Christ: "Come to Me This Lent"

Photo credit: Free-images.com

The season of Lent starts today. Unlike New Year’s Resolutions such as quitting smoking or losing weight, which focus only on our physical well-being, our Lenten sacrifices are meant to help us grow spiritually. Through our fasting, prayers, and almsgiving we get out of ourselves and our attachment to worldly comforts, allow ourselves to be drawn closer to our Lord, and strengthen us to become more loving and more compassionate people – more like Christ. 

We fast during Lent to create space in our hearts, and time in our day, for God. We fast to remind us how temporary the things of this world are and how dependent we are on Him for all of them. We fast from something good that we’ll joyfully allow again on Easter. What to give up? The suggestions are endless. Some people give up Starbucks and donate to charity the money they save. Some give up listening to music in the car and use that time to talk to, and listen for, God. Some give up using the elevator and think of Christ carrying His cross to Calvary while they climb the stairs. Search your heart; what can you give up that will be meaningful for you?  

Remember, what we do for Lent is less important than what we allow God to do in us. You were created by Love and for love; great potential for loving has been planted in your heart. Christ is always with you, drawing you toward Himself and a deeper experience of His love. Lent is a time for taking steps toward Him. 

Imagine Christ saying to you today:

People in a crowded bus may not have any emotional attachment to each other. They might not even look at each other. I am with you always. I want you to be close to Me.

Set aside your distractions and look for My love inside you. Listen to the loving words I say in your heart.

Let My love influence how you treat the people around you, and how you treat yourself. I want you to know how much I love you and how precious you are to Me.

Come to Me this Lent.

“Rend your hearts, not your garments. Return to the Lord, for He is gracious and compassionate.” – Joel 2:13

On another note… I’m going to take a break from writing for the next couple weeks. I started writing these weekly reflections in December 2020 and sent them out via email. In July 2021 I moved my writings to the blogspot domain and have written a reflection nearly every week since. Thank you for reading them! I’m thankful to God, Who gets all the credit for giving me the ideas and the words; it’s amazing to see how He directs what I write. If something touches your heart, I’m happy to know that I’ve conveyed the message clearly. Some readers have let me know when something struck a chord with them, and others have asked me questions. I appreciate and welcome all your comments! 

Over the next couple weeks, I invite you to go to my blog page at  https://intoflame.blogspot.com.  and search past posts based on topic or date written. Pay attention to which reflections our Lord may be leading you to. To get you started, here are some readers’ favorites from the past three years:

A True Story

https://intoflame.blogspot.com/2022/05/a-true-story.html

The Game of Life

https://intoflame.blogspot.com/2021/07/the-game-of-life.html

Change, Learn, and Grow

https://intoflame.blogspot.com/2021/07/change-learn-and-grow.html

Campfires of Love

https://intoflame.blogspot.com/2022/08/building-campfires-of-love.html

God Needs Us

https://intoflame.blogspot.com/2023/02/god-needs-us-to-work-his-miracles.html

Faith Is Not a Feeling

https://intoflame.blogspot.com/2023/03/faith-is-not-feeling.html

Christmas Is Just the Beginning

https://intoflame.blogspot.com/2023/12/christmas-is-just-beginning.html

“Lord, draw me close to You.”

Thank you for reading my reflection. © 2024 Gina Bedell     Comments are always welcome! 

Please share this with your friends by clicking on one of the icons below. Blogspot doesn’t have a ‘subscribe’ feature and so I appreciate your help in sharing my reflections. Thanks!

If you or someone you know would like to receive these writings directly to your inbox, please email me at ginabedell1@gmail.com and I will add you to my ‘BCC’ email list.

You can also find my posts on Facebook!

P.S.

Pray for peace in Ukraine, the Middle East, and around the world. Donate toward a cause that tugs at your heart. Take care of those around you; take care of our planet. Pray for the families around the globe whose lives have been torn apart by war and natural disasters.

He Hears You

Photo credit: Free-images.com

The small child grabs a toy off the shelf and puts it in the shopping cart. Dad takes it out and puts it back. The child doesn’t know why, and starts wailing. Maybe the toy isn’t age-appropriate, is too expensive, or will be given to him for his birthday. Dad could be showing his love by not giving him the toy. The child doesn’t know this; he knows only that he isn’t getting what he wants right now. His cries grow louder.

God hears all our prayers, whether they’re whispered or cried aloud in pain. Sometimes we get the answer we hoped for; sometimes we don’t. We might never know, in this lifetime, why God answers the way He does. Sometimes, we look back and thank Him for not giving in to our demands. Sometimes, we realize that our challenge prepared us for something better. When we pray, ‘Thy will be done,’ we trust that whatever God answers will bring about the greater good for ourselves and our loved ones. 

