Brothers and Sisters in Christ,
I had been invited to speak at a confirmation retreat about missions a few months ago. On Sunday I went, it was super blessed. I shared a slideshow and spoke about what it is like to be a missionary and about the necessity of missions.
Each time I share about missions it is a little revelation to me, it make me realize how blessed I am. I am one of the select number of people who has been able to serve full time in foreign missions. I am so blessed to have experienced what I have experienced and to know what I know. There isn't anything special or spectacular about me but all that I have seen God do is special and spectacular, I am so happy to have been able to witness to that.
The talk went very well and I hope that I was able to bless all of those who were present. The word of God is so powerful and it blesses me so much to be able to share and put into a new light Jesus' word and calling. Remember to be a light on a lamp stand and to always give witness to God and his splendor!
Peace and love in Christ,
Alyse
Wednesday, January 12, 2011
Wednesday, January 5, 2011
Missionaries and Fried Chicken
Brothers and Sisters in Christ,
Our friends the Eckstines just came to visit us and we had a great time. The Eckstines are a family of wonderful missionaries with ten kids (their blog is attached to mine). Last night we all went out to have some Popeyes fried chicken, one of my personal favorites! I was really blessed to see such a great community of people thoroughly enjoying a yummy fast food meal. I think of all of the people who go out to eat fast food everyday, this isn't a bad thing, but as for us and the Eckstines this is a seldom occurrence. We all sat around some pushed together tables and enjoyed each other's company very much. I was blessed to see the joy that such a simple meal shared with happy people could bring. It reminded me that all that you hear from the media is a lie. You don't have to have nice things, expensive food, luxurious cars and giant houses to be full of joy and happiness. The only necessary ingredient is Christ, he is what brings all joy! God bless!
Peace and love in Christ,
Alyse
Our friends the Eckstines just came to visit us and we had a great time. The Eckstines are a family of wonderful missionaries with ten kids (their blog is attached to mine). Last night we all went out to have some Popeyes fried chicken, one of my personal favorites! I was really blessed to see such a great community of people thoroughly enjoying a yummy fast food meal. I think of all of the people who go out to eat fast food everyday, this isn't a bad thing, but as for us and the Eckstines this is a seldom occurrence. We all sat around some pushed together tables and enjoyed each other's company very much. I was blessed to see the joy that such a simple meal shared with happy people could bring. It reminded me that all that you hear from the media is a lie. You don't have to have nice things, expensive food, luxurious cars and giant houses to be full of joy and happiness. The only necessary ingredient is Christ, he is what brings all joy! God bless!
Peace and love in Christ,
Alyse
Monday, January 3, 2011
Little Chapels Everywhere
Brothers and Sisters in Christ,
I was really blessed on new years eve night to be able to go to a midnight mass. We went to a missionaries of charity convent for mass. When we arrived at the convent, we knocked on the door and my sister was playing around a little window, my grandma silently shushed her and told her that that was the chapel window. Beforehand we all had to slip off our shoes and then we walked into a small room and sat on folding chairs about six feet from the altar. There were five priests and a handful of seminarians along with six missionaries of charity and a few other people. I couldn't think of a better way to ring in the new year than with a beautiful mass with a wonderful group of people. Everything about the mass was so blessed and I could feel God's presence so strongly in that tiny chapel.
I just thought it was so wonderful that in such an unexpected place there was such a wonderful little chapel full of wonderful, faithful people. It opened my eyes to all of the little chapels everywhere that are faithful and bless our world so much! Happy new year everyone, have a fantastic, blessed year. God bless.
Peace and love in Christ,
Alyse
I was really blessed on new years eve night to be able to go to a midnight mass. We went to a missionaries of charity convent for mass. When we arrived at the convent, we knocked on the door and my sister was playing around a little window, my grandma silently shushed her and told her that that was the chapel window. Beforehand we all had to slip off our shoes and then we walked into a small room and sat on folding chairs about six feet from the altar. There were five priests and a handful of seminarians along with six missionaries of charity and a few other people. I couldn't think of a better way to ring in the new year than with a beautiful mass with a wonderful group of people. Everything about the mass was so blessed and I could feel God's presence so strongly in that tiny chapel.
I just thought it was so wonderful that in such an unexpected place there was such a wonderful little chapel full of wonderful, faithful people. It opened my eyes to all of the little chapels everywhere that are faithful and bless our world so much! Happy new year everyone, have a fantastic, blessed year. God bless.
Peace and love in Christ,
Alyse
Tuesday, December 28, 2010
The Holy Family
Brothers and Sisters in Christ,
Merry Christmas!!! Last Sunday was the feast of the Holy Family and Father's homily really blessed me. He shared about the Holy Family and all about their life and their vocation. He also shared that we are called to be like them. Even though Mary couldn't sin, Joseph had an angel come and speak to him in a dream when he needed to do something, and Jesus is God, we still can take them as an example.
They had to live a life that was holy, they also had to live as a family and work as one. This is something that all of us go through and live with every day. So what could be a better example than the example that God himself set for us? They journeyed together, lived together and went through hard times together much like many of our families do. They are the perfect people ask for prayers!
Jesus, Mary and Joseph, pray for us.
