"Instead, be concerned above everything else with the Kingdom of God and with what He requires of you, and He will provide you with all these other things." - Matthew 6:33

I'm sure I've sent this verse before - it's one of my all-time favorites - but I thought it was really fitting for this week. I know a lot of people, myself included, are in the middle of finals week, and during this time it can be really easy to get completely absorbed in what we're doing. This to an extent, is a good thing. We should focus on studying, we should try to do our best, etc. However, this can get taken a little too far in that we forget that this isn't everything. Yes, they are important tests and we need to do our best, but in the end it really doesn't matter how we did on a couple tests. It all will work out in the end even though it might not seem like it right now. This goes beyond finals as well. How often do we get completely wrapped up in whatever is going on in our life, good or bad, that we forget to pray? This verse helps to remind us that we should put our relationship with God and our journey to the Kingdom before all else in our lives. If we do this, then God will provide everything else we need. He will help us with our tests or whatever it is we are dealing with in the moment. Ultimately, God provides. Put Him first and allow Him to provide for you. He loves you. 

The quote for this week comes from Bl. Pier Giorgio Frassati: 

"To live without faith, without a patrimony to defend, without a steady struggle for truth, that is not living, but existing."

Have an awesome week! :) God bless! 

"Search for the Lord and for His strength; continually seek Him." - 1 Chronicles 16:11

I think this is a great verse for the beginning of Advent. Although it can be hard to tell with the commercialized way Christmas has become in our society, these four weeks leading up to the celebration of Christ's birth are such a sacred time and can be such a blessing to us if we truly enter into them. It is distracting in our culture, with stores start putting up Christmas stuff sometimes as early as Halloween and the constant commercials. But Advent is not a time to pretend it is Christmas already... In fact, it is here for a very specific purpose. Although society is trying to forget this, the real meaning of Christmas is the fact that the God who created the universe and created you and me became a real human being, came down to earth, and made it so that we can live forever! That is something to truly rejoice about!! But it is also something that needs to be prepared for. And I don't mean preparation in the sense of shopping, but rather in the sense of our hearts. Yesterday at Mass, father said that "everything worthwhile requires preparation." And I think this is completely true. To do well on a test, you study. And the same is true for this season of Advent. It is a time for us to prepare our hearts to receive the Lord of lords. As this verse says, it is time to search for the Lord and His strength. It is a time to remove all those things in our life that are distracting us. I challenge you to take advantage of this time of preparation. Take some time to make the way for the Lord in your heart. Spend time with Him. He delights in you. 

Today's saint quote comes from St. Alphonsus Liguori: 

"But one thing is necessary, and it is not beauty, not health, not talent. It is the salvation of our immortal souls." 

Have a fantastic week filled with the Lord's peace! God bless you! 

"The Lord gives his people strength. The Lord blessed them with peace." - Psalm 29:11

This is such a straightforward verse, but one that is really full of truth. The Lord will give us peace and strength. We need to simply trust Him. So this week, that is what I'm going to challenge you to do. Trust in Him, and allow His peace and strength to fill your life. 

Have a great week! God bless!! :) 

 

"The Lord will work out His plans for our life - for Your faithful love, O Lord, endures forever. Don't abandon me, for You made me." - Psalm 138:8

This verse is simple, but can be really helpful in our lives. I think we have all heard that God will take care of our lives and make things work out, but how beautiful it is to be able to pray in faith that we truly believe that He will take care of us! There is one thing to hear something about God, but there is something else to believe that truth in faith. And I think this verse just gives us a beautiful example of how to make that happen in our everyday lives. This week I challenge you to step out in faith. Think about a truth of the faith that you have heard over and over, but haven't really taken to heart. This week, take the step of faith and proclaim it with faith! Radical faith will change this world. 

God bless you all! You are in my prayers.

