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The internet and our smart phones can be a great thief of time and attention.  We love this easy way to connect with our loved ones . . . but often we forget to include the source and Love that is our Creator and Eternal Father.  Many good, faithful Christians have recognized this and have created ways to gently remind themselves and others to include prayer in our everyday routines.

The greatest and most innovative creators of this have got to be John Paul and Annie Deddens.  John Paul and Annie are the Founders of PrayMoreNovenas.com

Before I even thought about blogging – and before I entered the world of social media, I somehow came across Pray More Novenas.  I thought it was a great idea for a website to send me a reminder to pray – so I subscribed immediately!  I’m still subscribed today – and now I am a huge fan of Annie’s other ministry, Catholic Wife, Catholic Life!

If you have not already, definitely sign up for PrayMoreNovena’s newsletter.  John Paul and Annie now host online retreats in addition to their novena reminders!  It’s a great resource!

Now, if you are one of the 500 million people who scroll on Instagram daily – I have 3 places you can visit where you can pray with others – and be prayed for by others – right there on the gram!

But first, I am going to suggest you download this FREE lock screen package and put one of the 10 lock screens on your phone immediately if not sooner! It is a smart, holy, virtuous idea to say a prayer before going on social media – whether that be Instagram, Snapchat, Facebook or TWITTER (people are so angry on Twitter why is that?)!  I found that when I used this prayer I limited my time on social media much more than when I don’t say the prayer.  It’s a great reminder of God’s love and will for us!

Now that you are on “the gram”, here are 3 places you can pray with hundreds of others on Instagram!

Pray the Rosary in the Morning

1. ManyHailMarysataTime 

ManyHailMarys was started by Kristin Reilly, founder of OneHailMaryataTime.  Kristin and her sister Jill lead the Rosary every morning on Instagram Live – often with guests (I got to do this once, it was so fun!  It was also the one day Instagram went down this summer lol).  Over 200 women wake up and pray the Rosary on Instagram – it is very moving and remarkable.

I attempt to join in and at least listen, but inevitably that is one time during the day where every child needs me to hug, feed, provide drink and give attention to at a pretty intense level.

Since I found myself often interrupted, I thought of a way people who might be having the same issue could still pray using Instagram, but do so in a shorter time span and at any time during the day.  So that leads us to the next place you can pray on Instagram every day . . .

The Rosary is so powerful!  Read this incredible story here: The Power of ONE Rosary

Pray a Novena or Short Prayer when you get a free moment

2. PrayerWineChocolate

Since I have noticed that my post titled 11 Quick, but Powerful, Prayers (with free printable)* tends to get a lot of traffic – and since I myself get pulled away from the Rosary on Instagram almost daily, I decided to post shorter prayers on my Instagram stories every day. I also am quite aware that I often intend to say a novena, but fail at saying it on consecutive days.  Before I started this short prayer on my Insta-stories idea, I had been attempting to pray the Saint Joseph novena for months.  So, I started this practice to not only help others, but to keep myself accountable.

Right now the plan is to say novena prayers, then take 3 days to pray more traditional prayers addressing God our Father and Jesus and the Holy Spirit.  Then, choose another novena and keep going.  I am, however, open to suggestions!  If you have any, send me an email or direct message me on Instagram!

*Just want the printable?  Click here, subscribe and it will be emailed to you! 11 Quick Powerful Prayers
We just got finished the Novena Rose Prayer!  St. Therese is one of my favorite saints

Pray the Divine Mercy Chaplet

3. dailydivinemercy

The third place you can pray with others is on dailydivinemercy’s profile.  DailyDivineMercy also uses Instagram Live (like manyhailmarys).  Pray with a devout married couple and pray for the souls in your family and those who have passed away.  I often see dailydivinemercy go Live, but at that point of the day, I am so tired.  However, I love that this is an option – and at the end of the day!

Don’t get me wrong, I love to scroll Instagram to connect with others and simply to relax after my children go to bed, but I also want to make sure I stay connected with God.  After all, He loved us before Instagram

Check out these new Prayer Wine Chocolate products!  Each purchase helps support this ministry!

The post Insta-Prayers: 3 Times a Day You Can Pray With Others On Instagram appeared first on Prayer Wine Chocolate.

This post contains affiliate links.  Please see my “About Me” page for more details.

I have never been tested for ADHD; however,  I am certain, I would pass that test with flying colors.

So, I write this post with great empathy for those who have trouble staying focused during prayer time.

Here are some tricks I use to help me be more focused:

1. Listen to a praise song that really grabs you emotionally.  Two of my favorites are “Lord I Need You” by Matt Maher and “I Can Only Imagine” by Mercy Me.

2. Pray a short prayer. St. Therese’ of Liseux described prayer as a “surge of the heart”.  Whatever you are thinking about, whatever is on your heart – that can be turned into prayer by just calling out to Our Lord and asking him, “Dear God, this is really on my heart today. Please help . . . . (fill in what you have been thinking about and worried about).  Then be polite and say thank you for listening!  Keep it simple! Breathe deep, close your eyes and say “Jesus”.  His Holy Name is a prayer.  Here are other short prayers (and you can print them out too): 11 Quick, but Powerful, Prayers

3. Pick up a pen and notebook. One of the main reasons why I love to prayer journal is because it helps me truly focus on talking to God.  I write him a letter.  I copy a prayer and read it over – often more than once.  I find myself thanking Our Lord for all his blessings and pouring my heart out to him.  I spend more time writing than I would saying the prayers out loud.  I devote that time to him and the physical contact with the pen and paper make me feel more in touch with our Creator. (Read more about prayer journaling from two of my posts: Benefits of Prayer Journaling  and Prayer Journal Prompts: Praying for People)

It can really be fun to prayer journal! DaySpring has Journaling Kits you can order online! I love this starter kit from DaySpring: Illustrated Faith – Genesis Kit

