For a long time, my husband and I didn’t pray together the way we do now. We’d been together in prayer a lot, praying side by side at church, sharing prayers before meals, leading our children in family prayers and participating in Rosaries with others. We’d been in Scripture study groups and shared prayers there. The One Thing Missing However, it wasn’t until we were invited to speak to a group about the Sacrament of Marriage that we realized—in the middle of the presentation—that our relationship was missing something we were recommending as a foundational component of a strong Christian marriage: setting aside time as a couple every day to be with God in prayer. Perhaps we wouldn’t have been invited had the host known that during our presentation we would discover, and share with the poor souls in the group, our lacking. As we listed the benefits of praying as a couple, I turned to my husband as said, “We don’t do this well. Actually, we don’t do this at all.” Although our story indicates otherwise, we did prepare our talk together. But God revealed in His own time what we lacked in our preparation. I’m grateful; for it was in that moment that we committed, to each other and to the group enduring our insufficiencies, to entering a new intentional way of spending time together with God. We All Know It's Good for Us... We’d heard the exhortations. “A couple that prays together stays together.” And, we believed it enough to tell others to do it. Prayer was not new to us, and we had experienced its fruits in our individual relationships with Jesus. We believed in its power. As many have expressed, prayer doesn’t change God, it changes us. If prayer changes us, then wouldn’t the shared prayer of a husband and wife change their marriage? And those the marriage encounters? But, hidden within many things I say I believe is a twinge of unbelief, just enough to prevent me from acting. “I do believe, help my unbelief!” said the father who sought Jesus’ healing of his son in Mark 9:14-29. God will help, but we must genuinely desire him and ask. My husband and I needed God’s help to believe shared prayer would make a difference. As we began to pray together daily, He began healing our unbelief. What Prayer Does in a Marriage Our prayer not only brought us together in a new way, it helped us encounter God in a new way. For where two or three are gathered together in my name, there am I in the midst of them. -Matthew 18:20. When we experience God’s presence in a palpable way in prayer with others, just as Jesus promises, it enables us to recognize His presence in other moments, where it may not be as obvious. Our prayer enables us to hear God’s message for our marriage. Marriage requires work. It is part of the narrow way (Matthew 7:13-14) to unity with Jesus for those who take its vow. Spouses need direction and guidance. In our prayer, we realize we need constant direction, even in how to pray together. When we turn to God together, He helps us see Him in each other. Prayer is an expression of love because it directs our attention to another. Our most intimate friendship, that with Jesus, is shared with our spouse in a personal and vulnerable way. [bctt tweet="When my husband and I turn to God together in prayer, He helps us see Him in each other. #BISblog //" via="no"] 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 What Our Prayer Looks Like We’ve learned that things go better if we pray together daily. Because our selfish human condition rises anew each day, so does our need for God, in our individual lives and in our relationships. The only consistent thing about our prayer (other than Jesus showing up every time) is that it happens each day. Most often, we pray together in the morning. The one who leaves the house first seeks out the other. Wherever the other is found will be the location of the prayer. Sometimes, a child or two or three walks past. We invite them to join us, but only rarely do they accept. They seem to be more interested in observing and listening, perhaps wondering what comes from the prayer of their parents. I trust that God will reveal to them His goodness. Our prayer time has not been one of rote prayers, but rote prayers would make for beautiful shared prayer if that is the desire of the marriage. We have what I often refer to as “open mic with God” where we simply speak from our heart. It’s often clumsy. My husband is quick to give thanks and praise, to kindly tell God good morning and notice the abundant gifts we’ve been given. I am prone to lift up the people in our lives and seek help for the circumstances swirling around us. It is in our varied contributions that the Lord strengthens our bond, our need for each other as husband and wife, and our deep need for Him in our marriage. Moments of Grace One of our morning prayers sits in the memory of my heart. At the time, I wouldn’t have said it was a joyful moment, it brings joy now. In our home, we set important papers and items needed for the next day on a certain part of the kitchen countertop the night before. It’s not far from our coffee maker. The previous night, I had placed in that countertop space several papers that one of our daughters needed the next day for an international service trip. The documents included original notarized signatures and extensive health information. Something unusual happened with the coffee maker my husband generously programs each night, and the papers were soaked with the coffee I desperately wanted in my cup. My second thought—after I realized I would have to wait for coffee—was how much time it would take to redo the paperwork. I hurriedly draped the papers, one by one, over items in the kitchen to dry. My husband calmly said he was sorry about the coffee and made the call to prayer. I didn’t want to pray. I just wanted to get my hair dryer and fix the papers. But as he spoke the words that started our conversation with God, I was reminded to stop focusing on what was wrong, as I often do in struggles, and give my attention to God, my husband, and the very real presence of them both. As my husband thanked God for the “grace to handle the coffee incident,” I felt a twinge of sorrow for running from that grace minutes before. I prayed I could make room for it in that moment. The prayer made the space I needed. A Lifelong Invitation to Pray with My Husband Not surprisingly, we haven’t been invited back to speak about the Sacrament of Marriage. But, the Lord continues to invite us to be together with Him every day. He’s always there, wherever we are and whenever we make the time, waiting for us to share our relationship with Him. As many encouraged us, I encourage you. If you are married, engaged, or dating, pray together in an intentional way with Our Lord. Make it your own. There are no rules. Ask God for help. He will show up. [bctt tweet="How I Pray with My Husband #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.