"The Lord himself will fight for you, you have only to keep still." - Exodus 14:14

This is one of my all-time favorite Scripture verses. I think it is especially fitting during this midterm week, when many people are very stressed and have lots to do. With whatever trials you are facing, whatever battles may be in your life right now, whether they are large or small, we can look to this verse. The Lord will fight for us. He will help us. He is here in the midst of everything we are going through. All we have to do is be still and trust Him. We need to stay in His Presence and in His love. This week I challenge you to trust in Him. Much easier said then done, but allow the Lord to fight for you. 

The saint quote this week is from St. Therese of Lisieux: 

"Miss no single opportunity of making some small sacrifice, here by a smiling look, there by a kindly word; always doing the smallest right and doing it all for love." 

Have a wonderful week! You are in my prayers!! :) 

"For we are God's masterpiece. He has created us anew in Christ Jesus, so we can do the good things He planned for us long ago." - Ephesians 2:10

This verse recently stuck out to me and I liked it so much I hung it up above my desk so I can read it every day. Not only does this verse help us realize our dignity and who we are in Christ, but it also helps us understand the mission He has in store for us. As the verse says, we are God's masterpiece. This doesn't mean we are just an afterthought or an accident of His, but we are His masterpiece! How incredible is that! A masterpiece is carefully planned, put together with so much thought and love, and after it is completed, it is admired by all, but especially by the one who created it. I told a story to the high schoolers at Totus Tuus this summer that my friend had shared with me. While she was at Adoration one day, there was a little boy in the pew in front of her. He was coloring and working really hard to make his artwork just right. When he had finished, the little boy held up his drawing and admired it. He smiled at it and held it up in different lights to truly admire what he had created. He delighted in it, and could see an expression of himself in it. In the same way, God looks at us, His beloved masterpieces. He delights in us and holds us up to see us in different lights. And He can see an expression of Himself in us! This is so exciting!! The second part of the verse addresses what we are called to do. Because we have become new in Christ, we are able to accomplish the good things that He has planned for us to accomplish. It is only when we find our identity and worth in Christ that we are able to work for His good. This week I challenge you to see yourself in God's mirror. Rather than focus on the how we see ourselves, let us see ourselves as the beloved children God has created us to be. 

This week's saint quote comes from St. Therese of Lisieux, the Little Flower: 

"It is your arms, Jesus, which are the lift to carry me to heaven. And so there is no need for me to grow up. In fact, just the opposite: I must stay little and become less and less." 

May God bless you abundantly this week! I am praying for you! :) 

"Martha, Martha, you are anxious and worried about many things. There is need of only one thing. Mary has chosen the better part and it will not be taken from her." - Luke 10:41-42

This verse is somewhat of a classic, but every time I read it I am given a wonderful reality check. This was especially the case when I came across this verse a couple weeks ago and realized how often I fail to follow it. I don't think there is a person alive who doesn't have many things that they could worry about. In our hectic society, it is so easy to find things to become anxious and worried about. With that, I think the first half of this verse is very easy to relate to. All too often I know I definitely find myself anxious and worried about many things. But it is far less frequent that I take a step back and realize the reality that the second half of this verse is talking about. In this verse, Mary is sitting at the feet of Christ, fully listening to what He has to say and in a sense, growing in relationship with Him. This relationship is growing because she is in His Presence, giving Him her full attention, and not being distracted by any other cares or worries. Mary isn't distracted by petty passing things that won't matter in the end, but she realizes that true fulfillment and eternal life is found only in Christ the Lord. However, it is a choice. The verse clearly states that "Mary has chosen the better part." She could have been distracted and anxious, but she chose to immerse herself in Christ instead. I think it is this complete absorption in the Person of Christ that we should strive for this week. Rather than allowing the stresses and busyness of your week to get the best of you, stop and spend a moment with Christ. After all, it came from the very mouth of Jesus that this is "the better part." Be still, and know that He is God, and He has the words of eternal life. 

The saint quote of the week is from St. Josemaria Escriva: 

"Lord make us crazy with a contagious craziness that will draw many to your apostolate." 

Have a blessed week! May God be with you! :) You're in my prayers. 