4. Choose surroundings that will draw your attention to Our Father, Son and Holy Spirit.  A Eucharistic Adoration Chapel or a nature center.  Or if you want to pray right where you are, close your eyes. A fellow blogger and great friend of mine just wrote a post about going to Adoration – you can read that here:Your Spirit Needs to Rest in the Presence of Jesus

I also wrote about how we really do receive some special gifts when we spend an hour with Jesus in this post: Five Presents You Can Open in His Presence

5. Call on prayerful friends.  We as Catholics could learn a lot from our Christian brothers and sisters.  It’s totally okay to pray with others.  In fact, we are supposed to – and not just at Mass. Doing this brought me so much joy and hope.  Consider starting a rosary group! (5 Reasons to Start a Rosary Group)

6. Consider a different type of prayer.  I once purchased Wayne Dyer’s Getting in the Gap book which comes with an audio guided meditation session.  Dyer uses the Our Father (the Lord’s Prayer) as a way to teach meditation.  This is a great way to practice silencing our minds – and I’ve heard many times, God speaks in the silence.

7. Use Youtube.  No, seriously, I’m not kidding. If you are seeking help with meditating upon the mysteries of the Rosary, there are many videos that will give you visuals of the mysteries (like this one: The Joyful Mysteries of the Holy Rosary). Some have pictures, some have modern video clips!

Tell us, how do you keep from drifting while you pray?

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This post contains affiliate links.  Please see my About Me page for more details.

We’ve all heard of selective hearing, right?

Well, selective Lenting, I think I made that up – because I found myself completely guilty of it.

When I wrote about how I wasn’t going to give up Wine for Lent- I stated that I would pray for 20 minutes a day.

Which is a great goal – but what I forgot was

 Prayer is only one pillar of Lent.

There are two more – fasting and almsgiving.

I was quickly reminded of almsgiving and found a great way to incorporate that into my daily life. I’ll share more about that in another post.

What I totally forgot about was the importance of fasting.

In what seems like a lifetime ago, I read that the best way to fast was to consume only bread and water.

I don’t remember what I was reading at the time or what motivated me to fast – but I embraced it.  I started fasting one day a week, and I’m not even sure it was Lent at the time.

I was a teacher in a Catholic high school and one of our benefits at work was a “free” lunch.  I walked up to the counter, picked up a bottle of water and asked the woman at the deli for bread.  Our school minister, a kind priest named Father Al,  witnessed this and inquired about what I was having for lunch that day.  I told him what I read and what I was doing.  He looked at me, looked at the bread and looked back up at me and said:

You do something else.”

I knew exactly why he said it.  I was thin.  I still am.  It’s not because I eat healthy and exercise regularly – it’s all genetics.

He gave me that advice out of love.  Father Al wanted me to be and stay healthy.

That was years ago.

The problem is, I don’t think I ever found or looked for the something else.

What really reminded me about the importance of fasting this year was the Gospel the second Sunday of Lent.

Jesus, being fully divine, fasted for 40 days.

He ate nothing??!

On Ash Wednesday I ate a donut.

It was there, I was hungry and I rationalized that it wasn’t a full meal, so it was okay.

I’ve grown lazy.

Somehow in my spiritual journey in this life I went from just eating bread and water on a regular day to eating a donut on Ash Wednesday.

What the what?

That same weekend I heard the Gospel about Jesus fasting in the desert for 40 days I felt compelled to watch a video where Jim Caviezel discusses his experience filming the Passion of the Christ.

Caviezel states in this interview (which I highly recommend watching) that the whole experience for him was a spiritual journey.

Jim Caviezel wanted people to see Jesus, not Him.  He felt strongly that the only way viewers would see Jesus and not him was through prayer -with prayer and fasting.

Isn’t that what we as Christians should all desire???

Caviezel’s testimony and performance in The Passion of the Christ demonstrate how fasting and prayer can allow others to see Jesus in ourselves.

Do we desire for others to see Jesus, or do we desire others to see us?

Well, isn’t that a great question to meditate upon?

I’m hanging my head in shame a little bit.

So I started really thinking about fasting.

And the next day I caught a stomach bug.

It became apparent to me that I need to fast.  The stomach bug helped me with that for a week.

I started to research more about fasting, and came across this article: Spiritual Weapons: Fasting

The article talks about how if we neglect fasting, our spiritual life will always be mediocre.

Caviezal states in the interview how he threw himself into prayer and fasting because he did not want to film the Passion of mediocrity.

Caviezal also points out in the interview:

“Everyone wants Resurrection, but no one wants suffering.”

I love how the article Spiritual Weapons: Fasting  gives this quote from Saint Basil:

Let us fast an acceptable and very pleasing fast to the Lord. True fast is the estrangement from evil, temperance of tongue, abstinence from anger, separation from desires, slander, falsehood and perjury. Privation of these is true fasting.

If what this article states is true – if “fasting energizes prayer and prayer energizes fasting; if both are weak without the other” . . . how can we incorporate both into our modern, busy lives.

The one way I know I can do this is to fast from listening to music or from scrolling through social media and opt to pray instead.

When I drive, I almost automatically turn on the radio.  As I thought about fasting this week, I chose to not turn on the music.  What would strengthen that fast would be to pray while driving.  When the stomach bug had me in bed, I turned on youtube and searched “Rosary”.  I laid in bed and listened to the Rosary as I silently prayed with the voice coming from my PC.

I find that I do need help with this fasting thing, so here are some of my favorite fasting resources:

The 5 Minute Sacrifice for Lent

25 ideas for Non-Traditional Fasting, go to BeautifulCamoulage.com which can be found in this post: Hearts, Wine and Time: Your Ultimate Guide for Lent 2019

Videos to watch:

Jim Caviezel Interview

Fasting Can Change You Forever by Father Mike Schmitz

How do you fast?  How do you combine fasting with prayer?

The post Selective Lenting: I’m Guilty, Are You? appeared first on Prayer Wine Chocolate.

This post contains affiliate links.  Please see my About Me page for more details.

A few years ago our family hung a prayer up on our refrigerator as a reminder to pray it each night before dinner (after Grace Before Meals).

