Conversion of the Heart

It is always inspiring to hear an incredible testimony from a person who was transformed by the conversion of the heart.

Keith Nester’s story helped me to understand how deeply Jesus loves us, and how He continues to draw us to Him…no matter how many times we either totally ignore that small voice that is drawing us in, or we run in the opposite direction due to confusion, doubt or fear… or just running because we do not want to make changes.  We selfishly want to hang on to our own comfortable sins, way of life, and/or deceptions, or we sin in the ultimate way…by simply stating that we choose not to serve God in the way He is leading us.

We make the choice to do things “our way.”

When listening to this testimony, there was one thought that touched my heart in a big way.

What caught my attention was the enlightenment that I have to stop doing things for God…to stop just checking off all the boxes of good deeds, kindnesses, prayers, and worship that I feel that I need to do in order to be a good Catholic/Christian.  All of those things are good, however, the goal is to be one with Jesus…and allow Him to work through me.  In all things.

Let that sink in for a moment.  Stop doing things for God, and start allowing Him to work through us.

All at once, I understood more clearly 1 Corinthians 13:1-3:

1If I speak with the tongues of men and of angels, but do not have love, I have become a noisy gong or a clanging cymbal. 2If I have the gift of prophecy, and know all mysteries and all knowledge; and if I have all faith, so as to remove mountains, but do not have love, I am nothing. 3And if I give all my possessions to feed the poor, and if I surrender my body to be burned, but do not have love, it profits me nothing.

“Whoever does not love does not know God, because God is love.” 1 John 4:8

When we are one with God, we are filled with grace and love, for God is love.  Once we open our hearts to Him and His Holy Presence, and truly invite Him in, He will touch those in need through us.  We will be the vessel for Him to work through…in the ways only He can.

Hopefully, you will listen to this honest and beautiful testimony, and it will touch your heart in a way that will draw you into oneness with your Creator…the one who longs for you to open up to True Love.

 

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Open Your Wounded Heart

For about the last week, an image has been imprinted on my mind.  This same image, and what I believe is the meaning behind it, will not leave my thoughts.

I believe that I am being prodded to share what has been given to me.

Hopefully, your heart, no matter how wounded it is, or how high you have built your wall up to block the pain of those wounds, will open up to the pure love and mercy that only Jesus can bring.

Whenever I gaze at a Crucifix, or meditate on Jesus hanging on the cross and dying for me, the image that I see is what I would see looking toward him.

The focus of that perspective is the pain, and complete agony and suffering of our Lord and Savior…followed by the feeling of sorrow that I played a part in that suffering…through the times of turning my back on Him and through the grievous sins of my life.  That is the image that I usually experienced.

Now, I am viewing the image as Jesus would be seeing  it…looking out.

What first went through my mind was, “Of course He is looking out…He is always looking out in love.”

Then my mind started asking the question, “What was He seeing as He was suffering on that Holy Cross?”

As He struggled to keep His eyes open, through the blood and sweat that must have been dripping down His face, His eyes would have focused on His Mother and her sister, Mary, wife of Clopas, Mary of Magdala, and His beloved Apostle, John.  He saw the love and grief on their faces, and filled them with His Mercy and Pure Love…drawing them in even closer to Himself.

His eyes must have also scanned the empty spots…where were all of His followers? The anguish of being abandoned by His disciples…His Chosen…due to fear and lack of faith, must have added immensely to His suffering.

How do we still add to His suffering, due to our lack of faith, or fear?   How many times do we pass up the opportunity to spend an hour in His Holy Presence  during Adoration, or ignore His invitation to attend the Holy Sacrifice of the Mass, and receive His Body, Blood, Soul and Divinity in the Holy Eucharist?   Or how many times do we just go through the motions of attending Mass, and actually go up to The Altar, to receive His Body and Blood, while being in the state of Mortal Sin?  Why do we keep holding on to sins that hinder our relationship with Him…why do we choose not to receive the graces offered to us through the Sacrament of Confession?

When Jesus looked out as He was dying, He saw all of those things. He knew how we would all turn our backs on Him.

He saw those of us that were mocking Him, and those who were choosing the road that leads toward death.  He experienced the reality of our hopelessness and despair, in those that were (or would be) confused and deceived by the evil one.  As He hung on The Cross, He saw the evils that were done in darkness…that separated those hearts from Himself.

