Patience

Have patience with all things, but chiefly have patience with yourself. Do not lose courage in considering your own imperfections but instantly set about remedying them – every day begin the task anew.

St. Francis de Sales

I find it quite humorous right now that my blog name
is "Changed" . Well, of course it makes sense because of
how it applies to my overall life but I really think
it's times like these I need to reflect of how much MORE
I must change in order to accomplish the work Christ has set
out for me.

When I get frustrated about how things aren't changing, or
going MY WAY, I get impatient, as does pretty much most people
unless you are already saintly and then I'm just jealous... haha
okay not jealous just inspired because I know I need to change.

What is even more silly, is that I think change is just going to
happen to me, like when you get lucky and hit all green lights on
your way to work, well... that isn't how change, real concrete
change happens. It doesn't just fall into your lap and you just start
living your life a completely new way. It doesn't just "do all the work"
and you reap the benefits. You must make an effort each day to renew
your mind, encourage your own heart and fight the temptation
to lose hope.

I must admit, I am the queen of throwing my hands up in the air!
That's it, obviously the world is going to end and things are NEVER going
to be the way I want them, well Jaime- first of all shouldn't you think about
what God wants? Not only that, but your faith MUST come into play here.
If you aren't bringing God into your daily problems then that is what they will
stay ... forever...daily... PROBLEMS! A few bits of advice...

1. Hail Mary's. (yes, you know how they are used in football-well
when your head is about to explode , these work the same way )
All joking aside Mama is there for us, she has cried and suffered all throughout
her whole life and she is ready to fight and provide all the strength and prayers you need all day LONG!

2. Scripture. It may be just the Mass Readings for the day or just a few verses you love to encourage you, but think of it as God peeking his head into your office or classroom and saying "Hey,remember I'm always here for you."

3. Breathe. This is still from God... you know your breath...
specifically reminding you to breathe when you feel like you cannot
bear one more ounce of pressure or disaster... think of it as you are breathing
in PATIENCE.

4. Friends. Unload... particularly to faith filled ones, or you can e-mail me ! I <3 E-mail! (choirofangelsblog at gmail dot com)



Dear Lord,
I am so impatient,
and even though I'm impatient please
be patient with me.
I know I am a work-in-progress but help me to remember
that I am your work-in-progress.
Amen

Consumed

“Eternal Trinity, Godhead, mystery deep as the sea,
you could give me no greater gift than the gift of yourself.
For you are a fire ever burning and never consume,
which itself consumes all the selfish love that fills my being.”

St. Catherine of Sienna


Do you ever think to yourself ...
"how did I get so wrapped up with me?"
and it's easy to... i don't blame anyone who does (cause I do)
life can start going and seem to never slow down.
This is how I have been lately,
so consumed with my life and my problems
and my failings and my blah blah blah... doesn't
it just sound exhausting already?

When you stop focusing on yourself
it helps you realize how small you really are.
How small "these problems" really are.
In the long run, will you look back
and really care about what was consuming you??
...most likely you won't care.
But you know what you will long for...
that time that was missed in your journey
the time that was lost
while you were staring into the mirror facing another mirror
creating the illusion that the world consist of an infinite number of YOU.

The times I know I cherish the most
are the times I wasn't thinking about ME.
It has been those times that I sought outward
and instead of trying to gain, I was trying to lose...
selfishness, fear, doubt ...
and create- renew what was gone and
fill it with love, respect, dignity, faith.

Are you consumed with yourself? It's so sad because
I know that my life is FILLED with blessings,yet because
lately all I have been worried about is ME , I have failed
to truly embrace the beauty around me...

I have reached a point where all my baggage, all my
worries and anxieties have collected within me and
I am consumed...


Honestly, because this life is not about me...
it's about you .. yes, you the person who
is reading this... it's about my neighbor ...it's about God.

You shall love your neighbor as yourself -Matthew 22:38

If I care so much for myself
then I must care that much for my neighbor...
and I must care that much for God.



So Holy Fire, Burn away...everything
Amen