In the year 1675, the pocket watch was patented, integral calculus was introduced and, most relevant for us and our Faith, Jesus appeared to St. Margaret Mary Alacoque to share His love for souls and His desire for a Feast of the Sacred Heart. He also asked specifically for a devotion of the Nine First Fridays in reparation for all the offenses against His Sacred Heart...

I still remember all the feelings I had when reading Little Women by Lousia May Alcott for the first time. The writing, the story, and the characters were all so beautiful. When I closed the book, I felt like the world was a better place. The first film version I watched was the 1949 version with Elizabeth Taylor and June Allyson. It may have been that it was the first movie adaptation I watched, but I loved it more than all the other adaptations I would see over the years. I have faithfully watched it every Christmas since. The fact that I watch Little Women at Christmas speaks to the warmth and spirit of the story. It is about family, hope, love, perseverance, and faith. Greta Gerwig’s new adaptation of Little Women truly gets to the heart of what Little Women is about even more so than my beloved 1940s film. Another Adaptation? As someone who has seen every version (I think) ever made of Little Women, I was very skeptical of another adaptation. The story has just been told too many times (I thought), with little change but the actresses and actors. Greta Gerwig shows her genius by reimagining Little Women as a film and a piece of art while staying true to the heart of the story. All other versions of the film have unfolded in the predictable, chronological time frame. Gerwig begins at the end and lets the story unfold in flashbacks. She carefully weaves the story together piece by piece. In doing so, she is able to more fully show the development of each sister and their relationship as a family. This, I feel, is what makes this version feel so much closer and truer to the original story than past versions. This is also why I think it is even easier to relate to the already relatable characters. What We Know about Womanhood Being so familiar with this story, I was surprised by just how emotional I was throughout the movie. I had tears in my eyes the entire time. I had braced myself for the moment of Beth’s death, but that was not the most emotional moment of the film for me. Near the end, there is a scene where Jo is speaking to Marmee about how utterly lonely she is being a woman. A crying Jo says, “Women have minds and they have souls as well as just hearts. They’ve got ambition and they’ve got talent as well as just beauty. I am so sick of people saying love is just all a woman is fit for. I’m so sick of it! But...I am so lonely.” I have reflected on this feminist theme since watching it a week ago. We are still wresting with women’s roles in our culture and in our Church today. We, as a Church, and like Jo, acknowledge the beauty of being a woman. We do have beautiful hearts inclined to nurture and love. Jo feels pigeon-holed by this, and feels she must sacrifice this part of herself to have ambition and to honor her brilliant mind. The tragedy of the scenario hurt me to my core. Partly because I have experienced this tension in my own life, and partly because I have observed it in my friends and family. This conversation needs to be held until the day women realize they don’t have to sacrifice their nature for their dreams. How I wish I could tell Jo in that moment to look to Mary and all the other fierce, talented, and loving women we have examples of in our Faith! Although she is speaking more to the culture she lived in, I think she would find encouragement in her battle. I feel sure Mary’s strong Magnificat would fill her with courage. In St. Joan of Arc she would find a kindred spirit. In all the religious sisters throughout Church history she would find examples of single women who lived out their vocations fully, and married women who did as well. My hope is that at this moment you do not feel as Jo did. My hunch is you have at some point. So this is my humble piece of advice: don’t fall into the lonely, heartbreaking trap that Jo does. Don’t sacrifice your heart for your head or vice versa. Know that God holds all pieces of your identity as a woman in His hands and with care and a sense of importance. He is the God of our homes and hearts as well as the God of our minds and dreams. He can be trusted. [bctt tweet="Greta Gerwig's Little Women + What I Wish I Could Tell Jo #BISblog //" via="no"] Bond Strong lives in the mountains of southwest Virginia with her husband, Reece, and two sons, Willis and Harmon. She can be found on Instagram @bwarnerstrong and her conversion story can be found here.

