What a summer beauty for your devices this week made by Kristin Foss from Vine of Plenty! The verse comes from today's psalm, Psalm 34: Taste and see the goodness in the Lord. She is working on the project #summerofpsalmsproject, which you must check out! This week be on the lookout to taste and see His goodness. Download the free phone and desktop wallpapers belbow: Phone wallpaper Desktop wallpaper

We are so thrilled to have this weekly wallpaper from Katrina of Hatch Prints. It comes from today's second reading, Ephesians 4:6 One God and Father of us all who is above all and through all and in all. Where do you see him today? Take note of him as you go through your week, the One who is above all, through all and in all. Download the wallpapers for your daily reminder below! Phone wallpaper Desktop wallpaper

This weekly wallpaper was made by BISsister, Martina Bohnslav, of Martina Bonhslav Designs. She painted a verse from today's gospel, Mark 6:31: He said to them, “Come away by yourselves to a deserted place and rest a while.” I hope we can all rest in Him today, steal a moment away in a deserted place (even if it is for 60 seconds--the bathroom, anyone?) and be held in His arms where we can rest. Download this free wallpaper below! Phone wallpaper Desktop wallpaper

Today we are talking about REAL. Real. What a small word filled with so much depth. You can find all the themes here. Welcome to the #BISsisterhood link-up. Every Thursday, we get together as one community to share our hearts. Here's how you can participate: Link-up a post that goes with the weekly theme. Share your thoughts of the theme on Instagram/Twitter/Facebook using #BISsisterhood so we can see each other's posts. Comment below with your thoughts on the prompt. Basically, let's talk to each other. Remember to use #BISsisterhood so we can all communicate well with each other out in the social media world. [bctt tweet="The #BISsisterhood link-up is where it's at. I just added my post here:"] Here is the button to our link-up that you are more than welcome to place on your blog, share on your social media, and/or save for a rainy day.       An InLinkz Link-up

My Bible is a mess. Or Bibles, I should say. Each and every one highlighted and dog-eared, their margins fat and inky, smudged in thought. See, I’ve always believed that a thing must be used up hard to be made Real. Do you remember the story of The Velveteen Rabbit, the little plush bunny whom love and tragedy made Real? I can’t get enough of this bittersweet concept: a love that wears us down to lumpy, threadbare nakedness…and the transformation that follows. Nobody was ever transfigured through preservation. Not nobody, not no how. We were not meant to be museum pieces, our hearts kept under glass–that’s no way to grow Real. And yet how many times do we try to hold firm, petrified of stepping into the strip-down slip-stream of Love? That much? Do I really need to love that much–to be loved that much to be transformed? It was Blessed Mother Teresa who said it best. “I’m a little pencil in the hand of a writing God, who’s sending a love letter to the world.” Not a builder, not a high-power exec. Not even a starving artist. A worn-out, worn-down, used-up little pencil writing someone else’s love letter to the world. And is there irony that that’s a life lived well? That this is (in the end) the only thing that’s Real. All the rest of it, it’s only smoke and mirrors after all, gone in a final, bloodless heartbeat. The only thing we take when it’s all over is the Love that used us up. [bctt tweet="The only thing we take when it’s all over is the Love that used us up."] We do know something about that, don’t we? These hearts of ours, they’ve already known too much of being used. We know what it is to be worn ragged and tossed aside. The world tells us to “take care” of ourselves. To guard, protect. To turn the other cheek right round and bolt before it’s slapped yet again. Well, who can argue with the logic? We all need protection, after all. But not from Love. [bctt tweet="We all need protection, after all. But not from Love."] This is different. Dear heart, this is Love that wears down (yes), but He’ll never leave us lying in the dust. This Love reaches down to dust and draws it up in gentle hands so sure, to form us brand-new, sinless, perfect, flawless, and gives us the very breath of Heaven. This is the way to become human, this the only transcendence. There is nothing more Real. But can we trust the transformation? Can we love beyond the hurt? Could we courageously sacrifice ourselves to lumpy, threadbare nakedness? Love demands one crazy, death-defying Leap. [bctt tweet="Love demands one crazy, death-defying Leap."] Will you take it with me? It’s easier to jump holding hands. These weary feet, these calloused hands, the heart-scars we lay bare because we wouldn’t cauterize with bitterness–this is the beginning, and we’re making it together. This is how we get holy. This is magic. And even if it’s scary, isn’t this what we want? I know I want a faith that’s Real–that transcends my shabby, threadbare patches and turns me into beautiful right in the midst of rot. And if I’m terrified, well, isn’t it all part of the adventure? I’ll walk out on the tight-rope, knife-edge wire of hope and trust that, in the end, it all works out. This is why I take pen to paper, chicken-scratch the love letter to shreds. I highlight hope to help me through the hard times. I press the corners down to remind myself to stay strong. To let Him use me up and wear me out. I don’t want to curl up, content with a mummified heart too terrified to break. Nobody wants to be broken, but I know that I need to be sharpened, cracked open, and spilled out in all my imperfection. The dog-eared love letter says it over and over: this–this sharpened pencil-life worn down to the barest of threadbare nubs–this is the only way to holy. Holy is you and me, unafraid and unprotected by any shield but faith. [bctt tweet="Holy is you and me, unafraid and unprotected by any shield but faith."] It’s holding tight to promises we dog-eared in the dark with questions still ringing in between our ears. It’s the wild, whirlwind leap into the blackness to love beyond the rational, beyond what we were capable of being because somewhere, somehow in this uncertain wearing-out to dust, we trust we’ll feel His hands reshaping, remaking us into something Real. photo by Corynne Olivia Bethany is a mama to 4 sweet blessings + smitten wife to one amazing man. By God's good grace, she's striving for sane just east of Seattle. She homeschools, home births, and homebakes humble pie year-round. She's a little crunchy around the edges, but it's all good. She writes left-handed + types with a babe-in-arms.

