It was a hot summer day in August. I was standing outside cell block 11, where Saint Maximilian Kolbe was martyred, the starvation bunker where he survived for almost two weeks. A simple priest who gave his life for a man he did not even know. Head bowed, tears streaming down my face, I just started talking to St. Max...

Toward the end of last year, I was working through some goal-setting worksheets to help me cast a vision with the Lord for 2020. One of the worksheets was aimed at defining exactly what matters to me—at my core and in the long run. This worksheet was filled with fill-in-the-blanks, prompting us to define what is truly most important. Laughably, I got stuck at just the second fill-in-the-blank...

The heart has been a poetic symbol across centuries and cultures. Phrases like, "I love you with my whole heart," "My heart is broken," and "I put my heart into this" are common expressions we use. When we speak of the "heart," we refer to the deepest part of someone. The core of who they are. The human heart is capable of experiencing overwhelming happiness and crippling grief; unconditional love and bitter betrayal.  And when the Word was made flesh, He took on a human heart.

For many years, “grow in my relationship with God” was the first resolution I set after ringing in a new year. Want to hear a little confession? I don’t make that resolution anymore. I didn’t stop resolving to grow in my relationship with God because my spiritual life is perfect. Far from it! What I did realize, though, was that setting such a general goal was neither inspiring nor empowering to me. “Growing” in my relationship with God could mean anything...or nothing. There’s no measuring stick to help me identify if I’m closer to or further from God by December 31st. I could “do” more, but from the Sacraments to devotionals to books to Rosaries to ministries, where was a girl to start? And if the goal of my whole life is to grow in my faith, how would I ever know if I had done “enough” in one single year to consider the resolution accomplished? Or, was it doomed to forever feel incomplete...and a little like a failure? Reframing Spiritual Goal-Settting It wasn’t until I brought some strategies for goal-setting in other areas of my life to my spiritual life that I began to see real fruit from faith-centered resolutions. I was blessed by the opportunity to work for this goal-setting expert for a number of years and learned so much from her about the importance of goals that are specific, measurable, and able to be broken into smaller action steps. “Grow in my relationship with God” is none of those things! The one thing it is, though, is deeply connected to what matters most to me. That’s why I believe it’s so worth it to pursue spiritual goals I can actually take action on and move forward with in a tangible way. Ideas for Spiritual Resolutions Below, you'll find a few ideas for spiritual resolutions that will indeed help you grow in faith this year, but in a way you can approach intentionally and purposefully. Add one spiritual practice to your regular routine. The quickest way to feel overwhelmed by a goal? Overcommitting to too many ideas. Instead of resolving to attend daily Mass, pray a daily Rosary and the Liturgy of the Hours, lead a new ministry at church, and read the whole Bible in a year, pray about just one thing to add to your regular routine. If that feels too small, just remember, you can always add more to your plate as you master each habit! Starting with just the one thing you feel most convicted about, though, is not only more attainable. The focus may also make that practice more impactful.     Choose a theme for the year. Last year, my husband took a tip from Rome and declared his own spiritual theme for the year. While you can certainly adopt the same theme as the universal Church, there’s something extra motivating about pursuing a topic you feel personally drawn to or intrigued by. The way you follow your chosen theme can take many forms throughout the year, inspiring the books you read, the podcasts you listen to, and the prayers you add to your daily routine. This is the strategy I’m personally taking this year, with a focus on listening well and loving God through the Scripture I’m already reading daily. A few of my action steps include: Journaling alongside the readings (Every Sacred Sunday is a beautiful resource for this!) Reading the daily readings in my physical Bible instead of on my phone so I can underline verses and read footnotes for extra context Compose my own short prayer to say before and after the readings each day Other ideas for possible themes: Getting to know our Blessed Mother Living the liturgical year Diving into the writings of a particular Saint (how fascinating would it be to spend a year with St. John Paul II or Venerable Fulton Sheen?) Studying the Psalms (or any book of the Bible you feel compelled to explore) Learning about Jesus’ Divine Mercy Live out the Corporal and Spiritual Works of Mercy. This could be an especially meaningful option for those of us with very action-oriented, “doer” personalities. As the hands and feet of Jesus in our world, we’re all called to practice the Corporal and Spiritual Works of Mercy. If you’ve never paid much attention to this call, or, like me, you often forget about many of them, consider putting forth a special effort to live out each one this year. Praying through Blessed is She’s Misericordia study would be a perfect starting point! Focus on the Sacraments. No matter where we are in our walks with God, the Sacraments always invite us to go one step deeper. So what might that look like, from a practical point of view? If you attend Mass occasionally, commit to going each Sunday and holy day of obligation. If you go weekly, add one or two daily Masses each month or week. Ramp up your frequency of going to Confession, whatever that may look like for you. If you haven’t given much thought to the Holy Spirit since your Confirmation, print out a prayer to the Holy Spirit (browse the posts from last year’s Prayer Pledge for inspiration) and say it regularly. If you’re married, find a new way to pray with and/or for your spouse. What spiritual resolutions are you setting for the new year? We are praying for you and cheering you on! [bctt tweet="How to Set Spiritual Resolutions for the New Year #BISblog //" username="lisajanelkirk"] HIS WORD CHANGES LIVES God is speaking to you through His Word. In this personal study, you will learn to hear God's voice by reading slowly and praying deeply. BEGIN THE JOURNEY

A new decade dawns with this new day. The Light of the World brings forth new light and new mercies as we pass from one year to the next. Perhaps you're greeting 2020 with a heart full of hope—eager to embrace possibilities and strive to achieve fresh goals. Perhaps you're limping into 2020—the last year leaving you feeling defeated physically, spiritually, emotionally, relationally, or mentally. Perhaps you're entering 2020 with trepidation, confusion, or apathy—uncertain about your direction for the next ten years. Wherever you find yourself on this first day of the year, sister, you are in His Heart.