It’s natural to ask, “Why?” when we’re suffering. It’s natural to feel discouraged when the problem doesn't go away.  

“The same everlasting Father who cares for you today will care for you tomorrow and every day. Either he will shield you from suffering or give you unfailing strength to bear it. Be at peace, then, and put aside all anxious thoughts and imaginings.” – Francis de Sales

Remember, God doesn’t give us difficulties and illness, but He does permit them. In His wisdom, He knows that challenges draw us closer to Him. We may be complacent while things are going smoothly and then, when we’re struggling, we call on Him for help. Struggles also tend to bring about our greatest growth: it’s not until after the storm has passed that we see how much we’ve learned by going through it. This experience might help us later. Also, others’ challenges often bring out our most generous selves: We might be the answer to their prayers.

Imagine our Lord saying to you:

You feel anxious and are worried about many things. I hear you and see you. I know what that feels like because I, too, felt agony in the Garden of Gethsemane.

I know what it feels like to be frustrated and discouraged because I felt that when my apostles didn’t understand what I was trying to teach them.

I hear you. I am with you. Come to Me and open your heart to what I want to tell you.

Put your worries on My cross. Let Me share your burden, and then your suffering will have purpose. Let Me use it for a greater good: your salvation and the salvation of the world.

Every prayer you utter, I hear and I answer. Listen in your heart for the answer I’m giving you. 

I love you.

“Listen to the petitions of your servant and of your people… Listen from your heavenly dwelling...” – 1 Kings 8:30

“Lord, I trust in You.”

Thank you for reading my reflection. © 2024 Gina Bedell     Comments are always welcome! 

Please share this with your friends by clicking on one of the icons below. Blogspot doesn’t have a ‘subscribe’ feature and so I appreciate your help in sharing my reflections. Thanks!

If you or someone you know would like to receive these writings directly to your inbox, please email me at ginabedell1@gmail.com and I will add you to my ‘BCC’ email list.

You can also find my posts on Facebook!

P.S.

Pray for peace in Ukraine, the Middle East, and around the world. Donate toward a cause that tugs at your heart. Take care of those around you; take care of our planet. Pray for the families around the globe whose lives have been torn apart by war and natural disasters.

God: "Work With Me"

Photo credit: Free-images.com

Corrie ten Boom’s family used the resources from their watch-repair business in Holland to keep countless Jews safe from the Nazis during WWII. They were eventually arrested for their underground work and for hiding Jews in their home. In her gripping autobiography The Hiding Place, Corrie relates how God’s loving power was evident while they worked and even in the concentration camps. She says, “Every experience God gives us… is the perfect preparation for the future only He can see.”

In the Old Testament, when Solomon was about to begin his reign as king after the death of his father David, God tells Solomon to “Ask something of Me and I will give it to you.” When Solomon asks only for wisdom in leading the people – not riches for himself – God rewards him and gives him not only wisdom but riches and honor also (see 1 Kings 3:4-13).

In our own lives, no matter what work we do, when we work with and for Christ, He’ll give us all we need and more besides.

“Bring joy to your servant, Lord, for I put my trust in you.” – Psalm 86:4

Imagine our Lord saying to you:

If you were to ask Me only for riches, that’s all you would receive.

If you ask Me for satisfying employment, you’ll receive fulfilling work to occupy your days, self-confidence and pride in a job well done, and enough money to sustain you.

If you were to ask Me for things, that’s all you would have: material things that break, rust, or get used up. 

If you ask Me for graces, like wisdom, courage, strength, and patience, then these graces will fulfill your life, bring you happiness and peace, and allow you to work toward acquiring the things you’d like to have. Your happiness and peace are more important, more fulfilling, and more valuable to Me than the things you have.

Look not for riches but for work that you enjoy, that fills your soul with peace.

The gifts you’ve been given were for the purpose of doing work that fulfills you. 

Your life is not your job.

Keep Me with you and even the most difficult tasks and the most labor-intensive job will have meaning for you far beyond your paycheck.

Don’t ask for things only for yourself. Ask, rather, for those things that will benefit others. Then you will also be given what you need.

Work with the Lord, and He’ll give you more than you ask for.

“Happy the one whose help is the God of Jacob, whose hope is in the Lord, his God.”

– Psalm 146:5

“Lord, let my work be done with and for You.”

Thank you for reading my reflection. © 2024 Gina Bedell     

Comments are always welcome! 

