True North Missionaries Journal

A few months ago while I was praying to God, I asked Him a question
A question that has been lingering in my mind.

I asked God,
“What gift shall I need, what gift shall I ask for O Lord?”

I felt restless, so I decided to go to the prayer room
As I reached the room
I immediately felt heavy
My shoulders were giving in
My hands finding its way to each other
My knees on the ground

There were so many things running through my mind
Aside from the question above, other questions started to emerge
I looked up at the altar
I saw the statue of the Sacred Heart of Jesus
I was reminded of His Sacred Heart
The heart that reminded me of my ongoing journey towards sacredness

I asked yet another question,
“ O Lord, how are you calling me to sacredness?”

I reached for my Bible and prayed for the guidance of the Holy Spirit to lead me.

As I was reading, I was brought to this passage:

“ The spirit of Wisdom is intelligent and holy” (Wisdom 7:22)

This was exactly what I needed to hear.
I paused, absorbed each word, and remained in silence
Then I continued reading

“It is of one nature but reveals itself in many ways. It is not made of any material substance, and it moves about freely. It is clear, clean, and confident; it cannot be harmed. It loves what is good. It is sharp and unconquerable, kind, and a friend of humanity. It is dependable and sure, and has no worries.”

The Lord speaks

so personally

so profoundly

I feel the Lord was answering my prayer by showing me this passage.

Wisdom leads one to sacredness.

Wisdom

(one nature, reveals itself in many ways)

 =

Intelligent

(loves, good, sharp, unconquerable, kind)

+

Holy

(clear, clean, confident, no worries)

Wisdom is a gift.

Wisdom is holy.
Wisdom shows presence, but remains humble.
Wisdom is a friend of humanity.

Lord God, I am nothing. I know nothing. Humble me, empty me and fill me. If it is your will allow me to be continue to acknowledgeYour Grace through the gifts we are so unworthy to receive. 

Amen.

🙂

This morning, as I washed my face, I opened my eyes and stared right into my hand and took note of the water I was holding. Having been washing my face for (blank) many years now, how have I only taken note of something so simple now. There, sitting still right on my palms was literally a handful of clarity…

Often times have I prayed for clarity or insight about the things in my life. Every morning, and every night, I had held something so clear in my hands, yet only noticed it now. How much more for the times that God has willingly placed moments of clarity in my life, but out of the lack of sensitivity, have I missed the chance to catch them? And in the way water washes away the dirt from our faces and wakes us up and/or refreshes us after a long day, God does the same for us in our spiritual lives…

Every day, and every night, God gives us moments to learn something new… moments to wash away the mud of our hearts and the dust in our eyes to see Him more clearly… to allow Him to be our Clarity.

So my prayer is this…

Lord, may we be able to walk with steady and open hearts so that in times that You so carefully place moments of clarity in our lives, we may be ready and willing to accept it and grow in a clearer understanding of how You are loving us, and how You want us to love You back, most specially in those around us, 

Amen.

So, I’ve had a somewhat personally tough week. A lot of internal warfare for sure, but its nice when you surely focus on the Lord, He does what He can to remind you that we need him. SO #PraiseGod always.

Anyways, onto my reflection for this week.

Today marks the beginning of our advent season. As usual I prepared for myself to attend mass on my own simply because my family either goes on their own individual time or does their own thing. Today was different. It was like Christ was calling us to be together at this specific mass. 

I had work. My sisters had work. My parents were coming from home. Yet in God’s timing, we all made to our first mass together maybe even for the first time this year…all on the start of the advent season…

I went to confession and it was very fitting that the priest told me, when the Lord calls you so providentially or gathers everyone together…how much of a desire does He have then for you all together to be back in communion, and in relationship, and friendship with Him?

Wow….I was very overwhelmed at that moment by what felt like the purest love from the Lord…

It was a beautiful site. To see my parents pray. To see my sisters pray. This is what I’ve been missing out on in the last year as a result of having different schedules. Let the Lord made a way for us to experience the preparation of His coming.

I take it as a challenge from God. To help prepare each other during this advent season…

I take it even more as a challenge..that this preparation is leading us to LOVE MORE. 

Coincidental? I think not. Providential.

Lord, thanks. I want to be a source of unity within my family.  Thank you for also blessing my mother with another year of life. You’re the best.

Deo Gloria

This post is from the CFC Manitoba Group which sends out a daily email meditation from the gospel of the day. I usually just bypass the email but today, I decided to read  it today and the Lord really spoke to me because He met me where I am. Now, I believe He is calling me to not only make the effort to read these daily mediations but to really grow in my prayer time and intimate relationship with him. Thus, relying on Him fully, overcoming temptations, CARING to grow in Holiness, not remaining idle and DOING something about my shortcomings, selfishness, ignorance and refusal of Jesus Christ.

