How can we serve others? The Church talks about the Spiritual and Corporal Works of Mercy, a means of helping those around you in very real and tangible ways.

When you look at these lists and explanations and ideas, what tugs at you? Consider thinking about you can serve in one of these areas on a regular basis.

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Do you ever feel like no matter what you do it is not enough? You are not just tired but weary of trying to do all the things for all the people. Enter Erin Whalen, a life coach who wants to help you go from weariness to hope. Erin journeys with women who want to stop focusing on all the doing and want to stop and listen to God’s call.

Our hope, as Christians, is in the name of the Lord. Hope appears in the bible over 200 times. Without hope, we can forget what God has written on our hearts. Erin seeks to serve women both in small groups and one-on-one coaching to learn our value and worth as a person created by God in his image and likeness.

“Do Justice” is a group being formed to help women look at how they can face real-life issues and brokenness in our world. It can be overwhelming when we see the great injustices around us; we may think we are powerless. To learn more, check out this website. 

I forgot to ask Erin before we started talking,  but she came through the perfect challenge: spend 5 minutes, resting in the Lord. Nothing fancy. But very powerful. Try it and let me know how it goes.

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I do. In the spiritual life though, comfortable can mean stagnant. Or stuck. Not moving toward greatness.

“The world promises you comfort, but you were not made for comfort. You were made for greatness.”  Pope Benedict XVI

“If you are always comfortable, nothing really happens, nothing changes. Embrace uncomfortable.” Me, as in, I said that!

I think sometimes we need to be uncomfortable so we can grow and change. God really does call us to greatness, not mediocrity.  If you feel a tug toward change because you have become complacent or want to grow closer to God, pay attention.

This week, if you sense a pull from the Holy Spirit, pray this prayer each day, The Litany of Trust.

Sign up in May for the Live Not Lukewarm newsletter and you will have a chance to win one month’s memberhsip free!

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Prayer is time with God. A conversation. A lifting of our mind and heart to him.

We can pray with others or by ourselves. There are vocal prayers, often those we have memorized. We can pray those aloud or inside our mind, but there are words involved either way.

Contemplative prayer is quiet. There are not many words.

Put yourself in a quiet place, free of distractions.

Close your eyes and ask the Lord to be present with you.

Breathe. In your mind, picture God looking at you or open your eyes and look at an image that focuses you.

Tell God briefly what is on your mind.

And then sit quietly, if thoughts come to mind, let them go.

When you are done, thank God for his presence.

You may come away with answers or a sense of peace. Answers may come at another time. Try not to worry if you are doing it right, know that any time we give to God like this helps us become the person he created.

Try contemplative prayer this week. Start with 10 minutes a day and see what happens.

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Danielle Bean is brand manager at CatholicMom.com, an apostolate of Holy Cross Family Ministries. She is creator and host of the Girlfriends podcast and co-host of The Gist on CatholicTV. Danielle is also author of several books including Momnipotent, You Are Enough, and Giving Thanks and Letting Go. She is a retreat leader and a popular speaker on a variety of subjects related to Catholic family life, education, marriage, and motherhood. Danielle has been married to her husband Dan for 26 years and together they have 8 children.

Whisper: Finding God in the Everyday by Danielle Bean is from Ascension Press. This book reminds us that God is with us in all that we do each day. This book is not for women only, it speaks to all of those who are on a journey of faith.

Two favorite parts of the book are the scripture verses for each chapter that you can pray with and ponder. There are also prayers included from the rich treasures of our faith, prayers from saints such as Ignatius and Augustine as well as current prayers, such as the Litany of Trust from the Sisiters of Life.

Pre-order Whisper and get the Companion Journal!

DanielleBean.com

Catholicmom.com

Twitter: @DanielleBean

Instagram: @daniellebean

Spend time this week recalling when you have seen God in your life. Write down those times and when we feel alone, go back and be reminded that God is always with you!

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Anne DeSantis and Bill Synder are the people who worked together along with other contributors and college students to put together this unique book. Why do Is ay unique? Because the questions are not what they think college students need to know about but are actual questions from students!

Bill is the founder of Patchwork Heart Ministry. He is a passionate Catholic with a lively faith. For over a dozen years he has been an active member and leader in the Catholic Charismatic Renewal and holds bachelor’s degrees in both Theology/Religious Studies and TV/Radio Production from the University of Scranton, PA. As a youth minister, servant leader, teacher and dynamic speaker he harnesses the energy of young Catholics, guiding them into a deeper relationship with Jesus Christ and challenges them to be bold witnesses to the Catholic Faith.