And Jesus said, “Father, forgive them; for they know not what they do.”  Luke 23:34

Jesus looked at all of us in our sin, and felt compassion, mercy and love for us.  He reaches out to each one of us, every single day, in many ways.

You know the ways He is reaching out for you.  You already are feeling the little nudges that He blesses you with…how long will you wait to accept His Sacrifice for you?

Take that step of Faith…open your wounded heart to His comforting and healing Presence.  

You were created for just that…to be one with Him.  Reach out for His loving, merciful heart that is reaching for you.

 

https://catholicstand.com/the-mass-calvary-made-present-for-each-generation/

 

 

 

 

Christmas Time

Rejoice, for a child is born for us.  Isaiah 9:6

I would like to share something special that I read before Mass this morning.   This is a gift that I am sharing with you…Merry Christmas!

 

Dearly beloved, today our Savior is born; let us rejoice.  Sadness should have no place on the birthday of life.  The fear of death has been swallowed up; life brings us joy with the promise of eternal happiness.  No one is shut out from this joy; all share the same reason for rejoicing.  Our Lord, victor over sin and death, finding no one free from sin, came to free us all…

 

Christian, remember your dignity, and now that you share in God’s own nature, do not return by sin to your former base condition.  Bear in mind who is your head and of whose body you are a member.  Do not forget that you have been rescued from the power of darkness and brought into the light of God’s kingdom.  Saint Leo the Great

May God bless you and keep you in His loving care!  With much love, Bernadette

 

 

Share the Light of Christ

We, as Christians, are called to be lights in the darkness.

Sometimes, it feels as though the darkness that is raging in our culture and in the world, is engulfing us.  However, we must remember that through the power of the Holy Spirit, the light of Christ resides in our hearts and souls.  That light calls out to be shared with those who are living in the darkness.

Listen to the voice of God that is stirring your heart.  

There are people all around you that are suffering…all in different ways.  See and hear the struggles and despair of those that are in need of compassion, love and mercy.  Ask the Lord to direct you, so that you may know the needs of his children that he places on your path.  It may be a family member, a friend, or someone that you come across in your day to day routine.

Listen.

Listen to what souls are in need of. It may be that they just need a listening ear and heart. They may have a particular financial or material need that you can help with.  They may be hungering for encouragement regarding their faith. They may be in dire need of hope.

You may be their lifeline to Jesus.  Sometimes, a person needs to know that “somebody loves me” before they can accept that “God loves me.” 

Let’s take the time to really see and hear those around us.  Let’s love eachother and extend friendship and fellowship.

Let’s be that person who shares The Light of Christ.

Hidden Things

As I make my way through Lent, my thoughts are drawn toward the light and mercy of Jesus.  What is hindering my relationship with Him…what is holding me back?

Fear is always what holds me back…but what is it that I am afraid of?

Maybe it is the unconscious fear of what lies within me.

I have always been the kind of person who prefers “controlled” light.  Curtains closed at the brightest times of the day, sheers that diffuse direct light, blinds raised and lowered to control exactly how much light enters the room.  All of that, because I do not want to see all the imperfection that is revealed when the sun shines through the windows unbridled.

I would rather live in my “happy place” where my home is just so, and everything is clean and tidy.

The light reveals stains on the couch, dust, and sometimes even cobwebs. It reveals the truth of reality.

I don’t want to acknowledge those hidden things…and would rather go through my life without seeing those things that I consider to be unattractive or damaged.  However, by always trying to camouflage  what is truly there, so much effort goes into the battle of constantly covering up the imperfections, that the issues are never resolved.

The issues, stains, imperfections and damage are always there. Some that we are aware of, and some that we are not.

When we make the choice to pull open the blinds of our heart, and invite Jesus to illuminate us, the Light reveals all…sins of our past and present, many that have remained buried, things that we never even remembered until revealed.  All of a sudden, we are made aware of how we have offended God in so many ways, and are reminded of the times we have hurt others or drew them into sin.  

The Light reveals truths that are unbearable to face…we can no longer camouflage the dirtiness of our souls.  This pure light forces us to face the truth of our unworthiness, and offers us a choice.

