Heart of Jesus, Heart of my Love

Christ, have mercy on us. 

Lord, have mercy on us. 
Christ, hear us. 
Christ, graciously hear us. 
God the Father of Heaven, 
Have mercy on us. 
God the Son, Redeemer of the world, 
Have mercy on us. 
God the Holy Ghost, 
Have mercy on us. 
Holy Trinity, one God, 
Have mercy on us. 

Sacred Heart of Jesus                                                                         I praise and thank you

Sacred Heart of Jesus fountain of love                                               I praise and thank you

Sacred Heart of Jesus mansion of compassion                                   I praise and thank you

Sacred Heart of Jesus my firm refuge                                                I praise and thank you

Sacred Heart of Jesus my faithful friend                                            I praise and thank you

Sacred Heart of Jesus my source of joy                                              I praise and thank you

Sacred Heart of Jesus my linkage with the Holy Spirit                      I praise and thank you

Sacred Heart of Jesus my way to the father                                       I praise and thank you

Sacred Heart of Jesus my way, truth and life                                     I praise and thank you

Sacred Heart of Jesus my only hope and happiness                           I praise and thank you

Sacred Heart of Jesus my eternal light                                               I praise and thank you

Sacred Heart of Jesus who has gifted my with his love                     I praise and thank you

Sacred Heart of Jesus who has invited me into his father’s house     I praise and thank you

Sacred Heart of Jesus who knows and understands me                     I praise and thank you

Sacred Heart of Jesus who always answers my prayers                     I praise and thank you

Sacred Heart of Jesus who never judges or condemns me                 I praise and thank you

Sacred Heart of Jesus who provides for me                                       I praise and thank you

Sacred Heart of Jesus who acknowledges me                                     I praise and thank you

Sacred Heart of Jesus ever faithful                                                     I praise and thank you

Sacred Heart of Jesus                                                                         I will live for you

Sacred Heart of Jesus                                                                         I will die in you

Sacred Heart of Jesus                                                                        I will reign with you in glory

Prayer

Lord Jesus, on this feast day of your Sacred Heart, we remember that your love for us led you to the cross. You gladly offered your life in exchange for our eternal death. Help us to reciprocate what you have done for by showing unconditional love and service to all of earth’s human family. Amen

Faith and Committment

Commitment is a very important ingredient of life. It is the truest sign that we believe in something and shows how serious we are about it. Commitment gives us focus, shows how responsible we are and how determined we are to make our visions possible. Everyone is committed to someone or something. It could be your health, career or family. The character of people can be assessed by their levels of commitment. Relationships that lack serious commitment do not last, and people get fired from their jobs when they are not committed.  The question is, how committed are you? We cannot answer this question honestly without taking a closer and deeper look at our values if we know them, and if we don’t maybe it’s time we try to identify them? 

The first key to commitment is goal setting. Unless we set goals that are meaningful, there will not be accompanying motivation to attain the goal(s). Take the case of a teenager whose dream is to become an engineer. The student must begin to develop the skills needed for a professional training in engineering and he or she must begin to make choices that will help foster that desire, such as choices about who to be friends with, how best to use theirs or things, or taking college level courses in Mathematics, Physics and Chemistry. 

The second key to commitment is to willingly exert oneself for the greater good, even when it is uncomfortable. For example, the young prospective engineer may need to sacrifice engaging playing Facebook chat, computer games or spend hours watching hours of television. So, instead of attending parties or engaging in wild teenager pranks, the focused will look for a more creative and productive opportunities such as internships. 

  

The third key to commitment is re-commitment. A person of integrity should be concerned about the type of progress he or she is making. Similarly, when we constantly re-evaluate the levels of commitment, it helps to put things into a clearer perspective. This enables us to separate mere words from action and dreams from reality. On the other hand, if we are satisfied with the result we are getting, it enhances our self-esteem, and makes life worthwhile.  So as we journey through life, let us take the time to ask the tough questions:

1.      Have I been committed to whatever or whomever?

2.      Does my behaviors reflect the values or person I am supposed to be   committed to?

3.      Are my choices compatible with my dreams?

4.      What do I need to improve? Change?

These are the types of questions I have been asking myself at this time in my religious formation. What does it mean to live a life completely dedicated to God? Are my behaviors, choices and actions compatible with my dream of becoming a Sister of Divine Providence? As a Christian, I know that it is impossible to live a committed life without first acknowledging that “all good and perfect gift comes from God” (James 1: 17), including the gift to seek, love and serve him. The Catechism of the Catholic Church captured this truth clearly. Part 1, section 1 of the article on the Profession of Faith states that the desire for God is written in the human heart, because they are created by God and for God; and God never ceases to draw them to himself. In other words, only in God can I find true happiness. The article also explained that God wants us to be in communion with him so that I can know and do his will.

