by The Face of Grace Project | Jan 23, 2021 | Presence
Some believe these are the end times; others, a minor tribulation. Many believe neither, as Christian societies have seen far worse times in history. All will agree, however, that the enemy is attacking us and many feel it in their everyday life. How do we respond in the heat of the battle? Kick Butt! The Quick Guide to Spiritual Warfare is unique in providing the tactics within the context of the spiritual relationship with God and from the reader’s lived experience. Accessibly organized for personal reading, Kick Butt! complements other books on the topic, formations such as oblates, Exodus 90 and Ignatian retreats, deliverance work, ministry and pastoral work. Self-publishing keeps price low ($2.99 Kindle/$6.99 print) making it available to Christians in nearly any circumstances. Available on Amazon.
by The Face of Grace Project | Jan 13, 2021 | Presence
In the old days, we called going to confession ‘getting right with God’. Regardless of what was happening in life, something deep inside of us knew that our relationship with God was the one thing that needed to be order. I liken it to having an internal antenna seeking God. The Church teaches that the very fabric of our being is created for this right orientation to God.
In these turbulent times, we must answer God’s call to holiness and allow Him to transform us through the sacrament of reconciliation.
by The Face of Grace Project | Jan 6, 2021 | Presence
The ghosts of New Years past: resolutions to change myself every New Year’s, Lent, birthday and Advent … the yo-y0 effect of being absolutely sure every morning that I’ll keep my resolutions only to give in about 3pm that afternoon … a scream of “YIKES” realizing that me changing myself fails because it remains centered in me … suppressing the “YIKES” and coming up with a ‘better’ resolution.
All we need for 2021 is one simple resolution: to ask God “What is one thing I need to do, or not do, that will change my relationship with you?” And then do it.
by The Face of Grace Project | Jan 3, 2021 | Presence
Over the millennia, people have been fascinated that the Magi traveled so far to adore a child King of a peoples not their own. The Magi could not have predicted from the stars when He would be born or how, or what was to happen “but conversely, having a long time before seen a star appear in their own country, they come to see Him that was born.” Then one asks why did they come at all? They weren’t there to pay homage to the child of a human ruler. He wasn’t their king, and they didn’t hesitate to risk telling the reigning ruler (Herod) of this new king in his kingdom. They took great risk in traveling the long distance. Arriving to find this King was an infant, they worshipped him rather than turning around and going home. Why did they bother?
by The Face of Grace Project | Dec 30, 2020 | Presence
This liturgical period gives many opportunities to grow profoundly in this relationship with God: the Holy Family, Mary Mother of God, The Holy Name of Jesus, all leading to the Feast of the Epiphany. It is not the bringing of closure to Christmas but, rather, the making of it an ongoing lived reality in our heart. Grasping at two simple truths and rejecting any contrary thoughts will change your life and, through you, those you love: (1) God really does love you deeply, personally and mercifully, and (2) You are worthy of it.
Let us allow God to remake us so that, like Mary, we may be the face of Grace to the world.
by The Face of Grace Project | Dec 27, 2020 | Presence
As we prepare to celebrate the Solemnity of Mary, Mother of God, I need to ask myself, what does this mean to me? And to how I live my day today?
The church teaches that Mary leads us to Jesus. Interestingly, however, Jesus will also lead us to Mary. It seems that to truly give our heart to the one, we must give our heart to the other.
by The Face of Grace Project | Dec 23, 2020 | Presence
One morning, I was in the church chapel kneeling before the tabernacle. My gaze went to the window above it. Through the haze of the drizzling rain stood a tall, leaf-barren tree. High up in the tree was a very large bird’s nest. And it struck me how much life is hidden from us until the dead exterior is shed.
Problems in life drill down to Love, and when the absence of Love presents itself, we must look to ourselves rather than the other person. The only solution is to make a beeline straight to God to unload more dead matter from the soul. It is then that we have eyes to see the beauty in barrenness.
by The Face of Grace Project | Dec 20, 2020 | Presence
How often it may seem that our really ginormous God is too big to fit into our life. And yet the truth is, He is already there in every crack and crevice. He is the origin of every moment and sustains our life in that moment. Not because He has to. Because He wants to. And this really ginormous God came to us in the smallest way: a naked infant totally dependent on humans, willing to listen to His Father and follow His Spirit.
by The Face of Grace Project | Dec 13, 2020 | Presence
For Gaudete Sunday, we rejoice as we prepare for the coming of our Savior Lord Jesus Christ. There is a longing in each of us for Advent to be a little different this year and for Christmas to truly be joyful.
Advent is a time of awaiting new life: our own. “New” is change; “life” is God. The only way to change a dynamic in any relationship is to first change ourselves, which is precisely the beauty of Advent. The gift of Christmas is this new relationship with God. Gaudete is a day of thanksgiving that our deepest Hope is to be fulfilled: that of being wanted and loved by Love Itself.
by The Face of Grace Project | Dec 6, 2020 | Presence
When my daughter was 3, a friend told her (regarding Christmas & Santa Claus) “You gotta believe to receive”. She immediately began to cry because that meant her Jewish friends would never have Santa Claus come to their house!. Well, I was able to calm her slightly by explaining the 8 days of gifts given in Hanukah. But she still knew there was something more special about having God’s saint come personally on Christmas eve just for you. At the center of the myths, magic and folklore of Santa Claus is a beautiful truth: believing in the one you cannot see who longs to shower you with His precious gifts.
How easily grown-ups lose sight of that.