This week's weekly wallpaper depicts the Gospel acclamation, Ephesians 1:18 May the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ enlighten the eyes of our hearts, that we may know what is the hope that belongs to our call. Sometimes we just need a simple reminder in our every day to ask God to enlighten our hearts to hope. It may be about a situation at hand--Oh Lord, enlighten the eyes of my heart to see beyond the face value of what is in front of me. This brings more compassion to our our days, helps us see the other and what she may be going through and provides us with a continual connection to the One who guides us. Grab the wallpaper for your phone and desktop. Made by Be A Heart. Phone wallpaper Desktop wallpaper

In order to make the house run and my sanity stay locked in place, I have systems and more systems. I have routines. I have check lists. I have long days here at the house. My husband has long office days, and a long commute home usually in poor conditions. Date nights are averaging once per year since breastfeeding babies, snow, deployments, and utter chaos are the norm. In all the daily hum-drum, our marriage was getting buried. How was I supporting my husband? Was he struggling? Some days, I really could not have told you where he was emotionally or where I was. I just knew we were not there together. We started praying together. It was a random new year's resolution to "pray more". I would whip out my tablet and find the daily reading or click on Divineoffice.org. He would join me every now and again mentioning that he enjoyed the decompression time. Eventually, it became a habit to find each other before bed and pray. It's funny how quickly those minutes added to our love for each other. Even after a rough day, we sought each other. I was more likely to think better of my husband's actions seeing them without a filter directed towards hurting me. My anger dissipated quicker knowing that he too was struggling. More and more time was stolen for each other. Those quiet subtle moments of prayer so much like Christ's were bringing us to truly becoming one. In Genesis, it is written: “Therefore a man leaves his father and his mother and cleaves to his wife, and they become one flesh” (2:24). The phrase "become one flesh" used to leave me feeling smothered. I felt that I was not enough alone--my wants, my desires, and my needs were being pushed aside. Now, I see that becoming one with my husband, spiritually, increases my capacity to be happy, contented, fulfilled. Christ gave me this man to teach me how to love more than myself. He gave me my husband in order for us to walk alongside each other into Christ's embrace. Often times, we hear about emotional intimacy or physical intimacy for our marriages, but what about the state of the spiritual intimacy in our marriage? We can learn a lot about our spouse from praying with them. In the sacrament of marriage, we are here to uplift, support, and lovingly challenge each other to holiness as we draw sanctifying grace. Finding those five or ten minutes, will lead to a deeper participation in the life God has planned for you as a couple. photo by Corynne Olivia Ashley is a stay at home mom and military wife who moves around with her husband of seven years. She love to chronicle the everyday adventures searching for grace amidst the chaos of four children, two dogs, a cat, and a training schedule.