That prayer saved the life of an unborn child.

If you have never had the chance to read the story, here it is: God Hears Us: A Spiritual Adoption Miracle.

It is still making me say wow a few years later.

This is the prayer we hung on our “fridge” that allowed us to witness a miracle.

You can get a copy of this prayer for free when you subscribe to prayerwinechocolate.com

Once we experienced that first miracle, we continued to pray the Spiritual Adoption prayer almost every single night before dinner.  Once 9 months go by, we start again. We choose another name and continue to pray for an unborn child.  One time we decided to pray for twins – we chose a girl’s name and a boy’s name.  During the 7th month of praying for those twins we received a call – a woman was in labor.  She was having twins and wanted to place them with an adoptive family.

She ended up delivering a boy and a girl.

Those two little loves our now our son and daughter.

If you want to read more about that miracle – check out this article: Our Lady of Guadalupe: Her Image Still Appears.

We are currently praying for a little boy named Dave.  My husband chose that name because apparently the name I picked for our last spiritual adoption, Darius Anthony, was too long (haha).  The Holy Spirit works in mysterious ways.  We choose the name, but it is definitely led by the Holy Spirit.

I once posted about this prayer on Facebook and others chimed in to share how they once prayed it or used to pray it with their family.  I remember one woman said she would let her children pick the names and they would often pick very unusual names, like Cloud.  Then, another woman replied to that comment, “I taught a Cloud!!”.

You just never know . . .

It is my hope that every Catholic in America hang this prayer on their fridge and say it every night – or day.  It only takes about 20 seconds to pray.  It is a beautiful act of faith.

It’s also an opportunity . . .

An opportunity to share

how your family prays,

what your family prays and

why your family prays – if anyone were to visit your home, see the prayer and ask about it.

We look at our refrigerators every day.

We also look at our phones every day.  We take them with us everywhere.

It’s easy to forget things.  It’s certainly easy to forget to pray.  I mean, I can’t tell you how many times I started a novena and had to start it all over again because I forgot to pray it one day.

Since I know we are all busy, I had to share this wonderful product made by Lindsay, owner of Just Love Prints.

Lindsay, like myself, feels compelled to share this prayer and encourage others to pray it. In fact, Lindsay feels so strongly about this prayer that she has started a whole new platform called Formed and Favored.  Lindsay has created a line within her Just Love Prints shop that she dedicates to the unborn in danger of abortion.  Check out those products here: The Formed and Favored Collection

I can’t tell you how many times a day I look at my phone.  I can tell you it is probably more than I should.

This phone wallpaper created by Just Love Prints is such a simple beautiful purchase and such a powerful way to show love to the unborn.

What if we all put this prayer on our phone and on our fridge?

I think most people consider themselves “pro-life”.  This action of displaying this prayer on your phone and refrigerator is an act of love, a way to remind us to pray and an act of evangelization.

This is a small act, but according to Mother Teresa:

There are no great acts, only small acts done with great love.”

I believe we all want to love.

Let’s call upon our friends and family to put this prayer on their phones and fridge – and then let’s sit back and watch the miracles.

If you think this is a great idea – do these three things:

1. Get your free Spiritual Adoption Print by clicking here and subscribing to prayerwinechocolate.com
2. Purchase the phone wall paper here: Spiritual Adoption Phone Wallpaper from JustLovePrints
3. Share this post and call your friends to act!  Simply hit share below and say “join me”!!!

And before you go, I’d love to invite you to “Not give up wine for Lent!!!”

I’m not giving up wine for Lent – I’m doing something more meaningful.  I’d love for you to join me, because honestly I need the support and I’d love to provide some support too!

Let’s make this the most meaningful Lent ever – and do so by “not giving up wine’!!!!

The post From Your Phone to Your Fridge: This little prayer can make a big difference appeared first on Prayer Wine Chocolate.

This post contains affiliate links, which means I earn a commission if you shop using those links. As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases.

Confession: I have often come across the following (possible) Saint Francis de Sales’ quote  –

Everyone of us needs half an hour of prayer every day, except when we are busy—then we need an hour.

and instantly, each time I come across it, I think –

“well, clearly he was not a mom”.

Honestly, I don’t even know if Saint Francis de Sales actually said that.

But, after a very rough weekend, I sat down with my Stay Connected Journal and after reading a lot of what Saint Francis de Sales did say in his work, Introduction to a Devout Life, became ever so thankful for his wisdom and advice.

I had a pretty rough weekend.

I cried – a lot.  I let worry get the best of me.

To summarize what could be a long story:

Friday night thoughts: “I have the messiest house in America even though I tell my children I can’t play because I’m cleaning all day.”

Saturday night thoughts: “Remember a few hours ago when we took our one-year-old twins to Mass on Saturday evening thinking it was a good idea because snow was coming and it would make our Sunday easier.  And then after Mass, the Pastor, who always says how much he enjoys hearing children at Mass, suggested we turn the lights on in the chapel and sit in there the next time we all come to Mass together. Since, ya know, people are starting to complain.   . . . Oh my goodness the most patient priest in the world is overwhelmed with my lack of parenting skills combined with my very loud toddlers . . .”

Sunday night thoughts: “I took my 6 year old and the twins to a friends house for a small get together.  My six year old didn’t follow another adults directions – both the 6 year old and I started crying before we left.”

Sometimes I wonder if God is using me so that other moms see me and can say, “well, I’m doing better than her at least”!

Then I start wondering if I should give up the blogging and Catholics Online business so that I can be a better wife and mother.

After my husband and I get the kids to bed on Sunday night, my phone dies.

All I can think is, “I need to sit on the couch and calm down before I go to bed to start this circus all over again tomorrow.”

So, I pick up my Stay Connected Journal and turn to the next chapter. This chapter focuses on Saint Francis De Sales work titled Introduction to the Devout Life.

I know nothing about this work and very little about St. Francis De Sales.  It’s a little embarrassing how little I know about him.  I went to a college named after him and he is the patron saint of writers.

