J
Jenlyn
Guest
- Status
T
Teresa9
Guest
Dear JenDBT,
Thanks for starting this thread. I have had an interest in joining an order to better focus me on my journey to God. I first got interested in it by reading the life of St. Francis. This is when I learned that there were secular orders. I read St. Theresa’s book which lead me to St. Teresa’s books. I have a deep curiosity in her and because of her, prayer. My lyrics have hints of her writings. It’s funny because I wrote them before I read her books. I wrote a “Garden Prayer” and she talks pray that has flowers growing and blooming.
With my interests, writings, and your thread, I think that I am being called to be a secular Carmelite. The only thing is there isn’t any group near me!
Peace,
Jen
I am delighted you feel you are being called to a vocation as a Third Order Carmelite. Please don’t be disheartened that there is no order near to you. I am an isolated Third Order aspirant. There is no-one within a Diocese or two that are Third Order Carmelites and I live some great distance from the Nun who trains the third orders. If I am able to bring interest to others in my diocese then they may be able to form a Third Order community nearer to me, but for just me it is not viable. I have to travel some distance to meet with the Nun in charge of my formation as a Carmelite TOC, but at present this is working ok, with telephone conversation and letter inbetween times when I am unable to make this journey. (The Nun travels and meets me half way from where her Convent is located, it is effort on her side also)
Sometimes your Priest is able to take over your formation if you are too great a distance. If it is God’s will, whatever the apparant obstacles are, they will be overcome with effort, committment and prayer and trust in God’s will. Please don’t let distance deter you.
I plan every so often to travel to where the Convent is and meet with other third order Carmelites and the rest of the Sisters (I have met a couple of the Sisters who were so good as to meet with me also) I am looking forward to meeting them all so much and plan early next year to make this journey.
I spent a long time discerning in prayer before the Blessed Sacrament and prayer to the Holy Spirit before I made any discernment as regards what my call was. There was no doubt about my call from God to a vocation, I had had this many years previous and ignored it. Events led to it being ignored and I knew I had left aside my call. Over time this call did not disappear, infact it grew and grew so it became so loud and powerful in me I could no longer ignore it at all. I was quite frightened, I remember thinking, ‘You do not mess about with God, how do I know what I am supposed to do’!!! I prayed and prayed and this has happily led me to the Third Order Carmelite. Please Jen if you have this call, discern it and please don’t ignore it as I did for many many years, don’t let anything frighten you or put you off or deter your course.
Isaiah 43:1 ’ I have called you by name. You are precious in my eyes. You are mine and I love you’
This is the prayer I said to the Holy Spirit, my Priest gave it to me to pray, it is actually a hymn, but he gave it to me to help me pray to the Holy Spirit and discern
‘Come, Holy Spirit, Creator Come’…I will type it in a seperate post it is quite long.
I will keep you in my prayers Jen
God Bless you and much love and peace to you and those you love
Teresa
T
Teresa9
Guest
‘Come, Holy Ghost, Creator, Come’
Come , Holy Ghost, Creator, come
from thy bright heavenly throne,
come take possession of our souls,
and make them all thine own.
Thou who art called the Paraclete,
best gift of God above,
the living spring, the living fire,
sweet unction and true love.
Thou who art sev’fold in thy grace,
finger of God’s right hand;
his promise, teaching little ones
to speak and understand
O guide our minds with thy blest light
with love our hearts inflame;
and with thy strength, which ne’er decays,
confirm our mortal frame.
Far from us drive our deadly foe;
true peace unto us bring;
and through all perils lead us safe
beneath thy sacred wing.
Through thee may we the Father know,
through thee th’eternal Son,
and thee the Spirit of them both,
thrice-blessed Three in One.
All glory to the Father be,
with his co-equal Son;
the same to thee, great Paraclete,
while endless ages run.
(Ascribed to Rabanus Maurus)
Dear friends
I hope this prayer helps and once a person has discerned their vocation to a third order Carmelite, they may like to pray the Novena to St Teresa and pray to the great Carmelite Saints to determine further. Prayer is inseperable from discerning any vocation in faith whether it be conversion to the Catholic faith or conversion within faith, or vocation to parenthood, marriage etc or Holy Orders.