Grace. His grace is sufficient for all of our cracks. This week, Erin McKenna Nowak created our wallpaper on today's second reading, 2 Corinthians 12:9. My grace is sufficient for you. Grab it for your phone and desktop below! Phone wallpaper Desktop wallpaper

I marry my fiancé, Steven, in 95 days. Wow. For part of our relationship, Steven and I lived in seperate states. I worked as a campus ministry intern in Virginia, while Steven was working as an accountant in Ohio. When I moved back to our lovely home state, many people assumed Steven and I would move in together. After all, we were pretty sure we were going to get married, so why not save on rent? We could spend this whole “getting to know you” process as roommates and figure out if we were really meant to be. Yet, for Steven and I, living together before we got married was not an option. Sure, I might have saved some rent money these past few months, but as we get ready to celebrate the Sacrament of Holy Matrimony, we are realizing just how much we gained by waiting to share an address. Falling in love was beautiful. For the first few months of our relationship we were continually going on fun dates. He swept me off my feet at the Cleveland Art Museum, completely wooed me at the Cleveland Aquarium, and treated me like royalty at our dinner in Little Italy. For our first Valentine’s Day he even brought me chocolate-covered strawberries -- the way to my heart. Of course, the honeymoon stage eventually faded. Steven learned that although I look very clean and organized, it is just because I hide the mess in my closet. I am always early or on time, while Steven is always running a standard 10 minutes late. I learned that Steven is incredibly athletic and works out 5-6 times a week, while I would rather do a 30 minute exercise tape once every few weeks. These are just a sampling of the differences and weaknesses we have discovered in each other after our three years of dating. However, when Steven got down on one knee and asked me to marry him, I knew that he was choosing me — lack of fitness and messy closet included — and he knows that when I said “yes,” I was choosing him, even if that means that we might be a few minutes late when we leave the house. If we had already been living together, in the back of my mind I would wonder if Steven was asking me to marry him because he had gotten used to having me around. I would wonder if I said yes because I was afraid of being alone or having to open jars by myself. In 95 days, when I walk down the aisle, there will be no doubt in my my mind that Steven and I are freely choosing marriage not because we had settled in as roommates, but as two people who freely chose marriage as our vocation. Following the law of God is not always easy, but learning to practice this form of self-control before we marry has given me confidence in our ability to practice self-control within our marriage. When we are unable to be together for whatever reason — a retreat weekend or a work conference — we know the other is capable of being on their own, even if it is tough. Living apart gives us the freedom to have tough conversations: our plans for the future, how we will handle finances, our desire to have children, fears about marriage, and concerns for moving in together. The odds are ever in our favor. The divorce rate is much lower for those who choose not to cohabitate prior to marriage. And as someone preparing to walk down the aisle, I am confident that Steven and I are seeking lifelong covenant, rather than simply a living arrangement. Come our wedding day, my life will no longer be just about me. It will be about the holiness of my spouse and any children God blesses us with. I am so grateful that Steven and I have already started to strive for holiness with the living arrangement we have chosen. We will continue the journey to Heaven for the rest of our married life. This might mean not fighting over messy closets or me being patient when Steven does not manage to get out of the house on time. However, I am confident that I have found the one whom I am willing to sacrifice these next seven months of high rent for, because he is worth every second of the wait. He is worth every struggle we will face in marriage, because I have found the one whom my soul loves. In three months, I will be able to call him my husband and my roommate. I cannot wait for both. Mary is passionately Catholic and madly in love with Jesus Christ, her fiancé, social justice, flowers, pictures of wheat, rain, Saint Faustina, and Dorothy Day. She is a Catholic Youth Minister striving for holiness.

