Sunday Wisdom

Praise God for our baptism in the Triune God! It is true we are all baptized in the Trinity and in doing so we not only commit ourselves to Jesus , but we allow Him to wash away our sins. 

The sign of the cross can be a simple prayer. When my children were little and when I taught school, I thought it was an important reminder to say this simple prayer whenever we make the sign of the cross.

In the name of the Father, who created me…..and of the Son, who saved me…..and in the Holy Spirit who guides me.

Today on Trinity Sunday, let the sign of the Cross and this outward sign of God’s love fill you with hope. As an adopted child of God, you are a member of the body of Christ and you are loved! You are a temple of the Holy Spirit, so trust in His love and guidance.

Thanks for stopping by!
Until next time, be blessed, Renae

Today we celebrate Pentecost, the coming of the Holy Spirit. We can find consolation in the life of Jesus and how he always brings peace and reconciliation.

So let’s meditate a bit on peace. What is peace? Where is there a lack of peace in my life?

The gift of the Holy Spirit brings us ever closer to the Lord. So when it comes to inner peace we need to ask ourselves, “Do I allow God to move in me so that I can offer the gift of peace to others.”

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Until next time, be blessed, Renae

“So they may be one, just as we are one.”  As I reflect on this line in today’s gospel, I am struck by how divide our world seems to be.  Not just the world in general, but even those who believe in Christ who do not seem to be united.  The Lord longs for us to be united in universal love so we can be filled with Joy.

“Consecrate them in the truth.”  He wants us to know in His dying and rising we are protected and called to a greater holiness.  So today, let us join Jesus in His prayer to bring healing and overcome division.  My you feel the loving arms of Jesus around you today.

Thanks for stopping by!
Until next time, be blessed, Renae

Our gospel today is all about love and what a great day to honor our Mothers. I am very thankful for my mom and am blessed that she is still in my life. A mother’s love is pure and I know this because I too am blessed to be a mom.

I have two beautiful children, a daughter who is teaching first grade in Chicago and a son who just graduated from college with an Electrical Engineering Technology degree. I am very proud (in a good way) of both of them and am grateful to my Lord who has allowed me the privilege of being their mom. Happy Mother’s Day!

Thanks for stopping by!
Until next time, be blessed, Renae

I don’t know about you, but I do not have much of a green thumb.  I love crafting and making cards is therapy for me, but a master gardener I am not. I like flowers and gardening and although I am not great at it, I do know that in order for anything to bear fruit, the branches must be pruned.

This is also true with our spiritual lives. We must be pruned to bear great fruit.  Jesus said, “I am the vine; you are the branches. If you remain in me and I in you, you will bear much fruit; apart from me you can do nothing. ~John 15:5

Pruning can be difficult and we don’t always understand suffering, but the one who created us does and works all things for our good. All we need to do is trust.  We can receive strength and life from Jesus because He blesses our efforts and makes us fruitful, but we need to stay connected to Him. We cannot do it alone. 

So let us attach ourselves firmly to Jesus through prayer, prune anything that separates us from God and let go of whatever is blocking us from connecting to Jesus, the true vine. Then we will receive life more abundantly.

Today is Good Shepherd Sunday and we are reminded that we need to take time to know His voice.  To really know the Shepherd’s voice we need to listen with our hearts.   When is the last time you took the opportunity to come aside and rest awhile so you could listen for the Shepherd’s calling?

Jesus offers all of us unconditional love and support, but He also wants us to return that gift of love by serving others, by taking the time to be a little more kind and to love one another.  In a crazy world with so much violence all around, we need not be discouraged because Jesus is our gateway to salvation. 

So go ahead and run to Him.  Do not worry about what you lack, let Him shepherd you.  Trust in His love and find peace.

Thanks for stopping by!
Until next time, be blessed, Renae

Today’s gospel reminds us that we do not always have to have all the answers. Jesus continually instructed His apostles and He was with them, so of course He will be patient with us.

Jesus wants to guide us, we just need to open our hearts and trust. So do not be troubled. Let us open our minds and allow God to fill us with His mercy and peace.

Thanks for stopping by!
Until next time, be blessed, Renae

My Lord and My God have mercy on us! Today we celebrate Divine Mercy Sunday and we see in the gospel how Jesus offers Thomas, also know as doubting Tom, love and mercy.

Thomas needs to see Jesus to believe. Blessed are those who have not seen, but believe. Notice how Jesus is so patient with Thomas and does not give up on him. Jesus never gives up on any of us. How do you give and received the mercy of our Lord?

Jesus died for all of us and when we dwell in his loving wounds we allow ourselves to be loved by Him which gives us the courage to offer mercy to others. So today, dwell in His mercy and be filled with hope, for you are loved!

Thanks for stopping by!
Until next time, be blessed, Renae

He is Risen! Praise God! 
While Lent can be a long journey, it is always an amazing opportunity to take time to re-dedicate our lives to God and adjust our priorities and in doing so we prepare our hearts for Easter.

Today on Easter Sunday Jesus once again brings hope to us all through Mary Magdalene, the one He believed in, and the one He saved from sin and despair. Mary is the first to recognize the “ordinary gardener” as her Lord and Savior and the first to experience the Resurrection!

Imagine how her sadness was turned into JOY!  Jesus entrusts her with the mission to tell the others that He has Risen!  Today we too can share in her joy and can spread the good news of the gospel!  The joy of the Gospel is to experience the Love of God in Christ. So allow the Resurrection to remove all fear and anxiety from your life and to renew and strengthen your faith!

Lots of people begin January with a list of New Year’s resolutions, but what about an Easter Season “New Life Resolution”? It does not have to be a long list, just create a list of the top three things you would like to make a priority in your new life and strive to live them out daily.

This Easter Season, let us all open our hearts and allow the love of Christ to transform us. Happy Easter!

Thanks for stopping by!
Until next time, be blessed, Renae

As we enter into Holy Week we are reminded of what the Kingdom of God looks like. Jesus our King emptied Himself for us. He is our servant King who humbly loved us enough to die for our sins and still loves us and continues to offer His love, mercy and forgiveness.

God’s way of royalty is not the world’s way and through His death and resurrection we have been saved and adopted as a beloved member of the royal family.

We can live out our royal calling in love and service for others. This week as we walk the way of the Cross with our Lord let us offer Him our struggles, sadness and anxiety and remember that He awaits us all with a crown of glory.

Thanks for stopping by!
Until next time, be blessed, Renae