But the Lord is faithful; he will strengthen you and guard you from the evil one. // 2 Thessalonians 3:3 Let His word dwell in us richly, sisters. Download your F R E E wallpapers right here --->>> Phone wallpaper Desktop wallpaper

But you have mercy on all, because you can do all things; and you overlook sins for the sake of repentance. // Wisdom 11:23 Let His word dwell in us richly, sisters. Download your F R E E wallpapers right here --->>> Phone wallpaper Desktop wallpaper

“Think nothing else but that God ordains all, and where there is no love, put love, and you will draw out love.” This quote from Saint John of the Cross articulates my journey as a foster parent in a much more profound way than I could ever muster up. Loving these children has revealed to me a depth of the Father’s love I had not previously known. Growing up, I had foster siblings in and out of our home. My parents adopted five of my siblings through foster care. They have been such a blessing to us in ways they will never know. I began my own personal foster care journey several years ago and it has been a hold-your-breath, learn-to-juggle, experience tears-and-laughter journey up to this point. My Foster Care Journey There are much more experienced foster parents out there, which makes me perhaps under-qualified to share. But here are 6 (of the many) lessons I have learned from this beautiful journey. The Lord’s timing is providential and even miraculous. After being licensed as a foster parent, I thought I would have a child placed with me that day. I waited in joyful anticipation for a year and a half for my first placement (albeit not very patiently at times during that painful waiting period). I said “yes” to over fifty children I received calls for. Each time I said yes, I would start preparing my home and heart only to be let down when I didn’t receive a call back. Ironically, when my first sweet kiddo came home with me, it was at the start of one of the hardest seasons of my life. My foster son’s presence during that time was astonishingly providential in ways I could have never imagined. As the psalmist says in Psalm 91:1: he that dwells in the secret place of the most high God shall abide in the presence of the almighty. Some of the most beautiful work done in your life will be in a waiting season at the foot of the Cross. Jesus used this waiting period to reveal to me that His timing is inscrutable and His ways are unfathomable. You will get “too attached." I often hear people say they would like to do foster care but “can’t” because they will get too attached. Simply put, I have learned that yes, yes you will get too attached. That is the exact point of all of it: to love someone like they are your own child. Despite a child’s length of stay, attachment is just the beautiful by-product of loving someone unconditionally and without barriers. Every story is unique. Foster care is not a “one size fits all” journey. Some children will reunify with biological parents and some will be adopted; some are sexually abused and some are addicted to narcotics; some will want to call you "mama" and some will hate you; some will come with twenty broken bones and some will come home with you from the hospital at birth; some will need therapy and some won’t; some will come with a pillow case of belongings and some will come with nothing. This is a glimpse into the exponential uniqueness of each child you may encounter. The Lord has been so sweet to help me understand that everyone’s journey as a foster parent will be unique because every child is unique. I was reminded that each child is not defined by any label describing their past or current situation, namely, “a foster child.” They are fearfully and wonderfully made children of God who need to be loved just as Christ loves us. There is someone who loves these children even more than I do. There are times throughout foster care that I have felt like my heart is shattering for these kids. At moments, I have felt like I am in a white, padded, sound-proof room screaming for my child’s voice to be heard, but to no avail. It is in these moments that I drop to my knees and surrender them to a Father who loves them even more than I do. He has not forgotten them and it is here that the only thing I can do is obediently say “thy will.” Loving through foster care is a glimpse of biblical love exemplified by Jesus’ foster father, Joseph. After a court hearing, it dawned on me that, in the eyes of the “system,” my role is inconsequential. The magistrate took a roll-call of everyone in the room. There were probably twenty named adults who were in charge of making decisions for this child. However, when referencing me to the court recorder, I was a “caretaker” present. I was in disbelief. There was not a single other person in the room who knew how many times a night my child woke, what soothed him when he was inconsolable, or where to find the banana teether he loved. II believe it wouldn’t be a stretch to say that some may not have known his full name. I was an unnamed adult with opinions that would never be taken into consideration. I was a walking zombie trying to juggle single motherhood, military life, and all of the demands of foster care. My pride wanted someone to congratulate me for everything I was pouring into this child. When no one cared who I was, I was dumbfounded... and then convicted. It was at this moment the Holy Spirit challenged me to ponder the life of Joseph, the foster father of Jesus. Joseph was never "the hero." In fact, there is very little found in Scripture about Joseph. We know he was obedient, a man of pure character, and a carpenter. Apart from this, there is very little revealed about someone who raised the King of Kings and Lord of Lords. I began to imagine Joseph gently reminding Jesus to slow down as a rambunctious toddler running through the streets of Nazareth or teaching Him how to tie His sandals or imparting carpentry wisdom with this gentle spirit. This man was the definition of humility, pouring into raising a Child without the demand for recognition. Jesus stopped me in my prideful tracks to show me foster care had nothing to do with me. It had everything to do with Him and His love for these little ones. The system needs us. There are nearly half a million kids in foster care in the United States alone on any given day. Sadly, the system will fail many of these children due to a lack of resources and being overburdened and underpaid. These children need people to step up and fight for them as foster parents, case workers, guardian ad litems, court-appointed special advocates, volunteers, donators, and prayer warriors. We live in a time where it is hard to hear past the din of society advocating for everything but a wholly-supported right to life. I want to gently encourage everyone to contemplate in holy discernment how the Holy Spirit is convicting us to open our homes, our wallets, and our hearts to help foster children during a time that is in desperate need of the Church to rise up and say, “Here I am Lord, send me.” Any other foster parents out there? What have you learned throughout your journey?   [bctt tweet="My Foster Care Journey #BISblog //" via="no"]   Written by Sarah Falvey.