One year on my birthday, my husband had to work. He works the night shift, so there was not going to be any birthday dinner or fancy dessert. I was on the hook for the kids’ dinner, bath, and bedtime, like usual. I tried to keep my chin up, but I was pretty disappointed. I know it’s just a day, but I love my birthday...

I have always loved to read since I was a little girl. Nancy Drew, Harriet the Spy, the Bobbsey Twins, and various other books geared toward young girls were my best friends growing up. Reading was my recreation. Oh, how I wish Kindles were in existence 40+ years ago! My 1970s Kindle would have had ridiculous amounts of books loaded and ready. Instead, I was at the library frequently, books were passed down between friends and family members, and we purchased books from used bookstores. As an adult, I still enjoy reading. My time now is more limited than when I was a child and I don't get to read as much as I would like. I also tend to read the same genre over and over again. I am not one to venture out of that box too often. Searching for a Book Club To remedy this, I began reading a book about Divine Mercy in our parish's adoration chapel every Monday evening. When I finished that book, I thought it would be great to have a Bible study or other book study with women. However, I knew that I did not want to lead or be the "teacher." I get enough of that role on Monday-Friday in my school classroom. Besides, I am no expert on my Faith. I just wanted to learn more about it and discuss it with like-minded folks. My search began for a book/Bible study. A neighboring parish had a Bible study beginning and I seriously considered going. I knew, though, that I would miss a couple of weeks due to some travel. Additionally, I did not know a soul at this study. Our own parish had nothing going on in this regard either. Again, I could have started one, but I knew I would be deemed "the teacher." What about an Online Book Club? An online book club kept rolling around in my mind. I thought I could set up a private Facebook group with a chosen book as our study. Looking back, I think this was God nudging me. I put out a question via my personal Facebook page and asked who would be interested in an online, private Facebook group Catholic book study. Immediately, a dozen ladies or more messaged me with "YES!" At this point, I decided we would give it a try just for the summer. How to Start an Online Book Club Here are some tips and lessons I learned along the way. Don't be afraid to start your own! Put out Facebook feelers or advertise in your church bulletin. Create your Facebook group and make it private! You will only want group members to see discussions, questions, and other comments made. There are levels of trust associated with doing a study of this nature. Privacy should never be violated and it is of extreme importance to keep confidences shared in the group within the group. Find 3 or 4 books which are faithful to Catholic teaching and might be of interest to your group. Create a poll within your Facebook group for members to vote on the book. I posted links to the books where members could read the summary, see reviews, and all associated materials. Keep the book cost reasonable so that cost does not keep someone from participating. We each paid for our own book and did not ask our parish to fund this. Decide who will be the "facilitator" for this study. This person would be in charge of presenting discussion questions to the group and being the lead person in organizing materials and group. This could certainly rotate each time a different book is studied. Determine a timeline for posting discussion questions. I posted them once a week and left them up for the entire week. Post some rules or guidelines for your group. Ours were 1) Pray before you post, 2) Remember to keep everything that is said in the group private, and 3) Participate when you can. Pros of an Online Book Club Members can answer questions when it is convenient. Night owls can answer in the middle