Tag: Personal Reflection

Pray With Me These Passages in Psalms

by rejoiceandpraise, posted in Christianity, prayer, Christian Blogger, Forgiveness, Holy Spirit, Give Thanks

Psalm 51

1 Have mercy on me, O God,
    according to your unfailing love; according to your great compassion blot out my transgressions.
2 Wash away all my iniquity and cleanse me from my sin.

3 For I know my transgressions, and my sin is always before me.
4 Against you, you only, have I sinned and done what is evil in your sight; so you are right in your verdict and justified when you judge.
5 Surely I was sinful at birth, sinful from the time my mother conceived me.
6 Yet you desired faithfulness even in the womb; you taught me wisdom in that secret place.

7 Cleanse me with hyssop, and I will be clean; wash me, and I will be whiter than snow.
8 Let me hear joy and gladness; let the bones you have crushed rejoice.
9 Hide your face from my sins and blot out all my iniquity.

10 Create in me a pure heart, O God, and renew a steadfast spirit within me.
11 Do not cast me from your presence or take your Holy Spirit from me.
12 Restore to me the joy of your salvation and grant me a willing spirit, to sustain me.

13 Then I will teach transgressors your ways, so that sinners will turn back to you.
14 Deliver me from the guilt of bloodshed,O God, you who are God my Savior, and my tongue will sing of your righteousness.
15 Open my lips, Lord, and my mouth will declare your praise.
16 You do not delight in sacrifice, or I would bring it; you do not take pleasure in burnt offerings.
17 My sacrifice, O God, is a broken spirit; a broken and contrite heart you, God, will not despise.

18 May it please you to prosper Zion, to build up the walls of Jerusalem.
19 Then you will delight in the sacrifices of the righteous, in burnt offerings offered whole; then bulls will be offered on your altar.

Psalm 121

A song of ascents.

1 I lift up my eyes to the mountains—where does my help come from?
2 My help comes from the Lord, the Maker of heaven and earth.

3 He will not let your foot slip—he who watches over you will not slumber;
4 indeed, he who watches over Israel will neither slumber nor sleep.

5 The Lord watches over you—the Lord is your shade at your right hand;
6 the sun will not harm you by day, nor the moon by night.

7 The Lord will keep you from all harm—he will watch over your life;
8 the Lord will watch over your coming and going both now and forevermore.

Psalm 11:2-3

2 For look, the wicked bend their bows; they set their arrows against the strings
to shoot from the shadows at the upright in heart.
3 When the foundations are being destroyed, what can the righteous do?”

Psalm 34:10

10 The lions may grow weak and hungry, but those who seek the Lord lack no good thing.

Psalm 7:10

10 My shield is God Most High,
    who saves the upright in heart.

I have been praying these verses from Psalm the past two days, and will continue to do so for the next several days. In them I not only have a glimpse of King Davids spiritual journey and challenges, but there is a depth in these songs and prayers that resonates with me.

Pray these passages from Psalms with me, and let God make good changes in our lives.

God Bless 🩷🙏🙌

In Between

by rejoiceandpraise, posted in Christian Blogger, Christianity, Spiritual Direction, Spiritual Journey, Spirituality

I often wish I am perfect like the saints in their seemingly seamless devotion in to God. I imagine their daily walk with God filled with a healthy prayer life, deep meditative moments, a deep relationship with God, and sinless in their mortal walk – until my Spiritual Director reminded me we don’t see the challenges and grunts in between whats left behind in their rich books, prayers, and legacy.

The reality is I am flawed and imperfect, but I strive to be self aware. Yes, there are days, weeks and sometimes months when my prayer life has its ups and downs. There are months of prayerful devotion, then days of light murmurs, but always with an awareness of the living Jesus in my heart.

It was a lightbulb moment for me!

Yes, my spiritual journey has months of inspiring heights, there are also dry spells (I call this my 40 days in the desert) along with silence, and sprinkles of spiritual awakening.