But this saint seems to be a heavenly friend of mine in some way, dating way back to a moment in high school.

When I was a senior, we had a retreat in which all of us were given a prayer on a business card with the following quote on it:

“The same everlasting Father who cares for you today will care for you tomorrow and every day.
Either he will shield you from suffering or give you unfailing strength to bear it.
Be at peace then and put aside all anxious thoughts and imaginings.”

I went on to go to Allentown College of St. Francis De Sales.  I kept that card in my wallet for years.  It was many, many years after I graduated with my Bachelor’s Degree that I discovered this was actually a St. Francis De Sales quote.

I remember thinking wow.  All those years I was going to a school named after him, carrying these words of wisdom in my wallet and I never knew they were his words.

So there I sat, on a Sunday night, hoping that reading about this saint would help me temporarily forget my weekend.

The first part of each chapter invites you to simply write what is on your heart.

I wrote:

I am frustrated that the house is always a mess and I don’t feel successful at anything.”

and

“I cried all weekend . . . I cried in front of new friends”

and

” I don’t have control over my children and they are young” (clearly I was worried about what is going to happen when they are older if I don’t feel like a good parent now!)

So to recap, I wrote:

I’m frustrated, worried, sad and worried again.

Then I start reading selections from Introduction to the Devout Life in the Stay Connected Journal:

• 1st excerpt:

We must not be disturbed by our imperfections . . . we cannot fight them unless we see them, or overcome them unless we face them . . . It only remains for us, therefore, not to lose courage.  Fortunate for us, we are always victorious in this war, as long as we are willing to fight.”

• 3rd excerpt:

After finishing your mental prayer . .  .keep silence for a while and quietly transfer your heart from prayer to other duties. . . . Since both prayer and the duties of your state in life are both in conformity with God’s will, you must pass from one to the other with a devout and quiet mind.”

• 4th excerpt:

We should tend to our worldly concerns with care and diligence, not with solicitude, worry or anxiety. Care and diligence  . . . are weakened by worry and certainly by anxiety.  Be attentive, of course, to all the matters God commits to your care.  Since God has confided them to you, he wishes you to take good care of them.Don’t worry about them because worry clouds reason and good judgement. . .

• 5th excerpt:

Bear patiently the slight injuries . . . that daily come your way . .. bad humor from a loved one, this contempt or scorn, the loss of a glove . . .the little inconveniences . .  all trivial trials when accepted and embraced with love are highly pleasing to God’s mercy.

• And the last excerpt:

Oppose any tendency to sadness . . . persevere. . . It is good to occupy ourselves in exterior works and to very them as much as possible. This diverts the soul from depressing subjects and purifies and warms our spirits.

As I read this chapter and re-read it, I realized I need a summary of it to guide my daily life.

I started to think, what if I asked St. Francis de Sales how I could have a better day. I imagine he would say:

1. Pray.  Make it the very first thing you do.  If that is impossible, make it one of the first things you do.
2. Keep that quiet, calm prayer like manner as you begin to write your to-do list.  Know that God has confided these matters to you and wants you to take good care of them.  Be diligent.  If a worrisome thought creeps in, know that it is not from God.  Be aware that worry clouds reason and do not give into those thoughts.  Look at the list.  Worry is not on it. Move on.
3. Know that little inconveniences will surface. These are opportunities to offer to God.  Bear patiently all the things.  Pray more.
4. If a sad or worrisome thought comes across your mind, think of something happy or do something that is work that needs to be done.
5. Pray again. Know that everyone makes mistakes. Simply be willing to keep trying to overcome your weaknesses.  Rest in knowing that God is your everlasting Father and He loves you, will always love you and will give you the strength to continue to persevere.

Want a free printable?  Click here! Recipe for a Better Day

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The post Saint Francis De Sales’ 5 Practical Tips for a Better Day (free printable included) appeared first on Prayer Wine Chocolate.

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 But when you pray, go to your inner room, close the door, and pray to your Father in secret. And your Father who sees in secret will repay you.

After three ER visits and being transferred to a second hospital by ambulance, I was really ready for a clear diagnosis and some idea of when I could go home.

I had not seen my two youngest children in at least a week.  All three of my children were wearing down my husband and the family members helping him out.

But, there I was, sitting in a hospital bed.  My visitors during the day were very rare.  Everybody has jobs and if they didn’t have work, they were watching the three little ones so my husband could go to work.

So, when Rose, my friend’s mother called and asked if she could visit.  I said, “of course”!

*** You can pray the Rosary with hundreds of others everyday on Instagram – find out more details here: Insta-Prayers: 3 Times a Day You Can Pray With Others On Instagram

Rose took the train into center city and came to see me.  She asked how I was doing.  We talked about how we need to not work ourselves so hard we get sick.  She told me about the time she was in the hospital in her 40’s.

Then, she asked if I wanted to pray the Rosary.

I said sure.

I hate to admit it, but all that time in the hospital, I’m not sure I prayed one Rosary alone.

I love when people offer to pray with me.  I am not so great at praying the Rosary alone.  Maybe it’s my ADHD combined with my spiritual weakness.

So in my private room, with the door closed, we started praying the Rosary.

During the second decade, there was a knock on the door.

The Infectious Disease doctor at this hospital had finally come to see me.  He had with him at least two students.  I told him to come in.  He started to, but then hesitated.

He asked,

“are you praying?”. 

We answered yes. 

Then I said that it was okay.  I assured him that he could come in to talk (thinking we would just pick up where we left off after he left). 

I’ve learned from my hospital stay and the hospital stays of my son and husband’s that doctor’s rounds happen once a day.  This was my opportunity to talk to this physician and I probably wouldn’t get another until tomorrow.

em>The I.D. Dr responded to my assurance that he could stay and talk in a surprising way.

He said,

“What you are doing now is FAR more important than anything I will say.  I will come back.”

I looked at Rose.  Rose looked stunned.

I looked back at the doctor and said okay, thanks.  He then repeated, “I will come back.”