This weekly wallpaper is from Erica of Be a Heart is a play on a vintage botanical poster. The verse is this week's gospel acclamation leading to the parable of the mustard seed. The seed is the word of God, Chris is the sower, all who come to him will live forever. Erica said, "I wanted to paint the mustard seed parable so I researched the mustard plant that Jesus talks about in the gospel. It proved to not be the most straight forward answer. There was a bit of debate over, which plant Jesus was talking about. What I DID discover was really interesting and a good take away. The mustard seed is the tiniest of the seeds of the plants that grow in the geographical area they were in. Once the seed is in the earth, it grows larger than all the other herbs. It is in fact not a tree, but can grow into the size of a tree--surpassing all other plants of its kind. It does not do this with the help of human hands, but with something greater (ie sunshine). The kingdom of God grows from one that is above the human hand (ie God himself). I can't explain it all, but here is the interesting article. With that said, I was inspired by vintage botanical posters that show the seeds and germination of a plant. Out of a tiny seed that we can plant on this earth, Christ will sow a large kingdom." You can download these free wallpapers below! Phone wallpaper Desktop wallpaper

Today we are talking about HEART. Passion, drive, love, life....a lot comes from this tiny organ (literally and metaphorically). You can find all the themes here. Welcome to the #BISsisterhood link-up. Every Thursday, we get together as one community to share our hearts. Here's how you can participate: Link-up a post that goes with the weekly theme. Share your thoughts of the theme on Instagram/Twitter/Facebook using #BISsisterhood so we can see each other's posts. Comment below with your thoughts on the prompt. Basically, let's talk to each other. Remember to use #BISsisterhood so we can all communicate well with each other out in the social media world. photo by Elissa Voss [bctt tweet="The #BISsisterhood link-up is where it's at. I just added my post here:"] Here is the button to our link-up that you are more than welcome to place on your blog, share on your social media, and/or save for a rainy day.   An InLinkz Link-up

We are so excited about this handpainted weekly wallpaper from Erin McKenna Nowak! Check out more of her beautiful work. It comes from today's Psalm 116:13- I will take the cup of salvation and call on the name of the Lord. It's Corpus Christi. We are reminded that we are given Jesus's most precious body and blood. Take and eat and bask in his endless love. Phone wallpaper Desktop wallpaper

I found him whom my soul loves. These words have been resounding in my heart and mind almost constantly over the last couple of weeks. // Let's rewind for a few moments, if you will, to Fall 2012. I had just graduated college, and had recently begun my first full-time job, as a paralegal at a law firm, although my degree is in psychology. My high school and college years were strung together by a common theme: "What am I doing?" All of my experiences in the short 22 years that I had been alive came to a head when I finally decided that I was brave enough to step outside of my comfort zone, to make the changes I knew I needed to make. I found myself in the confessional one September Saturday, and the very next day I was at a brand new church, ready to start totally new. I spent the next several months learning and growing and trying to figure out, "Now, what?" I had an excellent job, wonderful co-workers and more extra-curriculars than I had time for, even though they were mostly all church-related. My life had been on overdrive for the last four years I couldn't figure out how to slow down and just be still. I couldn't figure out what God was calling me to. I dare say that confusion in young people - young adults - is not uncommon. We are bombarded with so many options, so many opportunities and so much noise. It can often feel like the chaos of life is drowning out the whisperings of our Lord, and quite often, it does. I was having a hard time tuning those distractions out. [bctt tweet="It can feel like the chaos of life is drowning out the whisperings of our Lord, and often, it does."] One thing led to another and I ended up in the hands of an awesome spiritual director, Fr. Joe, who has been guiding me for almost two years through these distractions. // Fast forward to Fall 2014. I still had no idea, vocationally, what God was calling me to, but I did know one thing: God was calling me to something more. He was once more calling me out of my comfort zone, asking me to go beyond myself, to trust Him, and so I did. I took a leap of faith and applied for a job as the youth minister and pastoral assistant at my parish, a job I'm seriously unqualified for, except for my desire to serve. And apparently, that's all that God needed from me, my willingness to serve his children, to trust in him, because now I work where I worship, and it's all in his hands. // That brings us back to today. I took my first few days off from this new job of mine to go visit my best friends who just had their first baby, pray for them, and to spend some time relaxing, reflecting and praying at home. This is what I know, or don't know, and having been praying about during my vacation. I know that even though I still have no idea whether I'm called to religious life or married life, or even living an authentically single life, at this moment in time I'm exactly where I should be. [bctt tweet="Even though I don't know my vocation, at this moment in time I'm exactly where I should be."] I cannot envision working outside of the Church again. Fr. Joe says that some people can't do anything except work for God, which I feel is now me. I can't put into words the joy that fills my heart serving the parishioners and especially the youth of our small country parish. I know that when we sincerely approach God in prayer with an open heart and a willingness to trust, He always provides. He will never lead us astray. So even though I am still discerning, I know that when I hand it to Him, he will take my hand and lead me to Him. Have patience and trust in Him when you are uncertain and know that He is certain. // So as I came forward to receive the Eucharist at morning Mass a few days ago, as my heart rate increased and I got butterflies in my stomach, I realized that I truly have found Him whom my soul loves, and nothing could be better. [bctt tweet="I truly have found Him whom my soul loves, and nothing could be better."] photo by Madi Myers Cook Emily Kwiatkowski is a 24 year old youth minister and pastoral assistant discerning life and learning to love more each day.

