Thought for Today

[BarbaraTherese]

THE IMITATION OF CHRIST

• by Thomas a Kempis -

The place matters little if the spirit of fervor is not there; nor
will peace be lasting if it is sought from the outside; if your
heart has no true foundation, that is, if you are not founded in Me,
you may change, but you will not better yourself. For when occasion arises and is accepted, you will find that from which you fled and worse.

   -------- Bk. 3, Chapter 27

 

[planter654]

Hi again BS…The Church does recognize such a thing as ‘spiritual martyrdom’ and chiefly in the case of Mary. Undoubtedly Our Lady died ‘a thousand deaths’ at the foot of the cross. Anyone too who has given birth to and then raised a child knows a type of spiritual martyrdom or ‘white martyr’ as you call it and, as you mention, getting up at night to a child when all one wants to do is have a good night’s sleep - just once!!! In fact I would venture to state that every single life in any faithful baptized person for sure (and I would venture to say in any loving human life) will know a spiritual martyrdom of some kind and of some degree. Every time I put another first, I die a little - I die to myself and what I may want and desire. Every time I put what God may be asking of me ahead of what I may want, I die to myself. Somehow or other, in some way or other we are all “crucified with Christ”…and “make up in our own bodies what was lacking in the Sufferings of Christ” - an astounding thought!!!

Perhaps one of the worst kinds of ‘spritual martyrdom’s’ can be that where our life is the totally necessary most ordinary and full of the mundane and routine. One can either lament this, or one can embrace it for the love of God and as God’s Will for one’s life.

Here is an entry from the diary of St. Faustina:

The routine and very ordinary and mundane is a true poverty. St. Faustina found her poverty in enduring patiently her illness. Poverty takes a myriad of forms in life. Again, I can either lament this, or I can embrace it as a true reflection of the Poverty of Christ and in unity with that.
A white garment, incidentally, is mentioned in the Book of Revelations as identifying the martyr “the white robed army of martyrs”. Reading a diary such as that of St. Faustina who saw and spoke with Christ reminds me of the words to St. Thomas “blessed are they who have not seen and yet believe”. Living life on Faith alone can be another form of poverty. “I have no sight of you, Lord, nor do I speak with you, yet I do believe”.

Beautiful said and what I truly believe. It is the simple way for I am a very little child of God. Only as a little child can we become “Spiritual Mature”, don’t you think?

God Bless…a very little child of God.

 

[Bridge]

Love is indeed “ecstasy”, not in the sense of a moment of intoxication, but rather as a journey, an ongoing exodus out of the closed inward-looking self towards its liberation through self-giving, and thus towards authentic self-discovery and indeed the discovery of God.

-Pope Benedict XVI, Deus Caritas Est [God is Love]

 

[BarbaraTherese]

Beautiful said and what I truly believe. It is the simple way for I am a very little child of God. Only as a little child can we become “Spiritual Mature”, don’t you think?

God Bless…a very little child of God.

Hello Planter654…To God we are all very little children…hence the more I experience myself as a little child the more I am experiencing as God experiences and to experience as God experiences I need to be united to His Will. To be united to God’s Will is a spiritual maturing and indeed, maturity.

Someone very wisely wrote something like this - a child to God but childish to no one…I rather liked the comment.

Thank you very much for your (name removed by moderator)ut, Planter…reading through this thread there are some really inspiring thoughts - and quite a few I needed to read and take on board for myself and my own profit for sure!!! The Holy Spirit works in a myriad of ways and means…and very often in what one reads.

I am currently trying in spare moments to catch up with my email Inbox and am thus coming across gems sent to me. Here is another:

When shall it be that we shall taste the sweetness of the Divine Will in all that happens to us, considering in everything only His good pleasure, by whom it is certain that adversity is sent with as much love as prosperity, and as much for our good? - Saint Jane Frances de Chantal (1572-1641)

 

[planter654]

Hello Planter654…To God we are all very little children…hence the more I experience myself as a little child the more I am experiencing as God experiences and to experience as God experiences I need to be united to His Will. To be united to God’s Will is a spiritual maturing and indeed, maturity.

Someone very wisely wrote something like this - a child to God but childish to no one…I rather liked the comment.

Barbara Therese my thoughts exactly.

“A child to God but childish to no one.” I like that comment also.

A child to God
Becoming a child within knowing my nothingness, without God, how very little I am in God’s eyes. Totally surrendering my very life to God’s will and his desire for me, trusting only in him! A helpless child totally dependent to his loving care. Jesus showed us how. We need to simply look at all that Jesus experienced.

The ending of…“Childish to no one” also means to me: When we are looked as foolish, belittled by others, who? Those who judge others, thinking they have far greater wisdom, understanding, knowledge, those who do you wrong etc. I as being a adult in the flesh,chose to accept my prescutions, my trials, tribulations joyfully, as experiences needed to be united to God’s will!! Thus being “childish to no one” in the body of the flesh but doing so remaining faithful to God as a very little child, serving him only as a little child both in the flesh and within our spirit.