We can either acknowledge, confess and truly repent of our sins, which will free us to build a closer relationship with Christ in His mercy, or make the choice to continue living in darkness, which will keep us imprisoned.

I choose Christ. I choose mercy. And I choose the light of his love.

May God bless you during this Lenten Season.  Choose wisely.

 

Women’s History Month

So, I read a blogpost today that informed me that March is the official Women’s History Month.  I just so happen to be reading an amazing book regarding women…and the most  powerful woman that has ever lived.  

Have you ever wondered why most women are not happy in their lives?  They were told that they “could have it all,” (whatever that may mean) and they swallowed that lie…hook, line, and sinker.  Families are floundering, and actually torn apart. Women are attempting to find happiness where it is impossible to find, and men are confused as to what their role is.

People are confused and deceived.  There are not many who truly know their worth and understand what true happiness is.

We can see the unrest and loss of dignity in a world where everyone is led to believe that they must be selfish…that they must be happy every minute, and relationships and marriage only works when “I only do the things that I want to do,” and “I only want to do things that make me happy.”

Really? Is that truly where happiness and love reside…in a heart that only strives toward oneself?

When I look around and see the depression, numbness, anger, sadness, and bitterness all around me, in a world where we have the most material things that we could desire…homes, food, water, entertainment, online access, education…I have to wonder WHY.

I have had a book sitting on my bookshelf for awhile .  I picked it up the other day and started reading.

WOW, WOW, WOW. And WOW.

It describes all that is currently happening with women, men, families, and our country.  The author completely explains the steps that got us to this point, and the hows, whys and the whos that led us to where we are today.

Please pick up a copy of this book.  It will open your eyes to truths and facts that have been happening right in front of us…we were sucked in. Bit by bit.

It all sounded so great…having it all…until it didn’t.

We all kept trying to persevere…we must be doing it wrong!  Surely if we hang in there and do what “they” tell us to do, we will be happy.

Really?

The Anti-Mary Exposed Rescuing the Culture from Toxic Feminity by Carrie Gress  will change your perception of what “is.”  It will challenge you, and may be the perfect thing to read at the start of Lent. Or anytime that you are looking for Truth.  May God bless you in your search

https://tanbooks.com/products/books/life-family/women/the-anti-mary-exposed-rescuing-the-culture-from-toxic-femininity/?gclid=CjwKCAiApfeQBhAUEiwA7K_UH7wQxvks4DrT26Vz2jpvtmYRUDtwQmgyA0xkuxIC_sFAokwKkDYhyhoCMhYQAvD_BwE

 

 

Inspiration and Wisdom

Each and everyday I hear and see the misery that many people are experiencing due to a myriad of reasons.  In my life, there have been many periods of confusion, darkness, and despair.  When a person is engulfed in that muck, (which is truly the deception of Satan) it is difficult for them to see an answer.  It is difficult for them to even believe there is an answer.

The answer is, and always was…God.  He is right there for all of us, and reaches out to us in so many ways.  The problem is, we feel empty and helpless, refusing to take that first step that will lead to joy and true peace in our hearts.  We tend to see the thought of growth in our faith, or even personal growth, as overwhelming, so we just continue to wallow in our own misery and pain.

Lent is just around the corner.  Make a choice to take the tiniest step…I promise it will only take a few minutes of your day.  However, as I have found, those few minutes might just take a hold of your heart, mind and soul.  It just might give you a flicker of hope.

Maybe it’s time to take that step.

Little habits added to our day, can lead to changes in our thinking, our faith life, and our life in general.

Through my Church, I have found this book of 365 Days of Inspiration The Wisdom of Fulton Sheen, which helps me to  think about what is truly important in life.

Today’s thought/February 26:  “…The closer we live to God, the closer we are bound to our neighbor; the farther we are fom God, the farther we are from one another…”  Wow, maybe that is the reason for the anger, vitriol, and division that we are seeing around us.

Maybe, to make a difference in this world, and to be truly happy, we should be seeking the God who is patiently waiting for us to invite Him in.

May God bless you and keep you in His care!

 

 

 

 

 

The Truth Will Set You Free

During the time when the government imposed lockdowns and mandates, due to the corona virus, many of us experienced suffering and misery.

