of God is at hand. Magnificat 2023 Thursday Homily.

To find out more about Magnificat, A Ministry to Catholic Women, visit us magnificat-ministry

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Peace Within Families | Special Replay

A Production of the Ultimate Christian Podcast Network.

Peaceful Families | Next to world peace, we want peace within families! I’ve heard horror stories of siblings not talking to each other for years and in this episode, we will pray for broken families and those who are lost to the hope of Jesus. | #ChristianPodcast #podcastPeace Within Families Episode 118

Next to world peace, we want peace within families! I’ve heard horror stories of siblings not talking to each other for years, and in this episode, we will pray for broken families and those who are lost to the hope of Jesus.

Thanks to our sponsor – Media Angels, Inc. and don’t forget to download our Prayer Journal free for subscribers on this website.

Peace on earth – peace be with you – peace within families goes hand-in-hand. I sometimes marvel that we want world peace, but those born with the same parents sometimes can’t get along! Of course, there are many psychological reasons that this happens, but truthfully, the real reasons are not so complex if we think about it.

I’ve created podcasts on forgiveness, and sometimes, it is the hurt and the unforgiveness that keeps people apart. One of the biggest problems I see among families is the inability to communicate.

We get upset, our feelings get hurt, we can’t understand, we are floored, and we are … well, fill in the blanks. We’ve all had arguments with those we love – and the more you love, the harder it is sometimes to keep from getting hurt. We wear our hearts on our sleeves, especially those of us who are parents, and we hope that our kids and our grandkids will see that we love them. But seeing is often tricky when our actions may show something different.

How do we show we love? For different people, it is in different ways – two quick examples for me are doing something, baking you cookies, having you over for a meal, opening my home, or well-doing. For my husband, it is time – and it is kindness. But peace is something that transcends doing!

John 16:33

Peace is the feeling of being protected and safe, and, most of all, it happens when we feel people understand us. That is why, without good communication within families, it will fall apart! With God, we talk, and He listens – very rarely do we hear the Lord … but when we do, whether through the Word, a friend, or in prayer, it may not be what we want to hear.

God is our haven. In God, we are guaranteed peace. Matthew 11:28: “Come to me, all weary and burdened, and I will give you rest.

But back to peace within families – how do we achieve this? Especially in the toxic climate in which we, as Americans, live – and at the time of this recording! I’ve heard of family members who avoid getting together for the holidays because they do not want to get into heated discussions!

So, friends, here are some things to pray about if we want peace!

  1. Pray for the Lord to shower those you love and are family members with love that surpasses all understanding. Philippians 4:7 And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and minds in Christ Jesus.
  2. Listen: when others talk, listen and pray for discernment – and Proverbs 1:5 Let the wise listen and add to their learning, and let the discerning get guidance—
  3. Pray to do God’s will – whether that is to comfort or love. We don’t have to agree, but we can do what God would do – maybe not agree but love.

Only God can love unconditionally, but I believe that as family members, we have a special grace from God to forgive if we allow ourselves to be humbled and realize we are not perfect! I know hard to do and easy to say –

So, Let’s Pray for His Divine Grace.

Dear Jesus, I pray for peace within my family. I know You love me all the time with your unconditional love, and I ask for the Divine grace to love those who have hurt me and ask that those I have hurt forgive me. Lord, I don’t want to conform or be less than I am; I want to be a shining star that shows Your love to others. I want to reflect Your light, and I want to be the one who plants the seeds for You to reap. I ask my God that you bless those I pray for and specifically for their needs … Thank Jesus for all you have done for my family and for the peace and joy that we will feel – and I pray this in Jesus, precious Name. Amen.

Interconnected Psychology & Spirituality

A Production of the Ultimate Christian Podcast Network.

Interconnected Psychology & Spirituality | Have you ever wondered if psychology and spirituality are interconnected?  I hope so!  Sadly, some people actually think that they are at odds with each other.  That couldn’t be further from the truth.  The Lord made us body, mind, and spirit | #GrowingVirtue #ModelofHonesty #Friends #GrowingCharitytoUprootGreed #UprootGreed #GrowingCharity #TipsforConnection #GreaterPeaceJoyandfreedom #Joyfreedom #MargaretVasquezs #GrowingVirtue #ModelofHonesty #Friends #GrowingCharitytoUprootGreed #UprootGreed #GrowingCharity #TipsforConnection #GreaterPeaceJoyandfreedom #TheStruggleisReal!  #InterconnectedPsychology&Spirituality #InterconnectedPsychologyandSpiritualityInterconnected Psychology & Spirituality

Have you ever wondered if psychology and spirituality are interconnected?  I hope so!  Sadly, some people actually think that they are at odds with each other.  That couldn’t be further from the truth.  The Lord made us body, mind, and spirit.  He made us as a whole person.  We are the ones who separate these fields from each other.  That happens in academia because each one of those areas – the physical, emotional, and spiritual – have so much content to learn and understand.  It can take a lifetime of education to specialize in one.  Then, the areas we study tend to become the areas in which we work, and our focus can get even more narrow and specialized.

I’m grateful that my undergraduate degree is in Theology because when I later studied for my master’s degree in counseling, I had a spiritually sound understanding of the human person.  It provided me with a foundation I simply wouldn’t have had if I had studied from only a psychological perspective.  I do believe that Jesus is the answer to whatever real question we have and is the solution to all human suffering.  Interestingly, my study of counseling, my post graduate study of trauma, and working for so many years specializing in deep human suffering has only increased that belief and not in an abstract, but quite specific ways.  I’ve had the opportunity to learn things about the person, human behavior, human dynamics, human suffering, and healing that I cannot imagine not knowing.  This knowledge has benefited me on my personal journey, and it’s become my passion to be able to share it with others.

There’s a priest who has referred numerous clients to me over the years who once told me that he prays for me and my ministry everyday at the altar right after he prays for his own family.  He said that by how people have benefited spiritually from addressing their emotional woundedness, he has come to understand that what I do and what priests do have a great deal to do with each other.  In other words, he was able to see how inextricably interwoven psychology and spirituality are and that removing the blocks of dysfunction and pain facilitate growth in the spiritual life.  Doesn’t that make sense since the spiritual life is the most important relationship we will ever have?

Over the past year I’ve been providing a human and spiritual integration workshop to religious communities, deacons, parishes, dioceses, and seminaries.  I always hear the same type of feedback that priest shared with me.  Because I’ve had so many requests from individuals wanting to access this workshop, I’m now making it available online.  One is coming up very soon, November 6-9 for a couple of hours each evening. There are additional online workshops scheduled after the new year and other in-person workshops in the process of being scheduled.  If you’d like to know when these take place, sign up to receive emails from Sacred Heart Healing Ministries at sacredhearthealingministries.com.  I’d love to have you join us!

May the Lord give you peace!

Margaret

Defeat Joy Busters & Take Up the Shield of Faith (JOYFUL & Battle Ready #5)

A Production of the Ultimate Christian Podcast Network.

How are you at defeating Joy Busters?  Everyone faces those situations that can steal their JOY. But you can develop a plan to stop their impact on your life. You can become AWARE of the JOY Busters, UNDERSTAND their sources, and TAKE ACTION to stop their influence. Join the podcast today to uncover the actions you can take to defeat JOY Busters and learn how to” take up the shield of faith to quench the flaming arrows” coming at you.

JOY Busters

  • Merriam-Webster defines a buster “as a person or thing that breaks up, overpowers, or eliminates something.”
  • A JOY buster breaks up, overpowers, or steals your joy and includes, for example, interruptions to plans, hurt feelings, discouragements, fear, family quarrels, busyness, complaints, and weariness. Today, we will cover these points:

Joy Busting Responses

  • How do you respond to JOY Busters, called JOYBUSTING?
  • Joybusting happens when our emotions take over, and our responses leave us with more negative feelings and challenging relationships.
  • Joybusting includes, for example, angry outbursts, discouragement, fretting, gossip, negative thoughts, overeating, over partying, over drinking, over shopping, profane talk,  procrastination, promiscuity,  more quarrels, bitterness, and more.

Plan to Reject Troubles of the Heart

  • In Galatians 5: 16-26, St. Paul reminds us that to conquer the JOYbusting, which he calls “works of the flesh,” is to LIVE by the Holy Spirit.
  • Timothy Gallagher says each person needs an action plan to reject troubles of the heart (JOY busters and joy busting): (1) Be aware, (2) Understand, and (3) Take action. (The Discernment of Spirits: An Ignatian Guide for Everyday Living, 2018).

 TIP: Three QUICK Actions to Defeat JOY Busting

  • You can take three simple actions to stop JOY Busting: thanksgiving, imagery, and persistence.

(1) Thanksgiving – immediately turn to Jesus with genuine thanksgiving

(2) Imagination- use holy imagination and picture Jesus with arms outstretched. You give him your joy buster.

(3) Persist – Persist in praising God and remembering the Thanksgiving JOY.

  • Also, consider getting a prayer partner to pray for more JOY for each other and to defeat JOYbusting.

The Shield of Faith

  • Ephesians 6:16. With all of these, take the shield of faith, with which you will be able to quench all the flaming arrows of the evil one.
  • Pope Francis, when speaking on this verse, tells us how important it is to take the shield of faith: The devil is a liar; he is the father of lies. And as St. Paul says, we must be girded in the truth, armored in justice.Without faith, you cannot go forward; you cannot defend the salvation of Jesus. We need this shield of faith because the devil does not throw flowers at us but “flaming arrows” to kill us (General Audience, October 30, 2014).

The Roman Soldier’s Shield

  • In Roman history, at the time of Paul, a military soldier held a body shield to about 2.5 x 4 feet to protect himself from an enemy who hurled flaming arrows (dipped in pitch and set on fire) called “plumbata.”
  • Often, the soldiers interlocked shields in a “tortoise” formation – they raised their shields together overhead and in front so it looked like a tortoise.

Faith Defined

  • The word for faith used in New Testament Greek is “pistis,” which means to agree with, trust in, and live out what you believe.
  • Translated belief or faith, it appears at least 200 times in the New Testament
  • Hebrews 11: 1 defines faith, “Now faith is the assurance of things hoped for, the conviction of things not seen” and then gives examples, including Noah, Abraham, and Moses.

Jesus is Our Shield

  • The Lord God says he is our shield. See Psalm 28:7, Psalm 33:20.
  • Proverbs 30:5. Every word of God proves true; he is a shield to those who take refuge in him.

Take Up Our Shield of Faith

1) Read the Word of God every day and keep the Scriptures in your mind and heart. Romans 10:17.

2) Pray that moment. Hebrews 2:2 says.

3) Turn to a Prayer Partner or prayer group – In Tortoise Formation, you lock shields with others.

Personal Reflection –Shield of Faith Declarations

You can take up a shield of Faith against temptations, fear, and doubt.” Call on the name of Jesus and repeat these truths aloud and often.

  • When the devil sends the flaming arrow of fear, you say Psalm 56:3. O Lord God, when I am afraid, I put my trust in you.” or Isaiah 41: 10. [the Lord says] … I am with you, do not be afraid, for I am your God; I will strengthen you, I will help you, I will uphold you with my victorious right hand.
  • When the devil sends the flaming arrow of temptation and doubts, you say Romans 8: 33-34. Who will bring any charge against God’s elect? It is God who justifies. 34 Who is to condemn? It is Christ Jesus, who died, yes, who was raised, who is at the right hand of God, who indeed intercedes for us. He forgives us.
  • When the devil sends a flaming arrow saying you are getting old or God no longer cares and cannot use you, you say in Isaiah 46:4, The Lord says, even to your old age I am he, even when you turn gray I will carry you. I have made, and I will bear; I will carry and will save. Or Psalm 92: 13-14. The Lord says They are planted in the house of the Lord…In old age, they still produce fruit; they are always green and full of sap…

Finally, thank the Lord daily for your joys and for helping you defeat the JOY Busters.

  Cup of JOY Women

Consider hosting a weekly one-hour Cup of Joy Women’s small group study that accompanies this podcast, and you can begin anytime.  It’s free!

Links

Singing for JOY & Slipping on Gospel Shoes – Joyful & Battle Ready #4

A Production of the Ultimate Christian Podcast Network.
Singing for JOY & Slipping on Gospel Shoes

Singing for JOY & Slipping on Gospel Shoes

Singing for JOY &  Slipping on Gospel Shoes (#4 JOYFUL & Battle Ready)

Are you singing for JOY? Did you know there is a connection between praising God and experiencing more JOY and Peace? Join our podcast today as we cover singing for JOY and slipping on shoes, ready to proclaim the gospel of peace.

JOY and PEACE

When we praise God, we surrender everything to Him and proclaim that He is God, and we are NOT. He has everything in our lives under control, and even when we do not see it, we can trust Him. Even in hardships, we can sing praises to the Lord, and he will comfort us with deep, calming JOY. In addition, we can put on shoes of Gospel peace as part of the armor we wear everywhere we go.  In our  JOYFUL & Battle Ready series, Podcast #4 will cover these points:

The Praise-Joy Connection

  • Are your prayers primarily prayers of petition?
  • The Catechism of the Catholic Church (CCC) #2644 encourages us to use all five forms of prayer: blessing/adoration, petition with contrition, intercession, thanksgiving, and praise.
  • There is a particular link of JOY with praise or thanksgiving prayers.

Enter God’s Courts with Praise

  • Psalm 100:3 says: Enter God’s gates with thanksgiving, and his courts with praise…
  • Pope Francis tells us to “NOT be formal Christians, prisoners of formality” (January 28, 2020).

A Garment of Praise

  • In Luke 4, Jesus said he was the fulfillment of Isaiah 61: 3- “to provide the oil of joy instead of mourning, and a garment of praise instead of a spirit of discouragement.”
  • Jesus can give you a garment of praise, and it comes with the oil of JOY.

Paul and Silas Praise in a Desperate Situation, Miracles Happen

  • In Acts 16, at midnight and in the wretchedness of a Philippian jail, imprisoned Paul and Silas praised God as chains fell off and prison doors were opened.
  • CCC #2639 says, “Praise is the form of prayer…it gives God glory for his own sake, quite beyond what he has done, but simply for who he is.”

A Garment of Praise

  • Praise God with the psalms, instruments, singing, shouting, and clapping hands (Psalm 150, 100).
  • Praise does not have to be complicated. You can tell Jesus you love Him and praise Him …
  • Spend just one minute of praise this week, and it will be life-changing.

The Armor of God – The Battle Shoes

  • Ephesians 6: 15: As shoes for your feet, put on whatever will make you ready to proclaim the gospel of peace.
  • Roman soldiers wore shoes to avoid the battlefield’s rocks, sticks, and debris.
  • Shoes were a combination of heavy sandals and boots with soles of layered leather clenched together with metal studs that could grip the ground for traction.

Peace

  • Isaiah 52: 7 says: How beautiful upon the mountains are the feet of the messenger who announces peace, who brings good news, who announces salvation, who says to Zion, “Your God reigns.”
  • Peace means harmony and tranquility, without inner conflict, even amid chaos and upheaval.
  • In John 16: 33, Jesus said: I have said these things to you, that in me you may have peace. In the world, you will have tribulation. But take heart; I have overcome the world.

Proclaim

  • In Mark 16:15, [Jesus] said, “Go into all the world and proclaim the gospel to the whole creation.
  • The best way to start sharing your faith is to share your relationship with Jesus, including His answers to your prayers and your thanksgiving.

St. Pope John Paul II

  • Pope John Paul II in Catechesis in Our Time (1979) said the faithful must proclaim the Gospel message. The Gospel kerygma: – “ the initial ardent proclamation by which a person is brought to the decision to entrust himself to Jesus Christ by faith — is gradually deepened, developed,”  and “channeled towards Christian practice in the Church and the world” (CT 25).
  • Remind your friend how much God loves her and wants her to experience His love and presence.
  • Invite her to entrust her life to Jesus, to give Him their baggage and shame, and to ask for forgiveness.
  • You can prepare yourself with a few words of Scripture about God’s love and how Jesus is the sacrifice for all sin. Invite the person to trust Jesus now.
  • Then, of course, invite your friends to church and keep helping them along the Christian journey.

Personal Reflection – Shoes of Peace Declarations

  • These Shoes of Peace Declarations from Scripture can help you stand firm in peace so that you are “ready to proclaim the gospel of peace.”
  • When the devil tries to make you afraid to proclaim, you can proclaim: The Prince of Peace lives in me. (John 14:23). I have his peace. I will not let my heart be troubled or afraid. I will stand firm in Jesus, my Lord, and my strength, my God in whom I trust.  Repeat John 14:27.
  • When the devil whispers, you are NOT ready to proclaim the Gospel. You say: In Jesus, I am prepared and willing to share the Gospel with anyone. It is what Jesus calls me to do. I am not ashamed to talk about Jesus and my faith with family, friends, or others. Repeat Romans 1: 16.  I am not ashamed of the gospel, for it is the power of God for salvation to everyone who believes…”
  • Finally, remember to praise and thank the Lord -just one minute of praising the Name of Jesus every day can be life-changing and joy-filling. You can find a free bookmark on my website to help you with ways to praise the Lord.

 Cup of JOY Women

Consider hosting a weekly one-hour Cup of Joy Women’s small group study that accompanies this podcast, and you can begin anytime.  It’s free!

  • Pray about accepting this opportunity to engage others and gently evangelize a small group of friends over coffee or tea.
  • For information, email me or go to Cup of Joy Women.

Links

How to Talk to Mean Voices

A Production of the Ultimate Christian Podcast Network.

How to Talk to Mean Voices | In the last episode, we discussed the importance of compassionate self-talk.  So, what do we do with that pesky self-commentary that can be mean or discouraging?  Should I ignore it and think happy thoughts? | #MargaretVasquezs #GrowingVirtue #ModelofHonesty #Friends #GrowingCharitytoUprootGreed #UprootGreed #GrowingCharity #TipsforConnection #GreaterPeaceJoyandfreedom #Joyfreedom #MargaretVasquezs #GrowingVirtue #ModelofHonesty #Friends #GrowingCharitytoUprootGreed #UprootGreed #GrowingCharity #TipsforConnection #GreaterPeaceJoyandfreedom #TheStruggleisReal! #HowtoTalktoMeanVoicesHow to Talk to Mean Voices

In the last episode, we discussed the importance of compassionate self-talk.  So, what do we do with that pesky self-commentary that can be mean or discouraging?  Should I ignore it and think happy thoughts?  NO!  That voice will fester like a splinter, getting more painful.  Ignoring it won’t solve things and may exacerbate the situation.

Have you ever been around a toddler and seen how they are when they are ignored?  They get louder.  They can be quite resolute in their dedication to being heard.  It’s amazing, though it can be annoying to witness such motivation and determination.  Frequently, the need they’re trying to express can be simple and when they know they’ve been heard compassionately, it moves toward the situation being resolved.  They may not necessarily like not getting their way, but when they know they’re safe, heard, and presented with an alternate plan, they can begin to align themselves with it.  Contrast that with when they are ignored and the unnecessary intensity and drama that can take place.  Ultimately, a peaceful resolution still requires them to be acknowledged and addressed compassionately.

For this reason, when we have a negative commentary about ourselves going on in our minds, the best course of action is, yet again, compassion!  That’s right.  Stay consistently in that compassionate mode if the thought is that I did something stupid or that it was ridiculous for me to forget something; that is just an emotion I am experiencing.  There is still the ‘I’ of me that can respond to that emotion compassionately.  Why would I do such a thing?  Well, because the Lord tells me to love myself.  Also, that emotion is coming out of a misguided desire to help me do better in the future.  Being put down, beat up, and demoralized by myself won’t accomplish that desire any more than a loud and angry coach will motivate a little league baseball team to want to keep playing their best.

When those self-destructive emotions go through my mind, I can speak to that part to thank it for working so hard and acknowledging that it is trying to be helpful.  Then, I can let it know that I – the compassionate me – am taking care of the situation.  I can ask it if it would be willing to let me handle things with compassion and see how it goes.  You may be surprised how willing it is to try it in a new and loving way.

Denial is never a good plan.  Instead, remain compassionate.  Love casts out fear way better than intimidation does, and everyone does better when they are loved.

May the Lord give you His peace that surpasses all understanding!

Margaret

 

 

 

Keys To Unlocking Your Faith

A Production of the Ultimate Christian Podcast Network.

Keys to Unlocking Your Faith | The keys to unlocking your faith are not complicated, yet often missed in our hectic lives. In this podcast, we discuss the key elements of faith and ways we can be open to receiving more of Him and less of us | #christianpodcast #catholicpodcast #Godandmercy #mercifulGod #FaithfulChristian #KeystoUnlockingYourFaith #UnlockingYourFaith #KeystoYourFaithKeys to Unlocking Your Faith ~ Episode 276

The keys to unlocking your faith are not complicated, yet often missed in our hectic lives. In this podcast, we discuss the key elements of faith and ways we can be open to receiving more of Him and less of us.

Everyone likes keys, and what’s not to like? They unlock previously blocked or locked items and often treasures. What is more important than the treasure of faith? For those of you who are lifelong Christians, the answer may be obvious, but still, when was the last time you asked the Lord to come into your life and unlock those places you’ve previously blocked?

You may enjoy these previously recorded episodes:

Think about this. Many of us pray and have an openness to God. We read the Scriptures, pray our prayers, and maybe even confess our sins. But, there is the place we ignore, we don’t think about, and we won’t release to the Almighty.

One time, I felt strongly in prayer that God was calling me to do more. He was asking me to give Him my all — but in a way that made me pause. “Lord, I’ve given you my heart, mind, intellect, all of me.”

But what about your health, your family, your finances?

Do we release everything to Him and say – Your will, Lord, not mine? Sure, within reason or what we believe is reason. We worship God, but what do we leave on the table? There is a saying in business that often we leave money on the table. That means we do not maximize our investment or profit to the fullest. We are, in essence, short, short-changing ourselves.

The same can be said in faith; we give God everything except everything.

The key to unlocking your faith is a complete surrender, and some of you listening are just not ready. Join the club. We are rational human beings. God gave us intellect, He gave us reason, He gave us free will (which often gets us in trouble). But He has also given us everything.

Jesus gave me everything by lowering Himself to come as a babe, live among us, suffer, and die to atone for my sins and the sins of humanity. He opened the gateways of heaven for me. He loves me. And I can choose to deny Him.

We walk around with heaviness and a lack of joy because we carry the burdens of life. We live in a world of war, strife, anger, and deceit. How do we see the silver lining in this world? Yet, we hold on and cling to life, don’t we? On occasion, I suffer from migraines. The pain is excruciating, but it is debilitating. For those of you who are fellow suffers out there, you know. I can do nothing, but I hope and pray it ends soon. Amid the suffering, the thoughts are disjointed as they believe there would be respite in death. How many suicides are there? The number has grown exponentially, especially among our young people. That is a lie from the evil one, and I rebuke it in Jesus’ Name. There is death, yes, when God wills it and only then.

If you are struggling, you can figure out the cause in this way. Try to listen to praise and worship music, try to watch something that is faith-based, and try to read Scripture. Does any of this bring a struggle in your mind or make you want to turn it off or away? If so, you are in the midst of a spiritual struggle. It happens to all of us from time to time. We want to bury ourselves in fluff, entertainment, and veg out occasionally. And, of course, there is nothing wrong with this. However, remember, the enemy wants to keep us in a loop of entertainment to rob us of the joy of a genuine faith infilling (Come Holy Spirit) and the joy that only comes from God.

There is good news! The good news is that true faith comes from releasing our will freely to the Almighty God.

So, back to the keys. The keys to unlocking your faith, what are they?

  1. Surrender to God’s will in your life—all of me, Lord, for all of you.
  2. Know that God will provide no matter what you cross if you lean on Him.
  3. Fill your mind with all that is good; listen to praise and worship music.
  4. Join a faith community. There is power in praying with other faithful Christians.
  5. Go to church.

Friends, the truth is that the struggle, while real, can be overcome with the simple keys to unlocking your faith. Come, Holy Spirit, come and fill each person listening today! Your challenge is to pray this week for more of Him in your life, and if you are ready, surrender all to Him. Amen!

 

 

Give in to God

A Production of the Ultimate Christian Podcast Network.

A Saint and A Prayer

St. Charles de Foucauld may be a new saint to you. He was to me. Here is some information about his life and work.  He lived and served as a priest, hermit, and missionary in France and Algeria.

Here is the Prayer of Abandon

Father, I abandon myself into your hands, do with me what you will.
Whatever you may do, I thank you: I am ready for all, I accept all.
Let only your will be done in me and in all your creatures.
I wish no more than this, O Lord. Into your hands, I commend my soul;
I offer it to you with all the love of my heart;
For I love you, Lord, and so need to give myself:
To surrender myself into your hands without reserve and with boundless confidence. For you are my Father.

When You Cannot Find the Words to Pray

Life can wear us down, and our prayer life can suffer.  If you can’t find the words to pray, use the words of others!

This prayer, in particular, will help you know and understand God’s will for your life. The line that stands out for me is, “I love you, Lord, and need to give myself, to surrender myself not your hands, without reserve and with boundless confidence, for you are my Father.”

Give your all to the One who gave you all!

 

Pray the Prayer of Abandon every day this week.

If you’d like to invite me to speak at your parish or organization, let’s start the conversation!

How to Talk to Yourself

A Production of the Ultimate Christian Podcast Network.

How to Talk to Yourself. When most of us hear about communication workshops and the like, we immediately think of how to relate to others peacefully and effectively.  Would you believe that is actually the end point of communication, not the beginning? #MargaretVasquezs #GrowingVirtue #ModelofHonesty #Friends #GrowingCharitytoUprootGreed #UprootGreed #GrowingCharity #TipsforConnection #GreaterPeaceJoyandfreedom #Joyfreedom #MargaretVasquezs #GrowingVirtue #ModelofHonesty #Friends #HowtoTalktoYourselfHow to Talk to Yourself

How to Talk to Yourself. When most of us hear about communication workshops and the like, we immediately think of how to relate to others peacefully and effectively.  Would you believe that is actually the end point of communication, not the beginning?  Two critical steps come before speaking with others.  Without these two parts of the foundation, relating to others will only be so effective for so long.  These two essential ingredients are listening to the Lord and talking to ourselves with the same compassion He has toward us.

God is love and is all-good.  He loves us with a tenderness that is beyond our ability to fathom.  Yet, all too often, we agree with this truth intellectually but completely disregard it in practical application.  Remember that in the Scriptures, Jesus told us to love our neighbor as ourselves.  That means that loving ourselves is key.  Yet, to have any true and healthy idea of what love is, we have to look to Jesus, who is the image of the Invisible God.  I’m called to imitate Him in His compassion, patience, and understanding, even as I relate to myself.

Sadly, there was a time many, many years ago when spiritual writers would use the term ‘self-love’ to mean selfishness.  That was really unfortunate because there is a leftover attitude that it makes sense for Jesus to love me, but then I should go beat myself up in my thoughts and deeds toward myself.  Then, we expect to be able to love our neighbor well because somehow that is holier than being loving toward me.  It simply doesn’t work or requires an extraordinary amount of effort to make the constant mental shift from a negative, condemning voice that beats me up if I forget something but is patient with another person if they forget something or struggles in some way.

To believe that God loves me, I have to be living as though I love me.  Love doesn’t mean entertaining my every whim or desire.  We know the Lord doesn’t relate to us in that way, either.   It does mean that I can’t make a perfect performance, some sort of golden calf that I have to be a slave to to earn love.  If I do relate to myself in that way, the chances are I’ll relate to others the same way and may even begin to believe that is what God’s love is like.  That could not be farther from the truth.  His love is unearned and unchanging.  The power and strength of being loved give us the freedom and ability to hit the mark a little closer each time.

So, be compassionate when you’re going about your day and commenting to yourself on what you’ve done or how you’ve done it.  As you examine your conscience at the end of the day, don’t forget to affirm yourself for the effort you showed and how you responded to the Lord’s grace.  That isn’t pride; that is being loved to you as the Lord commands you.

May the Lord give you peace!

Margaret

Deliver Us From Evil

A Production of the Ultimate Christian Podcast Network.

Deliver Us From Evil | In the Lord's prayer, we recite the words, "Deliver us from evil now and at the hour of death," but what does that mean? As Christians, we avoid evil as much as possible, but that does not mean we aren't tempted. In this podcast, we discover the scriptures do more than warn | #christianpodcast #catholicpodcast #Godandmercy #mercifulGod #FaithfulChristian #DeliverUsFromEvilDeliver Us From Evil ~ Episode 275

In the Lord’s prayer, we recite the words, “Deliver us from evil now and at the hour of death,” but what does that mean? As Christians, we avoid evil as much as possible, but that does not mean we aren’t tempted. In this podcast, we discover the scriptures do more than warn.

Sin can paralyze us. We can feel under attack. In some cases, it is difficult to break out of this hold, this attack. We live in a culture of self-indulgence, instant food, and easy access to things most countries can only dream about. Yet, we hear that many people feel empty and alone.

Many people are drawn to the prosperity scriptures, such as in Jerimiah. What is not to love? Jerimah 29:11 For I know the plans I have for you” declares the Lord, “plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future.