I pray everyday to be reconfirmed in my discernment, I have had no indication yet I am in the wrong place, thank God.
God Bless you and much love and peace to you
Teresa
Come , Holy Ghost, Creator, come
from thy bright heavenly throne,
come take possession of our souls,
and make them all thine own.
Thou who art called the Paraclete,
best gift of God above,
the living spring, the living fire,
sweet unction and true love.
Thou who art sev’fold in thy grace,
finger of God’s right hand;
his promise, teaching little ones
to speak and understand
O guide our minds with thy blest light
with love our hearts inflame;
and with thy strength, which ne’er decays,
confirm our mortal frame.
Far from us drive our deadly foe;
true peace unto us bring;
and through all perils lead us safe
beneath thy sacred wing.
Through thee may we the Father know,
through thee th’eternal Son,
and thee the Spirit of them both,
thrice-blessed Three in One.
All glory to the Father be,
with his co-equal Son;
the same to thee, great Paraclete,
while endless ages run.
(Ascribed to Rabanus Maurus)
Dear friends
I hope this prayer helps and once a person has discerned their vocation to a third order Carmelite, they may like to pray the Novena to St Teresa and pray to the great Carmelite Saints to determine further. Prayer is inseperable from discerning any vocation in faith whether it be conversion to the Catholic faith or conversion within faith, or vocation to parenthood, marriage etc or Holy Orders.
I pray everyday to be reconfirmed in my discernment, I have had no indication yet I am in the wrong place, thank God.
God Bless you and much love and peace to you
Teresa
T
Teresa9
Guest
Joysong said:
Dearest Carole
I have very much enjoyed your hard work on this thread in providing information and have loved to read your posts here.
You are right Carole, whenever I read St Teresa’s works as also when I meditate on Sacred Scripture the eyes are always opened to new aspects of it previously hard to understand and I must admit some of her writings I gravely struggle with, but we are all undergoing lifelong formation in spiritual growth and I am so incredibly thankful and happy for this thread which is shedding light, enlightenment and opening eyes.
Thank you for joining me in prayer for this thread, it has a huge potential and some great minds and hearts are using this thread. I am looking forward to learning a great deal from others in this.
God Bless you Carole and much love and peace to you and those you love
Teresa
T
Teresa9
Guest
Dear Friends
A link to that Novena of St Therese
ewtn.com/therese/novena.htm
God Bless you and much love and peace to you and those you love
Teresa
A link to that Novena of St Therese
ewtn.com/therese/novena.htm
God Bless you and much love and peace to you and those you love
Teresa
D
DBT
Guest
I’m thoroughly enjoying how this is developing 
. I’ll just sit back for a while and enjoy the ride. Thanks Joysong, Jenlyn and Teresa for the recent comments.
One thought for you Jenlyn. How far are you from the closest community? I know we have a couple of people here who travel 80-100 miles for the monthly meeting. The community plans the meeting time so as to not be to early or to late to try and accomodate those who travel a bit. I don’t know if that’s even an option for you, but I thought I’d at least throw it out there.
Have you contacted the formation director for the community that’s closest to you? Maybe he/she will have some ideas.
. I’ll just sit back for a while and enjoy the ride. Thanks Joysong, Jenlyn and Teresa for the recent comments.One thought for you Jenlyn. How far are you from the closest community? I know we have a couple of people here who travel 80-100 miles for the monthly meeting. The community plans the meeting time so as to not be to early or to late to try and accomodate those who travel a bit. I don’t know if that’s even an option for you, but I thought I’d at least throw it out there.
Have you contacted the formation director for the community that’s closest to you? Maybe he/she will have some ideas.