We have reached this year's final days. And in a couple of days, we will ring in a new year. When the year comes to a close, I like to pause and reflect on the last 12 months. What were the highlights and lowlights? How did the Lord move in my heart and soul? What consolations did I receive from Him, and how did He lead me through the dark and lonely times? Looking Ahead Then, I look ahead with expectant faith toward the new year. What are my hopes and dreams? What changes do I want to make? How should I set my goals, what should my goals even be? I jot down a few ideas, put together a plan, and pencil in time to work on my New Year’s resolutions. Typically, the first days go well, but after two or three weeks, the hope I felt toward the new year fizzles. I feel discouraged when my goals encounter insurmountable obstacles. And I realize that without God’s grace and strength, I can’t resolve much of anything (John 15:5, Matthew 19:26, Philippians 4:13). Perhaps what is missing in my resolution efforts is reliance on the Lord. Trying to do it on my own, with my weak will power and distractible mindset, sets me up for immediate failure. Perhaps you can resonate with this? If so, where can we find a consistent dose of heavenly help? Catholic Books for Your New Year's Resolutions In addition to asking for God’s help in prayer and remaining close to the Sacraments, there is a wealth of faith-filled encouragement in Catholic books. Here are eight Catholic books to support your new year’s resolutions. Listed by category, perhaps one will keep us moving toward our goals throughout the new year. Exercise more // Lose weight // Eat cleaner It’s OK to Start With You by Julia Marie Hogan Losing weight, exercising, and eating clean are considered “self-care.” Caring for ourselves ensures that we are strong enough to live out our mission. Often, however, we feel guilty about doing things for ourselves, even when they benefit others in the long run. It’s OK to Start With You encourages us to prioritize self-care. It even claims that self-care is a discipline rooted in our identity as God’s daughters! In this book, author Julia Hogan helps us understand why we neglect ourselves and equips us with tools to change our habits. You Are Enough: What Women of the Bible Teach You About Your Mission and Worth by Danielle Bean When tackling a health-related goal, it’s important to remember that our worth is not reflected in how we look or the number on the scale. So, before we set out to improve ourselves, we need to remember that we are enough. Right here, right now. In You Are Enough, Danielle Bean introduces us to Biblical women who demonstrate how our worth is wrapped up in our identity as daughters of God, made in His image and likeness. She helps us solidify that truth, so we can strive to glorify God and fulfill His will in our lives. Declutter // Organize // Simplify Know Thyself: The Imperfectionist’s Guide to Sorting Your Stuff by Lisa Lawmaster Hess When our resolution is to simplify, we usually can’t wait to get started. Until we realize that the “tried and true” system is flawed, and the cute containers don’t corral our stuff very well. In Know Thyself, we learn that there is not a one-size-fits-all solution to organizing, because God has created us to be unique individuals who have unique organizing styles. Author Lisa Hess helps us discover our personal organizing method, so we can succeed in ordering and simplifying our lives. Make My Life Simple: Bringing Peace to Heart and Home by Rachel Balducci Desiring to get organized could be a goal that only scratches the surface. When life feels chaotic and messy, anxiety and weariness can paralyze us. If only a neat and tidy house could cure the turmoil in our hearts! Author Rachel Balducci knows how that feels. In Make My Life Simple, she shares her personal heartache and how God answered her plea for more peace and less chaos, more joy and less anxiety. She offers tips for establishing a peaceful home, but more importantly ways to order our whole lives—body, mind, and spirit. Pray more // Begin a holy hour // Read Scripture Lift Up Your Heart: A 10-Day Personal Retreat With St. Francis de Sales by Rev. John Burns Many of us desire to jumpstart our prayer routine in 2020. But how do we begin? How about with a 10-day personal retreat in the comfort of home? Lift Up Your Heart by Fr. John Burns takes reflections from St. Francis de Sales and breathes new life into them. He applies de Sales wisdom to the modern life and helps us ignite our daily prayer habit. Praying Scripture for a Change: An Introduction to Lectio Divina by Dr. Timothy Gray Those of us who pray regularly with the daily Gospel readings and Blessed is She reflections may desire to go deeper in our Scripture reading habit. But what is our next step? Praying Scripture for a Change introduces us to the ancient technique of lectio divina. In it, Dr. Gray explains how God speaks personally and uniquely to us through Scripture. He shows us how to recognize God’s voice through a lectio divina routine. And when faced with interferences, he offers tips to maintain a consistent and fruitful prayer life. Develop friendships // Strengthen relationships Can We Be Friends? By Rebecca Frech Finding good friends is hard. Maintaining them is even harder. But since we were created for relationship, we crave connection. In Can We Be Friends?, Rebecca Frech explores why we need friendship, how to nurture our relationships, and even when to let friends go. She outlines different types of friends and how to invite select friends into our inner circle. This book reminds us that friendship gives us a sense of belonging, and it also helps us be our truest selves. The Friendship Project: The Catholic Woman’s Guide to Making and Keeping Fabulous, Faith-Filled Friends by Michele Faehnle and Emily Jaminet When life gets busy, we can easily lose contact with friends. Before we know it, we haven’t connected with anyone in weeks, maybe months. The truth is that friendship takes time and effort. And in this busy world, it is challenging to invest in friendship … and find a friend willing to invest, too. In The Friendship Project, readers explore questions such as, “What does it mean to be a friend?” and, “How do the virtues make me a more compassionate friend?” The authors guide us through Church teachings, stories from the Saints, and personal scenarios to help us be a better friend and seek out friends who will encourage us in our pursuit for holiness, too. Has a Catholic book ever supported you in reaching a goal or resolution? Tell us about it in the comments below! [bctt tweet="Catholic Books for Your New Year's Resolutions #BISblog //" via="no"] This post contains affiliate links. Thank you so much for supporting the ministry of Blessed is She!