Thus I begin to “conquer myselve” my sins, which seperates me from God’s Holy will and desires for me. I no longer serve the flesh which is already dead to sin, but use our flesh that is dead for doing good, in obedience to God. thou as a mature adult physcially I live out my experiences as a child, thus the “whole” of all that I am and give remains faithful to God as a very little child, I slowly become not two but “ONE”. All that I am now moves as “ONE” as little child of God

I experience humility, humbleness pride of the flesh as a child etc. in our “mature physical body” being “childish to no one”, thus remaining strong faithful in unity to God as “a little child” becoming spiritual mature in my growth to Holiness. Thus I become “ONE” in all that I am with I AM, I am “ONE”.

thank You God Bless…a very little child of God

 

[planter654]

My thoughts for today

I have come to know through Jesus experience his teachings to me that it is not the Scripture experts those who are professionally concerned with God ,who recognize him: for they are too caught up in the “intricacies” of their detailed knowledge. Their great learning distracts them from “simply” gazing upon the 'whole" upon the “reality” of God as he has revealed himself through Jesus. As God revealed himself through Moses, Abraham, Issac, Jacob, holy prophets etc. Jesus “experiences” his “visible” works that were accomplished, revealed the “invisible God”. For experts begin to argue over their own self pride, thoughts which takes them even further away from knowing God personally. Books begin to have human thoughts, myths till it no longer is of any true knowledge of God or who God is at all. More arguing than experiencing Jesus, knowing him personally.

I can’t help thinking God will take all theses "books’ and through them in the Jordan River. Jesus said: “time for such ignorance has passed”. In the OT up to the time of Jesus all knew God existed, they “orally” spoke of him, which orally was handed down through out the generations.They all experienced the reality of God in their daily lifes. They experienced God’s blessings and his curses when they were not obedient to him. Those who claim to be prophets of God but were not, experienced his wrath. No one added their own myths or their own thoughts how to serve God for they knew God was a reality and they experience his wrath, he existed. Up to the time of Jesus, after did all these books begin. But up to that time all knew about God orally, experienced him personally and more so than we do today with all these books.

All the diaries (books) of the Saints, I see their day to day personal experiences with Jesus. They all had a very “personal relationship” with God. They did not want to write a diary of themselves ( humble) for they never wanted to interfer with God’s work. But were commanded to do so from their authorities. But their experiences with Jesus taught them more than any book they could have read and myself also. They trials tribulations suffering was “great nourishment” to their souls and ours also.

They praised God for all that he did for them in their daily lives, hardships, trials, their eniemies, how they talk to God, ask, prayed for etc. God was in their day to day lifes their experiences taught them more of God’s power, his glory, to know him personally etc. It was like a daily diary, but their daily diary was not written, their diary was in their thoughts, their experiences, their boasting of what God had done for them, their prayers, thanksgiving, in asking, in talking to God, talking to others, serving others, sufferings shared, their joys etc

But for me to truly know God is to experience him. I need to throw away my books and live this precious gift of life given to me seeking, asking, knocking to know him in the silence of my heart, soul, mind, strength, yes my body. Hard for me to explain. But when I first open my eyes in the morning the first thought is God inviting him in my life today to be with me where ever I go and to do all that pleases him. Put time aside through out the day just to sit in silence one on one with Jesus. Seek his image before me always in others and what I do, I do for him.

They did not have idol distractions that we have to day. God was spoken of daily within the family, don’t you think? I ponder we go to church onces a week the rest of the week, for the greater minority no one goes at all. But going to church is not what makes us HOLY it was what we do, experience, serving God, being obedient to God will and desire for us. I am to accomplish what God desires for me. Jesus said: you serve me with you lips, but your heart is far from me. As Jesus did for me I am to do also for others. For even God worked for 6 days and rested on the 7th day. God continues still and I believe Jesus generation has not ended not till all the gentles are in.

God Bless …Just my thoughts for today. …little child of God

 

[BarbaraTherese]

Nobody must rejoice in the security of their own good deeds. As long as we are still experiencing the uncertainties of this life, we do not know what end may follow … we must not trust in our own virtues. - Pope Saint Gregory the Great

“Sayings of Light and Love,” by St. John of the Cross (jottings
from his notebooks)

1. Reflect that the most delicate flower loses its fragrance and
   withers fastest; therefore guard yourself against seeking to walk
   in a spirit of delight, for you will not be constant. Choose rather
   for yourself a robust spirit, detached from everything, and you
   will discover abundant peace and sweetness, for delicious and
   durable fruit is gathered in a cold and dry climate.

