March 15, 2021

Posted on by Evelyn Rivera
My reflection today:
“When life seems like a mountain that’s too hard to climb… you will find the strength to take just one more step.
When your journey seems just too hard to bear… you will find the courage to face one more day.
When you feel lost and you don’t know which way to turn… let your faith and trust lead the way.
And when it’s hard to believe that things will ever get better… look
inside your heart – and find hope.
Remember that every storm passes – and sunshine and brighter days always follow the rain.” – Jason Blume
Even on the darkest, gloomiest days the sun is always shining. We don’t see it or feel it but it is there. And so too with Jesus, the Son of God, he is always with us whether we feel his presence or not. ☀️

March 14, 2021

Posted on by Evelyn Rivera
My reflection today:
“It’s only a matter of time before the storms in your life subside. The clouds will pass, and the sun will show its face. The rain that has fallen will remind you of the tears you shed. There will come a respite and a calm.
Through it all, you will feel a presence by your side. You will sense a light shining inside the dark corners of your heart. That light will uplift and guide you away from the shadows into the glorious warmth of the day.
God will hold you in his arms. He will be the rainbow at the end of your storms.
Though you may feel alone. He will hold you in His heart. He will steady your arm when you stumble. He will be your eyes when you can’t see.
The storm will subside. Hope will rise to take its place, and you will break through to the light – by the grace of God.” -Josie Willis
I believe that in difficult times God holds us in His arms.
I am seeing hope in this vaccine. The storm of the pandemic will subside. It has been a year since we heard the word pandemic. Many of us have survived thanks to the loving presence of our God.?

March 13, 2021

Posted on by Evelyn Rivera
My reflection today:
“Acceptance means that you can find the serenity within to let go of the past with its mistakes and regrets, move into the future with a new perspective, and appreciate the opportunity to take a second chance.
Acceptance means you’ll find security again when difficult times come into your life, and comfort to relieve any pain. You’ll find new dreams, fresh hopes, and forgiveness of the heart.
Acceptance does not mean that you will always be perfect. It simply means that you always overcome imperfection.
Acceptance is the road to peace-letting go of the worst, holding onto the best, and finding the hope inside that continues throughout life.
Acceptance is the heart’s best defense, love’s greatest asset, and the easiest way to keep your thoughts positive.” –  Regina Hill
I never really thought about practicing acceptance. What do I have to accept in my life?
How does acceptance challenge me to grow?
How would our faith be different if Jesus never accepted his passion and death? Let us thank God that he did! ❤️

March 12, 2021

Posted on by Evelyn Rivera
My reflection today:
“There is no need to give up your serenity for the sake of getting something accomplished. In fact, accomplishment comes more surely when your efforts are calm and your spirit is peaceful.
Consider how very much more you can get done when your energy is not being sapped away by a frenzied mind. True serenity is not the absence of action, but rather action with integrity, confidence, and a steadfastness of purpose.
The world may very well be swirling around you in a constant turmoil. But you don’t have to adopt that turmoil as your own.
The more frenzied and hurried life becomes, the more serene and unperturbed you have the opportunity to be. Whatever you can accomplish in a hectic and chaotic state, you can accomplish much more powerfully with peaceful, calm determination.
When you’re confronted with turmoil, respond with serenity. It will lift you to a higher level of experience and accomplishment.” Ralph S. Marston, Jr.
For me, one of the blessings of this pandemic has slowed me down. It has given me more opportunity to take time and quiet reflection. My energy has increased with the lack of frenetic activity. I am deeply saddened that there have had to be so many deaths because of this horrendous disease. It has touched the lives of everyone but it has not defeated us. God‘s gift of serenity will reign over all. ?

