God is so good and blesses us at the most appropriate time. My spiritual journey (especially over the last two years) has provided me with so many realizations. Learning for me is about living the lessons. Hearing about something and then experiencing it first hand gives you valuable insight. Learning to be quick to listen is only the start. I have stated on this blog that worrying is a sin. It is wrong because you are failing to trust that God will take care of you. We all know that the worrying does not have any good benefits for us and certainly has bad repercussions related to our health, both mental and physical. Yet we are usually quick to worry and think about all of the bad things that can happen in any given situation. We have all experienced the burning in the stomach that sets off so many other ailments. It also usually causes us to be short with others around us. In the end, most of the things we imagined happening could never come true. Most of the things that do happen don't even approach the level of disaster we envisioned. Yet we fall back into the same pattern time and again. Stopping this habit can be accomplished and the answer is prayer. Putting your fears and worries in God's hands is the best way to avoid the destructive behavior or worry. My God is an awesome God. As Twila Paris sings, "He reigns from Heaven above...with wisdom, power, and LOVE." That is what we should replace with our doubts and worries. The fact that God's love is so powerful it can replace all the negative thoughts and feelings we have if we just say yes. Say yes to the Lord.
Finding St Anthony Among the Lost Items
Saint Anthony of Padua, though often associated with finding lost articles, was primarily known in his lifetime as a powerful and eloquent preacher. Originally a Canon Regular of St. Augustine, he was inspired to join the newly formed Franciscan order after witnessing the martyrdom of the first Franciscan missionaries in Morocco. His conversion to the mendicant life under St. Francis of Assisi transformed him, deepening his commitment to poverty, humility, and evangelical preaching. Gifted with profound theological knowledge and a captivating speaking style, he traveled across Italy and France, drawing immense crowds with his clear and passionate sermons, converting many and combating heresy with his unwavering faith and intellectual rigor. Beyond his public ministry, St. Anthony was a mystic who enjoyed profound spiritual experiences, most notably a vision of the Infant Jesus. This intimate connection with the Christ Child is a hallmark of his iconography, often depicting him c...
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