January 2024 Journey of Faith

This January journey with me in faith. May God bless always.

May God Bless Always, Faith, Hope and Love by My Mother Rose.

Written and created by Katie Robinson

 

Faith

 

Who is ready to embrace their faith? Let us ask ourselves is faith a choice? Is faith personal? What does faith mean to you? Let us begin our journey of faith and find out the answers to these questions.

May God Bless Always, Faith, Hope and Love by My Mother Rose

Written and created by Katie Robinson 

Advent Love 2023

 

Now the One sitting on the throne spoke; ‘Now I am making the whole of creation new’ he said.

Revelation 21:5

Well, we have stayed awake, prepared our hearts, and cried in the wilderness to make a straight path for Our Lord God.

As I sit before God, I understand that God can make all things new and can create in me a new heart, a heart that trusts and loves. As I reflect on my journey of faith this year, I realize there have been times when my soul has lost confidence, but I know deep down that my Shepherd always calls me to come back to him, just as I am. At times I suppose my attitude and belief can be conflicting but when I read the following quote.

“The world is a manger where God is continually being born into our lives” F. Buechner.

I understand that time and time again I can allow God to be born into my life. I suppose that is what Love is choosing to let someone in, choosing to let them be a part of your life even when it is hard to figure out who they are, or there are doubts and fears because people have made promises and broken them so choosing to trust and believe in someone or something can be scary especially when it comes to LOVE!  

But we have an amazing example who trusts and believes with no doubts or fears and that example is Mary our mother of God.

Are our hearts prepared enough to welcome Jesus this Christmas?

My heart is opened to rejoice and to forever sing the goodness of the Lord.

Faith, Hope and Love by My Mother Rose, I would like to wish you all a very Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year. I am looking forward to next year, we are going to have an awesome journey growing in Faith, Hope and Love.

May God Bless Always.

Written and created by Katie Robinson

 

Advent Joy 2023

 

A message of Joy for this Christmas season.

As we continue the Advent journey, and we approach with a different mindset hopefully we are starting to notice or experience some of the fruits of the Spirit and one of the fruits of the Spirit we are going to discuss is Joy.

Before I started to write and put my pen to paper, I couldn’t help but think about John the Baptist. This week we read about this character Isaiah prophesies about and I wondered how many came after him proclaiming the good news, the existence, and the relevance of God today? Firstly, we know the greatest of them all was Jesus Christ, then the twelve apostles, and the first Pope St. Peter. But who else cries out in the wilderness “make a straight way for the Lord?”

My research tells me there are a range of media, bookstores, piety stores, movies, YouTube channels, Podcasts, Facebook, and many more who share God with the world. I would even include what I do, even if Faith, Hope and Love by My Mother Rose is not acknowledged by the Catholic Church I still cry in the wilderness and share beautiful reflections and understanding of the one who stands among us.

The Spirit of the Lord has been given to each one of us and it’s ours if we choose to live a life knowing Christ expressing and sharing the good news with others. There are millions of people and thousands of books that tell us about God. That is our journey this Advent which means ‘coming’ we are preparing our hearts and getting ready for Jesus to enter our lives and when we he enters our souls can rejoice and we can say we exult for joy in the Lord. Meaning nothing can suppress what we have seen or what we have heard and how we spread the word of God for we are living witnesses to Christ in our own lives and lives of others.

There are many ways we can spread the gift of joy in this Advent, especially the Spirit of the Lord. So, like Mary let our souls proclaim the greatness of the Lord and our Spirits exult in God our savior and share a smile, a word of encouragement, donate toys, clothes, or food for our Lord has sent us out to bring good news to the poor, to bind up hearts that are broken, to proclaim liberty to captives, freedom to those in prison, and to proclaim a year of favor from the Lord Isaiah 61:1-2, 10-11.

I want to leave you with this thought like John the Baptist we need to allow Jesus to enter through our humility and in our acts of charity.

“Love itself the fulfillment of all works. There is the goal, that is why we run; we run toward it, and once we reach it, in it we shall find rest.” St. Augustine.

May God Bless Always, Faith, Hope and Love by My Mother Rose.

Written and created by Katie Robinson.

 

Advent Peace 2023

Advent Hope 2023

Saint Andrew Christmas Novena

 May God Bless Always, Faith, Hope and Love by My Mother Rose.