You may enjoy these podcasts on combatting evil.

The Lord wants to shower us with an abundance of grace, but often, our hands are firmly in our pockets, or we sit with our arms crossed. We crave prosperity, but we realize it isn’t that easy to receive because of all the blocks we place in the way. God knows our hearts, and often we are found lacking. God wants to bless, heal, and restore us, yet it is up to us to open our arms to the Lord—your will, not ours. Deliver us from evil, Lord, as you will it to be. That should be our prayer.

The Gospel message is not for the faint of heart.

Psalm 9 – The Lord will judge the world with justice. Read all of Psalm 9, but the first (read on air)

Jesus is the Lord; he came and lived among sinful men when they yearned for a Messiah. These people did not recognize him even with all of the miraculous happening. Jesus cast out demons, yet the people of the day said he could only do this because he was evil. Whatever were they thinking? This is what we would call faulty thinking today.

In the Gospel of Luke 11:15-26, we read that the people were complaining about the Lord. They said Jesus casts out the ruler of the demons, but the only way he could do this was because he was evil. In verses 17-22, Jesus says, (Read on air)

And that, my friends, is the crux of the issue — whoever is not with God the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit is against him. There is no time to be lukewarm. Lukewarm will not only get us into trouble but also allow evil to come back with a vengeance. It was difficult for the men then, as well as people now, to give Jesus credit, to believe, and to turn back from sin.

The really scary part is that while the demon was expelled from the man, not only did it come back.

The Return of the Unclean Spirit

Luke 11:24-26 (Read on air.)

Spiritual warfare doesn’t take a break; those who get free of addictions, if you get free of the evil, you need to change your lifestyle to maintain that freedom. Turn to a life of prayer and a sacramental life. We are made as a spiritual vessel for the Holy Spirit, and if it is not filled by the Holy Spirit, it gets filled by other spirits. We can not leave it empty.

How do you avoid evil? Recognize it.

Even as Christians, the lure for understanding or knowing the future is prevalent in our society. Two years ago, I was in New Orleans for a conference and visited St. Louis Cathedral. The church had erected a high metal fence in front of it, which I found strange until I saw, little by little, people in colorful garments coming and setting up shop in the open, public space in front of the church. Who were these people? They were the “sellers” of evil. There were fortune tellers and palm readers, to name a few. Some people took tours to talk about the ghosts that inhabited many of the buildings and had been “seen” in years past.

Where there is good, evil abounds. You may think I am exaggerating, but the truth is that the enemy will do anything for your soul. The enemy is allowed in through a gateway, but always with our permission.

One way that evil enters is through occult practices; many are unaware of items such as occult games, for example, the Ouija board and tarot cards. Or activities such as seances and mediums,  which is how evil gets in, because people welcome and allow it, believing it is just for fun or not real. Friends, it is real. Evil does have power, but only what we give it; God is greater, He is Almighty, He has dominion over evil. Who will we serve?

Deliver Us From Evil, Scripture Warns Us

The scriptures warn us. The Old Testament is filled with worship of idols, of false gods. The true God, the Creator of heaven and earth, gave warning after warning. The 10 Commandments, the prophets, and what happened? All of the twelve tribes of Israel fell because while two of the twelve (in the south) worshipped the true God, they would not remove the “idols from on high” that the people worshiped. We can not be divided in our worship.

A verse that should give us pause is in Isaiah 47 – in verses 10-11 (Read on air.) Leviticus 20:6  (Read on air.)

Deliver Us From Evil – Five Easy Steps

  1. Renounce your sin, ask the Lord to call the sins to mind, and rebuke them in the Name of Jesus.
  2. Renounce permission you may have given the evil one to enter through the sin. Spiritual warfare prayer.
  3. Claim in the Name of Jesus that you are a child of God.
  4. Pray with a spiritual advisor or clergy.
  5. If you are Catholic, go to confession and receive the sacraments often.

Praying, reading the scriptures, asking for more of the Holy Spirit, and confessing are ways to avoid evil.

Spiritual Warfare Prayer

  1. Renounce sin – in the Name of Jesus, I give you dominion over my life and renounce the sin of *** ____________________ (pray and quietly wait on the Lord to reveal sin to your mind.)
  2. Put on the armor of God Ephesians 6:10-18.
    • RIGHTEOUSNESS: Girdle of truth, the breastplate of righteousness, shoes of the gospel of peace, the shield of faith, flaming arrows against the evil one, the helmet of salvation, and the sword of the Spirit.
    • WHOLE ARMOR: In verses 13-18,” Therefore take up the whole armor of God, so that you may be able to withstand on that evil day, and having done everything, to stand firm.
    • TRUTH: Stand, therefore, and fasten the belt of truth around your waist, and put on the breastplate of righteousness.
    • PEACE: As shoes for your feet put on whatever will make you ready to proclaim the gospel of peace.
    • FAITH: With all of these, take the shield of faith, with which you will be able to quench all the flaming arrows of the evil one.
    • SALVATION: Take the helmet of salvation, and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God.
    • PRAY: Pray in the Spirit at all times in every prayer and supplication. To that end keep alert and always persevere in supplication for all the saints.Pray in the Spirit – come Holy Spirit, and keep alert.

***Once you have prayed against evil – for example, the spirit of lies, ask the Lord to fill you with the opposite, “the spirit of truth.” Always pray the opposite of the evil and ask God to fill you with His grace. If you do not know the opposite, pray, Come Holy Spirit.

Remember, the battle has been won! Alleluiah. Alleluiah. Jesus lived, died, has risen, and has broken the bonds of death. We must be open and vigilant and recognize that we can pray, “Come Holy Spirit, Come…fill my heart today and always.”

Your challenge this week is to pray the spiritual warfare prayer and take back any areas you have given over. Amen! May God be praised.

Heaven Rejoices & We Put on the Breastplate of Righteousness (JOYFUL & Battle Ready #3)

A Production of the Ultimate Christian Podcast Network.
Heaven Rejoices & We Put on the Breastplate of Righteousness

Heaven Rejoices & the Breastplate of Righteousness

Heaven Rejoices and We Put on Righteousness

Did you know you serve a joy-filled God who rejoices over you?  Join us today as we cover the rejoicing of heaven and the songs God sings over you. You will discover how to put on the Breastplate of Righteousness to protect your heart, keep the JOY, and stand firm against the devil’s lies of your unworthiness.

Heavenly JOY

Last week, we defined true and lasting joy, and with that in mind, we prayed with the More JOY Prayer Guide. We pursue JOY,  invite JOY, and pray for more JOY! This week, we start with Heaven’s JOY. Today, we cover these points:

The JOY of the Lord

  • “The joy of the Lord is my strength” is the source of our strength (Nehemiah 8:10).
  • God and all of heaven are joyful and want to share it with us.
  • Some think God is a grump; if we follow him, we are destined for a life lacking any fun. That is NOT the truth.

Heavenly JOY

  • The Scriptures call our attention to God’s joyful creation (e.g., Psalm 61: 12-13).
  • The Lord takes pleasure in you and even sings over you (e.g., Zephaniah 3: 17).
  • God is a celebrating God (e.g., Luke 15: 20-24).
  • The angels rejoice when one sinner repents (e.g., Luke 15: 8-10)

Put on the Breastplate of Righteousness Over Your Heart

  • We put on the “breastplate of righteousness ” to protect our hearts (Ephesians 6: 14).
  • In spiritual language, the heart “refers to our inner orientation, the core of our being,” including our “thoughts, feelings, and desires.” (Fr. John Horn, S.J., Heart Speaks to Heart, IPF Publications).
  • Jesus is concerned for your heart (Matthew 15:19).
  • So is the devil, so you must guard your heart (Proverbs 4:23).

What is Righteousness?

  • The Catholic Dictionary of the Bible defines righteousness as “communion in the death and resurrection of Jesus Christ through which we begin a new life in the spirit –a life in which we live in Christ and Christ lives in us”( p. 743).
  • Righteousness can be summarized as the Right Relationship and Right Living (e.g., 2 Corinthians 5:15).

Jesus Christ, the Righteous One

  • The Catechism of the Catholic Church explains Righteousness: “Justification has been merited for us by the Passion of Christ. It was granted us through Baptism. It conforms us to the righteousness of God, who justifies us. …It is the most excellent work of God’s mercy” (CCC, 2020).
  •  The Scriptures tell us we do not have to produce righteousness on our own; we can look to “Jesus Christ” (Romans 5: 17).

Personal Reflection: Breastplate of Righteousness Declarations

  • Lies: The devil will whisper lies to attack your thoughts, feelings, and desires, especially saying you are unworthy.
  1. You cannot expect God to keep loving you and helping you.
  2. You should be discouraged and fearful. You do not deserve His help.
  3. You can never be holy; it’s too difficult to follow God and be righteous.
  • Truths: When faced with spiritual warfare, put on the breastplate of righteousness. In the mighty power of Jesus Christ, speak these Breastplate Declarations (inserting your own name in the verse).
  1. In Jesus, I am the righteousness of God. (Repeat 2 Corinthians 5: 21).
  2. I live in Jesus Christ. I am forgiven and free. I refuse to feel discouraged, downcast, or fearful. (Repeat Galatians 2: 20).
  3. I will follow the ways of the Lord because they will bring JOY, not hardship. (Repeat Psalm 19: 9 and 14 aloud.)

 Cup of JOY Women

Consider hosting a weekly one-hour Cup of Joy Women’s small group study that accompanies this podcast, and you can begin anytime.  It’s free!

  • Pray about accepting this opportunity to engage others and gently evangelize a small group of friends over coffee or tea.
  • For information, email me or go to Cup of Joy Women.

Links

 

The Struggle is Real!

A Production of the Ultimate Christian Podcast Network.

The Struggle is Real! | I grew up in the Deep South and learned to drive a stick shift when I was eight years old; for those under 50, some cars had manual transmissions, meaning that the driver had to change the gears.  In most cars nowadays, that happens automatically | #MargaretVasquezs #GrowingVirtue #ModelofHonesty #Friends #GrowingCharitytoUprootGreed #UprootGreed #GrowingCharity #TipsforConnection #GreaterPeaceJoyandfreedom #Joyfreedom #MargaretVasquezs #GrowingVirtue #ModelofHonesty #Friends #GrowingCharitytoUprootGreed #UprootGreed #GrowingCharity #TipsforConnection #GreaterPeaceJoyandfreedom #TheStruggleisReal!The Struggle is Real!

I grew up in the Deep South and learned to drive a stick shift when I was eight years old; for those under 50, some cars had manual transmissions, meaning that the driver had to change the gears.  In most cars nowadays, that happens automatically.  It was on old, unmarked dirt roads.  Driving underage and without a license isn’t something for which I’m advocating, but it was a great experience.  I loved everything about it.  Learning a new skill was fun, but in particular, there was something about the challenge itself that was exciting.

Fast forward to my experience of trying to teach adults to drive sticks.  It’s been surprisingly different.  Any adult I’ve ever taught has been apprehensive and has frozen when they stalled out.  Stalling out is common when learning to drive a stick.  The car doesn’t explode.  You don’t get ejected from the driver’s seat.  Aliens don’t take you to another planet.  You simply put the car in neutral and start it back up.  I began paying attention to a common difference in how we handle challenges as kids and how we do as adults.  It seems as though, as adults, we tend to have unrealistic expectations of ourselves that we should already know and be proficient at whatever the skill or knowledge is.  Many of us learning new things significantly trail off or stop completely when we age.

I realized I’d been doing the same thing a few weeks ago.  I lift weights and consistently avoid single-leg exercises because my balance isn’t great.  I couldn’t do those exercises without a struggle, and so I realized I wasn’t doing them at all.  We tend not to like doing or even attempting things we haven’t mastered.  The problem is that growth in virtue and breaking patterns of sin can require struggle.  If we avoid struggle in the physical realm, why would it be any different in the spiritual dimension?  I know the same applies to mental challenges.  Compare the number of kids who learn musical instruments or languages to the number of adults who do.  It can be a little more challenging since our brains prune parts we aren’t using.  At the same time, the brain is highly adaptive.

So, I started doing the single leg exercises, and boy, do I ride the struggle bus on these.  No doubt.  I’m doing them in front of others, too.  However, after embracing the struggle as a spiritual and physical exercise, I’ve come to – dare I say it! – enjoy them!!!  I can only do micromovements – approximations of the exercise I’m attempting.  I can already tell it’s creating some muscle memory, though, and I can feel in my legs that muscles are being worked in a way I hadn’t been able to tax them before.

To sum it up, the process of struggling can have many benefits.

  1. Challenges us to be non-critical/non-judgmental.
  2. Tests our humility.
  3. Gives us an experience of gains that can be made on the way to mastery and a value for the growth process.
  4. We can make friends with the idea of struggle. The carry-over can lead to struggling toward growth in charity, patience, discipline, and many other spiritual fruits.

If you feel like the struggle is real, embrace it!  Be compassionate with yourself, and enjoy the process!

May the Lord give you peace!

Margaret

 

Drenched with JOY & Armored in Truth (JOYFUL & Battle Ready #2)

A Production of the Ultimate Christian Podcast Network.
Drenched with JOY & Armored in Truth

Drenched with JOY

Would you like to be drenched in JOY and armored in truth?  Are you willing to put on the armor of God to stand firm to keep the joy, to stand strong against fear, and to put on the armor of God to protect yourself from lies?  Join us today as we cover how to define JOY, receive more joy, and put on the belt of truth.

Heavenly JOY

Last week, we learned that Jesus has complete JOY for you, God the Father has JOY and pleasures for you, and the Holy Spirit produces JOY in your life. So, how do we get more of this JOY?

Today, we cover these points:

A Niagara Falls of God’s Love & JOY

  • Many times, we come to our Heavenly Father—who is a Niagara Falls of Love, and we hold out only a teaspoon to catch it.
  • We must increase our capacity to receive more great love and joy.

Defining JOY

  • After searching many definitions of Joy and primarily based on the teachings of our last three popes, we find a definition of true JOY.
  • We cover the quote from my book, Wrap Yourself in JOY.
  • The definition involves mind, soul, body, and spirit and its Trinitarian.

 

The More JOY Prayer Guide

  • We ask God to increase our capacity for JOY.
  • We receive His Love and Joy daily.
  • We thank Jesus for the JOY Rays.
  • We praise Him with Scripture.

It’s Warfare

  • Ephesians 6 was written when Roman soldiers and guards surrounded Paul in prison.
  • The Holy Spirit likely inspired him as he observed the Roman soldier’s armor.

The Belt of Truth

  • The BELT for a soldier served as a girdle to support his core or loins and stabilize his weapons.
  • Pilate answered Jesus, “What is truth?”
  • In John 14:6, Jesus defined truth: “I am the way, and the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me.”
  • Run to Jesus, our truth. Let him lead you.

Put on Truth

  • The devil’s favorite lies are targeted at your JOY, happiness, and identity as a Christian.
  • Do not give into deception, diversion, discouragement, or division.
  • In John 17: 17, Jesus prayed, “Consecrate them in the truth. Your [God’s]word is truth.”
  • Fill your mind with the truths of God and His word. Don’t let a day go by without reading Scripture, even for just 5 minutes.

Personal Reflection: Biblical Belt of Truth Declarations

Girdle UP!! Make Jesus your Core.  Do not give into deception, diversion, discouragement, or division. Declare and remind yourself of these truths:

1.     For Deception (Identity), the Truth: I am the daughter [or son] of God. God knows me and loves me. Romans 8:15.“

2.     For Diversion (God doesn’t hear my prayers), the Truth:  My prayers are powerful and effective, and nothing can separate me from the love of God. He listens, and He is answering.  James 5: 16.

3.     For Discouragement (You are fearful- God can’t meet your needs), the Truth: The Lord has not given me a spirit of fear but one of power, love, and a sound mind.  With the help of the Holy Spirit, I can understand His Word and reserve time to pray and read Scripture daily. 2 Timothy 1:7.

 Cup of JOY Women

Consider hosting a weekly one-hour Cup of Joy Women’s small group study for seven weeks.  It accompanies this podcast, and you can begin anytime.  It’s free!

  • Pray about accepting this opportunity to engage others and gently evangelize by hosting a small group of friends over coffee or tea.
  • For information, email me or go to Cup of Joy Women.

Links

 

Faithful and Prudent Christian

A Production of the Ultimate Christian Podcast Network.

Faithful Christian | Do you want to be known as a faithful Christian? What about a faithful and prudent Christian? What does faith mean to you, and how can you use this calling to believe and bless others | #christianpodcast #catholicpodcast #Godandmercy #mercifulGod #FaithfulChristianFaithful Christian ~ Episode 274

Do you want to be known as a faithful Christian? What about a faithful and prudent Christian? What does faith mean to you, and how can you use this calling to believe and bless others?

Media Angels is a publishing company dedicated to bringing good books, curriculum, and materials to Christian families. Check out the website for more information.

In the Bible, we read about wisdom and discernment. We also learn that a prudent person uses discretion and makes good decisions. We can’t do this all of the time; alas, no one is perfect, but with the help of God, we can live a life as faithful Christians.

Faithful Christians study the Word, learn from experience, and try to apply Biblical and Church principles to their lives. It is deciding each and every day that I will serve. Isn’t it interesting that those who are opposed to Christianity are those who seek self before others?

We must look outward instead of inward. I find that I can be critical of myself, and that is because I hold myself to a high standard, and when I don’t, measure up to what I think I should do, I can feel let down. I feel a sense of accomplishment when I have time to pray each day, spend time in church or just in quiet with God. I also love to learn and listen to teachings whenever I can, usually taking notes.

Do you feel like that?

But what about those days when we get so busy or without any accomplishments? How do we feel then? Do we give ourselves some slack or allow ourselves to regroup? If we don’t, we can become a slave to lists and requirements without being true to our calling.

What is our calling? To serve God, yes, but to know the mind and heart of God. God is righteous. We see this very clearly in the book of Jonah. We read that one of the lesser prophets, Jonah (and he wasn’t a very good prophet, we come to find out), was sent to Ninevah to warn the people to stop worshipping false Gods or they would be wiped out.

Every child learns of the story of the unrepentant Jonah and how he disobeyed God, went the wrong way, got on a ship, and was thrown overboard by the sailors because he admitted the storm was probably due to disobedience. Once he was thrown over and the seas calmed, the sailors praised and worshipped the one true God and changed their ways.

Jonah was eaten by a large fish, as the scriptures tell us, and finally, he was thrown up on the shores of Ninevah. He warns the people we read in Jonah 3:4-5 – read on air.

Jonah did everything he could not to follow what God asked him. He went the wrong way, barely giving instructions to the people of Nineveh, the bare minimum, yet the people believed. Even the king wore sackcloth and repented from worship to the false Gods. God changed his mind, and this city was not destroyed.

The other prophets at the time went to warn the tribes of Israel, but Jonah was sent to Assyria, which made Jonah angry – he was upset because he didn’t think these people should be saved. In Jonah 4:1-2 we read:

First, Jonah didn’t think they should be saved, and secondly, he knew …it says, “…for I knew that you are a gracious God and merciful, slow to anger, and abounding in steadfast love…”

We may shake our heads at Jonah. Seriously? Why would he disobey God? But consider this: how often do we think we know better than the Almighty? How often are we angry if others prosper and don’t deserve it? This is not how a faithful person should act. We should act in a way that knows the heart of God.

  1. God is merciful.
  2. God is slow to anger.
  3. God is abounding in steadfast love.

God forgives, and yes, He can change His mind because He is God.

Faithfulness means trusting in Divine Providence, even when we don’t want to. It also means that salvation is not just for the elect – it was not just for the tribe of Israel, especially after they continually worshipped the true God of Israel. But then they would not destroy the altars to the false idols and gods.

Salvation was available to the sailors on the ship that almost drowned; it was available to the people of Nineveh when they repented. It is available to you and me and to anyone who wants to follow the teachings of God.

Imagine this…we, as Christian people, decide to repent for humanity. We put on sackcloth, fast, pray, and repent. Can you imagine how we could change the world if we could do this? God would take pity on us and deliver us from evil.

2 Corinthians 5:7, we read, “for we walk by faith, not by sight.” let’s, yes — walk by faith, but let’s also open our eyes to the true God and how to better show others by our obedience and action that we are followers of truth.

This week, look at verses that discuss the heart of God and let’s all try to be more like Him.

An Infusion of Grace

A Production of the Ultimate Christian Podcast Network.

“The gifts of grace increase as the struggles increase. ” St. Rose of Lima

What is Grace?

  • A gift from God that helps us live out our Christian life
  • It is referenced in both the Old and New Testaments
  • In the Old Testament, grace is similar to mercy
  • Thanksgiving is the action corresponding to grace in a loving relationship
  • We have a loving relationship with the Father

Actual Grace

We want actual grace – that is, the grace supplied for a particular reason or purpose.

Consider reading scripture to find what you are looking for. God’s Word is the living word that lives in you!

Use your Bible

You can try this online concordance, BibleGateway. Set the version you use and then type in the topic to get results.

I prefer a Bible I can hold in my hands and write in and put notes in it. Make it yours!

Here are the verses I mentioned in the episode:

Exodus 14:14, Deuteronomy 7:6-9, Isaiah 43:1-7, 1 Samuel 17:41-54

In particular, 1 Samuel 17:50.

Pick a few verses that strike you and pray them when you need an infusion of grace!

I’d love to come and speak to your ministry or parish. This page on my website has information for you on talks I’ve done in the past and how to reach me.

 

 

 

Having a Ministry Mindset

A Production of the Ultimate Christian Podcast Network.

A Ministry Mindset | Having a Ministry Mindset. In Genesis, God put a man in the Garden of Eden to cultivate it.  That was not a result of the fall of man.  It was laboring that resulted from man’s transgression.  God worked for 6 days as He created for six days, contrasting with Him resting on the seventh day | #WholnessHoliness #MargaretVasquezs #GrowingVirtue #ModelofHonesty #Friends #GrowingCharitytoUprootGreed #UprootGreed #GrowingCharity #TipsforConnection #GreaterPeaceJoyandfreedom #Joyfreedom #AMinistryMindsetA Ministry Mindset

Having a Ministry Mindset. In Genesis, God put a man in the Garden of Eden to cultivate it.  That was not a result of the fall of man.  It was laboring that resulted from man’s transgression.  God worked for 6 days as He created for six days, contrasting with Him resting on the seventh day.  Work is not a bad, but a beautiful thing in and of itself.  It can even be a glorious thing when we do it in collaboration with the Lord.  Along this same line is the motto of the Benedictines, “ora et labor,” that is, “prayer and work.”  Both are seen as essential and redemptive.

The fact of our lives is that most of us must work either for ourselves or someone else.  This is not to be a contrast but an extension or an expression of our life of faith. We are God’s hands and feet in this world, and it is through us that He seeks to build up the Kingdom at hand.  It is through us that He seeks to restore the Body of Christ.  We are sent out to do this as the apostles and disciples were.

Too often, as laity, we can look to clergy and religious to do that while we go to our jobs.  That’s not how it’s meant to be.  While they may have a more specifically religious flavor to their mission, our work is supposed to be every bit as much of a ministry, but ministry in the marketplace, perhaps.

Some factors that distinguish work from ministry:

  • Seeing the Lord as the ultimate Master for whom we work.
  • Entering our work with the focus and goal of witnessing to the love of God.
  • Offering the sacrifices required of us as acts of love and praise to the Lord.
  • Courageously and gratefully embracing whatever is required of us in our jobs as God’s provision for our personal growth.

Perhaps the most fundamental difference in a work and ministry mindset might be starting from a place of love rather than fear.  When we start from being deeply, passionately loved by the Lord and loving ourselves as He loves us, we go out into the world carried by the waves of His love, which flow through us to others.  If, however, we start from a mindset of fearing not being able to pay the bills or fearing our lack of inherent value, we look for what we can get through a job rather than what we can give.

This day, may the Lord sear into the depths of your soul the knowledge of His infinite and never-failing love for you.  In that strength, may you minister to His people in whatever task you do, and may the Lord give you His peace.

Margaret

 

Raising The Son Of The Widow Nain

A Production of the Ultimate Christian Podcast Network.

Raising The Son Of The Widow Nain | A reflection on Raising The Son Of The Widow at Nain by Deacon David Hockwalt. Jesus raises from the dead the only son of the widow of Nain. Nain was a small village 25 miles from Capernaum. It was at the city gate that Jesus met a funeral procession. He stopped the processionn | #christianpodcast #podcast #catholicpodcast #catholicpriest #testimony #CatholicTestimony #RaisingTheSonOfTheWidowNainRaising The Son Of The Widow Nain

A reflection on Raising The Son Of The Widow at Nain by Deacon David Hockwalt. Jesus raises from the dead the only son of the widow of Nain. Nain was a small village 25 miles from Capernaum. It was at the city gate that Jesus met a funeral procession. He stopped the procession. The widow had no male advocate.  She was in financial and legal ruin. Jesus was moved with pity for the widow. God cares deeply for us. The grace he gives is the help we need at a particular moment. The grace comes from his initiative, and it is free and undeserved.

By raising the widow’s son from the dead, he immediately rectified her situation. Fear seized them all, and they glorified God. Just as Jesus raised the son from the dead, we are called to use the grace and charisms we have received. Come, Holy Spirit, fill me with your grace and fill me with your charisms.

DEACON DAVID HOCKWALT was ordained a Permanent Deacon in the Diocese of San Bernardino in 2012. He continues in active ministry today and is the spiritual advisor to the vicariate Life in the Spirit team.

We pray that today may be a special day in your life as you experience the presence of Jesus Christ among us through this reflection. Magnificat, taken from Luke 1, is the great hymn of praise that Mary prayed while visiting her cousin, Elizabeth. We trust that this reflection will help us all better understand that we are indeed children of God, made in His image and likeness. We want to come together in God’s presence and proclaim that the Almighty has done great things for you and me, and holy is His Name!

To find out more about Magnificat, A Ministry to Catholic Women, visit us at www.magnificat-ministry.org

Hunger For God

A Production of the Ultimate Christian Podcast Network.

Hunger for God | Where can you satisfy your hunger, that is, hunger for God? There is only one place, and that is in Him. In this podcast, we will discuss ways to combat that emptiness that we feel from time to time | #christianpodcast #catholicpodcast #Godandmercy #mercifulGod #HungerforGodHunger for God ~ Episode 273

Where can you satisfy your hunger, that is, hunger for God? There is only one place, and that is in Him. In this podcast, we will discuss ways to combat that emptiness that we feel from time to time.

Thanks to Media Angels, the sponsor of this episode. You will find more information on the website at MediaAngels.com. Check out the Character Planners for families.

There is a saying that people look for love in all the wrong places; the same can be said about looking for fulfillment that we can only find in God.

Check out the Wholeness and Holiness Podcast on this Network and two episodes I enjoyed.

Coping with stress as well as Greater Peace, Joy, and Freedom.

Hunger For God

Ultimately, when we struggle, we must find fulfillment because of a need. We can only find satisfaction in God. That hunger that we have, that restlessness, that unquenchable thirst is because something is missing. As a Catholic, I memorized the questions and answers in the Baltimore Catechism as a kid. The first question was, “Who made the world.” The answer was, “God made the world.” It went on to establish that God was the creator of heaven, earth, and all things and that man was a creature composed of body and soul made in the image of the likeness of God. But the fourth question asked, “Why did God make you? The answer is God made me to know, love, and serve him.

We find we are unfulfilled when we know, love, and serve the wrong things.

A hunger for God is the desire for what is good and holy. It is not in the New Age sense or the false gods. Just like food is nourishing for the soul, God is nourishing for the spirit, and the heart cannot be quenched with the things of this world.

We read in Jeremiah two verses 11 through 13 (Read on air)

In the imagery of these verses, we see the warning of God, and this morning is that God has pointed out that the people of Israel have turned their backs on the one true God, and when they do that, they will find spiritual hunger.

Psalm 81:10 states I am the Lord, your God, who brought you up out of the land of Egypt; open your mouth wide, and I will fill it

Furthermore, we read in Matthew 5:6 (read on air) and John 6:33-35 (read on air).

And that is the only way, my friends, that we can fulfill our hunger for God unless we totally rely on him, unless we totally ask him for forgiveness, unless we pray “your will” be done in my life, God, we will always be hungry and will remain and satisfied.

Recently, I have changed my prayer petitions. Instead of praying specifically for something I’ve asked for repeatedly, I’ve been praying, “Your will be done, God.” In this way, I am releasing my prayers to him and the stress and anxiety accompanying it. That doesn’t mean I expect God to answer my prayer the way I had initially asked it, although that would be nice, but I can rest assured that whatever happens, it is within God’s will.

In a world where we can’t trust the things we see because how do we know if it hasn’t been manipulated or photoshopped or some other wonders of photography haven’t misled us, we can’t seem to trust words because many times those are skewed to fit a specific agenda, we can’t rely on or trust the government entities and many times we can’t even rely or trust on those. We love those who have hurt us.