Anne is Anne DeSantis is a wife, mom and the director of a non-profit called the St. Raymond

To give answers to questions that are relevant to upper high and college students about how faith and life intersect. The goal of the book is to speak with truth, clarity and charity about the truth of Catholicism.

Graduating high school seniors, whether they’re attending college or not; parents and grandparents who want to be able to answer questions in a relatable way; youth and young adult ministers; campus ministers. Keep in mind, the book is not meant to be read cover to cover, but rather, as questions come up, use the book to learn the answers and as a springboard for discussion.

Preorder the book here

Follow Anne on her website, Facebook; Patchwork Heart Ministry on YouTube;

Sewing Hope on Instagram

We have two options for this episode or if you’re feeling particularly ambitious, do both! Bill invites us to consider doing today one thing you want to do tomorrow. Anne suggests reaching out to the marginalized, do something good for someone who is lonely, depressed, anxious or needs a friend.

The post A new book: Hearts Burning within Us appeared first on Ultimate Christian Podcast Radio Network.

Save listening to this for Easter Monday! Deacon John Bartalini, my other half, better half, whichever you prefer, leads us in a guided meditation on John chapter 20. Pause it as you wish to allow yourself time to enter into the scene with Mary Magdalene and the apostles. Imagine you’re right there, looking for Jesus.

Live in the joy that is the Resurrection. Have a blessed Easter!

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It’s no secret that I love books! Interviewing authors is always a chance to learn more about the person behind the words. In Mary Lenaberg’s case, she is just as down-to-earth and honest on paper as in person. As she said, she only has time to be one Mary, no matter where she is or who she is with. In this book, Be Bold in the Broken published by Ave Maria Press Mary talks about how she found “courage and purpose in God’s unconditional love.”

As a speaker, Mary is often asked by women, “who am I and what am I here for?” This book answers that question. We are all unique and unrepeatable people created by God. Mary tells the stories of her mistakes that led her to have the courage to let go, be healed and encourage others on their own journey. She invites, through her words and personal stories, to open the door to the Divine Healer.

Reading this book is like sitting down to coffee with a friend. Mary is honest, vulnerable and funny. Her joy in people is evident as is her heart for serving others.  If you are looking for a good read to help you draw closer to God, healing and wholeness – I highly recommend this book.

Your challenge this week, offer some hospitality to others. Nothing fancy could be tea on the porch or a conversation at church. Extend yourself a little bit, be present to another person.

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Simply put, it is missing the mark. In the Gospels, the story of Peter denying Jesus and then being able to be forgiven by Jesus after the resurrection is such a clear example of how much love Jesus has for each one of us.

John 18: 17, 25-27 is where you can find Peter being asked three times if he knows Jesus and three times he denies knowing Our Lord. And then the cock crows and Peter remembers Jesus’ words from the Last Supper.

What a weight that must have been for Peter to carry as he watched Jesus die on the cross, bury him and then wait for his return. Jesus does rise and Peter interacts with him. And then, Jesus asks Peter three times, “Do you love me?” in John 21:15-17.

Peter is no longer burdened by his denial of Jesus. He can move forward, leading the apostles to spread the Good News. That is what forgiveness does; it gives us the freedom to live the life we are called to live in Christ.

Write a letter to Jesus about your sins. List them, ask for forgiveness, pour out your heart to him and invite him in to take your sin away.

(As always, if you are Catholic, consider confession.)

Get a sample of my Bible study book when you sign up for my emails.

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True sorrow and a desire to change is the repentance God is asking from us. When we sin, we hurt ourselves, others and our relationship with God. God calls us to look at ourselves with honesty and decide what needs to be changed. Not out of shame, but because we desire to live more fully the life God wants for us.

“Before you fall ill, humble yourself; and when you have sinned, show repentance. Do not delay forsaking your sins; do not neglect to do so until you are in distress.” Sirach 18:21

Sins can weigh on us, causing us mental and physical distress. Sirach says avoid those problems by taking care of the sin right away. Yes, we’ll need to be humble but God will not turn us away when we ask for his help.

A change of heart away from sin towards God. True repentance can bring about this metanoia, this change of heart.

When we rid ourselves of sin we are filled with God’s love, mercy and grace. To me, that is the best reason to confess my sins. I receive something wonderful to take its place!

Spend some quiet time each day looking, with God, at the sin that needs to be removed from your life. Ask for forgiveness, make retribution if possible and pray for help to not sin again.

If you are Catholic, I encourage you to go to confession.

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