D
DBT
Guest
Wow! Jenlyn that’s wonderful.DBT,
Thanks for starting this thread. I have had an interest in joining an order to better focus me on my journey to God. I first got interested in it by reading the life of St. Francis. This is when I learned that there were secular orders. I read St. Theresa’s book which lead me to St. Teresa’s books. I have a deep curiosity in her and because of her, prayer. My lyrics have hints of her writings. It’s funny because I wrote them before I read her books. I wrote a “Garden Prayer” and she talks pray that has flowers growing and blooming.
With my interests, writings, and your thread, I think that I am being called to be a secular Carmelite. The only thing is there isn’t any group near me!
Peace,
Jen
Perhaps now I’ve been blessed to see one of the purposes God has for this thread! I pray so!Best of luck to you Jen and I will keep you in my prayers.
PS. I responded in another post about the distance issue. Hopefully that’s an obstacle that can be overcome.
A
Augustine
Guest
Jenlyn,
I won’t presume to be as knowledgeable as others in this thread on St. Teresa, quite the contrary. As a matter of fact, I’m still reading my 1st book by her, “Interior Castle”, but I’d like to share with you and others about how I understand it, and perhaps be corrected.
As far as I can tell, she writes to her community, nuns who already pray at length. Thus, it doesn’t seem to be as much a manual as a guide, in the sense that it doesn’t intend to tell how to pray, but to explain what one finds in prayer life.
My prayer life is still something that I have to work a lot on, but finding out from a Doctor of the Church about the “dark nights” and His consolations and why He allows them both, has been of much value to me. In spite of not being able to see myself being blessed with such deep prayer as her, I’m too proud and too coward for that.
If anything, it’s allowed me to persist in my prayer life. As I read “Las Moradas”, I just do not give in to lazyness or mood and force myself to pray even when such states of mind creep up. Overcoming the enemy in such a small way is a victory for Jesus, through the teachings of St. Teresa, God bless her.
Perhaps you might consider resuming your reading and if it seems too high above your head, rest assured that it’s probably one of those books that one reads many times over one’s lifetime.
Meanwhile, I’m sure that you can reap many of her teachings.
God bless you.
I won’t presume to be as knowledgeable as others in this thread on St. Teresa, quite the contrary. As a matter of fact, I’m still reading my 1st book by her, “Interior Castle”, but I’d like to share with you and others about how I understand it, and perhaps be corrected.
As far as I can tell, she writes to her community, nuns who already pray at length. Thus, it doesn’t seem to be as much a manual as a guide, in the sense that it doesn’t intend to tell how to pray, but to explain what one finds in prayer life.
My prayer life is still something that I have to work a lot on, but finding out from a Doctor of the Church about the “dark nights” and His consolations and why He allows them both, has been of much value to me. In spite of not being able to see myself being blessed with such deep prayer as her, I’m too proud and too coward for that.
If anything, it’s allowed me to persist in my prayer life. As I read “Las Moradas”, I just do not give in to lazyness or mood and force myself to pray even when such states of mind creep up. Overcoming the enemy in such a small way is a victory for Jesus, through the teachings of St. Teresa, God bless her.
Perhaps you might consider resuming your reading and if it seems too high above your head, rest assured that it’s probably one of those books that one reads many times over one’s lifetime.
Meanwhile, I’m sure that you can reap many of her teachings.God bless you.
J
Joysong
Guest
Dear Jen,
Although there are a number of things I plan to respond to from your message, it seems you are most interested in knowing more about “recollection.” These are some good points from Brother Lawrence’s book, Practice of the Presence of God, and I also provide the links to follow it more extensively on line.
Letter IV Part IV
If sometimes he is a little too much absent from that Divine presence, **God presently makes Himself to be felt in his soul to recall him; **which often happens when he is most engaged in his outward business: he answers with exact fidelity to these inward drawings, either by an elevation of his heart towards God, or by a meek and fond regard to Him, or by such words as love forms upon these occasions; as for instance, My God, here I am all devoted to Thee: Lord, make me according to Thy heart. And then it seems to him that this God of love, satisfied with such few words, reposes again, and rests in the depth and centre of his soul. Note his words about God making His presence felt in his soul to recall him. This would be called by many various terms that you will come across in your readings: passive recollection (because God initiates it), infused recollection, contemplation (lower stages, not involving all of the faculties - usually only the will)
Letter VII
It is not necessary for being with God to be always at church; we may make an oratory of our heart, wherein to retire from time to time, to converse with Him in meekness, humility, and love. Every one is capable of such familiar conversation with God, some more, some less: He knows what we can do. Let us begin then; perhaps He expects but one generous resolution on our part. Have courage.