But we can trust in God. We can trust in his perfection. Trusting when we are hungry for that spiritual infilling, we can rely upon God if we find ourselves struggling or empty or depressed or lonely. If this happens to you, think about why and analyze what you have put your faith into. What is not filling you up? What is not satisfying your would?

If we are not filling up on the Word of God, if we are not filling up on prayer, if we are not filling up on good videos or books, we may find hopelessness and despair. This creeps in, the enemy is just waiting to prey upon us in our time of weakness.

The hunger for God is a hunger, for the good things. It encourages us to fill up with grace and allows us the tools against the evil one.

John 4:13-14 (Read on air) The hunger for God can only be fulfilled as Jesus says, and in John 6:35 He reminds us of this again.

Dear friends, I challenge you to look at your lives to see ways to regain that joy, regain that hope, and be fulfilled. Do not go hungry another day. Look to the Lord for your needs, and share the good news with others.

Embrace the JOY and Stand FIRM! JOYFUL & Battle Ready #1

A Production of the Ultimate Christian Podcast Network.

Do you find it difficult to embrace JOY and at the same time stand firm in life’s battles? You are not alone. Daily, we all face challenges and fears. Join us today as we discuss embracing true JOY, standing firm, and being strong in the Lord when facing fears and struggles.

Happiness and Joy are Not the Same

About 45% of 12,000 people surveyed say they have not felt true happiness since before the pandemic. Around 25% surveyed say they don’t know, or have forgotten, what it means to feel truly happy (Oracle).  The natural question is this: Are JOY and happiness the same thing? We will find that happiness depends on external circumstances, while true joy is “a gift that fills us from within” and “is to be searched for and shared continuously (Pope Francis. May 10, 2013).   Today, we cover these points:

You Are Made for JOY

  • If you allow God to give you His JOY, it will change your life.
  • It can even change the atmosphere around you!
  • Three Scriptures help you get started in your search for more JOY: John 15: 9-11, Psalm 16: 9-11, and Galatians 5: 22-23. JOY and LOVE are fruits of the HOLY Spirit, the result of the presence of the Holy Spirit living within YOU.
  • Jesus died for your sins and mine. When he arose from the dead, as promised (e.g., John 14: 15-26; John 16: 7), God sent the Holy Spirit. The Holy Spirit wants to produce deep, lasting JOY in your life.

JOY and Love From the Trinity Declarations

  • Jesus, my Savior. You love me like the Heavenly Father loves You, and You want to give me your JOY—complete JOY. Thank YOU, Jesus, I embrace it. (John 15: 9-11)
  • Heavenly Father. You LOVE me and offer me gladness and fullness of JOY in Your presence.  Thank YOU, Father, I receive it. (Psalm 16: 9-11)
  • Holy Spirit. You love me and produce the fruit of JOY in & through me. Thank YOU, Holy Spirit, fill me afresh today. (Galatians 5: 22-25)

It’s a Battle!

  • Now, we move to Ephesians 6: 10-14, where we are told by St. Paul we must be prepared for battle.
  • Therefore, when Paul wrote Ephesians 6, he was imprisoned “in chains” (v. 20) and knew hardships, challenges, and struggles.
  • Paul tells us to be strong in the Lord and stand firm.

Stand Firm, Stand Strong

  • To stand is a military term meaning “to hold a position” and “to resist an impending attack” (Collins).
  • To stand firm as Christians means we are prepared to resist an attack, and we look to our commander, Jesus Christ.
  • “To be strong in the Lord means to rely on God’s strength, God’s power, and God’s courage.

Wiles

  • Paul calls the attacks we face the devil’s wiles (cunning strategies and ensnarement).
  • In the book The Devil You Don’t Know, Fr. Louis Cameli says there are many common wiles of the devil with which you will struggle, including Deception, Division, Diversion, and Discouragement.
  • The Catechism of the Catholic Church (409) clearly speaks: This dramatic situation of “the whole world is in the power of the evil one” [1 John 5: 19] makes man’s life a battle.

Recognizing Spiritual Warfare

  • Recognize if you are in spiritual warfare and facing some arrows or wiles.
  • You may be facing what the Bible calls the devil, tempter, murderer, accuser, liar, stumbling block, and adversary.

Personal Reflection – The Rs to Stand Firm and Stand Strong

  • You can “strengthen yourself in the Lord” and not depend on your own strength to fight against the wiles, using the “3 R’s” to combat the devil in any of your struggles:
  1. REMEMBER and Receive God’s Love and JOY. Daily, declare the JOY and Love from the Trinity declarations.
  2. RESIST the devil, his wiles, and temptations. Don’t let the accuser win. Participate in the sacrament of reconciliation and go forward.
  3. RENEW your mind with Scripture. God’s Word will give you strength to stand firm and resist the wiles and lies. See Romans 12:2.
  • Finally, be strong in the Lord (Ephesians 6: 10). Weakness is no excuse to lay down and be spiritually slaughtered. The Lord wants to be your strength in weakness. Call upon the Name of Jesus. Try to memorize and declare every day this week: Ephesians 6: 10-14. Put your name in the words so you pray with Scripture.

 Cup of JOY Women

Consider hosting a weekly one-hour Cup of Joy Women’s small group study for seven weeks.  It accompanies this podcast, and you can begin anytime.  It’s free!

  • Pray about accepting this opportunity to engage others and gently evangelize by hosting a small group of friends over coffee or tea.
  • For information, email me or go to Cup of Joy Women.

Links

What is Grace?

A Production of the Ultimate Christian Podcast Network.

St. Francis

We celebrate St. Francis on October 4. He was the founder of the Franciscan Order and embraced the vows of poverty, chastity, and obedience. The prayer below is a favorite of mine!

Prayer before the Crucifix

Most High, glorious God, enlighten the darkness of my heart and give me true faith, certain hope, and perfect charity, sense and knowledge, Lord, that I may carry out
Your holy and true command. Amen.

Grace

  • underserved gift or help freely and lovingly provided by God, but above all the utterly basic gift of being saved in Christ through faith, a grace that God wishes to give all human beings
  • Brings us new birth and gift of the Holy Spirit
  • Makes us a new creation
  • Transforms human nature
  • Anticipates a future in heaven

from A Concise Dictionary of Theology, O’Collins and Farrugia, S.J.

What does a parking lot have to do with grace? Listen and you’ll find out!

Types of Grace

  • Sacramental – the graces we receive through the sacraments
  • Efficacious – Grace offered by God and freely accepted
  • Sanctifying or Habitual – being made holy by the Holy Spirit, always with us; God sharing his divine life with us
  • Actual – a specific grace supplied for a particular need or reason
  • Special – also called charisms, which we are given to help build up the Church

Why do we need Grace?

  • it helps us respond to God’s call to be his
  • It gives us an awareness of sin and the ability to avoid it
  • to live out our daily life, as each of us is individually called to do
  • Takes our natural gifts, makes them more usable and to the service of God and others

What are the effects of Grace?

HOLINESS! And we all want to be a bit holier, right?

This week, pray St. Francis’ prayer above.

Interested in having me speak to your group? Let me know; I’d love to come in person or virtually!

 

Testimony of Kimberly Mouledoux

A Production of the Ultimate Christian Podcast Network.

Testimony of Kiimberly Mouledoux | Kimberly Mouledoux’s testimony is about how she has learned the voice of God and how it has led her. Kimberly grew up in an Episcopal family of four in New York. She was the oldest of two girls. She came from a musical family and learned to play the piano at four | #christianpodcast #podcast #catholicpodcast #catholicpriest #testimony #CatholicTestimony #TestimonyofKiimberlyMouledouxTestimony of Kimberly Mouledoux

Kimberly learned the voice of God and how it has led her. Kimberly grew up in an Episcopal family of four in New York. She was the oldest of two girls. She came from a musical family and learned to play the piano at four. She learned to play the French horn as she got older and got very good at it.

Many opportunities came her way. She learned to play the guitar and sing. Kimberly began to write her own songs and met a man named Guy who produced them for her. She later married Guy, who was Catholic, and moved to Metairie, LA.  She was in the music ministry in the Episcopal Church and Baptist Church in her early married life. Thirsting and being fed was part of her journey, and she accepted Christ while working in the Baptist Church. Kimberly and Guy have five children who attended Catholic School in Metairie. Her journey eventually led her to the fullness of the Catholic faith when she was hired to be the Director of Music at St. Angela Marissi parish and school. She joined the Pauline Formation and has written two books.

To find out more about Magnificat, A Ministry to Catholic Women, visit us magnificat-ministry

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Does Anyone Get It?

A Production of the Ultimate Christian Podcast Network.

Does Anyone Get It | I want to share with you a devotion that I didn’t come to easily.  Because of my own relationship with my mother, I didn’t want a mother.  And I certainly didn’t want a sorrowful one!  Yet, that was this title of Our Blessed Mother I was forced to grapple with after having been in a religious community named for her | #WholnessHoliness #MargaretVasquezs #GrowingVirtue #ModelofHonesty #Friends #GrowingCharitytoUprootGreed #UprootGreed #GrowingCharity #TipsforConnection #GreaterPeaceJoyandfreedom #Joyfreedom #DoesAnyoneGetItDoes Anyone Get It?

Does Anyone Get It? I want to share with you a devotion that I didn’t come to easily.  Because of my own relationship with my mother, I didn’t want a mother.  And I certainly didn’t want a sorrowful one!  Yet, that was this title of Our Blessed Mother I was forced to grapple with after having been in a religious community named for her.  In digging into the history of that title, I found that title was first entered in the Roman Missal as Our Lady of Compassion.  That got my attention.  That was distinctly different from my broken experience of having a mother.  So, it opened the steel door I had slammed shut.

I didn’t want to come to this devotion for all the amazing promises associated with it.  That felt disingenuous, inauthentic, and self-serving.  However, I noticed that it was often a better fit for time constraints or where the bandwidth of my brain was.  I might not be able to pay attention to a whole Rosary, but seven Hail Marys and meditations seemed easier to focus on.

Over the years of praying this devotion, I’ve found my heart filled with compassion for her passion/suffering at the Lord’s Passion and the depths of her suffering convinced me of her compassion.  I began to trust her and see that no matter how alone, isolated, misunderstood, wavering in faith, and surrounded by darkness I might feel, she’s felt it all.  She knows the intricacies of emotional and mental suffering like no other human who was not divine.

When we are on our own crosses, we can have that assurance that someone DOES get it.  Not just anyone, but the most perfect and compassionate mother we could ever imagine.  How good the Lord is to know how much we would need that, how much we would need her.  So, we can trust that He gave her a maternal heart like none we could imagine.  Please pray these with me knowing she gets it.  You can trust her.  She is with you on your crosses in this life.

May the Lord give you peace.

Margaret

Christian Example

A Production of the Ultimate Christian Podcast Network.

Christian Example | What is a good Christian example? We can point to the saints, people like Mother Teresa and others. But, truly we can be an example to others by asking the Lord for His grace and His help | #christianpodcast #catholicpodcast #Godandmercy #mercifulGod #PromisesofChrist #ChristianExampleChristian Example ~ 272

What is a good Christian example? We can point to the saints, people like Mother Teresa and others. But, truly we can be an example to others by asking the Lord for His grace and His help.

Sponsored By: CTCMath.com a curriculum for students grades K-12 with online tutorials and help. Visit the website for more information.

Sadly, we, as Christians as a whole, are not the best examples of how to live. The promises of the gospel message show others, especially those who are suffering, that there is faith, hope, love, and compassion from the Lord.

God gives us many examples through the scriptures of how he expects us, his people, to act, and we fall short. Sometimes we fall short by word, sometimes by deed, and most of the time, just because we’re too lazy to do what is right truthfully, sometimes we can be so hard on ourselves or as one of our pastors says we have Christian scrupulosity. We care more for the letter of the law rather than the law itself. When we read the scriptures, we see it plainly, and yet how many of us take it to heart I know I’m guilty of this myself.

In Luke 7:31-35 we read, (on air).

Now, if we read the gospel of Luke Chapter 7, we will see before this happened, Jesus had been very busy. He was curing many who had diseases and sicknesses and casting out evil spirits. He gave sight to the blind and cured those who had leprosy. Those who were lame walked, but yet Jesus was reprimanding the people because even though they saw these miracles, they were not ready to change their lives

As Christians, we know the end of the story. We know what it is we should do God had compassion on those, and on those who were suffering, he brought people back to life. This is an example to us today of the gift that God gives us as Christians. We have the opportunity for everlasting life with him, so how are we going to be an example as Christians? How are we going to live our lives in a way that is pleasing to the Lord?

I can give you a list, of five or ten things you can do. But, my list might not be the one that is right for you. And, in doing this good thing, being a Christian example, it can cause us to be boastful, or to congratulate ourselves that we are not like those sinners over there. Friends, we must be cautious.

I did a podcast sometime back that I titled Judgmental Christians, and I’ll put a show a link I’ll put a link in the show notes. (Tell the story on air)

To summarize the other podcast, I explained how I should live my life according to the gospels I should improve my life, and I needed to forgive those who hurt me and ask forgiveness for those I had hurt. Friends, we are all flawed! It is difficult to show an example of Christianity to others when we are hurting, and as my mother used to say we need to get our own house in order before we can try to fix the houses of others

In giving others an example of what it means to be a Christian, we are following the example Christ gave us. However, when we pray, when we give alms, we do this because we should out of obedience, it is a free-will decision

Being a Christian is a free-will decision, and acting like one means we show others humility, love, and compassion, especially if they are hurting and especially if they feel rejected by others. When Jesus walked the earth, he called his disciples, I love the phrase “Come follow me” This is an example of what it means to follow and to be called by God.

But we know we are all called by God, the Scriptures tell us, He has called us by name…(Isaiah 43:1). Knowing someone’s name held great importance in Biblical times and even today. Aren’t you happy when you remember someone’s name or they remember yours? The significance is import. Even more, God knows the “number of hairs on my head– And even the very hairs of your head are all numbered.” Matthew 10:30.

In Matthew 9:9-13 we read (on air).

Wow! God is calling us; he is calling all of us. Not the perfect, not the ones that have it all together, but us. The sinners.

As a Christian, our example may be flawed, but it is at least an attempt, not at perfect but of example. All of these things show us that there is a right and a wrong way to act, but one thing we know, we should not be judgemental like the Pharisees.

Think about everyday life, driving in traffic trying to find a parking spot or maybe returning something at a store when the clerk is very frustrating. We can use these everyday opportunities to say thank you or some other greeting that is welcoming. Or, “I appreciate the excellent job you have done or appreciate how hard you’re working if they haven’t done an excellent job.” You know what I mean.

Sometimes it only costs us a few minutes of our time, and sometimes it costs us much more. It is a sacrifice, and that is a small price to pay. If we can all show just a little bit of grace to others because God has given us grace, we should. Jesus asks us to follow him. It is not a call we should take lightly. It is those baby steps that take us closer to Christ.

Let’s all pray and ask the good Lord to give us the grace we need to be a Christian example because only by his gift of love and grace can we possibly show others just a tiny bit of the goodness of God. My friends rejoice and are glad because he is there for us not just today but every day, and I just pray that this week your challenge will be, can you guess it that’s right, to be a Christian example to either yourself or to others in your life and beyond take care and may the Lord bless you today and always.

 

God Reaching Out & Breaking Through

A Production of the Ultimate Christian Podcast Network.

Glimmer or God?

I’ve been hearing about ‘glimmers’ on social media lately. I’ve seen a few memes. And while I liked the thought of a glimmer as opposed to a trigger, I wasn’t happy with the advice to look for the glimmer.

You see, to me, a glimmer is not about looking for something good, but it is God breaking through, reaching out to offer us hope, grace, a bit of pat on the back that says, “I’ ‘m here for ya!” from the Lord.

Finding and Seeing God

What the world and pop culture call glimmers, I say, they are from God. God loves us so much that he does reach out to us. But we ran around in a noisy, fast-paced world where we don’t pause often enough to say thanks for the good things that come our way.

  • No red lights on the way to work.
  • Your favorite song on the radio.
  • A call from a friend.
  • What’s on your list?

 

This notion of looking for God each day comes from St. Ignatius of Loyola. I may have mentioned him a time or two before.  This week, our Not Lukewarm challenge is to answer the question, “Where did I see God today?”, every night.

And if you are interested in learning more about Ignatius and prayer, sign up for my newsletter to receive 4 Ways to Pray with Scripture and learn about a new offering on the Spiritual Exercises coming up soon.

 

 

 

Interventions to Cope with Stress

A Production of the Ultimate Christian Podcast Network.

Interventions to Cope with Stress | At one time or another, we all experience stress in our lives.  Whether from anxiety and apprehension about the future or pain over hurtful things from the past, we can feel like our emotions hijack our brain and our ability to maintain that gift of the Lord’s peace | #WholnessHoliness #MargaretVasquezs #GrowingVirtue #ModelofHonesty #Friends #GrowingCharitytoUprootGreed #UprootGreed #GrowingCharity #TipsforConnection #GreaterPeaceJoyandfreedom #Joyfreedom #GreaterPeace #InterventionstoCopewithStress #CopewithStressInterventions to Cope with Stress

Interventions to Cope with Stress. At one time or another, we all experience stress in our lives.  Whether from anxiety and apprehension about the future or pain over hurtful things from the past, we can feel like our emotions hijack our brain and our ability to maintain that gift of the Lord’s peace. Despite knowing the truth and trusting in God’s goodness, we can feel nervousness in our bodies, making it difficult to concentrate, think straight, and focus.  Why is this, and what can we do about it?

This can happen because the emotional part of the brain can become stirred up and cause the brain’s right hemisphere to exert itself more than usual.  That’s because, with the right hemisphere of the brain, we experience all time like it’s now.  That means that the past hurts or future worries can vie for our ability to be in the present moment with the Lord, who is right here, knowing and loving us.

So, the first thing to do is remind yourself that what you are experiencing is biological.  Understanding that can help us realize that what we feel isn’t necessarily true just because it feels so big.  Those are emotions you are experiencing.  They are not who you are.  There is still a ‘you’ that knows God is in charge, is all good for you, and will use all things for your good.

The next thing to do would be to engage the left hemisphere of the brain or the five senses.  Below are some strategies to do just that.  Knowing these things can be like having a page out of the User’s Manual of your brain.  I’ll never understand why we don’t get taught these things in school.

Strategies:

  • Bilateral stimulation (anything that uses both sides of the body).

E.g., Swimming, biking, walking, jogging.

  • Anything that stimulates the five senses:

E.g., Smelling perfume or essential oils, sucking on a mint, chewing gum, holding an ice pack, the feel of Rosary beads, noting what one is seeing or hearing.

  • Math is almost exclusively a left-brain function. Make up some math problems and work them out without a calculator.
  • Puzzles such as jigsaw puzzles, sudoku, and logic games also employ the left brain.

These simple tools can give us a way to collaborate with the Lord’s gift of peace.

May He give His peace to you this day and always!

My Amen

A Production of the Ultimate Christian Podcast Network.

My Amen | Mary Wilson shares the definition of Amen from different sources. It means, ‘It is so, so be it.’ To say ‘Amen’ to something expresses strong approval or support for an idea | #christianpodcast #podcast #catholicpodcast #catholicpriest #testimony #CatholicTestimony #MyAmenMaryWilson #MyAmen #MaryWilsonMy Amen

My Amen by Mary Wilson shares the definition of Amen from different sources. It means, ‘It is so, so be it.’ To say ‘Amen’ to something expresses strong approval or support for an idea. It also means,’ truly or true, I believe.’ Jesus, himself, is called the ‘Amen’, the one who is faithful to his word. It is frequently used in scripture, doxologies, the Eucharist, and at the end of prayers. It is used to add a solemn affirmation. It is a Hebrew word. The Lord himself often uses it in the Gospels. It shows God’s faithfulness toward us in his promises and our trust in him. Through him, with him, and in him, to the glory of God the Father. Amen.

Mary Wilson serves on the (CST) Central Service Team of the Magnificat Ministry as Secretary.

To find out more about Magnificat, A Ministry to Catholic Women, visit us at magnificat-ministry

Magnificat Store

Did you know there is a beautiful shopping opportunity just waiting for you? Explore our shopping cart for rosaries, apparel, books, jewelry, statues, CDs, study programs, 

(ex. Bible studies, Life in the Spirit Seminar, Growth in the Spirit series), and much more. To find outstanding gifts for family, friends, and YOU, we invite you to visit https://store.magnificat-ministry.net

Thank you for being a part of our network of listeners; we appreciate you!

Share your favorite podcast with a friend, and be sure to rate us on Apple Podcasts. Your feedback means a lot.

 

Suffering Christians

A Production of the Ultimate Christian Podcast Network.

Suffering Christians | We know there are suffering Christians worldwide, but what about in your home? We often suffer silently and become depressed when we can turn that suffering into something more that will enhance our own lives and the lives of others | #christianpodcast #catholicpodcast #Godandmercy #mercifulGod Suffering Christians – Episode 271

We know there are suffering Christians worldwide, but what about in your home? We often suffer silently and become depressed when we can turn that suffering into something more that will enhance our own lives and the lives of others.

This podcast is brought to you by our sponsor, Route 60 the Biblical Highway- check out the website for information about tickets and how to watch this fantastic film.

As a Christian, suffering is part of the package. Anyone who comes to Christ learns quickly that salvation does not mean we are free from pain and suffering. As I may have shared in another podcast, a personal situation put me off from deepening my faith. (Listen to the story on air.)

Check out these podcasts for those who suffer:

  1. Power of Praise here.
  2. Worship and Thanksgiving here.
  3. Blessed Assurance here:

When can we hope to be free from suffering? Sadly, not in this lifetime, however, joy can be had. How? Easy – changing your mindset. How do we do this? We look to the life of the saints. These may be holy men and women elevated by what they did in their lives, but they can also be the everyday people we meet.

We can learn much from those who have struggled and come out on the other side. While we struggle to put food on the table or pay for gas these days, or when someone struggles with a medical diagnosis, those moments take our breath away. How do we cope? What do we do?

Mother Teresa ~ True Inspiration for Suffering Christians

Mother Teresa was the most inspiring nun of our day who showed us that life was too short to sit by and watch people suffer on the streets. She said she would never have started her ministry if she had not picked up her first dying man on the roadside. Mother Teresa said that her “yes” to God was what he needed from her to begin her ministry, which continues to this day. She had many quotes, such as “God doesn’t require us to succeed; he only requires that you try.”

That means a mindset change. We look at our struggles and say, “What can I do?” Instead of “I can’t do this.” God requires us to try. It is difficult, I know, yet there is not one person listening to this podcast who has not suffered at one time or another. How did you cope?

When you are suffering, how do you try? How do you try to help others? Is it with prayer, physical help, or another way that God has called you? We can’t all be Mother Teresa. But we can be ourselves. And God knows, loves, and hears you. Do you hear him? In the quiet, we can find the answer by seeking God in prayer and turning to him.

Combat Feeling Down or Depressed

On a trivial note, I have been combatting a cold for over a week, and the cold was not the issue. It was the headaches, which I am prone to anyway. When my head hurts, there is not much that I can do, and I found that in my pain, I started feeling down, discouraged, and annoyed with my lack of bouncing back. I also know that those feelings were not from God. And, so, I took charge, and I began to pray in earnest. What did I find? It was a God-incident. I found a Catholic Catalog containing books, other religious items, and more in the junk mail pile. Just looking through that catalog gave me hope, peace, and joy. It was filled with holy reminders of God’s love and His providence!

Do not think your prayers are in vain – Mother Teresa said, “Prayer is not asking. Prayer is putting oneself in the hands of God, at His disposition, and listening to His voice in the depth of our hearts.”

Holy Reminder

I can not imagine those in chronic pain; what a field day the enemy can have in your life. He is a destroyer of peace and can cause a suffering Christian to suffer some more! When people are suffering, we often say things to encourage them, like “God will not give you more than you can handle,” but as Mother Theresa said, “I know God won’t give me anything I can’t handle. I just wish he didn’t trust me so much.”

First, let me dispel the notion that if you love God and are a Christian, you will not suffer. This is not true. If anyone has told you that you need more faith or must have done something bad to lose God’s favor, ignore them. Better yet, pray for them because they are misguided. Yes, the Old Testament is full of the times when God has commanded his people to do something, and they turned their backs on him. What happened? They often perished, and their tribes and nations were overcome and overtaken by others. Why? They were not repentant.

What Suffering Christians Know

  1. We know that God knows what we are going through.
  2. We know that no matter what happens, God will not forsake you.
  3. God is trustworthy. His Word has stood the test of time.
  4. You are not alone.
  5. There is an entire Christian community out there. (Discuss chronic illnesses.)

When people we know are suffering, be there for them. Show them, Jesus. Ask them how you can pray.  One of the best ways to combat suffering is to have a go-to list of scriptures, praise, and worship music. I did several podcasts on praising God in song.

My List of Scripture Verses For Suffering Christians:

  1. Romans 8:28
  2. Philippians 4:13
  3. Matthew 11: 28-30
  4. 2 Corinthians 1:3-5
  5. Psalm 34:18-19
  6. John 14:27

Your challenge this week is to look back on ways you may have overcome suffering in the past. How did you cope? Was it successful? If so write it down and share it with others who suffer. Also, make your list of scriptures that are helpful!

 

The Seven Sorrows of Mary

A Production of the Ultimate Christian Podcast Network.

The Seven Sorrows of Mary | Deacon Dave reflects on Our Lady of Seven Sorrows celebrated on September 15th. Just as Mary is the mother of Jesus, she is mother to all his followers, she is mother to us, especially the mothers of today | #christianpodcast #podcast #catholicpodcast #catholicpriest #testimony #CatholicTestimony #TheSevenSorrowsofMaryDeaconDave #TheSevenSorrowsofMary #TheSevenSorrows #DeaconDaveThe Seven Sorrows of Mary

The Seven Sorrows of Mary. Deacon Dave reflects on Our Lady of Seven Sorrows celebrated on September 15th. Just as Mary is the mother of Jesus, she is mother to all his followers, she is mother to us, especially the mothers of today. St. Louis de Montfort said, “if you put the love of all mothers into one heart it still would not equal the love of Mary for her children.” The seven sorrows are: 1. The Prophesy of Simion 2. The Flight into Egypt 3. The Loss of the Child Jesus 4. Mary Meets Jesus on the Way to Calvery. 5. The Crucifixion of Jesus 6. The Body of Jesus taken down from the Cross. 7. The Burial of Jesus.

The Blessed Mother knows the sorrow of today’s mothers. She connects with them heart to heart. Mothers of today can turn to Our Blessed Mother in both their joys and their sorrows.

DEACON DAVID HOCKWALT was ordained a Permanent Deacon in the Diocese of San Bernardino in 2012. He continues in active ministry today and is the spiritual advisor to the vicariate Life in the Spirit team.

We pray that today may be a special day in your life as you experience the presence of Jesus Christ among us through this reflection. Magnificat, taken from Luke: 1, is the great hymn of praise that Mary prayed while visiting her cousin, Elizabeth. We trust that this reflection will help us all better understand that we are truly children of God, made in His image and likeness. We want to come together in God’s presence and proclaim that the Almighty has done great things for you and me and holy is His Name!

To find out more about Magnificat, A Ministry to Catholic Women, visit us at magnificat-ministry

Testimony of Sr. Jacqueline Gitonga

A Production of the Ultimate Christian Podcast Network.

Testimony of Sr. Jacqueline Gitonga | Sr. Jackie Jean-Marie Gitonga was born and raised Kenya on a farm. She was the oldest of 3 children, with a younger brother and sister. She grew up in the Catholic faith. A program called Opus Dei taught her the basics of living and gave her the foundations of her faith | #christianpodcast #podcast #catholicpodcast #catholicpriest #testimony #CatholicTestimony #TestimonyofSr.JacquelineGitongaTestimony of Sr. Jacqueline Gitonga

Sr. Jackie Jean-Marie Gitonga was born and raised Kenya on a farm. She was the oldest of 3 children, with a younger brother and sister. She grew up in the Catholic faith. A program called Opus Dei taught her the basics of living and gave her the foundations of her faith. Her parents gave her a prayer book and a bible to help her spiritual growth. In High School she attended a boarding school and started questioning her faith as she did not have the answers. She decided to leave the faith and told her parents. They gave her words of wisdom that she did not have to leave the faith but to go deeper.

Sr. Jacqueline Gitonga. studied her undergrad at the Catholic University of Eastern Africa and received a degree in Business Administration. She then got the opportunity to come to the United States and received an M.Ed. in Education, Human Resource Development and went on to getting her doctorate of Philosophy (Ph.D.) in Human Resources. While in college she joined the Newman Center and a Charismatic group. She went on a retreat and heard about consecrated singles. She was also healed of a stomach ailment. From that moment on her faith became alive for her, she loved going to Mass and Adoration. She was introduced to the idea of religious life and that began her quest to search out different orders. She discovered the Daughters of St. Paul. In 2019, Sr. Jackie professed her final vows. She is currently the National Director of Pauline Cooperators- Daughters of St. Paul in the USA. She resides in Metairie, LA.