I couldn't believe it. Looking down at my shaking (and now sparkling!) left hand, then up at the face of my smiling best friend, I realized it really happened: I was engaged. Engagement is a beautiful season in the lives of many women. And, as with every season, we are called to walk through it with God. Praying through Engagement Whether your engagement is a few short months or over a year, this time affords you a unique opportunity to grow with the Lord as you prepare for your vocation. Here are some tips for praying through this exciting time! Praying for Your Fiancé Each morning when I wake up, I put on my engagement ring. One of the easiest ways I remember to pray is to associate it with a habit or something I do naturally, so I've also tried to attach a prayer to this small gesture. When I pick up my ring off my bedside table, I say a quick prayer for my fiancé. It's very short and sweet. I briefly thank God for him and ask the Lord to bless him that day and guide our relationship towards Him. It only takes 30 seconds, but it is a powerful reminder that keeps me focused on the Lord as we journey towards the Sacrament of Marriage. Consider finding a way that works for you to keep your fiancé in your prayers daily. Praying Together The time of engagement can be both a sweet and sometimes stressful season! As you begin participating in marriage prep at your parish, creating guest lists, and planning for your future, a lot is put on your plate. Remember to take time together to pray. One of my favorite things to do is go to Adoration with my fiancé. It's a quiet time out from all the busyness and noise that often fills our lives. Whether it's Adoration, a daily Rosary, or just praying together at the end of the day, try to find time and explore new ways to experience prayer together. Planning with the Lord Tell the Lord everything. From your feelings to your wedding plans. It can feel silly. But the God Who created the universe is intimately interested in every aspect of your life, including your marriage and wedding. As Jesus revealed to Saint Faustina, "I am concerned with every beat of your heart." And He's concerned with every beat of your heart as well. Nothing is ever too big or too small for His attention. A lot is going on in your heart during this time of transition as you are grown, stretched, and refined in many ways. Make sure He has access to all of it. Talk to Him about your hopes, fears, insecurities, and dreams. Tell Him about the caterer you're excited about, your honeymoon plans, and your budget stresses. He wants it all. Give Him the joy of walking through this journey with you. Remain with Him Before you were ever a fiancé, you were a daughter. His daughter. And even now, as you're preparing to journey from fiancé to wife, you still are His daughter! Continue to build your relationship with the Lord by remaining committed to your prayer routine. Spend time with Him in whatever way you enjoy best and allow Him to continue to fill you up and love you in the ways that only He can. Spend time with Him in the Gospels or the chapel (or better yet, try to visit Him more frequently in daily Mass!). You won't regret spending that extra time with Him as you get ready to fully enter into your vocation. No matter what your engagement looks like, the Lord has a personal invitation to intimacy for you. I pray you can take full advantage of this unique and special time to draw closer to Him than ever before. Any other engaged ladies out there? How do you pray with and for your future husband?   [bctt tweet="Praying through Your Engagement #BISblog // " via="no"] Shelby Hennen is a young professional who hails from the Midwestern metropolis of Kansas City MO. She loves a good book, a good chat with a friend and a good taco joint.

Stand up and go; your faith has saved you. // Luke 17:19 Let His word dwell in us richly, sisters. Download your F R E E wallpapers right here --->>> Phone wallpaper Desktop wallpaper

