JesusITrustInYou Posted April 16, 2006 Share Posted April 16, 2006 (edited) Hmmm, sooo, I would like to ask people if they have any interesting/helpful quotes, advice, prayers, etc. for someone who is slipping into lukewarmness (not an unfamiliar place). I think it's something we all have to fight against. The devil is smart, and he knows our weaknesses better than we do. He finds ways to make us fall...and then we get up...but then we fall...and we get up...and we fall...and we start to get sick of getting up, or we feel like we just can't get up again... Please, tell me I'm not the only one who ever feels like that! Anyway, sorry if this is depressing... God is good! All the time! : That's still true, no matter what mood we're in. But I just wanted to ask all you good folks here on PM to share anything helpful if you've got it. Thanks! God bless! Happy Easter!!! PS-If Iacobus comes around here, just wanted to let him know that his signature quote is helpful and inspiring. [quote]"Do not abandon yourselves to despair. We are the Easter people and hallelujah is our song." ~Pope John Paul II[/quote] Edited April 16, 2006 by JesusITrustInYou Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
WillT Posted April 16, 2006 Share Posted April 16, 2006 [quote name='JesusITrustInYou' date='Apr 15 2006, 08:44 PM']He finds ways to make us fall...and then we get up...but then we fall...and we get up...and we fall...and we start to get sick of getting up, or we feel like we just can't get up again... Please, tell me I'm not the only one who ever feels like that! [right][snapback]948626[/snapback][/right] [/quote] How true. I can attest to the fact that I experience the same thing. You aren't alone! I think the most important thing to realize in these situations is that you truly CAN NOT get back up every time. We have to rely on Jesus to pick us up! Without His grace we will always be down. After we realize this, when we fall and those thoughts enter our minds that we are too weak to get up, we also realize that all we have to do is ask Christ to help us. We don't have to get up on our own because we can't. That's not to say that we don't have to put forth effort and accept God's grace but even Jesus had help carrying His Cross. He knows what it's like to have a burden too heavy to lift by ourselves and He is always willing to help. From Matthew: [quote]28 "Come to me, all you who labor and are burdened, and I will give you rest. 29 Take my yoke upon you and learn from me, for I am meek and humble of heart; and you will find rest for your selves. 30 For my yoke is easy, and my burden light."[/quote] I think this is something that is really easy to forget, especially in a culture that has such a "pick yourself up by the bootstraps" mentality. Anyway, I hope this helped! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JesusITrustInYou Posted April 16, 2006 Author Share Posted April 16, 2006 (edited) Thanks so much, Will! The Bible verses especially helped. It's amazing how God wants to be so close to us! "Come to Me," He says... He just wants us to be with Him, to be in a relationship with Him... hmm, yes indeed, Will, you have started me on a path of much thinking, haha. but I think I'll have to get off that path soon so I can sleep haha. God bless, Will, and prayers! Edited April 16, 2006 by JesusITrustInYou Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
WillT Posted April 16, 2006 Share Posted April 16, 2006 Yes, sleep is good! Rest in the Lord! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Myles Domini Posted April 16, 2006 Share Posted April 16, 2006 [quote name='JesusITrustInYou' date='Apr 16 2006, 02:44 AM']Hmmm, sooo, I would like to ask people if they have any interesting/helpful quotes, advice, prayers, etc. for someone who is slipping into lukewarmness (not an unfamiliar place). I think it's something we all have to fight against. The devil is smart, and he knows our weaknesses better than we do. He finds ways to make us fall...and then we get up...but then we fall...and we get up...and we fall...and we start to get sick of getting up, or we feel like we just can't get up again... Please, tell me I'm not the only one who ever feels like that! Anyway, sorry if this is depressing... God is good! All the time! : That's still true, no matter what mood we're in. But I just wanted to ask all you good folks here on PM to share anything helpful if you've got it. Thanks! God bless! Happy Easter!!! PS-If Iacobus comes around here, just wanted to let him know that his signature quote is helpful and inspiring. [right][snapback]948626[/snapback][/right] [/quote] Well from your signature I assume you're St John of the Cross? If so, you're on the right track. I cant think of what else to tell you that goes beyond the scope of what he wrote on this topic. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JesusITrustInYou Posted April 16, 2006 Author Share Posted April 16, 2006 [quote name='Myles' date='Apr 16 2006, 01:21 AM']Well from your signature I assume you're St John of the Cross? If so, you're on the right track. I cant think of what else to tell you that goes beyond the scope of what he wrote on this topic. [right][snapback]948778[/snapback][/right] [/quote] Haha, are you making fun of my English, Myles? That's what I gathered, correct me if I'm wrong though. I suppose I should have said "The quote by Pope John Paul II that Iacobus has for his signature is inspiring" or something... Btw, by "what he wrote on this topic" did you mean St. John of the Cross, or WillT (what he posted)?? Sorry...I'm con-foo-zed. as in confused. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JesusITrustInYou Posted April 16, 2006 Author Share Posted April 16, 2006 btw Myles, speaking of quotes in signatures...I like this one from yours: [quote]Try to know the 'way of spiritual childhood' without forcing yourself to follow this path. Let the Holy Spirit work in you. -St. Josemaria Escriva[/quote] good food for thought... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
