Thirsty Thursday: Advent Affirmations

Merry CHRISTmas Eve!

This Advent, I’ve been blessed with books gifted by my nearest and dearest:

• From Bishop Mike before my Dissertation Defense: Pope Francis in the U.S.: Words of Mercy and Hope (2015), Daughters of St. Paul.
• From Bestie Evie & Mama Maggie after my Dissertation Defense: A Little GOD Time: Devotional Journal (2014), BroadStreet Publishing.
• From my PhD alma mater, Our Lady of the Lake after my Grad Ring Blessing: Advent 2015: Daily Reflections, Practices & Prayers: A Season of Mercy (2015), David M. Knight.
• From Bestie Evie at our CHRISTmas Gift Exchange Brunch: Pope Francis: In His Own Words (2013), Julie Schwietert Collazo & Lisa Rogak.

Each of these readings have offered enlightening passages for me to lead the ☼day.

May GOD bless us everyone! ✌

Throwback Thirsty Thursday: Call to the Poor

My first order of business as Dr. Dispo:

Give to the poor.

This is GOD‘s calling, not just to me, but also from our Holy Father, Pope Francis, and my spiritual mentor, Bishop Mike, through Him, to the people.

How will you help?

For the past few CHRISTmases, to follow in the example of the blessed birthday celebrant, JESUS, my family and I have contributed to those in need instead of each other. I’ve offered gifts to my Angel Tree children and am donating more to the Salvation Army today after my Holy Hour.

And if we really are poor ~ in health, spirit, or otherwise ~ let us seek the LORD for strength to overcome.

Prayers of …

• ♥Adoration♥ for strength in faith
• Contrition for weaknesses
• THANKSgiving for everything
• Supplication for GOD’s will

Throwback Thursday: This JUST-IN … My fave ✌CHRISTmas✌ memory was when my lil’ nephew ~ him decked out in *Dallas Cowboys* Santa hat & yours truly in *Dallas Mavericks* ~ helped me decorate the natural tree that I picked up & actually kept up ’til past ♣St. Patty’s♣ (while also decorating it for more ☼cheer☼ through ☼New Year’s, ♥Valentine’s, ♠Mardi Gras, ♣St. P’s & †Easter)!

Thirsty Thursday: Spiritual DNA & Bootcamp

Our Holy Father has spread joy & hope all around the world leading up to his World Meeting of Families | Courtesy ABC‘s Pope Francis & the People special

¡Biénvenidos, Padre!

“Don’t walk alone, always be encouraged. Walk with courage. Courage gives you joy, and joy gives you hope. Always move with courage, and always move with hope. Ask GOD for these.” ~ Pope Francis tells young girl in Spanish (this translated message transcends to all of us) … Similarly, Bishop Mike advised me to always look at the †cross† to refresh my soul with new hope, ♥love♥ and trust. | Courtesy ABC‘s Pope Francis & the People special

As Pope Francis journeys on his well-anticipated trip to America (Philly to D.C. to NYC)

Pope Francis has addressed the *U.S. Congress* | Courtesy ABC‘s Pope Francis & the People special

our awareness has been raised on how we take care of our environment … and each other.

Pope Francis has connected with my previous home: el Valle | Courtesy ABC‘s Pope Francis & the People special

We also must consider how we take care of ourselves, in terms of our own †spiritual† health.

Pope Francis lifted up this young man’s spirits for taking care of his family | Courtesy ABC‘s Pope Francis & the People special

Lately, I’ve reflected on my self-centered tendencies and been praying to be relieved of them in order to put my life in GOD’s hands. This hasn’t been easy. Fortunately, more messages have reminded me to get more †spiritually-fit.

Has this already been part of our genetic disposition* or is this something that we can learn**?

Courtesy United States Conference of Catholic Bishops

*Spiri†ual DNA

M is for …

Maryknoll‘s Father Finch uses a molecule metaphor about our spirituality already being part of our †souls, from the Holy Spirit to uncover GOD’s mysteries. By following these “spiritual† genetic instructions,” we serve and lead faithfully.

en español | Courtesy United States Conference of Catholic Bishops

**Spiri†ual Bootcamp

First, we must make sure that we maintain our religious practices for the mind:

• Go to Confession every month
• Pray the Rosary everyday ~ offering our daily duty to be closer to the Holy Spirit
• Scapular ~ “form me and shape me, Mother, in the form of Your Divine Son” (Marian way of life)

Furthermore, we must stay in good physical shape, so we have capable bodies:

• Calisthenics are effective to take care of our temples ~ this activity is more ideal for our spirit than pop culture (e.g., watching TV, going online)

Courtesy The Lake

Bearing in mind and ♥heart♥ all of the above advice plus last week’s scripture, I realize now more than ever that I’m no better than anyone else in the way that I treat others and ought to be treated; after all, as said every Ash Wednesday:

For you are dust, and to dust you shall return. ~ Genesis 3:19

 That being said, let’s follow the Pontiff‘s solid guidance to seek from GOD: courage –> joy –> hope ~ as I’ve studied this leadership practice for several years:

Encourage the ♥Heart♥

Courtesy Maryknoll

Spiritual Sources

• ABC. (2015, Sept. 4). “Pope Francis and the People.” [TV special].
• EWTN. (2014). Women of Grace “Marian Devotion: For Such a Time As This.”*
• Finch, Fr. Raymond J. (2015, Sept. 20). Reflections from Maryknoll.** [Email].