We know you're just starting to pour your PSLs and grab your flannel from the storage boxes, but can we direct your attention to the end of the year for just a small moment? Because, ready or not, the beginning of Advent is just under 8 weeks away, and we would love to help make your preparation for the Christmas season simple and profoundly fruitful. Peace Has a Name // The 2022 Catholic Advent Devotional for Women In the midst of the changing seasons—both literally and metaphorically—the idea of peace can seem like an unattainable ideal. Everything is always changing, so where do we rest? We know that our true peace comes from the Prince of Peace, but we can struggle to live out that reality in our daily lives when so much clamors for our attention and anxiety. And yet it is only when we are at peace with Our Lord that we are able to be free, to fully live our lives in relationship with Him and to fulfill His mission for us. In this pursuit of the freedom found in peace, we at Blessed is She hope to offer you space this Advent to reflect upon the theme and Source of peace in our 2022 Catholic Advent devotional for women: Peace Has a Name. What to Expect in the Advent Devotional We invite you to bring your heart before the Prince of Peace all throughout the Advent season. Each chapter of this devotional walks through a different element of peace and the would-be thieves of our peace culminating in meditation on why God is Peace and that He alone can give it to us. We have a chance to hear and learn from the stories written by Kendra Tierney, Karen Schultz, Leana Bowler, and Sr. Maria Kim Bui. The Weekly Themes // What we think peace is Where we seek out peace Who or what steals our peace Why God alone brings peace How the Weeks are Structured // Sundays // Ponder Father Jacques Philipe’s five tenets of peace. Mondays // Read an excerpt from Saint Paul’s letters, practicing lectio divina and responding to a question. Tuesdays // Hear a story about a time in which the author for the week's peace was challenged. Wednesdays // Read an excerpt from a Gospel account, practicing lectio divina and responding to a question. Thursdays // Hear a story assuaging our storyteller’s peace. Fridays // Draft your peace petitions for the Prince of Peace and pray with the Canticle of Zechariah Saturdays // Practice visio divina and sit with sacreed art in prayer and ponderance. [elementor-template id="761780"] Advent Bundles for the Whole Crew As usual, along with our Catholic Advent devotional for women, we are offering a variety of bundles for you and the little ones in your life! In the Advent bundle, you will receive a devotional, an ornament, and a Rosary made just for us. In the Advent + kids bundle, you can get the devotional for women and our exclusive devotional for kids at a discounted price. In the Advent + Emmanuel bundle, you will receive the Advent devotional along with our evergreen Christmas coffee table table to help you prayerfully celebrate the Christmas season. [elementor-template id="761792"] Peace Has a Name, Peace is a Person Now that you've secured your Advent devotional and checked that off your mental list, we return you to your fall preparations and traditions. We will be waiting for you at the start of Advent, ready to encounter Peace Himself by your side. Have you snagged your Advent devotional yet? Advent will be here before we know it—don't wait too long!   [bctt tweet="The 2022 Catholic Advent Devotional for Women #BISblog //" via="no"]

Guard this rich trust with the help of the holy Spirit that dwells within us. // 2 Timothy 1:14 Let His word dwell in us richly, sisters. Download your F R E E wallpapers right here --->>> Phone wallpaper Desktop wallpaper

Pursue righteousness, devotion, faith, love, patience, and gentleness. Compete well for the faith. // 1 Timothy 6:12 Let His word dwell in us richly, sisters. Download your F R E E wallpapers right here --->>> Phone wallpaper Desktop wallpaper

