So then, anyone who hears these words of mine and obeys them is like a wise man who built his house on rock. The rain poured down, the rivers flooded over, and the wind blew hard against that house. But it did not fall, because it was built on rock. But anyone who hears these words of mine and does not obey them is like a foolish man who built his house on sand. The rain poured down, the rivers flooded over, the wind blew hard against that house, and it fell. And what a terrible fall that was!
Do not be fooled. “Bad companions ruin good character.”
~ I Corinthians 15:33
Assignment ~ “study the playbook” (The Bible**) to “know the plays” {for the truth and our service as we proclaim GOD’s Word}
Christ’s message in all its richness must live in your hearts. Teach and instruct one another with all wisdom. Sing psalms, hymns, and sacred songs; sing to God with thanksgiving in your hearts.
So Jesus said to those who believed him, “If you obey my teaching, you are really my disciples; you will know the truth, and the truth will set you free.
~ John 8:31-32
Spiritual Sources
*Grassi, J. E. (2013). Guts grace and glory: A football devotional. New York, NY: Thomas Nelson. (p. 69)
**Rainbow Studies, Inc. (2000). The Catholic Rainbow Study Bible: Good News Translation (2nd ed.). El Reno, OK: Rainbow Studies International.
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…
Happy Birthday to Evie today & Early Birthday to Nanay!
Evie the Princess draped the robe on the Queen Mother after Sacred Heart‘s Corpus Christi Procession!
GOD works in miraculous and mysterious ways, giving us unasked-for prayers and blessings-in-disguise. When we reach a birthday or a milestone, He deserves our praise for getting us through our highway to Heaven…
At Mass last weekend, Father Bob said during his homily that the majority of our communication with the LORD is through listening to Him. This reminds me of the communication models that I studied and taught in college. Our interaction is not simply one-way ~ it is dynamic and involves all parties in the process. When we pray, we don’t simply tell GOD what is going on or ask Him to grant our wishes. During our days, He speaks to us in different ways, so we must use all of our senses to find out what He says… through
other people
circumstances
our dreams
As we help those who are in need, whether it is clothing the naked, donating to the poor, feeding to the hungry, hugging the abandoned, teaching the ignorant, visiting the imprisoned, we are doing as JESUS did… But think about it in these terms: we could be doing these things to JESUS! He could be living on in areas where we least expect it, and we could be looking at His face! We could live in His image, yet to take this a step further, we could treat others as we would treat Him: with kindness and mercy.
According to my parish priest, Father Bush, #PTL stands for:
Praise the LORD
Pretty Tough Lady
Please Talk Less
Push through LENT
The first and the fourth of these are just what we’ve practiced since Ash Wednesday. When we encounter a problem, we ought to revisit the Passion of CHRIST and realize that JESUS had the heaviest cross that anyone ever has had to bear. Let His experience speak to us, so we too can reach humility.
Here are my Easter greetings this year. My family and friends to whom I sent these cards also received a Palm Sunday cross that I hope that they will keep as a reminder to PTL.
Now that we’ve reached these holiest of days until Easter Sunday, I’ve completed Rediscovering Catholicism, so here are my revelations and remaining realizations:
Holy Spirit Light Insights
While I have #loved & #lost, I’ll never #lose #GOD & His #love ~ so I shall always have #faith, #hope & love for Him. [my #main #insight through this #spiritual #journey — #loss doesn’t mean the #end of the #world because His #kingdom is to come]
This #HolyWeek, I’m #fasting from #complaining. While I do my best to be #positive, this is 1 way to stay that way, so I #challenge you to join me in this #fast! Imagine how much less #stress we’ll have if we look @ the #bright side & our #opportunities as long as we follow the #light of the #HolySpirit 🙂 ✌️☝️👏🙏😻😍😎🌞
The task is simple: make NO #complaints until #EasterSunday 🌞 If you go that long then your #reward is this: you’re closer to #GOD for #basking in His #blessings rather than #bashing them as #burdens ❤ 🏆☝️🙏
I’d like to think that I can #sustain & DON’T #complain past #Easter but we @ least can get through this during the week of the #Passion. #GODblessYou =D #MissYourFace ♡ ♡ ♡ #PraiseTheLORD #PushThroughLENT 👏✌️
Rediscovering Catholicism Conclusions
Chapter 16 on #Fasting reminds me that #happiness & #health come from #discipline + enlightens me of how #spirit must #reign over #body, meaning that to #fast, our #soul has a #feast w/ #GOD! 🙏👆
“#Reading is to the #mind what #exercise is to the #body and #prayer is to the #soul.” ~ from Chapter 17: #SpiritualReading 📖💡👣💃🙏💖
“A #mother has a #unique #perspective. Nobody sees the #life of a #child the way the child’s mother does — not even his #father.” ~ Chapter 18: The #Rosary • Although I greatly #admire my #dad yet seldom ever see eye-to-eye w/Nanay, I #resolve to #appreciate my #mom more. Both this #reading & my new #job have opened my #eyes to this piece of #wisdom! 👪🙏🌹
A few years ago, I expressed to Bishop Mike my interest in establishing a #CatholicSchool in #AbileneTX. Upon reading Chapter 19: #TimeForAChange, I feel more compelled that this may be #GOD’s #calling to me as an #educator… So if I #inspire anymore #advocates, we can #MakeItHappen in His time! 🙏💒🏤⏰🎓 & if anyone has doubt, anything is #possible if we #believe! ☝️✌️👏
As a #scholar pursuing my #PhD in #LeadershipStudies, Chapter 20 on #Leadership is consistent w/the #theories I did #study @ #OurLadyOfTheLakeUniversity: #genuine #AuthenticLeadership • #bold #bravery #courage #purpose #virtue • #ServantLeadership w/ #model #service #sacrifice to #inspire ~ so all of these indeed can be practiced @ #Church w/ our #vision to #MakeADifference! 🎓💒
This last Chapter 21, #Return to #Virtue points out that we don’t just eliminate #vices but so #live by these #moral #virtues to #lead a #good #life: #SupernaturalVirtues • #FAITH • #HOPE • #LOVE | #CardinalVirtues / #HumanVirtues • PRUDENCE • #JUSTICE • #TEMPERANCE • #FORTITUDE … So I #pledge to be more #humble & less #proud (my main tendency) ~ for #pride is the #ultimate #vice & my ultimate #goal is to be closer to #GOD!