Then he opened the door, got halfway out of my room and turned back.  He asked, “Are you Catholic?”

Rose and I both said yes.

He said, “Please say one for me too”

I responded “absolutely”!

We continued praying and I found myself praying the rest of that rosary for that doctor.

We finished and Rose told me she had never seen a doctor say that in her whole life.

Rose was a hospital charge nurse for years.

Rose’s visit ended shortly after our prayer.  Hours went by and around 5:30 in the evening, true to his word, the doctor came back.

He told me that he had no certain diagnosis, but a lead as to what he thought my illness was caused by.  He talked about a follow-up test.

I told him we prayed for him.  He thanked me.

The next day he came back and told me that the follow-up test did not come back positive, but he was going to treat me for the illness that he thought I might be plagued with.

As he was sitting across from my hospital bed he talked to me about my health (or lack there of).

Then, he told me that he prayed the night before. 

He confided in me that  prayer was something that had been lacking in his life and something that he had not done in a long time. 

Then he thanked me for bringing prayer back into his life.

I have to admit I thought that was really cool and had a wow moment.  During my hospital stay I had noticed others letting their lights shine in such cool ways.  Here was a moment where I could say I had let my little light shine too.

About a month and a half later I had a follow-up appointment with the same doctor.

I thought about canceling it.  I had to get a babysitter.  I had to travel an hour into town and then another hour back.  I felt better and really didn’t see the need for this visit.

But I went.
After discussing my possible diagnosis,

I asked him:

“Are you still praying?”

He said yes.  He also said he called a priest and is meeting with him in a week.  Then he added, “perhaps I will go to Confession after not going for five years.”

I smiled.

The first promise of the Rosary is:

Whosoever shall faithfully serve me by the recitation of the Rosary shall receive signal graces.

Perhaps this was a signal grace.

I’ll take it.

If you like stories like this, you will LOVE this one: God Hears Us: A Spiritual Adoption Miracle it includes a free printable made by Meg Florkowski!

I can’t wait to tell you more  . . . don’t miss it!  Sign up for my email list and make me smile!

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Some of my favorite Rosaries are from Pink Salt Riot and Relics by Rose!  Shop these links:

Relics by Rose Rosary bracelets

and

Pink Salt Riot Rosary Bracelets

Get a health care worker you LOVE a gift!

JUST LOVE PRINTS MEDICAL WORKER GIFT BUNDLE

Inspire young girls to nurture their faith! Donate a Be Yourself Journal!

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This post contains affiliate links.  Please see my About Me page for more details.

Recently I came across an article titled, “How To Care for Your Cashmere” . . . And I thought immediately, why am I surprised that it is not soul?  I actually thought I was going to read “How to Care for Your Spiritual Self” or “Your Faith”.

I then thought that a “how to care for your soul” post should be written.  This was around the same time that Chris Pratt gave a speech that went viral – perhaps you saw it?

Chris Pratt video (“9 rules from Chris Pratt”acceptance speech)

Pratt gives a great speech. He combines his silly sense of humor with a very serious topic.  He said a lot, but here are some of the wise words he shared:

He stated,

“you have a soul, be careful with it”

“If you are strong, be a protector and if you are smart be a humble influencer . . .”

“reach out to someone in pain . . . it’s good for your soul.”

“God is real. God loves you. God wants the best for you. Believe that.  I do.”

“Learn to pray.  It’s easy and it is so good for your soul.”

“Nobody is perfect.”

“Grace is a gift . . . don’t take it for granted.”

So how can we “be careful with our soul”?

Here’s my advice.

How to Care for Your Soul

1. Acknowledge that you have one.

About a year ago, I wrote about the soul and how it used to be more acknowledged in our culture (Soul Searching).  I noticed in the movie Titanic

At one point in the film, after the ship hit the iceberg, there is a scene where the Captain realizes the fate of the boat.  He asks a fellow crew member how many people are on board. The officer replies, “2,200 souls on board, sir”.

His response really struck me.  He didn’t say passengers or people, he said souls. He referred to the people on board as souls.

 I thought, how rarely do I hear anyone refer to a person or people as souls. At least while they are living.

Using the term souls to describe a group of people is rare these days.  I personally love how Chris Pratt said so bluntly, “You have a soul, be careful with it.”

We are so publicly health conscious.  There are so many people out there advocating for exercise and eating healthy (I personally should be listening and taking their advice more) – but, when it comes to our souls, there does not seem to be a concern.

When we acknowledge that we have a soul, we can then make taking care of it a priority.

2. Pray.

Ask Our Lord to send you the wisdom and the courage to do His Will and to do whatever it is your soul needs you to do.  Pray alone and pray with others.

Go.to.church.on.Sunday!  If you are Catholic, participate in the Sacraments – especially the Most Blessed Sacrament!

As Catholics, we have a very concrete way of caring for our soul.  Receiving Holy Communion is the greatest way to take care of your soul.  This article, Holy Communion Nourishes Your Supernatural Life, from the Catholic Exchange is excellent.  In it, the author explains:

Holy Communion is a sign of nourishment; hence, it is meant to bring to the soul the graces of spiritual nourishment. Holy Communion is meant to do for the soul what material food does for the body, and that is to preserve life and protect it. Material food enables you to continue living and protects you from fatal disease; Holy Communion preserves the spiritual life of your soul and protects you from the spiritual disease of mortal sin.

The same article explains in much detail how “the soul needs grace and that the chief means of increasing grace are prayer and the sacraments.”

Jesus is the bread of life. Pray and feed your soul.

For your physical health, eat right and exercise.  For your soul, receive Holy Communion and pray.

The Holiness of the Blessed Sacrament is rooted in Scripture. It is Biblical.  Years ago when I was taking a theology class or researching the faith on my own, I read that when the Church Fathers picked out the books that would become the New Testament they had certain parameters that had to be met.  If a Gospel was to be a part of the New Testament, it had to have the teaching of the Holy Eucharist.  All 4 gospels speak of the importance of receiving the Eucharist.

