Divine Inspiration

In continuing with my creativity theme today, I am reminded that, according to traditional Christianity:

"The Holy Spirit is traditionally viewed as the direct source of creative inspiration, filling individuals with the skills and ideas needed for beautiful work."

And so, I offer this prayer to the Holy Spirit:

"Come, Holy Spirit, Source of all light and inspiration. I invite you into my mind and heart today. You are the divine breath that swept over the formless void and brought beauty and order to the universe.

Remove the mental blocks, doubts, and perfectionism that stifle my imagination. Clear away the noise of my daily anxieties and fill me with Your divine clarity.

Grant me the vision to see new possibilities and the courage to take creative risks. Guide my hands, my words, and my thoughts so that the ideas You give me can be expressed with wisdom, skill, and purpose. May the work I create bring light to others and reflect Your boundless goodness.

Amen."

Creativity

 

As I wake up from my rest, I dedicate this Saturday (and the rest of my life) to the idea of creativity.

Ever since I was a young child, I delighted in a lot of what is pictured in this simple illustration.

After years of drought and depression brought on by mental illness, I rededicated myself to finding the creator in myself.

God, of course, is the Ultimate Master of Creation (in my mind), and nothing I ever "come up with" will compare with what He has already done for us, but I hope to reflect His creative glory in some way that will be of service and delight to this world.

God is indeed Beauty, Truth, and Goodness.

I will never fully understand that, but I sincerely hope that He helps us find it in ourselves and live it in our lives.

My prayer today is to the God of Creativity.

I am reminded that this is a day dedicated to the Immaculate Heart of Mary in the Catholic Church.

May her guiding and maternal love for us inspire us to reflect God's true nature in us as the God of Peace.

June dedicated to The Sacred Heart of Jesus

 

I am reminded this morning that June is dedicated to the Sacred Heart of Jesus.

Let it be a reminder that God indeed loves us and wants the best for us.

He came down from heaven and lived amongst us.

Truly God and truly man.

He understands the depths of our misery and the heights of our joys.

He came to save us, and we can trust in His goodwill towards us.

Sacred Heart of Jesus, inflamed for a saving love of mankind,

Hear our prayers this day and grant us pardon and forgiveness of our sins.

Heal our ailing and broken hearts as only You can.

Amen.

 

I find myself at the end of another disappointing day regarding my search for more substantial employment.

I currently deliver food part-time, and that helps a little.

I suppose that I just have to be patient and keep looking.

This is my cross to bear right now.

I know that I have done everything within my power to find a better job.

I must keep faith and keep trying.

I think that I have a lot to offer to this world and will continue my journey as God sees fit.

Thank You, Lord, for another day alive.

May Your blessings come as they may according to Your divine will.

A prayer to Saint Padre Pio for work

 

I've been living on SSDI for the past 25 years because of my disability, bipolar disorder.

I have always worked part-time.

For the last 15 years, I was taking care of my dad at home until he passed last year.

He paid me $500/month for my efforts. We had a very good relationship.

Life was easier financially because I was living at home.

Now that I am on my own in an apartment, it is a little tougher to get along money-wise.

I've had a hard time finding employment other than DoorDash, which helps but barely.

I've been reading a book about the great 20th-century Franciscan friar Padre Pio.

He had a great following while he was alive and was purported to have worked miracles for people, particularly in the confessional.

I have to confess my discouragement and lack of faith right now regarding my employment situation.

I just stopped by a local shrine run by Franciscans, and they had a portrait of Saint Padre Pio on the wall with small votive candles in front of it and a kneeler. 

I put a dollar in the box and lit two of them. I bowed my head and confessed my discouragement and asked that he intercede with Our Lord Jesus Christ to grant me this grace of healthy employment to ease my financial situation.

I will finish the book I am reading and continue to look to Our Lord for the grace and help that only he can bestow.

Through Him all good things come.

Lord, hear my prayer.

Bookstore/Coffee shop

 

It is a beautiful, sunny day out today, and I felt that I just needed to get out of my tiny apartment for a while.

I decided to grab my laptop and make my way to the local bookstore/coffee shop for an iced coffee and to do some writing.

After I drink my coffee and get my writing done, I will have a look around the bookstore to see if anything interests me.

There are so many books in this world!

I have to admit that most of them don't interest me, but the sheer volume and variety of them is impressive to me.

I generally have a short attention span and have always had a hard time finishing full-sized books, no matter what genre.

That is why I like to create micro-media here.

Short blog posts and short books that a person can get through quickly.

Here's to a beautiful day.

Have a great one!

Sunday... a day of rest

 

At noon today I realized that Sunday is meant to be a day of rest for us from our toils and troubles.

And so, I spent the day napping and letting go of all my toils.

It is very important to honor God's command that we have this day as a day of rest.

It helps bring sanity and sobriety to the feverous pace that we typically live in during the week.

Six days of work and one day of rest.

That is the formula set out for us by Our Lord.

Tomorrow is Monday. I pray that I can resume my work as a servant of Jesus Christ.

I pray for His blessings. I pray for his grace.

God have mercy on my soul.

I will never achieve anything worthwhile without your guidance and grace.

May his people know the peace that is beyond understanding and the reconciliation that our lives as sinners deserve.

Mental illness, physical illness, daily toils and troubles.

They are common to all believers and demand that we look to Him for our salvation.

God help the poorest of the poor.

Combat our vices and transform our lives into ones of sanctity and honor.

Have a great night and a new, refreshed day tomorrow.