A Peaceful View

  Some days are much more difficult to deal with then others.  Some days I am much better at solving problems, and some days I can't seem to get anything right.  I have found that when life completely overwhelms me it is best to ask the Lord for help.  This doesn't make my problems magically disappear, but instead, I often find a new sense of peace.  When the heart is at peace, it is easier to accept disappointment or rediscover lost hope.  Sometimes what we perceive as a failing may be only a premature look at distant happiness.  Trust God.  His vision is always 20/20.

-Susan

The New Math

  I couldn't help but smile when I read this quote from Pope Benedict XVI.  I think there is so much truth in this statement.  I love being Catholic--the mass, the sacraments, the lives of the saints, and scripture all bring such joy to me.  I want to share this joy with others, but this often doesn't quite go the way I expected.  More often than not, I find that people are completely disinterested, or they are quick to change the subject, and I wonder why?  Why is it easier to share an opinion about a restaurant, a movie, or the weather, rather than talk about faith?  Why is it so hard to get people excited about going to church?
  Unfortunately, I don't have the answers to any of these questions.  I wished I did.  But until I get it all figured out, I'm just going to wake up every day and try to find little ways I can help someone discover the joy of Christ.  You know what they say, ''It's the little things in life that make all the difference."  The difference I make may be small, but that's better than making no difference at all.  Spreading the gospel it too big and too important for just some people to do it.  The gospel message needs to be spread by the sum of all people.  Just think of it as the new math. 

YOU + ME + EVERYONE  = DISCIPLES OF ALL NATIONS.

(I don't mean to freak anyone out, but the Teacher gave this assignment a long time ago and it is way over due.)  This is one of those group projects, and we all have to do our part.  Passing this assignment is something we will talk about for eternity.

-Susan

Starting with a Small Seed

  
  Sometimes forgiveness can be a long and difficult process.  Sometimes all you may be able to offer at first is a very small seed of forgiveness.  But that's okay.  Take this small seed and ask the Creator to help you.  You will find that the Father can nurture this small seed with His own goodness, allowing it to bloom into something beautiful.  Trust that God knows how to make even the most impossible situations--possible.

-Susan

Eyes Wide Open

It is sad that we do not always see what is right before our eyes.

Adore Jesus with your eyes wide open so 

His Presence does not go unnoticed.

-Susan

"Think God"

  When I was growing up I enjoyed the movies "Oh, God!" and "Oh, God Book II".  Both movies focused on individuals being able to see and talk with God.  In the second movie, God asks a young girl, Tracy, to write a slogan to get people's attention.  God is worried that people just aren't thinking about Him anymore.  Tracy and her friend come up with the slogan:  Think God.  She inspires her friends and classmates to write the slogan everywhere.
  I decided to revisit the past, and share this movie with my youngest daughter.  I hoped the movie wouldn't seem too dated for her.  Together we enjoyed a few good chuckles and when she saw the students writing "Think God" everywhere she said, "Mom we totally have to do this!"
  So, I'm asking for a little help.  Please text, write, tweet,  pin it, or snapchat "Think God" to someone today.  Maybe if we all started thinking more about God, we might eventually start thinking more like God.  Maybe, we might actually get a handle on the whole "love one another" commandment.  Think God.  Sounds like a great idea to me.  Who's up to the challenge?

-Susan

Send us your pictures and we'll post them! dwellingwiththespiritmail@gmail.com

Please Stop Talking...

  Today, let your heart do all the talking while you pray, and give your mouth a day off.  Stand before the Lord in utter silence and just be.  Close your eyes and breathe in His love. letting it expand your lungs.  Then slowly let it go, taking with it, all your current thoughts.  Let God breathe life into your very being, filling you with His Presence.  Life is much more than what we can comprehend on our own. Let God take you to a knew level.

-Susan

Fire Up!