Happy Feast of St. Stephen, sisters! And, to those of you in the UK or countries historically connected to it, happy Boxing Day! Wait a second, you might be thinking to yourself. What does one of these things have to do with the other? What could the first Christian martyr have to do with a British bank holiday? How would the patron Saint of deacons and altar servers have anything to do with boxes? Or maybe you’re wondering why you’ve now got that weird Christmas carol, “Good King Wenceslas” going through your head. Fear not, sister. I’m here to tie it all together for you today. Sound good? Let’s go. Who Was St. Stephen? St. Stephen was, like I said, the first martyr of the early Christian Church. But let’s rewind a bit. Who was he and how did he get there? After Jesus’ Ascension into Heaven, the fledgling Church was being led and formed by the Apostles. Signs and wonders were being performed. Peter and friends were repeatedly brought before the Sanhedrin and being set free again. Disciples were selling their property in order to build the Church and communities were being formed. In the midst of all this, the Greek-speaking members of the community came to the Apostles and said that their widows were not being well looked after. So, in order that they be able to continue the work that they needed to do, the Apostles decided to appoint helpers, as it were. They chose seven men, of whom Stephen was the first. They laid hands upon them and blessed them, thus making them the first ordained deacons of the Church. Stephen the Deacon Stephen was “a man filled with faith and the Holy Spirit” (Acts 6:5). As the archdeacon (or lead deacon), he was “filled with grace and power, was working great wonders and signs among the people” (Acts 6:8). People from all backgrounds came to discuss and debate with Stephen, but none could stand against his powerful, God-given wisdom and spirit. Ultimately, this led them to going to the Sanhedrin and falsely accusing Stephen of blasphemy. Stephen the Martyr The trial and death of St. Stephen is remarkable not only in that his is the death of the first Christian martyr, but in how closely related it is to that of Christ’s. Stephen is brought before the Sanhedrin on charges of blasphemy, like Jesus was. When he was asked if the charges against him were true, like Jesus, he did not answer them directly. Instead, he went on to give the longest continuous speech in the entire Bible (Acts 7:2-53). When he was finished, Stephen was blessed with a vision of Jesus standing at the right hand of God in Heaven and told the crowd what he saw. Those who were against him would have none of it, though, and cried out in loud voices and began to stone him to death. At the very end, and in an echo of the Savior whom he loved, he asked the Lord to receive his spirit. Then he said, “Lord, do not hold this sin against them” and died (Acts 7:59-60). St. Stephen is the patron Saint of altar servers, bricklayers, casket makers and, of course, deacons. The Boxing Day Connection I’m going to attempt to combine St. Stephen, Good King Wenceslas, and Boxing Day. Wish me luck. “Good King Wenceslas looked out on the feast of Stephen.” Well, King W was actually a Bohemian duke who lived in the 10th century. He was, however, a good and benevolent man and, according to the Christmas carol, when he went out that day it was to give alms to the poor. Boxing Day is a tradition that started in the 800s. While now it is looked at merely as a day off of work after Christmas, it actually began as the day when the alms boxes (or poor boxes) in parishes were opened and the alms distributed to the poor. St. Stephen’s ministry came to be because widows needed help. And who were the widows in the cultural history of the early church? Usually the poorest and least able to care for themselves. So… St. Stephen helped the poor, so did King Wenceslas, and so do the alms boxes at Church. Ta-da! How can we celebrate St. Stephen AND Boxing Day? Here are just a few suggestions for your celebration: Send a Christmas card (or gift box?) to your deacons at church to thank them for their faithful service to those in need. Box up any extra non-perishable food items you may have and deliver them to your local food pantry. Make a donation to the poor box at your parish (or to another worthy cause). Thank an altar server after Mass with a box of Christmas cookies. Merry Christmas, sisters! In honor of St. Stephen, may we always remember those who have less than we do by our actions and in our prayers. And may we be so filled with the Holy Spirit that we, too, someday see Jesus standing at the right hand of God. [bctt tweet="On the Feast of St. Stephen #BISblog //" via="no"]

Last December I felt I was entering in to the season of Advent in a deeper way than previous years. It was a time for me in which I intentionally focused on the waiting. A phrase that stood out to me in the beginning of Advent was a quotation by Sister Miriam James Heidland, who said: Mary let go and did not grasp or make a plan B. We ought to wait with God rather than for God to make things happen. My tendency is to always have a back up plan. I’m not so good at the waiting “with God” part. Instead, I twiddle my fingers waiting for God to show me how He is going to answer my prayer. If that means not answering my prayer in the way that I had hoped, then I expect Him to show me how He is going to answer my prayer in another concrete way. The ability to wait patiently in the unknown is not a gift that I have. But it ought to be. Another reminder I received in the beginning of Advent was that waiting can be a gift that helps us to live in the present moment. I knew that if I better embraced the waiting I would naturally feel more at peace and more relaxed. In embracing the waiting, my surrender would be more full. Nothing Would Again Be Casual or Small As I began the Advent weeks of embracing the waiting, a friend sent me a poem by Fr. John Duffy titled “I Sing of a Maiden”. It was a favorite poem of the founder of the Sisters of Life, John Cardinal O’Connor, and each Sister wears a medal with a portion of the poem etched on to it. A few of the lines from the poem are as follows: Never again would she awake And in herself the buoyant Galilean lass,... A new awareness in her body when she stirred, A sense of Light within her virgin gloom: She was the Mother of the wandering Word, Little and terrifying in her laboring womb. And nothing would again be casual and small, But everything with light invested and overspilled With terror and divinity, the dawn, the first bird's call, The silhouetted pitcher waiting to be filled. These words became the focal point of my Advent meditation. I wanted my “silhouetted pitcher” to be filled, and I wanted to live life as if “nothing would again be casual and small.” I invited Mary to walk with me in the waiting, just as she had walked with Joseph from their home in Nazareth to the place of Jesus’ birth in Bethlehem. The History of the Basilica of the Nativity Just over five miles south of Jerusalem sits Bethlehem, the place where “the Word became flesh and made his dwelling among us” (John 1:14). This holy site, which has been recognized as Jesus’ birthplace since the 2nd century, is housed within the Basilica of the Nativity. It is the oldest major church in the Holy Land. It is even included on the Unesco World Heritage List. The church was originally commissioned by Saint Helena, a woman we have to thank for many of the important churches built in the 4th century. Her son, Emperor Constantine, legalized Christianity in the Roman Empire. In order to enter the fortress-like Basilica of the Nativity which holds within it the cave where Mary gave birth to Jesus, you must bow low underneath a door which is just under four feet high. It is aptly named the door of humility because it reminds us to bow low and humble ourselves before we enter the place where God humbled Himself to become man. The Status Quo Today, the church is managed under the provision of what is called the Status Quo, which gives ownership to the Greek Orthodox, Armenian, and Franciscan Churches. The Status Quo is a decree which was imposed in 1757 by the Ottoman Turks, giving a variety of religious communities both the ownership and responsibility of tending to different sections of sites within the Holy Land. Inside the Church of the Nativity, a majority of the building and furnishings belong to the Greek Orthodox. The northern transept of the church is owned by the Armenians. Both the Greek Orthodox and the Armenians are responsible for the Altar of the Nativity. The Roman Catholics have possession of this church’s centerpiece, namely, the Grotto of the Manger, the cave where Mary gave birth to Jesus. The specific location where Jesus was born is shown by a 14-pointed star. The fourteen points on the star give honor to the three different sets of fourteen generations of Jesus’ ancestry. We read in Matthew 1:17: Thus the total number of generations from Abraham to David is fourteen generations; from David to the Babylonian exile, fourteen generations; from the Babylonian exile to the Messiah, fourteen generations. “Hic” There are two places in the Holy Land where the Latin word “hic” is inscribed upon a very significant place. In case your Latin is a little rusty, “hic” in these instances means “here.” It is a little word which carries a profound weight when standing in the places where Jesus walked. The first place I read this was in the Church of the Annunciation in Nazareth, at the site where the angel Gabriel appeared to Mary and she gave her fiat. In that place it reads: Verbum caro HIC factum est transforming the familiar phrase from John 1:14, “the Word was made flesh,” into: the Word was made flesh HERE. The other place I saw this word inscribed was on the 14-pointed star in the Basilica of the Nativity, where at the place Jesus was born it reads: Hic De Virgine Maria Jesus Christus Natus Est meaning: HERE Jesus Christ was born to the Virgin Mary. Jesus did humble Himself before us by taking on human flesh. And as powerful as it was seeing the word “hic” at these sacred places in the Holy Land, Jesus is also here with us today. And He wants to wait with us. [bctt tweet="The Basilica at Bethlehem #BISblog //" via="no"]