Much of this suffering was due to the virus itself, however, much long lasting misery was based on many other issues caused by the isolation imposed on all of us.

 

Parents and grandparents were kept away from their families, many suffered and died alone, and many family members and friends were not allowed to celebrate birthdays, marriages, anniversaries, Holidays, or funerals with their loved ones. This precious time is forever lost to them.

Gatherings with family and friends were “allowed” if all were masked up and 6 feet apart, even when outdoors.  Does anyone else see how silly this was?

We all listened and obeyed “for the good of others.”  This was the time where many people started to eye eachother as “walking germ spreaders,” and started to label and demean each other…spewing hatred as to whether a person was masked up or not, if someone dared to stand too close, or whether or not the person was vaccinated.

Small businesses were shut down, however, large businesses were “allowed” to stay open.  Hmmm.

Bishops and Pastors allowed their Church doors to be locked…no Holy Masses and no Sacraments for the faithful.

Shame on them (supposed shepherds) for being so weak as to allow this evil to occur!

In the meantime, while our Church was locked down, my husband and I noticed something interesting while we walked through the downtown area where we lived. Victoria Secret was open for business!  So our government, in its wisdom, deemed our Churches as non-essential…however, Victoria Secret was “essential?”  Liquor stores remained open…no matter what their size.

Could you see any logic in this? I couldn’t…they knew exactly what they were doing when they closed small businesses and our Churches.

Have you noticed that the masses turned away from their faith, and allowed fear to dictate what they believed and followed?  Have you noticed that those same people would not even watch or hear anything different from the narrative of the day?

Very concerning.

Anyway, during this time of craziness, a funny thing happened.  While my Church was closed down, I discovered Catholic Priests who were not afraid to speak the Truth… on YouTube.  Priests who dared to teach the traditional Catholic Faith and Catechism.  Men who were not afraid to question what was being forced upon us…as a Church, nation and world.

I realized that I had a choice where life and my faith were concerned.

I could remain in ignorance and darkness, or I could choose to be open to The Holy Spirit.

I chose The Holy Spirit.

My purpose is not to argue or cause division. The purpose is to share The Truth…what you choose for your life, and that of your family, is between you and God.  However, each of our choices touches and affects The Body of Christ…His Church.

Choose wisely.  

Pray for faith, mercy, courage, knowledge, love and wisdom.  Pray for the strength to be open to the prodding of The Holy Spirit, and for the strength to make changes in your own life.

The things that need changed are the blotches of darkness in our souls…the very things we strive to hide and ignore.  Pray for The Holy Spirit to illuminate those dark spots.  Acknowledge, confess, repent and make the needed changes regarding those weaknesses/sins.

Go to your Priest and ask him to pray over you.

This is the time….WAKE UP from your slumber!

If you are confused, depressed, angry, or numb…you are living under the oppression of Satan.

FIGHT!  Get appropriate help from mental health professionals. Don’t ignore your issues…CONFRONT and make changes! Turn your whole heart and soul to Jesus, and His (and our) Blessed Mother.  Ask for their help in your fight against your personal demons. They are waiting for you to ask for their help, and invite them into your life.

The most important step is to close the doors you have opened to the evil one.  You know what those doors are…you know… the things you hide from others, and try to hide from yourself and try to excuse away.

Stop trying to hide your darkness from yourself…and from God.  He already knows your struggle…He knows where the struggle came from.  Jesus is waiting for you to give it all up to Him.  

Don’t wait too much longer.  None of us know how long we have on this earth.

You make your decision…I have chosen Jesus and look forward to an eternity with Him and all of His Saints and Angels.

I pray that you make the choice for Jesus…choosing light and not the darkness.  

Do not be afraid of The Truth!  The Truth will set you free.

 

Some of the Catholic Priests who are true shepherds that you can search for on YouTube:

Fr. Altman

Fr. Vincent Lampert

Fr. Michael O’Connor

Fr. Nolan: Those who are ignorant of the past are bound to repeat it

Fr. Chad Ripperger

 

 

Use This Time Wisely

Here we are.

Smack dab in the center of a havoc that most of us have never experienced or even imagined could happen. How are we dealing with it? What can we actually do about it? How can we make our country, and the world, a better place?