"May the words of my mouth and the meditation of my heart be pleasing to you, O Lord, my rock and my redeemer." - Psalm 19:14

I think this verse really offers a reality check. A lot of times, I find it very easy to fall into the mindset that it is my life and so I should pray in the way that is best for me, meaning the way I feel closest to God, etc. But this verse makes me realize the reality that God is more powerful than I am. He truly is GOD and I am not. This verse discusses our prayers being pleasing to the Lord. How often do we think about how our prayer will please the Lord instead of how much we get out of it? I know when my life gets busy, I think less about what God would want and more about what is best for me at the moment. This goes for other things in our lives besides prayer though. It can be extremely easy to just think about what immediately feels good and less about what is truly the will of God. This week I challenge you to really seek to discover God's will. Before acting based on what is instantly most comfortable for you, take a moment to consider what God's will may be for you in that situation. Ask Him to reveal what He wants for you, and become a sacrifice pleasing to the Lord. 

Here is a quote for this week from St. Francis de Sales:

"Never be in a hurry; do everything quietly and in a calm spirit. Do not lose your inner peace for anything whatsoever, even if your whole world seems upset." 

Have a wonderful week! You will be in my prayers. :) May God bless you abundantly! 

"The Lord will work out his plans for my life - for your faithful love, O Lord endures forever. Don't abandon me, for you made me." - Psalm 138:8

I think a large part of the Christian life is having confidence in prayer. We may ask for things in prayer or brings situations to prayer, but how often do we completely trust that God will take care of that situation? This week I challenge you to pray with boldness! Trust that He will be faithful! :) 

"Always be joyful. Never stop praying." - 1 Thess. 1:2

Very simple verse, but not so simple to live out. How can we be joyful when someone cuts us off in traffic? How can we be joyful when we got very little sleep last night and we have what seems like a thousand things to do today? I think being joyful is very much a choice we make. Although it is truly a gift of God, we will not have joy without Him, it is very much our decision to handle things with joy. However, being joyful does not mean being happy at negative or bad things. It means treating other people patiently and lovingly, and accepting God's will in all circumstances, positive or negative. And this leads into the second half of the verse, "never stop praying,"  because it is not possible to always be joyful unless one is always praying. Joy comes from the Lord, and prayer is the way in which we communicate and connect to the Lord. But prayer doesn't necessarily mean you always have to praying the Rosary or saying an Our Father. Offering up a difficult homework assignment, dedicating a workout, or being grateful for the sunshine you see are all ways of prayer. By having a heart of gratitude, it is easy to make every moment into a prayer. This week I challenge you to pray in a way that you haven't in the past. Offer up a daily activity that you haven't offered before as a prayer to the Lord. Rely on the Lord as your strength and your joy. 

"Then Jesus said to His disciples, 'If any of you wants to be my follower, you must turn from your selfish ways, take up your cross, and follow me.'" - Matthew 16:24

I would just like to focus on the "take up your cross" portion of this verse today. We hear this phrase frequently as Christians, but how often do we really take a moment to think about what this means? First, we need to look at the cross that Christ carried. Think about a crucifix. Sometimes, because we see crucifixes so often, it is easy to forget what really happened upon that cross.. Jesus Christ not only carried that cross when He was physically incredibly weak, but He was nailed to it, bled upon it, and died upon it for our sake. He completely emptied Himself. It was not an easy death, but He did it out of love for us. That is how much Jesus Christ loves YOU. He would have gone through all the pain and suffering if you had been the only one who needed saving. It blows me away that we have a God who loves us that much! In this verse, Jesus says if we want to be His follower, we have to take up our crosses. Our cross will most likely not be a cross of the same degree of physical suffering that Jesus went through for us, but we do all have crosses that we are being asked to carry. Every person's cross is different and unique to them. It could be a sickness, a hard time in your family, a difficulty with work, school, or friends. Whatever it is, we have an opportunity through our suffering to take up our cross and share in the sacrifice of Christ. As He emptied Himself upon the cross, we can empty ourselves for Him as we carry our crosses with joy. Suffering and pain is a part of our life as humans. But when suffering comes our way, we have a choice to make. This week I challenge you to take up your cross and follow Him, for He loves you and He is love. Let us unite our trials to the passion of Christ, who loved us unto death. 