“Just do it,” my friend said. “You’ll be glad you did.” We were talking about her family’s commitment to gathering on Sunday evenings for dinner. I told her my husband and I had been wanting to start hosting Sunday dinners for our extended family. We wanted to be more intentional about being with family on a regular basis, but we wondered what such a commitment might require of us and whether anyone would be willing to come regularly. I had more than once overheard people say, “I have to go to my aunt/sister/grandmother/mother’s house for Sunday dinner,” in a less than enthusiastic tone. I didn’t want to be that relative. Why Extended Family Sunday Dinners Matter My friend is a mother and a judge with a full schedule, and at the time of our conversation, she lived in an apartment with limited space. Yet, she and her children hosted her extended family every Sunday. I could see her happiness and imagined the joy her gatherings gave her family. As I sat with my fearful complaints, her love in action inspired me and echoed scripture, “Be hospitable to one another without complaining” (1 Peter 4:8-9). My husband and I had a pondering on our hearts, a home to open, food to share and, it seemed, a clear directive. Shortly after that conversation, we sent an e-mail invitation to our extended family to invite them to regular Sunday dinners at our home. They came. All of them. Now, three years later, they still come. They often bring their dogs. Sometimes they bring friends, honoring our invitation to bring anyone who would enjoy sharing a meal and spending a Sunday evening with others who would love to know them. It's Doable! The simple act of extending an invitation for dinner has grown into a blessing of being together. Keeping it simple has been the heartbeat that keeps it going. From the beginning, my husband and I didn’t want anyone to feel pressure to be together every Sunday, including ourselves. We couldn’t commit to hosting every week due to our children’s schedules and other things that call for our time, and we didn’t want anyone else to feel pressure to be there. It was only an invitation. But we committed to hosting each Sunday we were available. We believed a regular commitment would be important for planning and maintaining connections. Those absent are missed, but another Sunday will come. We trust the Lord places those at our table who are meant to be there at that time. [bctt tweet="We trust the Lord places those at our table who are meant to be there at that time. #BISblog //" via="no"] What Our Dinners Look Like Everyone comes as they are. We hope for dinners that are relaxed, casual, and fun. Sports uniforms, church clothes, pajamas, pool attire, and everything in between have made appearances at our dinners. The most important thing is to feel comfortable and be present. We’d rather have someone in a work uniform or stinky sports gear and with us than somewhere else without us. The Food My crock pot is a loyal friend for these dinners because it allows me to complete most of the food preparation before anyone arrives. The important thing is to be together, not to have perfect food. My charcuterie board is also a good friend because it makes almost any random food item you put on it look like it belongs there, from meats and cheeses to nuts, fruits and crackers. It doesn’t need to be fancy or expensive. Our family has a food budget, and by the grace of God, our budget has remained the same as it was before we began these dinners. I cannot explain that, but I am grateful. We don’t serve steaks at these dinners, but we’ve filled many with taco bars, BBQ pulled pork, spaghetti with meatballs, and large pots of soups and chili. Many come through our front door with food to share, and that is a tremendous blessing. However, we don’t want anyone to feel that presents of food would be more important than one’s presence. We don’t always know how many people will come. I appreciate RSVPs, but we’d rather have someone unexpected with us, eating from the bottom of the serving platters or a delivery pizza we order last minute, than not with us because they didn’t RSVP. To this date, the Lord has provided enough food for every dinner, even when the numbers have far exceeded my expectations. Like the manna God gave the Israelites in the wilderness and the bread and fish Jesus fed the crowd of 5,000, our provisions are sufficient through Him. And, I have the pizza delivery number on my fridge just in case. The House Our house is never in perfect condition, but Sunday dinners inspire us to clean when we might otherwise not. For transparency, my husband is much more willing to clean than I am, and I am the one who needs inspiration (e.g. people are coming over). I am embarrassed to admit that I apparently don’t consider the five others who live in my home to be people worthy of regular cleaning, and I am working on that. For Sunday dinners, we do our best to declutter, clean, and offer at least one presentable bathroom. When everyone is focused on being together and sharing a meal, they are less likely to notice the dirt on the floor and more willing to overlook it. Together A blessing of these gatherings is the time they give us to be together and share our lives. My husband’s parents and two sisters and their families live near us. His parents are our most regular guests. Thanks to them, we always have three generations of people together. Our nieces and nephews who attend nearby colleges come when they can and welcome us into their lives by bringing friends. We’ve invited neighbors, friends from all walks of our life, priests, seminarians, deacons, and young adults we’ve met through ministries and our parish. It is not us who provide the joy; the joy comes through our front door with each person. We celebrate together the seasons of life and our Church. When weather allows, we spend our evenings outside making s’mores and walking the dogs. In winter, we gather inside with a fire, spilling into the various rooms of our home, eating wherever a seat may be found. We’ve celebrated happy moments, shared conversations about struggles and sorrows, and linked hands in a large circle of prayer, thanking the Lord for all of it. It is a boost of peace and joy for the week ahead. You Won't Regret It If you’ve been considering gathering people to your home for a standing date for dinner, brunch, coffee, wine or any other type of sharing, I pass along my friend’s advice to “just do it.” You’ll be glad you did. [bctt tweet="Starting Extended Family Sunday Dinners #BISblog //" via="no"] Nikki Frerker is a wife and mother of four who lives in Leawood, Kansas. She spends a portion of her time practicing estate planning law and enjoys serving as a catechist for Catechesis of the Good Shepherd at her parish. You may find her running before the sun rises, driving her children around at all hours, or singing praise music just loud enough to embarrass anyone willing to listen.

