While reading chapter 6, I felt encouraged! "Turn humbly to God and ask, How may I serve? What is your will for my life?" I used to spend a lot of time worrying about if I was doing what God wanted and if I was making the "right" decision. I've personally found that spending time in prayer (which can mean many different things) is the only way to feel at peace, even when it is the smallest matter. This chapter seemed to reiterate that message to me!
In chapter six they talk about prayer as something that can be done anywhere anytime. My mother loves to walk by herself because in three to four miles she can pray an entire rosary. This is her chance to privately speak with God. I on the other hand would probably trip and fall and lose track of how many prayers I wa supposed to say. So I think my time to pray is going to be when I cook and clean. It is something i lik to do by myself and would be a great time to speak with God.
The part that struck me was to ‘pray constantly’ in which prayer can and should be involved in ordinary activities and that every activity can lead us to experience God. By offering our everyday activities such as cleaning the house, yard, or doing laundry to God as prayer, draws us nearer to God. I find myself praying at the oddest times throughout the day but have never really offered my daily activities to God to help others. Since we live in a world that it seems like our lives are moving so fast and we always seem behind, this will be a goal of mine as prayer can take on many forms and can be done at anytime throughout the day.
When I read the sixth chapter, the section that I found to be very interesting was the part that discussed the Henry David Thoreau quote, “Most men lead lives of quiet desperation.” I believe that we are so busy in our lives that we almost become overwhelmed. Like Matthew Kelly said, “Most people are not thriving, they are merely surviving.” We get caught up in the business that it almost buries us, and we can’t get ahead. I can somewhat relate to this. This is a very sad, but true reality in our lives.
Another part of the reading made me think about what the word, “holy” means to me. When I was younger, the word, “holy” made me think about God, the Church, and holy people, such as the pope, priests, nuns, etc. I think about it differently now; I know that we can all be holy. In addition, I like the section that discussed how holiness is inspiring. I agree with this statement. An example of this was Mother Teresa. She was a very inspirational woman.
Lastly, I believe that one of the most important things I took from this chapter was the statement, “Be all you can be.” We should all strive to be holy people and our true selves like God made us to be. This will help us to live a happy, authentic life.
Chapter six really made me think. Each of us needs to change if we want to live the "Authentic Life." It is so important for all of us to ask God, "How may I serve? What work do you wish for me to do with my life? What is your will for my life?" We need to think of God's will and not our own. I realize turning our individual will over to God can be challenging, but it is what is best for all of us. If all of us could do this think about the world in which we would be living in. It would be so different from the world in which we live today.
I have a cousin who wanted to live the Authentic Life by becoming a sister. She is a very religious person who was always working for the good of others. However, she is a severe diabetic. Many religious orders would not accept her because of her health condition. She has her masters in nursing, but felt that she wanted to give her life to God in prayer. Kathy was finally able to join a small group of sisters. The group is a cloistered group where she spends most of her time in prayer. She has found a life that is very fulfilling for her. Each day she spends her time by helping others with medical needs and in devotional prayer. She is definitely an inspiration for me and for all that know her.
"To be holy is to become fully the person God created you to be." This is a challenge for all of us to embrace. Our world would be a much better place if each and everyone of us took on this challenge.
Let each of us strive to change the world and make it a better place one step at a time. Good luck!!
I totally agree with Patty that we need to turn our every day activities into prayer. I remember a seasoned mom once told me she prays for each of her children as she folds their laundry. That to me was a great idea that I implemented into my life. I also think when we do things to the best of our ability and offer it up to God it is our way of praising him for helping us be the person he made us to be, created in his likeness and image.
I related most to the section that discussed setting goals and working towards something. When the author talked about having a goal of leading a Christian life and how it makes life easier, I totally agree with that. We are only on this earth a certain amount of time, we need to set goals and reach them, with the ultimate of goal of having a life in heaven. We need to strive to be the best we can while we are on earth.
When I read this chapter I was energized. I really focused in on and loved the words, "Be all that you can be" Such an important message as we live in our society of today. It can really be a theme or goal for the day. I also liked the idea of offering our work for the day to the Lord in form of a special prayer. Too often when a person thinks about prayer they think of church and solemn time with the Lord. However, every day as we work with our students helping them to grow as a faith filled individual, at home as we work with our children and spouse, all of these times can be times we can show our love for the Lord and all of HIs creation.
Turn humbly to God and ask "How may I serve?" and stop asking "What is in it for me?" This is the part that stuck out the most to me. I think so often, most of us do want to know what we will be getting out of whatever we are doing for someone else. Imagine how much better we might feel if we stopped worrying about how we will benefit from something and start thinking about how we can serve others and God. I think that sometimes we forget that there are more important things that just ourselves. That question really made me think about working toward helping others more and doing what God wants me to do.