"From the rising of the sun to its setting, the name of the Lord is to be praised." - Psalm 113:3

I think this verse serves as a really great reminder to me. When we take a step back to think about it, God is truly SO good to us! Not only did He create us completely out of love, He gives us the gift of each new day, family and friends, everything we need throughout our day, each beautiful sunset or sunrise, He created nature for our enjoyment, and He allows us to receive His very self into ourselves in the Eucharist every day if we wish! God is SO good to us! Praise Him! But all too often, I think we all get caught up in our every day lives. I know I am guilty of this much too often. We forget to thank the One who gave us the reason to live and the reason to laugh. But as this verse says, we should be praising the Lord all the day long! Some days I'm lucky if I remember to even spend time in prayer! But one thing I strive for in my every day life is to keep an attitude of gratitude. It sounds somewhat cheesy, but there is some truth to it, in that when we are constantly striving to praise God for His goodness and to see the gifts and love He is lavishing upon us, we will have thankful hearts. This week I challenge you to have a thankful heart! Praise the Lord all the day long! At the end of the day, make a list of things you are thankful for from that day. All praise be to God! :)

"We were buried therefore with him by baptism into death, so that as Christ was raised from the dead by the glory of the Father, we too might walk in newness of life." - Romans 6:4

I feel like it is easy to forget sometimes that we are not only baptized into Christ's glorious Resurrection, but also into His death. This is no easy thing. In order to reach the "newness of life," we really have to die to ourselves and to the ways of this world. I have been doing some thinking lately about the end of the semester and where I have come this past school year. It made me think back to last year, when I was in quite a different place, as a senior in high school. I was looking at the face of the unknown, college. I knew I was going to have to pass on from the stage of life that I had grown comfortable with, high school. By this point, high school was what I knew and was comfortable with. But in order for the next stage of my life to begin, I had to say goodbye to this stage. And that was painful, but I never would have experienced all the things that I have experienced this freshman year and I never would have met the friends and people who have become a huge part of my life this year if I had not let go. I had to let go in order to receive the next blessing Christ was giving me. In the same way, we have to let go of our life of sin and attachment to the world in order to receive the life of Christ. Although we may have already undergone a conversion where we initially decide to follow Christ, I would argue that this detachment and death to self is something that we have to do every single day of our life, in the small everyday choices. Although living a life for Christ is difficult now, we will one day be raised to eternal life with God in heaven. Persevere! 

I hope you have a wonderful week! You are in my prayers. May God bless you abundantly. :) 

"Then Jesus said to His disciples, 'If anyone wishes to come after Me, he must deny himself, and take up his cross and follow Me.'" - Matthew 16:24

I think this is a really great verse to reflect upon during holy week, when we are really attempting to enter into the passion, death, and Resurrection of our Lord Jesus Christ. This verse says that we must take up our cross if we wish to follow Him. It should be apparent this week more than any other week, that the cross isn't easy. Christ's cross involved Him completely emptying Himself for us. On Calvary's pain, there was real pain and sacrifice and even though it was the most incredible act of love ever to be done, it looked to the observer like a failure. In the same way, we must empty ourselves for Christ. Granted, this does not mean we will literally be crucified in a physical sense, but this does mean that we might be crucified in another sense, crucified to ourselves. And sometimes, this will make us look like a failure in the eyes of the world. But He has already conquered the world. He invites us to respond to His love with love. What sins or failures in your life are you going to allow to be conquered at Calvary this week? 