God is always with me and has brought me to this moment of my life. This is great! I do not think that there is any commitment that is greater than God’s commitment to us and his commitment continues for all time. In John 14:3, Jesus told his disciples that he is going to prepare a place for them so that where he is, they will be as well.  It encourages me to know that God is watching out for me much more than my desire to return his love, because I know I can’t. The more I contemplate God through our Congregation, the more it is clear to me that our beloved founder John Martin Moye understood what total commitment to God means. Everything he did: his intentions, writings, and actions were initiated, executed and sustained by Providence because he abandoned all to Divine Grace. Until his last breath, he prayed for, preached, taught, wrote about the reign of God. Like Father Moye, I am just going to continue to let God dwell in my heart through faith so that I may be grounded in his love (Ephesian 3:17). Like Father Moye, I have accepted Jesus as my way, my truth and my life and as his sheep, I will continue to strive to listen to his voice and follow him. I will not be discouraged with my shortcomings because the Lord is with me and will always uphold me (Isiah 41:10). Commitment, then, is to realize that you have been chosen by God, that you are special to him and that he is waiting to open your eyes, to discover his unconditional love so that you can return it to him through your love and service for others.  

Faith and Service

For some people, Service is only a job,” a means to an end, something that is essential for survival.

For others, service is a system which supplies public needs such as utilities and transportation

For others still, service is life’s thrust, a way of helping those in need through volunteer activities.  

For people of faith, service is the sum of all Christ’s teachings.

I serve not to seek fame, power or recognition.

I serve not for pay, praise or to acquire wealth.  

I serve because I am being served by God who has kept me going in spite to my shortcomings.  

Through Jesus God enables me to taste his providence, so that I may be his channel of providence for those waiting to encounter him through me

I serve because it gives me joy for I know that God has chosen me to bear fruits that will last

Beyond Words

I cannot find the right words,

Make the correct moves,

Sing the right tones.

How can I describe my feelings of gratitude to God?

When my best dance steps seems like a dodder, my voice a screech.

But God does not need lavish meals for he is never hungry

Beautiful fancy houses he care not for since he sleeps not

He will not accept the invitation to attend parties and dances

So what gifts can I give in return for all he has done for me?

None! I hear in echo

God does not need food, parties or gifts

So I have decided to give him myself

I return to God all that I am, will be

So that he can sing, dance and live in me
And make me all that I an ever be

The Joy of Community Life

The congregation for the Institution of Consecrated Life and Societies of Apostolic Life described fraternal life in community as a “living organism”, a gift of the Holy Spirit where the love of God is poured into the hearts of members to enable them to live an animated life of Christ , strengthened by their foundational charism.

Last week a friend (whom I will call Justina) invited me to visit her in Atlanta for this Mother’s Day, and I declined. I explained that my Novitiate program is a little tight for casual visits. Then she immediately suggested coming to see me instead. But when I declined again Justina became confused and concerned about my welfare. I spent the next five minutes trying to convince her that I am not being held against my will. My discussion with Justina left me with the impression that she sees religious life as a place where people are confined and restricted, a place where people do not have the freedom to do whatever they want to do.  But I know that she is wrong. Like all institutions, religious life has its own defined structure which works for all those who are called to this lifestyle.  Since coming to experience community living with the Sisters of Divine Providence, I know that I have grown in leaps and bounds. I have been challenged in different ways but most importantly I have experienced unconditional love and support from all our sisters. So I am happy, feel at home and am able to share my personal stories.  

As an essential part of religious life, community life is truly a gift to the world. We are not about money or about our own interests. As a communion of believers, our purpose is to model a true reflection of the reign of God’s kingdom. Often the story of the first Christians in Acts comes to  mind. Just as the believers devoted themselves to the teaching of the apostles, to fellowship, to the breaking of bread and to prayers in Acts 2, so do Sisters. From community prayers, daily we gather around the Lord’s Eucharistic table for our daily nourishment. I participate in our weekly sharing, monthly spiritual direction and annual retreats. I have read a lot about our founder Blessed John Martin Moye, have observed our sisters is various ministries and am daily excited about the joy that comes from being the face of God’s Providence within and outside the community. In striving to live our four fundamental virtues of simplicity, poverty charity and abandonment to Providence, I have experienced God’s actions at a deeper level.