of the night. Early risers can answer in the morning. There is no worry about finding meeting times or securing childcare. Keep your jammies on and your cup of coffee in hand! Questions are posted and answers are not expected immediately. There is "think" time and time for thoughtful reflection when members can post at their convenience. I am not good on the spot, but can process a thoughtful reflection with a little time. Vacations and distance did not interfere. Don't live near the other members? Not a problem—answer when you can and when you have internet. No pressure. ​Cons of an Online Book Club Since members do not meet face to face, you always get the "typed" response. We all know how texts and emails can be perceived incorrectly without the associated body language, inflection, and presentation of our thoughts. Not everyone in the group will actually type responses and participate. If I am being honest, I was a little bothered by this. All of these ladies joined the group, but the same few were the only ones commenting. I worried that the others didn't feel comfortable or were not enjoying it. Later on, an active group member told me that someone else who joined the group and never said a word really enjoyed it and hoped we would do it again. My response was, "Really? She never said a word!" Probably a bit uncharitable and judgmental of me since after that I learned that the "inactive" member was learning so much by simply reading the book and reading the responses. My lesson in this is that God uses things in His way to accomplish His purpose, not what I thought needed to happen. You might not develop the personal relationships with the others in the group since the study is online. That is not necessarily the case in my example, since we all knew one another. If that aspect is important to your group, then set up some outside social time to simply meet for coffee and enjoy one another's company. Try Starting an Online Book Club! Our group ran the gamut from young moms to middle aged to senior citizens. Some were married, some divorced, some widowed, and some single. That aspect of it made it so interesting to me. We saw life experience from the seniors to the struggles of middle aged and younger women and their various stations in life. We all learned from one another. As my family says when I cook something they like, it is a "do-over"! This online book study was a do-over as well! Next summer we hope to tackle a different Catholic book. Have you ever participated in an online book club? What did you enjoy about it? [bctt tweet="How to Start an Online Book Club #BISblog //" via="no"] Noelle Jean is a Catholic wife, mom, and public school teacher trying to connect with other faithful Catholic women and grow in her faith.

My personality type lends toward often feeling misunderstood. I can’t even tell you the number of times I’ve said in frustration or sadness, “You just don’t understand!†Sometimes, I feel like the only person on Planet Earth who feels the way I feel. And then I’m reminded of the One who has felt every emotion and feeling. The One who intimately knows every pain we could ever experience, as well as every joy...

In college, I majored in Visual Art. It was through the Journalism Department, but my entire major was devoted to learning how to present information in a visual way. “Visual storytelling†was the name of the game for my four years of undergrad, and although I’m not currently using my degree professionally, the things I learned from all that studying are still relevant to my life...

When I’m having a hard day and it feels like everything is spinning, I often stop and put my hands over my heart. Taking a few deep breaths and listening to that pulse beneath my ribs is often enough to center me. After my kids fall asleep, I love to tiptoe into their rooms and check on them. I’ll gently rest my hand on their little chests, watching the rise and fall of their breath, feeling the thump-thump of their tiny heartbeats, as familiar to me as my own...