Have a blessed Holy Week! :) 

"You are the light of the world - like a city on a hilltop that cannot be hidden." - Matthew 5:14

With being on mission in Honduras, the idea of mission work has been on my mind and heart a lot lately. I have been thinking about what it means to a missionary, which led me to think about the call that each and every one of us have to be missionaries. Although it can, being a missionary doesn't necessarily mean going to far-off places to witness and be a light to people. I think many times we think of missionaries as someone who leaves everything and goes to a foreign land to preach Christ. Instead, each of us are being invited to be missionaries, to be a light and to bring love, in our every day life. Our mission field is our every day life. The people we pass on the way to class, the waitress at the restaurant, the people who are in the elevator with us, our co-workers, or the random stranger we pass on the street. We are called to bring light to each person we come in contact with, which is something we can do right where we are. And it doesn't take much. A simple smile or a "how are you?" can be enough. Small acts of kindness are sometimes the most important. In fact, I think being a missionary in every day life comes before other mission work. With the mission trip last week, it really hit me that how can I even begin to love a child in Honduras who I just met when I am not being loving towards my roommate or my friends. How can I go to Central America to pray with strangers when I don't even invite my friends to pray with me. This week, I am inviting you to enter the mission field. Make your life a mission, and see how Christ can love through you. 

I hope you have a wonderful week!

"How precious are your thoughts about me, O God. They cannot be numbered! I can't even count them; they outnumber the grains of sand! And when I wake up, you are still with me!" - Psalm 139: 17-18

When I take a step back to think about it, I find it incredible how much God loves us. And I think this verse is just another beautiful way of showing that love to us. As the verse says, God thinks about us constantly out of love. I would just like to invite you to take this verse to prayer this week. Really contemplate on the love of the Father. For He loves you, SO much. 

Have a wonderful week! God bless! :) 

"For God has not given us a spirit of timidity, but of power and love and discipline." - 2 Timothy 1:7

Sometimes, it can be really hard, or scary, to be a disciple of Jesus Christ. It's not always what is the most popular thing to do, and sometimes it really takes humility to stand up for what you believe. But in this verse, St. Paul is telling us that God has not made us to be afraid, He has made us to have power, love, and discipline in Him! I know whenever I hear this verse I am comforted, because there are just situations where I just wouldn't be able to stand true on my own. But with Christ's power within us, a power that conquered and triumphed over death itself, there is truly nothing to be afraid of. This week, I challenge you to be not afraid, for you have Christ within you! 

I hope you have a wonderful week! God bless you always! :) 

"'Yet even now,' declares the Lord, 'Return to Me with all your heart, and with fasting, weeping, and mourning; and rend your heart and not your garments.' Now return to the Lord your God, for He is gracious and compassionate, slow to anger, abounding in loving kindness and relenting of evil." - Joel 2:12-13

I think this verse is absolutely perfect for the beginning of Lent. I think all too often the question of "what are you going to give up for Lent?" becomes routine. But I think this verse really helps get back to the heart of WHY we give things up during these 40 days. It takes a look inward to come up with a sacrifice that will truly allow us to return to Him. Rather than just giving up what you might give up every year, this year I encourage you to really reflect on the things in your life that keep you from God. Is there something that gets in the way when you are going to pray? Is there something recreational that steals a large amount of time in your life - time that could be spent with God? Notice also that the verse says "return to Me with all your heart." The Lord is calling us to a complete return to Him during this season. For when we rid ourselves of the things that keep us from the Lord of Love, is when we will be able to draw closer to Him all the more. 

Have a wonderful week! God bless you! :) 

"My health may fail, and my spirit may grow weak, but God remains the strength of my heart; He is mine forever." - Psalm 73:26

This is one of my favorite Scripture verses of all time. It is just so encouraging, simple, and really provides a purpose that we can live each and every day. Although things happen in this life - we or loved ones get sick, we get tired, we go through various moods, we have things to celebrate - we have God as the strength of our hearts. He is always with us and we can rely on Him. This week I challenge you to truly live this verse. Live with God as your strength. 

