Complete Holy Rosary in form of Gregorian Chants

What Are Words - Chris Medina

Words - Hawk Nelson

Words do hurt.

New Year Resolution 2015: Speak Life to . . . Yourself

Whatever is true, whatever is honorable, whatever is just, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is gracious, if there is any excellence, if there is anything worthy of praise, think about these things. Philippians 4:8

Most people for the New Year make "health" related resolutions. This is good because to be healthy is to be whole, or "holy".

Health: the general condition of the body or mind with reference to soundness and vigor: before 1000; Middle English helthe, Old English hǣlth. See hale1, whole, -th1 

Holy: devout, godly or virtuous: before 900; Middle English holi, Old English hālig, variant of hāl e.g.  equivalent to hāl whole + -eg -y1; cognate with Dutch, German heilig, OldNorse heilagr

One way to gauge our mental, emotional and spiritual health is to look at the quality of conversations in our relationships.  How much positive and how much negative do we deliberately speak to another?

The way we relate to others goes back to a further more causal internal motion: the dialogue we have with ourselves. 

Are we kind to ourselves or do we beat ourselves up?  

Do we love ourself in our most secret rawness?

Do we consider our own soul to be beautiful? 

Do we distract ourselves by our external accomplishments?

Do we call ourselves names?

Do we encourage ourselves?
Are we even mindful of what is in our vocabulary? 

Our thoughts are heard by God. Are we praising or damning His creation by patterns of words that go around and around?

Can we change our thoughts?

YES!!!

Watch your thoughts.
Think about the depth of your words.

Two Songs by MercyMe: Joseph's Lullaby and Bring the Rain

Ubi Caritas - Donald Brinegar Singers

Latin Text
Ubi caritas et amor, Deus ibi est.
Congregavit nos in unum Christi amor.
Exsultemus, et in ipso jucundemur.
Timeamus, et amemus Deum vivum.
Et ex corde diligamus nos sincero.

Ubi caritas et amor, Deus ibi est.
Simul ergo cum in unum congregamur:
Ne nos mente dividamur, caveamus.
Cessent iurgia maligna, cessent lites.
Et in medio nostri sit Christus Deus.

Ubi caritas et amor, Deus ibi est.
Simul quoque cum beatis videamus,
Glorianter vultum tuum, Christe Deus:
Gaudium quod est immensum, atque probum,
Saecula per infinita saeculorum. Amen.

English Translation
Where charity and love are, God is there.
Love of Christ has gathered us into one.
Let us rejoice in Him and be glad.
Let us fear, and let us love the living God.
And from a sincere heart let us love one.

Where charity and love are, God is there.
At the same time, therefore, are gathered into one:
Lest we be divided in mind, let us beware.
Let evil impulses stop, let controversy cease.
And in the midst of us be Christ our God.

Where charity and love are, God is there.
At the same time we see that with the saints also,
Thy face in glory, O Christ our God:
The joy that is immense and good, Unto the
World without end. Amen.

What Wondrous Love Is This?

Incredible - Celion Dion

When I hear this song, I think of Mother Teresa and her love for the poor.

"Preach always, but use words only when necessary…"- St. Francis of Assisi.

Family Portrait - Pink

Dare You To Move - Switchfoot

Heyr, himna smiður (Listen, smith of the heavens)

The choir that I am in will be singing this song for our upcoming Christmas concert. Beautiful.

Listen, smith of the heavens,

what the poet asks.

May softly come unto me

thy mercy.

So I call on thee,

for thou hast created me.

I am thy slave,

thou art my Lord.

God, I call on thee

to heal me.

Remember me, mild one, (or mild king. This is a pun on the word mildingur).

Most we need thee.

Drive out, O king of suns,

generous and great,

every human sorrow

from the city of the heart.

Watch over me, mild one,

Most we need thee,

truly every moment

in the world of men.

Send us, son of the virgin,

good causes,

all aid is from thee,

in my heart.

Heyr, himna smiður, 

hvers skáldið biður.

Komi mjúk til mín

miskunnin þín.

Því heit eg á þig,

þú hefur skaptan mig.

Eg er þrællinn þinn,

þú ert drottinn minn.

Guð, heit eg á þig,

að þú græðir mig.

Minnst þú, mildingur, mín,

mest þurfum þín.

Ryð þú, röðla gramur,

ríklyndur og framur,

hölds hverri sorg

úr hjartaborg.

Gæt þú, mildingur, mín,

mest þurfum þín,

helzt hverja stund

á hölda grund.

Send þú, meyjar mögur,

málsefnin fögur,

öll er hjálp af þér,

í hjarta mér.

Kutless - What Faith Can Do

I Surrender - Hillsong Live

Restore - Chris August

Already There -- Casting Crowns

Not Waiting For Tomorrow

To Forgive or Not To Forgive...

Today I don't want to forgive.  The hurt is too deep; the pain is so acute.  According to justice, the person who hurt me doesn't deserve my forgiveness.

I have heard that I should only forgive my transgressor if he/she meets certain qualifications that determine that he/she is worthy, such as remorse, responsibility and reparation.  If I forgive, without these "signs" being displayed, it seems that I am just setting myself up to be hurt again.  I am making myself weaker, right?

In choosing not to forgive, I, however, am doing something wrong too.  I am allowing bitterness to swell up inside me and take root there. I am adding personal internal misery to my pain.  I am dying twice: once from the hurt, secondly, by keeping a tight grip on this hurt.

In debating whether or not to release my just anger and let go of the only control I have over this person, I have become certain in what the right thing to do is.

It's not about whether this person deserves it.

It's about what not forgiving is doing to me. By holding on to what I think is a most grievous injustice, I am keeping the hurtful past in my head and heart; the pain is in my present and in all my projected tomorrows.  Not forgiving also prevents me from thinking charitably towards this person, and thus, affects some of my behavior.

Forgiving is not the same thing as reconciling.  Forgiveness is one sided; whereas, reconciliation involves both parties doing the right thing.  In forgiving, I am doing the right thing.  I am letting go of my victim-hood/anger/hate.  This does not mean things have become rectified; my offender will still have to show remorse and responsibility in order for a healthy reconciliation to happen.  Nevertheless in forgiving, in letting go of the desire to punish,  I am opening my heart - as hard as it is-  so that the opportunity is there for reconciliation. 

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"Father forgive them; for they know not what they do." - Luke 23:34

"Then Peter came up to Him, "Lord how often shall my brother sin against me, and I forgive him? As many as seven times?" Jesus said to him "I do not say to you seven times, but seventy times seven." -Matt 18:21 

"And in his anger his lord delivered him to the jailers, till he should pay all his debt. So also My heavenly Father will do to every one of you, if you do not forgive your brother from your heart." -Matt 18:34-35

"Forgive us our trespasses as we forgive those who trespass against us."- The Our Father 
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Audio talks on forgiving: Fr. John Riccardo 

Music Video on forgiving: Matt West: Forgiveness ,  Chris August: 7 x 70