Remember that I have commanded you to be determined and confident! Do not be afraid or discouraged, for I, the †LORD† your GOD, am with you wherever you go.
I received this generous gift from my spiritual mentor in great timing: the day before my latest conference call with my professor** to practice my dissertation defense ~ in which I advanced to my first committee defense (preliminary presentation to my professors on board)! This reminds me of how the Bishop has always come through for me ~ particularly when he gave me the Holy Spirit blessing and medal right before I took my comprehensive examinations for my Master’s degree almost a decade ago!
Rather than focusing our energies on 🌎worldly🌏 wants, we have a greater power💥 that transcends our own lives!
At Mass💒 (in memory of my friends’ family’s loved 👼🏽one on his one-year anniverary) last weekend, the priest who delivered the homily🎤 pointed out two types of hunger:
Since then, I’ve been sporting a different one ever week (with the exception of last night when I featured George Strait with his ♥LOVE♥ is Everything shirt in both my speech and our RE class ~ I pointed out his nervousness before his final concert to my Public Speaking students then played ♪I Saw GOD Today♫ at Church).
JESUS saved my life! He can save yours too! GOD is NOT dead!
Random: I happened to see this message shoe-polished on the rear windshield of a car driving in front of me the other day.
Why?
This is NOT the question that we should ask GOD. While we may not always understand His will, we must accept it and seek His guidance… Instead, we ask Him
How?
and trust that He will see us through times of triumph, as well as trials and tribulations.
Lately, I’ve caught myself almost not practicing what I’ve been preaching: the positive perspective. During those close-call slip-ups, I remind myself that
EVERYTHING happens for a reason.
Even if we don’t know, things are meant to go, according to the LORD’s plan.
For instance, this morning, I took Asia to her appointment after my Adoration Hour. Her routine vaccines plus other necessary exams and procedures were pretty pricey. Rather than griping about the expense, I was grateful that she turned out fine.
My World Traveler Cat: ASIA ~ who’s in PURRfect Health!
Here’s another example: this week, I’ve felt more overwhelmed at work than usual because I’d cover extra shifts on the other side of town. I could look at it two different ways: dread driving more miles and working longer, or happily take this opportunity to help my team and earn more money. Earlier this afternoon, my boss asked me to travel to another city in our district, so I might as well look forward to another adventure and jump at this chance!
FYI: I’m not a fan of death… Or taxes.
Yet those are the two things that are for certain. Now that I have a job in health care, I’ve already faced it, as my least favorite part of my job, while my favorite part is to touch the lives of families who I photo; plus since Easter Vigil, I’ve known many friends who have lost loved ones. These times of loss call for coming together and being strengthened.
Three years ago, when I paid one last visit to my paternal grandmother’s death bed, the hospice manager told my aunt and me that it would be natural for us to question GOD. Both Auntie Mila and I told the manager, “No, we would never question GOD.” While we were aware already that Mama Eufemia was about to die, we deny that our LORD has ever left our side. And we praise Him for the precious moments that my grandma graced us with her presence.
Point being: let’s accept His will above our own. He will lead the way…
When the going gets tough, we’ve heard the first tip and the second one as a cowboy song by country star Blake Shelton. So, how about you pray, both as a form of praise and as a form of guidance? Hey, it may even help you sleep at night.
Last weekend, our Deacon proclaimed the Gospel (Luke 24 ~ which I also read at our Anniversary mass) about the Walk to Emmaus, in which Father Bob emphasized the significance during his homily: the 11 Apostles ran in the dark during a time when there were no sources of light to see where they were going. If we believe in the midst of darkness, we can see the light of the Holy Spirit leading the way. That being said, my student pointed out the importance of the Holy Spirit:
Let us always keep The Lord in our hearts, for He will move us if we remain open to Him. We can reach peace as a result of giving our all to GOD, leaving everything in His hands. By accepting His will above our own, we can maintain faith that He will see us through.
Earlier this week, I experienced a most sorrowful circumstance, it was an example of how good He is despite that His plan may go beyond our understanding. It reminded me of the last time I saw my paternal grandmother alive three years ago this month. That was the most humbling time of my life because I realized how much compassion I felt for my helpless Mama Eufemia, who I gave a sponge bath in her death bed, that even in her dying days, she comforted me by hugging and rubbing my back when I cried on my last night with her.
Speaking of my love for my grandparents, I’m grateful to GOD for giving me all of mine and my parents to influence me. Here are Throwbacks for National Nurses and Teacher Appreciation Week. Through prayer, my grandparents and parents have done well in their lives, not just for themselves and our families ~ for GOD.
My LOLA ROSA the Teacher & my LOLO TICO the Nurse
My NANAY AYA the Graduate Nurse
GOD Bless You & Happy Mother’s Day, especially to MAMA MARY!!!
Welcome/Mabuhay/¡Biénvenidos! I am a USAF brat who was born in Germany and grew up State-side while celebrating my Catholic and Filipino heritage. ☼Sunny☼ DISPOsition Elaine’s Eye Candy/DISPhotos ~ I love GOD & His creations, so I take photos @ any given opportunity. Elaine DISPOrts ~ I am passionate about sports, which is my research focus on my ... Continue reading →
The Elaine Dispo Journal 