Please share this with your friends by clicking on one of the icons below. Blogspot doesn’t have a ‘subscribe’ feature and so I appreciate your help in sharing my reflections. Thanks!

If you or someone you know would like to receive these writings directly to your inbox, please email me at ginabedell1@gmail.com and I will add you to my ‘BCC’ email list.

You can also find my posts on Facebook!

P.S.

Pray for peace in Ukraine, the Middle East, and around the world. Donate toward a cause that tugs at your heart. Take care of those around you; take care of our planet. Pray for the families around the globe whose lives have been torn apart by war and natural disasters.

An Idle Vessel Can't Be Steered

Photo credit: Free-images.com

Someone recently compared living our faith to driving a boat: the captain can steer the boat only if it’s moving. Similarly, God can guide us as long as we’re trying to do what’s good in any particular situation.  

This is a fitting analogy, but what does that look like in our everyday lives? It means if we keep moving – if we’re mindful of the people around us, if we remember that Christ is with us at all times to empower us, if we keep trying to do what’s good – we’ll make forward progress in bearing fruit. We’ll bring the kingdom of God – Love and Peace – to earth. When we show all people that they are loved, we bring peace to ourselves and the people around us.

Keep moving. Are you feeling a bit empty or unfulfilled? Are you looking for a way to give a little more to your community? Keep moving. Don’t let uncertainty stifle you. Do what you believe is the next best thing. Even if you’re not sure which way to go, do something good. Look for where there’s a need. Take the first step and let God guide you. Notice when there’s an opportunity to say or do something kind – something that offers the love of Christ to another person. Even small gestures may seem insignificant to you but actually might touch someone’s heart in ways you’ll never know about. 

Bearing fruit requires reaching out and going out – out of ourselves, out of our comfort zones, out of our way – to speak a kind word, offer a helping hand, and share our material goods with those in need. We’re mindful of each moment and each situation as it comes. We keep our eyes and hearts open to others. We pray mindfully and let the power of Christ influence how we love our neighbor.

Let our Lord steer your ‘boat’ toward Him and His peace. If you keep moving and keep trying, He’ll direct you. 

Let Him guide your thoughts, words, and actions. Let Him lead you with His grace and power to bring His Love and Peace to you and your part of the world.

“I chose you and appointed you to go and bear fruit that will last.” 

– John 15:16

“Lord, guide me toward You and what You want me to do.”

Thank you for reading my reflection. © 2023 Gina Bedell     Comments are always welcome! 

Please share this with your friends by clicking on one of the icons below. Blogspot doesn’t have a ‘subscribe’ feature and so I appreciate your help in sharing my reflections. Thanks!

If you or someone you know would like to receive these writings directly to your inbox, please email me at ginabedell1@gmail.com and I will add you to my ‘BCC’ email list.

You can also find my posts on Facebook!

P.S.

Pray for peace in Ukraine, the Middle East, and around the world. Donate toward a cause that tugs at your heart. Take care of those around you; take care of our planet. Pray for the families around the globe whose lives have been torn apart by war and natural disasters.

Time for Your Renewal

Photo credit: Free-images.com

After you buy a new item of clothing, chances are you remove something from your closet that’s old, something that’s still in decent shape but you just don’t wear any more, and donate it. This makes room for the new item, cuts down on clutter, and lets someone else benefit from your purchase. Sometimes it’s tempting to hang onto our old comfortable garments, though, even if they don’t fit as well as they used to.

Just like it’s good to get rid of our old clothing, we might also be better off without some of our old habits. Jesus mentions pouring ‘new wine into new wineskins.’ He’s challenging us to get rid of our old, selfish ways and allow Him to pour the ‘new wine’ of His Spirit into our ready hearts to transform us into more loving people.

Here are some questions to ask yourself:

Am I hanging onto old, familiar patterns of thought, speech, or behavior that have caused difficulties for myself or others? 

Am I holding onto past hurts or regrets? 

Do I recognize that my old, selfish ways are robbing me of the joy and peace Christ wants me to experience?

Will I let God expand my heart with more of His love and grace so that I love others in more concrete ways, and in ways that I could never do without His power working in me?

Am I willing to go out of my comfort zone and look for new opportunities to love and serve Christ in others? 

Have I persisted in prayer? If my prayers feel stagnant, am I willing to change how I pray? 

These questions might guide you toward becoming the most loving and joyful person God created you to be. 

Christ knows you’re seeking the peace He so often talked about. He sees your efforts at prayer. The memorized prayers you learned as a child are powerful and can give structure to your prayer time. You might also try praying using your own words. Start by looking with new wonder at His creation and expressing to Him what comes from your heart. 

