Exercising Your Gifts – Alicia Hartle

Alicia Hartle shares powerful insights on exercising your spiritual gifts and the authority of the Holy Spirit in Catholic Charismatic Renewal.Exercising Your Gifts – Alicia Hartle

 In this powerful and personal presentation, Alicia Hartle, Executive Director of Pentecost Today USA, invites us to dive into the “deep end” of the Holy Spirit. Drawing from her unique upbringing in the “fire of the renewal” in Pittsburgh, Alicia explores the essential nature of charismatic gifts and the urgent need for every believer to move from stagnant waters to a life that is constantly poured out.

 

Key Highlights

  • The Authority of the Gifts: Alicia grounds the exercise of charismatic gifts in the authority of Jesus Christ and the historical tradition of the early Church. She highlights that the Catholic Charismatic Renewal is not a peripheral movement but is formally integrated into the hierarchical structure of the Church.
  • Stagnant vs. Living Water: Using a poignant metaphor of a pond from her childhood, Alicia warns against receiving sacramental graces without “pouring them out.” To remain spiritually fresh, we must exercise our gifts for the building up of the Church.
  • Overcoming Barriers: Whether it’s fear of being “undignified,” past experiences with spiritual immaturity, or modern skepticism, Alicia encourages us to bring our lack of desire to the Lord and allow Him to transform it into zeal.
  • A Call to New Evangelization: Alicia shares moving stories from her ministry, including her journey into Unbound Deliverance Ministry, emphasizing that the world is hungry for the supernatural reality of God’s love.

 

Memorable Quotes

“Some of these people know Jesus and some of these people do not… This too is our mission field.” — Alicia’s Father

“Why has no one ever told me that I could have a relationship with the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit like this?”

 

Dr. Carol Razza- Prayer Meeting

Discover Dr. Carol Razza’s powerful Prayer Meeting from the Rise & Walk Conference 2025. Learn how worship, identity in Christ, and the Holy Spirit transform believers into spiritually fruitful disciples.Episode 03 – Dr. Carol Razza – Prayer Meeting

In this powerful session, Dr. Carol Razza—international evangelist, author, and retired professor at St. Vincent de Paul Regional Seminary—leads a traditional prayer meeting centered on reclaiming our identity as children of God. Moving beyond the “counseling session” model, Dr. Razza refocuses the gathering on pure worship, teaching that when we prioritize Jesus, our burdens and brokenness naturally fall away. She challenges the “spectator” mentality and calls every believer to step into a life of supernatural fruitfulness.

Key Takeaways

  • What a Prayer Meeting Is (and Isn’t): A prayer meeting is for Jesus, not for us. It is a time for praise, worship, and building up the Body of Christ—not a therapy or discussion group.
  • The Power of Identity: We are “1 in 600 billion.” Dr. Razza emphasizes that understanding our identity as sons and daughters of the Most High is the only way to live an abundant life. Without this, we praise God through our wounds rather than the truth.
  • Supernatural DNA: As baptized Christians, the same Spirit that raised Jesus from the dead lives in us. Our “natural” state should be the “supernatural.”
  • Spiritual Fruitfulness: Based on Genesis 1:28 and Matthew 25, we are created for increase. Dr. Razza argues that passivity is not an option; we must use our God-given gifts to glorify Him and expand the Kingdom.
  • Praying for the Priesthood: A call to action for the laity to pray for priests and seminarians to be baptized in the Holy Spirit, empowering them to lead the Church into “the deep.”

 

Scripture References

  • Joshua 3:4-5: “You have not passed this way before… Sanctify yourselves, for tomorrow the Lord will do wonders among you.”
  • John 20:21-22: “As the Father has sent me, so I send you.”
  • Galatians 5:22-23: The Fruits of the Spirit.
  • John 15:16: “It was not you who chose me, but I who chose you to go forth and bear fruit.”

 

About Dr. Carol Razza

Dr. Carol Razza is a psychotherapist with over 25 years of experience and a long-time faculty member at St. Vincent de Paul Regional Seminary. She is the author of SONblock and Parent Me, Please, and serves on the advisory team for the International Magnificat Ministry.

Supernatural Faith

Supernatural Faith - What is supernatural faith? It is faith that surpasses all understanding. Join me as we delve into the topic of faith.Supernatural Faith ~ Episode 209

What is supernatural faith? It is faith that surpasses all understanding. Join me as we delve into the topic of faith especially when times get hard. We are called to live in the hope that is in Christ, but in our humanness, we often fail.

