Role Models.

{Praise & Worship Wednesday}

As a child I looked up to many, many women in my life, as an adult, it's the same. I don't think I ever expected anyone to look up to me.

That's changed now. I have children. I have a daughter. I want her to love me and admire me for who I am. For whom God has made me to be. BUT, I always remind others, that I am in the end...HUMAN. I do make mistakes. I do talk too much and I do put my foot in my mouth!

I was so convicted last night when my Husband pointed out a fault in my tongue last week. My questions are....How? How do you apologize after you've stepped out of your comfort zone, only to put your foot in your mouth? How do you speak your mind without judging? How do you let it all go? I am not only reminded of scripture and call for grace and redemption... but I am also reminded of that song...from John Mayer...."My Stupid Mouth"...and I feel horrible.

So, I pray.

James 3: 5-10
Taming the Tongue
5 Likewise, the tongue is a small part of the body, but it makes great boasts. Consider what a great forest is set on fire by a small spark. 6 The tongue also is a fire, a world of evil among the parts of the body. It corrupts the whole person, sets the whole course of one’s life on fire, and is itself set on fire by hell. 7 All kinds of animals, birds, reptiles and sea creatures are being tamed and have been tamed by human beings, 8 but no one can tame the tongue. It is a restless evil, full of deadly poison. 9 With the tongue we praise our Lord and Father, and with it we curse human beings, who have been made in God’s likeness. 10 Out of the same mouth come praise and cursing. My brothers and sisters, this should not be.

Ephesians 4:29-30

Instructions for Christian Living
29 Do not let any unwholesome talk come out of your mouths, but only what is helpful for building others up according to their needs, that it may benefit those who listen. 30 And do not grieve the Holy Spirit of God, with whom you were sealed for the day of redemption.

And, I change...

 

 

Grief. {Part 2}

My Aunt.

A pure heart. A faith-filled heart. A Woman of Faith.

My Aunt who read Corinthians at my wedding. My Aunt who handed me my Bible and Rosary at my wedding. The same Bible and Rosary that sits in my bedroom.

The Bible which she introduced to my Uncle...who preferred one with BIG print and lots of pictures. An example of constant Faith and Love.

A beacon of Hope and Marriage.

The biggest {self-less} heart in our family.

The peacemaker. The neutral.

The Godly. The God given.The God surrendered.

My Aunt Lola.

A tribute to her  life. Not just a memory but a true testament to life.

A gentle soul filled with faith, love, courage.

Her house filled with awards.

Awards to her unfailing perseverance and patience.

Courage and Faith. That's what I know.

That's how I love her.

Beauty within and on the outside.

My Tia.

I feel like I didn't spend enough time with her.

Did I say everything I should have said?

Did I kiss her enough times?

Did I hold her long enough?

[30 of FAITH]

This one took me a minute.

I couldn't find my older Bible:

30 Bible Verses that have gotten me through my 30 years (Really more so the last 6 years).....

1. Philippians 4:13

2. Psalm 23

3. Psalm 27

4. 1 Corinthians 13:1-13 {Read at my wedding...}
5. Proverbs 31 { My inspiration}
6. Lucas 1:39-45

7. Matthew 9:29-30
8. Juan 4:43-54
9. Luke 15:11-32
10. Marcos 9:24
11.John 3:16
12.Genesis 18: 1-10 {Gave me hope while trying to have children}
13. Psalm 1
14. Psalm 3
15. Psalm 6: 1-3
16. Psalm 22
17. Psalm 31
18. Salmo 84
19. Psalm 90
20. Psalm 91
21.Psalm 103
22. Psalm 104
23.Psalm 131
24.Psalm 139
25. Psalm 143
26. Psalm 144:4,6,8
27. Psalm 145:8,14
28. Salmo 55:11
29. Matthew 25:31-46
30. Luke 10: 38-42 {Side notes: We worry and do all the wrong things. The one right way is the Lord's way. Don't worry about petty things when he is teaching you LOVE, LIFE and HONESTY.}

I have so many others tagged and so many notes, but they are VERY personal.

During my time with my old Bible, 6 years ago, I was  going through a lot with my parents.

Their marriage was in GREAT despair. Hence my obsession with Psalms {and with having a Faith-filled family of my own}.

Psalms, was my favorite book during this time. 

I pleaded and cried out for help almost every night since I was 13. It wasn't until I was 24 that God came into my life and that He showed me that if I cried out to HIM...nothing was impossible and everything was possible.

At 24 I truly came to Christ and my life has changed very much since then. Not perfect but just right. I've learned many lessons and life has definitely hit me hard, but I have always managed to wear a smile. Not because of me, but because of God. He has guided me and I continue to follow Him closely. Yes, I still making mistakes but learning each day how to be a better me.

A little hint when reading the Bible, that I learned at 24:

You set a time and place a side for you and Jesus to talk. How?

Just like you would with an old friend who you want to catch up with. You find the right location, where no one can bother you and where you can give that friend your undivided attention. You make sure it's comfortable and quiet. You set up a candle that will remind you of the constant flame that Jesus is within your heart. Then you start your conversation by saying; "Jesus, I am here, ONLY for You. To listen and give you my undivided attention. I am yours. Please give me peace and understanding so that Your Word can fill my heart and every empty space in my soul." Then you start reading your favorite verse...BUT slowly. Calmly. Taking in EVERY word. Listening to God. Really capturing His unique message for you. Once you are done reading, you sit. Close your eyes and listen to Him, for Him. His Word will fill your life with that light and that wholeness that NOTHING and NO-ONE else can give you. 

