Thirsty Thursday: Perfect Plan

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.

~ Joshua 1:9*

Bishop Mike ~ who reminded me to look at the †cross† for renewed hope, ♥love♥ and trust ~ sent me this beautiful †cross† that was blessed by Pope Francis during his *Stateside* visit!

Live by the †cross†: For more ☼floral☼ religious symbols from the clergy, please see the OLG medal from ♥Bishop Mike♥ & the ♥Pope Francis♥ coin

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!

He will not let you down.

~ Bishop Mike

While we live in a world where ✌peace✌ is but a wish, our Heavenly Father has the BEST in store for us that is yet to come …

♪♫CHRIST be our Light ~ ☼shine☼ in our ♥hearts, shine through the darkness♪♫

*♪♫Do not be afraid, I am with you … I ♥love♥ you, and you are mine♫♪

*Bible Reference = My Mantra during my **Run-through

• Rainbow Studies, Inc. (2000). The Catholic Rainbow Study Bible: Good News Translation (2nd ed.). El Reno, OK: Rainbow Studies International.

Thirsty Thursday: Blessings in Disguise

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.

Loss = Turn to the CROSS!

Tender Moment: Mama & me hand-in-hand

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…

5:55 ~ make a †prayer†

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†!!!