To find out more about Magnificat, A Ministry to Catholic Women, visit us magnificat-ministry

Magnificat Store

Did you know there is a wonderful shopping opportunity just waiting for you? Explore our shopping cart for rosaries, apparel, books, jewelry, statues, CDs, study programs, (ex. Bible studies, Life in the Spirit Seminar, Growth in the Spirit series), and much more. To find great gifts for family, friends and YOU, we invite you to visit https://store.magnificat-ministry.net

Thank you for being a part of our network of listeners; we appreciate you!

Share your favorite podcast with a friend and be sure to rate us on Apple Podcasts. Your feedback means a lot.

 

 

Greater Peace, Joy, & Freedom!

A Production of the Ultimate Christian Podcast Network.

Greater Peace, Joy, and freedom! | Below is a Self-Evaluation regarding the pillars of connection.  I share this tool with you to help you find the areas where the Lord may have even more profound peace, joy, and freedom for you | #WholnessHoliness #MargaretVasquezs #GrowingVirtue #ModelofHonesty #Friends #GrowingCharitytoUprootGreed #UprootGreed #GrowingCharity #TipsforConnection #GreaterPeaceJoyandfreedom #Joyfreedom #GreaterPeaceGreater Peace, Joy, and Freedom!

Greater Peace, Joy, and freedom! Below is a Self-Evaluation regarding the pillars of connection.  I share this tool with you to help you find the areas where the Lord may have even more profound peace, joy, and freedom for you.  This is not a weapon to use to beat yourself up, but is meant to be an aid for you to know better how to focus your prayer in a way to remove the blocks from receiving God’s love.

Human & Spiritual Integration Self-Evaluation

Chosen:

  • Do I lack a sense of belonging?
  • Do I feel insecure or self-conscious?
  • Do I feel or am I told I lack self-awareness?
  • Am I frequently at odds with others?
  • Do I have prejudices or judgments in my heart towards other individuals or groups of people?

 

Known:

  • Do I feel forgotten, abandoned, or rejected by God when things don’t turn out as I wish?
  • Do I find myself being self-critical and unforgiving toward myself?
  • Do I find it difficult to pay attention to others?  Am I easily annoyed by others?

 

Valued:

  • Do I struggle with scrupulosity?
  • Do I find myself focusing on the externals in spirituality and religion?
  • Do I focus on the law’s letter rather than the law’s spirit?
  • Am I preoccupied with my looks, image, success, etc.?
  • Do I need expressions of gratitude and/or affirmation from others, and the lack of such robs my peace?
  • Am I saddened at the success of others and see others as competition?
  • Do I find it challenging to share the spotlight or credit with others?

 

Boundaries:

  • Do I experience morality and prayer primarily as what God wants from me more than what He has for me, as a gift?
  • Do I struggle with perfectionism, negative self-talk, being self-critical, or overextending myself and have difficulty resting or relaxing?
  • Do I struggle to set boundaries or to respect the boundaries of others?
  • Do I find the need to control others?
  • Do I experience boundaries from others as rejection, or do they anger me?

 

Openness:

  • Do I struggle to pray from my heart with authenticity and honesty?
  • Do I avoid self-reflection?
  • Do I fear my weaknesses being seen by others?

Promises Of Christ

A Production of the Ultimate Christian Podcast Network.

Promises of Christ | How can we believe anything Jesus said? Why are the promises of Christ real? Why should you care? This podcast will explore whether this is the truth and how we can apply it | #christianpodcast #catholicpodcast #Godandmercy #mercifulGod #PromisesofChristPromises of Christ ~ Episode ~ 270

How can we believe anything Jesus said? Why are the promises of Christ real? Why should you care? This podcast will explore whether this is true and how we can apply it to our lives?

Sponsors keep us on air! Thanks so much to ROUTE 60: The Biblical Highway Airs for two days only. September 18 and 19: Visit the website for more information.

We know that words have power. We know that manipulation comes from those who are good with words. Words are used for good, and words are used for evil. The value of a word depends on who is saying those words. Is it someone you trust, respect, or hold dear? Or is it a stranger? If it is the latter, you can be sure you will consider the weight of those words less effective. How do you feel when you hear the news or something on social media? That’s right, we are suspicious, especially since we’ve been lied to and let down.

However, we know, especially as Christians, that there is someone who will never let us down, and that is Christ. Jesus is man and God, totally. He came into this world and lived, followed by apostles. Jesus preached to the people, healing and casting out demons.

We can trust the words of our Lord. Jesus did not have a sinful nature; he never sinned and can not lie; he only speaks the truth. God is righteous, and He does not change. We are taught He is the same yesterday, today, and tomorrow. There is no time with God the Father, Son, and Spirit. God has infinite wisdom. And God loved his creation so much that he taught and warned them when they sinned.

Promises are powerful, and those promises come within words that can be used to convince and change our hearts, which is why the Holy Bible is a powerful tool. We read Scripture, and we are changed. There are entire books on the promises of Christ, but in this podcast, I want to focus on three.

First, what happens when Almighty God speaks a word? When God spoke, the world came into being. We read this in the account of Genesis. Genesis 1, take out your Bibles and read the words of Creation. “In the beginning, God created the heavens and the earth…”

We read repeatedly that when God spoke, amazing things happened. John 1:1-3  one of my favorite ever Scripture verses (read on air).

There are so many more promises of God throughout the Old Testament. Yet, time and time again, the covenant with Abraham is remembered through Moses, the descendants of David, and so forth. Yet, through all of these examples, what do we learn? That men are tempted to sin and disregard the promises of God.

There are so many things we can read about the promises of Christ – here are a few of my favorites.

Promises of Christ -Hope and Everlasting Life. A gift to humanity

John 3: 16-21 (read on air). “For God so loved the world…” This is such a fulfillment of good vs. evil, which will we choose. Jesus promised us many things, but we continue exposing ourselves to darkness instead of light. The lure of darkness is great. I once heard a teaching about the Christian law of physics that it is easier to be pulled down by a non-Christian than for a Christian to lift a non-Christian. Impossible, no, challenging, yes. This scripture explains why in a nutshell.

Christ is our Good Shepherd –

Read all of John 10:1-15 – Jesus promises to be the gate through which we enter, to save us, to give us life and have it to the full, he promises to lay down his life for us, and that he knows us. Wow. to be known, to be seen; that is what our Lord does for us.

John 10: 7-15 (Read on air) Jesus is the Good Shepherd!

The Father is revealed to the Son:

In Matthew 11 – we read about Jesus as he instructs his disciples, but what is eye-opening is that in the place where there were so many miracles performed, we read in Matthew 11; 5-6

Yet further down in Matthew 11:20, Jesus condemns the towns that even though they witnessed these miracles, they were unrepentant. They did not change, so there would be a judgment upon them.

Jesus gives us rest:

If we do change and are repentant, what are we promised? Matthew 11: 28-30. Jesus asks us to come to Him! (read on air).

Jesus gives us eternal life:

John 10:25-30 – Jesus promises to give us eternal life

He promises to make a place for us in his Father’s house

Are we guaranteed heaven? Jesus gives us a roadmap of belief in Him with an ultimate goal of heaven.

John 14:1-5 (read on air) “Do not let your hearts be troubled…”

So what can we do? We can believe that Jesus promises to be the Good Shepherd, to see us, really to see us and know us, to give us rest when we are struggling, to give us eternal life, and to go ahead of us and prepare a place for us in heaven. What a beautiful gift. And this is just a tiny bit of the promises Jesus gives us!

The following podcast is about holding on to our faith when we struggle and have problems.  We keep reminding ourselves that God is righteous and He does care. We cast our worries upon the Lord. In Matthew 6:31-34 we read (on air). Isn’t that right? Each day does hold its troubles, but with Jesus, we are assured help.

In this, we remember, “But seek first his kingdom and his righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well.” While we do not put God into a neat and tidy box, we believe the Words to be true. First, we seek God’s kingdom.

This week, list the promises in Scripture that resonate with you and will sustain you through this life. It helps to memorize them and remind yourself when you are low or feeling down that God is the God of life and truth, and we must have faith.

Friends, we are not alone. God has promised us everlasting life, and I believe. Amen.

 

Discipline and Discipleship

A Production of the Ultimate Christian Podcast Network.

Discipline and Discipleship | Why does discipleship conjure up such a beautiful sentiment for most of us, but discipline not so much? | #WholnessHoliness #MargaretVasquezs #GrowingVirtue #ModelofHonesty #Friends #GrowingCharitytoUprootGreed #UprootGreed #GrowingCharity #TipsforConnection #DisciplineandDiscipleshipDiscipline and Discipleship

Why does discipleship conjure up such a beautiful sentiment for most of us, but discipline not so much?  If you’re like me, you might feel like discipline is about how you are not good enough, that something more is going to be required from you, and you already feel like you’re at your limit. By contrast, discipleship can make us think of sharing intimately with the Lord and participating in His mission.

In the book of Hebrews, we are told that the Lord disciplines us because we are His children.  Discipline is because we are deeply and dearly loved.  It’s how He aligns more closely with Himself and fine-tunes us to His voice.  Only when we are submitted to the Lord’s discipline are we ready to be commissioned for more intimate service.  Put another way, only when we follow the Lord’s footsteps closely are we prepared to lead safely.

When the archangel Gabriel appeared to Mary, she did not say “yes” because he did not ask her a question.  He told her what was going to happen.  She submitted to the Lord’s way.  The same is true of us.  The Lord does not ask our permission.  Loved ones are taken, we get ill, things don’t go as it seems they ought to, all without the Lord asking if that’s ok.  However, we are called to submit our mission to the Lord’s mission.  We submit, that is, we put our plan under (sub) His and leave it to Him to order things rightly according to His infinite wisdom and goodness.

Sometimes, stretching in charity or generosity will not feel very natural at all.  That does not mean we are being inauthentic.  The truth is that we have a concept of ourselves based on where we are and how we are feeling today.  Only the Lord knows who He made us to be and what He is fashioning us into.  He is the Potter.  We are the clay.

Let’s submit ourselves to discipline in our lives so that we may be aligned more closely to the Lord and get under the spout where the glory comes out!

May the Lord give you His peace!

Margaret

 

Testimony of Carla Comer

A Production of the Ultimate Christian Podcast Network.

Testimony of Carla Comer | Carla Comer was raised Catholic and attended Catholic parochial schools through High School. During high school, she suffered from depression and rebelled against God | #christianpodcast #podcast #catholicpodcast #catholicpriest #testimony #CatholicTestimony #TestimonyofCarlaComer #CarlaComerTestimony of Carla Comer

Testimony of Carla Comer. Carla Comer was raised Catholic and attended Catholic parochial schools through High School. During high school, she suffered from depression and rebelled against God. Carla went to college, dropped out after a year, and came back home. Her mother was a devout Catholic and Rosary prayer. Carla’s mother attended charismatic prayer meetings, and Carla began to get curious about them because her mother exhibited so much joy. Carla ended up reading a book that her mother’s friend wrote, and it was precisely what Carla was experiencing.

Carla became friends with the mother’s friend and was introduced to the bible, and soon she too would start attending the prayer meeting. Carla received the baptism of the Holy Spirit, and her life was transformed. She finished college and had a great job. She met her future husband and had two boys. She shares her mother’s declining health and the miracles that occurred. Her favorite verse was Proverbs 3:4-6, and it carried her through some tough times, but her faith remained strong as her mother led her to the Blessed Mother, and she finally picked up that Rosary and began to see the graces unfold.

To find out more about Magnificat, A Ministry to Catholic Women, visit us at magnificat-ministry

Magnificat Store

Did you know there is a beautiful shopping opportunity just waiting for you? Explore our shopping cart for rosaries, apparel, books, jewelry, statues, CDs, study programs (ex. Bible studies, Life in the Spirit Seminar, Growth in the Spirit series), and more. To find great gifts for family, friends, and YOU, we invite you to visit  store.magnificat-ministry.net

Thank you for being a part of our network of listeners; we appreciate you!

Share your favorite podcast with a friend and rate us on Apple Podcasts. Your feedback means a lot.

Christian Strength

A Production of the Ultimate Christian Podcast Network.

Christian Strength | We have tools and resources available to us; what about Christian strength that comes from the grace of God? In this podcast, we will discuss the tools God has given us to combat the evil one | #christianpodcast #catholicpodcast #Godandmercy #mercifulGod #mercy #Trust #ChristianStrengthChristian Strength ~ Episode 269

We have tools and resources available to us; what about Christian strength that comes from the grace of God? In this podcast, we will discuss the tools God has given us to combat the evil one.

Have you visited CTCMath.com for an award-winning curriculum designed for the entire family? It is a great math program for ages K-12, and we are thankful for their sponsorship.

One of my sweet friends, who gets our emails, sent me this quote, “If you get on the scale and don’t like your weight, remember that you are carrying the full armor of God!” Thanks, Carolyn Wright, for sending me this quote. I love it! It is the little things that remind us we are not alone. Our strength comes from the Lord.

Nehimah 8:10 – “Nehemiah said, “Go and enjoy choice food and sweet drinks, and send some to those who have nothing prepared. This day is holy to our Lord. Do not grieve, for the joy of the Lord is your strength.” How can we have this strength?

  1. If we love and worship the one true God, the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit, that is half the battle.
  2. We must remember to put on the armor of God, Ephesians 6:10-18 (Here is a podcast on the Armor of God.)
  3. We are in good company! We are adopted children of the Almighty God, so we should rejoice.

Today, I was filled with joy that surpasses all understanding. There was no reason for this; in fact, before I went to church, I was burdened. I was praying for my family and felt a weight pressing on me. Whenever I felt this weight, I gave it to the Lord; in my mind, I said,  “Your will, Lord, not mine.” Then, I kept praying. When I finally arrived at church and knelt down to pray, I felt an overwhelming sense of the love of God.

Have you realized that as Christians, we have powerful tools given to us through Baptism by the Almighty God? Not only are we claimed during our Baptism, but for some of us, we were infants claimed through the intercession of our parents and godparents, and at other times as adults, for those who convert to Christianity. But there is more. God knows everything about us, and we are worth so much in the eyes of God. We are worth much more than any animals. In Mark 5, we see that Jesus restores one man, casts out the evil spirits, and puts them into the swine, who proceed to go off the cliff.  One man was worth so much more than all of the swine!

The concept of exorcism shows us that God is greater than evil. There is more to this world than just what we see; there is a spiritual world. There are principalities and powers, and ever since the fall, we see this brokenness and disobedience of man. Yet, God is light and continues to shed His goodness on a fallen world; we have the choice, and God gives us this free will. After the fall, the world belongs or is under the dominion of the evil one. Jesus came not just to teach, heal, and forgive sins but to fight. We see this with the verses in Ephesians about the armor of God. People looked at Jesus as a prophet; they expected Him to lead an army and wipe out the evil of the day, but He did this in the way that God works. God does not work by outward force. He works by word and deed. He only has to utter a word and evil was cast out. He instructed His disciples to go forth and to command evil to leave in His Name.

After the Baptism of Jesus with John the Baptist, he went into the desert to prepare for the trials to come, and he did it with a fight to take back what belongs to God, and that dear friend is you and me! Praise God, what fantastic news. If that does not give us a boost of faith, remember that the exorcisms that occurred then and now were to reclaim what belongs to the Almighty God.

During the Rite of Baptism (in the Catholic church, I’m not sure about other denominations), there is a right of exorcism; it happens in every Baptism. We are claimed for the Kingdom of God, but we must be delivered from the evil one before this can happen.  Wherever the gospel has been proclaimed, wherever Christ is proclaimed, it is accompanied by exorcisms. We have stories of exorcism from the beginning of the New Testament. When missionaries went to various countries, they also had to do exorcisms to deliver the people from bondage.

I heard a teaching on the topic, and there was a man, a priest who was from Spain and a renowned exorcist, who wrote a book on the topic and studied it extensively. In his studies, he found so few exorcisms during the Middle Ages, and he wondered why, but he concluded that the amount of Baptisms had risen. They were transferred from the kingdom of the evil one; they were brought into the Kingdom of God.

Today, there is a rise in exorcisms; why? Well, for many reasons, one is that people are not having their children baptized, and another is that those baptized deny faith in God, in Jesus as the true Savior; those in sin are choosing the evil one. It is their choice. Therefore, this leaves them open to evil. It is a gateway, if you will, an open door.

Fear not! If you are baptized, you have been transformed into the Kingdom of God! Jesus says do not be afraid. We have strength in God through the Holy Spirit. In the book of Romans, particularly Romans 1, we read about the early church and their struggle but, more importantly, how they were encouraged. Romans 6:1-2 “What shall we say, then? Shall we go on sinning so that grace may increase? By no means! We are those who have died to sin; how can we live in it any longer?” 

We have been saved, in fact Romans 6 heading states Dead to Sin Alive in Christ. What good news.

Romans 6:23. For the wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord.

This reminds me of a podcast I did on the present moment on being mindful. Link here. God provides for us today. In the present, when we need Him most. We torture ourselves with regrets from the past and the fear of the future, yet we only need to focus on today.

So, friends. Rejoice. Today, as always, the Lord will provide for me and you. He will provide for your family. Continue to pray, continue to storm heaven for what we need. This week, your challenge is to pray for Christian strength for the Lord to provide the grace we need when we need it!

 

Testimony of Fr. William Moorby

A Production of the Ultimate Christian Podcast Network.

Testimony of Fr. William Moorby | Fr. William Moorby is from the area of Rochester, NY. Fr. Moorby was raised in a strong Catholic home with fond memories of his early sacraments.  He shares in his story how he became involved in the Charismatic Renewal and how it led him to the priesthood | #christianpodcast #podcast #catholicpodcast #catholicpriest #testimony #CatholicTestimony #TestimonyofFr.WilliamMoorby #Fr.WilliamMoorbyTestimony of Fr. William Moorby

Fr. William Moorby is from the area of Rochester, NY. Fr. Moorby was raised in a strong Catholic home with fond memories of his early sacraments.  He shares in his story how he became involved in the Charismatic Renewal and how it led him to the priesthood. His parents were involved in the Charismatic Renewal and encouraged him when he was in college to attend a prayer group.

After many attempts, he was able to find one. Through his connection with a roommate in college and his Spiritual Director, he was encouraged to consider the vocation of priesthood. Fr. Moorby attended St. John Fisher University in Rochester, NY. Father Moorby was ordained in 1982. He began his stay in Tioga in 1993 as pastor of St. John the Evangelist, Newark Valley, and St. Francis of Assisi, Catatonk. Four years later, he was named administrator of St. Patrick, Owego, and a year after that, he became pastor of all three churches. In 2003, he doubled his pastorate by adding on St. James, Waverly; St. Margaret Mary, Apalachin; and St. Pius X, Van Etten in the newly formed Blessed Trinity/St. Patrick parishes.

To find out more about Magnificat, A Ministry to Catholic Women, visit us at magnificat-ministry

Magnificat Store

Did you know there is a beautiful shopping opportunity just waiting for you? Explore our shopping cart for rosaries, apparel, books, jewelry, statues, CDs, study programs (ex. Bible studies, Life in the Spirit Seminar, Growth in the Spirit series), and more. To find great gifts for family, friends, and YOU, we invite you to visit    https://store.magnificat-ministry.net

Thank you for being a part of our network of listeners; we appreciate you!

Share your favorite podcast with a friend, and rate us on Apple Podcasts. Your feedback means a lot.

 

NEHEMIAH & Rebuilding HOPE  #11 – Nehemiah Recaps, “The Joy of the Lord is Your Strength.”

A Production of the Ultimate Christian Podcast Network.
Nehemiah Finale & Recap: “The Joy of the Lord is Your Strength.”

Nehemiah Finale & Recap, “The Joy of the Lord is Your Strength”

Consider Nehemiah. Do you need more HOPE and JOY in your life? Nehemiah recaps: The JOY of the Lord is Your Strength.” God is waiting for you to come to Him.  Join us today for the finale of Nehemiah where you will be reminded the Joy of the Lord is Your strength.

Moving Day, Dedication & Praises

In our last podcast, covering Nehemiah Chapters 10 – 12, we joined moving day as many Israelites moved back to Jerusalem. Then they signed a Curse and Oath agreement, promising to support the temple, honor the Sabbath Day, uphold a religious marriage, and serve God in everything. After the priests purified the people, the gates, and the walls, they implored God’s presence at the dedication ceremony. Nehemiah appointed two praise processions on the walls. They praised and worshipped with thanksgiving, singing, rejoicing, and trumpeting so loud that all in neighboring towns heard them!

Twelve Years Later

Things change.  After serving as Governor of Jerusalem for 12 years, from 444 to 432 BC, Nehemiah returned to Babylon to serve King Artaxerxes. Sometime later, he “returned to Jerusalem.”  What a shock!  Nehemiah found the people had fallen away from their commitment to God and covenant promises. Today, we cover these points in Nehemiah 13 and the finale of the Book of Nehemiah:

The Falling Away (Nehemiah 13: 6-9, 15, 22, 30)

  • What caused the people to fall away so quickly? They were not reminded daily of God and His ways.
  • When the high priest fell away from God, so did the people.
  • The Bible warns often about forgetting God (see Deuteronomy 8: 13-16)

Nehemiah Addressed Breaking God’s Commands (Nehemiah 13: 1-5, 22-30)

  • The Israelites gave their children in marriage to pagans who did not use the sacred Hebrew language.
  • They stopped obeying the commandments of keeping the Sabbath Day holy and paying tithe.
  • The high priest Eliashib allowed Tobiah to move into the temple storeroom, where the offerings were kept.

Remembrance

  • Remembrance was a theme throughout the book of Nehemiah: The people forgot God again and again, but Nehemiah kept calling them to remember God, his faithfulness, and his promises.
  • Nehemiah prayed: Remember me, O my God, concerning this, and do not wipe out my good deeds that I have done for the house of my God and for his service (a common prayer, from Psalm 106: 4-5.)

The Finale

  • It is sorrowful to know that after all the building and recommitment, the people fell away from God.
  • It is good to remember Romans 15:4: For whatever was written in former days was written for our instruction, so that by endurance and by the encouragement of the Scriptures we might have hope. God is faithful and we all must return to him again and again. He offers us His strength, His JOY and His hope.

Nehemiah and Hope

  • The Book of Nehemiah has reassured us that prayer changes everything, that every obstacle can be overcome, and that every false accusation can lead to persistence, more prayer, and joyous victory.
  • Declare with Nehemiah: God is with us!  God is for us! God is at work! God has a plan that changes everything!
  • With confidence, we can exclaim: The JOY of the LORD is my strength! (Nehemiah 8: 14).

Personal Reflection on the Book of Nehemiah

Let’s close with some reflection on the principles you can apply from the book of Nehemiah.

(1) Call on your LOVING GOD in the MESSY SITUATIONS (Chapter 1).

(2) SUPPLICATE (Chapter 1).  You can use Nehemiah’s ACTS Model: 1) Adore God 2) Confess sins, 3) Thank God, and 4) Supplicate.

(3) Pray for FAVOR & depend on God to open doors. (Chapters 2-3).

(4) Become a Perfumer; All Vocations are Needed (Chapter 3).  Become a perfumer and help build. Bring the sweetness of God’s spirit and a sweet aroma of prayer to every stinky situation.

(5) Face Opposition & Stand FIRM Against Insults (Chapters 4,  7). Nehemiah showed a 3-pronged approach to defeating opposition: 1) pray, 2) declare the truth instead of believing lies and 3) work together with others.

(6) When angered, step back first (Chapter 5) & Face Slander (Chapter 6): Pray, Speak the Truth, and Persevere. eep the sword of the spirit- the Word of God in one hand and your work tool or skill in the other.

(7) Declare the Joy of the Lord is My Strength (Chapter 8).

(8) Create a personal Prayer BOOTH! in your home (Chapter 8). Your corner of a room is like a spiritual booth where the Israelites celebrated the Feast of Booths to offer praise, and thanksgiving and read His Word.

(9) Remember God Will Never Forsake You (Chapters 9 & 13). After experiencing God’s great faithfulness, the people fell away into sin into the rebellion-revival cycle.

(10) Become a “Praiser” and Read God’s Word (Chapters 10-12). Nehemiah called the people to worship, to praise and to offer thanksgiving to God.

Personal Prayer Response

So, what will you do NEXT? How can you start building now? Nehemiah models personal intercession with the ACTS model.

  • Adore God and praise His greatness and faithfulness.
  • Confess your sins and those of your nation and families with a contrite spirit.
  • Thank God for His blessings and promises.
  • Supplicate or pray with a passionate heart for what you need and for others. Incorporate Scripture, when possible.

Remember: The JOY of the LORD is YOUR Strength!

Cup of JOY Women

  • Why not invite a few friends for coffee or tea every week for just one hour to discuss a one-page study guide accompanying every podcast in each series?
  • It’s called a Cup of Joy Women’s group and is a fantastic way to gently evangelize and encourage others. I will provide all the free resources and even Zoom meetings for facilitators.
  • In September, I start my fifth series called JOYFUL and Battle-ready. It’s a perfect time to form a Cup of JOY women’s group for the 8-week series.
  • For more information, go to my website com, and click under Cup of Joy Women on the menu, or email me: Karen@WrapYourselfinJoy.com

Links

Christian Care

A Production of the Ultimate Christian Podcast Network.

Christian Care | As Christians, we care for many things, but we also have a responsibility. Christian care means more than thinking about a situation and praying; it means taking action when possible. In this podcast, we will discuss the responsibility of being a Christian and the blessings that come with this knowledge | #christianpodcast #catholicpodcast #Godandmercy #mercifulGod #mercy #Trust #ChristianCareChristian Care ~ Episode 268

As Christians, we care for many things, but we also have a responsibility. Christian care means more than thinking about a situation and praying; it means taking action when possible. In this podcast, we will discuss the responsibility of being a Christian and the blessings that come with this knowledge.

Thanks to our sponsor: ROUTE 60: The Biblical Highway Airs for two days only. September 18 and 19: Visit the website for more information.

Are you ready to rejoice, praise the Lord for all that is good and holy and feel uplifted? Well, that is the goal of this session today. I feel that the topics have been heavy of late, which is not my intention in these podcasts. I want to be to my original mission, which is to encourage all of us to spend time with God but also to understand that we are children of God and so loved beyond what we can comprehend.

Do you have a family? Think about what that looks like and who is in your family. For most of us, we are protective of our family, care for them, and acknowledge that while no one is perfect, we are quick to defend our family members from outside forces. As I get older, my extended family has grown smaller with the progression of age and death. Life happens. Yet, our love for those who are gone has not decreased in some cases, it has increased, and our memories (hopefully) are good ones. We attended my husband’s family reunion, and I watched as people who often live nearby visited with each other and enjoyed good food and company. We were handed an SD card with old family movies that are now digital to view and enjoy. There we see the love and care of children, now adults.

We care for our family with love, but how much more does God care for us? It is so much that we can not imagine.

Romans 8:28 is a scripture many of us know, but what about Romans 8:26-27? I shared this scripture with you last week.

In the same way, the Spirit helps us in our times of weakness. We do not know what we ought to pray for, but the Spirit himself intercedes for us through wordless groans. 27 And he who searches our hearts knows the mind of the Spirit because the Spirit intercedes for God’s people in accordance with the will of God.

God the Holy Spirit, the third person of the Trinity, intercedes for us in our weakness. The Spirit searches our hearts and knows! God knows us intimately. That is why the next verse, Romans 8:28 is one of my life verses that blesses me each time I read it:

And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him, who[a] have been called according to his purpose.

We, you, and I, have been called to His purpose. You are listening to this podcast, me writing this talk with prayer and the inspiration of the Holy Spirit; we do these things with a heart for God. We want to know more, to learn more, and to be inspired.

When we have an eye to the future, in the end, we can see that many of the things we struggle with daily are not as important as the bigger things. One of my friends and co-author of a series of books we wrote for homeschoolers used to tell me not to “sweat the small stuff,” and she was right. She died in her 40’s, and yet she was prepared. She was one of these people that had the joy of the Lord in her heart; people would ask her, “What is different about you?” She would then share the love of God with them and, more times than not, lead them to the Lord. One person was our account manager at the company where we had our books printed. My friend didn’t have an easy life, in fact she suffered bankruptcy and a failed marriage. Yet, through it all she persevered and loved God.

Do we realize the end is near and pray? We read in 1 Peter: 4:7-11 (Read on air).

The end of all things is near. Therefore be alert and of sober mind so that you may pray. Above all, love each other deeply, because love covers over a multitude of sins. Offer hospitality to one another without grumbling. 10 Each of you should use whatever gift you have received to serve others, as faithful stewards of God’s grace in its various forms. 11 If anyone speaks, they should do so as one who speaks the very words of God. If anyone serves, they should do so with the strength God provides, so that in all things God may be praised through Jesus Christ. To him be the glory and the power for ever and ever. Amen.

That verse is beautiful and a perfect example of Christian care…” each of you should use whatever gift you have received to serve others as a faithful steward of God’s grace in its various forms.” We use our gifts for others, not for ourselves. This is selfless love. This is the goal of a Christian to care for others. We care when we are hurting and when others are hurt. We are there for each other, to serve and to love. Sometimes we ask the Lord to give us the grace to love those unlovable in our lives, yet even with that prayer, He listens and answers us.