Disclaimer: This post is not intended to undermine the reality of clinical anxiety. As someone who has personally benefited from both counseling and medicinal help when battling anxiety, please know my heart on this. I strongly encourage you to seek professional counsel if you are struggling: there is absolutely no shame in needing help! Anxiety is a part of life for most people. The range of anxious feelings is wide—nerves before an exam, the anxiety of pregnancy after loss, that feeling in your stomach when your child drives away solo for the first time, or right before you have a difficult conversation with someone you love. In my own times of anxiety I have found great consolation in the Living Word. Time spent in prayer and with Jesus truly present in the Blessed Sacrament have bore great fruit in my heart. Scripture Verses to Pray During Times of Anxiety Below you will find a collection of lines from Scripture that I hope will be a comfort to you, as they have been to me. I also invite you to open your Bible, look up the verses, and read the surrounding passages for context and additional words that may lift your spirit. Do Not Be Anxious The Lord clearly invites us out of our anxiety and tells us not to worry. Here are some Scripture verses to pray when you want to hear the Lord’s voice regarding anxiety: // “Therefore I tell you, do not worry about your life, what you will eat [or drink], or about your body, what you will wear. Is not life more than food and the body more than clothing? Look at the birds in the sky; they do not sow or reap, they gather nothing into barns, yet your heavenly Father feeds them. Are not you more important than they? Can any of you by worrying add a single moment to your life-span? Why are you anxious about clothes? Learn from the way the wild flowers grow. They do not work or spin. But I tell you that not even Solomon in all his splendor was clothed like one of them. If God so clothes the grass of the field, which grows today and is thrown into the oven tomorrow, will he not much more provide for you, O you of little faith? So do not worry and say, ‘What are we to eat?’ or ‘What are we to drink?’ or ‘What are we to wear?’ All these things the pagans seek. Your heavenly Father knows that you need them all. But seek first the kingdom [of God] and his righteousness, and all these things will be given you besides. Do not worry about tomorrow; tomorrow will take care of itself. Sufficient for a day is its own evil.” Matthew 6:25-34 // “Have no anxiety at all, but in everything, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, make your requests known to God. Then the peace of God that surpasses all understanding will guard your hearts and minds in Christ Jesus.” Philippians 4:6-7 // “I should like you to be free of anxieties.” 1 Corinthians 7:32a // “Do not fear: I am with you; do not be anxious: I am your God. I will strengthen you, I will help you, I will uphold you with my victorious right hand.” Isaiah 41:10 // “No trial has come to you but what is human. God is faithful and will not let you be tried beyond your strength; but with the trial he will also provide a way out, so that you may be able to bear it.” 1 Corinthians 10:13 // “Cast all your worries upon him because he cares for you.” 1 Peter 5:7 Cry Out Clearly, our loving Lord does not desire for us to be anxious. So what can we do when that feeling starts to well up within us? I am confident God wants to hear about it. When you are fighting the battle of anxiety, these verses may be an expression of your own heart: // “Answer me when I call, my saving God. When troubles hem me in, set me free; take pity on me, hear my prayer.” Psalm 4:2 // “How long, Lord? Will you utterly forget me? How long will you hide your face from me? How long must I carry sorrow in my soul, grief in my heart day after day? How long will my enemy triumph over me?” -Psalm 13:2-3 // “My God, my God, why have you abandoned me? Why so far from my call for help, from my cries of anguish? My God, I call by day, but you do not answer; by night, but I have no relief.” Psalm 22:2-3 // “Relieve the troubles of my heart; bring me out of my distress.” Psalm 25:17 // “Suddenly a violent storm came up on the sea, so that the boat was being swamped by the waves; but he was asleep. They came and woke him, saying, ‘Lord, save us! We are perishing!’” Matthew 8:24-25 WRITE + PRAY We invite you to sit with the Word and unpack it in a uniquely personal way, finding your own story. Discover your story within His. GET WRITE AND PRAY Exercise Trust I want to have a heart that trusts the Father so deeply I need never be anxious. I want to have the courage of our Blessed Mother and so many of the Saints. The verses below help increase my trust in our good and faithful God and strengthen my resolve when anxiety tries to weigh me down. // “The Lord is my light and my salvation; whom should I fear? The Lord is my life’s refuge; of whom should I be afraid?” Psalm 27:1 // “Trust in the Lord with all your heart, on your own intelligence do not rely; in all your ways be mindful of him, and he will make straight your paths.” Proverbs 3:5-6 // “No one can withstand you as long as you live. As I was with Moses, I will be with you. I will not leave you nor forsake you. I command you: be strong and steadfast! Do not fear nor be dismayed, for the Lord your God is with you wherever you go.” Joshua 1:5, 9 // “I consider that the sufferings of this present time are as nothing compared with the glory to be revealed for us. For creation awaits with eager expectation the revelation of the children of God; for creation was made subject to futility, not of its own accord but because of the one who subjected it, in hope that creation itself would be set free from slavery to corruption and share in the glorious freedom of the children of God.” Romans 8:18-21 // “For I am convinced that neither death, nor life, nor angels, nor principalities, nor present things, nor future things, nor powers, nor height, nor depth, nor any other creature will be able to separate us from the love of God in Christ Jesus our Lord.” Romans 8:38-39 // “Come to me, all you who labor and are burdened, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you and learn from me, for I am meek and humble of heart; and you will find rest for yourselves. For my yoke is easy, and my burden light.” Matthew 11:28-30 // “I bless the Lord who counsels me; even at night my heart exhorts me. I keep the Lord always before me; with him at my right hand, I shall never be shaken.” Psalm 16:7-8 // “Because you have the Lord for your refuge; you have made the Most High your stronghold, no evil shall befall you, no affliction come near your tent. For he commands the angels with regard to you, to guard you wherever you go. With their hands they shall support you, lest you strike your foot against a stone.” Psalm 91:9-12 Claim Peace There is great value in claiming truth and proclaiming it over our lives and the lives of those we love. In times of anxiety, try praying these verses aloud over yourself or a loved one as a blanket of protection. // “For he is our peace.” Ephesians 2:14 // “The Lord is my shepherd; there is nothing I lack. In green pastures he makes me lie down; to still waters he leads me; he restores my soul.” Psalm 23:1-3 // “For I know the plans I have for you, says the Lord, plans for welfare and not for evil, to give you a future with hope.” Jeremiah 29:11 // “The light shines in the darkness, and the darkness has not overcome it.” John 1:5 // “Draw your strength from the Lord and from his mighty power. Put on the armor of God so that you may be able to stand firm against the tactics of the devil.” Ephesians 6:10-11 // “But now, thus says the Lord, who created you, O Jacob, and formed you, O Israel: Fear not, for I have redeemed you; I have called you by name: you are mine. When you pass through the water, I will be with you; in the rivers you shall not drown. When you walk through fire, you shall not be burned; the flames shall not consume you. For I am the Lord, your God, the Holy One of Israel, your savior. Because you are precious in my eyes and glorious, and because I love you.” Isaiah 43:1-3a, 4a // “Peace I leave with you; my peace I give to you. Not as the world gives do I give it to you. Do not let your hearts be troubled or afraid.” John 14:27 While we are on the subject, I also highly recommend the book Searching for and Maintaining Peace by Fr. Jacques Philippe. The short but overwhelmingly rich book was a transformative, life-changing read for me. Praise the Lord One afternoon I sat anxious in a doctor’s office. As I was praying about my concerns in that moment, the Lord give me an invitation: “worship over worry,” I heard Him say. Wow, I thought. Yes! I can waste my time worrying, or I can spend my time in worship of the Lord who loves me beyond my wildest imagination. The Psalms are a beautiful place to find examples of this. The Psalmist often cries out in heartache and lament, only to praise the Lord verses later. Psalm 34 is one of my favorite Psalms to pray in praise of our sovereign God. I invite you to pray it in its entirety, but I found these lines particularly moving: // “I will bless the Lord at all times; his praise shall be always in my mouth.” Psalm 34:1 // “I sought the Lord, and he answered me, delivered me from all my fears.” Psalm 34:5 What Scripture verses have brought you comfort in a time of anxiety? HIS WORD CHANGES LIVES God is speaking to you through His Word. In this personal study, you will learn to hear God's voice by reading slowly and praying deeply. BEGIN THE JOURNEY