The section about holiness being attractive and inspiring was one section that really stuck out for me. I hate to watch the news or read the newspaper because the stories are rarely ever the inspiring ones--it's always about the robbers, the murderers, the drug dealers, the pornographers--not the holiest of people! What an impact the media could have on the world if they only shared positive, inspiring stories!
I agree with what Patty and others posted about taking the "ordinary" parts of our lives and making them worthwhile by lifting up others in prayer. I think about how often I feel hurried or stressed about what I need to do and I fail to think about or pray for others. That is a goal of mine to lift those in need of prayer each time I am doing something that I don't enjoy or may take extra time for me to complete.
Another part of chapter 6 that I enjoyed reading about is how the roles we take on in our lives have meaning and purpose. Over the last 15 years, I've lead several roles in my life. If what we are doing is loving and worthwhile, it is part of living an authentic life. That is very affirming!
At this point in my life I am called often to serve others, and not to the ones I gave birth to, but to those who took care of me as a child. After reading this chapter it made me reflect on the important things that I need to do in my life and what I need to deem as important. It's not getting my house cleaned, mowing the grass or watching my favorite TV show, but to reach out to those in my life and serve them to the best of my ability. All the other "stuff" can wait. Most importantly to do so without complaint, but with the idea that this is what God has called me to do.
A few quotes that stuck out to me were " To live an authentic life is to become fully yourself" and "The authentic life manifests itself differently in every person." I think that one of the most important parts of a spiritual journey is to fully find yourself and your beliefs. It is valuable to remember that these are different for every person, so the journey to get to this point is also unique.
I like Debbie's thought about the Authentic life. I like the idea of being the person God wanted us to be. I like the challenge! I also would like the statement "that perfection is not robotic." We are here to be us and not what society acclaims as perfection." Your holiness is the delight of God and the source of your happiness." This can be achieved if we are the best version of ourselves.
I liked the part where Matthew Kelly explained how we can transform our ordinary activities into prayer. Several people posed on this topic. I never thought of doing work as prayers, but the idea of offering our work and/or activities to God as a prayer for others is something I can do. Matthew Kelly said, "Every honest human activity is compatible with the authentic life." This is something we all can do as part of our efforts to be the best we can be.
While reading chapter 6, I felt encouraged! "Turn humbly to God and ask, How may I serve? What is your will for my life?" I used to spend a lot of time worrying about if I was doing what God wanted and if I was making the "right" decision. I've personally found that spending time in prayer (which can mean many different things) is the only way to feel at peace, even when it is the smallest matter. This chapter seemed to reiterate that message to me!
ReplyDeleteIn chapter six they talk about prayer as something that can be done anywhere anytime. My mother loves to walk by herself because in three to four miles she can pray an entire rosary. This is her chance to privately speak with God. I on the other hand would probably trip and fall and lose track of how many prayers I wa supposed to say. So I think my time to pray is going to be when I cook and clean. It is something i lik to do by myself and would be a great time to speak with God.
ReplyDeleteThe part that struck me was to ‘pray constantly’ in which prayer can and should be involved in ordinary activities and that every activity can lead us to experience God. By offering our everyday activities such as cleaning the house, yard, or doing laundry to God as prayer, draws us nearer to God. I find myself praying at the oddest times throughout the day but have never really offered my daily activities to God to help others. Since we live in a world that it seems like our lives are moving so fast and we always seem behind, this will be a goal of mine as prayer can take on many forms and can be done at anytime throughout the day.
ReplyDeleteWhen I read the sixth chapter, the section that I found to be very interesting was the part that discussed the Henry David Thoreau quote, “Most men lead lives of quiet desperation.” I believe that we are so busy in our lives that we almost become overwhelmed. Like Matthew Kelly said, “Most people are not thriving, they are merely surviving.” We get caught up in the business that it almost buries us, and we can’t get ahead. I can somewhat relate to this. This is a very sad, but true reality in our lives.
ReplyDeleteAnother part of the reading made me think about what the word, “holy” means to me. When I was younger, the word, “holy” made me think about God, the Church, and holy people, such as the pope, priests, nuns, etc. I think about it differently now; I know that we can all be holy. In addition, I like the section that discussed how holiness is inspiring. I agree with this statement. An example of this was Mother Teresa. She was a very inspirational woman.
Lastly, I believe that one of the most important things I took from this chapter was the statement, “Be all you can be.” We should all strive to be holy people and our true selves like God made us to be. This will help us to live a happy, authentic life.
Chapter six really made me think. Each of us needs to change if we want to live the "Authentic Life." It is so important for all of us to ask God, "How may I serve? What work do you wish for me to do with my life? What is your will for my life?" We need to think of God's will and not our own. I realize turning our individual will over to God can be challenging, but it is what is best for all of us. If all of us could do this think about the world in which we would be living in. It would be so different from the world in which we live today.