Created by Katie Robinson 

The Life of Jesus Christ King of the Universe

Saint Andrew the Apostle.

 

“Love is acceptance. When you love someone…you take them into your heart, and that is surely why it hurts so much when we lose someone we love, because we lose a part of ourselves.”

 Andrew the Apostle

This Advent Faith, Hope and Love by My Mother Rose, we are going to recite the St. Andrew Christmas Novena Prayer. This prayer is over 100 years old and may have originated in Ireland. This Novena begins on the 30^th of November which is the feast of St. Andrew who is the brother of Simon Peter, and it will end on Christmas Eve. Now, we recite the prayer fifteen times each day so I pray for patience and endurance, but it is said Saint Andrew will help us to find what we are seeking and hoping for this Christmas.

I am hoping to receive the gift of love, peace, and happiness because this year hasn’t been nice, I don’t feel as though any of it has been blessing, I feel like I have lost people I loved, and I have lost sight of who I am and my purpose.

I believe with all my heart that God can help me, and Saint Andrew can assist and intercede on my behalf. His footsteps will bring good news and I will share my gifts with the ends of the world. 

One of these two who became followers of Jesus after hearing what John had said was Andrew, the brother of Simon Peter. Early next morning, Andrew met his brother and said to him, ‘We have found the Messiah’-which means the Christ-and he took Simon to Jesus. Jesus looked hard at him and said, ‘You are Simon, son of John; you are to be called Cephas’- meaning Rock.

John 1:40-42

May God Bless Always, Faith, Hope and Love by My Mother Rose.

Written and created by Katie Robinson 

Jesus, Priest, Prophet and King

Hebrews 10:32-39

Remember all the sufferings that you had to meet after you received the light, in earlier days; sometimes by being yourselves publicly expose to insults and violence, and sometimes as associates of others who were treated in the same way. For you not only shared in the sufferings of those who were in prison, but you happily accepted being stripped of your belongings, knowing that you owned something that was better and lasting. Be as confident now, then, since the reward is so great. You will need endurance to do God's will and gain what he has promised. 

Only a little while now, a very little while, and the one that is coming will have come; he will not delay. The righteous woman and man will live by faith, but if they draw back, my soul will take no pleasure in them. 

You and I are not the sort of people who draw back and are lost by it; we are the sort who keep faithful until our souls are saved. 

It is by faith we receive what was promised and what was promised to us was a priest, prophet and King.

Hebrews 11:3

It is by faith that we understand that the world was created by on word from God, so that no apparent cause can account for the things we see.  

May God Bless Always, Faith, Hope and Love by My Mother Rose.

Created by Kaite Robinson.

Emotional Wheel Made with Clipchamp

May God Bless Always, Faith, Hope and Love by My Mother Rose.

Written, Photos and created by Katie Robinson 

God Saves

 

Matthew 1:21

‘She will give birth to a son, and she must name him Jesus, because he is the one who is to save his people from their sins. ‘

The meaning of Jesus is ‘the Lord is salvation.’

God saves us because we are his work of art, we are created in his image to live the good life and to do good where we can.

The solemnity of Our Lord Jesus Christ King of the Universe prepares us for Advent which is the following week. Advent is a chance for us to shine a light on our savior who is infinitely rich in grace.

He brings hope to those who live in darkness.

He brings love to those who are lonely.

He brings joy to those who mourn and

He brings peace to the downtrodden.

Psalm 67:20-21

May the Lord be blessed day after day, he bears our burdens, God our savior. This God of ours is a God who saves.

May God Bless Always, Faith, Hope and Love by My Mother Rose.

Written and created by Katie Robinson.

 

Faith, Hope and Love by My Mother Rose's Daily Checklist

 

The readings especially the Gospel reading for the solemnity of Our Lord Jesus Christ King of the Universe highlights and basically gives us a checklist.

When the Son of Man comes in his glory, escorted by all the angles, then he will take his seat on his throne of glory. All the nations will be assembled before him, and he will separate men one from another as the shepherd separates sheep from goats. He will place the sheep on his right hand and the goats on his left. Then the King will say to those on his right hand. Come, you whom my Father has blessed, take for your heritage the kingdom prepares for you since the foundation of the world. For I was hungry, and you gave me food; I was thirsty, and you gave me drink; I was a stranger, and you made me welcome, naked and you clothe me, sick and you visited me, in prison and you came to see me. 