It's an amazing feeling. 

I hope you can relish in this one day.

This is my new Bible, which has started my Momma journey with me: 

A Friday Re-cap:

It's funny how some weeks, silence {from above} seems to reign. The last couple of weeks, not noise...but clarity speaking.

Trying to re-build, re-organize and move on in this new year...I love it really.

This week I received my usual daily blog post from one of my favorite Faith Bloggers.

She spoke about "parking her mind" in a "beautiful place".

I thought.


I too want to park my mind in a beautiful place, I think it's the best way to think of it. All day our minds run wild but to just be still and "park" it in one place. That ONE place that matters; God, Jesus, our Lord.

I love that thought.

The verse that she used to help her park her mind was:

“And now I will show you the most excellent way.  If I speak in the tongues of men and of angels, but have not love, I am only a resounding gong or a clanging cymbal,” (1 Corinthians 13:1).

She also mentioned that she "lives free from regret and with clarity of heart, mind and soul."

I too want to live free from regrets and have this type of clarity {and PEACE} that she speaks of. But, I have realized that if my days go unfocused and do not focus on HIM, then I loose all clarity and peace and fall back into the trap of noisiness.
I don't like that very much.

So, I will attempt to remain:

FOCUSED
IN CLARITY
PARKED
AT PEACE

And simply trusting Him!

My Favorite verse this week was:

“Trust God from the bottom of your heart; don't try to figure out everything on your own. Listen for God's voice in everything you do, everywhere you go; he's the one who will keep you on track. Don't assume that you know it all.”

Proverbs 3:5-6

"Wow, perfect."

What helps you stayed focused?

 

A Continued Growth and Shaping ♥

This past weekend my husband and I were very Blessed as we were able to Baptize our son. It's been a long while over due. We wanted to have him baptized soon after he was born but one thing in life led to another and it just didn't happen. We finally got all of our ducks in a row, well kind of {Ha.}, and were very Blessed to be able to follow through.

One of the topics that our priest spoke of was our responsibility as parents to instill Christianity in our son as a result of being active Christians ourselves. As a human being...I often fail at this...all on my own. I know that for me the only way to continue down the path that the Lord has set up for me is through His guidance, and of the Holy Spirit.


I grew up Catholic. But, was never really a "practicing Catholic" and if I was, it was never proper, I've often fallen back into that selfish and stubborn trap and find myself seeking His guidance and Grace once more. It's my constant reminder that if I was in a certain place it wasn't becuase of me...it was all because of Him! So, this year as I share my days with you, I also invite you to join me in this journey of FAITH, and share my Faith with me. Who knows something that I am learning and attempting  to apply may be to your liking as well.

In the past I‘ve judged too soon.

In the past I’ve spoken to quickly.

In the past I’ve been stubborn.

In the past I’ve been humbled.

We all deserve a second chance. We all have the free will to act gracefully, this I know. I pray for God to give me all of the necessary tools for my life to head towards a more purposeful direction, for HIS purpose and HIS will!

As part of my learning, I will be looking up different words that will be helpful in my journey. Words that all though I may use them everyday, I have to learn what they properly mean in order to apply and use in my everyday the way they should be used!

Here is my current list:

discernment :

The ability to judge well

(in Christian contexts) Perception in the absence of judgment with a view to obtaining spiritual direction and understanding

grace:

Courteous goodwill

(in Christian belief) The free and unmerited favor of God, as manifested in the salvation of sinners and the bestowal of blessings

free will:

The power of acting without the constraint of necessity or fate; the ability to act at one's own discretion

Now, I don't know how often I will Blog about my progress but I will and I hope you will follow me on this journey!

Please feel free to comment and jump in at any time; I appreciate all input!

~Praise and Worship Wednesday's~

I haven't done a P&W post in a while....a long while..I think God was working and then all of the sudden said...."Ok, now"....

But, not as in..now you are ready, or now you are done, or now you can go on and tell em' how it is....more like...

"Ok, now....we start over and re-think everything, re-learn everything, re-arrange everything in that bitter little heart of yours back to what and where it should be.... Now....you can breath....Now...you can have, at last, that much needed peace that you haven't had in a long time!"

God is always in the mood for change. Realistic and sincere change. Not like, today I feel good and tomorrow..eh not so much.... I mean..change like....today I feel peace and tomorrow my goal is to feel it again!

Just last week I was having a tough day..which I expressed to my GF who later that night texted me..she said she was praying for me and then shared a Bible verse with me. Well part of my Non-New Years Resolution was to pick my Bible back up on a daily basis..until that night, I had not started, SHAME on me, I know! Well, because I told her how I felt, she inspired good Faith in me and God gave me good will. That night regardless of what my son was ripping apart, breaking or tossing across the bed; I grabbed my Bible read her verse and then on to ALL those notes and verses I had previously tabbed....

I realized:

Number one, WOW, I haven't done this kind of deep soul searching or "questioning" of myself in a VERY long time! 
Number Two, WOW, I used to be in SO much pain for the same reason and now that reason is better {My parents}, PRAISE GOD!
Number Three, I want. I want this again. I want to read and be in awe, have an answer and NOT be swayed! I JUST WANT IT ALL AGAIN...AND YOU KNOW WHAT..."HE WANTS IT ALL" as well!!! 

If the video doesn't appear below, click HERE!

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