Accustom yourself then by degrees thus to worship Him, to beg His grace, to offer Him your heart from time to time, in the midst of your business, even every moment if you can. Do not always scrupulously confine yourself to certain rules, or particular forms of devotion; but act with a general confidence in God, with love and humility. These last two paragraphs are talking about active recollection, or acquired recollection, or even some call it acquired cotemplation when it is a simple wordless, loving glance towards God. It is achieved by our own habitual efforts and is not supernatural.
One way to recollect the mind easily in the time of prayer, and preserve it more in tranquillity, is not to let it wander too far at other times: you should keep it strictly in the presence of God; and being accustomed to think of Him often, you will find it easy to keep your mind calm in the time of prayer, or at least to recall it from its wanderings.
Letter IV Part 1
But when we are faithful to keep ourselves in His holy Presence, and set Him always before us, this not only hinders our offending Him, and doing anything that may displease Him, at least wilfully, but it also begets in us a holy freedom, a familiarity with God, wherewith we ask, successfully, the graces we stand in need of. In fine, by often repeating these acts, they become habitual, and the presence of God is rendered, as it were, natural to us.
Although there are a number of things I plan to respond to from your message, it seems you are most interested in knowing more about “recollection.” These are some good points from Brother Lawrence’s book, Practice of the Presence of God, and I also provide the links to follow it more extensively on line.
Letter IV Part IV
If sometimes he is a little too much absent from that Divine presence, **God presently makes Himself to be felt in his soul to recall him; **which often happens when he is most engaged in his outward business: he answers with exact fidelity to these inward drawings, either by an elevation of his heart towards God, or by a meek and fond regard to Him, or by such words as love forms upon these occasions; as for instance, My God, here I am all devoted to Thee: Lord, make me according to Thy heart. And then it seems to him that this God of love, satisfied with such few words, reposes again, and rests in the depth and centre of his soul. Note his words about God making His presence felt in his soul to recall him. This would be called by many various terms that you will come across in your readings: passive recollection (because God initiates it), infused recollection, contemplation (lower stages, not involving all of the faculties - usually only the will)
Letter VII
It is not necessary for being with God to be always at church; we may make an oratory of our heart, wherein to retire from time to time, to converse with Him in meekness, humility, and love. Every one is capable of such familiar conversation with God, some more, some less: He knows what we can do. Let us begin then; perhaps He expects but one generous resolution on our part. Have courage.
Accustom yourself then by degrees thus to worship Him, to beg His grace, to offer Him your heart from time to time, in the midst of your business, even every moment if you can. Do not always scrupulously confine yourself to certain rules, or particular forms of devotion; but act with a general confidence in God, with love and humility. These last two paragraphs are talking about active recollection, or acquired recollection, or even some call it acquired cotemplation when it is a simple wordless, loving glance towards God. It is achieved by our own habitual efforts and is not supernatural.
One way to recollect the mind easily in the time of prayer, and preserve it more in tranquillity, is not to let it wander too far at other times: you should keep it strictly in the presence of God; and being accustomed to think of Him often, you will find it easy to keep your mind calm in the time of prayer, or at least to recall it from its wanderings.
Letter IV Part 1
But when we are faithful to keep ourselves in His holy Presence, and set Him always before us, this not only hinders our offending Him, and doing anything that may displease Him, at least wilfully, but it also begets in us a holy freedom, a familiarity with God, wherewith we ask, successfully, the graces we stand in need of. In fine, by often repeating these acts, they become habitual, and the presence of God is rendered, as it were, natural to us.
J
Joysong
Guest
Hi again, Jen,
If you like the excerpts, the book is available from Amazon in case you would like to keep your own copy.