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Many of us probably don’t think twice when we use the term “miracle” in everyday life. We call the 1980 U.S. men’s hockey team’s gold medal a miracle. Buddy the elf tells Jovie she looks “miraculous” when they go on their first date. We look at our to-do lists and think it’s going to take a miracle to pull this off. The lightness with which we use this term can allow us to forget that real miracles—that which the Catechism defines as “a sign or wonder, such as a healing or the control of nature, which can only be attributed to divine power”—still happen today. God is as living, active, and interested in our lives in the twenty-first century as He ever was in Scripture. Whether we recognize it or not, He is still making impossible things happen. A Modern-Day Miracle A powerful example is that of James Fulton Engstrom, who was born still and remained dead for 61 minutes before his heart spontaneously began beating. (Did you get goosebumps reading that? I got goosebumps typing it.) James’ mother, Bonnie, whose name you likely recognize from daily devotions here at Blessed is She, shared his story this fall in a moving and important book, 61 Minutes to a Miracle: Fulton Sheen and a True Story of the Impossible. 61 Minutes to a Miracle Bonnie sets up the story with care, both aware of how impossible the situation was and transparent about what she initially experienced when she was in shock versus what she learned later. I felt the movements of the story with her as I read, especially with the knowledge that my oldest son is only days younger than her James. When I was basking in the joy of my healthy baby boy nine years ago, Bonnie was struggling with what would happen to her son. Yes, he came back to life. But there was a period of time where doctors didn’t know what he would be capable of. I don’t want to spoil it for you, so I’ll leave that part of the story for you to discover on your own. Suffice it to say that though I knew the basics from Bonnie’s blog before reading the book, I still couldn’t put it down. I read it in a single night and then started recommending it to everyone I knew. [bctt tweet="When I was basking in the joy of my healthy baby boy nine years ago, Bonnie was struggling with what would happen to her son. #BISblog //" via="no"] Believing in Miracles Which brings me to why I call this book important. It’s important that we are aware of and open to miracles happening. I’d go so far as to say it’s important that we expect miracles. God wants to do beautiful things for us and through us. And He’s probably doing more than you or I have eyes to see. We need to cultivate a joyful anticipation of what God wills to provide for us as well as honest relationships with the Saints, whom we can call on for their intercession. James’ miracle has been approved by the Vatican, and is part of Venerable Fulton Sheen’s cause for sainthood. Thank God for Sheen’s intercession, and thank God, too, for the faith of the Engstroms, who confidently cried out for help when they were in need. (Did you just get goosebumps again?) Reliance on God Our culture encourages us to do for ourselves and take care of number one. God asks the opposite. And we can do as He asks because we can trust Him. If we needed proof, miracles are just that. God’s plan isn’t always going to be what we want, of course. The dead are not always going to physically come back to life. But we need to live with hope. Our Christian communities need us to live with hope. Our brothers and sisters who don’t recognize Christ or acknowledge God need us to live with hope. The world needs our hope, and Bonnie’s book has helped me to remain in that hope and to share it. As we gear up for Christmas, we reflect on the Incarnation, the Word made flesh, God come to dwell among us. It seemed impossible, and yet we know that it was. God is still doing amazing things in the world He created and loves. May we keep our eyes open to see His miracles and our hands and hearts open to share them. [bctt tweet="61 Minutes to a Miracle Book Review #BISblog" via="no"] Lindsay Schlegel is a daughter of God who seeks to encourage, inspire, and lift up the contemporary woman to be all she was created to be. She’s the author of Don’t Forget to Say Thank You: And Other Parenting Lessons That Brought Me Closer to God, as well as shorter nonfiction and fiction pieces, both online and in print. With joy, she speaks about recognizing God’s voice and living the truth therein. Lindsay lives in New Jersey with her high-school-sweetheart-turned-husband and their kids. You can find out more about her here.