 

[TOP]

“…gathered in a cold and dry climate.”. This is my second winter of solitude. Yes, I have family, a close friend or two I talk to every couple of months and church. Sometime today, I’ll have to go down the driveway and cut down a tree that has cracked in half by the wind that poses a danger to the kids near their bus stop. A roller for the clothes dryer is coming fedex today, so I’ll be replacing that as well this afternoon. Then finally the clothes will rotate fast enough to dry in the proper time. The kids will get off the bus at 3:00pm and 4:10pm for the high schooler, asking for peanut butter sandwiches to ruin their dinners. One of my friends gave me a 7 week old rottie pup I’m training. So I have to constantly take her outside to train her, but she is learning fast. Whats the point? The Lord will find a way to fill your day. I’ll see what He sends me for tomorrow in the morning if I wake. Tim

 

[BarbaraTherese]

We prevent God from giving us the great spiritual gifts He has in
store for us, because we do not give thanks for daily gifts. We
think we dare not be satisfied with the small measure of spiritual
knowledge, experience, and love that has been given to us, and thatwe must constantly be looking forward eagerly for the highest good.
Then we deplore the fact that we lack the deep certainty, the
strong faith, and the rich experience that God has given to others,
and we consider this lament to be pious. We pray for the big thingsand forget to give thanks for the ordinary, small (and yet reallynot small) gifts. How can God entrust great things to one who will not thankfully receive from Him the little things?

• Dietrich Bonhoeffer

(What you have right now is enough. Give thanks to God for the
small things in your life.)

Jesus said “he who is faithful in small things will be faithful in great” and it struck me after reading the quotation above that the icing on the cake of “being faithful” is to thank The Lord for what I have in the way of good things though they be small, which have surely come from His Hands since all good small and great flows from Him as source and origin.

 

[BarbaraTherese]

• “The Practice of the Presence of God,” by Brother Lawrence

That he had always been governed by love, without selfish views;and that having resolved to make the love of GOD the end of all his actions, he had found reasons to be well satisfied with his method.
That he was pleased when he could take up a straw from the
ground for the love of GOD, seeking Him only, and nothing else, **

not even His gifts.

**

• Second Conversation

 

[BarbaraTherese]

Once you recognize that

in and of yourself you don’t even exist

,
you’ll begin to recognize and appreciate God as the source of your existence and of every goodness above and beyond that existence, both earthly and spiritual. Everything we have and everything we discover within ourselves is a gift of God’s endless goodness and unlimited, matchless love.

• Catherine of Siena, “Letters”

 

[BarbaraTherese]

Mistakes are only detour signs on the journey of life, not stop signs.

 

[BarbaraTherese]

**

Grace is the light by which men see the way to walk out of sin; and grace is the staff without whose help no man is able to rise out of sin.

- Saint Thomas More
**

 

[BarbaraTherese]

“Sayings of Light and Love,”
by St. John of the Cross
(jottings
from his notebooks)

1. If you make use of your reason, you are like one who eats
   substantial food; but if you are moved by the satisfaction of your
   will, you are like one who eats insipid fruit.

 

[BarbaraTherese]

The patient and humble endurance of the cross, whatever nature it may be, is the highest work we have to do. - Saint Katharine Drexel (1858-1955)

If there be a true way that leads to the Everlasting Kingdom,
it is most certainly that of suffering,
patiently endured.
- Saint Colette (1381-1447)

 

[planter654]

BarbaraTherese:
Thank you and beautifully said, describing the true meaning when Jesus said “thosese who do not work have no right to eat”

God Bless

 

[BarbaraTherese]

Whatever did not fit in with my plan did lie within the plan of God. I have an ever deeper and firmer belief that nothing is merely an accident when seen in the light of God, that my whole life down to the smallest details has been marked out for me in the plan of Divine Providence and has a completely coherent meaning in God’s all-seeing eyes. And so I am beginning to rejoice in the light of glory wherein this meaning will be unveiled to me.
- Saint Teresa Benedicta of the Cross (1891-1942)

 

[Belle10]

Whatever did not fit in with my plan did lie within the plan of God. I have an ever deeper and firmer belief that nothing is merely an accident when seen in the light of God, that my whole life down to the smallest details has been marked out for me in the plan of Divine Providence and has a completely coherent meaning in God’s all-seeing eyes. And so I am beginning to rejoice in the light of glory wherein this meaning will be unveiled to me.

• Saint Teresa Benedicta of the Cross (1891-1942)

BarbaraTherese, that was just what I needed to hear (read ) today. Thank you! God bless you! :hug1:

 

[BarbaraTherese]

BarbaraTherese, that was just what I needed to hear (read ) today. Thank you! God bless you! :hug1:

… …Deo Gratius! and may The Lord shower His blessings on you also…

Apologies it has taken a few days to catch up with your post…Barb

 

[BarbaraTherese]

**

Whatever did not fit in with my plan did lie within the plan of God. I have an ever deeper and firmer belief that nothing is merely an accident when seen in the light of God, that my whole life down to the smallest details has been marked out for me in the plan of Divine Providence and has a completely coherent meaning in God’s all-seeing eyes. And so I am beginning to rejoice in the light of glory wherein this meaning will be unveiled to me.

*- *Saint Teresa Benedicta of the Cross (1891-1942)
**