Lecture Halls and God

Halelujah, Halelujah, Halelujah!

Okay, I'm not heralding any grand event.
Some days I just want to praise God, or sing that word over and over and over ... and over.
Nothing particularly joyful, just a desire to do so.
It's along the same lines of prostrating in prayer, not knowing why, but knowing that God "likes" it, and in that same vein, I somehow also like it as well.

I like a class of mine; "Happiness, Health, and Well-being" addresses happiness and contentment in our lives.

I like how this is directly related to vocation mail I recieved in November 2006; one of the articles Sister Rita sent me was about finding happiness in the LORD. It was careful to state that happiness in the LORD was not a fleeting sensation, but inner contentment that is stable over time, an awareness of the self and the surround environment, and an inner balance and poise.

I will enjoy relating this class to what I know about God, seeking out to validate all that we know of God in modern day psychology and science. I'm sure some Darwinists, evolutionists, and secularists are tsk-tsking me at the moment. That's okay!

In class we were asked to briefly say what we did when we were stressed. Me: prayer. Of course I have my daily small prayers to the Saints and for help/intercession, but I also have my devotionals (i.e., Brown scapular). I'm getting better at running to the strong tower that God is in my life. If I can turn to Him now with minor stressors, then I'll be primed and trustful in Him with the larger, chronic stressors in my life.

I also realized during class that I enjoy being child-like in Christ. Some days my sister and Dad will be talking physics and mathematics and ask something like "why do plants always grow towards the light, even if you turn them upside down?" I cannot come up with an answer other than that is what God created them to do! Same for how did someone think that a pomegrante was edible and not poisonous. Well, although the Genesis story of Adam and Eve may be called an allegory; a metaphor for the kind of relationship our ancestors had with God, He still had to impart wisdom to them on some matters.

I cannot promise much, but I would like to start posting here more frequently, perhaps even once a week.

I've been tagged

1. Favorite devotion or prayer to Jesus.
I am trying to explore the Sacred Heart of Christ Jesus.

2. Favorite Marian devotion or prayer.
The Rosary

3. Do you wear a scapular or medal?
I wear the Brown scapular and 2 medals: our Mother, and St Benedict of Norcia

4. Do you have holy water in your home?
Three separate bottles in varying sizes, two in my room and the third in my purse. I've used it to do simple (no priest needed) exorcisms, twice already this Christmas Break (Decemeber 12th to January 7th)

5. Do you "offer up" your sufferings?
Yes. I try to not complain about my various issues, aches, and pains from time to time. Other times I'll near-intentionally suffer (i.e., walk barefoot on coarse gravel out by the garden). Typically for the souls in Purgatory.

6. Do you observe First Fridays and First Saturdays?
I'm not certain what this question asks; thus, no.

7. Do you go to Eucharistic Adoration? How Frequently?
No. I "don't get it"; I don't know what I would say/do.

8. Are you a Saturday evening Mass person or a Sunday morning Mass person?
I used to love the 5pm Sunday Mass at my home parish, but with LifeTeen, it's turned irreverent. I have come to prefer the Saturday vigil Mass. I'm aiming for daily Mass, though.

9. Do you say prayers at mealtime?
Grace before Meals

10. Favorite saints.
Mary, Joseph, Thomas the Apostle, Paul, St Benedict of Norcia, St. Catherine of Sweden.

11. Can you recite the Apostles' Creed by heart?
I get confused between this and the Nicene Creed. It's the longer one that I recite for Mass as well as for the Rosary.

12. Do you usually say short prayers (aspirations) during the course of the day?
Yes, but I intend to do so with more frequency and more meaning (see post below in Resolution).

13. Bonus Question: When you pass by an automobile accident or other serious mishap, do you say a quick prayer for the folks involved?
Yes. I say something quick like "God help/bless them; Let Your will be done." I tend to do it also for people who've got car troubles late at night on the freeway.

Happy New Year!!!!

Happy 2007!!

& Good riddance to 2006

This is my New Year's Resolution:
Philippians 4:4-9

Rejoice in the LORD always. I shall say it again: rejoice! Your kindness should be known to all. The LORD is near. 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.
Finally, brothers, whatever is true, whatever is honorable, whatever is just, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is gracious, if there is any excellence and if there is anything worthy of praise, think about these things. Keep on doing what you have learned and received and heard and seen in me. Then the God of peace will be with you.
Amen!

What can that mean as a resolution, you could possibly ask?

• To rejoice always in the LORD
• That my kindness should be known to all
• That I should be without anxiety
• Everything is done through prayer, petition, thanksgiving
• That God knows my heart, and that I want to hide nothing from Him
• That I ponder and think of honorable, just, pure, lovely, gracious, and praiseworthy things
• That I continue to practice what I have already learned in and of the LORD.

Looking at 2007

At this time of year, people start to reflect on the past year.

I figure, why look back? Christ calls us to follow Him in every part of our lives: as children of Him and our parents, as relatives (aunts, uncles, cousins, daughters, sons), as active members of society, and so forth. Therefore, if He leads us forward, what need have we to look back? Surely, we should not look back longingly.

Looking ahead at my new, clean and blank slate...I see the need for a New Year's Resolution. The one I made for 2006 was to have read, understand and applied a passage to my life: Ephesians 4: 31 - 5: 20. This year, I know what I am looking for, but not exactly where it is in the New Testament. That's why I'm posting about it, but not typing it out for you. It's along the lines of Philippians 4: 4 and Ephesians 6: 18 - 20; however, it is the passage where we're instructed to pray without ceasing, praise and supplication in all things. In all, I think its not more than 2 verses! I have to read/skim to find it.

A-hunting I will go! ... Well, after I take the GRE exam this Saturday morning.

A Blessed New Year's to you!!
Do you have resolution(s) to make?

Musings

It is difficult for me to adjust and realize that people are beautiful because the Spirit of Christ dwells within, instead of seeking out phyiscal beauty.

I should realize that I am lower than the average person because I sin in full acknowledgment of the Lord.

As a daughter of God, a friend of Christ, and a potential Bride of the Spirit, I am to be the servant of any and every person with whom I come in contact.

Christ took on the Cross for me that I might have eternal life in Him. Now I must take up the cross so He might have eternal life in me.