Lift your spirit with encouraging, teaching, and healing words.

A cross on top of a snow covered hill.
REFLECTIVE

God’s Authority Over the Created Order

Two themes emerge in my engagement with God's Word today–the archetype of the Christian faith journey and the theological motif of God's authority over the created order. In my book, Our Journey to God, I wrote extensively about the former, a thorough exploration of Abraham's faith journey. In this reflection, I ...
A wooden figure of a person climbing up some steps
GENERAL

Six Biblical Tips on Succession Plan 

Many people wouldn't think of the Bible as a source of business or organizational leadership advice, but it has a lot to say about succession planning. There are plenty of biblical tips that can help any leader transition smoothly to the next phase in their leadership. Here are a few ...
A group of children are planting trees in the dirt.
GENERAL

Call and Mission for the Imperfect 

I don't know about you, but I find comfort in the truth that God calls and chooses the imperfect for a spectacular mission. It's like He knows we're going to mess up, so He picks someone who makes mistakes. And then, instead of getting mad at us for messing up, ...
A man being held down by another person.
GENERAL

Service Endures, Leading to Greatness

Service inspires a better future. For with service, there is no scarcity. There are limitless opportunities. If there is an ambition key to greatness, it is service of others. The 1946 Nobel Prize-winner Herman Hesse's 1932 novella, Journey to the East, leaves an enduring lesson. It is about a sect, The ...
A bunch of roses that are in a pile
GENERAL

Our Lady of the Holy Rosary

Our Lady of the Holy Rosary inspires us to reflect on the life of the Blessed Virgin Mary, who is adorned with roses, bearing the glory of God. Roses are one of the most beautiful flowers, a special gift of nature. All roses–from the white rose to the pink, yellow, ...
A close up of the face of a statue
GENERAL

Way of Love: A Girl that Changed My Life

As a boy of fourteen years old, the life of one girl moved mine more than any other–showing me the way of love. The girl is Thérèse, from the little city of Lisieux in Calvados, France. She is popularly known as the Little Flower, Saint Thérèse of the Child Jesus. To her, I ...
A painting of an old man and woman in a white frame.
SAINTS

Why I Love Matthew

A reflection about an apostle, evangelist, and sinner– Saint Matthew–whose feast day we celebrate on September 21, will inspire a reader to see why I love Matthew. I love Matthew, the apostle, because he was a sinner. I love him because he was open to grace. It is also because the ...
GENERAL

Cuckoos and Covid-19: On Spiritual Vigilance

I remember the first time I ever heard about spiritual vigilance. It was a talk by a Catholic priest and I was in college. He said that spiritual vigilance is the practice of being awake and aware in every moment. "It's being alert to what's going on around you, both ...
A painting of mary with her eyes closed.
SAINTS

To The Woman I Love So Much: Blessed Virgin Mary

To her I gaze, her face I behold Through the hills of Judea it's told The path neither of maze nor daze Of hers humans find the smooth Grace terrace  Of the plan the Triune bear Eternity ever for humans prepare The way to the Divine  O human of you ...
A cross and candles in front of the altar.
GENERAL

The Eucharist, Life-Giving Bread

Christ's gift of his body, the Eucharist, is the source and summit of the Christian life (CCC, nos. 10, 1324), for from it we have abundant life and reach the height of our spiritual life. Thus, in believing and living its grace, one lives forever. There is something rare about ...