In Buying the Field, Sandra Schneiders stated that sisters are not simply a group of like-minded people living and working together for a better world with an occasional reference to Jesus as memory or model. But in community we live the life of the risen Lord. Always open to the spirit, our last Provincial chapter of 2014 challenged us to “risk personal transformation and  mirror God’s all-embracing love” In the spirit of mirroring God’s all-embracing love and in our effort to strengthen our relationship with each other I was invited to share my experiences with our sisters. As a Nigerian from a different culture, it is clear that I bring a unique diversity to our province and it was an honor to share some of my personal stories, values, and traditions. I was indeed humbled by the experience, but also realized that our sisters are living prophetic lives. I translate their desire to know me better as their openness to the spirit who is present and is working through people. All of humanity is one big global village where all humans are related since all are made in the image and likeness of God. As a community, this will better prepare each of us to continue to respond in faith to the God whose boundless love has gathered us from different nations, tribes and tongues (Rev. 7:9). This is important for it is only in knowing and respecting the goodness in each other that we can broaden our hearts to accept and see all as God sees them. In sharing my/our stories, we deepen our commitment to the experience of a life consecrated by God to God and for the glory of God alone. I am happy to be in a place where I am free to love and serve as God is calling me, where I have a sense of belonging, where there is true community of life and faith

 "We must become bigger than we have been: more courageous, greater in spirit, larger in outlook. We must become members of a new race, overcoming petty prejudice, owing our ultimate allegiance not to nations but to our fellow men within the human community"    Hailie Selasie

Below is the link to my cultural event

http://www.cdpkentucky.org/newsdetail.php?cur=233

Overcoming life’s Mediocrity

As long as habit and routine dictate the pattern of living

New dimensions of the soul will not emerge – Henry Van Dyke

Life is generally good, but we don’t always see it that way, especially when we are feeling trapped or helpless. Some people will agree with me that our world is increasingly becoming fast paced. From the moment we open our eyes at dawn to the time we shut it at night, it is a continuous cycle of activity, from one to the next. Sometimes we even have no time to enjoy a simple meal, or family times because we have our minds set on the next thing on our “to do” list. Most of us wake up at the same time every day, eat the same breakfast, take the same route to work, work with the same people for years. While our bodies detest some of what we do, our rational intellectual minds always remind us that we cannot quit since we have bills to pay and life’s needs to meet. So we feel stuck. I am not advocating that it is wrong to have set routines. It would be unconventional not to have one. Everybody needs some kind of order lest they have more chaos to contend with. Routines are great in creating structure which is essential for effective management in any setting. The point I am trying to make here is that life can become monotonous if one is not careful. For example, there are people who have good jobs, receive good pay checks and appear pretty comfortable, but are not happy.  What can be said about those who have no jobs or lack some basic comforts like accessibility to cable or internet network, or ability to make annual trips?

My question is them is: how can we keep life exciting and fulfilling when we have to do same things every day all week, year round?  Here is my little list of things to do:

a.    Be in touch with your feelings: show emotions when you experience them.

b.   Enjoy the people in your life, show them that you care and they will respond. 

c.    Try new methods of prayer such as novenas, vocal or centering prayer (meditation); attend mass in a different parish, join your church choir.

d.   Explore New Interests: How to sing or play a musical instrument, a new menu, Video games, sports, and craft. Look for volunteer opuntuniities.

e.    Change old habits: Give up watching television for a week and listen to the radio or read the newspapers instead 

f.      Hang out with different people: Eat in different restaurants,

Change your job or take a different way to work, if possible

g.   Move to a city if you can afford.

h.   Save up for a vacation and actually take it, and don’t go to the same place all the time

i.       Form new relationships; make new friends.

Of all the things listed above, the one that appeals to me the most is my desire to explore new ways of having a deeper relationship with God. As a Christian, I believe that prayer is the most powerful weapon against mediocrity. In prayer, I am able to hand the realm of my affairs to God who is more than able to sustain my joy. When God becomes my deepest satisfaction in life, every other thing is bonus.

“Today I divide my day between being an actor, a producer and a distributor and the monotony is broken” – Ajay Devgan

Yes Lord I will

Saul thought he had a plausible resume

Said he was a good Jew who kept the law

Called himself a pious pharisaic Jew

Saul refused to eat or drink until all Christian were put to death

Letter at hand, off he went far and wide

In the north, south, east and west he slayed and crushed believers

Then God arose from his throne but not in anger

God descended upon Saul but not with a hammer

In his blindness Saul received the sight of radical Faith 

Then Paul rewrote his resume, 
forfeiting his name, his fame and his belief

Accepting baptism he embraced a new life 
and discovered a new passion

Only with his cooperation 
did Paul find his way back to his original call.
For now he lives not for himself

The Lord is longing to rewrite your resume
For none knows the Lord the way he deserves
At the door of your heart He patiently stands
Longing, knocking, calling and waiting
He wants to do something new
Are you going to respond?