Working Woman’s Wednesday: Patience = Virtue

Dr. Grassi cites scripture in sustaining patience:

1. Romans 8:28 ~ GOD works for the good of those who ♥love♥ Him ✌
2. Genesis 12:2, 7; Hebrews 6:15 ~ Abraham receiving the ☼promise☼ later in life
3. 1 Thessalonians 5:14; Galatians 6:10 ~ Paul advising patience with other †faithful† people

I read his testament on patience yesterday, which was wonderful timing because it was just what I needed in multiple aspects of my life:

1. getting through my dissertation defenses
2. seeking a career advancement
3. dealing with difficult people

Before I read his passage, I realized how patience helped me through those obstacles mentioned above:

1. I received encouragement from my professors
2. I received my latest teaching assignment
3. I received a fresh perspective on someone

These were reasons to thank GOD!

When I went through my Confirmation classes, I sought patience as a virtue and still continue pursuing it through all aspects of my life. We live in a world of

• instant gratification
• sense of urgency

Yet …

If we patiently wait, we’ll have more reason to ☼celebrate.

As we commonly say, and I first heard from my eighth grade math teacher:

Good things come to those who wait, for they will be ☼rewarded☼ ten-fold.

Plus, as my buddy, Big D has mentioned:

Anticipation creates ☼excitement.

Spiritual Sources

• *Grassi, J. E. (2013). Guts grace and glory: A football devotional. New York, NY: Thomas Nelson. (p. 69)

Thirsty Thursday: Religious Vocations

What is your calling in life?

We all have a purpose, and our greatest sense of purpose must come from a higher power.

In my case, as a †Catholic, I’ve sought †GOD’s will for me.

I’ve always considered two options:

1. having a spouse in the Sacrament of ♥Marriage♥
2. or ♥marrying♥ †GOD† in the religious life (I visited with a sister of the religious order from my †Catholic† university a few years ago)

However, I still can be a single lay person who ♥loves♥ and serves †GOD† with all of my ♥heart♥ and soul.

Consider The Nun’s Story, starring Audrey Hepburn and based on a book.

The Nun’s Story recently encored, so I had to watch it!

This film featured a woman’s challenges between upholding her vows and satisfying her own wants, such as

• silent time vs. speaking up

Audrey Hepburn in the role of a lifetime

• serving the Church vs. serving the community where she worked (Congo medical care)

Filmed on site in Congo in the 20th Century

We’re all human and have our moments. It’s just part of life here on Earth and a matter of maintaining what’s most important to us.

Throwback Thursday

Taking on different roles

My faculty colleagues and I watched our students graduate, including my ✌fellow✌ marathon runner to my left!

When I first taught at the college level …

†Fathers† on either side of this †Sister! The one to my right was my student my very first semester!

The †Bishop† in this photo is the father of my student above and a ✌fellow✌ PhD candidate, and the †Father† in this photo is a ✌fellow✌ Pinoy!

Pinoys ‘R Us … The ✌fellow✌ Pinays are mother and daughter, and the daughter was a soloist in our Tosca performance plus is a recording Christian artist now!

I also ♪sang♫ as a nun in the ♫opera!

I ♪sang♪ ♫soprano♫ in my †Church† ♫choir, but as a †nun† in this ♪opera♪♫chorus, I ♪sang♪ ♫alto♫ with this ✌fellow✌ †Sister!

The †priest† and †monk† are ✌fellow✌ Pinoys, and the ✌fellow✌ †Sister† is a ✌fellow✌ teacher (of language arts)!

YES, men rock makeup too! We all must look presentable on stage when the ☼spotlight☼ is on us. #PutYourBESTfaceForward Mine is by M•A•C

My †Mass† Readings This ☼Weekend☼

• Book of Wisdom 2:12, 17-20
• Responsorial ♪Psalm♫ 54
• Letter of St. James 3:16-4:3 ✌

Thirsty Thursday: Commandments vs. Capital Sins

In my quest to get closer to Heaven …

Regalo de México de mi Suegra

I strive to thrive on the Ten Commandments and live by the Four Cardinal Virtues while doing my best to resist the Seven Deadly Sins. Here is a list of each of them: the Commandments, along with the Sins that impose temptation to break those Commandments, and the Virtues to keep in order to prevent myself from committing those Sins:

Regalos de Puerto Rico de la Familia Bruno

10 Commandments = MUST Do	7 Capital Sins = DON’T Do	4 Cardinal Virtues = MUST Maintain
You shall have no other gods before me.	Greed, Pride	Fortitude, Justice, Prudence, Temperance
You shall not make for yourself a carved image – any likeness of anything that is in Heaven above, or that is in the Earth beneath, or that is in the water under the Earth.	Pride	Fortitude, Justice, Prudence, Temperance
You shall not take the name of the LORD your GOD in vain.	Anger	Fortitude, Justice, Prudence, Temperance
Remember the Sabbath day, to keep holy.	Gluttony, Lust, Sloth	Fortitude, Justice, Prudence, Temperance
Honor your father and your mother.	Anger, Pride, Sloth	Fortitude, Justice, Prudence, Temperance
You shall not murder.	Anger	Fortitude, Justice, Prudence, Temperance
You shall not commit adultery.	Envy, Greed, Lust	Fortitude, Justice, Prudence, Temperance
You shall not steal.	Greed	Fortitude, Justice, Prudence, Temperance
You shall not bear false witness against your neighbor.	Greed, Pride	Fortitude, Justice, Prudence, Temperance
You shall not covet your neighbor’s house; you shall not cover your neighbor’s wife, nor his male servant, nor his female servant, nor his ox, nor his donkey, nor anything that is your neighbor’s.	Envy, Greed, Lust	Fortitude, Justice, Prudence, Temperance

Regalos de Puerto Rico de la Familia Bruno

Thirsty Thursday: The TRUTH

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! 💖👏🙏✌️☝️📖💒

1:11 ~ make a wish … Or actually, say a prayer!!!