Our challenge this week is to show Christian care for others, to love others as God loves us and to pray that the Lord gives us opportunities to use the gifts He has given us to bless others. Amen!

Finding Healing for Holiness and Healthy Relationships

A Production of the Ultimate Christian Podcast Network.

Finding Healing for Holiness and Healthy Relationships | We all share a call to holiness, as the Catechism of the Catholic Church points out and the Scriptural basis for this comes from Ephesians 1:4 where we hear that we were chosen in Jesus by the Father before the world even came to be.  That means we are set apart for Him |  #WholnessHoliness #MargaretVasquezs #GrowingVirtue #ModelofHonesty #Friends #GrowingCharitytoUprootGreed #UprootGreed #GrowingCharity #TipsforConnection #FindingHealingforHolinessandHealthyRelationships #HealingforHolinessand #HealthyRelationshipsFinding Healing for Holiness and Healthy Relationships

Finding Healing for Holiness and Healthy Relationships. We all share a call to holiness, as the Catechism of the Catholic Church points out, and the Scriptural basis for this comes from Ephesians 1:4, where we hear that we were chosen in Jesus by the Father before the world even came to be.  That means we are set apart for Him. We are made for a profound union with Him body, mind, and spirit for all eternity.  Even as intimate as marriage is, it only symbolizes the union we will have with God forever.  In Heaven, those who are married in this life will no longer be married to a human spouse.  Yet, the espousal relationship with the Lord will remain for eternity.  Connection is our most basic human need.  When we experience it, we flourish and suffer when we are lacking in that way.  No connection will ever be so profound and complete as what we are called to with the Lord.

What comprises connection?  It’s being chosen, known as an individual who is very good, value inherently, not based on what we do, and being safe with our boundaries being respected.  God supplies for these connection needs superabundantly beyond what we could ever hope for or imagine.  We have a God-sized whole within us because we were made for Him, and only He can satisfy these needs.  Sadly, parents or early caregivers often modeled something for us that was less than a good image of God, so it became difficult for us to believe that He relates to us in these ways.  So, how we relate to ourselves became flawed as we began to relate to ourselves in the way we were related.

Yet, these must be chosen, known, valued, protected, and provided for to remain as central as ever.  Much of the disappointment, frustration, and conflict we see in our world is because people are trying to get other people to fill those needs.  However, it’s only in receiving the Lord’s deep satisfaction of these needs that will allow us to live lives of profound freedom, joy, and peace.

Let’s take these areas of pain and hurt to the Lord and allow Him to show us the truth of who we are in Him.  Receive your Eternal Bridegroom into your heart this day.  Give yourself to the One who left Heaven to purchase you at the price of His Precious Blood and loves you personally and intimately beyond your wildest hopes or imaginings.

May the Lord give you peace.

Margaret

 

The Secret to Happiness

A Production of the Ultimate Christian Podcast Network.

Banter

Need a bit of a laugh? Listen to my pretend banter about my haircut and eyebrows!

Saintly Wisdom on Happiness

“The secret of happiness is to live moment by moment and to thank God for all that he, in his goodness, sends to us day after day.”                                                                                                                                          St. Gianna Beretta Molla

We all want to be happy, but we often think it will happen later or when our life is perfect. Not so. It happens when we realize that God gives us all and will help us with all. Turn to him, thank him for the good and the not so good. He will help if we ask.

Learn more about St. Gianna’s life here. 

These are super short show notes today as I have to go do some hard things. (wink, wink)

This week, when you are faced with something wonderful or difficult, stop, turn to God, thank him, and then ask how you are to handle the situation in a way that gives him glory.

 

Stay in touch by signing up for my newsletter. You’ll receive a video series of 4 Ways to Pray with Scripture when you do. And I promise I don’t clutter up your inbox with lots of emails.

Testimony of Dr. Carol Razza

A Production of the Ultimate Christian Podcast Network.

Testimony of Dr. Carol Razza | Dr. Carol Razza shares her empowering testimony with wisdom and humor. Her lively and animated delivery leads you through a time of transformation to be rid of the lies we tell ourselves to a place of peace and freedom as a child of God and an heir to the kingdom | #christianpodcast #podcast #catholicpodcast #catholicpriest #testimony #CatholicTestimony #TestimonyofDr.CarolRazza #Dr.CarolRazzaTestimony of Dr. Carol Razza

Dr. Carol Razza shares her empowering testimony with wisdom and humor. Her lively and animated delivery leads you through a time of transformation to be rid of the lies we tell ourselves to a place of peace and freedom as a child of God and an heir to the kingdom.

Dr. Carol Razza is a full-time faculty member and formation advisor at St. Vincent de Paul Seminary in Boynton Beach, FL. Her degrees include an Ed. D in Child and Youth Studies from Nova Southeastern University, an M.S. in Counseling Psychology from Nova, and a B.S. in Psychology from Florida Atlantic University. She also serves on the Advisory Board, as the Regional Representative for Europe and Asia, for the International Magnificat. She has worked in private practice as a psychotherapist for over twenty-five years.

Dr. Carol has written two books, “Sonblock-How Christians Unknowingly Shield Themselves from Grace” and “Parent Me. Please!”, helping parents parent their adolescents. Carol presents at seminars, conferences, workshops, and retreats both nationally and internationally. She lives in Father God’s supernatural joy and encourages others to do the same. Carol’s greatest blessings include her marriage of 50 years to her husband Paul, their wonderful sons and daughters-in-law, and grandchildren.

To find out more about Magnificat, A Ministry to Catholic Women, visit us magnificat ministry.

Magnificat Store

Did you know there is a wonderful shopping opportunity just waiting for you? Explore our shopping cart for rosaries, apparel, books, jewelry, statues, CDs, study programs, (ex. Bible studies, Life in the Spirit Seminar, Growth in the Spirit series), and much more. To find great gifts for family, friends and YOU, we invite you to visit    https://store.magnificat-ministry.net

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NEHEMIAH & Rebuilding HOPE #10 – Do You Need an Uplift? Nehemiah Calls All Praisers!

A Production of the Ultimate Christian Podcast Network.
Do You Need an Uplift? Nehemiah Calls All Praisers! Adding praise and thanksgiving to your prayer can increase your faith, lift your spirit, help you recall God’s goodness, encourage you in hard tasks, and add much more joy to your life.

Nehemiah Calls Praisers & JOY Fills Their Hearts

Do you need an uplift? Becoming a praiser could change your life. Adding praise and thanksgiving to your prayer can increase your faith, lift your spirit, help you recall God’s goodness, encourage you in hard tasks, and add much more joy to your life. Join us today as Nehemiah calls all praisers and demonstrates the impact of praise.

Rebellion-revival Cycle

In our last podcast, we joined the Israelites as Ezra read God’s Word aloud and they realized how disobedient they had been to God and his commandments, falling into a rebellion-revival cycle: (1) Rebellion against God and His law; (2) Warnings from the prophets and teachers, but to no avail, (3) Repentance from sinfulness and calling out to God; and (4) Intervention when God rescues them from the enemy oppressors. Today, in Nehemiah Chapters 10 -12, we follow the people as they sign a new covenant with God rededicating their lives and the walls and gates to Him. Today we cover these points:

An Oath to Follow God (Nehemiah 10: 29-35)

  • The curse and oath agreement meant “they could expect a blessing for obedience, or a correction from God if they did not follow through on obeying His Law.
  • They signed a public agreement promising to pay their tithes to support the temple, to honor the Sabbath by not buying or selling, and to uphold a religious marriage, not uniting with those who worship other gods or idols.

Moving into Jerusalem (Nehemiah 11: 3-35)

  • Nehemiah shares a long list of the people and the vocations of those who moved into Jerusalem, including leaders, warriors, Levites, temple gatekeepers, overseers, and singers.
  • Repopulating Jerusalem was essential because it would mean the more who lived there, the safer the city would be.
  • There was a special stipend for the singers who sang praises daily and led worship in the temple.

Dedication Joy (Nehemiah 12)

  • Chapter 12 opens with more names – but this time the names are those of priests and Levites who returned with Zerubbabel.
  • Nehemiah is recalling the history and heroes in public record who sacrificed much in returning to Jerusalem.
  • He wanted all to remember these good men as part of their heritage.
  • Nehemiah lists the Levites who were heads of households plus the singers who led praise and thanksgiving with cymbals, harps, and lyres.

Purification JOY (Nehemiah 12: 27-30)

  • It was time to dedicate the walls once they moved into Jerusalem and returned to worship and obey God’s laws.
  • They would seek God’s presence and blessings.
  • The Levites purified themselves, the people, and the walls. See Psalm 24: 3-6

Praising JOY (Nehemiah 12: 30-43)

  • Next, the praisers joined the dedication ceremony.
  • He sent one company of praisers in one direction singing and giving thanks (v. 35). They included the leaders and the young priests playing trumpets while others played and praised with all kinds of musical instruments.
  • Then the other company made up of Nehemiah and half of the people processed in the opposite direction on the walls singing, giving thanks, and playing trumpets too. Finally, they all met at the house of God and sang their hearts out to him. “They offered great sacrifices that day and rejoiced, for God had made them rejoice with great joy; the women and children also rejoiced. The joy of Jerusalem was heard far away” (v. 43).

Offering JOY

  • The last activity of the dedication ceremony involved joyfully offering tithe to God – to support the temple, the priests, and those who led worship.
  • All of Israel gave the daily portions and tithe for the singers, the gatekeepers, and the Levites. The Levites even paid tithe to the priests.

Personal Reflection – Become a Praiser

  1. Have you considered becoming a praiser? So how can you add more praise and thanksgiving to God in your life?
    1. Become a singer of praises to God. Even if you can’t carry a tune, sing with online or CD worship music. Join others in singing praises. As you sing the words from your heart, they become your prayer.
    2. Read Psalms of Praise. You can start with Psalms 145, 146, or 150 traditionally known as praise psalms.
    3. Begin all prayer with thanksgiving and words of praise. Psalm 100:4 tells us to “Enter God’s gates with thanksgiving, and his courts with praise.  Give thanks to him, bless his name.” So the way to come into God’s presence, the king of the Universe and the Savior of the World is to come with thanksgiving and praise. For example, you can say, I praise you, Jesus or  I love you, Lord. Bookmarks for praise are available on my website.

One final point to remember is this.

  1. Don’t forget the power of praise to defeat enemies and negative situations (e.g., see Nehemiah 2 and 3). Remember  2 Chronicles 20:21 when King Jehoshaphat followed the Lord’s counsel and appointed singers to sing to the Lord and praise him in holy splendor. They lead the army into battle. As they began to sing and praise, the Lord set an ambush against the …enemies.., who had come against Judah, so they were routed. .. they all helped destroy one another. The Lord won a fabulous victory as the enemies were defeated and the army never even used their swords.  If you are discouraged, or fearful and have pressing needs, consider praising God often. God will fight battles for you and lift you up when you turn your attention to him.

Cup of JOY Women

  • Why not invite a few friends for coffee or tea every week for just one hour to discuss the one-page study guide accompanying this podcast or others in my last few series?
  • You would be forming a Cup of Joy Women’s group, and it’s a great way to gently evangelize and encourage others. I will provide you with all the free resources. In September, I will be starting my fifth series called JOYFUL and Battle-ready--It’s a perfect time to form a cup of JOY women’s group with that 8-week series.
  • For more information, go to my website WRAPYOURSELFINJOY.com, and click under Cup of Joy Women on the menu or email me: Karen@WrapYourselfinJoy.com

Links

 

Are You Awake

A Production of the Ultimate Christian Podcast Network.

Are You Awake | Spiritual awareness is a blessing, and the question, “Are you awake,” comes in part as a nod in that direction and toward the world we live in. How are you awake, and what precautions are you taking to notice what the Lord brings to mind? In this episode, we learn not to be afraid but to be prepared | #christianpodcast #catholicpodcast #Godandmercy #mercifulGod #mercy #Trust #AreYouAwake #AreYouAwake?Are You Awake? ~ Episode 267

Spiritual awareness is a blessing, and the question, “Are you awake,” comes in part as a nod in that direction and toward the world we live in. How are you awake, and what precautions are you taking to notice what the Lord brings to mind? In this episode, we learn not to be afraid but to be prepared.

Thanks to our sponsor: ROUTE 60: The Biblical Highway Airs for two days only. September 18 and 19 Visit the website for more information.

When we see the things happening in our world, we want to stay asleep! Are you awake to what is happening today, and if so, what will you do? In previous episodes, I have shared with you that I have insulated myself from stressing about worldly issues by turning off the television and social media and ignoring videos that explain the horrible tragedies and oppression in our world. One of the main reasons is that I feel helpless, and I am a doer. I like to accomplish and get things done. When I see something wrong, I prayerfully consider how to help. Yet, I tend to shut down when overexposed to unrighteousness and unfairness. Especially now that I am inundated with it everywhere I look. It makes me think the end is near because our Almighty God will not let this rampant sin go unpunished. Read the Bible, there is a warning, and when ignored, there is justice.

How can we prepare? When we pray, we must ask the Lord to open our eyes to what He wants us to know. One reason is for the knowledge, another for the ability to beseech God in prayer, and another is to prepare in any way we can.

Just this week, while gathering with the ladies in my prayer ministry, several alerted me to things I had missed. I was upset, and rightly so, yet praising God because He has provided for me in my need; he has allowed me the knowledge to pray and be aware. Being awake means taking action when possible; for most of us, that means prayer and sacrifice. What is God calling you to do? Has he allowed your eyes to be opened to a specific need?

These are the questions we must ask ourselves daily. How do we pray? How should we pray?

Romans 8:26-27 In the same way, the Spirit helps us in our weakness. We do not know what we ought to pray for, but the Spirit himself intercedes for us through wordless groans. 27 And he who searches our hearts knows the mind of the Spirit, because the Spirit intercedes for God’s people in accordance with the will of God.

That is beautiful – we do not know how we ought to pray, but the Spirit himself intercedes for us! Praise God.

Sometimes I have spiritual awareness, and sometimes I am spiritually blinded. What does this mean? Having spiritual awareness in the Christian sense is different from the pagan. If you want to be freaked out, search for the term spiritual awareness to see what I mean. Much of it points to self-awareness that is unrelated to the true God. It talks about a sense of consciousness and understanding and the interconnectedness of all things without saying that the author of our awareness is the Trinity, God the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit. Pagan awareness centers on self and a force we can control. Christian awareness points to God and good and eyes that are open to see sin. We see that the greater power is within Almighty God. It is not in the pagan sense that we can become gods. That is a new-age fallacy.

To be spiritually aware in the sense of true Christianity means to see with eyes that are open and aware. Many scriptures attest to this, some beginning in Genesis. When Adam and Eve ate the forbidden fruit, they became spiritually aware. Genesis 3:7 states: Then the eyes of both of them were opened, and they realized they were naked; so they sewed fig leaves together and made coverings for themselves.

Sin does not go unpunished, and we further read that they were banished from the Garden of Eden that God prepared for them. We must never forget that God is in control, we love the Lord, and He loves us, but we are held accountable for the knowledge he has given us. Adam and Eve had the knowledge they did not have the will to follow it, and they suffered, as well as all of us, their descendants.

Being spiritually aware of sin is critical. Those not spiritually aware can not see the sin; they do the same thing repeatedly, thinking there is nothing wrong with it. It is an evil that permeates our world and the hearts of those who seem to have lost all sense of what is true.

Ephesians 6:12  For our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the powers of this dark world, and against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly realms.

The fight is against us, yes, but it is not a human fight. It is an evil deception and lies. Let’s call it what it is.

Opening our eyes and being awake gives us a sense of fear of the unknown. And fear is a tool the enemy uses to wreak havoc in our lives. That is why putting on the armor of Christ daily is essential. Here is one of my previous podcasts on the topic. The armor of God, His word is His protection.

Let’s pray that God protects our souls, hearts, and bodies from all the evil in this world. That, my friends, is something we can do, and that is pray. We must pray daily for protection and that God opens our eyes to the light. He has good in store for us if we follow His will.

1 John 7:9: (Read on air.) But if we walk in the light, as he is in the light, we have fellowship with one another, and the blood of Jesus, his Son, purifies us from all[a] sin.If we claim to be without sin, we deceive ourselves, and the truth is not in us. If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just and will forgive us our sins and purify us from all unrighteousness.

We have hindsight which we are told is 20-20. We can read the Bible and learn from the mistakes of those before us. The Holy men and women of God failed to continue to follow in the light and eventually were led to darkness. A past podcast dealt with the sins of King Solomon, who we read was given the gift of wisdom, but somehow common sense escaped him. He started as a wise person and ended up in a terrible place. He ended up foolishly worshipping false gods, the gods of his wives, first by marrying women of tribes he was warned not to marry. He made bad decisions, and others (his sons and the nation of Israel) were punished for his bad choices. King Solomon crossed the line – the scriptures list the false gods he set up shrines to worship, and one of them required child sacrifices. Horrible. His decisions had consequences.

Yet, so do mine. My decisions have consequences, and they don’t only affect me but others in my family and generations to come. Wow. What a responsibility. Many of us know what is right and what we should do, but often we do not have the will to do it. But we can pray for that strength; praise God!

Being awake means putting on the mind of Christ so that we are aware of the sinfulness in our own lives before we point out the sinfulness in others.

Praise God. We can repent and pray to the Lord to be spiritually awake.

40 With many other words, he warned them, and he pleaded with them, “Save yourselves from this corrupt generation.” 41 Those who accepted his message were baptized, and about three thousand were added to their number that day.

Let’s pray that a spiritual revival exists in our time and hearts. We are not in this alone. God is with us. This week ask the Lord to give you spiritual eyes that see, a heart that hears, and a will that is all for God. I pray for a blessing for you and your family today. Amen.

God’s Faithfulness to Us

A Production of the Ultimate Christian Podcast Network.

Let’s begin with a prayer

Let nothing disturb you, Let nothing frighten you,
All things are passing away: God never changes.
Patience obtains all things Whoever has God lacks nothing;
God alone suffices.                     St. Teresa of Avila

God is Faithful

“If we are faithless, he remains faithful, for he cannot deny himself.”
                                                                                                                         2 Timothy 2:13

Being faithful, faithfulness – is an attribute of God. He is always faithful, even when we think he is not with us or doesn’t care. God can not go against himself, his nature.

From the Catechism of the Catholic Church

222 Believing in God, the only One, and loving him with all our being has enormous consequences for our whole life.
223 It means coming to know God’s greatness and majesty: “Behold, God is great, and we know him not.” Therefore, we must “serve God first.”
224 It means living in thanksgiving: if God is the only One, everything we are and have comes from him: “What have you that you did not receive?” “What shall I render to the LORD for all his bounty to me?”
225 It means knowing the unity and true dignity of all men: everyone is made in the image and likeness of God.
226 It means making good use of created things: faith in God, the only One, leads us to use everything that is not God only insofar as it brings us closer to him, and to detach ourselves from it insofar as it turns us away from him.

Every day for the next 7 days, journal on this: Ways that God has been Faithful to Me in My Life.

If you want to talk about this with me, please contact me here or send me a message via Facebook or Instagram.

If you’d like to invite me to your parish or group, let me know! I’d love to meet you.

Teaching Reflection from Fr. Pat Crowley

A Production of the Ultimate Christian Podcast Network.

Teaching Reflection from Fr. Pat Crowley | Magnificat is about witness, sharing their stories. Our story brings us deeper into the mystery of God’s love. As we ask the Blessed Mother for guidance, Mary helps move the freshness of the Spirit manifested in our lives into a deeper intimacy with Jesus | #christianpodcast #podcast #catholicpodcast #catholicpriest #testimony #CatholicTestimony #Fr.PatCrowley #TeachingReflection #TeachingReflectionfromFr.PatCrowleyTeaching Reflection from Fr. Pat Crowley

Teaching Reflection from Fr. Pat Crowley. Magnificat is about witness, sharing their stories. Our story brings us deeper into the mystery of God’s love. As we ask the Blessed Mother for guidance, Mary helps move the freshness of the Spirit manifested in our lives into a deeper intimacy with Jesus.

Fr. Crowley shares how his experience in Medjugorje had a profound effect on him.  He listened to many confessions and saw many transformations. He shares how he was introduced to the baptism of the Holy Spirit in his priesthood and explains how the baptism of the Holy Spirit is an extension of one’s infant baptism. The Holy Spirit rekindles the fire within each of us.  Fr. Crowley reminds us to never underestimate the power of the Holy Spirit.

Father has been actively involved in healing ministry within the Charismatic Renewal since 1972. Since that time, he has been an eyewitness to many spiritual, physical, and emotional healings. God has used him as a most powerful instrument of His healing love.

Fr. Pat Crowley, CC.SS., (Congregation of the Sacred Heart of Jesus and Mary), is the Spiritual Advisor for the North County San Diego Chapter of Magnificat.

To find out more about Magnificat, A Ministry to Catholic Women, visit us ‘magnificat ministry

Magnificat Store

Did you know there is a wonderful shopping opportunity just waiting for you? Explore our shopping cart for rosaries, apparel, books, jewelry, statues, CDs, study programs, (ex. Bible studies, Life in the Spirit Seminar, Growth in the Spirit series), and much more. To find great gifts for family, friends and YOU, we invite you to visit    https://store.magnificat-ministry.net

Thank you for being a part of our network of listeners; we appreciate you!

Share your favorite podcast with a friend and be sure to rate us on Apple Podcasts. Your feedback means a lot.

Parenting as God Parents

A Production of the Ultimate Christian Podcast Network.

Parenting as God Parents | Parenting is a tall order.  Not only does it mean forming little minds and souls while keeping little bodies protected and provided for but parents image God.  How we relate to little people as parents or in roles of authority becomes how they perceive the Lord | #WholnessHoliness #MargaretVasquezs #GrowingVirtue #ModelofHonesty #Friends #GrowingCharitytoUprootGreed #UprootGreed #GrowingCharity #TipsforConnection #ParentingasGodParentsParenting as God Parents

Parenting as God Parents. Parenting is a tall order.  Not only does it mean forming little minds and souls while keeping little bodies protected and provided for but parents image God.  How we relate to little people as parents or in roles of authority becomes how they perceive the Lord.  Because they perceive us as all-knowing and all-powerful (even though we are NOT), how we interact with them becomes how they perceive He Who is really all-knowing and all-powerful.  This can be done in a beautifully good way, as St. Therese of Lisieux’s parents imaged God for her.  Through her autobiography, Story of a Soul, the reader can see how she so naturally transitioned from being related to in a loving way that she came to understand that she is lovable and then could so easily perceive God as loving her deeply.  It was the reception of that love that filled her and strengthened her interior life. So, when it was lacking externally from uncharitable experiences from her religious sisters, she could maintain her peace.

In psychologist Madeline Levine’s article, Raising Successful Children, she explains that being overly protective and controlling of children does them no favors.  It can cripple them emotionally.  It’s the sweet spot of setting high expectations, being available, and attentive but letting go that is most beneficial.  When we focus on controlling the external results, a child loses motivation, comes to see themselves as incapable, and can become fearful of trying because of possible failure.

On the contrary, when we foster the internal development of the child – focusing on the development of character rather than external results, a child develops a self, an interior sense of who they are as someone who can struggle through obstacles and so is capable to handle the challenges that life might put in front of them.

I know this can be easier said than done if we were neglected in some way as children.  We can want to catch them before they fall.  Also, if we see their achievements as a reflection of who we are, we can try to live vicariously through them.  Let’s consider, though, how God parents us.  He has set high expectations of us by calling us to love Him, ourselves, and one another.  He is always available to us and yet respects the free will He has given us, and He doesn’t interfere with that.  As we choose the good it is not just the good result that is good, the choosing itself is good.  It’s the exercise of virtue and freedom when we had the ability and option of doing otherwise that is so precious.  It’s not just winning the good fight that is good.  The choosing to fight the good fight is where the victory begins.  Otherwise, we wouldn’t be persons.  We would be robots.

If you struggle to allow your child the good struggle that will allow him or her to develop interiorly, ask the Lord to show you what fear might lurk behind that.  Good Father, please give us the grace to parent as you do and so endow the children you entrust to us with truly free wills that are capable of choosing the good, especially You who are the greatest good.

May the Lord give you peace.

NEHEMIAH & Rebuilding HOPE #9 – Nehemiah Says, God Will Never Forsake You!

A Production of the Ultimate Christian Podcast Network.
National Confession & Nehemiah Says, God Will Never Forsake You!

National Confession & Nehemiah Says, God Will Never Forsake You!

Consider Nehemiah Chapter 9. Do you feel forsaken by God ever? Always remember this: God is ready to forgive. He is gracious, merciful, slow to anger, and abounds in steadfast love.  Join us today as Nehemiah says, God will never forsake you.

Celebrating God’s Goodness

In our last podcast, we joined the Israelites on Rosh Hashanah and the Feast of Trumpets. Many had stopped celebrating the feast days and gave up their faith because of the brokenness of their homeland, families, and lives. In Nehemiah 8, when Ezra read the Word of God aloud, the people wept loudly, mourning for their sins. Nehemiah and Ezra told them: “This day is holy to the Lord your God; do not mourn or weep.” “The joy of the Lord is your strength.” Next, they celebrated the Feast of Booths when each family spent seven days in a   booth remembering God’s goodness, reading the Word of God, praying, praising, and thanking Him to commemorate how God had delivered them from Egypt by parting the Red Sea, and cared for them in the desert for 40 years where they lived in simple huts.  In Chapter 9, two days after the weeklong celebration of the Feast of Booths, the people are together again for a day of national confession. Today, we cover these points:

National Confession (Nehemiah 9: 1-3)

  • The people gather for 6 hours – three hours reading the words of the Torah and 3 hours confessing sin.
  • They were reminded of how far they had fallen from God and His commandments.
  • As Hebrews 4: 12 tells us, the Word of God had pierced their hearts and revealed their sins.

Remembering God’s Care and Praising Him (Nehemiah 9: 5-26)

  • Ezra called them to worship God and recall the ways that God cared for them since Abraham.
  • God gave them the Ten Commandments.
  • For 40 years in the wilderness, God cared for them so they lacked nothing; their clothes did not wear out, and their feet did not swell.

Fasting, Dressed in Sackcloth, Dirt on their Heads (Nehemiah 9: 3, 26- 38)

  • The people stood in fasting – an act of penance to show remorse in skin-tearing sackcloth with dirt on their heads –all painful acts showing deep sorrow for their sins before God.
  • They cried out for ” stiffening their necks “and “not obeying the commandments.”

The Four-Stage Rebellion-Revival Cycle

  • After experiencing God’s great faithfulness of God, they fell away again and again.
  • The Rebellion, Warnings, Repentance, and Intervention cycle could be called the rebellion-revival cycle.
  • But before long the Cycle repeated, and the Israelites became “slaves to this day.”

God Did Not Forsake Them (Nehemiah 9: 17)

Verse 17 seems to be a turning point in the chapter: “But you are a God ready to forgive, gracious and merciful, slow to anger and abounding in steadfast love, and you did not forsake them. God will forgive us when we confess the sins of our generations and commit to changing directions.

Personal Reflection on Nehemiah 9

  • How will you respond to these verses of Scripture?
    • Confess your sins. Nehemiah shows us where to begin when you want to be renewed in your spiritual life: Remember what God has done, confess your sin and the areas where you have fallen away, and praise and worship our glorious God again.
    • Make a Change. True repentance and sorrow for your sins mean you want to change direction. Nehemiah 9:38 says the people made a firm agreement in writing to promise to change direction. What change in direction are you willing to make at this time?
    • Read Scripture. All the chapters in the Book of Nehemiah remind us how essential it is to hear, read, and take the Word of God to heart. How will you find more time to read and pray Scripture? If you do, it will revive your spiritual life and the lives of those around you. Start today with just 5 minutes of scripture and form a prayer from your heart to God that responds to what you read.

Cup of JOY Women

  • Consider hosting a weekly one-hour Cup of Joy Women’s small group study. It accompanies this podcast and you can begin anytime.
  • Pray about accepting this opportunity to engage others and gently evangelize by hosting a small group of friends over coffee or tea. It’s free, and I will help you get started. Go to Cup of Joy Women or email me at Karen@WRAPYourselfinJOY.com for information.

Links

 

Fill-Up Your Spiritual Tank

A Production of the Ultimate Christian Podcast Network.

Fill Up Your Spiritual Tank | What happens when the well runs dry? We all need to fill up our spiritual tanks; for some, that means more often than others. In this podcast, we will delve into ways to receive abundant joy from the simple pleasures God has in store for us | #podcast #christianpodcast #catholicpodcast #Godandmercy #mercifulGod #mercy #Trust #FillUpYourSpiritualTank #SpiritualTankFill Up Your Spiritual Tank ~ Episode 266

What happens when the well runs dry? We all need to fill up our spiritual tanks; for some, that means more often than others. In this podcast, we will delve into ways to receive abundant joy from the simple pleasures God has in store for us!

Thanks to our sponsor CTCMath.com – please visit the website; you will be pleased you did.