ReplyDeleteI have a cousin who wanted to live the Authentic Life by becoming a sister. She is a very religious person who was always working for the good of others. However, she is a severe diabetic. Many religious orders would not accept her because of her health condition. She has her masters in nursing, but felt that she wanted to give her life to God in prayer. Kathy was finally able to join a small group of sisters. The group is a cloistered group where she spends most of her time in prayer. She has found a life that is very fulfilling for her. Each day she spends her time by helping others with medical needs and in devotional prayer. She is definitely an inspiration for me and for all that know her.
"To be holy is to become fully the person God created you to be." This is a challenge for all of us to embrace. Our world would be a much better place if each and everyone of us took on this challenge.
Let each of us strive to change the world and make it a better place one step at a time. Good luck!!
I totally agree with Patty that we need to turn our every day activities into prayer. I remember a seasoned mom once told me she prays for each of her children as she folds their laundry. That to me was a great idea that I implemented into my life. I also think when we do things to the best of our ability and offer it up to God it is our way of praising him for helping us be the person he made us to be, created in his likeness and image.
ReplyDeleteI related most to the section that discussed setting goals and working towards something. When the author talked about having a goal of leading a Christian life and how it makes life easier, I totally agree with that. We are only on this earth a certain amount of time, we need to set goals and reach them, with the ultimate of goal of having a life in heaven. We need to strive to be the best we can while we are on earth.
ReplyDeleteWhen I read this chapter I was energized. I really focused in on and loved the words, "Be all that you can be" Such an important message as we live in our society of today. It can really be a theme or goal for the day. I also liked the idea of offering our work for the day to the Lord in form of a special prayer. Too often when a person thinks about prayer they think of church and solemn time with the Lord. However, every day as we work with our students helping them to grow as a faith filled individual, at home as we work with our children and spouse, all of these times can be times we can show our love for the Lord and all of HIs creation.
ReplyDeleteTurn humbly to God and ask "How may I serve?" and stop asking "What is in it for me?" This is the part that stuck out the most to me. I think so often, most of us do want to know what we will be getting out of whatever we are doing for someone else. Imagine how much better we might feel if we stopped worrying about how we will benefit from something and start thinking about how we can serve others and God. I think that sometimes we forget that there are more important things that just ourselves. That question really made me think about working toward helping others more and doing what God wants me to do.
ReplyDeleteThe section about holiness being attractive and inspiring was one section that really stuck out for me. I hate to watch the news or read the newspaper because the stories are rarely ever the inspiring ones--it's always about the robbers, the murderers, the drug dealers, the pornographers--not the holiest of people! What an impact the media could have on the world if they only shared positive, inspiring stories!
ReplyDeleteI agree with what Patty and others posted about taking the "ordinary" parts of our lives and making them worthwhile by lifting up others in prayer. I think about how often I feel hurried or stressed about what I need to do and I fail to think about or pray for others. That is a goal of mine to lift those in need of prayer each time I am doing something that I don't enjoy or may take extra time for me to complete.
ReplyDeleteAnother part of chapter 6 that I enjoyed reading about is how the roles we take on in our lives have meaning and purpose. Over the last 15 years, I've lead several roles in my life. If what we are doing is loving and worthwhile, it is part of living an authentic life. That is very affirming!
At this point in my life I am called often to serve others, and not to the ones I gave birth to, but to those who took care of me as a child. After reading this chapter it made me reflect on the important things that I need to do in my life and what I need to deem as important. It's not getting my house cleaned, mowing the grass or watching my favorite TV show, but to reach out to those in my life and serve them to the best of my ability. All the other "stuff" can wait. Most importantly to do so without complaint, but with the idea that this is what God has called me to do.
ReplyDeleteA few quotes that stuck out to me were " To live an authentic life is to become fully yourself" and "The authentic life manifests itself differently in every person." I think that one of the most important parts of a spiritual journey is to fully find yourself and your beliefs. It is valuable to remember that these are different for every person, so the journey to get to this point is also unique.
ReplyDeleteI like Debbie's thought about the Authentic life. I like the idea of being the person God wanted us to be. I like the challenge! I also would like the statement "that perfection is not robotic." We are here to be us and not what society acclaims as perfection." Your holiness is the delight of God and the source of your happiness." This can be achieved if we are the best version of ourselves.
ReplyDeleteI liked the part where Matthew Kelly explained how we can transform our ordinary activities into prayer. Several people posed on this topic. I never thought of doing work as prayers, but the idea of offering our work and/or activities to God as a prayer for others is something I can do. Matthew Kelly said, "Every honest human activity is compatible with the authentic life." This is something we all can do as part of our efforts to be the best we can be.
ReplyDelete