Inspired by Pope Francis | Courtesy Maryknoll

Thirsty Thursday: GOD’s Gifts

What you are is GOD‘s gift to you, what you become is your gift to GOD.

Our R.E. rising star student *NIKKO* created this for Easygoing EVIE & Excited ELAINE!

Throwback Thursday quote: my Sis had that saying in a poster with a photo of a ballerina in her childhood bedroom.

Now we proudly hang this beautiful work from GOD‘s Little Angel in our classroom!

How do we use the talents with which He has blessed us to serve Him?

Thirsty Thursday: Long Live the LORD

♪GOD’s not dead♫

♪He’s surely alive♫

Words of Wisdom…

But whoever disowns me before others, I will disown before my Father in heaven. ~ Matthew 10:33

Therefore, truth be told.

Today, I had a Holy Spirit-filled day: I started with my Thursday Adoration hour at the †Chapel† as usual, and tonight, I wrapped it up by photographing our Confirmation at †Church†! In between, I had Movie Day with my Church Bestie and Spiritual Warrior, Evie, who showed me GOD’s Not Dead!

GOD’S Alive in ALL of Us!!!

Whether or not you’re a believer, I strongly encourage everybody to watch it! One point that is engrained in my brain is this:

People tend to turn to GOD when times in their life are tough. When their lives seem perfect, the devil tells them that they don’t need GOD and takes them away from Him.

Another message that resonates is my mind is:

How can you hate GOD if you don’t believe in Him?

Without giving too much away aside from the above takeaways, here are my added bonuses that got me interested right away:

• Newsboys soundtrack (I jammed out to the same-titled track way before I saw the film)
• Dean Cain ~ he is on my list!
• Duck Dynasty cameo
• University storyline ~ appeals to yours truly, as I teach at the College level
• Aforementioned storyline involves Public Speaking ~ I can relate since I teach Speech
• Aforementioned storyline takes place in Philosophy class ~ I’m earning my degree in Philosophy!

FYI: As an educator, I’ll NEVER ask or tell my students to compromise their beliefs, whether they’re different from my own.

22:22 ~ make a prayer!!!

R.I.P. ✌ Rodrigo Palma

Thirsty Thursday: Livin’ on a Prayer

♪We got to †pray† just to make it ☼today☼.♫

Bon Jovi sings, and MC Hammer raps The TRUTH! And I, for one, indeed live every single day by this: no day is complete without prayer.

Way to get through the day, all day everyday: PRAY!

This Thirsty Thursday quench unravels the H and 5 W questions of prayer.

How

Growing up, many of us were taught certain ways to pray, such as:

• kneeling and bowing down while folding our hands
• genuflecting and doing the Sign-of-the-Cross for those of us who are Catholic

Throwback Thursday: My First Communion

However, we may not always engage in formal rituals when we pray, depending on our activities during the day.

Why

Some may pray for their wants and needs, but the essence of prayer is

to be closer to †GOD† and listen to His plan.

Therefore, we pray for His will and His way to guide us to His calling. Also

we praise and glorify Him; hence give Him THANKS.

When

The times of day when we pray don’t have to be limited. We can be in constant communication with the LORD. Here are a few of mine:

• when I wake up for His morning glory
• as I get ready for the day
• before every meal
• before every trip
• before every shift
• before every test
• before every workout
• when I go to sleep to guide me through the night

Where

Anywhere on GOD’s green Earth is the perfect place to pray. Church is an obvious spot where we worship together. This morning, I have my Adoration hour at the Chapel, and one of my prayers at the Blessed Sacrament actually mentions that while we pray there, we also must pray where prayer is scarce.

What

While there are prescribed prayers, the fact that we’re living and breathing GOD’s Word is most important. There’s so much scripture for us to incorporate in our prayer, so it is a manner of really letting those verses from the Bible soak in. If we absorb these passages instead of simply going with the motions by just saying those words, then we’ll capture what prayer is all about:

letting †GOD† into our ♥heart♥.

Throwback Thursday: My Confirmation

Who

To whom do we pray? To GOD, of course, or the higher power in whom you believe. Those of us who are Catholic also may have special prayers for the patron saints, who led their lives serving the LORD and set examples to strive for holiness.

5:55 ~ make a †prayer†!!!