I had just spent another night sleepily clutching my Bible when I woke up in a rush, unsure if it was the next day or just a few hours later. I grabbed my phone with a sigh: 4:32 a.m. The recent tumults of life had caused me to grow overly fond of mentally and physically holding on to the Word of God in some desperate attempt to make sense of it all. In the span of the two years of COVID, I had graduated undergrad, moved across the country for work, came back home to my small-town, went through a break-up, began my Master’s program, and started therapy and medication for my mental health. It wasn’t one thing over another that had caused this wave of fear, but it was as if the perfect storm of it all that had finally gotten to me. And I guess with it meant no sleep. The Soul as a Sea There may come a time in your life when the state of your soul feels like a great sea. And just like your soul, the sea has many ebbs and flows. Somedays, you may feel your soul is a deep, bottomless sea, full of undiscovered, endless depth. Others, your soul feels like a full sea of life and abundance. There may be days when you experience a roaring and rushing sea within you, moving a mile a minute; there may be weeks when your soul takes the form of a storming sea of fear, confusion, and danger. Whatever the state of your soul, it can be difficult to discern your way through that sea, through the current state of your own covenant with God. But there is hope and encouragement in Jesus Christ who asks not only to know our souls, but to move in and walk on the sea of our souls. Our Lives’ Swells After rinsing my face, I had hastily said the Litany of Trust to clear my head and hopefully put myself back to sleep. Mediating on what I had just prayed; however, I got stuck on the words, “That You give me the strength I need for what is asked, Jesus, I trust in You.” I remember saying to Jesus soon after, "Lord, I don’t know how I am going to be able to get through this all, how to make my soul strong enough, but I trust in You." The swells and tides of daily life can get brutal. We can question everything, even ourselves, and if we will have the strength to make it past this storm. When changes occur, when experiencing loss, whether it is feeling truly lost in the world, or some form of internal or external suffering, all of life’s twists and turns can leave you feeling nothing close to strong or stable. Only unsure where to go next, scared of what is to come, and unable to breathe. In those times of questioning God’s presence, promise, and providence in my life, I couldn’t lean on my own navigation to get out. I needed the guidance, support, strength, and grace from Saint Peter and the Lord himself at the helm to steer. Sails Being Set and the Captain My parish being dedicated to the first pope, Saint Peter has always been someone I looked to for advice, counsel, and especially inspiration. Simon Peter had a resilient heart and loving dedication to Christ that remind Scripture readers that no matter the failures and trails of yesterday, there can always be victory tomorrow. In the Matthean story of Jesus walking on the water to meet the disciples, Saint Peter exemplifies this internal experience of walking on the sea of your soul to meet Him. While the disciples are “being tossed about by the waves” and wind against them, Jesus notices their fear and “came toward them, walking on the sea” (see Matthew 14: 24-25). Then, invigorated by Jesus’ presence and power, Simon Peter decided in hope and courage to ask Him, “Lord, if it is you, command me to come to you on the water” (Matthew 14:28). It is in Jesus’ simple calling to Peter to “Come”—not in the dying down of the waves, not the peace of the wind’s silence, but in the words and gaze of Christ—that allow Peter to set out of that boat and towards his Lord. But this doesn’t last. Peter took his eyes away from Jesus, “saw how [strong] the wind was,” and began to sink in fear (see Matthew 14: 30). The Lord Jesus saves him, as He does all of us, but in the stretching out of his guiding hand, Jesus calls Peter to more: “O you of little faith, why did you doubt?” (Matthew 14: 31). Come on Peter, why did you doubt? I should be asking myself the same.     Our Soul’s Shores After the winds died down, Peter and the disciples praised Jesus and knew He was the Son of God; as His people, however, we should be able to know this Truth whether or not the storm has passed, amid our walking or sinking. How often do we find ourselves like Peter, doubting Jesus even when He is right there with us? Jesus is the Way, the Truth, and the Life no matter what our lives look like or the state of our soul, yet we doubt it at the very sight of the wave coming our way. We must learn how to praise and love Christ before, within, and after the storm, so He may come and dwell in our souls always. During the swells and tumults of life, it takes practice, patience, and grace to know that Jesus is with us amid it all, protecting us, and using this season of our lives to make us stronger going forward. We must learn how to proactively prepare for this, in order to make us stronger in Him before the sea can test us. Through prayer and reading Scripture as our map, we can spend time with Jesus and the Saints like Simon Peter, asking for help and encouragement no matter which way the boat may rock. Through the Sacraments, especially Adoration, we can meet the gaze of Christ and receive His grace and mercy necessary to quiet the storm and noises around us and hear Christ calling “Come.” And in praying the Litany of Trust and the Divine Mercy Chaplet, we can remember the ocean of mercy He opened for the whole world on the cross, and because of this, that we can trust Him in and with all things. In these times of doubt, pray for His voice to be stronger and for Saint Peter’s intercession, that we may have the strength and courage to walk on water, to face our storms trusting in Him more than anything else. Empowered by Saint Peter and the grace and mercy of Christ, there is always hope of finding our way out of the vast sea and walking into the peace of His living waters. Prince of the ocean’s peace, calm the waves within me. Saint Peter, who once walked the sea, lost in the deep, come and lead me. Amen.   [bctt tweet="Walking with Christ on Our Sea’s Swells and Shores #BISblog //" via="no"]   Liz Homick is a first-year graduate student pursuing her M.S. in Library and Information Science at the University of Maryland, College Park. Liz strives in her daily life to share her love of Christ with every person she meets, or at least make them smile or laugh along the way. When she isn’t writing or studying to be a profession guardian of books, her friends and family can usually find her listening to Fr. Mike Schmitz’s podcasts, reading thirty books at once, or singing Disney songs on repeat. WANT TO DEEPEN YOUR PRAYER? Get ready to be radically changed by the Lord and His presence. Be drawn into intimacy with the Lord by way of weekly videos, a community within the Blessed is She app, and invitations into reading scripture in a whole new way. BEGIN THE WELL: ABIDE

No servant can serve two masters. He will either hate one and love the other, or be devoted to one and despise the other. // Luke 16:13 Let His word dwell in us richly, sisters. Download your F R E E wallpapers right here --->>> Phone wallpaper Desktop wallpaper

What man among you having a hundred sheep and losing one of them would not leave the ninety-nine in the desert and go after the lost one until he finds it? // Luke 15:4 Let His word dwell in us richly, sisters. Download your F R E E wallpapers right here --->>> Phone wallpaper Desktop wallpaper