 When you pray remember to invoke the the Presence of the Holy Spirit.  When our prayers are joined with the Holy Spirit a powerful flame of love is ignited.  A flame which can consume hatred, intolerance, jealousy, and indifference.  Don't underestimate your prayer life, ignite it!  Don't let your prayers just fill you, let them spark those around you!  Invite someone to pray with you or join others in prayer!  The potential to make changes in this world resides within you and your own living flame of faith.  Come Holy Spirit lets make a bonfire!

-Susan

My Mission

  

  I have to admit God's Plan can be mysterious and confusing.  It is not written in black and white and labeled step1, step 2, step 3, etc.  God's plan is more of an inner stirring, a desire found in your heart, a series of unplanned events, and sometimes a dream that seems impossible.  God's plan isn't necessarily the answer to your prayer, but He may use you to answer the prayer of another.  And, in the end, we may find out it really was the answer we were searching for all along.  God never said we had to have it all figured out.  He just said, "Follow me."  This weekend I challenge you to ask God if there is anything you can help out with, and then follow His inspiration.  If you feel unsure and get cold feet, close your eyes and imagine God saying,  "Trust me, you got this!"

-Susan

All Stressed Out

 Right along with eliminating world hunger and acquiring world peace, I wonder what a stress-free life would look like.  Wouldn't it be great if we didn't have to worry about so many things?   I have found that most days my over-weight friend "Worry" accompanies me wherever I go.  He has this annoying way of interrupting my thoughts and making my problems seem even bigger.  And if that wasn't enough to deal with, he has a twin brother named "Guilt" who always seems to stay right beside him.  What's annoying is that these twin brothers, Guilt and Worry, like to analyze my life and let me know how I could have done something better or how I never should have handled things that way.
  Life is not straight forward.  To quote a popular saying let's just say, "It's complicated."  Everyone has problems and everyone is struggling to get it right.  Perfection is an unattainable goal.  Maybe that's why Jesus spoke so much about forgiveness.  We have to forgive each other and ourselves, and trust that God will always love us, even when we make mistakes.
  I have decided to take a "trust walk" with Jesus, and I'm going to let my friends Worry and Guilt come along.  I think we could all benefit from some time with Jesus.  Exercise is good for the body and the soul, and I think the three of us (Me, Worry, & Guilt) could all use to lose a little weight. 

-Susan

Make Each Moment Count

Share kind words, smiles, and hugs.

Be honest & trustworthy.

Don't take what isn't yours.

Love people more than money.

Let your faith be your greatest fortune.

Make good choices for yourself and for others.

We touch each other's lives more than we know.

We were created by an all-loving God.

We were created to love.

Remember, God never asked us to get ahead.

He asked us to follow.

Walk slowly and carefully,

And let each moment,

each seed,

and each step,

Plant goodness into your soul.

-Susan

Keep Dreaming

  Time, reflection, and faith can have a tremendous impact on our dreams.  What looks like the end, may only be the beginning of a new aspect of your life.  Be adventurous and ask God what He dreams for you.  Then, take the answer to that prayer, and begin your life again.