Deo Gloria.

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Saturday (November 29): “Lest your hearts be weighed down”

In our generation we are so used to the social norm of doing things that we are so used to being the in the comfort zone to the point we don’t notice we are in the our own comfort zone. It’s crazy how our lives are on repeat and we don’t notice it is. Going day by day doing the exact same thing with out making a difference in our own lives or in others. Going through our daily lives going to work, school, service, church, or even spending time with our family. In comfort zone we don’t notice we are just confiding in… That we are to scared to leave… That we are so blind that we are standing in the middle of the comfort zone and not willing to take those few steps to start walking. It is crazy how the world willing to stay standing in their comfort zone. That they done want to leave. And that everyone willing to have the life on repeat for the sake of being able to predict what is going to happen next or the future.

This makes people not willing to take the risk of being great or even being the best versions of themselves. Standing on what you think is the safest place to stay could be the worst place to be. Taking to chance of walking out of the comfort zone that only few have done is something no one wants to do because it is not the social norm or doing the opposite of what everyone else does. Maybe, just Maybe this risk of asking girl out, to moving away, saying yes to Lords call… May change our life forever.

For the last 8 months I have been standing and waiting… Not willing to do anything else because I was so comfortable in how I felt even know it was nothing. Not finding a job, Not having service, Not having family time, Not having love life, Not having prayer life, Not having weekly sacraments. But here I am now seeing I need to do the completely opposite.

So… I am here… at this moment… deciding what I need to do…

Will I swim against the current or will float with it?

I say this to you that I will swim again the current and I will be the best version of me. Taking the risk so that I will be different than any other person in this world. That the Cry of my Heart of the Lord will not only be Cry with in me but it will be shown to the whole world. To the point that when people see me. They will say this Man of God is so willing to be the one that will not stand in his comfort zone that sociality has set and that he has never be in comfort zone and willing to say no to the comfort.

“Here I am not standing still for the Glory of God But Here I am Walking for Glory of God. I shall not only be the Light of The World but the one to be Giving the Light”

 

“Have no fear of moving into the unknown. Simply step out fearlessly knowing that I am with you, therefore no harm can befall you; all is very, very well. Do this in complete faith and confidence.”

Saint John Paul II

“All agitation is destructive of good. All calm is constructive of good, and at the same time destructive of evil. When man wants evil destroyed so often he rushes to action. It is wrong. First be still and know that I am Good. Calm is trust in action. Only trust, perfect trust can keep one calm. Never be afraid of any circumstances or difficulties that help you to cultivate this calm. As the world, to attain, has to learn speed, you, to attain, have to learn calm. All great work for Me is done first in the individual soul of the worker.” 

Upon reading this, I remember all the times I have prayed for peace… peace for a country, peace in a specific situation, peace in relationships surrounding me, peace here and peace there. And although with good intention, we can often forget true peace begins from the person yearning and praying for it. To allow it to enter those around us, we must carry Peace in our heart, and be a true source of Him to others. And in this, I remember the wise words of a mentor…

“When we pray for something, God does not just give it to us. He brings us moments and opportunities to receive them and grow in them.”

Lord, may You mold our hearts to lead us in Truth in bringing Your Peace into this world…

AMEN.

Today, Jesus entered my room wearing a bright robe and girded with a golden belt, His whole figure resplendent with great majesty. He said, My daughter, why are you giving in to thoughts of fear? I answered, “O Lord, You know why.” And He said, Why? “This work frightens me. You know that I am incapable of carrying it out.” And He said, Why? “You see very well that I am not in good health, that I have no education, that I have no money, that I am an abyss of misery, that I fear contacts with people. Jesus, I desire only You. You can release me from this.” And the Lord said to me, My daughter, what you have said is true. You are very miserable, and it pleased Me to carry out this work of mercy precisely through you who are nothing but misery itself. Do not fear; I will not leave you alone. Do whatever you can in this matter; I will accomplish everything that is lacking in you. You know what is within your power to do; do that. The Lord looked into the depth of my being with great kindness; I thought I would die for joy under that gaze. The Lord disappeared, and joy, strength and power to act remained in my soul. But I was surprised that the Lord did not want to release me and that He is not changing anything He has once said. And despite all these joys, there is always a shadow of sorrow. I see that love and sorrow go hand in hand.
881 January 14, 1937.

Lord, i’m afraid, anxious and growing very weary. But despite all of this, I trust you. Help me to trust in myself.

St. Faustina, simple with child-like trust, intercede for me.
Jezu, ufam Tobie.