Another good source would be in St. Teresa’s Way of Perfection. She teaches about meditation with a view to obtaining recollection. It is important, she writes, to always begin any communication or prayer with a remembrance that we are in the awesome presence of His Majesty, and give Him our undivided attention and reverence as much as possible, although distractions wil be inevitable sometimes.
Teresa had a good idea about looking into isolated status as a Carmelite. It may be that you are to bloom where you are now planted, because community is very important to our formation and growth. That may be difficult as an isolate member. Perhaps you could follow your present rule of life, and adopt additional practices of Carmel *privately, *while you discern your vocation. Many of us on line will be glad to help you as much as possible. When you are truly ready, be assured God won’t abandon you but help you to enter Carmel, if He wills.
If you like the excerpts, the book is available from Amazon in case you would like to keep your own copy.
Another good source would be in St. Teresa’s Way of Perfection. She teaches about meditation with a view to obtaining recollection. It is important, she writes, to always begin any communication or prayer with a remembrance that we are in the awesome presence of His Majesty, and give Him our undivided attention and reverence as much as possible, although distractions wil be inevitable sometimes.
Teresa had a good idea about looking into isolated status as a Carmelite. It may be that you are to bloom where you are now planted, because community is very important to our formation and growth. That may be difficult as an isolate member. Perhaps you could follow your present rule of life, and adopt additional practices of Carmel *privately, *while you discern your vocation. Many of us on line will be glad to help you as much as possible. When you are truly ready, be assured God won’t abandon you but help you to enter Carmel, if He wills.
J
Jenlyn
Guest
Augustine-
[Perhaps you might consider resuming your reading and if it seems too high above your head, rest assured that it’s probably one of those books that one reads many times over one’s lifetime. Meanwhile, I’m sure that you can reap many of her teachings.]
You are right. Her books are meant to be read over and over. I will pick it up again later. Right now I am reading her “Life.”
[My prayer life is still something that I have to work a lot on]
Yep, me too. I am still trying to figure the whole thing out. I have set prayer times but I feel like I’m trying to hold a glass with greasy hands. I’m just doing my best without a plan of action.
I’m not frustrated or turned off by prayer. I just want to better myself so my relationship with God is the best I can give. I know this is a learning process and I’m at the bottom of the learning curve right now. I welcome when a humility moment knocks on my door.
DBT-
[How far are you from the closest community?]
Honestly, I don’t know. There is a Carmelite order of Nuns about an hour away in Cleveland. I don’t know if they have a secular order attached to them. Their web page doesn’t give much information. We do have a secular Franciscan group right here in town.
Teresa-
Thank you for the info on you having to travel. I didn’t realize that there were so few organizations out there. Maybe God is calling us to start groups close to us? Now God didn’t tell me this or anything. But maybe in the future that call will come.
Also the prayer is wonderful.
One last thing for the group. I found an entire section on the carmelite site that was given earlier about St. Teresa. It explains her definitions and gives some insight into her writings. I loved it. It was eye opening.
carmelite.com/saints/other/more_5.htm
carmelite.com/saints/other/more_4.htm
Thank you to you all. You all are a gift from God.
Jen
[Perhaps you might consider resuming your reading and if it seems too high above your head, rest assured that it’s probably one of those books that one reads many times over one’s lifetime. Meanwhile, I’m sure that you can reap many of her teachings.]
You are right. Her books are meant to be read over and over. I will pick it up again later. Right now I am reading her “Life.”
[My prayer life is still something that I have to work a lot on]
Yep, me too. I am still trying to figure the whole thing out. I have set prayer times but I feel like I’m trying to hold a glass with greasy hands. I’m just doing my best without a plan of action.
I’m not frustrated or turned off by prayer. I just want to better myself so my relationship with God is the best I can give. I know this is a learning process and I’m at the bottom of the learning curve right now. I welcome when a humility moment knocks on my door.DBT-
[How far are you from the closest community?]
Honestly, I don’t know. There is a Carmelite order of Nuns about an hour away in Cleveland. I don’t know if they have a secular order attached to them. Their web page doesn’t give much information. We do have a secular Franciscan group right here in town.
