It's Holy Week! I'm taking a blogging break this week (not that I've been posting much in recent months other than the Light in the Darkness & Deo Gratias link-ups, w/ an occasional extra post thrown in).
My goal is to resume these regular link-ups next week & try to add at least one other post each week. I've got lots of ideas in my head, it's just a matter of getting them out there!
Have a blessed Holy Week! May the Passion of our Lord & Savior, Jesus Christ, draw you closer to Him & envelope you in the love of God!
PEACE!
Monday, March 30, 2015
Blogging Break Notice!
Posted by Maria at 8:03 AM 0 comments
Thursday, March 26, 2015
Planks & Specks in Marriage!
Recently, I finished reading "Love is a Flame". It is a compilation of true stories collected by James Stuart Bell. Each story is told in the words of the one who experienced a rekindling of love in his/her relationship.
In many of the stories, the writers share how much they wished to change their spouse. One even said that her plan was to get her man to the altar, then once married, she would alter him!
Wives would complain about how many hours their husbands worked, how much time he spent on his own pursuits, how little they communicated w/ one another. Husbands complained that their wives spent so much time & energy on the children &/or volunteer activities, then not have anything left for meeting his needs.
At some point in the litany of complaints, a revelation would be made. The complainer would realize that one cannot change another person.
You can only change yourself. Responsibility for another person's actions does not lie w/ you...only they can change themselves. You can certainly pray for them & if it be God's Will, they can be led to change.
The Gospel of Matthew came to mind at this point, specifically Matthew 7:5. This is the verse where Jesus admonishes hypocrites to remove the plank from their own eye. Only then will they be able to see clearly enough to remove the speck from their brother's eye.
Once these individuals realized that they could only change themselves, removing the plank from their own eye, something amazing happened...they no longer had a need or desire to remove the speck in their spouse's eye.
Incredible! I wonder if that was part of Jesus' plan all along!
Posted by Maria at 7:00 AM 1 comments
Wednesday, March 25, 2015
Deo Gratias
"If the only prayer you ever say in your life is thank you, it will be enough." - Meister Eckhart
Colleen, from her inspiring blog Thoughts on Grace, hosts this wonderful meme each Wednesday. She says, "Deo Gratias is Latin for Thanks be to God. Remembering to give thanks for all of our blessings, big & small, helps us to find God in our everyday moments and gives us an attitude of gratitude!"
Each week, I join Colleen in remembering & sharing the many blessings in my life. This is such a great exercise for me, helping me to focus on the good that truly is happening in my life, no matter how many trials & stresses I may have.
4) Our older three Blessings have really done a wonderful job in helping HandyGramps w/ Stations of the Cross & Benediction at his church this Lent. Deo Gratias!
Posted by Maria at 8:31 AM 0 comments
Labels: Deo Gratias Meme
Monday, March 23, 2015
Light in the Darkness
Welcome to my Light in the Darkness meme! (If you missed my post on the inspiration for this meme, you can read all about it HERE.)
This is the place to share good things that are happening in our world...whether it's a link to a news article/video, something from your personal experience...anything good that can bring light into darkness!
Posted by Maria at 7:00 AM 0 comments
Labels: Light in the Darkness
Wednesday, March 18, 2015
Deo Gratias!
"If the only prayer you ever say in your life is thank you, it will be enough." - Meister Eckhart
Colleen, from her inspiring blog Thoughts on Grace, hosts this wonderful meme each Wednesday. She says, "Deo Gratias is Latin for Thanks be to God. Remembering to give thanks for all of our blessings, big & small, helps us to find God in our everyday moments and gives us an attitude of gratitude!"
Each week, I join Colleen in remembering & sharing the many blessings in my life. This is such a great exercise for me, helping me to focus on the good that truly is happening in my life, no matter how many trials & stresses I may have.
4) I got called for jury duty again! This is a mixed blessing...I really enjoyed my experience the first time around, but it's not the best of timing. I could try to postpone, but w/ our luck, it would be right in the middle of Matt's finals! Deo Gratias!
Posted by Maria at 8:03 AM 0 comments
Labels: Deo Gratias Meme