|
SubscriptionsSites I Read
|
|
|
|
| I started reading a book on Purgatory called "Fire of Love!" written by Saint Catherine of Genoa. Here's part of the introduction:
St. Catherine's remarkable teachings on Purgatory show how Purgatory is an essential element of our love for God and of His love for us.
For Catherine, the most important aspect of the Church's teaching on Purgatory is not suffering per se, but on God's loving will, which inspires the faithful soul joyfully to embrace suffering in this life as well as in Purgatory, so that it may be purged of all imperfection discordant with God's goodness.
For those readers who may only be familiar with Purgatory as one of the Catholic Church's more vague-- and disturbing-- doctrines, St. Catherine's teachings demonstrates how integral this doctrine is to the Christian understanding of God's love for humankind and to the latter's response to this love. St. Catherine's insights on Purgatory enable Christians to face the sorrows of this life and the next with more courage and trust, confident that suffering serves their further perfection and eventual union with their all-loving Creator.
| | |
| Hillsong- The Stand
Mutual Love
"Let love be sincere; hate what is evil, hold on to what is good; love one another with mutual affection; anticipate one another in showing honor. Do not grow slack in zeal, be fervent in spirit, serve the Lord. Rejoice in hope, endure in affliction, perservere in prayer. Contribute to the needs of the holy ones, exercise hospitality. Bless those who persecute [you], bless and do not curse them. Rejoice with those who rejoice, weep with those who weep. Have the same regard for one another; do not be haughty but associate with the lowly; do not be wise in your own estimation. Do not repay anyone evil for evil; be concerned for what is noble in the sight of all. If possible, on your part, live at peace with all. Beloved, do not look for revenge but leave room for the wrath; for it is written, 'Vengeance is mine, I will repay, says the Lord.' Rather, 'if your enemy is hungry, feed him; if he is thirsty, give him something to drink, for by so doing you will heap burning coals upon his head.' Do not be conquered by evil but conquer evil with good."
| | |
| So I never write in this blog, especially these days since Xanga isn't the "in" thing anymore, but I was forced by a friend named Sam Ahn (probably the only person who reads this now). One main reason for me never writing in this is because I suck as a writer, and I don't have the ability to write eloquent pieces like Sam Ahn. (And yes, I had to look up the word eloquent, just incase I didn't spell it correctly, fortunately I spelled it right). I wish I could think of something interesting to write about but its 2:07 in the morning and I have to wake up early, so I shall keep it short.
Here are a few things that I recommend to everyone:
1. Read "The Alchemist". Trust me, you won't regret it. Even the first few pages just grabs your attention. The introduction is the most intelligent thing I've ever read in my life. The book has a very optimistic view on life. It'll inspire you to go out there to search for your personal goal and to fulfill it not matter what.
2. Read "Eat Pray Love" It may seem a bit on the feminine side, but its really entertaining. I'm only about 1/5 done with the book, but I'm in love with it. It's about a girl who travels to Italy, India, and Indonesia to search for the various forms of love. She discovers love through food, language, God, etc. It's quite an amazing book.
3. Listen to Lauryn Hill. She's soo amazing. That is all about her haha, just listen to her!
4. If you have an open mind and the time, PRAY. Even if you're not religious, you never know, prayer is known to change lives. It changed mine in ways that I can't explain. If you pray from the deepest part of your heart, your prayers will be answered.Sometimes it won't be the exact thing that you prayed for, but it'll all work out for the better. Just be patient, and believe, have faith in the man upstairs, or whoever/whatever you believe in. I shall share my experiences with prayer in another blog, you guys don't have to read/believe it if you don't want to.
5. Smile and be optimistic! Life is beautiful! Everything is a blessing in disguise. Tell someone you love them randomly, it'll make their day and maybe even yours!
Have a fantastic day Sammy! cause you're probably the only one reading this. If you are someone other than Sam, thank you for reading, and have a fantastic day too! :) God Bless! <3
| | |
| "At that moment, it seemed to him that time stood still, and the Sould of the World surged within him. When he looked into her dark eyes, and saw that her lips were poised between a laugh and silence, he learned the most important part of the language that all the world spoke-- the language that everyone on earth was capable of understanding in their heart. It was love. Something older than humanity, more ancient than the desert. Something that exerted the same force whenever two pairs of eyes met, as has theirs here at the well. She smiled, and that was certainly an omen-- the omen he had been awaiting, without even knowing he was, for all his life. The omen he had sought to find with his sheep and in his books, in the crystals and in the silence of the desert.
It was the pure Language of the World. It required no explanation, just as the universe needs none as it travels through endless time. What the boy felt at that moment was that he was in the presence of the only woman in his life, and that, with no need for words, she recognized the same thing. He was more certain of it than of anything in the world. He had been told by his parents and grandparents that he must fall in love and really know a person before becoming committed. But maybe people who felt taht way had never learned the universal language. Because, when you know that language, it's easy to understand that someone in the world awaits you, whether it's in the middle of the desert of in some great city. And when two such people encounter each other, and their eyes meet, the past and the future become unimportant. There is only that moement, and the incredible certainty that everything under the sun has been written by one hand only. It is in the hang that evokes love, and creates a twin soul for every person in the world. Without such love, one's dreams would have no meaning."
-Paulo Coelho
THE ALCHEMIST
| | |
| I don't hang around that place no more
I'm tired of wearing circles in the floor
And I don't carry myself very well
I've gotten so much braver
Can you tell?? I'm happy, can't you see? I'm alright, but I miss you... Brandi Carlile- Happy
| | |
|