HisChild Posted April 16, 2006 Share Posted April 16, 2006 Perhaps Myles meant to say a 'fan' of St John of the Cross, or a devotee? If that was the case, well, St John dela Cruz wrote a LOT on Dark Nights of the Soul. . .something that plagues many faithful. You might want to check out some of his books on the matter. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Myles Domini Posted April 16, 2006 Share Posted April 16, 2006 [quote name='PCPA2Be' date='Apr 16 2006, 02:56 PM']Perhaps Myles meant to say a 'fan' of St John of the Cross, or a devotee? If that was the case, well, St John dela Cruz wrote a LOT on Dark Nights of the Soul. . .something that plagues many faithful. You might want to check out some of his books on the matter. [right][snapback]948992[/snapback][/right] [/quote] The missing word was 'reading' I apologise if my incorrect grammar made it appear that I was mocking you. If you don't already own it in hard copy download this pdf version of the [url="http://www.ccel.org/ccel/john_cross/dark_night.pdf"]Dark Night of the Soul by St John of the Cross[/url]... ...and visit my blog [url="http://www.gracentruth.blogspot.com/"]grace and truth[/url] for regular spiritual 'bullets' (yes, its shameless self-promotion but... : ) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
alicemary Posted April 16, 2006 Share Posted April 16, 2006 We all have times like this, I guess the best thing to do is place your trust in the Lord, don't be so hard on yourself, seek out spiritual guidance and wait for it to pass. And be assured of the prayer from your phamily who certainly do understand. Alicemary Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tink Posted April 16, 2006 Share Posted April 16, 2006 (edited) [color=#58AA1f][b] "The spirit of the Lord GOD is upon me, because the LORD has anointed me; He has sent me to bring glad tidings to the lowly, to heal the brokenhearted... I rejoice heartily in the LORD, in my God is the joy of my soul; For he has clothed me with a robe of salvation, and wrapped me in a mantle of justice, Like a bridegroom adorned with a diadem, like a bride bedecked with her jewels. As the earth brings forth its plants, and a garden makes its growth spring up, So will the Lord GOD make justice and praise spring up before all the nations." -Isaiah 61 Well, it looks like you've heard tons of awesome advice, but I would definitely say REST IN MARY! She was such a beautiful example of perseverence in times of trial, and though she was ever-loving and ever-rejoicing in God's works and never lacking in fervor, she is the most consoling of all mothers and the most comforting of all saints. Her mantle is rich in graces and solace to those who find themselves isolated, lukewarm, dismal, or lethargic. She is the morning Lily that rises before the sun and uses every breath to praise Him, so when we aren't feeling as connected as usual, she will take what little we have to give and mold it and make it a beautiful sacrifice worthy of the Paschal Lamb. And read the Psalms, they rock too! [/b][/color] Edited April 16, 2006 by Tink Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JesusITrustInYou Posted April 16, 2006 Author Share Posted April 16, 2006 Wow, you all are most definitely filled with the Holy Spirit! Thank you so much for your advice and your prayers! [quote name='Myles' date='Apr 16 2006, 01:04 PM']The missing word was 'reading' I apologise if my incorrect grammar made it appear that I was mocking you. If you don't already own it in hard copy download this pdf version of the [url="http://www.ccel.org/ccel/john_cross/dark_night.pdf"]Dark Night of the Soul by St John of the Cross[/url]... ...and visit my blog [url="http://www.gracentruth.blogspot.com/"]grace and truth[/url] for regular spiritual 'bullets' (yes, its shameless self-promotion but... : ) [right][snapback]949027[/snapback][/right] [/quote] And I'm sorry, Myles, if I jumped to a conclusion. Thanks for the link to the download, because I don't have the hard copy of that book. And I checked out your blog too...it's worth the self-promotion! famous Myles, famous because of his insightful thoughts and poetry---> Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JesusITrustInYou Posted April 16, 2006 Author Share Posted April 16, 2006 [quote name='Tink' date='Apr 16 2006, 01:14 PM'][color=#58AA1f][b]Well, it looks like you've heard tons of awesome advice, but I would definitely say REST IN MARY! She was such a beautiful example of perseverence in times of trial, and though she was ever-loving and ever-rejoicing in God's works and never lacking in fervor, she is the most consoling of all mothers and the most comforting of all saints. Her mantle is rich in graces and solace to those who find themselves isolated, lukewarm, dismal, or lethargic. She is the morning Lily that rises before the sun and uses every breath to praise Him, so when we aren't feeling as connected as usual, she will take what little we have to give and mold it and make it a beautiful sacrifice worthy of the Paschal Lamb. And read the Psalms, they rock too! [/b][/color] [right][snapback]949038[/snapback][/right] [/quote] Thanks, Tink! Those are really great thoughts about Mary, I appreciate your sharing them! Also, I'll be sure to take your advice and read the Psalms! God bless! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JesusITrustInYou Posted April 16, 2006 Author Share Posted April 16, 2006 At Mass today, our priest gave a great homily (as usual). It was about how we shouldn't despair, because "Christ has died, Christ is risen, Christ will come again!" He said that there is hope, because even though we sin, God is always ready to forgive us. He's the one reaching out to us and calling us to come back to Him. He also talked about the fact that God wants to be so close to us that He gives Himself to us in the Eucharist for us to eat His Flesh and drink His Blood! (I've heard all this before, of course, but it was especially helpful and uplifting today.) Father also talked about our Baptism. He said that when we came out of the water we were new people, we had put aside our old self. "Why do we go back to that old self? Why do we go back to our selfishness?" he asked. That really sent me on a guilt trip, haha, made me smile though, cause I could tell God definitely wanted me to hear that today. It encouraged me to keep trying, because of the future that is ahead (another thing Fr. touched on). If we have died and are buried with Christ, then we shall rise with Him! Christ is risen! Alleluia! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tink Posted April 16, 2006 Share Posted April 16, 2006 [color=#58aa1f][b]You're quite welcome! And I'll be praying for you, of course![/b][/color] Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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