Also, to make Mass (or your own church service) more meaningful – more prayerful – sometimes it helps to get to church about 20 minutes early to read that day’s Scripture readings in the missalette. Read slowly and let the words sink in. God speaks to you through them; pay attention to which words strike you. 

The new year is a time for renewal – for your renewal. 

Let’s ask our Lord to help us abandon our old ways. Let’s make room in our hearts and let His Spirit fill us with more of His grace to make us like new.

“New wine is poured into fresh wineskins.” – Mark 2:22

“Lord, transform me with Your love and grace.”

Thank you for reading my reflection. © 2023 Gina Bedell     Comments are always welcome! 

Please share this with your friends by clicking on one of the icons below. Blogspot doesn’t have a ‘subscribe’ feature and so I appreciate your help in sharing my reflections. Thanks!

If you or someone you know would like to receive these writings directly to your inbox, please email me at ginabedell1@gmail.com and I will add you to my ‘BCC’ email list.

You can also find my posts on Facebook!

P.S.

Pray for peace in Ukraine, the Middle East, and around the world. Donate toward a cause that tugs at your heart. Take care of those around you; take care of our planet. Pray for the families around the globe whose lives have been torn apart by war and natural disasters.

When God Seems Far Away

Photo credit: Free-images.com

“I don’t sense God’s presence in my life,” the email from one of my blog followers read. “How do I go about changing this?” The gentleman went on to say he suspects that many other people feel the same way. 

If you can relate to this sentiment, take heart! All of us experience 'spiritual dryness' at times. Even the saints do – and for some, it’s more the norm than the exception: Apparently, during most of the years she cared for people who were dying in the streets of Calcutta, St.Teresa felt nothing from God. Yet she continued the work He’d asked her to do, her work of love, even though she didn’t sense that He noticed. 

Hers is a good example to follow. In our journey with Christ, it’s important to act on the facts and not on our feelings. We know He created and loves us, so we thank Him for that. We look for and thank Him for our many blessings – from our waking up in the morning, to our work, family, and friends, and everything else we can think of during our day. This is what St. Paul meant when he said to 'pray without ceasing' (1 Thessalonians 5:17). 

Looking for Christ and His blessings may not give us the feeling of closeness we want, but it may lead us to see Him working in our lives in ways we hadn't noticed before. That increases our sense of gratitude.    

How do we actively seek Christ? As with anything else, it takes time and effort. Start by setting aside at least 10 minutes a day for Him; try to gradually add more time. The best way to make this a habit is to link it with something you already do every day – maybe right after a meal. Thank Him for that time. Tell Him whatever is on your mind, or be quiet and don’t say anything other than thanks. Pay attention to what thoughts come to you; these may be from Him.

You may want to read a few lines of Scripture. Choose something at random, or google ‘Mass readings for today.’ Read them slowly and see what words strike you. Stay with those and see what thoughts come to mind. Christ may be trying to speak to you through those few words.

Stick with your planned time even if you get restless after only a few minutes. You may find that the last few minutes seem to be when the most thoughts and inspirations come to you -- not the first minutes. 

Above all, don’t let your discouragement stop you from praying and doing what you believe Christ wants you to do. Remember that, where every prayer and act is done with Love, regardless of your feelings, there is Christ.

“Simon and those who were with him pursued Him… and said, ‘Everyone is looking for you.’” –Mark 1:36-37

“Lord, I will look for You even when You seem distant. Thank You for loving me.”

Thank you for reading my reflection. © 2023 Gina Bedell     Comments are always welcome! 

Please share this with your friends by clicking on one of the icons below. Blogspot doesn’t have a ‘subscribe’ feature and so I appreciate your help in sharing my reflections. Thanks!

If you or someone you know would like to receive these writings directly to your inbox, please email me at ginabedell1@gmail.com and I will add you to my ‘BCC’ email list.

You can also find my posts on Facebook!

P.S.

Pray for peace in Ukraine, the Middle East, and around the world. Donate toward a cause that tugs at your heart. Take care of those around you; take care of our planet. Pray for the families around the globe whose lives have been torn apart by war and natural disasters.

THANK YOU!

 😊

Thanks to those of you who have commented on my reflections!

Please note: If you leave a comment on this blog page, feel free to identify yourself. If you don't, I can read your comment but I have no way of knowing who wrote it.

Also, blogspot does not provide me with a way to answer your comment. So, if you'd like to receive an answer from me, either include your email with your comment or just email me directly at ginabedell1@gmail.com. 

Also, I put every reflection on my FaceBook page, so you may leave a comment there, too.

Thank you, and thanks for your support!

😊

Gina