“Let every heart prepare Him room.” It’s one of my all-time favorite lines from one of my all-time favorite Christmas songs. I tend to think about it all season long as we journey through Advent. I mull over the idea of decluttering before Christmas to make room for our Lord in our lives, hearts, and homes. What does it mean to truly “prepare Him room?” What does it look like to make space for the light of Jesus to burst forth into our lives this Christmas? Decluttering Before Christmas: An Opportunity Each Year Every year, we get the opportunity to take on this task of decluttering mentally and physically. We get to ask ourselves: when Jesus comes, what will He find? Will He find room at the inn, or be forced to the fringes of a heart, soul, home, and life stuffed too full of all the wrong things? Decluttering isn’t about staying hip to the trends (Kon Mari, anyone?) or trying to be something you’re not (not everyone needs to be a minimalist!). It's simply letting go of what’s holding us back. It’s about “preparing Him room” in every way possible. Make Room Mentally: Declutter Your Mind Advent is a great time to meditate on what’s taking up mental space. For me, this looks like reflecting on my relationships, practicing mindfulness, and writing out everything bouncing around my brain. Take Stock of Relationships First and foremost, Advent gives us an opportunity to reflect on our relationship with God. Are there sins holding us back from a deeper relationship with Him? Most parishes offer an Advent penance service. Commit to asking for forgiveness for whatever is weighing on your heart this season! Mental decluttering also includes taking stock of our human relationships. Are there some that need attention? Is there someone in your life who needs your forgiveness, or someone you need to ask for forgiveness from? Are there relationships that are not life-giving, fruitful or helping you grow? Advent provides the opportunity to really think about what relationships are leading you toward Christ, or away from Him. It’s an opportunity to “make room” in our hearts and minds by mending relationships that need mending and letting go of ones that are not serving us on our walk toward holiness. We all know what a mental drain it can be to have a lingering argument, estrangement, or tough relationship. Advent is a time to free up that mental space by offering or accepting forgiveness where needed and moving on where possible. Be Mindful To me, mindfulness means being aware of what I’m holding onto. This is especially timely in the Advent season and as we work to “prepare Him room.” When Jesus comes, will He find space in your head and your heart, or will they be too cluttered with attachments? Being aware of what we’re allowing in and clinging to is an important first step in detachment. If we want to detach from the habits, vices, and sins cluttering our souls, we have to know what we’re working with. Mindfulness offers the opportunity to notice what is holding us back from complete and total attachment to Jesus. [bctt tweet="When Jesus comes, will He find space in your head and your heart, or will they be too cluttered with attachments? #BISblog //" via="no"] Write It Out One of my very favorite ways to practically free up some headspace is by writing down everything I can think of that is taking up mental energy. Everything from last-minute presents to buy or cookies to bake, to ruminating on goals I didn’t achieve or habits I want to start in the new year, I write it all out with a pen and paper. The physical act of writing seems to transfer it from my brain to the notebook, freeing up the space it occupied. Once I see it all written out, it feels easier to tackle. I can easily figure out what is urgent and timely and what can be shelved for another day, week, or even next year. I often feel frazzled this time of year, which makes it hard to fully enter into the waiting, quiet, and beauty this season offers. Transferring the mix of lists, longings, and other random items from my head to my notebook frees up space to ponder the mystery of this season and a God who took on flesh to save us. Make Room Physically: Declutter Your Stuff In addition to clearing the mental clutter, this season provides an opportunity to get rid of physical clutter. We have a chance to be rid of the trappings of a too-full life that weigh us down. Advent is the perfect time to take an honest look at the physical possessions filling our spaces since there is typically an influx of new things from the various gift exchanges that take place this time of year. Quiet Your Space I love this term I first heard from decor blogger Myquillin Smith. She talks about “quieting a space” each season. I think this is especially appropriate for Advent. Quieting a space simply means stripping it down to the bones. Advent is a season of waiting, a season of quiet, joyful hope, and anticipation. It makes sense to observe this season by creating a simpler space as we wait for Jesus to flood in with His light and love. Designate a room to “quiet” and take down everything non-essential. (Leave your curtains up! No need to live in a fishbowl.) Stash the picture frames, nick-necks, and miscellaneous items out of sight. Purge with Intention Now we’re really digging into the literal part of “make room”! In all seriousness, it’s a perfect time of year to go through our possessions with intention and let go of excess. Oftentimes, downsizing my belongings reveals some attachments in my heart that need to be dealt with. Getting rid of stuff shows me to what I’m super attached and with what particular vices I struggle. Prayerfully purging our homes—not just filling a bag for Goodwill, but asking God to help us with the discontent, greed, envy, pride, irresponsibility, or indifference that lead to such excess—is a spiritual practice that truly makes room not just in our closets, but in our souls. Let Every Heart Prepare Him Room Advent is such a beautiful season of waiting, anticipation, and preparation! As we run around preparing our tables for gatherings, our homes for hosting, and our presents for gifting, let us also prepare our minds and hearts for the gift of a Savior who took on humanity to save us. Let us truly make room in our hearts, souls, and homes for the ultimate Gift this Christmas season, a Gift freely-given and wholly-undeserved. How do you make room for Jesus during Advent? [bctt tweet="Decluttering Before Christmas: Physically + Mentally #BISblog //" via="no"]

Happy third week of Advent, sisters! I hope this season has been fruitful so far, but if it hasn’t, and especially if it hasn’t, we have a few suggestions of books to carry you across the finish line and into the Christmas season. Advent Booklist for Adults This selection contains a blend of newer books and older books, some you may have heard of and others you may not have. Some may be collecting dust on your bookshelf (dust off, please, do!) and yet I’m certain one of them is probably more frequently read than others. Let’s dive in. Lectio Divina with the Gospels according to Sts. Luke and Matthew Spending a short amount (or longer!) with the Word of God is invaluable during this season of preparing our minds, hearts, and souls to long for and seek Him. Slowly read aloud, meditate (listen to what the Holy Spirit shares), pray (converse with God), and contemplate (silently receive what He’s sharing). If you love a good study Bible, the Navarre Study Bible or the Ignatious edition are helpful with lots of footnotes. Advent and Christmas with Fulton Sheen edited by Judy Bauer This book arranges selections from Venerable Archbishop Fulton Sheen’s extensive speaking and writing, bringing together encouragement for us to go deeper into the promise of the seasons. He assists us in moving from a place of being us-centered to God-centered. Each day has short snippets from his writing combined with a short prayer and Scripture. Joy to the World by Dr. Scott Hahn This book shows us how to practice a conversion of our own hearts so that each Christmas we can share the joy of the season with a fresh evangelization and passion for conversion. He walks through God’s invitation to join His family, the Blessed Virgin Mother’s story, St. Joseph’s spiritual fatherhood, and the interpersonal love of the Blessed Trinity and Holy Family. Christ in His Mysteries by Blessed Columba Marmion This book steps through the liturgical seasons as sources of great grace for us. For the reader looking for something a bit more substantive and specifically centered on Christ, this is a great one to dive into. This Benedictine monk is a real treat to read! To Know Christ Jesus by Frank Sheed Although this book isn’t specifically Advent focused, it prompts the reader to think about the Incarnation by providing great insights into the actual human experiences Christ had. He has a great writing style and is very engaging. An author whose other works are also worth exploring! Fierce by Paul George Written by our friend, Paul George, Fierce will equip men of all ages and vocations to embrace the spiritual fatherhood that they're called to. Following the example of Christ, the Good Shepherd, Paul uses storytelling and meditation to strengthen virtue and deep prayer as we prepare for the Christmas season. Found by Blessed is She This year's Catholic Advent Devotional for Women invites you to explore your walk with the Good Shepherd. Through daily reflections, Scripture, Visio and Lectio Divina, as well as knowing you're praying alongside a supportive community, Found will help you discover a deeper connection to our Good Shepherd Himself. Shop Advent Blessed Advent, Blessed Reading! It’s never too late to “get into” Advent. The Lord is always welcoming us to draw nearer so hopefully one of these options will encourage us to take up that invite and act upon it. May God bless you and keep you during this special season, and birth deeper healing into your heart into the Christmas season as well! [bctt tweet="A Fresh Advent Booklist for Adults #BISblog //" via="no"]