The path is rarely straight and always filled with surprises.

What keeps me grounded even when I am seemingly distracted is God is active in my life and world. Discerning God’s presence in my everyday life is what keeps me grounded – a step ahead of the traps around me.

Let’s pray for one another to walk closely with Jesus.

God Bless 🩷🙏

Signs: May 2024

by rejoiceandpraise, posted in awareness, Christian Blogger, Christianity, prophecy, Prophetic

I had previously written about preparation for 3 Days of Darkness (https://rejoiceandpraise.ca/2023/02/27/preparing-for-3-days-of-darkness/), and amidst all the noise about the beauty of the Northern Lights visible worldwide, here is a woman echoing the dangers to come.

As beautiful as the lights are, there is a danger that belies beyond. I must admit she gives food for thought as well as added background to a spiritual warfare that is raging in the background.

Watch with discernment and pray for the Holy Spirit’s guidance: Matthew 7:15-20

Aside: live not in fear, but rather walk closely to Jesus.

God Bless 🙏🩷

God’s Awesome Power: The Annunciation and the Solar Eclipse

by rejoiceandpraise, posted in Annunciation, Beauty, Christian Blogger, Christianity, Divine Mercy, God, Jesus, Mother Mary, Reflection, solar eclipse

There has been major rumble online from a variety of sources claiming legitimacy, to soothsayers, as well as influencers with comparisons, analysis, prophetic, religious speculations, heavenly punishment and the mores.

Some suggest there will be a coming chastisement of Godly magnitude as well as Satanic and demonic play. The fears and seeds planted by all work to spin a narrative that is frightfully scary. Remember their main motivation is not only seeking likes and subscribers to their YouTube and TikTok channels, but the pandemonium can harms us. Fake news is fused with half truths, and I cannot help but reiterate – stand strong in your faith in Jesus – the truth that is in the Bible.

Sometimes it’s hard to discern from the muddled confusion in front of us.

The Solar Eclipse falls on the day of Annunciation. In April 2024, the Sacred Heart of Jesus was on April 5, 2024, the Immaculate Heart of Mary on April 6, 2024, with Divine Mercy Sunday on April 7, 2024 and despite the online noise about the solar eclipse on April 8th, what I think is more relevant is that the Annunciation which should have been on March 25, is transferred to April 8. Now that’s what I call the movement of divine hands.

Aside: I can’t help but smile at God’s sense of timing and humour (I see Gods smile as he watches realization and understanding ignite in me). The Holy Spirit moving me to drop what I was doing this morning to write this post today.

After all the rites and rituals of the Easter season, he is asking me where is my heart. Throughout all the pomp and celebration of the Easter season, there is also the most humbling and important aspect of my (our) relationship with Him – faith and trust:

2 Jesus took a little child and put him among them. 3 He said, “For sure, I tell you, unless you have a change of heart and become like a little child, you will not get into the holy nation of heaven. 4 Whoever is without pride as this little child is the greatest in the holy nation of heaven. 5 Whoever receives a little child because of Me receives Me. 6 But whoever is the reason for one of these little children who believe in Me to fall into sin, it would be better for him to have a large rock put around his neck and to be thrown into the sea. (Matthew 18:2-6)