Soon after my conversion in 8th grade, I knew I was being called to serve God through His Church. I wasn’t sure what this service would look like, but soon enough, the Lord slowly began to reveal it to me. Maybe God has called you or is calling you to serve in the Church, too? For the role to which God was calling me, I needed to receive formal training at a Catholic University. This involved eight+ years of study, internships, time away from my family, numerous flights, sacrifice and understanding of my family and friends, and oh, lots and lots of money! My parents supported me as they were able, I had side jobs where I earned a little here and there, I even had a small settlement from a serious car accident I was in, but student loans covered much of the expenses. I felt I had no choice. There was no other way to cover the cost of these studies. I felt a calling and I was convicted it was a path I needed to pursue. The Cost of Education for Ministry I believe many feel a similar call. But, at this point in time, the price of Catholic education is nearly impossible for one person to cover, especially for young people from middle class families. In my experience, young people from lower income households have more access to scholarships and grants and upper income families are able to provide more assistance for the annual tuition. Young people from middle class families are pretty much stuck and have to make the choice whether or not to take out loans and hope for the best as they seek the Lord’s promptings or take the safer route of not pursuing a Catholic education. What many of us don’t yet see from this is how this is impacting vocations! We must do something. What Can We Do to Help Lessen the Burden of Student Loan Debt While Working in Ministry? Pray the Our Lady Undoer of Knots Novena One of my biggest struggles during this journey of seeking to pay off my student loans is guilt and worry. Did I do something wrong? Was it pride and ego that drove me to study Canon Law? Was this not the Lord’s will for my life? After all, God does not will us to have bondage in our lives that keep us from being free and who he has called us to be. As I have struggled with these questions, I finally said, “Enough! God, I made this choice in my youth and I surrender any and all sin that may or may not be attached to my past choices.” I went to Our Lady Undoer of Knots to undo any knots in my life from the decisions of my youth. Ask Your Parish Community for Help The parish is the community of faith God blesses us with for our journey. Each of the baptized are called to be active disciples. Parish communities are privileged to journey with you as you you fulfill your call to mission. The parish is where you are fed and receive the support for the journey. What a better group of people to call on for assistance? Let them know of your struggle. Truly, people are good, generous, and want to help! The most important thing to communicate to your parish community is that you feel called to serve and how your student debt is holding you back from service to Christ’s Church. I’ll Say It…Get a Second Job As tough as it may be, to be able to help you for a while, and as you seek to find a solution for freedom, you may need to secure a second job. But only for a short period of time to avoid burnout. From my personal experience, I suggest your second job be something in Church service, too. Do what you can to not hold two jobs that are extremely opposite. Let the positions of service flow from one another and breathe life into each position and the people you have been called to serve. Encourage the Study of Trades, Priesthood and Consecrated Life If you serve with young people, don’t be afraid to encourage different paths of study. We need professional men and women formed in various trades. What about iconography? Carpenters? Sculptors? Organists? Farmers, gardeners, etc. We need strong formation in humanities, but we also need men and women who are skilled with their hands. Look at the incredible work of our ancestors that have come before us! How much do we long for the quality of the U.S. Catholic churches of the late 1800s and early 1900s? For some young men and women, it may not be too soon to pursue the priesthood and consecrated life right out of high school. We need to be providing solid discernment opportunities for these young people earlier on in life. Evangelization must be happening simultaneously as they are receiving instruction on the Catechism. If there is no flame… the instruction will not stick. This is the responsibility of parents and families in conjunction with the parish. We cannot rely on parish staff to provide for our children falling in love with the living God. Trust and Know God Has a Plan for Your Life As St. Pope John Paul II would always say: “Be not afraid!” God does have a plan for your life, even though the loan payments may feel heavy and with no end in sight. Do not be discouraged as God is always working for our good. But you must act and keep seeking ways to obtain financial freedom, because God desires us to be debt free in order to live a generous life and be available to help others! Give Back What is key in all of this though? Once you obtain financial freedom due to the generosity of others or your incredibly hard work and/or simultaneous to you seeking to be debt free, we must give back. This may mean you start a scholarship fund for the youth in your parish, encourage youth to have a plan to avoid debt and to only take out small loans, approach your parish and diocese to see what is in place to help with student loan debt, etc. Most importantly, do not make the journey to be debt free about you! Again, the main reason to be debt free is to live a generous life and be available to God and help others! All is a gift and we are made to be a gift for others. For Further Reading on the Catholic Education Student Loan Crises Why Can't the Middle Class Afford Catholic School Anymore? The Catholic Church Has a Student Loan Problem, Too How Can I Ever Repay You? Catholic Colleges and the Student Loan Crises How have you obtained financial freedom from your student loans? How has it helped you to listen to God and be of service to your local community and the greater Church? [bctt tweet="Student Loan Debt + Working in Ministry #BISblog //" via="no"] Amanda Zurface resides in Pueblo, Colorado, where she serves as the Vice-Chancellor for the Diocese of Pueblo. She also serves as the Catholic Content Specialist for Covenant Eyes. Amanda holds a License and MA in Canon Law and a BA in Catholic Theology and Social Justice. She is the co-author of Equipped: Smart Catholic Parenting in a Sexualized Culture, Confident: Helping Parents Navigate Online Exposure and Transformed by Beauty.