We toured colleges with our son last spring. In every tour, in every talk, we heard a similar spiel: “We want to get to know you—get a sense of who you are. The best applicants are the ones where students are themselves.” Just Be You? I hate to be cynical, but all the “just be you” enthusiasm made me skeptical since most of these schools admit seemingly five new students a year. Statistically, it doesn’t seem like "being oneself" is as important as SAT scores, GPA, or any other metric that funnels the throngs of applicants into a thread of coveted acceptance letters. Highly competitive schools with high performing applicants are humanizing their cut-throat admission policies with a warm, fuzzy encouragement to simply be oneself. Do this, and as surely as the sun rises in the east, you will shine. Not All About Us Of course, we have all heard the same messages in our own lives. It’s not a bad message either—to just be yourself. In a day when diversity has become a means of deliverance, individualism has become an art of self-love. Still, one can only play Mirror, Mirror on the Wall for so long without becoming utterly bored or an utterly boring narcissist. Loving others has always been where it’s at. It's where we truly feel full, alive, and connected. So, yes, be you. But don’t be all about you. The Unique Love of God One of the things I love most about God is that He loves unconditionally and universally. There is neither Jew nor Greek, there is neither slave nor free, there is no male and female, for you are all one in Christ Jesus. -Galatians 3:28 The world may classify its people into hierarchies, but God has none of that. He made each of us unique and yet loves all of us the same. How fun is that? No competitions or emphasis on what makes you so special. He eliminated that pettiness when He died on the Cross for our sins. It was the great leveler that gave each individual that has ever been or ever will be the same unequivocal opportunity for redemption. Of all the world’s laws, treaties, pacts, covenants, and alliances, I know of not one that compares to Him dying on the Cross so that each and every one of us can have a shot at eternal life. We are Special Because We are His The world is a finicky place. Trends change with time. What is considered special today is merely a spinoff from yesterday. In our world, there will always be someone who shines brighter, looks better, and performs superior. God just wants us to be who He creates us to be, to love fully, and practice mercy joyfully. That journey will look different for each of us. But at the end of our lives, it will be what determines our admission into the great Kingdom of God. Being ourselves is a good thing, but it’s not the true measure of who gets in and who doesn’t. That’s always going to be love. It’s not ambiguous and it’s not unique. My father’s house has many rooms; if that were not so, would I have told you that I am going there to prepare a place for you? -John 14:2 The place has been prepared. It is open to all of us and no doubt, it beats dorm living. [bctt tweet="Are We Really Special? #BISblog //" via="no"] Lara Patangan is a freelance writer and mother of two boys. She is currently working on publishing her first book about her mid-life mission to do works of mercy. You can find out more about her here.

The LORD God keeps faith forever, secures justice for the oppressed, gives food to the hungry. The LORD sets captives free. // Psalm 146:7, 8-9, 9-10 Download these beautiful free wallpapers from Sarah Ann Design from today's readings. Let His word dwell in us richly, sisters. Remember, Members, you get this 8x10 digital download for free! Head to the shop for your download. Download your F R E E wallpapers right here --->>> Phone wallpaper Desktop wallpaper

I have loved old, classic movies from the time I was a little girl. I prided myself on being a film aficionado, memorizing the dialogue and finding out random facts about some of my favorite old movies, actors, and actresses. That being said, there is something purely magical about the Christmas season. And one of my favorite categories of movies is Christmas movies. And yes, I think they deserve a category of their own! The Deeper Meaning Behind Favorite Christmas Movies As Catholics, we believe truth, beauty, and goodness can be found in all kinds of places or experiences. Beauty, nature, art, poetry, media, film, novels...the possibilities are endless. God will go to nearly any means for us to be able to experience His presence in our lives. What would happen if we looked more closely at some of our favorite Christmas movies for a deeper spiritual meaning? I think we would find something more than just a happy song and dance scene from White Christmas. Miracle on 34th Street This is a sweet tale of a little girl raised to not believe in Santa Claus. But there is something deeper here than a kind, old Kris Kringle who befriends a single mom and her daughter. On a very deep level, all people I believe want to believe in something. There is this innate space inside us that aches for belief. For Christians, we would call this faith. One of my favorite lines from the movie is when Fred Gailey is arguing with Doris Walker and says, “Faith is believing in things when common sense tells you not to.” Life may not always make sense or feel good. But faith is a virtue that can strengthen us in those times when life just doesn’t make sense. Deep down, I think we all want to believe in something greater than ourselves. While Santa Claus cannot top Jesus, I think this sweet story reminds me that people of all ages want to believe in something. As people of faith, we know that Jesus is the One who fills all those longings in our hearts. It’s a Wonderful Life This is one of my top five favorite movies of all time. I know the lines by heart, and even though I know the play-by-play of the scenes, I still weep at certain poignant moments. The deeper message of this movie is that we are sometimes very unaware of how much a difference our life makes in the world. George Bailey was a man with bold, fierce dreams for his life. But as the story develops, his own life goes differently than how he imagined it from the time he was a little boy reading explorer magazines. One scene that always pulls at my heartstrings is at the end of the movie. George is at that bridge he jumped off. He is praying and telling God that he wants to live again. George has a conversion of heart. It is a beautiful scene to watch unfold. Sometimes it is easy to go through life thinking no one sees you. Perhaps you feel forgotten and overlooked. This movie always reminds me that my one life matters more than I realize. God has a purpose and mission that only I can fulfill. And if I live that life well, it can bring a part of the Kingdom of God in a special way no other person can. You matter. You are irreplaceable. George Bailey reminds us of that in a powerful way. The Muppet Christmas Carol Charles Dickens' classic tale of Ebeneezer Scrooge has been re-told in cinema over the years. But one of my personal favorites is the version featuring the Muppets. In my family growing up, it was a tradition to watch it at least one or twice every Christmas season. When I watch this movie, I am struck by the internal conversion of Mr. Scrooge. He's grouchy, harsh, and selfish. But in time, his heart softens. He cares for the poor, does right by the people in his office, and extends extreme generosity. When I watch this heart-warming story I am reminded that no person is too far-gone. Never give up on the difficult people in your life. There is always hope for the people in life that we think will never change. What are Your Favorite Meaningful Christmas Movies? The Advent and Christmas season of the Church gives us the time and space to ponder the great mystery of the Incarnation; when Jesus took on human flesh and pitched His tent among us. Even some of our favorite Christmas movies can be an opportunity to reflect on a deeper, more timeless message that connects to the reason for the season. Are there other Christmas movies you enjoy that you could find a deeper meaning in? [bctt tweet="The Deeper Meaning of Your Favorite Christmas Movies #BISblog //" username="amoderngrace"]