Jesus, I trust in you🙏💕


God, the author of all, knows how to write a good story. The Bible communicates a single message of redemption, what some have called an enormous love letter from God to his beloved people. Yet throughout the rich variety of poems, prayers, narrative, and song, there is a unifying theme. Each word, each verse, and each book of the Bible hangs together to execute this theme—as we might expect from God, who identifies so closely as the “Word.” Today’s solemnity, the Annunciation of the Lord, celebrates one of the most profound moments in Scripture’s rich tapestry and illustrates the integrity of the revealed Word in remarkable ways.
Today’s celebration of Gabriel’s message to Mary and her affirmative reply recalls the events from the very first verses of the Bible. In the book of Genesis, Eve is tempted by the devil, the Father of Lies, to close her ears to God’s life-giving Word. Despite God’s command that our first parents were not to eat from the tree of the knowledge of good and evil, “the woman saw that the tree was good for food, and that it was a delight to the eyes, and that the tree was to be desired to make one wise, [so] she took of its fruit and ate; and she also gave some to her husband, and he ate” (Genesis 3:6). We know the rest of the story—and we know it is true because we have lived with the consequences of the Fall in our lives.
With this initial chapter of the “greatest story ever told” in mind, consider now the approaching apex of God’s letter, the appearance of the angel Gabriel to Mary. The ancient hymn Ave, Maris Stella gives us an interpretive key to the scene. It sings of how the first word of Gabriel to Mary, Ave, transforms the damage, confusion, detours, and dead ends along the road to heaven wrought by Eve, in Latin, Eva. St. Irenaeus (c. 130–202) sees the same reversal at this turning point of salvation history: “As Eve was seduced by the word of an angel and so fled from God after disobeying his word, Mary in her turn was given the good news by the word of an angel, and bore God in obedience to his word. As Eve was seduced into disobedience to God, so Mary was persuaded into obedience to God; thus the Virgin Mary became the advocate of the virgin Eve” (Office of Readings for Friday of the Second Week of Advent). Thus, the celebration of the Annunciation of the Lord first recalls with gratitude that fiat, “let it be done,” from Mary that brought God to man, heaven to earth, at Christmas.
The Annunciation and the Nativity are the two great celebrations of the coming of God to earth. Together, they serve as essential chapters in God’s narrative of salvation. Mary, after conceiving Christ “through her ear,” that is, by listening to and receiving God’s message, gives birth to this same Savior nine months later. Naturally, the Church marks the celebration of these two days nine months apart—the March 25 incarnation of the Word comes to fruition with the Savior’s birth on December 25. These two dates also find a ritual association unique to themselves: during the recitation of the Creed, at the words “and became man,” all present genuflect or kneel rather than merely bowing, as on other occasions. Since eternity “grounds itself ” in our time, since divinity unites itself to our humanity (“human,” from humus, or “earth,” “dirt”), we humans likewise bend our knees and, literally, ground our own selves.
The Church’s liturgy, though, does not simply recall the historical annunciation and birth of Jesus nine months later, but it also directs our attention to his death and resurrection. Before March 25 celebrated Jesus’ conception, it was on this day that the Church recalled his death. In the early centuries of the Church, March 25 corresponded roughly to 14 Nisan on the Jewish calendar, the day of Passover, which is when Christ the Paschal Lamb was slain. The God–Man would suffer death for our salvation as a result of Eve’s disobedient “no” and Mary’s obedient “yes.”
In some ways, the Annunciation celebrates the Paschal Mystery as much as it does the Incarnation. As St. Leo’s text from the day’s Office of Readings puts it, “Incapable of suffering as God, he did not refuse to be a man, capable of suffering. Immortal, he chose to be subject to the laws of death.” But the Paschal Mystery is not only about Christ’s suffering and death but also his resurrection. The liturgy of the Church ties the Annunciation to the Resurrection in the Prayer after Communion at Mass, asking that by “confessing that he who was conceived of the Virgin Mary is true God and true man, we may, through the saving power of his Resurrection, merit to attain eternal joy.”
The Annunciation of the Lord, then, serves as a pivotal event in this largest of love letters. Just days before Christmas, St. Bernard of Clairvaux (1090–1153) paints a vivid picture of our emotions as we overhear Gabriel’s announcement and await Mary’s reply. It is an image that expresses beautifully the significance of Mary’s choice on this day. He writes: “Answer quickly, O Virgin. Reply in haste to the angel, or rather through the angel to the Lord. Answer with a word, receive the Word of God. Speak your own word, conceive the divine Word. Breathe a passing word, embrace the eternal Word … Let humility be bold, let modesty be confident. This is no time for virginal simplicity to forget prudence. In this matter alone, O prudent Virgin, do not fear to be presumptuous … Behold the handmaid of the Lord, she says, be it done to me according to your word” (Office of Readings for December 20).