Peace and love in Christ,
Alyse
Merry Christmas!!! Last Sunday was the feast of the Holy Family and Father's homily really blessed me. He shared about the Holy Family and all about their life and their vocation. He also shared that we are called to be like them. Even though Mary couldn't sin, Joseph had an angel come and speak to him in a dream when he needed to do something, and Jesus is God, we still can take them as an example.
They had to live a life that was holy, they also had to live as a family and work as one. This is something that all of us go through and live with every day. So what could be a better example than the example that God himself set for us? They journeyed together, lived together and went through hard times together much like many of our families do. They are the perfect people ask for prayers!
Jesus, Mary and Joseph, pray for us.
Peace and love in Christ,
Alyse
Wednesday, December 22, 2010
God Is With Us
Brothers and sisters in Christ,
I am pleased to share that our Christmas play was a wonderful success! I was so blessed by it and was so blessed to participate in the most beautiful story ever.
The first line of the play is "Some stories are so powerful that they can never be told enough, this is one of those stories." This statement is so true and I am super excited to celebrate the festivity of it soon!
The Lord really opened my eyes to all that Mary and Joseph must have experienced and the beautiful day that it was. I wish you all the best of Christmases! Remember to keep Christ in Christmas, I am praying for all of you especially during this wonderful season! God Bless.
Peace and love in Christ,
Alyse
I am pleased to share that our Christmas play was a wonderful success! I was so blessed by it and was so blessed to participate in the most beautiful story ever.
The first line of the play is "Some stories are so powerful that they can never be told enough, this is one of those stories." This statement is so true and I am super excited to celebrate the festivity of it soon!
The Lord really opened my eyes to all that Mary and Joseph must have experienced and the beautiful day that it was. I wish you all the best of Christmases! Remember to keep Christ in Christmas, I am praying for all of you especially during this wonderful season! God Bless.
Peace and love in Christ,
Alyse
Saturday, December 18, 2010
Theres no time like Christmas
Brothers and Sisters in Christ,
Christmas... presents, tree, shopping, food, family, fun, friends, lights. These are all words that pop into my head when I think of the joyful December 25th that rolls areound but once a year. It is so easy to get caught up in the shopping, wrapping and decorating that it also becomes easy to forget about the most important aspect. When Santa Claus can cloud your mind and seep into the media and creches and nativity scenes slowly evaportate. Can it be that the reason for Christmas gets pushed to the back burner?
God, looked down with love on the world, smiled and sent us his son to save us so that we could rejoice in eternity with him someday!!! WOW! What a fantastic occurance, what a beautiful truth and gift! Instead of worrying about what to give to whom and what you might receive we can meditate on the most beautiful gift ever given.
I am in a Christmas play named "God with us" God is with us, he was brought to Earth, laid in a manger and redeemed the world! This Christmas and every Christmas is a time to remember and rejoice in that, to put things in perspective and rejoice and share with our loved ones. The thought of it still makes me giddy like a five year old.Joy To The World!!!!!
Peace and love in Christ,
Alyse
Christmas... presents, tree, shopping, food, family, fun, friends, lights. These are all words that pop into my head when I think of the joyful December 25th that rolls areound but once a year. It is so easy to get caught up in the shopping, wrapping and decorating that it also becomes easy to forget about the most important aspect. When Santa Claus can cloud your mind and seep into the media and creches and nativity scenes slowly evaportate. Can it be that the reason for Christmas gets pushed to the back burner?
God, looked down with love on the world, smiled and sent us his son to save us so that we could rejoice in eternity with him someday!!! WOW! What a fantastic occurance, what a beautiful truth and gift! Instead of worrying about what to give to whom and what you might receive we can meditate on the most beautiful gift ever given.
I am in a Christmas play named "God with us" God is with us, he was brought to Earth, laid in a manger and redeemed the world! This Christmas and every Christmas is a time to remember and rejoice in that, to put things in perspective and rejoice and share with our loved ones. The thought of it still makes me giddy like a five year old.Joy To The World!!!!!
Peace and love in Christ,
Alyse
Saturday, December 11, 2010
Yours is the kingdom of God
Brothers and Sisters in Christ,
Today in mass I had a really blessed experience. The closing song was "rejoice and be glad for yours is the kingdom of God." I was singing, and I must admit, I wasn't very wholehearted. A man was in the front row, I could see his face and it took my breath away. He was smiling and had the most beautiful expression on his face and I could tell that he understood the words. I could tell that he believed all that he was singing. It opened my eyes to the meaning behind the song, yours is the kingdom of God. The beauty and the wonder behind those words, that we can be a part of the kingdom of God! It is so simple but it really blessed me and made me think about the words that we sing and the meaning that is behind them. God bless!
Peace and love in Christ,
Alyse
Today in mass I had a really blessed experience. The closing song was "rejoice and be glad for yours is the kingdom of God." I was singing, and I must admit, I wasn't very wholehearted. A man was in the front row, I could see his face and it took my breath away. He was smiling and had the most beautiful expression on his face and I could tell that he understood the words. I could tell that he believed all that he was singing. It opened my eyes to the meaning behind the song, yours is the kingdom of God. The beauty and the wonder behind those words, that we can be a part of the kingdom of God! It is so simple but it really blessed me and made me think about the words that we sing and the meaning that is behind them. God bless!
Peace and love in Christ,
Alyse
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)