Do you go through times when you just don’t want to pray?  Check out this post over at CatholicsOnline.net 9 Ways to Pray When You Just Don’t Want To (read it now or Pin it for later)!

3. Do Good.

I love how Chris Pratt, who is not a Catholic, says this.  We often debate with other Christians on the meaning of good works.  We know that good works alone does not get us to heaven.  But all Christians know that doing good works is great for the soul.

Fulton Sheen once stated:

“We lose our souls not only because we do evil things, but because we neglect to do good: the buried talent, the unmarked second mile, the passing by the wounded. How often in the Gospel condemnation follows because we do nothing.” Archbishop Fulton Sheen (Those Mysterious Priests)

What talent are you burying?

Who do you know is wounded?

What “second mile” could you run – what extra could you do that you neglect?

Answer those and act upon those answers.

It’s good for your soul.

Are you on Facebook?  I’d love you to join me for a “Holy Happy Hour”!  Last week I discussed this topic Holy Happy Hour on Facebook – Chris Pratt and Your Soul;

If you listen/watch, I apologize for the sound delay (it might be more enjoyable to listen).  I hope to post a video once a week and would love to hear what topics you’d like to discuss at “happy hour”!  Also, join our Facebook Group: Prayer Wine Chocolate: Sharing our thoughts, prayers and friendship!  The more the merrier!

Don’t forget to share this post on Facebook and to Pin it!  This helps so much!!!

Would you like some free coloring pages?  Subscribe to Prayer Wine Chocolate and receive 4 free coloring pages from the Be Yourself Journal!

The post How To Care for Your Soul (A Response to the Chris Pratt ‘9 Rules’ Speech) appeared first on Prayer Wine Chocolate.

This article contains affiliate links.  See my “About Me” page for more details.  

How will you relax this summer?

Do you have plans that you are excited about?

I’m hoping to sit, relax and color this summer – and I am so excited to announce that we are now selling the 20 coloring pages from the Be Yourself Journal as an instant download!

You can purchase all 20 Coloring Pages for $5.00 until Friday, June 22nd.  The price will then go up to $9.00!

I wanted to let all my subscribers know before the sale was over; and I wanted to show you what most of the pages look like!

If you want to color, but don’t know how you could find the time, when you could make the time, why you would bother or what you would color – this post is especially for you!

I am so happy “adult coloring” is in, but . . . when do adults find the time?

1. Bring Prayerful Coloring Pages to Eucharistic Adoration
2. Going on vacation?  Spend some down time coloring!
3. Have a daughter or niece who enjoys coloring?  Spend some time together with these coloring pages!
4. Host a Sip and Script Party
5. Have a cup of coffee with Jesus . . . and crayons

How do people find the time?

I know I wonder!  Last night I colored after I put the twins to bed, but while our 6 year old was learning how to play horseshoes with my husband.  I think there are two tricks that can make coloring possible for extremely busy adults.

The first trick – don’t expect to get a page colored in one sitting – expect to work in chunks.

The second trick – don’t buy “adult coloring books”.  I find that these are WAY TO INTRICATE.  Sure, you might not want to color a picture of Cookie Monster, but you also don’t need 17,000 small spaces to color in order to see a beautiful flower. One of the reasons why I wanted to make the Be Yourself coloring pages available to purchase is because I believe they provide a happy middle ground. Some are very simple, some provide intricacy, but not to the point that it could take years to finish one page.  And all of them, provide a prayer or Scripture verse to meditate upon.

Why color?

If you think or feel coloring a prayer or a Scripture quote is a great way to pray, consider this quote from Saint Francis De Sales:

Everyone of us needs a half an hour of prayer each day; except when we are busy, then we need an hour.

What should we color?

I am hoping the 20 pages from the Be Yourself Journal fit your prayer needs and your coloring style!

Here are some of the pages you can purchase for $5.00 until June 22nd!

And finally, don’t forget that it’s fun!!!

Enjoy yourself!  Feel the nostalgia!  Embrace the stress relief!

Here are some of my favorite tools to use while I color and pray!

Illustrated Faith Journal Pens

A cute folder to hold your coloring pages

Prismacolor Colored Pencils

The post Color Your Summer Happy and Faithful (the Ultimate Guide to How, Why, What and When) appeared first on Prayer Wine Chocolate.

This post contains affiliate links.  See more information on my About Me page.

I am soooooo happy the warmer weather is here,

but I am going to miss the structure the school year provides.

I’m looking forward to time on the beach, at my favorite park (it is so peaceful there), morning coffee out on the deck and time at Eucharistic Adoration.

Eucharistic Adoration has been on my mind and heart lately, and I am thinking a regular scheduled visit would be one way to put structure in our family’s summer vacation.

Five Presents You Can Open in His Presence is a blog post I wrote about Adoration

Not only do I see value in time away from a screen; I see value in time close to Our Lord.

As a mom of 3 young children ( my oldest is 5), I don’t get much down time.

And, I must admit, the smart phone culture has sucked me in.  I must confess, I look at my phone more than a healthy amount.

That distraction creates a lot of noise in our lives.

The problem I am facing, and maybe you and your family are facing too, is that I can not hear God if I do not hear silence.

The value of silence is so important.  This video, The Value of Silence (click to watch video), featuring Father Mike Schmitz is short and full of information and wisdom!

So, I want to be intentional and really enjoy my time with Jesus.

I started thinking about creating an Adoration Bag – or Prayer Bag and I got really excited!

A bag I can bring to Adoration and use to prayer journal, meditate, read – or possibly not open at all.

A bag I can bring out on the deck with me in the morning with my coffee.

A bag I can bring to the beach if I ever get there alone.

A bag I can bring to the park while I enjoy God’s creation.

My bag was made by RoseSewsbyJennifer check out her Etsy shop!

As part of my excitement about the idea of a prayer bag, I started to brainstorm: what I would put in my bag?

and what would be put in my husband or a teenager’s or even my 5 year old’s prayer bag.