The above entry appears in Ascension’s book Solemnities: Celebrating a Tapestry of Divine Beauty, by Christopher Carstens, Denis McNamara, and Alexis Kutarna. Featuring each of the 17 annual solemnities, Solemnities: Celebrating a Tapestry of Divine Beauty examines the theological, spiritual, and liturgical foundations for each celebration; explains the beauty of the solemnity by a commentary on artistic illustration of the celebration; and offers ideas for living the solemnity in one’s daily life. 

Montreal: Photos shot on a Montreal rooftop using a Samsung Galaxy 24 ultra mobile with filter for Solar Eclipse.

Hourly Prayers of Saint John Chrysostom

by rejoiceandpraise, posted in Catholic Faith, Catholic Journey, Catholicism, Christian Blogger, Christianity, Hourly Prayers of Saint John Chrysostom, Praise, prayer

When words fail me…for many weeks I can’t seem to find the words when I pray. It’s been days of long sights and grunts. This morning my friend Katherine sent me this beautiful prayer that bespeaks the depth of my heart.

I feel the movement of the Holy Spirit as it guides me to get it right with God.

Praise be to the Father, Son and Holy Spirit🙏💕

Hourly Prayers of Saint John Chrysostom

A set of 24 short prayers attributed to St John Chrysostom. The shortness is deliberate –– when it comes to personal devotion, many of the Fathers teach the efficacy of an “arrow prayer” that is easily remembered and easily meant whole-heartedly. 
They are, like the day’s hours, divided into two sections of twelve apiece.

O Lord, of Thy heavenly bounties, deprive me not.

O Lord, deliver me from the eternal torments.

O Lord, forgive me if I have sinned in my mind or my thought, whether in word or in deed.

O Lord, free me from all ignorance and forgetfulness, from despondency and stony insensibility.

O Lord, deliver me from every temptation.

O lord, enlighten my heart which evil desires have darkened.

O Lord, as a man have I sinned, have Thou mercy on me, as the God full of compassion, seeing the feebleness of my soul.

O Lord, send down Thy grace to help me, that I may glorify Thy name.

O Lord Jesus Christ, write me down in the book of life and grant unto me a good end.

O Lord my God, even if I had not done anything good before Thee, do Thou help me, in Thy grace, to make a good beginning.

O Lord, sprinkle into my heart the dew of Thy grace.

O Lord of heaven and earth, remember me, Thy sinful servant, full of shame and impurity, in Thy kingdom. Amen.

O Lord, receive me in penitence.

O Lord, forsake me not.

O Lord, lead me not into misfortune.

O Lord, quicken in me a good thought.

O Lord, give me tears and remembrance of death, and contrition.

O Lord, make me solicitous of confessing my sins.

O Lord, give me humility, chastity, and obedience.

O Lord, give me patience, magnanimity, and meekness.

O Lord, implant in my the root of all good–Thy fear in my heart.

O Lord, vouchsafe that I may love thee from all my soul and mind and in everything do Thy will.

O Lord, shelter me from certain men, from demons and passions, and from any other unbecoming thing.

O Lord, Thou knowest that Thou dost as Thou wilt, let then Thy will be done in me, a sinner, for blessed art Thou unto the ages. Amen.

Spiritual Preparedness amidst all the din on Social Media (internet)

by rejoiceandpraise, posted in Bible, Catholic Faith, Catholic Journey, Catholic Teaching, Catholicism, Christian Blogger, Christianity, Jesus

There has been a lot of internet waves about the coming solar eclipse (April 8th) that falls a day before the Jewish Nisan on April 9th.

