What does it mean that God counts the hairs of our heads? Is this merely an expression of God’s omniscience? Mother Teresa expressed that she went through an almost 50-year period of not feeling God’s presence (or lack of spiritual consolation), yet she pushed forward and served God in spite of this. Why would God ever leave us without the consolation of experiencing his presence? Is he a neglectful Father? The more we grow in holiness, it seems we can still see of ourselves as unholy and unlovabl
unlovable. Why is this? Discuss this in relation to St. Francis’s words: “you have no cause to doubt that he is looking upon you with love; for he looks lovingly upon the most horrible sinners in the world, even if they have very little real desire for conversion.”Discuss this line: “You must not examine whether your heart is pleasing to him but whether his heart pleases you.” Do we rejoice in God’s heart? What does St. Francis say we should do to feel this way? (4th paragraph)How can our imperfections be a
Feb 12, 5:37 PM
a cause for submission to God?
Feb 12, 5:39 PM
VisitationSiste: Sun chat Feb 13 730pm est
Feb 12, 5:39 PM
VisitationSiste: newsletter for chat http://www.icontact-archive.com/archive?c=1029793&f=1988&s=2046&m=631740&t=44f0d18c19339967b1be43b205c1596fa07d3b2574e5f4560987969cb886fdda
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VisitationSister (Guest): q What does it mean that God counts the hairs of our heads? Is this merely an expression of God’s omniscience?
Feb 13, 7:40 PM
Simone (Guest): I always do that as a visual for the intimate knowledge of God of me and my life. Cause the count F hair changes on a daily base- so he didn’t just know me at ONE point in life- but at the very presence
VisitationSister (Guest): Yes His intimate knowledge of us far surpassing any human’s knowledge, or love, of us
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VisitationSister 13, 8:16 PM
VisitationSister (Guest): Discuss this line: “You must not examine whether your heart is pleasing to him but whether his heart pleases you.” Do we rejoice in God’s heart? What does St. Francis say we should do to feel this way?
Feb 13, 8:16 PM
Simone (Guest): well, they might feel it – when we – here on earth – extend our love to them – in whatever way the Spirit wants it.-
Feb 13, 8:16 PM
Simone (Guest): that’s an interesting statement.. I definitely would always check more if my heart pleases him more
Ruth (Guest): Hi! Glad you are both back.
Feb 13, 7:44 PM
Simone (Guest): The very first time I went intentionally to a church- I heard this phrase – that God knows every hair on our head- and it really really touched me.
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Simone (Guest): What do your mean with the fear? Like he knows every fear of us?
Feb 13, 7:45 PM
VisitationSister (Guest): It is amazing that this phrase has such a personal meaning for you!
Feb 13, 7:45 PM
Simone (Guest): It really does
Feb 13, 7:45 PM
VisitationSister (Guest): I meant that if we fear God, actually it is a relief to know that He knows us so well- somehow that can take away fear- not awe type fear :46 PM
Simone (Guest): Thanks for clarifying
4 online
VisitationSister :46 PM
Ruth (Guest): I find it kind of special now, too, since I lost all the hair on my head when I had chemo. It was always straight, perhaps with a slight wave before, but it came back curly!
Feb 13, 7:47 PM
Simone (Guest): I love curly hair. Do your like it too?
Feb 13, 7:47 PM
VisitationSister (Guest): also quite amazing that both of you relate so closely to this. Is your heair still curly
Feb 13, 7:47 PM
VisitationSister (Guest): Mother Teresa expressed that she went through an almost 50-year period of not feeling God’s presence (or lack of spiritual consolation), yet she pushed forward and served God in spite of this. Why would God ever leave us without the consolation of experiencing his presence? Is he a neglectful Father?
7 PM
Simone (Guest): Can I ask you both at this point to pray for my sister in law who was just diagnosed with breast cancer and starts chemo in a week now?
Feb 13, 7:48 PM
Simone (Guest): Just stepping out for 5-10 minutes. Will be back. Have to say bye to my guest
Feb 13, 7:49 PM
VisitationSister (Guest): Will pray for her
Ruth (Guest): Yes, I think so. At about six months after chemo it was like a “perfect” cut, without cutting. I’ve been letting grow ever since and it is a bit wild now; they say it might be just for a year or two, then go back to my “normal.
Feb 13, 7:49 PM
VisitationSister (Guest): God’s purposes for letting us experience Him is mysterious and maybe unknowable
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VisitationSister (Guest): It was enlightening to read about Mother Theresa in Be My Light book
VisitationSister (Guest): Yes and welcome back
Feb 13, 7:59 PM
Simone (Guest): thank you Ruth.. just saw your encouraging comment
Feb 13, 8:00 PM
Simone (Guest): I would love to see your hair Ruth. I also have wild hair … but cannot blame any medical condition for it – just a little bit on the light side- with the use of a brush
Feb 13, 8:00 PM
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VisitationSister (Guest): The saints often see themselves as the worst of sinners
Feb 13, 8:01 PM
Simone (Guest): ok.. back to the topic.. Yes the Saints see themselves as the worst sinners – because they are so close to GOD – and in the presence of GOD we are painfully reminded how we lack holiness in many ways
Feb 13, 8:02 PM
Simone (Guest): Last weeks readings – Isaih — WOE.. I am a man of unclean lips .. That appeared to him in the GOD filled temple
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Ruth (Guest): I’m not sure why God gives us consolation at times and at times withholds a sense of his presence. If Job is “true” in the sense of an explanation, he may be testing our faith. But why? Perhaps for a greater awe and joy to follow. I know that for me it has been a very, very long struggle to come to know God, but by taking him at his word, even when I FELT unlovable — and for many good reasons — at some level I KNEW that He Who IS LOVE — loves me, too, little ‘ol me. Mostly I think, it is because of , 8:04 PM
Ruth (Guest): the of the Father for the Son and the Son for the Father, and because this LOVE is a Person: the Holy Spirit. And God gives the Holy Spirit to those who ASK for the Holy Spirit.