When I was pregnant with my first child, I listened to a podcast by a woman who was recalling a very painful time in her life. Her firstborn child was dying and her marriage was on the rocks as a result of that tragic circumstance. She reflected on that season...

“Behold, the Lamb of God, who takes away the sin of the world." // John 1:29 Download these beautiful free wallpapers from Brass and Mint Co. 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’m a checklist gal. I love the satisfaction of making a list, methodically crossing things off. And yes, I am one of those people that adds an item to my list that I’ve already completed, just so I can check it off. Here’s what I’m learning when it comes to the Christian life, though...

Within my own life, there are a few common sentiments expressed in everyday life that make my heart twinge with sharp little pains every time I hear them. Things like misunderstandings of the Church and the misuse of God’s name. One of these phrasings which cause me a little bit of sadness every time I hear it is when someone prefaces a prayer request with the words, “I never ask for prayers for myself, but…” As if, typically, they are undeserving of prayer, but things have escalated to the point that now they warrant God’s attention. I'll let you in on a little secret… God is already paying attention to you! Three Lies Dealing with Asking for Prayers for Yourself I am not sure why it is that so many people feel this guilt or unworthiness for God’s attention and grace, but I am going to take an educated guess that it has something to do with Satan’s subtle twisting of truth. In fact, I am 100% going to speculate that people who have fallen into this habit of not asking for prayers for themselves personally are actually believing three subtle lies from the enemy: one about God, one about humility, and one about themselves. The Lie about God I grew up with six siblings. It was a fun, chaotic, busy home. As one of the older siblings, I have very vivid memories of my thought-process as a child. I did not want to bother my parents with anything unless I absolutely, without a doubt, needed their assistance. This was a decision I made out of love, not wanting to put more on their already-full plate. I knew they would stop and help me in anyway I needed them. But trying to take care of things on my own was my way of showing my love and care for them. I knew they had emotional, mental, and even physical limits. I also knew I was fairly competent and capable. I think this mentality is sometimes the mentality through which we view God. But God is not limited as are our parents. He is eternal, so He has no time constraints. He is omniscient, so He does not have to “think” about what to do in order to help us. He already knows, so our requests do not overwhelm Him. God is omnipresent, meaning He is present everywhere, in everyone, and in everything around us. He does not have to change anything about what He is doing in order to be fully present to His relationship with each one of us. This means He does not even really multi-task, because multitasking involves splitting one’s focus between multiple things at one time. God is able to completely focus on everything, all at the same time. Praying for oneself, or asking others to pray for you, does not take anything away from anyone else in the world. In fact, it helps the world, because a better “you” will shine more light and goodness in the world. 