What are we focusing on?

A perfect storm of reasons to lose hope are gathering around us. We are constantly being warned regarding the dangers of catching or infecting others with the Covid 19 Virus, which affects our lives in all aspects. Our time (or lack thereof) with family, our choices or even possibilities for recreation, shopping, entertainment, fellowship with friends. Our livelihoods. Our freedom to worship.

Many people are living in depression and despair from lack of physical contact with loved ones, or even simple contact with other human beings. Those needs for comfort, interaction, validation, and inner joy that comes from sharing time with others, are not met by Zoom or Facetime calls. Most of the time, those types of communication make the longing for true physical contact and relationship with loved ones even more intense.

We are living in a time of political strife. There are two basic choices that exist, and it’s important that we all understand the realities of the choice that we make.

Our Church is also experiencing strife from within. There are leaders in the Church that are straying from Scripture and also from the teachings and dogma of the faith itself. Because of Church closures, and limited availability, it is extremely difficult to access Mass and the Sacraments.

How can we navigate through the swirling cesspool that is our current reality, without the grace of God that is dispensed through the sacraments…especially Our Lord in The Holy Eucharist, and also in Reconciliation? How could the Church withhold these blessings from us?

On top of those things, we are still suffering through our normal, day to day life struggles, including physical and mental health, sickness, death, financial needs, and just the anxiety of day to day life in general. However, being that we are under an extra blanket of darkness due to the combination of oppressions, many of us are losing focus and hope.

So…how are you doing, and how are you dealing with all of this?

Are you constantly searching social media or the news to find validation or the magical answer to our dilemma?

Are you retreating from life, and closing your eyes and ears to the truth of our current world?

Have you lost your faith in others and in God?

Are you just giving up, kind of saying, “whatever?”

Because in your heart…in your soul, you are already aware that you are not in control. Although you might have built a world for yourself where you felt successful, happy, peaceful and secure, you now are starting to realize that you are not in control and never were. It was an illusion.

You are looking for peace in all the wrong places…peace can never be found in this world. Not true peace…we can not create it for ourselves or others. We are called to work toward peace, however, we can never be totally sure of the intent in others when they offer “peace” or the “answer” to us. How do we know when that “peace” is an illusion?

Sooo…what I am learning, is to search for true peace in the One True Source.

Peace I leave with you, my peace I give unto you: not as the world giveth, give I unto you. Let not your heart be troubled, neither let it be afraid. John 14:27

Use this “lockdown” time wisely.

If you don’t believe in God, just take a tiny step and pray (even if you don’t believe…yes I’m talking to you!) and ask Him for the gift of faith.

Ask him for the faith to recognize and be open to all the ways He is trying to show Himself to you. Because I promise, He IS pursuing you. Look around and see the blessings He has brought into your life. See your family, loved ones, friends. See the way you are blessed with your senses, to have the ability to appreciate the beauty He has created for YOU. See the home, food, clothing, your career/vocation.

We all have a different calling and purpose. We all have different blessings. We need to be grateful for those blessings.

How will we allow Jesus to work through us to be a point of light in the world…not to add to the darkness. No matter what our divine purpose is, none of us are meant to be a point of darkness…that is a choice to be made.

Make the choice to grow closer to Our Lord…learn your faith. Pray. Reach out in love to those that are struggling. Allow Jesus to flood you with love…so that you finally realize your worth and your place in helping to make this world a better place.

Make the choice to be a vessel of light that the Holy Spirit can work through in this world to touch all that have hardened hearts. Those hearts need to be melted with the pure love and peace of Jesus.

Only then will our world be changed. Only then will we experience true peace. One heart at a time.

 

Yes, Jesus loves you. Do you love Him?

Lately I have been really noticing a pattern among many Christians who remain in darkness.

The darkness may lie in depression, family or relationship issues, finances, addictions, and/or emotional, spiritual, mental or physical ailments.

Over and over, in their suffering, I hear them profess how much Jesus loves them.   And then I see the same people  post on their social media sites, that they love Jesus, and trust Him to heal them and answer their prayers. Years go by, and they remain in their same anguish.

When I see and hear the pain they are experiencing, my heart aches for them, and I pray for total healing in their lives.