It's called Loving God, Loving Others: 52 Devotions to Create Connections that Last. We are just thrilled by the stories in this book that walk through six different rungs of relationship. Perfect for you, a sister, a neighbor, or your mom! Meet the Authors of Loving God, Loving Others So what perspectives are shared in this book? Let's hear from the six writers themselves. Beth Davis Q: You write vulnerably about letting God in on how you’re really feeling. What’s your advice for women struggling to be honest with God about the hard stuff? A: Keep it simple. I find some of those big, hard memories and emotions really just boil down to a single sentence: I’m mad; I hated that; This hurts. Talk to Him like a child would! I try to stay away from questions and notice when I’m trying to force understanding. Instead, just relate your heart to God. Starting with “little” everyday irritations or disappointments helps, too. Q: Do you have a favorite story of those that you share? A: It means a lot to me to share about how Jesus delivered me from pornography. I want to give hope to women who have struggled or are suffering from sexual sin and give them hope of healing and restoration. I didn’t really know that was possible in the midst of it, so to be able to give that gift of hope and remind others Who Jesus still is: Healer, Deliverer, Restorer, Redeemer. He wants to be Savior in every aspect of their lives, too. Megan Hjelmstad Q: You share intimately about your health and the journey of God showing you to love your body. What would you tell women who feel disconnection or struggle to love the challenges of health and body image? A: You are absolutely not alone. It’s a constant battle to accept and bless the inherent goodness of our God-crafted bodies in a world that’s constantly modeling how we should reject them. Step 1 is to invite God openly and honestly into your struggle. Tell Him about it continually when it comes up, so He can gradually shift your perspective to align with His truth. I also love to pray with the image of our bodies as living tabernacles. We marvel at the most beautiful cathedrals while criticizing ourselves, but God tells us we are infinitely more beautiful and desirable to Him than even the most stunning tabernacle ever made by man! He wants nothing more than to make His dwelling in us and heal what has been tarnished from the inside out. Q: Do you have a favorite story of those that you share? A: I loved sharing about the grilled cheese memory! It’s been a tender lesson to my heart that God could bring such redemption from an experience of suffering I thought had no silver lining. What the enemy intended for my bitterness, isolation, self-pity, and hunger, God redeemed to bring real and concrete joy, generosity, community, and deeper fulfillment! It’s just a testament to how Our Lord desires to make all things, down to the last detail, when we give Him permission. Nell O'Leary Q: You tell us about your family of origin and how layers of family wounding can be hard to understand as an adult. Do you have encouragement for women looking to address some of these stories from their family of origin but who are reluctant because it’s messy and unknown? A: I would tell them to find a trusted counselor, friend, or sister and to start slowly. Just look carefully and calmly at your story from the beginning. Try to put yourself in the shoes of your family members. Walk through memories that are painful with Jesus holding your hand. Practice radical forgiveness and boundaries as needed. Then I ask myself: What’s the worst thing that happens? I feel badly? But the best thing that happens is that I can start healing that will affect me, my family of origin, my nuclear family and kids, and ripple out to others I love. God’s grace is with us as we hope for healing and that is a powerful guide. Q: Do you have a favorite story of those that you share? A: I loved sharing about the creme brûlée French restaurant moment with my mom. It’s a beautiful thing when you can acknowledge someone’s feelings and reaction without backing down from a truth or boundary that needs to be said. I hope for the reader to find the truth and rest in it, too. Bonnie Engstrom Q: You explore different relationships that are in the context of love and closeness, family or like family, and are honest about how those can actually be some of the hardest to navigate and be gracious in. What do you say to the woman who feels like she can keep it together for the world but comes home and has trouble loving, actively loving, those closest to her? A: To the woman who can keep it together for the world but struggles at home I say: you are not alone. Especially in certain seasons of life, those closest to us are the ones who need the most from us, and while that can be deeply affirming, it can also be incredibly difficult. Having trouble actively loving those closest to us should not be a prolonged experience. Personally, the Lord answered my prayers for healing through the help of a trusted doctor and the support of my husband and good friends to help me order my priorities, emotions, and energy. The world does not deserve our best, God and our loved ones do. Q: Do you have a favorite story of those