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 The Lie about Humility Satan likes to tell us that it is humility that keeps us from praying for ourselves. But I would argue that it is actually masked pride. Too often individuals think of humility as thinking less of oneself, putting others before ourselves, downplaying our strengths, denying the goodness of the gifts we have and the truths of who we are. We devalue compliments and praise from others. In doing this, we have convinced ourselves that we are somehow being virtuous, keeping pride and vanity at bay. That simply is not true. Lessening the truth of who we truly are is actually a lie. And all lies come from the Master of Lies. In all actuality, humility is knowing exactly who you are before God. It is knowing and owning all your strengths, and all your weaknesses. It is accepting praise when it is merited, and denying it when not. It is accepting help when it is needed and being vulnerable with others about our limits. In reference to this topic, humility can also be thought of as the acknowledgment of one’s need for constant prayers, because it is knowing that we are in constant need God and His grace. The Catechism connects the virtue of humility to the Beatitudes, specifically the first which reads, “Blessed are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven” (CCC 2546, Matthew 5:3). No matter their state in life, rich or poor, struggling or thriving, hurting or praising, the “poor in spirit” live their lives totally reliant on God (as if they actually have nothing; hence the title, “poor in spirit”). Thus, to be humble is to know that you need God in every moment. The Lie about Yourself The Bible actually gives us two creation stories, both found in Genesis. Chapter one describes the creation of man as the culmination of creation, the highlight of God’s creative genius. God speaks and these creatures come into existence. Man and woman are to be rulers over the world as they are made in God’s image and likeness. Contrastingly, in chapter two, man is made differently. God takes mud from near the river and shapes and forms man, who is then given the task of serving and cultivating the garden, not ruling it. Both of these stories tell the truth about us as persons. We are made in God’s image and likeness. We are meant to “rule” and to “serve” in this world, but we are also often “muddy.” In order to be our full selves, and truly rule over sin and Satan within our lives, we need grace. We need others to be interceding for us everyday, but especially when we feel the pressures of the enemy. We should never feel guilty for that! We Need Each Other Each of us has a mission in this world, a mission that could change the course of others' lives. Satan will stop at nothing to minimize the good effects of our lives in this world, including slowing us down by subtly leading us to think that we either do not need or do not merit others' prayers. Again, this is not true. Your world needs the best version of you; the prayers of others helps you achieve that. So sisters, never be ashamed, embarrassed, or hesitant to come before one another in need of prayer. Whether the intention is big or small, it is truly important for this world, and in the eyes of God. [bctt tweet="The Humility of Asking for Prayers for Yourself #BISblog //" username="grace_swap"]

I didn’t grow up with an image of the Sacred Heart of Jesus in my house, and there wasn’t one in my parish. As a young girl, I didn’t even hear the words “Sacred Heart.†The one exception: my grandmother belonged to the “Sacred Heart Auto League,†and had an emblem on her car...

“Close your eyes after Holy Communion,†Father Andrew instructed. “Let yourself feel the loving embrace of Jesus.†I try to remain attentive to the presence of Jesus after receiving Holy Communion. I believe with all my heart that His precious Body, Blood, Soul, and Divinity dwell within me in a special way. As a mom of six, however, I often have to spend this time with one eye open, making sure my children stay relatively quiet, while our parish community prays around us...