March11, 2021

Posted on by Evelyn Rivera
My reflection today:
“Hope is found in the way you look at life. It’s the path you’re drawn to follow. It’s in the plans you must arrange, the goals you want to reach, the dream that takes your breath away.
Hope is there when you see how things can be. It’s the spirit of one who won’t give up, the voice that says it can be done, and the eagerness to make it happen.
Hope is the belief that anything is possible, the emblem of one who believes that dreams can come true, and the joyous attitude of going forward to reach every goal. Most especially, hope brings out the winner that lives in your heart.” – Barbara J. Hall
I find this reflection by Barbara interesting because I don’t hear people talk about hope very much. People talk about faith and love but not hope. With all that has been going on with the pandemic hope is needed more than ever. Hope that we can travel, hope that we can go out and enjoy a good meal, hope that we can hug our grandchildren and friends again.  thank you God for giving us this vaccine that allows us to have hope again.?

March 10, 2021

Posted on by Evelyn Rivera
My reflection today:
“There is so much to be thankful for in this world – the love of our family, a warm home, good friends, our health and happiness, the beauty that surrounds us.
Yet when things aren’t going our way, when sorrow enters our lives or dreams seem out of our reach, we too quickly forget how fortunate we really are.
When difficulties occur, we must learn to rise above the feelings of sadness and despair. We must accept the wisdom of God‘s plan and go on with our lives, grateful for His many blessings, secure in His love.” – Anna Marie Edwards
God‘s blessings are ours to cherish. Let us stop and thank God for everything! So many times when I need something, I stop and pray. How often do I stop and pray to thank God for everything. my sight, my ability to walk, yesterday’s beautiful weather, my family etc. ?

March 9, 2021

Posted on by Evelyn Rivera
My reflection today:
“Thought is the great builder in human life it is the determining factor. Continually think thoughts that are good, and your life will show forth in goodness… Think thoughts of love, and you will love and will be loved” – Ralph Waldo Trine
This is another way of saying our thoughts bring about self fulfilling prophecy. I find it interesting that thought is the great builder in human life. Let us not just think thoughts of love, but let us pray and ask God to help each one of us be a more loving person. What a wonderful world it will be.?

March 8, 2021

Posted on by Evelyn Rivera
My reflection today:
We cannot choose how many years we will live, but we can choose how much life those years will have. We cannot control the beauty of our face, but we can control the expression on it. We cannot control life‘s difficult moments, but we can choose to make life less difficult. We cannot control the negative atmosphere of the world, but we can control the atmosphere of our minds. Too often we try to choose and control things we cannot. Too seldom we choose to control what we can… our attitude. – Author unknown
I remember reading, the only person responsible for your happiness is you. It’s always easier to blame all the things outside of us but the bottom line is each one of us is the only person responsible for our attitude and our actions.  at times we need calming thoughts to help us slow down, to let go and let God…then we can discover our inner joy

March 7, 2021

Posted on by Evelyn Rivera
My reflection today:
“Setbacks and disappointments are something we all experience at one time or another. But if you refuse to believe in failure, you’ll be able to find a way to open up all those doors that at one time you thought were closed to you forever. If you mark something down as a failure, then that’s what it will be. But if you make up your mind to get the better of the situation, and experience that you once labeled as a failure can become another steppingstone toward happiness. So the next time something doesn’t turn out exactly as you’d hoped, Turn it around, be a fighter. Remember: it’s the people who can turn a negative into a positive and bounce back who really get ahead in life.” – Mary Lou Retton
Mary Lou reminds us that it is all and how we look at situations. Life is too short to dwell on the negatives. Unfortunately that is what our society points out most of the time. Just look at the media. Back in the day we had news on for a half an hour in the evening now it runs 24/7. I have found I am much happier when I watch less news.?

March 6, 2021

Posted on by Evelyn Rivera
My reflection today:
“ God speaks to us through our lives, through the smiles and the shadows, through the times, ever changing.
God calls us on our journeys, pulling the broken pieces back together again.
God comforts us in our tears until life, at its worst, become something better.
God strengthens us in our weakness until His power is all that we feel.
God opens the door to our dreams and gives us each day as a gift.
God feels the depths and the texture of all our longings within.
God rejoices in our hope and our promise as a mother rejoices over her child.
God sees only the best in the shadows of what’s yet to be.
God speaks to us through our lives one day and one step at a time.” – Linda E. Knight
In this reflection Linda reminds us how important it is for us to take each day at a time. For some folks it’s taking each hour at a time. The important point is that God is with us whether we feel God‘s presence or not.?