All over TikTok, YouTube and other social media platforms- there are warnings of this eclipse, 3 days of darkness and end times. There are stories about the mapping of star charts and they give interesting spins on upcoming upheavals. They create anxiety and fear.

Spiritual Preparedness

Personally I have no idea if they are true or not. I do know that our focus should be on Jesus and spiritual preparedness.

I have been going through my own 40 days in the wilderness and combating my own demons. The noise in the internet only adds to my confusion. It is only when I focus on the word of God that my heart is calm.

Matthew 25:1-12 (NIV)
The Parable of the Ten Virgins

25 “At that time the kingdom of heaven will be like ten virgins who took their lamps and went out to meet the bridegroom. 2 Five of them were foolish and five were wise. 3 The foolish ones took their lamps but did not take any oil with them. 4 The wise ones, however, took oil in jars along with their lamps. 5 The bridegroom was a long time in coming, and they all became drowsy and fell asleep.

6 “At midnight the cry rang out: ‘Here’s the bridegroom! Come out to meet him!’

7 “Then all the virgins woke up and trimmed their lamps. 8 The foolish ones said to the wise, ‘Give us some of your oil; our lamps are going out.’

9 “‘No,’ they replied, ‘there may not be enough for both us and you. Instead, go to those who sell oil and buy some for yourselves.’

10 “But while they were on their way to buy the oil, the bridegroom arrived. The virgins who were ready went in with him to the wedding banquet. And the door was shut.

11 “Later the others also came. ‘Lord, Lord,’ they said, ‘open the door for us!’

12 “But he replied, ‘Truly I tell you, I don’t know you.’

Thief in the Night

The return of Jesus Christ is likened to the coming of a thief in the night. This is an analogy that appears in three places the the New Testament:

Matthew 24:43

“Understand this: If the owner of the house had known at what time of night the thief was coming, he would have kept watch and would not have let his house be broken into,”

1 Thessalonians 5:2

“You know very well that the day of the Lord will come like a thief in the night.”

2 Peter 3:10,

“the day of the Lord will come like a thief.“

In Matthew 24, Jesus speaks of His second coming at the end of the tribulation. Paul calls it “the day of the Lord” in 1 Thessalonians 5. This is a day of divine retribution featuring astronomical upheaval and the visible “sign of the Son of Man” in the heavens (Matthew 24:29–30). Jesus says it will happen “after the tribulation of those days” (verse 29, ESV), a description that distinguishes this event from the rapture, which happens before the tribulation.

The second coming will be like a thief in the night. No one will know when He will return. Just as a thief catches a household by surprise, Jesus will catch the unbelieving world by surprise when He returns in judgment. People will be “eating and drinking, marrying and giving in marriage” (verse 38), just as if they have all the time in the world. Unexpectedly Judgment Day will be upon them (verses 40–41). Paul puts it this way: “While people are saying, ‘Peace and safety,’ destruction will come on them suddenly, as labor pains on a pregnant woman, and they will not escape” (1 Thessalonians 5:3).

The believer does not fear this swift and sudden judgment; the “thief in the night” will not catch us by surprise. Christians are in a separate category: “But you, brothers and sisters, are not in darkness so that this day should surprise you like a thief” (1 Thessalonians 5:4). It is only those in darkness who will be taken unawares, and we “are all children of the light and children of the day. We do not belong to the night or to the darkness” (verse 5). Praise the Lord, “God did not appoint us to suffer wrath but to receive salvation through our Lord Jesus Christ” (verse 9).

The unsaved should heed Jesus’ warning: “Be ready, because the Son of Man will come at an hour when you do not expect him” (Matthew 24:44). How can you be ready? God has provided the way for you to escape the judgment. That way is Jesus Christ (John 14:6). By accepting Jesus as your Lord and Savior, you are granted forgiveness of sins, mercy, and salvation with the promise of everlasting life (John 3:16; Ephesians 2:8–9). The “thief” is coming, but you can be a child of the day. Don’t put it off; this is “the year of the Lord’s favor” (Luke 4:19). (From (https://www.gotquestions.org/thief-in-the-night.html)

Please mediate upon these verses and pray upon them🩷🙏

God Bless each of you as you go through your own 40 days in the desert 🏜️ trust in Jesus to help you out of it.