We're often asked a variety of questions about what the Blessed is She ministry uses to make videos, downloads, and so on. So we're pulling back the tech-y curtain—come on in! Behind the Scenes: Tools + Tech Over the years and as the ministry has grown, we've tried many tools and processes to find the just-right mix of what helps us serve the Lord and the Blessed is She community. Of course, we are always learning and evolving, so let us know in the comments below if there's an amazing tool we're missing! Organization + Productivity G Suite // Google’s G Suite (email and Google drive) is where we keep all our digital documents, including cooperative spreadsheets, resources, calendars, and more. It’s so user-friendly, and it allows us to manage all of our files in one place. Slack // Slack is a workplace app that allows our team to communicate on different channels for different things. This has transformed our operational team's communication. And since most of us work remotely, it allows us to have a place to "gather" (and use GIFs). Trello // Trello is an online project management tool that arranges projects in little boards (almost like bulletin boards) in an easy-to-view spread. We use this for team projects and as individuals to keep track of our own daily, weekly, and monthly tasks. It's also a great tool to use for brainstorming and jotting down quick ideas (you know, like the ones you get in the shower). Toggl // Toggl is an online time-tracking tool to help you keep track of the hours you spend on your projects. So helpful for keeping yourself on track and getting a true idea of how much time you're spending on certain tasks. WooCommerce // The WooCommerce plugin for WordPress is what fuels Blessed is She’s online shop. There are so many functions that we love, and because it’s a plugin, it’s really easy to implement on your own site. HelloSign // Being that the ministry is run almost entirely online, a lot of times we need documents signed over the Internet. Enter: HelloSign. On the subject of team organization and project management, check out these top five apps for remote teams! Content Creation MailChimp // We use this service to send emails. Tidio // This chatbox function allows up to three users on at a time, has set Do Not Disturb times, and looks beautiful! Canva // Spoiler alert! Most of the graphics we make for Blessed is She are done in Canva. This free, web-based graphic design program also comes with a paid business plan, and its templates turn even the most green users into designers. Sticker Mule // We use Sticker Mule to create our stickers! The design process is easy, and production/shipping turn around is so quick. Crowdcast // We love to use Crowdcast for our monthly workshops. Lightstock + Unsplash // If you are looking for stock photography that isn’t cheesy, look no further. Lightstock specializes in Christian photography, so it’s a nice addition to using Unsplash. Community + Social Media Buffer // We schedule our Instagram here (best place ever because they actually put correct spaces in for IG captions!). Planoly // This is where we lay out our Instagram plan. You can lay out all of the pictures in a grid then see what works and what doesn’t. Drag and drop and mix around the pictures. Tailwind // We love Tailwind for scheduling out and auto-publishing pins to Pinterest. CoSchedule // This works right within Wordpress, which is amazing. Right when we schedule a blog post, podcast, or devotion, we can schedule out social media from right within the post. CoSchedule automatically pulls the featured image, it can support so many different social media channels, and it’s honestly one of the greatest plugins we use on Wordpress. Podcast Recording Yeti Microphone // Our microphone is super easy and simple to use. It plugs right into the computer via a USB cord. Super simple. Ecamm for Skype // When Beth and Jenna record with guests for The Gathering Place podcast, they use Ecamm for Skype. When they record with just the two of them, they simply use the Audio Recording function on QuickTime Player. GarageBand + Audacity // We use these software programs to edit each podcast episode. Anchor // This is what we use to simply upload our mp3s which then publishes The Gathering Place to all the podcast apps that exist. Anchor is owned by Spotify! Video Recording Ring Light (and this one) // We use these for easy lighting while recording edited videos and live videos like Teachable Tuesday! iMovie // We use this for editing video and content for Instagram! Lav Mic // This is the mic Beth uses during Teachable Tuesday. Tripod // We use a few different cameras and iPhones to record live videos simultaneously, and this affordable tripod is really easy to set up.   That's about it! What questions do you have? What keeps your good work running?   [bctt tweet="Behind the Scenes of Blessed is She // Tools + Tech #BISblog //" via="no"]   This post contains affiliate links. Thanks for supporting the ministry of Blessed is She!

I walk with my friend. We’re set on finally finding Jesus. We’ve heard Him speak. We’ve seen Him heal. If only we could get close enough…