This is what I came up with!

Here are my suggestions for what to put in your Adoration/Prayer bag!

Women:

A prayer journal

I actually love to use an old fashioned composition book (or as I call it a Marble Notebook)

Looking for a more guided journal?  Check out: 10 Best Journals for Busy Women

Inspirational coloring pages – here’s a free one from me if you subscribe to Prayer Wine Chocolate: Love is kind coloring page

Colored Pencils

A pen that writes nice

A book about faith (the ones on my summer reading list are):

The Rosary : The Prayer that Saved My Life by Immaculee Ilibagiza

The Other Side of Beauty by Leah Darrow

One Beautiful Dream by Jennifer Fulwiler

The bag: Tote Bags by RoseSewsbyJennifer

The idea of a “prayer bag is not just for women”!  Here are some suggestions for men, teens and children too!

Men:

A blank journal

A sketch book

Pen and pencils

Spiritual Readings

(A Manual for Spiritual Warfare;

The Catholic Hipster’s Guide)

Bible

A pocket Rosary

The Bag: Vanlison Crossbody Bag

Teen and Tween Boys:

A blank sketch book 

Boys, from my experience, do not enjoy writing as much as girls.  Encouraging a young man to sketch what he sees in the chapel will help him quiet his mind.

Psychologist Mihaly Csikszentmihalyi first described this phenomenon as flow: a few moments in time when you are so completely absorbed by an activity that nothing else seems to matter.

Perhaps it won’t be a long moment, but some time to forget whatever might be stressing him out or worrying him . . . will go away.  The hope is in that moment of silence, He will hear God’s voice; or at least, walk away spiritually, mentally and emotionally refreshed.

Although I am still working on a boy’s version of Be Yourself; this book (Lectio Divina for Teens) may be a great tool for your son or God son this summer.

This prayer journal is all about learning to “read” God’s letter to you in the Scriptures, using an ancient prayer method known as lectio divina. In the pages of this journal, you’ll get a crash course in lectio divina, and then you’ll have a chance to practice it yourself.  The seven guided meditation sessions provide readers with the following pre-selected readings – some topics include “Depend on God”, True Friendship and “Seek the Lord”. The full text of each reading is provided right in the journal. In addition, the introduction walks readers through the process of lectio divina using Psalm 23, and a list of additional Scripture texts is provided in the back of the book so that readers can choose their own readings for the seven blank guided journal entries.

A Bible

A Battlebeads Rosary

The bag: CrossBody Bag

Teen and Tween Girls

The Be Yourself Journal

Full of prayer prompts and coloring pages galore.  Some content is light, some is more deep.  Depending on a her mood, she can choose what to do that hour.  I strongly believe the freedom to go anywhere in the book will make her prayer experience more fruitful.

Lots of gel pens and colored pencils.

Pictures, scrapbook supplies and stickers.  The Be Yourself Journal has a two page spread that encourage girls to design their own prayer room; the back of the journal is blank so that it can be personalized and there are quite a few pages that encourage pasting photographs.  For some, this may not be an “adoration activity”; for others, it may be a way that helps Adoration be a time of peace and creative prayer.

An illustrated faith kit and supplies from DaySpring.

I love this Canvas Tote bag from DaySpring and a cute pen and pencil pouch

You can also order a cute zipper pouch from RoseSewsbyJennifer – tell her what pattern you like and she will make a custom one for you!

A Bible

A Rosary Bracelet

The bag: Tote Bags by RoseSewsbyJennifer

I am still brainstorming for what I could put in my 5 year old (who is turning 6 this week!) bag.  Do you have any suggestions??? Please, share!

The post My Cute Summer Bag Is Not Just For the Beach appeared first on Prayer Wine Chocolate.

When Jesus was asked, what is the greatest commandment, He responds:

“Love the Lord Your God with all Your Heart and love your neighbor as yourself.”

I often think I have this one down . . .

most of the time.

But then, I must confess, besides that one hour a week I spend at Sunday Mass . . . there may not be a whole hour where I don’t ask . . .

“Where’s my phone?”

I once heard a priest say:

“tell me what you think about most and I’ll tell you who your god is”.

In context, he was explaining how he responds when someone informs him that he or she is an atheist.

But I’m guilty of looking for my phone so much that sometimes I’m actually on it while I’m looking!

I often wonder if

technology and social media have become a false god

Perhaps I  should I pray it stops being a false god?

And I am an adult who lived for many years without the cell phone being a thing.

I can not help but think of tweens and teens today.

They see the adults in their lives on phones and tablets all the time!

As a teacher, I could not believe how much we were encouraged to use technology in the classroom.

As someone who remembers the “god of popularity” often interfering with my decision making; I can easily see the freedom a cell phone allows becoming intertwined with this high school reality.

Apps like snap chat and worse – the ones the adults don’t even know exist – make a difficult age even more challenging.

But back to me, the adult, who should be setting a good example.

I’m so guilty of looking for my phone more than I think about how I’m responding to God’s grace.

What if I looked for God’s grace or my Bible as much as I look for my cell phone?

One thing I learned this Lent is that the weaknesses I find when I examine my conscience are often shared with others.

The irony that the “Walking Dead” and Zombie shows are so popular right now just makes me shake my head.  Are you in a public place – look up and look around.  Even in my car I notice it.

We are hooked and I am right there with everyone else.

So, I wrote this prayer for me, but if you find you are having the same struggle . . .

Let us pray:

Dear Lord Jesus,

Help me to Love Your Eternal Father above all.

Please send me the wisdom to know how much screen time is too much

and the strength and will-power to provide the example others need to witness.

Help me to socialize with my immediate family inside my home more than people outside of it.

Remind me of the beauty of Your Heavenly Father’s creation and the peace it offers my mind and soul.

Help me to use technology to spread the Gospel, help the needy, encourage respect for the earth and promote human rights.

Help me resist the temptation to look down at my phone when I should be looking up.

Amen.

“Love the Lord Your God with all Your Heart and love your neighbor as yourself.”