Are you burdened? Are you overwhelmed? Do you feel that if you are asked to do one more thing, you will… (Fill in the blank.)

None of us on this side of heaven escape from feeling overwhelmed, and if you care for a family and an elderly family member or are involved in work or volunteer, you know what I mean. When was the last time you laughed for the sake of laughing or spent time with a family member or a friend and walked away feeling freer and happier? For some, it has been a while, maybe a long while.

By its very nature, Christianity is joyous, and we forget this fact as we navigate the busyness of our daily lives. The joy of the Lord is our strength, and we need to remember this verse; Nehemiah 8:10 Nehemiah said, “Go and enjoy choice food and sweet drinks, and send some to those who have nothing prepared. This day is holy to our Lord. Do not grieve, for the joy of the Lord is your strength.”

Can you allow the Lord to be your strength and fill you up? What do you have to lose? Let’s see…

  1. You can lose the idea that you are alone.
  2. You can lose the idea that no one cares.
  3. You can lose the idea that life is insurmountable.

Of course, we are sometimes alone, feel like no one cares, and have problems that never seem to end. Yet, allowing God to fill your spiritual tank is one way. God created us for Him and Him alone; when we feel down, it is often our own doing. We’ve decided we can do it alone; we are capable; after all, God gave us intellect, ability, and the will to accomplish many things. Yet, all of the success in the world (or lack of success) will not leave us happy or fulfilled. Only God can give us the fulfillment we crave.

In the Old Testament, we read about the Exodus and the journey of Moses and the people of Israel out of Egypt and into the desert to the promised land. Yet, two of the multitude of people crossed into the promised land. It was the descendants of this race; even Moses never made it. Why? In a nutshell, it was the lack of obedience and trust in the Lord.

God punished them, and rightly so. He said that the reason they would not enter the promised land, the land flowing with “milk and honey,” was in direct relation to their hardness of heart, their disobedience. Can we see that in our own lives?

Think about it. These people were saved from slavery only to complain and rely on their understanding rather than trusting that Moses, the messenger of God, was telling the truth. They wanted what they wanted. This was not only worship of false Gods but their memory of the life they had. They complained about being free from Egypt.

We read this, and it appears that the punishment from the Lord was harsh, but was it?

Have you felt punished in your life? Maybe you’ve prayed for something and don’t feel the prayer has been answered.  Join the club!

It has taken me many years to realize that I must first trust in God, that He knows what is best, and that I must thank God for all of the blessings, those I see and those I do not see.

We should remember the verses like Romans 5:1-5 … it is a verse of hope and faith – a great way to fill our spiritual tank!

Therefore, since we have been justified through faith, we[a] have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ, through whom we have gained access by faith into this grace in which we now stand. And we[b] boast in the hope of the glory of God. Not only so, but we[c] also glory in our sufferings, because we know that suffering produces perseverance; perseverance, character; and character, hope. And hope does not put us to shame, because God’s love has been poured out into our hearts through the Holy Spirit, who has been given to us.

Filling up our spiritual tank can be done in so many ways.

  1. Listening to the Word of God by reading the Bible.
  2. Appreciating the blessings God has given you – write them down. (Praise Journal)
  3. Going to church, attending daily Mass if at all possible.
  4. Read about the saints, the lives of holy men and women of God who overcame great obstacles.
  5. Listening to praise and worship music and allowing the words to penetrate your heart.
  6. Sitting with the Lord and just listening. Even if you hear nothing, the Lord is with you. One of the prayers I learned early on is this prayer – Come Holy Spirit, fill the hearts of your faithful, and kindle in them the fire of your love. Send forth your Spirit and they shall be created. And You shall renew the face of the earth.
    O, God, who by the light of the Holy Spirit, did instruct the hearts of the faithful, grant that by the same Holy Spirit we may be truly wise and ever enjoy His consolations, Through Christ Our Lord, Amen.
  7. Surrounding yourself with like-minded friends. I volunteer and serve on the Magnificat Ministry – a ministry for women, and we celebrate prayer breakfasts at least four times a year. This is an uplifting event to join in with other women to praise and worship the Lord and hear testimony from someone whose life has been transformed by God.
  8. Praying. Offer your day to the Lord in the morning and the evening. Ask the Lord to fill you with every good thing.
  9. Avoid anything negative or anti-Christian.
  10. Turn off social media and the television.

I’ve noticed that the times I need filling up are when I’ve let my eyes stray from the Lord and my mission, which is to love and serve the Lord and others he has placed in my care.

We can become discontent when we think other people are doing so much better than they are, and maybe they are; rejoice and be glad because we are already heirs of the Kingdom of God.

Friends, let’s pray for each other that we are filled to overflowing by the grace of God, and that is your challenge this week; pray for an infilling of God’s love, peace, and joy. Fill your spiritual tank to overflowing, and I will pray this for you this week.

 

 

 

Testimony of Stacey O’Rourke

A Production of the Ultimate Christian Podcast Network.

Testimony of Stacey O’Rourke | Stacey O’Rourke is a cradle Catholic. She received all her sacraments, but her family were not big church goers. She grew up in a dysfunctional household as both parents were alcoholics. She also became an alcoholic at an early age | #christianpodcast #podcast #catholicpodcast #catholicpriest #testimony #CatholicTestimony #TestimonyofStaceyO’Rourke #StaceyO’RourkeTestimony of Stacey O’Rourke

Stacey O’Rourke is a cradle Catholic. She received all her sacraments, but her family were not big church goers. She grew up in a dysfunctional household as both parents were alcoholics. She also became an alcoholic at an early age. This spiraled her into unhealthy relationships and activities and failed marriages. After her sobriety she went back to church and found support through her church family. She discovered Charismatics within her parish and became very intrigued.

Stacey received the gift of the Holy Spirit, and her life began to have meaning, and purpose. People would come to her and ask for prayer. She got very involved in Ministries within the Church and worked in a Catholic bookstore. It took her a long time, but she was finally able to forgive her mother. Stacey was the caregiver of her father in his last years and brought him to Christ before he passed away. The Lord kept bringing angels into her life that would help her and her family with all their daily living needs. She has two grown daughters from her marriage of 25 years and seven grandchildren. Her story is compelling and miraculous in many ways.

To find out more about Magnificat, A Ministry to Catholic Women, visit us at Magnificat-ministry.org

Magnificat Store

Did you know there is a wonderful shopping opportunity just waiting for you? Explore our shopping cart for rosaries, apparel, books, jewelry, statues, CDs, study programs, (ex. Bible studies, Life in the Spirit Seminar, Growth in the Spirit series), and much more. To find great gifts for family, friends and YOU, we invite you to visit    https://store.magnificat-ministry.net

Thank you for being a part of our network of listeners; we appreciate you!

Share your favorite podcast with a friend and be sure to rate us on Apple Podcasts. Your feedback means a lot.

 

 

Toward Forgiveness

A Production of the Ultimate Christian Podcast Network.

Joseph in the Old Testament

In the story of Joseph, we find an example of forgiveness. Joseph not only forgives his brothers for the wrong they did to him but restores and blesses them. The verses below show a small piece of the story.

Scripture

” Joseph prepared his chariot and went up to meet his father Israel in Goshen. As soon as Israel made his appearance, Joseph threw his arms around him and wept a long time on his shoulder.” Genesis 46:29

“And Joseph provided food for his father and brothers and his father’s whole household, down to the youngest.”  Genesis 47:12

‘Thus you shall say to Joseph: Please forgive the criminal wrongdoing of your brothers, who treated you harmfully.’ So now please forgive the crime that we, the servants of the God of your father, committed.” When they said this to him, Joseph broke into tears. Then his brothers also proceeded to fling themselves down before him and said, “We are your slaves!” But Joseph replied to them: “Do not fear. Can I take the place of God?  Even though you meant harm to me, God meant it for good, to achieve this present end, the survival of many people.” Genesis 50:17-20

Joseph as a  ‘Type’

We can see a foreshadowing of Jesus in this story of Joseph. He saves his family, the family of Israel, in a time of famine. He forgives his brothers. He restores his brothers and gives them land and herds.

This week, forgive someone.

Would you like to have me speak at your parish or ministry? I’d be happy to join you in person or virtually. Start the conversation! 

 Testimony of Angela Copenhaver

A Production of the Ultimate Christian Podcast Network.

Testimony of Angela Copenhaver. | Angela Copenhaver is a Catholic convert. She was raised in Lincoln, Nebraska in a protestant family. Her parents divorced when she was young. As an adult she worked for a delivery company and worked hard to climb the corporate ladder and financial security | #christianpodcast #podcast #catholicpodcast #catholicpriest #testimony #CatholicTestimony #TestimonyofAngelaCopenhaver #AngelaCopenhaverTestimony of Angela Copenhaver

Angela Copenhaver is a Catholic convert. She was raised in Lincoln, Nebraska in a protestant family. Her parents divorced when she was young. As an adult she worked for a delivery company and worked hard to climb the corporate ladder and financial security. She was promoted to management in sales and marketing and transferred to Montana and then Virginia Beach.  While walking on the beach one day she heard a message from God to move back to Lincoln, NE to be close to family and just be a grandma.

Angela’s daughter had recently become a Catholic. Jesus used her family to start her journey with Jesus. Angela and her husband went to Church with her daughter’s family and soon after they joined RCIA. She attributes St. Therese of Avila as being influential in growing in her faith from the many books she read. She and her husband became Catholic in April of 2012. Angela started listening to Spirit Catholic Radio, and the programming changed her life. She saw a job opportunity to work at the radio station in sales and marketing and though she had no experience in radio she convinced them to hire her. She sees it as a wonderful way to evangelize. Angela is also the founder of We Teach Think and Human from Day One.

To find out more about Magnificat, A Ministry to Catholic Women, visit us at Magnificat-ministry.org

Magnificat Store

Did you know there is a wonderful shopping opportunity just waiting for you? Explore our shopping cart for rosaries, apparel, books, jewelry, statues, CDs, study programs, (ex. Bible studies, Life in the Spirit Seminar, Growth in the Spirit series), and much more. To find great gifts for family, friends and YOU, we invite you to visit    https://store.magnificat-ministry.net

Thank you for being a part of our network of listeners; we appreciate you!

Share your favorite podcast with a friend and be sure to rate us on Apple Podcasts. Your feedback means a lot.

Tips for Connection

A Production of the Ultimate Christian Podcast Network.

Tips for Connection | Following are some very practical ways you can approach parenting to give both you and your child a sense of predictability and peace.  Know that if you are a new parent, these will be easier than if you have not been parenting in this way and make the switch to them | #WholnessHoliness #MargaretVasquezs #GrowingVirtue #ModelofHonesty #Friends #GrowingCharitytoUprootGreed #UprootGreed #GrowingCharity #TipsforConnectionTips for Connection

Tips for Connection. Following are some very practical ways you can approach parenting to give both you and your child a sense of predictability and peace.  Know that if you are a new parent, these will be easier than if you have not been parenting in this way and make the switch to them.  It is normal and natural for a child to test boundaries that are set for them.  It’s part of how we learn.  Eventually, a child will learn that the boundaries you set will hold (if you stick to them) and there will be less and less testing, just as we only drop things intentionally when we are very little.  Once we see that when dropped an object will fall to the ground, we know that the law of gravity pertains to us and we don’t wonder what will happen if we drop something.

Parenting Tips

  • Address only the “wise”/cooperative part of the child from your true self.

 

  • Do not make the child responsible for your emotions. Relate to the child out of calm compassion and encourage him/her to take responsibility for his/her emotions.

 

  • Be calm and assertive. If you cannot be and stay calm and assertive, look at and address why you cannot.

 

  • Affirm and accentuate the positive minute-by-minute, hour-by-hour, and day-by-day.

 

  • The child fundamentally wants to feel safe. When behavior is oppositional, angry, and defiant simply state and reassure emotional/physical safety.

 

  • Give free choices between true options whenever possible and affirm the choice that is made.

 

  • Create “no fail” situations that do not have any objective other than BEING one-on-one together with the child. This is time to develop relationship – not to reprimand or give directives.

 

  • Have and keep clear house rules with clear privileges and consequences that all caregivers enforce.  This prevents a sense of unknown/unpredictable for caregivers and child.

 

  • Focus on affirming and enjoying them rather than being afraid of or for them or controlling their behavior. The better he feels about himself the more he will control his own behavior.

 

  • If you expect her to fail, she probably will.

 

  • Be the leader. Do not wait for your child to set the tone for the day.  Treat oppositional behavior directly and immediately with the agreed upon consequences and then move on.  If you’re holding a grudge, deal with yourself and what that’s about.

 

  • Being frustrated is normal. Be frustrated with the behavior and not with the child.  If he becomes frustrated with himself as well, his behavior will only worsen and compound the problem.

Know that unaddressed trauma – even traumas that happened in the womb or as an infant can cause many confounding emotional and behavioral problems.  If a child is consistently in crisis, even behaviorally, that may indicate a need for trauma therapy.

Parenting is so important.  Consider that you are imaging God for your child.  How you represent the Lord far more than what you say about Him will come to be how he or she understands God.  It’s a noble calling and crucial to the forming of a world of peace.  May God bless your efforts with His own grace and strength, He who is Father of us all.

May the Lord give you peace.

Margaret

 

NEHEMIAH & Rebuilding HOPE #8 – Need Joy in Your Life? Nehemiah Points to a Prayer Booth!

A Production of the Ultimate Christian Podcast Network.

Nehemiah and Ezra tell the people: "The Joy of the Lord is Your Strength."Consider Nehemiah Chapter 8. Do you need more JOY in your life? Are you seeking a revival in your faith? Nehemiah will show you the way. Join us today as we cover creating a spiritual “prayer booth” for rejoicing, reading Scripture, recalling what God has done for us, and receiving new JOY.

Wall Completed

  • Nehemiah and the Israelites completed the walls and gates in 52 days (Nehemiah 6).
  • Now Nehemiah begins restoring his beloved people’s faith (Nehemiah 7 & 8).

Fortification and Worship (Nehemiah 7: 1-5)

  • Nehemiah assigned gatekeepers to keep the city free from enemies so the people could worship without threats.
  • He appointed singers to praise the Lord day and night and to lead worship. It nurtured a close relationship with God.
  • He appointed the Levites to watch over all things holy.

Historic Memory

  • God put it into Nehemiah’s heart to register every person.
  • Historic memory is crucial to the survival of any nation or culture.
  • Nehemiah had to remind the people of their heritage and that God was with them as the returning remnant.

The Gathering – New Year’s Day (Nehemiah 8: 1)

  • It’s October 444 B.C., New Year’s Day, called Rosh Hashanah on the Hebrew Civil calendar.
  • The Feast of Trumpets on the Hebrew religious calendar calls for the people to prepare for the holy days to come (Leviticus 23: 23-24).

Hunger for God’s Word and Joy (Nehemiah 8: 2-8)

  • The people gathered to hear Ezra read from the Torah (Genesis, Exodus, Leviticus, Numbers, and Deuteronomy).
  • The people stood up the entire time from morning to midday, starved and thirsty for the Word of God.
  • It takes only a few fallen-away generations to leave the next ones destitute and ignorant about God.
  • Ezra blessed the Lord. All the people responded, “Amen, Amen.” Thus, they (1) thanked God with their “Amen”, (2) praised God by lifting up their hands, and 3) bowed down in adoration and submission to God.

Weeping & JOY (Nehemiah 8: 9-12)

  • It took hearing and understanding God’s Word to begin the healing of broken hearts and dreams.
  • The Word of God revealed their sin, they were grieved, and they confessed their sins before God.
  • Nehemiah and Ezra told the people: “Don’t be grieved, for the JOY of the LORD is your strength”(v. 10).

The Feast of  Booths – 444 BC (Nehemiah 8: 13-18)

  • The Feast of Booths, also called the Feast of Tabernacles (or Sukkot) was celebrated for seven days.
  • God called the Israelites to recall how they wandered the desert and lived in booths or huts while God provided for them.
  • The Feast of Booths commemorates God’s provision and guidance, and the Israelites must live in booths to celebrate it.
  • They read the Word of God, rejoiced, offered thanksgiving, and worshipped God with their families in huts/booths.
  • God’s Word led them to repent; God’s Word changed everything, and they were filled with much joy.

Personal Reflection – The Feast of Booths Application

  • How will you respond to these verses of Scripture? You Could
    • Prayer Booth. Set up a Holy Place (call it a booth or secret place) in your home where you can pray, praise, read Scripture, and write in your prayer journal. Your booth is your secret place – it’s like a spiritual booth/or hut/where the people celebrate the Feast of Booths. It’s a place to put yourself in God’s presence in your home. You offer praise thanksgiving and worship.
    • Listen. Take time daily to read Scripture and allow God to speak to you. You can ask the Holy Spirit to set the Words afire in your heart and help you understand as you read. Try to record a few sentences in your journal of how the Lord speaks to you.
    • Receive the JOY of the Lord. “For the Joy of the Lord is your strength.” Ask Jesus for JOY as you read His word. (See John 15: 11 & Psalm 1.)

Cup of JOY Women

  • Consider hosting a weekly one-hour Cup of Joy Women’s small group study. It accompanies this podcast and you can begin anytime or choose another of my podcast series (e.g. Finding More JOY).
  • Pray about accepting this opportunity to engage others and gently evangelize by hosting a small group of friends over coffee or tea. It’s free and I will help you get started. For information, contact me, or go to Cup of Joy Women.

Links

 

Christian Comfort Zone

A Production of the Ultimate Christian Podcast Network.

Comfort Zone | Do you have a comfort zone as a Christian? Is your faith private? Is it personal? Is it something you do not want to share? If you want more from your faith walk, join Felice for this episode of A Few Minutes with God Podcast | #podcast #christianpodcast #catholicpodcast #Godandmercy #mercifulGod #mercy #Trust #ComfortZoneChristian Comfort Zone – Time To Get Out! ~ Episode 265

Do you have a comfort zone as a Christian? Is your faith private? Is it personal? Is it something you do not want to share? If you want more from your faith walk, join Felice for this episode of A Few Minutes with God Podcast.

CTCMath.com is the sponsor of today’s episode, I want to thank them and encourage you to check out their products.

As Christians, we have our own way of expressing our faith. For many, it means attending church weekly and praying privately in their homes. Others share their faith with friends that are like-minded. Still, others have friends they’ve met at church.

And why not? All of these ways are acceptable. In fact, we should not brag, are we not taught this in scripture?

Scripture talks about not making a show of faith like the hypocrites. In Mathew 6:5-15 (read on air).

Then the Lord goes on to teach us how to pray, and He gives us the Lord’s prayer, encouraging us to forgive our trespasses as He has forgiven us.

Not only did the Lord admonish us not to brag about our holiness, but he also explained we should pray in private.  So, why am I talking about your comfort zone today? Because the Lord teaches us that while we should not brag about our holiness, we should also not keep the good news to ourselves. John 3:16 “For God so loved the world that he gave his only Son so that everyone who believes in him might not perish but might have eternal life.”

Seriously. How could we not share the good news about eternal life with Christ? In fact, we read the words of Jesus before He rose up into heaven, Matthew 28:19 “Go, therefore, and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit.”

How can we make disciples for the Kingdom of God? First, ask the Lord. I’ve shared in a past podcast about wanting to do the work of the Lord and share the good news, and I had little children at that time, and my vocation was not to go knocking on doors; it was to take care of my children and my family. Yet, God knew my heart, and He provided ways for me to share the good news with others by talking to the repairmen that came to the house or the pest-control guy. In this way, I could fulfill my purpose at that place in time and still share the wonderful things that God has done for us.

(Talk about going on a trip with my five children – two were in their late teens, and I had three others from several months old, three and five. The airline attendants could not believe the children were all mine, and it allowed for dialogue about children being a gift from God and what I thought about being open to the number of children that God would give me. Was this out of my comfort zone? Yes. I didn’t want to be the object of their attention, but I hope that this planted seeds of faith.

Asking the Lord to use you, sometimes out of your comfort zone, is one way that we can evangelize for Him. I’ve met street preachers and applauded them for their work. If that is how you’ve been called, it is a blessing. The college-aged young people I met gave out flyers at the beach as people were walking off the boardwalk and into the sand. If someone acted interested or wanted to talk more, they did — if not, there was no pressure.

Even if evangelization is forced, while it may be difficult, but I told her, God can use anything for His good and His glory. The assignment was given because of this passage in Luke.

Luke 10:1-12 (read on air).

This week’s challenge is to pray to the Lord and ask Him to provide for you when you are outside your comfort zone and that He gives you the words to use as you focus on His joy and love for you and others.

 

 

 

Testimony of Pat Higginbotham 

A Production of the Ultimate Christian Podcast Network.

Testimony of Pat Higginbotham | Pat Higginbotham was a daughter in a military family. She grew up with three sisters; she was the third child | #christianpodcast #podcast #catholicpodcast #catholicpriest #testimony #CatholicTestimony #TestimonyofPatHigginbotham #PatHigginbothamTestimony of Pat Higginbotham

Pat Higginbotham was a daughter in a military family. She grew up with three sisters; she was the third child. Her father was in the Airforce. They moved around a lot as most military families do but she felt she had one stable home in Lost Creek, W. Virginia, her mother’s family home. She grew up in the Methodist faith, but in her preteen years, she began to have curiosity about the Catholic faith because her neighborhood friend was Catholic. She got introduced to the Holy Water and the Sign of the Cross. Her friend also took her to a Catholic Mass. She felt the reverence of the Catholic tradition. She ended up marrying a Catholic man soon out of college.

Pat Higginbotham. and her husband had three children. She struggled being a good mother and read many books on parenting. In 1981, Pat converted to the Catholic faith for the sake of the family and felt the calling from the Blessed Mother. They moved into a new home and the local Catholic Church had a Charismatic Community she got very involved in. She received the gift of the Holy Spirit. She learned through Romans that God’s love is poured into our hearts by the power of the Holy Spirit. Pat shares a few of her life’s lessons when hearing the Lord speak but not responding to the call. Pat became active in the Healing Ministry, visiting people in hospitals and prisons. She shares how God spoke to her in those experiences and revealed his mercy, love, and compassion.

To find out more about Magnificat, A Ministry to Catholic Women, visit us ‘ www.magnificat-ministry.org

Magnificat Store

Did you know there is a wonderful shopping opportunity just waiting for you? Explore our shopping cart for rosaries, apparel, books, jewelry, statues, CDs, study programs, (ex. Bible studies, Life in the Spirit Seminar, Growth in the Spirit series), and much more. To find great gifts for family, friends and YOU, we invite you to visit    https://store.magnificat-ministry.net

Thank you for being a part of our network of listeners; we appreciate you!

Share your favorite podcast with a friend and be sure to rate us on Apple Podcasts. Your feedback means a lot.

Parenting for Connection

A Production of the Ultimate Christian Podcast Network.

Parenting for Connection | Connection to God, self, and others is fundamentally important to our physical, emotional, and spiritual health and well-being.  Without it, we seek to self-medicate the emptiness through all sorts of things that will never satisfy and will only further the disconnection | #WholnessHoliness #MargaretVasquezs #GrowingVirtue #ModelofHonesty #Friends #GrowingCharitytoUprootGreed #UprootGreed #GrowingCharity #ParentingforconnectionParenting for Connection

Parenting for Connection. Connection to God, self, and others is fundamentally important to our physical, emotional, and spiritual health and well-being.  Without it, we seek to self-medicate the emptiness through all sorts of things that will never satisfy and will only further the disconnection.  So, when we consider the task of parenting or even mentoring as godparents, coaches, teachers, etc. it is critically important to raise adults who are able to be connected and then able to foster the same in the future generations.

As we parent and mentor it is important to know what our goals are.  When we parent to foster connection, we are looking to raise adults who are able to give generously to and receive gratefully from others.  Another goal is that they will relate to themselves in a compassionate way, seeing themselves as God sees them.  That same mercy and self-compassion then flows our to others.  They will relate to the Lord with reverence and intimacy as the ultimate source of and one who has the greatest claim to our connection.

Over the next episodes, we will discuss parenting and mentoring based on the pillars of connection:  chosen (being directly and intentionally related to), known (seen and heard as an individual who is very good), valued (having inherent dignity as children of God), and boundaries (that physically, emotionally, and spiritually there is a place where we stop and the other starts that we must reverence and respect).

The benefits to children raised for healthy and authentic connection are so numerous.  They will have right order in their lives that will protect them from the chaos and drama that goes with disordered living.  They will have resilience built up within them that will help inoculate them against the effects of bullying.  Ultimately, they will have freedom, joy, and the shalom peace, that is, wholeness and completeness in their lives and will come to foster the same in others.

Join me as we take a look at parenting and mentoring adults for the future of our Church and society who are whole and holy!

May the Lord give you peace!

Margaret

Nehemiah – Rebuilding Hope #7 – Facing Slander? Nehemiah Responds, Pray, Speak the Truth & Persevere

A Production of the Ultimate Christian Podcast Network.
Nehemiah - Rebuilding Hope #7 - Facing Slander? Nehemiah Responds, Pray, Speak the Truth & Persevere!

Nehemiah reads slanderous letters from Sanballet

Pray, Speak the Truth & Persevere Always

Look to Nehemiah. Are you facing slander?  Have mistruths been spoken about you? You can overcome the discouragement and discern the lies, deception, and diversion around you! Nehemiah will show you how. Join the podcast today as he shows us to always pray, speak the truth, and persevere. Today we cover the following points:

The Outcry of the People

  • In Nehemiah 5, the immoral and unlawful practices of the Jewish nobles and officials brought many families to poverty.
  • After he stood back in anger, Nehemiah demanded that nobles and officials follow God’s laws, or as a consequence, they would lose their possessions in God’s justice. The Jewish officials made an oath to do this and responded, “Amen,” and “praised the Lord.”

Three Attacks from the Opposition

  • In Nehemiah 6, the enemies from surrounding countries become fearful about losing authority and moneymaking practices.
  • They conspired to stop the building with a 1) Fake Meeting, 2) Slander Campaign, and 3) False Prophecy.

Diversion – The Fake Meeting Scheme (Nehemiah 6: 1-4)

  • They invited Nehemiah to a “fake meeting” in the hills of Ono, a day’s journey away (near Tel Aviv today).
  • It sounded like a neutral place, but he discerned it was a scheme to do him harm.

Division- Lies & The Smear Campaign (Nehemiah 6: 5-9)

  • In an unsealed letter, Sanballat accused Nehemiah of a treasonous plot to revolt and overthrow the king.
  • Sanballat knew that others would read the lies and slander would be spread everywhere.
  • The scheme had worked twenty years prior when the King of Persia shut down the rebuilding (Ezra 4).
  • Nehemiah declared the truth to confront the lies and prayed: But now, O God, strengthen my hands.”

Deception –False Prophecy Trap (Nehemiah 6: 10-14)

  • Tobiah and Sanballat hired Shemaiah, likely a priest and prophet, to mislead Nehemiah.
  • He prophesied that he should seek refuge in the temple and make an offering.
  • Shemaiah tried to use tales of terror and “religious speak, saying the enemies planned to kill Nehemiah.
  • Nehemiah knew entering the temple would be a sin that the enemies would use to discredit him.

The  Completed Wall

  • God blessed Nehemiah, answered his prayers, and helped the Israelites complete the wall in only 52 days.
  • This was a great victory for the people because of opposition from the same enemies over twenty years.

Personal Reflection

  • Today, Nehemiah reminds us how to respond to life’s assaults: Pray, Declare the Truth, and Persevere.
  1. When you are facing discouragement, especially from diversion, division, or deception, pray like Nehemiah, Lord, strengthen my hands! and thus, ask God to help you discern the truth and persevere.
  2. Declare the truth. Don’t be distracted by rumors or slanderous accusations. This is the devil’s way of making you compromise with evil. Instead, speak the truth in love. Declare the Scriptures. For example:
    • Romans 8:15: For you did not receive a spirit of slavery to fall back into fear, but you have received a spirit of adoption. When we cry, “Abba! Father!”  Declare: I am a daughter of God!
    • Timothy 1:7: [F]or God did not give us a spirit of fear, but rather a spirit of power and of love and a sound mind. Declare: I don’t have a spirit of fear, but one of power, love, and a sound mind.
  3. Commit your work to the Lord and stay focused.

Cup of JOY Women

  • Consider hosting a weekly one-hour Cup of Joy Women’s small group study on It accompanies this podcast and you can begin anytime or choose any podcast series (e.g. Finding More JOY).
  • Pray about accepting this fantastic opportunity to engage others and gently evangelize by hosting a small group of friends over coffee or tea. It’s free and I will help you get started. For information, contact me, go to Cup of Joy Women.

Links

 

Spiritual Sandpaper

A Production of the Ultimate Christian Podcast Network.

Spiritual sandpaper | Describes the events that happen in our lives that purify us and make us better than before, yet they are painful. In this episode, Felice shares how this can actually cause spiritual growth if we open our eyes to the possibilities 
| #podcast #christianpodcast #catholicpodcast #Godandmercy #mercifulGod #mercy #Trust #SpiritualsandpaperSpiritual Sandpaper – Episode 264

Spiritual sandpaper describes the events that happen in our lives that purify us and make us better than before, yet they are painful. In this episode, Felice shares how this can actually cause spiritual growth if we open our eyes to the possibilities.

