The Walls

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Christianity, Dave Moore, Faith, God's mercy, healing, jubilee year of mercy, Lent, Lenten journey, mercy, overcoming our insecurities

“The Lord’s mercy often rides to the door of our heart upon the black horse of affliction.”― Charles Haddon Spurgeon

I’ve often felt ‘chained’ and surrounded by walls of affliction and suffering. Over the years I’ve realized these ‘walls’ and chains are so much ‘put on me’ but a self-inflicted prison. It wasn’t until I realized that the only way I could be ‘free’ and to have those walls come crashing down was to first be open to receiving God’s mercy. That I was worth it. 

When I knew I was worth God’s mercy and grace I realized these chains and walls were only fortified by lies and judgment. There was no need to be locked up in past sin and suffering.

This Lent take a good look at the internal walls that surround you. Are you chained inside with guilt and shame that God has already mercifully forgiven?

Take a moment to say to yourself, “I am worth His love. I am worth receiving His mercy. I am worth living in His grace.” Soon those walls will come crashing down.

I’m proud of Dave and Lauren Moore. A young couple I met seven years ago on a Young Adult retreat I led…they were young and in love. Not yet able to see what God had in store for them. Amazing to see where God leads us, especially when we are willing to live in His light, follow His call, and receive His mercy and grace.

Blessings

Shannon

What’s the Intent in Your Step?

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Catholic, exercising our faith, Faith, fortifying your faith, Lent, Lent reflections, mercy, rooted in Christ, rooted in faith

Driving down the road this morning I saw a few people on the sidewalk either walking or running. The younger they were they seemed to have an intense ‘got to get this done and get somewhere’ expression on their face.

The older couples who were walking, not meandering but walking for exercise, seemed to have a more purposeful look on their face. One that seemed to say, ‘I’m doing this for my health, so I can watch my grandchildren grow up.’

It made me think about the progression of why we do things in our age. Right now, truth be told, if I am exercising it’s because I want to lose a few pounds, or slim down my love handles. I don’t get up at 6am for my well-being and longevity.

But I can see that as I get older I will continue to ‘move’ in order to keep moving. I learned with having Rheumatoid Arthritis for so many years that when you remain stagnant you become more stiff and unable to move.

Headed to Mass I couldn’t help but correlate this with my faith. What’s my intent in my step? Am I doing all of these devotionals, Bible studies, prayer groups, etc just to get to where I want to be (Heaven) or am I doing them with the intent to strengthen my roots in my faith? Am I changing from the inside out?

Am I creating a solid faith foundation that will remain through the many more trials I’m sure to endure between now and my time to reach the ‘ultimate goal’?

See, it doesn’t matter what you ‘see’ me do…you’ll never ‘see’ where my roots are planted or how strong they might be, you only see the outside, but what matters most is what the work you see on the outside is doing for me on the inside.

What is your intent? Just as Jesus is in the desert in this Lenten season, with no one around to witness him thwarting the temptations of the devil, keep in mind none of us can see if your efforts are truly ‘fortifying’ your roots in faith. Yet, what you are doing for yourself on the inside is what matters most.

Blessings

Shannon

Mercy in Acceptance

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accepting others, accepting others faults, can't make anyone change, Dynamic Catholic, friendships, giving mercy, Luke 6:41, marriage, mercy, relationships, self care, year of mercy

I watched a short video today done by Dynamic Catholic on relationships. Whether you are Catholic or not the message pertains to us all. He discusses accepting others for who they are and taking in mind what they’ve been through in the past that has helped form behaviors and responses. By making the effort to do so we can find more patience within in to deal with difficult situations.

Dynamic Catholic Video 

It is a message that went along with the hard lessons I learned in this past year and that is how to extend mercy when you feel you should be the one to receive it. When we are hurt the most we want to change the situation or even change the person who hurt us in order to make it right, make it the way we think it should be.

Marriages, friendships and even families are often torn apart because of this lack of acceptance. It is natural for us to want to hold onto what we believe is the ‘right way’ or ‘acceptable’, however, it is more difficult to see our own flaws when we are focused solely on everyone else.

Granted, even as the priest in the video says, it does not condone all behaviors and circumstances but when we make the effort to look beyond the situation or frustration at hand and give the person the benefit of the doubt we are then learning to give mercy. By doing so we unwittingly receive extended mercy and grace.

At the same time, remember to self-care. It’s different from being self-absorbed. If you extend that mercy and take the time to understand the person’s background to their behavior and responses and yet they are abusive in nature then the mercy extended is in giving them over to God for correction while you find healthier relationships that extend the same to you.

 

Blessings

Shannon

Thank you to all who have been faithfully reading REDEEMED! Ch. 5 will be released on Monday! To get caught up or share with a friend here is a link to the blog site.  REDEEMED

Happy New Year!! This is YOUR Year!

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Abuse survivors, finding joy, happy new year, healing, healing after abuse, joy, mercy, New Year Blog, new year change, New Year Resolutions, year of mercy

Happy New Year!!

This is YOUR year to focus on just ONE aspect of your life you’d like to improve upon. That’s it just ONE. I think sometimes we get bogged down with a list of things we’d like to change, improve, or begin in our lives and it overwhelms us so stop. Instead we listen to discouraging internal dialogue that we are too weak, not good enough, or we list excuses and allow them to own us instead of owning them.

So this is YOUR year to do something. By picking ONE thing, taking it to prayer, and allowing God to work it through in your life then you can witness the achievement.

My one thing? Not just being intentional in finding JOY in a moment in every day but allowing myself to RECEIVE JOY, HOLD ONTO JOY, and to feel WORTHY OF JOY.

God bless you all!!! And remember…focus on one thing!!

Blessings

Shannon

Remember – every Monday night I will release a new chapter of REDEEMED. Beginning this Monday!!