that you share? A: My favorite story is from “Shouldering Responsibilities,” where I write about a perfect Michaelmas feast that was ruined—not by my husband and kids being home late from a sports event, but by my grumpy attitude. I think it’s a good example of how good marriages and happy families are not perfect, and it’s a good illustration of how the Lord uses every day life to grow us. Sarah Elizabeth Q: You step through the tricky lines of friendship and go deep into how God alone fulfills our most inner needs, but He also works through the friendships in our lives to demonstrate His love for us. For the woman who is struggling to make and keep close friendships, what is your advice for her on a practical level, but also interiorly? A: That was my story for the longest time. Enduring the revolving door of friendships is deeply painful, and I think it can teach us this narrative that rejection and unforgiveness must be our story. At an interior level, we have to rebuke that, and continue to lean into the belief that love endures. Every time I have persisted in prayer, I have been so surprised by the way the Lord has responded to my need for community. On a practical level, if we want to sustain our friendships, we have to pour out, and be generous with our time and emotional energy. Sometimes my prayer is just, “Lord, how could I be inconvenienced for a friend this week?” It’s little things, like cooking dinner or leaving a voice note to check in, but they matter. Q: Do you have a favorite story of those that you share? A: It’s probably the story related to peer pressure. I tell it to my friends all the time, mostly because it’s a fun, dramatic high school story. At the same time, I look back on the moment as deeply pivotal. My senior year of high school was a year of radical docility to the Lord, and I remember feeling so secure in who I was and where I was going, probably for the first time ever. I never advocated for myself back then, so I feel like that moment was truly the beginning of me coming into my own, before I made the move to DC. There was no real external validation to affirm I was on the right track, but I knew the Lord and I knew myself, so I was confident. I’m twenty-three now, and I try my best to hold that seventeen-year-old freedom close. Emily Stimpson Chapman Q: You describe the challenge of not being defined by our work, talents, or even our God-given gifts. For the woman who feels secure in her identity coming from how or what she does or produces, what would you tell her about the deeper identity of being made in God’s image and likeness and how to un-entangle these ideas? A: An identity that is rooted in what we do and how well we do those things is a fragile identity. Sooner or later, it will break. How well we weather that failure will depend on what we have to catch us. If we have a relationship with Christ and a knowledge of who we are in Him and how great His love for us is, that failure can be a gift. It helps strip us of our illusions about ourselves and root ourselves more firmly in Him. That relationship really gives us a soft place to land. When we don’t have that soft place, though, when the relationship with Christ isn’t there, that failure can be a heck of a lot more scary, upending our identity and our world. The invitation to find our identity in Christ is still there, but it can be harder to recognize that invitation and take us longer to accept it. So, if I have any advice, it’s don’t wait. Don’t wait until failure comes to start building that relationship, and don’t wait until failure comes to start rooting your identity in Christ. Start doing the hard work now. Spend time with Him. Read about Him. And slow down. Start saying no to more things. Think and pray about where you’re truly called to give your time and energy and evaluate if you are doing anything simply because it seems impressive and important, and not because it’s something you love and to which you feel called. Q: Do you have a favorite story of those that you share? A: That’s like asking me to pick a favorite child! Impossible. I will admit, though, that in the craze of this past year, juggling three babies and keeping house and all my work, that I have thought back fondly more than once to the quiet and peace I experienced during the months I spent working at the retreat house on the Eastern Shore. It was such a gift to be surrounded by that kind of quiet. And even more of a gift to learn to find meaning and purpose in simple acts of service. That was a lesson that has blessed me so much in these busy days of mothering, where the temptation is to find meaning in the more exciting to seemingly important work of writing and not in the deeply meaningful act of caring for my children and making a home for them. How Would Your Life Change? In this brand new book, you will get to walk alongside these women as they share stories of how the Lord changed their lives in both simple and radical ways once they shifted their focus to loving Him and loving others for His sake. What would happen in your life if your focus became those two tasks? What could be different? What could be redeemed? We can't wait to walk alongside you in this new devotional! GET YOUR DEVOTIONAL