Visit our sponsor CTCMath.com for all of your family’s math needs. My own grandchildren use this curriculum and I’m excited they are sponsoring our network.

Have you heard sermons about being tested in faith? The longer you follow the Lord, the more you understand this concept. At various times in our life, we strive for goodness, honesty and perhaps even holiness. Yet, our faith deepens not by all the good things that happen in our lives but through our trials.

In the book of Job 23:10 we read, “But he knows the way that I take; when he has tested me, I will come forth as gold.”

Our resolve goes one way or another. After being tested, or purified we are not lukewarm but either for or against God. Proverbs 27:21 speaks truth in the verse, ”

The crucible for silver and the furnace for gold, but people are tested by their praise.

We’ve discussed praise and worship on my past episodes, and praising God in our daily walk can make the difference between happiness and strife. In fact as I write this the Lord has reminded me of a private matter of which I have been praying and beeseching God and I am now going to thank God for the situation. I am not thankful, but if it is God’s will – or God’s permissive will then I will be thankful out of obedience.

Is this true faith to blindly follow? Not at all. It is faith that understands that while we have free will, God’s will is for us to join Him in heaven at the end of our life, and a life of ease and comfort rarely gets us to that destination. The areas of our life that are unchecked lead to temptation. This can look different for each one of us.

Spiritual sandpaper is that time in our life when things are uncomfortable, and yet we see, after the trial, that the outcome is better than we could have hoped and prayed. We had some years of reduced income due to the economy. We never lived over our means, but even our savings accounts and investments did not prevent the outcome. After this very uncomfortable time, the Lord allowed us to keep our home when many around us with deeper pockets went bankrupt, and we were able to pay off our debt in a difficult yet fulfilling way. This time has taught us to value money in a better way than would not have happened without this uncomfortable time in our life.

I praise God for the outcome, which was so much better than I could imagine. In prayer I kept getting those words, they would pop into my mind, “It will be better than you imagine.”

We know sandpaper can be gritty and abrasive, but what happens afterward? The surface is primed and smooth. The sandpaper in our lives was reduced income, it was not a life and death situation, even though it felt like it at that time. Many of you have had a situation with someone who has been abrasive in your life, and it has been a challenge.

Our pastor talks about a husband and wife being sandpaper to each other and it works out our flaws and shortcomings. Our family is also our spiritual sandpaper.

The scriptures talk about being tested many times. The most notable in our spiritual sandpaper focus today is Proverbs 27:17, “As iron sharpens iron, so one person sharpens another.

How are we sharpening each other? Are we helping each other in our walk toward the Lord –that is what we should be doing, but we often fall short. I don’t want to come off as preachy when I talk to my children about spiritual matters. Yet, sometimes I do. I send them videos of good sermons, Scripture verses, or encouragement. That helps in ways that are beneficial without me using a bunch of words.

Our job as parents is to aid our children. Our job as a husband or wife is to aid our spouse. The same goes if you are dating. We are to help and not antagonize each other.

Matthew 5:43-44:

“You have heard the law that says, ‘Love your neighbor and hate your enemy. But I say, love your enemies! Pray for those who persecute you!’”

God commands us to love as He loves, which is difficult and sometimes impossible. That is why I have prayed, “Lord, I can not love this person right now, but I know you love them; please bless them abundantly.”

MOST OF THE ANIMOSITY WAS LIFTED whenever I prayed this prayer or something similar. Sometimes it took years, but the Lord was victorious in teaching me to forgive.

Why should we love even when people hurt us? Even when we are chafed, annoyed, or persecuted? Because the Lord asks it of us. I love how Jesus explains the main purpose of this command to love our enemies and pray for those who persecute us in Matthew 5 verse 47, he says:

“If you are kind only to your friends, how are you different from anyone else? Even pagans do that.”

Do we want to be compared to pagans? Of course not; as believers, we want to do better than those without belief or those who believe in false gods. And that is our challenge today or this week. It is three-fold.

  1. First, to be aware of situations where we are sandpaper – that is, abrasive to others without cause. (Not sure there is ever a cause to be abrasive!)
  2. Be aware of situations where others have been abrasive to us, and we harbor unforgiveness. Remember the Lord’s prayer.
  3. Look at the spiritual sandpaper in our lives as a good thing, one that will help us to grow spiritually.

Why Listening is Important

A Production of the Ultimate Christian Podcast Network.

In the Beginning…

In the very first chapter of Genesis, it tells us that “God said” and the earth was formed. There was listening.

How to listen

When listening to another person, it is important that we:

  • listen with the intention to understand and respond
  • let go of our own experiences and the need to talk about them
  • let go of judgment

When we listen, we give the other person a true gift of self.

Communication

At least one person must be listening for communication to take place.

Listening Day

May 16 is National Listening Day. There is a lovely poem, “Today I Will Listen,” by Marva Shand McIntosh.

This week, focus on listening to others.

And, if you can, leave a review of this podcast wherever you listen and subscribe to the Live Not Lukewarm newsletter. When you subscribe, you’ll receive a video series on How to Pray with Scripture!

Testimony of Michelle Seghers 

A Production of the Ultimate Christian Podcast Network.

Testimony of Michelle Seghers | Michelle begins her story with a verse from Jeremiah 31:3 “I have loved you with an everlasting love.’ She shares how His everlasting love has been with her throughout her lifetime in the Church, and in her family | #christianpodcast #podcast #catholicpodcast #catholicpriest #testimony #CatholicTestimony #TestimonyofMichelleSeghers #MichelleSeghersTestimony of Michelle Seghers 

Testimony of Michelle Seghers. Michelle begins her story with a verse from Jeremiah 31:3 “I have loved you with an everlasting love.’ She shares how His everlasting love has been with her throughout her lifetime in the Church, and in her family. God has always been faithful to her. Michelle grew up in a strong Catholic family in Louisiana. Her father was a Deacon. The family opened their home to many Religious as she was growing up, having daily Mass in their home, and being formed in the catechesis of the faith.

Michelle met the love of her life, a much older man and married Jim at the age of 20. They started their marriage living in California and had seven children of their own and raised two from Jim’s previous marriage. Michelle homeschooled the children. After having a successful career, Jim felt called to Ministry, when he retired, they moved back to Louisiana to start the Totus Tuus Ministry and wrote a book called the ‘Fullness of Truth.’ Michelle worked with the Young Adult Ministry and Theology on Tap in her Diocese for many years and then became the Office Manager and Event Planner for Magnificat.

To find out more about Magnificat, A Ministry to Catholic Women, visit us ‘ www.magnificat-ministry.org

Magnificat Store

Did you know there is a wonderful shopping opportunity just waiting for you? Explore our shopping cart for rosaries, apparel, books, jewelry, statues, CDs, study programs, (ex. Bible studies, Life in the Spirit Seminar, Growth in the Spirit series), and much more. To find great gifts for family, friends and YOU, we invite you to visit    https://store.magnificat-ministry.net

Thank you for being a part of our network of listeners; we appreciate you!

Share your favorite podcast with a friend and be sure to rate us on Apple Podcasts. Your feedback means a lot.

 

Diligence Overtakes Sloth

A Production of the Ultimate Christian Podcast Network.

Diligence Overtakes Sloth | One of the cardinal or key virtues, that of fortitude, helps us in the forming of the virtue of diligence.  Being diligent means being consistently oriented toward the good.  It helps us take the desire and aspiration for good and make it practical and real | #ChristonPodcast #Christon #podcast #WholnessHoliness #MargaretVasquezs #GrowingVirtue #ModelofHonesty #Friends #GrowingCharitytoUprootGreed #UprootGreed #GrowingCharity #DiligenceOvertakesSlothDiligence Overtakes Sloth

Diligence Overtakes Sloth. One of the cardinal or key virtues, that of fortitude, helps us in the forming of the virtue of diligence.  Being diligent means being consistently oriented toward the good.  It helps us take the desire and aspiration for good and make it practical and real.  The strength (fortitude) when exercised in very human or even seemingly mundane duties forms a habit of diligence.  We become consistent in our ability to choose the good.  We know God is the greatest good and so the exercise of actual movement in the direction of choosing the good is essential.  How amazing to think doing our daily duties, when done out of love for God and as a way of exercising self-discipline and diligence can help us in our spiritual lives.

By contrast, sloth is an apathy towards the good and can even end us up with a lack of desire for spiritual things.  The giving in to the lack of discipline can be a slippery slope.  Rejoicing in the Lord and delighting in Him isn’t just a saying.  It’s a real injunction we ought to take seriously and follow with constancy by choosing the good for love of Him.

We tend to think about and move towards what we keep in the forefront of our minds.  We can think about uprooting any of the vices but how beautiful when we ponder the love, goodness, and beauty of the Lord.  There’s a supernatural attractiveness toward Him because He is the ultimate good.  As we allow these things to fill our minds, hearts, and speech they become that much more what animates our lives in all areas.  We look back after some time and see how far the Lord by His grace has brought us.  The pressure isn’t on us to transform ourselves.  The Holy Spirit is the Sanctifier.  We simply need to cooperate – work with – His grace and allow Him to transform us from glory to glory.  When we give the Lord our five loaves and two fish, He multiplies our meager offerings.  Let’s trust in His goodness and power to do far more than we can ask or imagine!

May the Lord give you peace!

Margaret

A Reflection on Sending Out Laborers

A Production of the Ultimate Christian Podcast Network.

A Reflection on Sending Out Laborers | What does the heart of God look like? Jesus is the perfect embodiment of God’s heart. Matthew tells us his heart was moved with pity as he surveyed the crowds before him. | #christianpodcast #podcast #catholicpodcast #catholicpriest #testimony #CatholicTestimony #A ReflectiononSendingOutLaborers A Reflection on Sending Out Laborers

A Reflection on Sending out Laborers Matt. 9:32-38 By Deacon David Hockwalt. What does the heart of God look like? Jesus is the perfect embodiment of God’s heart. Matthew tells us his heart was moved with pity as he surveyed the crowds before him. He had compassion that sprang out of profound love. Jesus knew that he would one day return to the Father and that his ministry needed to continue on earth. The harvest is abundant, but the laborers are few. Jesus is referring to the harvest of evangelization. Pray for men and women who will dedicate themselves to the harvest.

DEACON DAVID HOCKWALT was ordained a Permanent Deacon in the Diocese of San Bernardino in 2012. He continues in active ministry today and is the spiritual advisor to the vicariate Life in the Spirit team.

We pray that today may be a special day in your life as you experience the presence of Jesus Christ among us through this reflection. Magnificat, taken from Luke: 1, is the great hymn of praise that Mary prayed while visiting her cousin, Elizabeth. We trust that this reflection will help us all better understand that we are truly children of God, made in His image and likeness. We want to come together in God’s presence and proclaim that the Almighty has done great things for you and me and holy is His Name!

To find out more about Magnificat, A Ministry to Catholic Women, visit us ‘ www.magnificat-ministry.org

Magnificat Store

Did you know there is a wonderful shopping opportunity just waiting for you? Explore our shopping cart for rosaries, apparel, books, jewelry, statues, CDs, study programs, (ex. Bible studies, Life in the Spirit Seminar, Growth in the Spirit series), and much more. To find great gifts for family, friends and YOU, we invite you to visit    https://store.magnificat-ministry.net

Nehemiah – Rebuilding Hope #6 – Angry? Nehemiah Says Step Back First!

A Production of the Ultimate Christian Podcast Network.

Angered While Rebuilding? Nehemiah Says Step Back First!

Consider Nehemiah. Do you get angry easily?  Do you get riled up? Nehemiah shows us to step back before acting. It never works to respond with emotions. In Chapter 5, during their rebuilding, the people face opposition from within their ranks. It seems that if the opposition doesn’t hit us from without, it comes from within. Join the podcast today as Nehemiah reminds us to step back, then stand up and keep focus when facing opposition. Today we cover the following points:

Fight for Your Families

  • In Nehemiah Chapter 4, the people were making progress when more persecution made them fearful.
  • Nehemiah prayed and encouraged the people saying: “Do not be afraid of them. Remember the Lord, who is great and awesome and fight for your kin, your sons, your daughters, your wives, and your homes” (Nehemiah 4: 14).

Outcry and Poverty (Nehemiah 5: 1-5)

  • Many were in poverty: inflation had become rampant and taxes were unbearable.
  • In order to pay the taxes, the families borrowed money from others using their own children as collateral.
  • If loans could not be repaid, their children, and even the wives and men, would be sold as slaves..

Step Back & Take Time to Think (Nehemiah 5: 6-7)

  • Nehemiah was very angry with the nobles and officials who took advantage of their kin.
  • Leviticus 25: 35-38 and Deuteronomy 23: 20 instruct them not to charge interest if they lend to the poor.
  • Nehemiah did not show his angst. He stepped back and collected his thoughts.
  • He gives us the first step in resolving conflict from within – step back.

The Symbolism of the Oath & Gesture (Nehemiah 5: 6-13)

  • Nehemiah confronted the nobles who were enslaving their own brethren and children.
  • He implored the officials to 1) repent of their sins and respect the Lord by following His Law, 2) stop charging interest, and 3) restore everything they took.
  • Using the Word of God (Torah at the time) and a conciliatory manner, he spoke the truth.
  • In one dramatic prophetic act symbolizing the solemnity of their oath, Nehemiah shook out the fold of his garment … In this, he emphasized that judgment would come to those who did not keep their oath before God. The assembly confirmed it with a passionate “Amen.” They “praised the Lord … and did as they had promised.

The Governor

  • Nehemiah kept his focus on building the wall.
  • He used his money earned as a cupbearer to support Jerusalem’s poor and suffering people. He worked more for God’s approval.
  • Nehemiah prayed: Remember for my good, O my God, all that I have done for this people.
  • He was asking God for continued grace in the work and most importantly, for the Lord to remember him when it comes to eternal life and rewards. We can pray with the same words.
  • The Lord promises He will remember you. Hebrews 6: 10—11 says this: God is not unfair. He will not forget the work you did or the love you showed for him in the help you gave and are still giving to other Christians. (Good News).

Personal Reflection

  • Please reflect on the principles that Nehemiah models and we can apply:
  1. Step back. Do not be led by anger. Collect your thoughts. It never works to respond with emotions. Ephesians 4: 26. Be angry but do not sin; do not let the sun go down on your anger.
  2. Stand up. In love, confront Christians with the Word of God when they are sinning against Him. Forgive always. 1 Timothy 5: 20 reminds us:  As for those who persist in sin, rebuke them in the presence of all, so that the rest also may stand in fear.
  3. Focus. Keep your focus on what God has called you to do. Keep building, pray always, and never give up. (Luke 18: 1 Then Jesus told his disciples a parable to teach them that they should always pray and never become discouraged [give])
  4. Remember the poor. Do not take advantage of the less fortunate. Instead, help them. Psalm 15: 5, Do not lend money at interest, and do not take a bribe against the innocent.
  5. Pray with Scripture. Remember me O my God, all that I have done for your people. In this prayer, we also remind ourselves that our rewards are eternal when we choose to follow Jesus and as His disciple, we build up others in Christ.

Cup of JOY Women

  • Consider hosting a weekly one-hour Cup of Joy Women’s small group study on It accompanies this podcast and you can begin anytime or choose any podcast series (e.g. Finding More JOY).
  • Pray about accepting this fantastic opportunity to engage others and gently evangelize by hosting a small group of friends over coffee or tea. I will even join you via Zoom.
  • For information or to contact me, go to Cup of Joy Women.

Links

New Eyes of Faith

A Production of the Ultimate Christian Podcast Network.

New Eyes of Faith | As a Christian, it is important to practice our faith. But what does your faith look like? The new eyes of faith is an awakening. In this episode, we explore the meaning of faith and how we sometimes deceive ourselves | #podcast #christianpodcast #catholicpodcast #Godandmercy #mercifulGod #mercy #Trust #NewEyesofFaithNew Eyes of Faith – Episode 263

As a Christian, it is important to practice our faith. But what does your faith look like? The new eyes of faith is an awakening. In this episode, we explore the meaning of faith and how we sometimes deceive ourselves.

Thanks to our sponsor CTC Math – visit the website at CTCMath.com

Faith can be subjective. Your faith is naturally based upon your experiences, your understanding, and even your denomination. Even two people sitting next to each other in church can have a different take on faith. This lends itself to an interesting question. Where is your faith, and can you say you practice what you believe?

This may be a hard question to answer and one that will take some time and thought.

Do we love the One who gave us life? The one who loves us beyond anything we can imagine. Let’s take a moment and think about that. You. Are. Loved. That alone should open our eyes and give us new eyes of faith. That should fill us with such love that we want to share this love with others.

That is the crux of the issue that many of us face in our world today. Those who say they have faith and those who do not practice what they supposedly believe. Listen, we all fall short, but by the grace of God, we flounder. Thankfully Jesus came into the world to redeem us. We read in 2 Corinthians 12:9 (Read on air).

But he said to me, “My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness.” Therefore I will boast all the more gladly about my weaknesses, so that Christ’s power may rest on me.
When our eyes are opened, we see evil for evil and good for good. That is why so many of us are upset by what is happening in our world today. Many people, they have been desensitized, and they can not see evil for evil.

Our eyes can be opened to greater faith and a deeper walk with the Lord, and at times it takes something catastrophic to happen before we can see the light, so to speak. Many things we consider important no longer are, and those things we hold onto, we find we can do without. Has that happened to you? You find that what was previously important is no longer an issue or of great concern. It is as if the blinders were removed; now, we can see clearly.

In Genesis 3:5, the tempter tells Adam and Eve a lie; the scripture reads:  “For God knows that when you eat from it your eyes will be opened, and you will be like God, knowing good and evil.”

So, what did they do? Genesis 3:6-7 (read on air).

What did they receive? New eyes of faith, but it was not a positive outcome for the pair. The eyes of Adam and Eve were opened when they ate the forbidden fruit. God warned them. His perfect will was for them to live with Him forever in the place He had created for them. Instead, they made a choice, and we see it perfectly in hindsight –

Scripture often talks about finding “favor in your eyes,” with many references to finding favor in God’s eyes. That should be our goal, to find favor in the eyes of God. How do we do this? How do we deepen our love for God? One way is by spending time in His presence. We have many reasons why this can’t happen. We have family responsibilities, work, school, and other obligations. And, it is a choice.

New Eyes of Faith

Just like Adam and Eve had a choice. This is the first lesson we learn in the Bible about good vs. evil. It is the enemy against us, the evil one. He hates what God created. God created and said, “It is good,” and that is what the evil one wants to destroy. He wants to destroy our families and us. An increase of faith helps us weather the storm of life, but we need that connection to each other and God.

Faith is a connection to the Almighty. We are made for connection. One of the podcasters on this network, Margaret Vasquez, who hosts the Wholeness and Holiness Podcast, talks about connection. As a trauma specialist, she knows that a lack of connection often causes dysfunction.

We can become disconnected from ourselves, those around us, and those we love the most. And a disconnection from God can lead us to other less desirable things!  We can find we lack direction, and worse. Who we are is important, but who we are in Christ is important to renewing faith. Do we witness the gospel message? How can we when we are struggling ourselves? It is time to take a deep refreshing breath and look at our faith with new eyes.

As a business owner, I know that I better fulfill that promise when I promise to do something. No one cares about our excuses. Thankfully my job is not life and death, but it is important to keep websites up, bills paid so that the podcast stream doesn’t stop on your app and other things that we do to keep the business running. All of our behind-the-scenes work is invisible, but it is necessary for our customers. Many of my decisions were based on troubleshooting better options.

The worse thing we can do is not admit when we are wrong. We can all improve. Isaiah 2:10-12 (Read on air). Woe to those who are wise in their own eyes and clever in their own sight.  (Talk about humility)

Isaiah 5:20-21  (Read on air)

In this way, we should troubleshoot our options when it comes to renewing our faith and praying to the Lord to open our eyes.

We can ask that the Lord gives us the new eyes of faith to:

  1. Identify areas where we have sinned.
  2. Make better choices.
  3. To choose God first above all others.
  4. To make time to pray.
  5. To get our priorities right

Remember, faith is a choice. It is a free-will option given to us by an Almighty God who loves us and who loves you beyond anything we can comprehend. It is perfect love, and no one can love you the way God can. We are created in His image. We were created for a specific purpose. We were created to love and serve Him, but He gives us so much more than anything we can do for Him. Our challenge this week is to pray that the Lord opens our eyes to areas we need to improve and gives us a deeper faith.

 

 

Testimony of Deacon John Bialorucki

A Production of the Ultimate Christian Podcast Network.

Testimony of Deacon John Bialorucki | John Bialorucki is a Deacon in the Huron Diocese. He entered the Deaconate late in life. Deacon John finished a five-year program at the age of 65. In his testimony he focuses on three questions, why am I here?| #christianpodcast #podcast #catholicpodcast #catholicpriest #testimony #DeacnJohnBialorucki #CatholicTestimonyTestimony of Deacon John Bialorucki

Testimony of Deacon John Bialorucki. John Bialorucki is a Deacon in the Huron Diocese. He entered the Deaconate late in life. Deacon John finished a five-year program at the age of 65. In his testimony, he focuses on three questions, why am I here? Where am I going? How am I going to get there? He answers the 2nd question first.  We are going to heaven. He accomplished getting his wife to heaven by her constant prayers for him. In his early life, he was searching.  He wanted a good life, job, and family.

John says, “We are all looking for happiness.”

In the seventh grade, he pondered entering the priesthood but was not mature enough. He went into the Navy instead.  When he left the service, he married his high school sweetheart. The Deaconate program taught him how to pray, learn scripture and apologetics, and turn his life into more faith-filled ways. Why am I here? I am here to serve.  Serving at St. Peter’s has taught him to pray now! He also learned how to surrender to the spirit. We need to step out; we need to evangelize; we need to pray for each other.

To find out more about Magnificat, A Ministry to Catholic Women, visit us ‘ www.magnificat-ministry.org

Magnificat Store

Did you know there is a wonderful shopping opportunity just waiting for you? Explore our shopping cart for rosaries, apparel, books, jewelry, statues, CDs, study programs (ex., Bible studies, Life in the Spirit Seminar, Growth in the Spirit series), and much more. To find great gifts for family, friends, and YOU, we invite you to visit    https://store.magnificat-ministry.net

 

Thank you for being a part of our network of listeners; we appreciate you!

Share your favorite podcast with a friend and be sure to rate us on Apple Podcasts. Your feedback means a lot.

 

Growing Charity to Uproot Greed

A Production of the Ultimate Christian Podcast Network.

Growing Charity to Uproot Greed | Charity is the virtue that wars against greed.  Generosity can be used interchangeably with the word charity.  Perhaps charity has become so overused that we can forget the real meaning | #ChristonPodcast #Christon #podcast #WholnessHoliness #MargaretVasquezs #GrowingVirtue #ModelofHonesty #Friends #GrowingCharitytoUprootGreed #UprootGreed #GrowingCharityGrowing Charity to Uproot Greed

Growing Charity to Uproot Greed. Charity is the virtue that wars against greed.  Generosity can be used interchangeably with the word charity.  Perhaps charity has become so overused that we can forget the real meaning.  We give to charities which do good to those in need and are called to be charitable or kind toward others.  We don’t hear the word generous used so often in so many ways.  So, it can more readily bring to mind the image of someone giving to a point of sacrifice in a way that is unexpected and moving.  That is how we are called to give, and it is also how we are called to be in our interactions with others.  That means it doesn’t just pertain to the giving of material goods but also the giving of our time and attention in acknowledging others, affirming the good, expressing value of the other, and so on.

St. Francis of Assisi cautioned his brothers against ‘appropriating’ anything as their own.  This is the attitude that underpins a generous heart.  When we stay rooted in the fact that everything we are and everything we receive is a gift from God, we are able to give of our goods and of ourselves in a way that doesn’t count the cost because we know we are not the ones who paid the price.  It was paid by the Lord.

This fundamental attitude helps to fix us in a stance counter to greed.  Generosity focuses us on allowing the flow of God’s goodness to flow through us.  Greed seeks to get for ourselves.  The Lord has so made us for generosity and charity that we receive a physiological benefit from it.  When we act in charity, are the recipients of a charitable act, or even witness a charitable act a hormone called oxytocin is released within us that fosters further acts of love, trust, and friendship.  Oxytocin is the physical basis for the warm, fuzzy feelings we experience when we see or experience loving interactions between people.

May the Lord make us conduits of His infinitely generous love!

And may the Lord give you peace!

Margaret

 

Nehemiah & Rebuilding Hope #5 – Facing Opposition? Nehemiah Shows the Best Approach for Success!

A Production of the Ultimate Christian Podcast Network.
Nehemiah 4 | Facing Opposition? Nehemiah 4 Shows the Best Approach for Success! #podcast #christianpodcast #catholicpodcast #nehemiah4

Work with the Sword of God in one hand and a trowel in the other.

Nehemiah 4 Shows the Best Approach for Success!

Have you looked at Nehemiah 4? Do you ever face opposition in the midst of a daunting task? How do you respond to insults or ridicule? In Nehemiah Chapter 4, the people face criticism, ridicule, name-calling, and insults as they try to repair the burned-down walls and broken gates. Opposition happens to all of us. Join the podcast today as Nehemiah shows us the best approach for success to overcome opposition and discouragement.

Family by Family, Brick by Brick,

In our last episode, family-by-family and household-by-household and brick-by-brick the people started to repair the walls and rebuild the gates. The builders worked side-by-side, beyond their own giftedness or vocations to do God’s work and repair the walls and gates of their holy city. Of course, their enemies came to stop the progress.  They face criticism, ridicule, name-calling, and a constant barrage of insults. This can happen to any of us. Today we cover these points as Nehemiah shows us the best approach to overcome opposition:

Anger Turns to Criticism (Nehemiah 4: 1-6)

  • Sanballat and Tobiah mocked the people: “Will they sacrifice” or “finish in a day?” (They are asking, will they call upon their God or how could their God help build anything in a short time?)
  • Criticism and ridicule only added to the discouragement. This sounds just like the devil, doesn’t it?
  • The people were doing God’s work and they did not need the troubling criticism. See John 14: 27.

Nehemiah Responds to Insults with Prayer (Nehemiah 4: 1-6)

  • Nehemiah did not return their insults with insults.
  • He responded with a prayer, likely aloud, as he went into the midst of opposition.
  • Based on Jeremiah 18:23,  Nehemiah prayed aloud- they will face God and what they say will come back on them.

A Guard of Protection (Nehemiah 4: 7-9)

  • The people responded to the opponent’s increased anger with prayer.
  • Then, they set up a guard of protection around the clock to keep the enemy’s efforts from succeeding.

 Nehemiah’s Three-Pronged Approach (Nehemiah 4: 9-20)

  • Nehemiah models how to face the opposition: (1) Pray first, (2) Declare God’s truth, (3) Work heartily.
  • Together with a sword in one hand and a tool in the other hand, they continued to build.

Join Together and Keep Working (Nehemiah 4: 21-23)

  • For Christians, we must join together by praying together, declaring God’s truth to each other, and working together.
  • God can use cracked, worn-out, old tools when we commit our work to Him.

Personal Reflection

Ask God where the broken gates are in your life—spiritual or otherwise. and what weapons you can use to rebuild the brokenness. You can follow Nehemiah’s model in overcoming the opposition.  1) pray, 2) declare the truth of God’s word instead of believing the lies and 3) work together with a sword of the spirit, the Word of God, in one hand and your work in the other hand. Use your prayer journal to record your action response:

  1. For example, pray Nehemiah 4: 14. Simply insert your name for the “I” and “my.” AND Insert the names of your friends and family members in the places of kin, sons, daughters, etc.
  2. For example, declare “God will fight for my family members, my community, my friends and my country.” Speak aloud with the truth of God’s Word (e.g., Romans 8:31. and Isaiah 41:10).
  3. Work together with other Christians. Ask a friend to pray for your needs and for MORE JOY, and you pray the same for them. Use the ACTS acronym to intercede for the needs. *End your prayer time by sitting in silence and receiving God’s love and joy for you.

Cup of JOY Women

Consider hosting a weekly one-hour Cup of Joy Women’s small group study on Nehemiah. It accompanies this podcast and you can begin anytime or choose another podcast (e.g. Finding More JOY).

  • Pray about accepting this wonderful opportunity to engage others and gently evangelize by hosting a small group of friends over coffee or tea.
  • For information or to contact me, go to Cup of Joy Women.

Links

Solomon’s Downfall

A Production of the Ultimate Christian Podcast Network.

Solomons Downfall | In the Bible, there are definite lessons to learn but one for the ages is King Solomon's Downfall. What can we learn and how do we apply this to our lives today | #podcast #christianpodcast #catholicpodcast #Godandmercy #mercifulGod #mercy #Trust #SolomonsDownfall #SolomonSolomons Downfall – Episode 262

Solomon’s Downfall. In the Bible, there are definite lessons to learn but one for the ages is King Solomon’s Downfall. What can we learn and how do we apply this to our lives today?