Teresa-
Thank you for the info on you having to travel. I didn’t realize that there were so few organizations out there. Maybe God is calling us to start groups close to us? Now God didn’t tell me this or anything.
But maybe in the future that call will come.Also the prayer is wonderful.
One last thing for the group. I found an entire section on the carmelite site that was given earlier about St. Teresa. It explains her definitions and gives some insight into her writings. I loved it. It was eye opening.
carmelite.com/saints/other/more_5.htm
carmelite.com/saints/other/more_4.htm
Thank you to you all. You all are a gift from God.
Jen
J
Jenlyn
Guest
Let’s see if I can restate what I read here.
- Passive recollection is God calling me. This can be done at anytime of the day. I do expreience this.
- Active recollection is me calling God throughout the day. To say something short. Whether it be an aspiration, a call for help, or just to sigh with a smile. The more I do this the less I will sin because God is on my mind more and more.
Jen
J
Jenlyn
Guest
[If you like the excerpts, the book is available from Amazon in case you would like to keep your own copy.
I will look for it.
[Another good source would be in St. Teresa’s *Way of Perfection.]
I read her book first. I will have to go back and read it again. As most everything went right over my head.
[Many of us on line will be glad to help you as much as possible. When you are truly ready, be assured God won’t abandon you but help you to enter Carmel, if He wills.]
Thank you for the kind offer. I will definitely take you up on it.:tiphat:
This thread is so peaceful.
Jen
I will look for it.
[Another good source would be in St. Teresa’s *Way of Perfection.]
I read her book first. I will have to go back and read it again. As most everything went right over my head.
[Many of us on line will be glad to help you as much as possible. When you are truly ready, be assured God won’t abandon you but help you to enter Carmel, if He wills.]
Thank you for the kind offer. I will definitely take you up on it.:tiphat:
This thread is so peaceful.
Jen
J
Joysong
Guest
Hi Jen,
Jenlyn:
Just a little recap. Passive is when God secretly awakens us with an interior, sweet touch that we learn to recognize as a call to respond with a glance of our heart toward Him - to spend a few moments in adoration, or just to abide in Him. Yes, I’m sure you do experience this, Jen. Many are invited to dine with Him, but we are often too busy to come to the feast.
Active is when we turn our minds to Him, but we are not always granted the gift of realizing His felt presence. It is a prayer of love, but in it, we do the giving rather than receive. Many times it is dry and arid, but nonetheless very pleasing to Our Lord!
St. Francis de Sales mentioned a good example of this in his book, Introduction to a Devout Life. When a person keeps a canary because he loves to hear the sweet song of the bird, the bird must continue to sing every day for its owner, even when it doesn’t appear that he is listening to its song. True love, huh?
May God continue to bless you.
Carole
Bravo! You’re doing fine so far! :yup: Your reading is proving its worth!
Just a little recap. Passive is when God secretly awakens us with an interior, sweet touch that we learn to recognize as a call to respond with a glance of our heart toward Him
- to spend a few moments in adoration, or just to abide in Him. Yes, I’m sure you do experience this, Jen. Many are invited to dine with Him, but we are often too busy to come to the feast.Active is when we turn our minds to Him, but we are not always granted the gift of realizing His felt presence. It is a prayer of love, but in it, we do the giving rather than receive. Many times it is dry and arid, but nonetheless very pleasing to Our Lord!
St. Francis de Sales mentioned a good example of this in his book, Introduction to a Devout Life. When a person keeps a canary because he loves to hear the sweet song of the bird, the bird must continue to sing every day for its owner, even when it doesn’t appear that he is listening to its song. True love, huh?
May God continue to bless you.
Carole
J
Joysong
Guest
Dear Jen,
I am thinking about an example that might shed some light on our inability to rid ourselves of sin, in answer to your previous question about it.