I sat outdoors under Monterey cypress trees on a bench less than ten feet from the drop, looking over the sandy surf of Monterey Bay in California. With my laptop open and a baby in my belly, I struggled to find the words to support the title “Peace in Pregnancy.” You see, I was pregnant and experienced anything but peace as my heart felt tied up in knots, all its strings pulled taut, waiting for the day when I could have the twenty-week anatomy scan that I hoped would settle all my fears and tell me everything would be all right. In the two pregnancies before this one, everything was not all right. Peter was diagnosed with a midline cleft lip and palate, which we later learned was caused by a genetic condition called SPINT2 that led to all kinds of complications. I was so afraid my next child would have the same condition. Celeste was diagnosed with something much worse because instead of navigating and supporting her life with medical supplies, we would never get to meet her. Celeste had anencephaly, she grew in my womb without a brain and died during birth at 37 weeks. So now, now, with Stella, what would we face? Will This Settle My Anxiety? I shared the reflections that kept me afloat during our days with Peter and Celeste in Journey in Love: A Catholic Mother’s Prayers after Prenatal Diagnosis. I shared our story in and out of the hospital with those two in What God Had Emptied: How I Found Hope in My Children’s Diagnoses. But how would I get through these days? Stella’s anatomy scan was normal. I wish I could say that quelled the anxiety, but it did not. Because peace is not something based on external circumstances. Rather, “the universal path to peace is the radical acceptance of God’s will.” That doesn’t mean that everything is okay, but that, “we choose to see in our experiences the hand of God, guiding us according to his will, for our benefit, just as we see the changes of pregnancy occurring in their own time, to guide the child in its development” (Peace in Pregnancy. That is the universal path to peace. Our personal, particular path to peace is more complicated as we must address our history, our personality, and our circumstances and consider how these impact our ability, strengths, and weaknesses when it comes to that radical acceptance of God’s will. “Whenever we turn to the Lord to guide us, he wants to gently pull back the layers of our heart that hold the wounds we’ve carried. He wants to heal us. He will use these opportunities to do so if we allow him and ask him to walk with us” (Peace in Pregnancy). A Continual Decision With each change in the pregnancy, the decision to accept this place in my life had to be renewed. None of it happened magically or simply, and I only really began to feel at ease when Stella was two months old and past the many trauma points of my history. Peace is more than the absence of conflict. It is more than being at ease. It is seeing in the middle of the storm, someone to anchor us, someone to trust, to know that somehow, someway, it will be okay, maybe not in this life, maybe not for years, or maybe tomorrow. We do not know and we do have to know. We want to know. We desperately want to know, but it actually will be okay if all we can do is "wait and see." He remains faithful— for he cannot deny himself. // 2 Timothy 2:13 The words I wrote that day, ultimately had to be rewritten. When I sat down to write them, not to myself in my brokenness, but to a friend in sisterly affection, as an older woman with more children and more years of marriage, the words came freely. “You have been entrusted with the greatest gift imaginable…” Are you being asked to trust the Lord during a difficult pregnancy right now? How can we pray for you?   [bctt tweet="Searching For the Words of Peace #BISblog //" via="no"]   Kathryn Anne Casey is a writer with a focus on faith, art, psychology, and the importance of local community. She blogs at KathrynAnneCasey.com and is a regular reporter and columnist for The Hughson Chronicle and Denair Dispatch. She studied gender complementarity and psychology at the University of St. Thomas and clinical psychology at Divine Mercy University. Kathryn lives in Hughson, California, with her husband and children.   This post contains affiliate links. Thanks so much for supporting the ministry of Blessed is She!

