A Powerful Weapon

  I am very excited for the canonization of Mother Theresa on September 4th.  I came across this quote and it made me smile.  It also made me wonder.   How many of you have a personal prayer book?  I would strongly recommend beginning one if you don't have one.  I have a few to be honest.  I have a book where I jot down my personal prayers or prayers that touch my heart.  I also have a folder on my iPad and one on my computer filled with inspirational quotes, pictures, and prayers.  For me, prayer is the most beautiful part of my life.  It allows me to see the splendor of God, feel the warmth of His love, and at times, offers me a shoulder to cry on.  As I have stated before, I am not the brightest, but prayer aids me to understand things I could not on my own.
  Prayer is definitely a powerful weapon.  I use it to fight despair, to overcome my selfish thoughts, and to strengthen my desires to grow closer to Christ.  To the eyes of the world, my prayer book may seem trifle and worn, but to me, it is the key which reminds my heart to "do everything for the glory of God."  I love my prayer books, and I would have loved reading Blessed Mother Theresa of Calcutta's pray books.

-Susan

Cross My Heart

  Nobody wishes for a difficult life.  Most of us would enjoy a life that is easy and carefree, however, few of us experience a life without any problems.  Jesus told us, "If anyone wishes to come after Me, he must deny himself, and take up his cross and follow Me."    Although crosses are difficult to carry, they can also be enlightening.  The wood of the cross splinters our selfishness, engrains our trust in Jesus, and strengthens our desire to pray.  One of the mysteries of the cross is it's ability to carve us into faithful servants.  One day we will all see the love that was etched into the cross we carried and how it taught our hearts to resemble the heart of Jesus. 

-Susan

Good Reads

  Have you ever had one of those moments where you are reading a bible story that you have read many times in the past, and all of a sudden you discover something new that you never thought about before?  That happens to me a lot, and I think it's a good thing.  I think God enjoys slowly revealing Himself to us.  Speaking for myself, I  know I am not the brightest, but I have a great desire to learn more about God.  I often beg the Holy Spirit to help me understand things.  I may not be walking as fast as others toward heaven, but I am walking forward, and I look forward to all the little secrets God still has to share with me.  I love our little moments together when I smile and say, "How come you never told me that before?"  
  And I imagine God smiling back and saying, "Yes, I did, maybe you were too young to understand."  
  You know, I'm really looking forward to growing older with God.  I never tire of His company, and I never tire of His stories.

-Susan

Going Beyond

  Today let us meditate on these words from Pope Benedict XVI.  Take a few quiet moments today to listen to the whispers of God's voice.  As you speak with God today be light on your toes so that He will come and pull you close to His loving heart.  Do not let any burdens weigh you down or stand as an obstacle between you and God.  Let His Presence to fill you, as you allow your thoughts to drift beyond the earthly horizon, until they are nestled between God's Wisdom and Understanding.  Allow yourself to experience the splendor of His love for as long as you can and ask for the grace to love Him more.
  They say the path to heaven is narrow.  Perhaps then, we should just trust God to carry us there, Himself.

-Susan

Admiring the Beauty of God's Creation

   

Although it is a little sad to admit, summer is coming to a close, and autumn is slowly creeping closer. This is one of my favorite times of year, the little sliver between summer and fall. To me,  the mixture of these two beautiful seasons, always reminds my of the beautiful world God created. Every time I witness a breathtaking beachside sunset, or a tree that is slowly changing its color palette, I think to myself, "If God made earth this beautiful, just imagine how Heaven will be." Try taking a minute, every time you see the beauty of God in nature, to thank Him. Thank Him for creating you, and the world around you. Also try looking for the beauty of God everywhere you go, you may be surprised by what you see.

-Theresa

It All Adds Up!

  

God's love + Jesus' love + Holy Spirit's love is the gift of life created in you.  You are an amazing person!  We often spend too much time worrying about our shortcomings.  We need to remember that we weren't made to be perfect.  We were made with love and to love.  I would like to challenge everyone to share this powerful love, the very core of your being, with someone today.  Let's surprise God today, and all just come together and love each other.

-Susan

Dwelling With The Spirit - 1 year Anniversary

    I can't believe how fast time flies, one year has already past since we first started this blog!!! When my mom and I first started this blog, we didn't know what to expect. We didn't know exactly what to write about, how to go about creating it, or if anyone would actually read what we wrote. All we knew that was we wanted to spread the word of God in a fresh new way. We had one goal, evangelization.

    I remember when I first shared with my mom the idea of starting a blog which would feature some of her amazing writings about our faith. For some reason I was scared she would turn down my idea, but to my surprise she loved it.  We have been a team, proofreading each others posts, helping edit each other's pictures and videos, inspiring each other, and praying together. 

    Originally, I only wanted to be the editor, manager, and creator of the blog, but my mom convinced me that I should post some of my writings too. I am so glad I did. It is such an amazing feeling to know that somebody likes what you wrote, or that it made them think. Blogging is such a powerful tool.  It has given me the chance to see my faith and evangelization in a whole new light.  I am so thankful for each and every person who reads this blog. This blog would't be what it is today without all of you who inspire my mom and I to keep writing, and spreading the amazing word of God.

God Bless,

Theresa

  Please continue to journey with us.  It is exciting to know that we have readers from more than thirty different countries.  Though we are miles (and even continents) apart from each other, our lives are linked together by the power of the Holy Spirit.  God is truly amazing!

  We would love to hear from you.  Please feel free to press the "contact us" page and say hello.  If you have a faith story you would like to share, we would like to invite you to be a guest writer.  Evangelizing the world is an exciting quest!  I hope you allow the Holy Spirit to dwell in you and to share His presence with all those you encounter.

May the peace of Christ be with you,

Susan