God bless you always!! You are loved! :) 

"O give thanks to the LORD, for He is good; For His loving kindness is everlasting." -1 Chronicles 16:34

When I am busy, I think one of the first things I forget to do is to stop and give thanks to God for the gifts He is giving me. I have been very busy lately, so it's been a challenge to remember my prayer time, and and even bigger challenge to remember to give thanks to God for all the blessings He has bestowed on me. But when I take a step back and think about it, I truly am SO blessed, and I receive hundreds of blessings every single day. This week, I challenge you to take some time each day and thank God for 5 things from that day. For He truly is so good! :)

Have a fantastic week! You are loved! :)

"Have I not commanded you? Be strong and courageous! Do not tremble or be dismayed, for the Lord your God is with you wherever you go." - Joshua 1:9

I think this verse is a beautiful source of strength. You hear it said a lot that the Lord is strong and will provide strength to us when we need it. But it is only when we are actually in a situation or circumstance where we are weak, that we actually experience what it truly means to rely on the Lord's strength. For He really does go with us wherever we go, and He always takes care of us. So what is there to be afraid of? But what I find especially beautiful about this verse from Joshua is the fact that even though it is from the Old Testament and it was written before Jesus fulfilled the old covenant, God is SO clear about how we are to have strength in Him. Ever since our beginning, and throughout human history, God has been providing us with the strength we need! That is just so beautiful. This week I challenge you to allow the Lord to be your strength and courage. Trust in Him. 

Have a wonderful week! God bless you! :) 

"When things are going well for you, be glad, and when trouble comes, just remember: God sends both happiness and trouble; you never know what is going to happen next." - Ecclesiastes 7:14

I really like this verse because it is very helpful in putting things in perspective, and it shows the importance of praising God, no matter what season of life you are going through. I think it is very easy for all of us to praise God in the good times. When things are going well in our lives, it's easy to be happy. But when the difficult times comes, how often do we praise God for those times as well? I think experiencing tough times as well as joyful times is such a testimony to the fact that God is in control, not us. For as dark as the night is, how much greater our rejoicing will be in the morning. This week I challenge you to praise God for everything. Good times, praise Him. Challenging times, praise Him. He is in control. 

Have a wonderful week! God bless you! :) 

"Be sober, be watchful. Your adversary the devil prowls around like a roaring lion, seeking some one to devour. Resist him, firm in your faith!" - 1 Peter 5:8-9

I really like this verse because it is just so blunt. A lot of times I think we try to sugar coat our faith. Although we know the devil exists, we don't always regard him as an enemy we need to resist. However, that's the truth. The truth is he is prowling about this world looking for souls he can take away from the Father, who is the source of all good. The best way we can stay strong in our faith and resist him, is through strengthening and rooting ourselves in Christ, especially through daily prayer and the sacraments as often as possible. Receiving the Eucharist is one of the biggest kicks to the face we can give to the devil, because it is in this most holy sacrament that we are united with the living and loving God. This week I challenge you to arm yourself for battle - come up with one more thing you can do in your faith life to root yourself even more deeply in Christ. Whether it be a five minute prayer when you wake up or a commitment to go to daily Mass three times a week, stick to it! Don't you know you're at war? 

Always remember that God loves you very deeply. Have a blessed week. 

"Now all glory to God, who is able, through His mighty power at work within us, to accomplish infinitely more than we might ask or think." - Ephesians 3:20

I always find it amazing to take a step back and look at the events of my life and realize that God is working in every little thing that happens. Whether it is the smile of a stranger or an email from a friend, God is working in every moment of our lives. This has really been on my heart lately. Although something might be a challenge at the moment, God is still there and He is alive and working. This week I challenge you to see God in the everyday moments of your day. Take a step back and see how the Creator of all is with you and how His mighty power is at work within you. God bless. 

Have a wonderful week! You are loved! :) 

"Don't be afraid, for I am with you. Do not be dismayed, for I am your God. I will strengthen you. I will help you. I will uphold you with my victorious right hand." - Isaiah 41:10

I think this verse is mostly self-explanatory, but I picked it this week because it is such a great reminder. God really is with us at every moment in our lives and will help us. This week, make yourself aware of His constant presence in your life. Look for Him in every moment. Open your heart, for He is there. 

You are loved! Have a wonderful week! :)