In every age, O Lord, you have been our refuge. // Psalm 90:3 Let His word dwell in us richly, sisters. Download your F R E E wallpapers right here --->>> Phone wallpaper Desktop wallpaper

I trudged along the river shore with determination. The seagulls swooped and chattered above my head as they maneuvered effortlessly in and around the river swells. I kept my head down and continued to scan the foamy surf for bits of sand-roughened glass. I was particularly fond of the deep blue glass that occasionally washed on shore from the depths of another time. Blue beach-glass was quite rare; but today my search had been futile. I slowed my progress and looked toward the horizon where the sun was beginning its circadian descent behind the cliffs. It was, however, still high enough in the sky to throw brilliant shafts of sunlight directly into my line of vision, and I shielded my eyes as I tried to discern the faint shape of the bridge in the far distance. I narrowed my gaze as I searched for the long, scalloped lines of the peninsular bridge that spanned the breadth of the river. I couldn’t see it, but I knew it was out there, somewhere in the blinding light… stretching toward home. Home. I felt the familiar pang of homesickness as I looked toward the western shore, and I whispered yet another silent prayer to God, and begged Him for insight into my isolation; but once again, I was met with a thickening silence. A New Land When my husband and I moved into the backwater country of Virginia, I was disconsolate. It was rural, and practically uninhabited (to my way of thinking). The culture was different here. People were polite but more reserved than what I was used to. For the first time in a while, I had to make a concerted effort to find friends and kindred spirits. I was no longer teaching writing, raising a family, or running a ministry—and my social connections and support system (that had seemed so abundant before) now withered into a tiny rivulet of emails and occasional phone calls. It was a brave, new solitary world for me… and I was unhappy. I did try, though. I made a handful of valiant attempts to find activities and hobbies that would fill my days and weeks. I started a garden and managed to plant a small fig orchard. I learned about local art, antiques, and even discovered a natural flair for photography—which was all mildly diverting. And of course, I read. I read books on Catholicism and history, and I began reading books about homesteading (because, hey—I was out in the middle of nowhere). But the feeling of isolation was still there, and I began to grow more and more disillusioned with my limited endeavors… and with myself. There were so many nights, long after my husband had fallen asleep, when I would lie in bed, staring into the impenetrable darkness, wondering what I was doing there. In my heart, I knew that God was aware of my self-imposed gloom, but that did not stop me from asking Him, over and over, “Dear Lord, why am I here? How can this be preferable to the life I left behind? How can I serve you in the middle of this isolated wilderness?” But my unanswered queries seemed to rise into the blackness—like the tiny sparks of an open fire that are quickly consumed by the stealthy, dark mist. My Own Sort of Exile Tiny sparks. All my efforts, all my prayers, and all my hopes seemed like tiny sparks that amounted to nothing but tiny ashes. I could not fathom God’s plan, and I began to seriously wonder if I had been sent into some sort of exile—perhaps, never to return. The first time I acknowledged the concept of exile, I felt chagrined. Exile was for criminals, political prisoners, or rebels. I was none of those things. And yet I was certainly living the life of an exile. I decided that I needed to find a different comparison, so I turned to my Bible, which is and continues to be my first resource for just about everything. I read about Ezekiel, who was exiled with his wife near the River of Chebar. Once there, he experienced several spectacular visions on the river bank of the remote outpost. Then there was Abraham, who while not specifically exiled, picked up all his belongings, his livestock, his family members, and left his homeland, for the land of Canaan, a complete unknown. Abraham did all of this without complaint. I read about Cain, who is considered to be (and certainly was) one of the great criminals of the Bible. And yet… even though he was exiled to the land of Nod, God gave Cain a mark of protection. Finally, there was the cosmic tragedy of the original exiles: Adam and Eve. They had defied God, and eaten from the Tree of the Knowledge of Good and Evil. Their just punishment was exile from the Garden of Eden, to this place we all call home. The LORD God therefore banished him from the garden of Eden, to till the ground from which he had been taken. // Genesis 3:23 As I read that passage, I felt a quasi-kinship with Adam and Eve’s eviction from the Garden. I was reasonably sure I knew at least a little about how they might have felt in their new, foreign land. Never Abandoned As I pondered these epic dramas (and several others), I realized that there were some consistent threads that ran through these accounts in the Old Testament. There was the thread of God’s omnipresent protection over the exiled. God never abandoned them. He was ever-present in their life-stories, willingly involving Himself in the ordinary and extraordinary events of Ezekiel, Abraham, Cain, and Adam and Eve. I also recognized the very human theme of longing. The brave or star-crossed refugees, regardless of the circumstances that sent them into exile, longed for protection, safety, blessings, and, of course, their homeland. I could definitely identify with that. I knew what it was like to long for those things. But there was something even larger here, and I began to realize that God was teaching me something through my own exile: I was not alone. We are all exiles, making our way through a foreign wilderness. We are aliens in an alien land, trying to find our way back home to our heavenly Father Who continually offers us everything we need for the journey. In fact, it is the central theme of the entire Old Testament: Return to Me. Yet even now—oracle of the LORD—return to me with your whole heart, with fasting, weeping, and mourning. // Joel 2:12 Exile can be a Gift Understanding began to mend the edges of my frayed, internal fabric: my exile was a gift. It was a call from God to look beyond my current world and toward Him. He had eliminated all the frenetic energy of my old life and brought me into this hushed interval, a place of singular beauty and silence. Here, at last, He could speak to me in a still, small whisper. And for the first time in a very long time, I could hear Him in the depths of my heart. “Return to Me, with your whole heart.” A loving God had gone to tremendous lengths to draw me into my own personal exile so that I could finally hear His appeal. He had given me so many signs, so many opportunities, and more time than I deserved to draw me away from the noise of the clamoring world. I had resisted Him at every moment of my exile, and yet He continued to beckon me and even wait on me. My tiny sparks of sorrow had not turned into tiny ashes. They had instead been collected by the hands of angels and stored in the flames of His Sacred Heart. God Waits for Us I finally felt (more than heard) the irresistible appeal from a patient and loving God in the wilds of these beautiful tidelands, my place of exile. Only now my exile had shed its disguise and I saw my seclusion for what it was: refuge, a sacred space, my remote sanctuary. It was a place to seek God and listen for His voice, It was a reminder that my true home is not here. Now, when I raised my eyes to the blazing horizon, I could look beyond the distant bridge, past the sun, and into the ether, knowing that home is where His Heart is. But there’s more. God waits for all of us in the quiet landscapes of our souls. He waits for you, as well as me. He has orchestrated the elements of your lives, so that you also may return to Him. And since we are all unique, I know that His appeal to you may be experienced in different ways, but the message will be the same: “Return to Me, with your whole heart.”   Sarah Torbeck is a convert to Catholicism. She is a widow, mother and grandmother, as well as a contributor for Catholic Mom. She also maintains a blog, and is a member of the Catholic Writer’s Guild.   [bctt tweet="Tiny Sparks #BISblog //" via="no"]

For everyone who exalts himself will be humbled, but the one who humbles himself will be exalted. // Luke 14:11 Let His word dwell in us richly, sisters. Download your F R E E wallpapers right here --->>> Phone wallpaper Desktop wallpaper

Go out to all the world and tell the Good News. // Psalm 117:1 Let His word dwell in us richly, sisters. Download your F R E E wallpapers right here --->>> Phone wallpaper Desktop wallpaper