Visit CTC Math for more information about a wonderful Math curriculum for students from grade school to high school.

When we first read about Solomon we learn about his wisdom, and how he has been blessed by the Lord with his father, King David’s blessing. 1Kings:2-4 (read on air).

When David’s time to die drew near, he charged Solomon his son, saying, “I am about to go the way of all the earth. Be strong, and show yourself a man, and keep the charge of the Lord your God, walking in his ways and keeping his statutes, his commandments, his ordinances, and his testimonies, as it is written in the law of Moses, that you may prosper in all that you do and wherever you turn; that the Lord may establish his word which he spoke concerning me, saying, ‘If your sons take heed to their way, to walk before me in faithfulness with all their heart and with all their soul, there shall not fail you a man on the throne of Israel.’

This was God’s will, that Solomon should rule keeping God’s statutes, his commandments, and his ordinances. He had a dream where he spoke to the Lord. 1 Kings 5-9 (Read on air)

At Gibeon the Lord appeared to Solomon in a dream[k] by night; and God said“Ask what I shall give you.” And Solomon said, “Thou hast shown great and steadfast love to thy servant David my father, because he walked before thee in faithfulness, in righteousness, and in uprightness of heart toward thee; and thou hast kept for him this great and steadfast love, and hast given him a son to sit on his throne this day. And now, O Lord my God, thou hast made thy servant king in place of David my father, although I am but a little child; I do not know how to go out or come in. And thy servant is in the midst of thy people whom thou hast chosen, a great people, that cannot be numbered or counted for multitude. Give thy servant therefore an understanding mind to govern thy people, that I may discern between good and evil; for who is able to govern this thy great people?”

This pleased the Lord because Solomon did not ask for a long life or riches, he also didn’t ask for victory over his enemies. He wanted discernment something we all should pray for and that we desperately need!

The Lord gave Solomon specific instructions on how to build his house and the worship that would happen there. It took many years to build not only the house of worship but his own home, as God instructed. 1 Kings: 7: 51 states, “Thus all the work that King Solomon did on the house of the Lord was finished. And Solomon brought in the things which David his father had dedicated, the silver, the gold, and the vessels, and stored them in the treasuries of the house of the Lord.”

So, Solomon was blessed with wisdom that was renowned. People came from all over to hear his wisdom and one of the most famous stories is about the two women with the baby. Both women had given birth, yet only one had a child who survived. The woman whose child died claimed the living child was hers. They went before the King and he said that since they both claimed the child. Solomon then ordered that the child be split in two so that each mother should get half. The true mother cried out to give the baby to the other woman, while the false mother said the baby should be killed. Solomon then ordered the baby be given to the woman who cried out for the child’s safety. We all know the story and the wisdom illustrated. It was truly a gift from God.

He would live a long life and his household would be blessed and it should have all ended happily ever after. But as with the humanness of man, unfortunately, it didn’t. And what was his biggest downfall? One of the biggest downfalls was that Solomon took many foreign wives.

Maybe it started out well at the beginning and these women left their practices behind, but as tends to happen the old habits do not change and Solomon wanting to please his wives allowed them to worship their gods, these were the gods that the Lord warned about. These women, which we read about in detail in 1 Kings 11:1-4 were from the tribes that the Lord warned against.

Sadly Solomon too began to worship these false gods as his wives did, and the Lord warned him repeatedly to stop. Why didn’t he? Why would Solomon who was wise and gifted by God with this amazing kingdom over which to reign and given every blessing turn his back on God’s commands? Was it the lure of sin? Solomon’s wives were a great temptation to him. We read warning throughout the scriptures. 1 Corinthians 15:33 “Do not be deceived: “Bad company ruins good morals.”

That is a scripture we should memorize and take to heart. It is difficult to stay strong when we are around those who do not hold to the same moral code, who do not believe in God, or who hold to His teachings. The lure of sin for Solomon in this case was too many women, women from places he was forbidden to marry, false gods, and too much temptation.

Yes, Solomon was fair and righteous and wise for a period of time in his life, but this counts for nothing since we read that at some point he faltered the lure of temptation too great. Hebrews 4:11 states “Let us therefore strive to enter that rest, that no one fall by the same sort of disobedience.”

Sin does not go unrewarded. For there is recourse for all who sin. 1 Kings 11:11

So the Lord said to Solomon, ‘Because you have done this, and you have not kept My covenant and My statutes, which I have commanded you, I will surely tear the kingdom from you, and will give it to your servant” (1 Kings 11:11).

Have you ever wondered why God would allow the Bible’s elite, the men and Kings of old to have multiple wives, some bordering on the ridiculous? I believe the keyword here is God allows but he does not sanction this, in other words, this is not God’s will. He created man and woman for each other beginning in the Garden of Eden.

We know this because in the book of Mark Jesus is asked this question and he answers this clearly:

Mark 10:2-10

And Pharisees came up and in order to test him asked, “Is it lawful for a man to divorce his wife?” He answered them, “What did Moses command you?” They said, “Moses allowed a man to write a certificate of divorce, and to put her away.” But Jesus said to them, “For your hardness of heart he wrote you this commandment. But from the beginning of creation, ‘God made them male and female.’ ‘For this reason a man shall leave his father and mother and be joined to his wife,[a] and the two shall become one.’[b] So they are no longer two but one.[c] What therefore God has joined together, let not man put asunder.”

10 And in the house the disciples asked him again about this matter. 11 And he said to them, “Whoever divorces his wife and marries another, commits adultery against her; 12 and if she divorces her husband and marries another, she commits adultery.”

Pray and ask the Lord what lesson he wants you to take from this, what does God want for your life? The biggest sins are the ones we commit when we know they are wrong. But praise God we can return to Him, we can repent and sin no more. Why didn’t Solomon who was wisdom itself not realize his sin? The question is why do we not recognize our own sin?

But rejoice! Tomorrow is a new day we can live this life without guilt by keeping our eyes firmly set upon Him – the God of second, third and often more chances! Our challenge this week is to recognize areas of weakness and strive, through prayer and grace to sin no more!

The Road to Hope: Responding to the Crisis of Addiction

A Production of the Ultimate Christian Podcast Network.

Keaton Douglas

Meet Keaton Douglas, who wrote The Road to Hope: Responding to the Crisis of Addiction with Lindsay Schlegel, a book that Keaton hopes gets into the hands of all who want to be an apostle.

Who is Keaton Douglas? She is the Executive Director of the I THIRST Initiative, a Mission of the Missionary Servants of the Most Holy Trinity, and is a consultant, educator, counselor, and frequent guest speaker in the field of addiction and recovery, particularly as it pertains to the interface of Catholic spirituality and recovery. She is the creator of the I THIRST Initiative – a comprehensive program that focuses on spirituality in the prevention, treatment, and aftercare of those suffering from substance use disorders and their families. Keaton is the creator of the iTHIRST Spiritual Companionship (ITSC) Training, faith-based formation that instructs lay leaders and clergy on the spiritual dimension of addiction/recovery. The I THIRST curriculum is academically certified through Seton Hall University and is taught there on a continual basis through their Continuing Education and Professional Studies Department, attracting students from all over the United States and abroad.

Why do we need this book?

Each of us is broken in some way. Sometimes the brokenness causes us to lose our way and we turn to things or substances which do not help.

“Additcion is really a desperate response to our desire to fill a hole in the soul that only God can fill.” (Keaton, pg 26)

In order to dispel the myth of the other, we need to accept the mutuality of our woundedness. Whatever broke others may not be what has broken you, but in accepting that we are all broken, we can learn from and be present to each other. It is a matter of changing our perspective.

What struck me

Chapter 2 with the statistics and information about how we have reached, in particular, the opioid crisis. In Chapter 4, there are ideas on how to be a part of the response to the crisis of addiction now.

Summing it up

I can’t sum up the conversation. But I can say this, Keaton Douglas lives  NOTLUKEWARM! I hope you listen to the episode, share it, and then take some action. The Church needs each one of us to be an apostle.

This week, pray and offer a rosary. for those who struggle with all types of addictions. You can use this set of mysteries from the iThirst site if you’d like.

You can purchase a copy of The Road to Hope: Responding to the Crisis of Addiction by Keaton Douglas with Lindsay Schlegel from Our Sunday Visitor.

Testimony of Shannon Austin 

A Production of the Ultimate Christian Podcast Network.

Testimony of Shannon Austin | Shannon focuses on three areas of her life, how life shaped her, how she helped and hindered God’s plan for her and how God showed up even when she didn’t | #christianpodcast #podcast #catholicpodcast #catholicpriest #testimony #TestimonyofShannonAustin #ShannonAustinTestimony of Shannon Austin

Testimony of Shannon Austin. Shannon focuses on three areas of her life, how life shaped her, how she helped and hindered God’s plan for her and how God showed up even when she didn’t. Shannon grew up in Louisiana. She was an only child from a broken home. Her father came back from the Service a changed man from all the trauma he experienced which caused a troubled marriage. Her parents divorced when she was very young. Shannon and her mother moved into her grandmother’s home.

Shannon’s mother was very depressed and became an alcoholic. She was very withdrawn from Shannon. Shannon’s grandmother was a very devout Catholic and loved her in ways her mother could not. As a teenager, Shannon wandered from her faith and got involved in drinking and sneaking out at night. She went to college and got a degree in Psychology and Masters. Soon after, Shannon met her husband, Steven and had four children. They rediscovered their faith in God together. The family came back to the sacraments and have become very involved in various ministries in their parish. Shannon recently acquired a certification in Equine therapy.

To find out more about Magnificat, A Ministry to Catholic Women, visit us ‘ www.magnificat-ministry.org

Magnificat Store

Did you know there is a wonderful shopping opportunity just waiting for you? Explore our shopping cart for rosaries, apparel, books, jewelry, statues, CDs, study programs, (ex. Bible studies, Life in the Spirit Seminar, Growth in the Spirit series), and much more. To find great gifts for family, friends and YOU, we invite you to visit    https://store.magnificat-ministry.net

 

Thank you for being a part of our network of listeners; we appreciate you!

Share your favorite podcast with a friend and be sure to rate us on Apple Podcasts. Your feedback means a lot.

Precious Blood of Jesus

A Production of the Ultimate Christian Podcast Network.

Precious Blood of Jesus | July is the month we take to honor and reflect on the power of the Precious Blood of Jesus.  I’m thinking how awesome Jesus’ death and resurrection victory is and that we take Holy Thursday, Good Friday, Holy Saturday, and Easter Sunday to try to break that down so we can really consider it full | #ChristonPodcast #Christon #podcast #WholnessHoliness #MargaretVasquezs #GrowingVirtue #ModelofHonesty #Friends #PreciousBloodofJesusPrecious Blood of Jesus

Precious Blood of Jesus. July is the month we take to honor and reflect on the power of the Precious Blood of Jesus.  I’m thinking how awesome Jesus’ death and resurrection victory is and that we take Holy Thursday, Good Friday, Holy Saturday, and Easter Sunday to try to break that down so we can really consider it fully.  There’s so much and so we take even more time to try to absorb that – celebrating the Sacred Heart of Jesus in June and the Precious Blood of Jesus in July!  Every Friday, too, the Church encourages us to reflect on the Passion of Our Lord.  We really can never exhaust all there is to ponder and receive from our Good, Good God!

The celebration of the Precious Blood of Jesus this month flows, quite literally, from the Sacred Heart of Jesus since His Heart was pierced by the lance when He was crucified.  He emptied Himself as blood and water gushed forth.  Calling on the Blood of Jesus invokes the power of the Lord’s death and resurrection.  As baptized members of His Body, His Blood surges through us cleansing us, renewing us, protecting us, and empowering us.  Blood is the life force in all of us.  Jesus’ Blood is Divine Life force!

In the Eucharist we receive that Precious Blood practically, tangibly, and we can call upon that same power.  As blood gives life, Divine Blood incorporates us into Divine Life.  If we are suffering in any way, we can call upon the power of His Blood to cleanse us from the infernal attacks of the enemy, to heal everyone of our ills, and to draw us into the life of Divine Intimacy He has created us for and calls us into.  The same redemptive and transformative power that is the Lord’s was poured out for us on the Cross and is celebrated this month in a special way.

At the beginning of this month, we celebrated the Feast of St. Thomas the Apostle.  Placing his hand into the wounds in Jesus’ hand and side transformed Thomas from the doubter to such a man of faith that he suffered martyrdom in witness to the Lord.  Let’s place ourselves in those wounds as we call upon the power of the Precious Blood of Jesus and witness to Jesus’ life and love by our lives!

May the Lord give you peace!

Margaret

The Choices We Make

A Production of the Ultimate Christian Podcast Network.

The Choices We Make | This gospel is about choices. The choice to live a life of their pagan occupiers or according to Jewish law and faith. They faced dilemmas whether to pay the Roman tax or be tied to the temple. Whether to acknowledge Caesar or Herod is King | #christianpodcast #podcast #catholicpodcast #catholicpriest #TheChoicesWeMakeThe Choices We Make

A Reflection on The Choices We Make Matt. 7:12-14 By Deacon David Hockwalt

The Choices We Make. This gospel is about choices. The choice to live a life of their pagan occupiers or according to Jewish law and faith. They faced dilemmas whether to pay the Roman tax or be tied to the temple. Whether to acknowledge Caesar or Herod is King. Whether to separate themselves culturally or to embrace the Roman way of life. Jesus is pointing out that choices have consequences, good and bad. The harder choice is the better choice, the narrow road that leads to God. What are the parallels of ancient life and our life today?

DEACON DAVID HOCKWALT was ordained a Permanent Deacon in the Diocese of San Bernardino in 2012. He continues in active ministry today and is the spiritual advisor to the vicariate Life in the Spirit team.

We pray that today may be a special day in your life as you experience the presence of Jesus Christ among us through this reflection. Magnificat, taken from Luke: 1, is the great hymn of praise that Mary prayed while visiting her cousin, Elizabeth. We trust that this reflection will help us all better understand that we are truly children of God, made in His image and likeness. We want to come together in God’s presence and proclaim that the Almighty has done great things for you and me and holy is His Name!

To find out more about Magnificat, A Ministry to Catholic Women, visit us at magnificat-ministry.org

Magnificat Store

Did you know there is a wonderful shopping opportunity just waiting for you? Explore our shopping cart for rosaries, apparel, books, jewelry, statues, CDs, study programs, (ex. Bible studies, Life in the Spirit Seminar, Growth in the Spirit series), and more. To find great gifts for family, friends and YOU, we invite you to visit    https://store.magnificat-ministry.net

 

Nehemiah – Rebuilding Hope #4 – Perfumers Needed! Nehemiah Calls for Your Help!

A Production of the Ultimate Christian Podcast Network.
Nehemiah Rebuilding Hope ~ Perfume-makers needed- Nehemiah calls for your help! This is a podcast of the Ultimate Christian Podcast Network and talks about Nehemiah Rebuilding Hope. podcast, christian podcast network, catholic podcast network, Nehemiah

Become a Perfume-maker

Nehemiah Calls Perfumers

Nehemiah calls the Perfumers. All teams need workers from all walks of life with a heartfelt desire to build—even beyond their known skills.  Most importantly, the “perfume makers” provide sweet-smelling assistance, even though their hands are soft and they are not seasoned builders.  Join us today as Nehemiah reveals team-making skills and appoints the perfumers.

Let Us Start Building

In our last podcast, we joined Nehemiah as he secretly inspected Jerusalem at night time. He saw the many ruins but was inspired that God was leading the rebuilding. Although the ruins had accumulated over many years, he inspired the people, and they replied, Let us start building! Today we cover the following points:

Nehemiah Rebuilding Hope ~ Broken Places

  • We all have broken places in the lives of our families, our communities, and our nation.
  • These areas of shame or ruin, physical or spiritual, need rebuilding so Nehemiah will encourage us.
  • In ancient cities, like Jerusalem, the gates were essential to the existence of a people. Gates were entrances to the city and provided military protection. The walls represented strength and defense.

The Gates

  • Outside the gates were stalls like farmer’s markets, where traders sold goods of all kinds.
  • Inside the gates, the leaders met and held court for those seeking justice.
  • If the walls or gates were broken, the loss of protection, commerce, justice, and meeting spaces would be devastating.

Meet the Workers (Nehemiah 3: 1 -8)

  • The high priest Elisheba with his fellow priests rebuilt the Sheep Gate. They started the example for repair plus they consecrated the doors and an entire area to God.
  • The men of Jericho came a long way to build and were included with everyone living nearby.
  • The Tekoites made repairs, but their nobles with status and pride refused. Keep building!!
  • The perfumers [perfume-makers] made repairs but had no building skill; they likely brought some sweet-smelling perfume. Making life smell good is an important skill too. Sweetness or perfume in attitude, speech, and effort is an essential contribution in itself.

More Workers (Nehemiah 3: 12-32)

  • Hallohesh, the ruler of half the district of Jerusalem, made repairs with his daughters offering an example of involving the family in rebuilding.
  • Anaiah and others made repairs beside their homes as they wanted their neighborhoods to be safe.
  • Merchants rebuilt the walls and gates, likely taking days off from their own work to build the community.
  • Nehemiah Chapter 3 lists those who answered the call to rebuild the brokenness. One by one they tackled all the gates in the city, repairing doors and adding bolts and bars.

Teamwork: Everyone’s Effort Needed  ~ Nehemiah Rebuilding Hope

  • Teamwork was essential.  The builders worked for the glory of God—for the place of worship, for the people of God and not for pay.
  • Hebrews 6: 10-11.  For God is not unjust so as to overlook your work and the love you have demonstrated for his name by having served and continuing to serve the holy ones- his people. We earnestly desire each of you to demonstrate the same eagerness for the fulfillment of hope until the end, NABRE

Gates

  • Nehemiah mentions the names of each of the gates that were repaired.
  • There is symbolism for Christians in the Sheep Gate, Fish Gate, Dung Gate, Fountain Gate, and most other gates too. (See bookmark on my website for more meaning of the gates and symbolism.)

Personal Reflection

You can reflect on the principles that apply to your life. In prayer, using your prayer journal, consider these questions:

  1. Where do you have burned gates or broken walls in your life (or family or nation) that need restoration?
  2. For example, burned gates are open portals of darkness into our lives. They can include addictions, uncontrolled imaginations, extreme fears, emotional hurts, lack of forgiveness, unholy media, pornography, unrestrained tongue, or other sinful habits. God wants to heal you and help you rebuild gates or walls that need rebuilding. Ask Him.
  3. Where does God want to strengthen you and give you joy? Ask Jesus to help you change hopelessness, discouragement, or procrastination attitudes into hopefulness and joy.
  4. Become a perfume maker! If you feel you lack giftings, become a perfumer and set your mind to building anyway. Bring the sweetness of God’s spirit and a sweet attitude of prayer to every stinky situation. 2 Corinthians 2: 14-15: God uses us to make the knowledge about Christ spread everywhere like a sweet fragrance. For we are like a sweet-smelling incense offered by Christ to God, which spreads among those who are being saved and those who are being lost…

 Cup of JOY Women

Consider hosting a weekly one-hour Cup of Joy Women’s small group study on Nehemiah.  It accompanies this podcast and you can begin anytime.  It’s free!

  • Pray about accepting this opportunity to engage others and gently evangelize by hosting a small group of friends over coffee or tea.
  • For information or to contact me, go to Cup of Joy Women.

Links

Mirror of Scripture

A Production of the Ultimate Christian Podcast Network.

Mirror of Scripture | When was the last time you read a passage in the Bible, and it was as if the Lord was showing you a mirror image? I call that the Mirror of Scripture! In this episode, we'll look at scripture verses that highlight areas that need our attention | #podcast #christianpodcast #catholicpodcast #Godandmercy #mercifulGod #mercy #Trust #MirrorofScripture #ScriptureMirror of Scripture Episode 261

When was the last time you read a passage in the Bible, and it was as if the Lord was showing you a mirror image? I call that the Mirror of Scripture! In this episode, we’ll look at scripture verses that highlight areas that need our attention.

Visit our sponsor – CTCMath.com, for information about this wonderful math curriculum for kids ages K-12

Everyone wants to hear, “Well done,” or “Great job,” or better yet, “You are on the right track!” Yet, often the response we get when praying is silence. A silence of mind and of our hearts. How are we doing in our spiritual walk, and what does the Lord have to say to us in the words of scripture?

When we least expect it we hear God, it can be in reading a Scripture verse that we feel is powerful or just for us. Or, it can be in the words of a friend or something we hear at Church, maybe in a sermon but often in the Word being read. At my church, we hear readings from the Old and New Testaments each week. The readings may be ones I’ve read many times before yet they are powerful, and more so when it hits me as if a mirror is held up and I see my reflection.

Spiritual Mirror

I can say with assurance that many of us do not like what we see in the mirror. In fact, we possibly avoid looking into it other than getting ready for our day, in the morning. A mirror shows all of our flaws, the spots on our faces, the bad hair day, or other things we’d rather not address. By looking in the mirror we see how we look to the world.

Having a good body image and being happy with our own worth, inside and out is important. The point I’m making is that as a mirror shows our flaws and imperfections so too does a spiritual mirror. It shows us areas of faith we should work on to gain a better sense of where we are going. Hopefully toward a deeper faith.

Mirror of Scripture

Matthew 5:14-18 (Read on air.) 14 “You are the light of the world. A city set on a hill cannot be hid. 15 Nor do men light a lamp and put it under a bushel, but on a stand, and it gives light to all in the house. 16 Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works and give glory to your Father who is in heaven.

I love this verse! There is a Bible Song, “This Little Light of Mine,” we taught our children, and they sang it at Bible camp. It further illustrates that the light of Christ should shine through us to others. Alone we do not shine light but with God we do, and if we have this holy light we have work to do for the Kingdom.

If we hide our light we are not sharing the good news. God knows our situation, He knows what is happening in our lives. He understands our trials and He doesn’t call us to do anything He is not preparing us for ahead of time. A friend of mine didn’t want to embrace faith strongly because he was afraid God would send him to Africa on the mission field. He was a doctor, and he was seriously worried about this! But, when he finally opened his heart to the Lord, He was ready to go anywhere God called him. He and his wife lead our prayer group for many years, and they are some of our closest friends. God never did lead him to the mission field, but God allowed him to pray with his patients and at times allowed healing.

What is the weakness of our lives? Do we make excuses so that we don’t have to go to the mission field as well? Opening our hearts to God allows Him and only Him to work in our lives in a powerful way if we allow Him.

James 1: 22-24 (Read on air)

22 But be doers of the word, and not hearers only, deceiving yourselves.[a] 23 For if any one is a hearer of the word and not a doer, he is like a man who observes his natural face in a mirror; 24 for he observes himself and goes away and at once forgets what he was like. 25 But he who looks into the perfect law, the law of liberty, and perseveres, being no hearer that forgets but a doer that acts, he shall be blessed in his doing.

Powerful! We can be doers with the grace of God, and His providence. Friends, God so loves you. And we can spread that love to others. Today I was at a store and something I purchased was way cheaper than I expected. I told the lady checking me out that God was blessing me. I hadn’t paid too much attention to her, other than to say hi and ask how she was since I was busy loading up the items on the conveyer belt. When she smiled back at me after hearing me say, God was blessing me she said, “I wake up each day and thank God for it, each and every day.” As I looked at her, I was smiling and agreeing with a hearty, Amen! This lady was missing some teeth and fairly elderly, and working, but praising God.

Some of us have harder lives than others and yet if we can praise God in the midst of our trials that is using our lives in a positive way.

By looking at Scripture as a mirror, exposing our shortcomings and ways we have not pleased God, we can offer this to the Lord with a heartfelt purpose and that is to change. By continuing to show God we are dooers not just listeners we can better align our will to His. This week your challenge is to pray to the Lord before you read the Scriptures. Ask Him to use the Word to be a mirror. Let this help you grow closer to Him and in your faith. I will do this as well. May God bless you today and always.

 

Testimony of Heather King

A Production of the Ultimate Christian Podcast Network.

Testimony of Heather King | Heather King is a Los Angeles based writer, blogger, and speaker. Heather was raised on the coast of New Hampshire. She is the oldest of eight children from a Protestant family. She was considered the intelligent one with lots of drive | #christianpodcast #podcast #catholicpodcast #catholicpriest #testimony #TestimonyofHeatherKing #HeatherKingTestimony of Heather King

Heather King is a Los Angeles based writer, blogger, and speaker. Heather was raised on the coast of New Hampshire. She is the oldest of eight children from a Protestant family. She was considered the intelligent one with lots of drive. She is an ex-lawyer, a contemplative and Catholic convert. Heather has written many books and memoirs which detail her journey through 20 years of alcoholism, lymes disease, breast cancer, childlessness, and a broken marriage. Her story is like the prodigal daughter who squandered her inheritance. Heathers conversion to Catholicism took place in 1996 around the same time she left her career as a very successful lawyer in Los Angeles to fulfill a lifelong goal of becoming a writer. The Church formed her and allowed her womanhood to come to fullness. The Church gives her a sense of purpose and a place of comfort to sustain her. Heathers story is one of passion and grit in the face of life’s trials and disappointments. Her writing has been depicted as riveting words and a lost soul that was found. Heather speaks nationwide and is a monthly contributor to the Magnificat publication.

To find out more about Magnificat, A Ministry to Catholic Women, visit us ‘ www.magnificat-ministry.org

Magnificat Store

Did you know there is a wonderful shopping opportunity just waiting for you? Explore our shopping cart for rosaries, apparel, books, jewelry, statues, CDs, study programs, (ex. Bible studies, Life in the Spirit Seminar, Growth in the Spirit series), and much more. To find great gifts for family, friends and YOU, we invite you to visit    https://store.magnificat-ministry.net

 

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A Daily Examen

A Production of the Ultimate Christian Podcast Network.

End your day with prayer

Echo the psalmist as he says,

Search me, O God, and know my heart; test me and know my thoughts.
See if there is any wicked way in me,and lead me in the way everlasting.
                                                                                                   Psalm 139:23-24

With these verses in mind we settle ourselves in for prayer and begin the 5 steps or movements:

5 Steps to the Examen

  1. Thank God for all the graces and goodness you have received today, giving gratitude for his greatness.
  2. Ask God to reveal your sins to you, both those you did and things which you did not do that were possible.
  3. Look back on your day and notice where you saw God and consider where you may have missed noticing him.
  4. Ask for forgiveness, express your sorrow, and allow God’s mercy, love, forgiveness, and grace into your soul.
  5. Ask God for help and grace to improve. If you are facing a challenge, tell him.

End with a prayer of thanks or an Our Father.

Other Options

Here is a link to a variety of daily examen prayers from Ignatian Spirituality.

This week, spend 5-15 minutes praying a daily examen. Think about writing it at least once, taking a bit more time with the prayer.

 

 

Meekness, Uprooting Anger

A Production of the Ultimate Christian Podcast Network.

Meekness, Uprooting Anger |Growing in virtue is what happens when our conscience becomes more and more penetrated by the truth that the Lord perfectly provides for and protects us within the loving boundaries of how He has called us to live.  We needn’t struggle and strive to earn a sense of value.  He poured His very Self out for us to reveal His love for us and redeem us | #ChristonPodcast #Christon #podcast #WholnessHoliness #MargaretVasquezs #GrowingVirtue #ModelofHonesty #Friends #Meekness,UprootingAnger #Uprooting AngerMeekness, Uprooting Anger

Meekness, Uprooting Anger. Growing in virtue is what happens when our conscience becomes more and more penetrated by the truth that the Lord perfectly provides for and protects us within the loving boundaries of how He has called us to live.  We needn’t struggle and strive to earn a sense of value.  He poured His very Self out for us to reveal His love for us and redeem us.  He knows everything about us, far more than we could ever hope to know ourselves because it is He who made us and created us in love!  This is the foundation of living a life of Divine Intimacy.  These truths are the superabundant supply for what our hearts are longing.

Transformed by this reality, we realize we don’t need to protect ourselves.  We become less and less fearful and self-reliant for protection.  Eventually, we come to realize that regardless of what tragedy might ever befall us, the Lord will use it for our good.  I think of the example of St. Stephen being stoned and how Scripture tells us his face was like that of an angel while it was happening.  His was a tremendous example of not responding in anger but meeting circumstances with meekness.

Meekness is said to be “strength under control”.  He found that strength by remaining united to the Lord trusting in His protection that is so thorough death has no power over it.  He patiently endured the ignorance, violence, and hostility knowing he didn’t need to rely on himself.  He trusted instead in God.  That can sound extreme!  What?  We can even die, and God is still in control, in charge, and using even that for our benefit???  Absolutely!  That is exactly the example Jesus gave us!  He trusted in His Father and now sits at His right hand in glory for all eternity.

We, too, can grow in meekness and let go of the burden of self-reliance when we stay grounded in the reality of Jesus’ love for us.  Let’s not feel like we need to engineer our own sanctification.  It’s a lie and a trap.  Self-reliance is self-reliance.  Let’s instead rely on the Holy Spirit Who is the Sanctifier!  Let’s seek to surrender to Him in everything and so be transformed by Him through whatever comes our way.

May the Lord give you peace!

Margaret