Please visit my website at MediaAngels.com for books and products for Christians as well as homeschooling.

Have you heard is a tragic story and then the person who lived through the trauma thanks God in some way? This should give us more faith but do you feel like you are not enough, or don’t believe enough? Do you doubt and think, “I am not sure I could have gone through the trauma and come out ahead with my faith intact?” What you may not realize or remember is that when God allows these things to happen in our lives, He equips us to handle them, especially if we pray.

Supernatural faith is following when the times get tough. In the sermon on the mount (Matthew 5-7) we learn what it takes to be a follower of Christ. Once we commit there is no going back, and if we do turn back there are consequences. Think about what happened to the Israelites who were freed from slavery in Egypt. They saw miracles, for heaven’s sake the parting of the Red Sea should have been eye-opening, and then the ten commandments, and the manna in the desert. But many turned their backs on God and worshipped false gods. All the time that these people were in Egypt, they saw the worshipping of false gods and pharaohs treated as gods. Did they leave it behind when they left? No. And what happened to the people in the desert? Only their ancestors were able to go to the promised land. They all died beforehand.

Matthew 6:24 No man can serve two masters: for either he will hate the one, and love the other; or else he will hold to the one, and despise the other. Ye cannot serve God and mammon.

We can not have one foot in both worlds because God’s world is a supernatural world. The gospels reveal the truth and the way of holiness. What is at stake? Only the entrance into the Kingdom of God…heaven. God is calling us, each and every one of us to give 100% and for any of us as Christians, we know that the other side is pulling for our demise.

It is seeing the hand of God in all of the places in our lives that need help and restoration, and it is in knowing that God wants redemption for our world and the hope that comes in that belief. We should not be surprised when we see the evil in the world. The Lord tells us He will save us from evil. The mercy of God is for everyone even those who have done evil if they will repent.

Friends the way ahead for us is very treacherous with the overturning of the law that finally, finally stated that abortion was not a constitutional right. Can killing your child ever be a right? The pagans long ago used child sacrifice to their gods and that was what abortion was, a child sacrifice on the altar of a mother’s right over their child’s right. Should we help those who struggle and are less fortunate? Of course, but the church already does so much for those in need. Sadly, many not connected to churches are the ones who struggle.

Whenever we struggle and look for that supernatural faith, think about the apostles on that boat with Jesus in the midst of a storm. I love that story of Jesus telling them not to be afraid, and he ordered the seas to be calm. This is a wonderful picture of what would we think about when are lives are unsettled, or there is turmoil in our life. We should remember to be calm. The faith we crave takes a connection to Christ. It is a personal encounter with Jesus that will help us in our time of need.

When we have this personal encounter we hope that our lives will be easier. But that is not the promise of a Christian. The promise is that there is hope in our salvation and everlasting life. But, this is not heaven. The last four things are death, judgment, heaven or hell.

Matthew 16:23-28

Then said Jesus unto his disciples, If any man will come after me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross, and follow me. 25 For whosoever will save his life shall lose it: and whosoever will lose his life for my sake shall find it. 26 For what is a man profited, if he shall gain the whole world, and lose his own soul? or what shall a man give in exchange for his soul? 27 For the Son of man shall come in the glory of his Father with his angels; and then he shall reward every man according to his works. 28 Verily I say unto you, There be some standing here, which shall not taste of death, till they see the Son of man coming in his kingdom.

The reward my friends is worth it. The reward is life everlasting. When we look for that faith that surpasses all understanding we must remember that the words, “Be not afraid,” are in the Bible over 365 times. We can’t fear and have faith at the same time. We will be tempted and the evil one is really good at making us second guess and overthink.

So, here are a few tips for you to practice this week as we all work toward that supernatural faith that surpasses all understanding.

  1. Every day pray the words, “Jesus I trust in You.”
  2. When we are overwhelmed we thank the Lord for being there with us. (He will not leave us orphaned!)
  3. Take a few minutes daily to rest in God. This means closing our eyes, thinking about the Lord, and allowing our minds to focus on the beauty of God and the hope that is in Christ.
  4. Journal. If you are not keeping a daily journal consider doing one, if not daily then often. Start with what you are thankful for and end with a prayer request. Be sure to thank the Lord for answered prayer.
  5. Remember Romans 8:28 – And we know that all things work together for good to them that love God, to them who are the called according to his purpose.

May God be praised today and always!