PraY
Prayer Tool
In the most basic sense, prayer is simply listening to and talking to God. Having a conversation seems simple enough, but sometimes it is difficult to know where to begin or to keep focused. One tool that some people find useful is keeping a prayer journal. Writing our thoughts and feelings down gives us a different experience than just thinking or feeling them. Sometimes in the writing we discover insights or nuances that had not occurred to us. And sometime, the act of writing can help us to hear God's voice in the midst of chaos and peace, joys and sorrows.
Lent is a great time to try on a new prayer style. Two helpful articles are linked below.
In the most basic sense, prayer is simply listening to and talking to God. Having a conversation seems simple enough, but sometimes it is difficult to know where to begin or to keep focused. One tool that some people find useful is keeping a prayer journal. Writing our thoughts and feelings down gives us a different experience than just thinking or feeling them. Sometimes in the writing we discover insights or nuances that had not occurred to us. And sometime, the act of writing can help us to hear God's voice in the midst of chaos and peace, joys and sorrows.
Lent is a great time to try on a new prayer style. Two helpful articles are linked below.
Lent: A Time to Pray
The season of Lent calls us to examine our lives to see where there is room for improvement. We are called be people of prayer during Lent. It can be tempting to set ambitious goals for prayer, only to have real life step in the path of those goals and frustrate us. Linked below is an article from the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops to help us make realistic plans for prayer this Lent.
The season of Lent calls us to examine our lives to see where there is room for improvement. We are called be people of prayer during Lent. It can be tempting to set ambitious goals for prayer, only to have real life step in the path of those goals and frustrate us. Linked below is an article from the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops to help us make realistic plans for prayer this Lent.
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Discovering the New Testament
I love books. I love to read, I love the smell and feel of a book. I love libraries. From an early age, I was taught not only to appreciate books, but to take very good care of them. They are valuable and to be treated gently. Damaging or losing a library book was a huge deal. Writing in a book? Unheard of, especially textbooks and library books.
In college, we were encouraged to use a highlighter in our books and make notes in the margins. It took me awhile to be comfortable doing that! And to write in a Bible? What?
But, as we see in the article below, God wants us to use all the tools we need to fully appreciate, understand, and live the Word of God. Of course, we are to treat the Word of God reverently. But writing prayerful comments in the margins or marking a page is a far cry from throwing a Bible on the floor or leaving it out in the elements. Read on for more.
I love books. I love to read, I love the smell and feel of a book. I love libraries. From an early age, I was taught not only to appreciate books, but to take very good care of them. They are valuable and to be treated gently. Damaging or losing a library book was a huge deal. Writing in a book? Unheard of, especially textbooks and library books.
In college, we were encouraged to use a highlighter in our books and make notes in the margins. It took me awhile to be comfortable doing that! And to write in a Bible? What?
But, as we see in the article below, God wants us to use all the tools we need to fully appreciate, understand, and live the Word of God. Of course, we are to treat the Word of God reverently. But writing prayerful comments in the margins or marking a page is a far cry from throwing a Bible on the floor or leaving it out in the elements. Read on for more.
Jesus Symbols
Jesus is called by many names in the Bible and in our Catholic Tradition. We hear him referred to as the Lamb of God (John 1:29, 36). He says of himself, "I am the vine..." (John 15:5) and "I am the light of the world" (John 8:12). Discover more symbols for Jesus in the brief article linked below.
Jesus is called by many names in the Bible and in our Catholic Tradition. We hear him referred to as the Lamb of God (John 1:29, 36). He says of himself, "I am the vine..." (John 15:5) and "I am the light of the world" (John 8:12). Discover more symbols for Jesus in the brief article linked below.
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Do You Have Cabin Fever? Here are Some Ideas!
It's COLD outside! Iowa winters can be challenging in the best of times, but with a pandemic and the unusually cold weather this February, many are finding this to be a very long winter. The article linked below offers some practical ideas to counteract the isolation and boredom some are experiencing.
It's COLD outside! Iowa winters can be challenging in the best of times, but with a pandemic and the unusually cold weather this February, many are finding this to be a very long winter. The article linked below offers some practical ideas to counteract the isolation and boredom some are experiencing.