My ultimate goal: to be closer to GOD each & everyday!
Will y’all also join me on my journey and invite GOD into your heart, soul and every aspect of your lives?
Last weekend, I truly felt GOD speaking through me as His instrument as I proclaimed His Word at Mass: † Exodus 17:3-7
† Psalm 95:1-2, 6-7, 8-9
† Romans 5:1-2, 5-8
Then our Deacon read the Gospel from John 4:5-42, followed by our Priest’s Homily, during which he asked if we were thirsty. I was, both figuratively and literally, because the first reading introduced Moses’ followers as thirsty for water, and I too, was thirsty after speaking at the altar, and also because
I long to be closer to GOD, as I belong to Him.
When folks have asked me what I’m giving up for Lent or tell me what they’re giving up during this Lenten season, the past few years, I’d say that I don’t “give up” ~ but rather:
I give my time to enrich and strengthen my relationship with GOD.
After Easter, I don’t just resume my regular life; instead I lead a richer life because of GOD‘s strength and guidance, as well as His patience and mercy, which He instilled in me. This year, my companion through this time is a book provided by my Church, called Rediscover Catholicism: A Spiritual Guide to Living with Passion & Purpose by Matthew Kelly*.
One decade ago, upon my visit to my Motherland, the Philippines, my cousin’s wife gave me pasalubong (gift), which I read during Lent and still cherish to this day: The Purpose Driven Life by Rick Warren. If you’re seeking a sense of direction, I recommend both of these readings, as you go on your own walk with GOD.
Nothing matters more than He does because nothing is possible without Him.
*Reflections of Celebration …
#GOD led me to read this after I wrapped up the day on my #dissertation, & this very much has to do w/my #study as well as my #spirituality & #life: “The very #best #coaches will tell you that #teams that #win #championships are those that #focus on the #basics and #master them #together.” ~ Matthew Kelly
Chapter 1 on #Universal #Hunger reminds me of the song lyrics in #ThereIsALonging (in our #Hearts) because we #thirst for the #Truth = #GOD ❤
Chapter 2 on The #Prevailing #Philosophy prompts me to point out that we’re not here to serve ourselves & seek fast results, but rather to serve #GOD & seek His #purpose while remaining #patient & without questioning His will be done. #TrustInHim
Chapter 3 entitled Is #JESUS Still #Relevant? shows me that #InstantGratification won’t bring us closer to #Heaven, #GreatLOVE will. #LiveLikeJESUS! #Disciple = #Discipline
Chapter 4 on #Searching for #Identity inspires me to #maximize my #potential to #love & #serve #GOD & His #people ~ that is the #heart & #soul of my #person. ♥♥♥ #LoveGOD = #LovePeople ❤ ❤ ❤
Chapter 5 about what we #Celebrate brought to mind this song http://youtu.be/04y_KfO7GzI ~ so let’s #approach #life w/ the #LORD of #love taking the #lead on our #way according to His #will! #GOD = #GOoD 🙏👏✌️☝️💒💖
*… Leading into Authenticity
Chapter 6 called “What Is the #Authentic #Life?” does #guide me toward the #spiritual #secret: to be #holy in #everything that I do. For me, this is through #service to my #Church & #community + #work on my #dissertation & #career + #relationships w/ my #family & #friends ~ ALL to #lead w/ #great #LOVE for #GOD & His #creation! 💖👏🙏✌️☝️📖💒
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 
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Thirsty Thursday: Triple T
In ♥ & Soul, Community, Health, Higher Ed, Home Sweet Home, Pro-DiSPO, Public Interest, Relationships, Thirsty Thursday, Travel, Weekly Wonders, What's Hot, Workin' Woman, Yours Truly on 10/29/2015 at 08:00We all have unique ways that GOD has called us to serve Him and His people.