Lenten Challenge

by rejoiceandpraise, posted in Catholic Journey, Catholicism, Christian Blogger, Christianity, Gospel of John, Lent

Certainly! I’m excited to share with you a Lenten challenge that will help you dive deeper into the Gospel of John. Lent is a season of reflection, preparation, and spiritual growth leading up to Easter, and what better way to engage with Scripture than by reading the Gospel of John?

Read a Chapter a Day from the Gospel of John: Lenten Challenge

Starting the day after Ash Wednesday (February 14, 2024) and concluding just before Palm Sunday (March 24), I invite you to join me in this enriching practice. Here’s how it works:

  1. Daily Reading: Read one chapter from the Gospel of John each day. You can use your own Bible or receive daily emails with the designated chapter.
  2. Exploration and Reflection: As you read, take time to reflect on the themes, stories, and teachings within each chapter. Consider how they speak to your heart and life.
  3. Community Engagement: Invite others to participate! Whether it’s your entire church congregation, prayer partners, Bible study group, or even young people (children, youth), this challenge can be intergenerational and unifying.
  4. Catch Up Gracefully: If you miss a day or two, don’t worry—simply catch up when you can. The goal is to engage with God’s Word consistently.

Why the Gospel of John?

The Gospel of John is rich in symbolism, theological depth, and profound encounters with Jesus. Here are some reasons why I find it particularly meaningful:

  • Seven Signs: John highlights seven miraculous signs performed by Jesus, revealing His identity as the Son of God.
  • Johannine Community: The Gospel emphasizes the role of the community in passing on Jesus’ stories and teachings.
  • Beloved Disciple: The mysterious “beloved disciple” invites us all into a living dialogue with our souls as we engage with these verses.

Light Shining in Darkness

John’s Gospel beautifully intertwines two central themes: light and life. Jesus is portrayed as the light that shines in our darkness—whether spiritual blindness or evil—and dispels it. Just as we appreciate light more when we recognize darkness, understanding our need for Jesus deepens our faith journey.

As you read through John’s Gospel during Lent, remember what Jesus has done for you: His suffering, death on the cross, and resurrection. By Easter Sunday, you’ll have journeyed through His life as recorded in this powerful Gospel.

So grab your Bible – it’s time to immerse yourself in the transformative words of John!

(Aside)

A little cheat on my part is a chapter a day via this YouTube link (King James Version):

God Bless 🙏💗

Lenten Prayers and Reflections

by rejoiceandpraise, posted in Christian Blogger, Christianity, prayer, Rosary, Sorrowful Mysteries, Stations of the Cross

As we go through our Lenten journey, it is a personal time as we encounter the mysterious of our faith.

I personally try to pray the Sorrowful Mysteries each morning. It is a time to contemplate and mediate on the journey our Lord Jesus Christ went through for our salvation.

Please find below the PDF for the Sorrowful Mysteries and The Stations of the Cross:

Sorrowful-Mysteries-2.pdfDownload
Stations-of-the-Cross.pdfDownload

Personal aside:

It was through praying these two prayers that I encounter a strong and loving mother as she watched her son Jesus sacrifice himself for our salvation. She may not have understood what was happening, but her strength came from her trust on in God. As a mom, this resonated with me. I became a better mother.

Through praying The Stations of the Cross, I found Veronica reflected within me – for I saw myself there reaching out to wipe the blood of my beloved Jesus. So very often I give up the little pain I feel to Jesus. Veronica’s simple gesture is what we should do upon one another – empathy and caring for the disenfranchised.