This week's weekly wallpaper comes from Psalm 33:20-22 - Our soul waits for the Lord who is our help and our shield May your kindness, o Lord, be upon us who have put our hope in you Let our souls not lose hope in our God who is our help in his kindness. Download the free wallpaper for your desktop and phone. It was made by Erica of Be A Heart. She saw her dear friend, Perrin's beautiful handmade marbles and knew she had to include it on a Sunday wallpaper. She then hand lettered the psalm to create a unique wallpaper, just for us! Phone wallpaper Desktop wallpaper

The weeks seem to go so quickly and we're back with another Sunday free weekly wallpaper, by me, Erica of Be a Heart. It comes from the second reading today, Ephesians 4:10 - The one who descended is also the one who ascended far above all the heavens that he might fill all things. This really struck me in the readings today, "that he might fill all things." When I am not well, it is because I feel an emptiness--I am tired from a long days work or I haven't taken time for silent prayer in a while or I haven't connected with my loved ones in my community for too many days. But then he says that he ascended so that he might fill all things. Those dark chocolate peanut butter cups from Trader Joe's will not fill that emptiness nor will binge watching TV. He will. It reminded me of something a friend said long ago in a high school retreat. She said, "so often the emptiness feels like the Grand Canyon and I try to fill that giant hole with things the size of a golf ball--all the vices of life. It takes a lot of golf balls. But God can fill up every single crevice of that hole with his love. It seems much better to go to the source than constantly be looking for more and more golf balls." A little behind my process, this week. On Monday mornings, I look up the readings for the upcoming Sunday's scripture. I look for verses that jump out to me. Sometimes it comes easily and other times I have to revisit it in the subsequent days. Once I have a verse, I let it settle in my heart for a while. I try to think of colors and techniques. Occasionally, I'll be working on something else for a client, and I will make something similar. Other times, like this week, I attempt new techniques--things I've never done before. I knew I wanted to depict the, "I fill all things," so I was brainstorming things that are full. The cup that runneth over. Then I started thinking about how I love indigo shibori for fabric and that it would look cool on paper. I obviously couldn't do the full technique because watercolor paper doesn't fold easily, but I got out my drawing gum and did some "faux" shibori. Sometimes the risks work out, like today. I am so grateful to all of you who write to us and tell us how much you love the wallpapers each week. I carry you with me as I create them-- a tiny offering to this amazing community that we have here. Phone wallpaper Desktop wallpaper

This weekly wallpaper from Erica of Be a Heart depicts a verse from today's gospel reading, John 15:5 - I am the vine, you are the branches. Whoever remains in me and I in him will bear much fruit, because without me you can do nothing. We are called to cling to the branches, to rely on the strong support of Christ. Let us remember this week to turn to him so that we may be fruitful (juicy, bright, refreshing fruit) in the world around us. Phone wallpaper Desktop wallpaper

Today we are talking about LIFE. Each and every life is a precious gift God has entrusted us with to safeguard and enrich the best we can. This is equally true of our own lives and those entrusted to us in various ways. He gives it and He takes it away. "Life is life, FIGHT FOR IT." ~Mother Teresa You can find all the themes here. Welcome to the #BISsisterhood link-up. Every Thursday, we get together as one community to share our hearts. Here's how you can participate: Link-up a post that goes with the weekly theme. Share your thoughts of the theme on Instagram/Twitter/Facebook using #BISsisterhood so we can see each other's posts. Comment below with your thoughts on the prompt. Basically, let's talk to each other. Remember to use #BISsisterhood so we can all communicate well with each other out in the social media world. Here is the button to our link-up that you are more than welcome to place on your blog, share on your social media, and/or save for a rainy day.   An InLinkz Link-up