Many of us are familiar with the comic strip reputation teenagers have of keeping an extremely disordered and slovenly bedroom. If the parent demands the entire room be spitshined before allowing the teen to leave the house for an exciting weekend, it would be so utterly discouraging to spend the entire day grooming it, that the ugly habit will almost certainly surface the next morning.
Wisdom would close a blind eye to the majority of the mess, and train the teen to just pick up the clothes and memorabilia off the floor. When that habit is established, the parent might move on to making the bed every day. Later, begin to neatly organize and close the dresser drawers. Moving along, he strives to straighten out the closet. The poor child cannot even dust the surfaces or vacuum the rug until all litter is completely out of the way.
Are you getting the picture? God cannot vacuum us for thorough cleaning until the litter is gone. He works on us gradually to eliminate one sinful habit at a time. There is a good scripture that gives us this picture in the Old Testament, Ex. 23:23-30:
23 For My angel will go before you and bring you in to the land of the Amorites, the Hittites, the Perizzites, the Canaanites, the Hivites and the Jebusites; and I will completely destroy them.
27 I will send My terror ahead of you, and throw into confusion all the people among whom you come, and I will make all your enemies turn their backs to you.
29 I will not drive them out before you in a single year, that the land may not become desolate and the beasts of the field become too numerous for you.
30 "I will drive them out before you little by little, until you become fruitful and take possession of the land."
Carole
I am thinking about an example that might shed some light on our inability to rid ourselves of sin, in answer to your previous question about it.
Many of us are familiar with the comic strip reputation teenagers have of keeping an extremely disordered and slovenly bedroom. If the parent demands the entire room be spitshined before allowing the teen to leave the house for an exciting weekend, it would be so utterly discouraging to spend the entire day grooming it, that the ugly habit will almost certainly surface the next morning.
Wisdom would close a blind eye to the majority of the mess, and train the teen to just pick up the clothes and memorabilia off the floor. When that habit is established, the parent might move on to making the bed every day. Later, begin to neatly organize and close the dresser drawers. Moving along, he strives to straighten out the closet. The poor child cannot even dust the surfaces or vacuum the rug until all litter is completely out of the way.
Are you getting the picture? God cannot vacuum us for thorough cleaning until the litter is gone. He works on us gradually to eliminate one sinful habit at a time. There is a good scripture that gives us this picture in the Old Testament, Ex. 23:23-30:
23 For My angel will go before you and bring you in to the land of the Amorites, the Hittites, the Perizzites, the Canaanites, the Hivites and the Jebusites; and I will completely destroy them.
27 I will send My terror ahead of you, and throw into confusion all the people among whom you come, and I will make all your enemies turn their backs to you.
29 I will not drive them out before you in a single year, that the land may not become desolate and the beasts of the field become too numerous for you.
30 "I will drive them out before you little by little, until you become fruitful and take possession of the land."
Carole
J
Jenlyn
Guest
About the distance issue the closest secular order is about 4 hours away. Not workable with my family of 6.
I did find a lady that’s an OCDS. I found her name on an internet search. She is 20 minutes away. I’m waiting for a response from her.
I’ve been praying for about 9 months on what shall I do. Things associated to Carmelites keeps coming to my attention. Thank you for your prayers!
Jen
J
Jenlyn
Guest
Carole,
Yes I get the picture!
I was under the impression that we rid ourselves of the sin by our own will. We do this little by little. I did not know that God comes in to do the final clean up. That makes me feel a sense of relief. There is no way I’m going to be able to tackle my biggest sin: pride, by myself. There is hope for me after all!
Jen
J
Jenlyn
Guest
A love, I’m coming to realize, that is to big for me to imagine, express or feel. Every time I pray I realize a little bit more about His love for me. It never ends! Thanks be to God!
Jen
L
Leo44
Guest
Here are the cities in OH where there are communities,
Cincinnati, Cleveland, Columbus, Steubenville, Toledo
Your brother in Carmel, Leo
Cincinnati, Cleveland, Columbus, Steubenville, Toledo
Your brother in Carmel, Leo
J
Jenlyn
Guest
The one in Cleveland is a community of nuns. Is there a secular group attached to it? Their web page did not say.
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