The troubling pattern is this…many of these same people do not understand that believing that Jesus loves them is only the start.

Even Satan and his demons know that Jesus is God.

Relationship with Jesus is the open, acceptance of His gift of salvation to all of us.

The gift sits there, unopened, until we make the free choice to accept it, and open it. Once opened, do we choose to just let it sit there, or do we interact with Jesus in thanksgiving?

In other words, do we choose to have a relationship with Jesus, or do we just lean on the knowledge that Jesus loves us no matter what?

In a loving, happy relationship, do we just sit back and bask in the love offered to us, selfishly saying “he/she will always love me no matter what I do?”

Do we intentionally dishonor our loved one, by publicly announcing honor and support for another…that is in total opposition or disrespect to our beloved?

Or do we interact with that love…making sure to spend time with our loved one, forsaking others due to our commitment, sacrificing our wants and needs in order to please our loved one, making changes in our behaviors that may hurt our relationship. Thinking of “we” instead of “me.”

Do we do these things in a loving human relationship, however, not so much when it concerns our relationship with Christ?

As Christians, each day brings us opportunities to align ourselves more closely with Jesus.   Many things we are doing that keep us at arm’s length from His total love and mercy. For some reason, we hold back, and look to the world for the answers. We keep looking toward other sources for our happiness, love and “warm fuzzies”.

This is a grave mistake that keeps us from full relationship with Jesus. “Warm fuzzies” do not offer us love, mercy and salvation.

First, let me make perfectly clear, I know that I personally struggle or have struggled with many of these, or other, things. These observations are meant to shine a light on possible ways that we are damaging our relationship with Jesus, thus remaining in “the muck and darkness” year after year.

Little or big doors that we crack open that allow Satan or his demons to enter into our souls, and lives.

Many times we even forget these doors were once opened, or we are unaware at all. I can tell you, that Satan has not forgotten. He uses any point of entry that he can find…he uses our weaknesses, our curiosity, our pride, and our ignorance to infiltrate our lives and souls.

 

Some of the dangerous things I am noticing that are being shared on social media, by Christians, that jump out at me:

Interaction with or sharing of horoscope info

Belief or interest in mediums

Posting memes and/or belief in New Age philosophies

Dabbling in “cute” witchcraft or spells

Claiming to be a Christian, while promoting other World Religions. I am not talking about being tolerant of other religions, which we are called to do. I am talking about treating all religions as though they are one of many truths. In fact, in many cases, sharing quotes from secular sources, and other religions with more ardor than Christianity. As though it is almost an embarrassment to proclaim Christian values, customs, beliefs, and truths.

Worshiping “Mother Earth” instead of The Creator

Taking part and promoting entertainment…movies, books, magazine, games…that are in opposition to God

Spewing hatred, as in labeling and name-calling, toward specific people that we disagree with, instead of simply professing our stand, and praying for and with them.

Professing love for God with words only…and not by showing day to day loving actions and change in our lives

Any of these things, or something I haven’t mentioned, could be part of the darkness you are living in. Confession, and repentance in any area that is in opposition to Our Lord, will allow the light of the Holy Spirit to heal you, inside and out. This total healing may happen in an instant, or may happen gradually, as you grow in faith.  The key is to invite the Holy Spirit to illuminate you and fill your soul with His Holy Presence…and then place your trust in God.

Sometimes, the Lord will allow certain things to remain in your life to help you on your journey to Him, or for His glory. When you are filled with the Holy Spirit, you will live with a deep joy that will help you through any struggle in this life, and you will learn to look to Him in confidence and trust.

Remember, Jesus will always love you! Are you showing your love for Jesus?

 

¹⁹ Now the works of the flesh are obvious: fornication, impurity, licentiousness, ²⁰ idolatry, sorcery, enmities, strife, jealousy, anger, quarrels, dissensions, factions, ²¹ envy,^[a] drunkenness, carousing, and things like these. I am warning you, as I warned you before: those who do such things will not inherit the kingdom of God.  Galatians 5:19-21

Jesus answered, “I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me.
 John 14:6

They exchanged the truth about God for a lie, and worshiped and served created things rather than the Creator–who is forever praised. Amen.  Romans 1:25