Ok, so I put my phone down and gave God my attention.  Now, onto loving others.

5 seconds later . . .

“Why don’t “they” get it?”

or, “Why doesn’t he get it????””  or “Why can’t she see what I see??”

 “Finally, all of you, have unity of mind, sympathy, brotherly love, a tender heart, and a humble mind.”

I Peter 3:8

It hurts my heart to see so much division in the land that I love. 

I observe the huge us vs. them mentality in our culture, and it makes me sad.

But the truth is, it’s not just “out there”.

Whether it is in our community or in our families

We need to pray for unity – without the motivation of a disaster.

It is amazing how tragedy unites Americans.

From 9/11 to a natural disaster, we join hands in the face of tragedy.

But do we really need to keep experiencing tragedies to get the message?

God wants us to love one another; not constantly debate one another.

There are several news stations that make millions of dollars to keep this divide going.

Let us pray that Jesus, who is the Way, the Truth and the Life reveals His will in obvious ways when it comes to all the “hot” topics.

And especially, help us to  remember this in our own homes.

As I write this and I can’t help to see the plank in my eye.  So forgive me.

Please pray for me too.

I CONSTANTLY want my side to be heard and understood.

Hmm . . . maybe I should do more hearing and understanding worry less about “my side”.

Let us pray:

Dear Lord Jesus,

You are the Way, the Truth and the Life.

Help me to actively seek Your Way.

Help me to see Your Truth clearly,

Help me to ask for the wisdom of the Holy Spirit before engaging in such serious conversations.

And Lord Jesus, help me to listen in prayer and stillness

Help me to truly seek to console and understand in a way that demonstrates Your patience and kindness.

Help us all to truly live out the words of Your prayer

“Thy Will be done on earth as it is in heaven”

Help all of us show more sympathy, and more brotherly love.

Help us demonstrate tender hearts. 

Please Lord, give me a humble mind.

Lord Jesus, help us all, but help me especially to be consistently compassionate and eager to serve others with love.

Amen.

Now that I have expressed an empathetic ear, let me get back to what I’m supposed to MY list.

“How does this benefit me?”

Me, Myself and I and my Goals and My Dreams and My . . . my  . . .

Our Opposition to Humility is intense!

I have goals.  I have dreams.  I have bills.

Being a “responsible adult” provokes the question of how I spend my time.  How I spend my time will either help me achieve my goals or won’t.

There are only so many hours in a day and I, like you, am busy.

But one way to know and love God is to “be still”.

And I often find that I can’t.

And in this case, can’t means won’t.

If I could just dedicate some time to be still and give God my attention, I might be reminded that

the Lord wants me to ask much more often

How will this help someone else?

I’m queen of writing a list.

But when I look at that list, perhaps I should ask myself how those chores or errands benefit my husband and my children.

I often think – after I choose chore over play – or I give into frustration instead of diligently trying to be patient –

“that’s going to come back around to me, and I’m not going to like it”.

I want my children to witness a work ethic, I want them to see me clean up so hopefully they will value a tidy home . . . but I also want them to really witness love in action.

I want them to learn to listen without doing something else.

  I want them to visit the sick and lonely. 

I want them to be patient with one another.

If I want this from them, I need to model it.

Brian Regan, one of my favorite comedians, has a skit where he mentions the “me monster”.

In the middle of his joke he asks “what is it about the human condition that we get something out of that?”

Our human condition does drive us to think of ourselves.  Jesus knew that and that is exactly why he worded the greatest commandment the way He did.

Love the Lord Your God with all Your Heart and love your neighbor as yourself.

We naturally care for ourselves.  We need to be healthy to best care for others. But we often take ourselves too seriously.

I remember when I was a teacher being in one of the many meetings educators tend to have.  We watched a video and the narrator said, “don’t forget rule #6”.  Rule # 6 was “Don’t take yourself too seriously”.

But what about MY LIST????

My children are little.  Yes, they need to see and observe washing and folding.  They will learn a lot from watching me.  But they also need hugs.  They need undivided attention when they are trying to explain their thoughts and feelings.

My grandmom who is on hospice may not even know I’m there – but I still need to visit her.

There is already a prayer for this.  It’s called the Litany of Humility.

I know I need to pray it, because when I look at it I think – “it’s to long, I don’t have time to pray this”

Enter in Rule #6.  Really, Amy, you don’t have time to pray this? Pray it.

The Litany of Humility

O Jesus! Meek and humble of heart, Hear me.

From the desire of being esteemed

Deliver me, Jesus

from the desire of being loved

from the desire of being extolled

from the desire of being honored

from the desire of being praised

from the desire of being preferred to others

from the desire of being consulted

from the desire of being approved

from the fear of being humiliated

from the fear of being despised

from the fear of suffering rebukes

from the fear of being calumniated …
From the fear of being forgotten …
From the fear of being ridiculed …
From the fear of being wronged …
From the fear of being suspected …

That others may be loved more than I,
Jesus, grant me the grace to desire it.

That others may be esteemed more than I …
That, in the opinion of the world,
others may increase and I may decrease …
That others may be chosen and I set aside …
That others may be praised and I unnoticed …
That others may be preferred to me in everything…
That others may become holier than I, provided that I may become as holy as I should…

Amen

Here is a free printable version of these prayers: Prayers for Living the Greatest Commandment

Even if we love God with our whole heart, we will never love Him as much as He loves us.

God loves us more than we could ever possibly imagine.

Our God knows that we are capable of love though.

We are capable of putting Him first.

But we are often tempted not to put Him above all else.

It is that temptation that we give into that makes life more complicated.

When we put Him first we are able to love others with the greatest compassion, kindness and integrity.

Please pray for me …. and let me know how I can pray for you <3

Cheers and prayers,

Amy

Like printable prayers?  See more in https://www.prayerwinechocolate.com/11-quick-but-powerful-prayers-free-printable/

The post 3 Questions That Keep Us From Living Out the Greatest Commandment appeared first on Prayer Wine Chocolate.