Loves like a hurricane, I am a tree

He is jealous for me,
Loves like a hurricane, I am a tree,
Bending beneath the weight of his wind and mercy.
When all of a sudden,
I am unaware of these afflictions eclipsed by glory,
And I realize just how beautiful You are,
And how great Your affections are for me.

Its almost October, my favorite season's month. I love Fall. The changing of the weather. Pumpkin everything. :)

My life is so busy. I went on vacation in the middle of August. Returned to work in September. And, consequently, because of issues in my life, I'm moving. Yay!

I move in to my very own apartment, just, me, myself, and my apartment at the end of October.

Currently, all of my belongings are in storage, save two suitcases of clothing.

This morning when I realized that Fall was truly upon us; I also realized I have no idea where my winter/fall shoes are. I hope it doesn't get too cold because I'll be wearing sandals until practically November.

God has been so good to me. I started praying in June for Him to wreck my life, for my life to be completely dependent upon Him. And, He did, in a major way, wreck my life. But, I am grateful for the cross. I'm grateful, but not dealing with the abandonment issue, so please pray for me.

I don't really want to vent on here. I'll save that for my true and dear and very close friends.

But, I will say, it was a long time coming, and now that it's happened, and I'm finally out of the house, I have so much peace in my life.

My move will bring me very close to work, only 2 miles away. Oh, the savings on gas. Though, I'm not looking forward to learning an entirely new neighborhood.

My prayer life is improving as well with the peace overflowing in my life. AND, and! My sleep cycle schedule has been totally overhauled. I am Asleep by midnight, if not earlier, and up by 9am. This morning was the switch to 8am. By November, I hope to be able to rise by 6 am to get in a daily exercise routine with a dear friend who's living in the complex I'm moving into.

Feed a Lion

This is what I do with my teens - take them to an animal rescue shelter and let them feed lions.

Prayer request

Please cover my family in prayer. Thank you.

What are you waiting for?

I am the DCP for Atlanta. That means I'm in charge of the NET team when they're in our archdiocese. And, there's a team coming in 2011 - Feb 11-13 and March 15th - 29th! If you're interested in having a NET team change the lives of your teams, contact me!

Face plant straight into the muck

This weekend has been stupendous and fruitful.

Friday night was a girls' night in - 6 of us that have known each other 10+ years. Good food, spirit-filled conversation and prayer! Hope we can do this again. Truly was a blessing.

Saturday, I went a priest's retirement Mass and reception. To think and ponder his priesthood and all of the lives he's touched, makes me intercede more for vocations.

I am exhausted (stayed up way too late on Friday), yet full of JOY with expectation to what/where/who/how God has in store for me.

Reading through journal from 2007: Lord, you shall take from me all that is not of You; so I may no longer be blind and inattentive. Until all I have is You. I shall be like the days of my youth. It will be then that I see the reality of Your Love. On that day, I will choose to live forever with You. For I will see You are sweeter than honey. For I will be espoused to You.

How true! I can honestly say I haven't reached that day. I am still striving for holiness. And, I've fallen hard. Face plant right into the muck. The courage and hope I receive from Him who has saved me, gives me the strength to push up out of the muck and get back on my feet and push forward. His Love is GREAT!

Reminders

The thought that has taken shape in my brain from today's spiritual direction:


Is my prayer life an appearance? Or is it my identity?


And, I believe now that I need to order more of these: Pope Leo XIII Prayer.

Steubenville Atlanta 2010

The youth conferences that Franciscan University of Steubenville does every day keep getting better every year. The speakers and worship leaders are spot on and you can tell they have a DAILY prayer life.

So, from my notes, here is what I've gleamed.

God said "Let there be light" (the Word became flesh)
What is the word that is becoming flesh in my life?
We can see the damage & destruction that words can be
World religions did not become flesh

How many retreats did I go on for my ministry? For myself?

How are You calling me in my prayer life? Where do I need to be?

Jesus, I'm going to fight tooth and nail for you.

Exodus 14:14

Sometimes we just give something a title to excuse a sin

Live the kind of life that mirrors Jesus & they are going to pursue you

I will be held to a higher standard

Do not let dating become your identity.

Share your values.

Set physical boundaries.

Communicate physical boundaries.

Avoid temptation - listen to your soul.

Learn how to show healthy affection.

Do whatever it takes to protect chastity.

Keep the Bar high.

Purity seeks purity, sin seeks sin.

There are no shortcuts.

You have to know you. Stepping out of yourself & pursuing holiness.

Words have power. Words begin something new.

To the guys: You can be right or you can be happy.

You can be ducking the collar or habit, but He can run faster.

We should base our thoughts on God.

St Paul loved people enough to speak TRUTH.

You are more than flesh. 1 Corinthians 6:19-20.

Reconciliation gives you a new heart. A Sacred Heart and an Immaculate Heart.

Chastity is not abstinence.

CCC 2337

Profanity = outside of the temple.

If you are old enough to date, you are old enough to discern religious life or you are not a wo(man).

Charis = grace in greek

Eucharist means literally a blood transfusion

not lil' Jesus, DIVE deeper

Lukewarmness = devil

Lean In and Encounter JESUS

Not "lil' Jesus in my life" but "Here's my life, where do I fit in?"

This Temple is Safeguarded.

If you're not a man after His heart, you're not going to get mine

Don't walk, RUN back to grace.

If you think God can't rebuilld your temple in 3 days, your God is too small.

Isaiah 42:13

Isaiah 43: 1b-3a

You don't know who you are until you know Whose you are.

A woman's identity comes from her father.

What does a woman's heart look like?

- tender yet strong

- has feelings but not emotional

- receives heart and gives love

- beauty

When a woman's heart fades, a society fails.

Doesn't matter what kind of alligator has you by the legs; your DAD has you by the arms and WILL NOT LET GO!

God's pursuance of me is bigger than my refusal of Him.

Physical Chastity

Spiritual Chastity

Mental Chastity

Emotional Chastity

Saying NO to this has bigger Yes later.

We settle in our relationships.

- friendships or dating

- respect your dignity.

Each of our beauty has different wrapping paper.

Isaiah 62

Its hard to see through situations. To see through the veil to reality.

You can sit at the feet of Jesus & still be anxious and worried about many things. (Luke 10:38-42)

You can be at peace in your busy life.

Word becomes flesh in your daily life.

You were born in Christ & that is who you are.

PRAY in every situation.

Be a people of Prayer.

The only way to pray is to start.

Scripture destroys destructive words.

Stay in community.

Confession once a month and go to Mass!

Lastly, I leave one of the many videos captured at Steubenville Atlanta. This one was on Sunday morning before Mass. Paul George our emcee called all the speakers and worship leaders onstage and asked them to share one thought to summarize all that had taken place in the weekend.