-Susan

The Invisible Cross

  Evelyn walked into the jewelry store and began looking around.  A gentleman crossed the store and said, "Hello, is there something I could help you find today?"
  "Yes, as a matter of fact," Evelyn said, "I'm looking for a very special necklace with a cross.  I want something different."  The salesman showed Evelyn their collection of cross necklaces.  There was quite a variety.  Evelyn looked closely at each one.  They were nice, but predictably common.  "Is this all you have?" inquired Evelyn.
  "Well, I'm kind of new here.  The designer is in the back room, let me see if he has any ideas."  The salesman left and returned a few minutes later with the designer.
  "Hello, I've been told you are looking for a cross necklace.  Something a little different?" said the designer.
  "Yes, I want something very unique.  Something no one else has seen.  A cross that would enhance my natural beauty, and yet be versatile enough for me to wear with everything.  Would you have anything like that here?"
  The designer smiled and said, "I have just the one.  He went down to the end of the counter and pulled out a brown wooden box.  He opened it up and said, "What do you think of this one?"
  "Is this some kind of a joke?  I don't see anything!" exclaimed Evelyn.
  The designer smiled.  "Yes, it is invisible to the eye, but you can feel its weight.  Please allow me to put it on you.  You will find that it compliments the true beauty of your soul.  No one will even know you are wearing it, yet each day you will become more beautiful."
  "Really?"
  "Yes.  Once you choose it, though, you can't exchange it.  The cross will mold to fit your life perfectly."
  "Can I just hold it in my hand first?" Evelyn inquired.
  "Of course."  The designer carefully placed the necklace in Evelyn's hand.
  "Oh, my gosh, I can feel it, but I can't see it.  I can perfectly trace the outline of the cross."  Evelyn smiled.  She didn't know anyone who had this same necklace.  "This is exactly what I was looking for, I just didn't know it. I'll take it."
  The designer carefully placed the necklace around Evelyn's neck.  "Take a look for yourself."
  Evelyn looked into the mirror.  She could feel it's weight, but she saw nothing.  As she looked in the mirror, Evelyn was pleased with her reflection.
  "You are very beautiful," the designer said.  "Now remember, you are the only one who will ever feel it's weight.  That cross was made for you."
  Evelyn smiled and nodded her head.  She wondered which of her features would become more beautiful.  Evelyn walked out of the store ready to embrace her life with her invisible cross.
  Evelyn found that time has a way of passing from minutes to hours to days and years.  In the beginning, Evelyn barely felt her cross.  Occasionally it would scratch the delicate skin over her heart.  For some reason her mind always turned to God when this happened.  She would offer a small prayer to God and wonder what heaven might be like.
  However, there were some days that her cross felt very heavy and it made doing every day activities difficult.  On these days she would cry out to God on bended knee and ask for His help.  She didn't understand why her cross was so difficult to carry some days.  There were even some days that her cross made her heart and head ache.  It was in these moments of tears and pain that she would plead for God's help. And God would answer.  Evelyn would feel His Spirit stir in her, and remind her how much she was always loved.  God seemed to fill her mind with His own thoughts, and she discovered that if she left some of her own thoughts behind, she was able to move forward again.
  And so day after day, she carried, dragged, stumbled, prayed and rejoiced with her invisible cross.  She forgot to worry about her vane ideas of physical beauty.  Her eyes, however, did search for beauty--the inner beauty of those she met.  Oddly, she began to seek out those who were struggling with their own invisible crosses and tried her best to ease their pain.
  On the very last moment of her life the Lord appeared before her.  His smile filled her with a love and peace she had never known.  After the Lord embraced Evelyn with loving arms, He said, "I would like to remove your cross from your life.  Will you allow me?"
  "Of course!" Evelyn answered.
  As the Lord took the cross from Evelyn, it suddenly became visible to her eyes.  Evelyn looked surprisingly disappointed when she saw it.  "It's just a plain wooden cross.  There is nothing remarkable about it at all."
  Jesus smiled.  "What is remarkable is how you changed your life once you embraced the cross.  Do you see what is etched on the back?"
  Evelyn turned the cross over and saw the words, 'Trust me, I love you, and I will never leave your side.'  Evelyn smiled.  "I have heard those words echo within me so many times."
  Jesus smiled again.  "I showered you with grace every time I whispered those words to you."  Evelyn's eyes filled with tears of love.  "I'm here to take you home to the Father.  I can hardly wait to see His face when He sees just how beautiful you have become.  Are your ready?"
  Evelyn nodded her head and reached for Jesus' hand as they walked home together.

-Susan

Feast of the Solemnity of Mary, Mother of God

The life of Jesus began and ended in the arms of His holy mother.
        Let us be like Mary and spend our lives 
                    embracing the Body of Christ.
                Let us be like Jesus, and allow Mary 
                           to hold us in her arms our whole life long.
  
                                                                                 -Susan