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Feb 13, 8:06 PM
VisitationSister (Guest): signed out by accident
Feb 13, 8:06 PM
Simone (Guest): I don’t see it anymore so much as a ” testing of our faith” .. But more a chance for us – to see where we are in our love for HIM – which only can be seen, once He removes the consolation. I was a prayer giant- when I was bathing in His consolation – I was a prayer midget – as soon as He removed His consolation in prayer- nothing could have shown me that better – than what GOD did
M
VisitationSister (Guest): Discuss this in relation to St. Francis’s words: “you have no cause to doubt that he is looking upon you with love; for he looks lovingly upon the most horrible sinners in the world, even if they have very little real desire for conversion.” PM
Ruth (Guest): That’s interesting, Simon. Many people seem to get earnest about prayer when they are in trouble, and pretty much forget about God when everything is going smoothly for them. 11 PM
Ruth (Guest): To be looked upon with love! Is that not what we all long for?
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12 PM
Simone (Guest): the gaze of love is wonderful. And as a mother gazes at her sleeping baby with so much love – and the baby does not realize at all that she is doing this – but might just know – that it is safe – so we are also receiving this gaze – even if we do not notice it ( are more or less – spiritually sleeping) 3 PM
VisitationSister (Guest): and as we become more like Jesus the Father sees Him in us 13, 8:13 PM
Simone (Guest): oh Yes.. love that thought :14 PM
VisitationSister (Guest): If only the unconverted would feel that gaze!
13, 8:16 PM
VisitationSister (Guest): Discuss this line: “You must not examine whether your heart is pleasing to him but whether his heart pleases you.” Do we rejoice in God’s heart? What does St. Francis say we should do to feel this way?
Feb 13, 8:16 PM
Simone (Guest): well, they might feel it – when we – here on earth – extend our love to them – in whatever way the Spirit wants it.-
Feb 13, 8:16 PM
Simone (Guest): that’s an interesting statement.. I definitely would always check more if my heart pleases him more
8 PM
VisitationSister (Guest): I am trying to get closer to the Father and have not looked at it this way either 9 PM
Ruth (Guest): One time when I was leaving the rectory of the priest who is my health care proxy and occasionally welcomes — or has welcomed me, before I got sick and before COVID, and chats with me — put two of his fingers to his own eyes and then extended his hand toward me saying, “Here’s looking at you.” To this day I have not heard of or seen anyone else say “Good bye” like that. I wondered it he had learned it from some of the young people he works with. But yes, it was, indeed somehow comforting to be “seen.”
Feb 13, 8:19 PM
Simone (Guest): I guess.. it is a really good “check in” – to see ‘Does the heart of the Father please me”? Cause if it does not, that means, that I am somewhat “different” than him.. not on the same “holy wave length” –
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VisitationSister (Guest): like that one Ruth- never saw it done either
Feb 13, 8:20 PM
Simone (Guest): oh Ruth. You are seen. Lovingly gazed upon
Feb 13, 8:21 PM
VisitationSister (Guest): It is a good thought to ponder in prayer- God’s Heart
Simone (Guest): I sometimes have difficulties with these visuals of “heart” of GOD. For me- it is just the Holy flame of Love –
Feb 13, 8:22 PM
Ruth (Guest): There is a real need among people to be “seen” or “heard” — and since fewer go to Confession regularly, more and more seem to seek out psychotherapists.
Feb 13, 8:22 PM
Simone (Guest): to be seen – is a big human need
Feb 13, 8:22 PM
Simone (Guest): also to be heard
3 PM
Simone (Guest): Hagar said in Genesis ” You are a GOD who sees (me)” – El Roi – it is one of GOD’s holy names
Feb 13, 8:23 PM
VisitationSister (Guest): Did not know that!
26 PM
VisitationSister (Guest): last q How can our imperfections be a
Feb 12, 5:37 PM
a cause for submission to God?
Feb 13, 8:26 PM
Simone (Guest): if we do not give them the power to separate us from GOD – but rather use them to grow in humility.
27 PM
Simone (Guest): I find it hard to find the right “approach” to my failings. Specially those who are linked with will power. 8:27 PM
VisitationSister (Guest): I think you said it- with humility 8 PM
Ruth (Guest): Simone, maybe it is my medical training, but I, too, do not relate readily to what I impiously call “body part piety.” And yet, I understand and somehow appreciate, “The Sacred Heart” and “The Immaculate Heart of Mary.” I have Sacred Heart images in two rooms of my house and they have come to trigger spontaneous prayer. God surely knew what he was doing when he gave St. Margaret Mary these images for devotion.
Feb 13, 8:28 PM
Simone (Guest): My Spiritual Director even mentioned last time, that I should not “beat myself up” – but embrace my imperfections more. Cause it is also a side of pride – to beat yourself up – because you kind of expect that you are better.
9 PM
Simone (Guest): Thank you Ruth, that helps. I am praying that GOD opens more and more my heart for the understanding of the “heart of Jesus” Specially the Sacred Heart – 8:30 PM
VisitationSister (Guest): His Heart of Love!
Feb 13, 8:31 PM
VisitationSister (Guest): I need to leave now Thank you for being here and have a blessed week! Lets keep praying for each other!
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