Then the virtuous will say to him in reply, "Lord, when did we see you hungry and feed you or thirsty and give you drink? When did we see you a strange and make you welcome; naked and clothe you sick or in prison and go to see you?"

And the King will answer, "I tell you solemnly, in so far as you did this to one of the least of these brothers or sister of min, you did it to me." Next, he will say to those on his left hand, "Go away from me, with your curse upon you, to the eternal fire prepared for the devil and his angels. For I was hungry, and you never gave me food; I was thirsty, and you never gave me anything to drink; I was a stranger and you never made me welcome, naked and you never clothed me, sick and in prison and you never visited me."

Then it will be their turn to ask, "Lord, when did we see you hungry or thirsty, a stranger or naked, sick or in prison, and did not come to your help?" Then he will answer, "I tell you solemnly, in so far as you neglected to this to one of the least of these, you neglected to do it to me."  And they will go away to eternal punishment, and the virtuous to eternal life.

Matthew 25:31-46

Sounds cruel when we read eternal punishment. Although, this Gospel is helping us to choose whether or not we are sheep or goats. These tasks aren't hard to do but why is it so hard for some people? I understand life is hard and we get so exhausted that we have nothing more to give but if I have chosen to follow God and serve God then I know that the race isn't over, I have to keep going checking all the boxes so that one day I can enter eternal life. I've been watching Fr. Mike's homilies on the YouTube channel Sunday with Ascension and when he said, "Here is the thing no one listens to me, I give advice, and no one cares." When I heard that I cried, and I said, "I listen, and I care." Even though he doesn't know I am listening because I live in Australia, and I am watching on my computer, but I am listening, and I care because I want to grow in my faith, I need guidance and direction because I get lost, and I lose my way sometimes.

I am sure that every day I offer someone a drink, I feed the hungry and I make people feel welcomed. Could I do better? Sure, I could do better, we all could do better. This verse though is a good reminder and a good checklist to keep us all on track.  

Where do you want to spend eternity? 

May God Bless Always, Faith, Hope and Love by My Mother Rose.

Written and created by Katie Robinson. 

Christ Our King

 

Christ Our King

We have King Charles, King of Pop, King of Rock, King of the Hill and our Spiritual King, Jesus Christ King of the Universe.

What is the role of a King?

The roles and responsibilities for a King include the head of state, the nation, the Church of England, the armed forces, and the head of the Commonwealth. However, depending on the historical and cultural context, the King’s duties vary but may include looking after and taking care of people’s happiness and welfare, maintaining order, peace, acting with justice and kindness.

What is the role of Our Lord Jesus Christ King of the Universe?

It is by faith we understand the role of Our Spiritual King is to love and serve all of God’s creation. So, why is the solemnity of Our Lord Jesus Christ, King of the Universe an important celebration?

In 1925, Pope Pius XI instituted the solemnity of Christ the King as a reminder that Jesus reigns above all other earthly rulers and his reign and kingdom remain for eternity. According to Church POP, Pope Paul VI moved the feast day to the last Sunday of the liturgical year and renamed the day in 1969 to the Solemnity of Our Lord Jesus Christ King of the Universe. The name is another title given to Jesus and it refers to the kingdom of God where Jesus sits at the right hand of God.

John 18:36

Jesus replied, ‘Mine is not a kingdom of this world; if my kingdom were of this world, my men would have fought to prevent my being surrendered to the Jews. But my kingdom is not this kind.’

This is a statue of Our Lord Jesus Christ King of the Universe in Poland and apparently it is larger than the Redeemer statue in Rio De Janeiro.

For this month I was trying to find an image of Jesus Christ the King of the Universe to use as our cover photo, but I couldn’t settle on any because no matter which one I saw the image expressed someone else’s view and opinion of who Jesus Christ our King is. So, I decided to use words and bible verses to express my deep understanding of who Jesus Christ our King is.

Who is Jesus Christ Our King of the Universe?

As we all know he is the promised one, he is the one we all believe in and live for. Jesus is the anointed, we receive him through the Eucharist, we worship him, we testify by writing and talking about him and we gaze upon the cross where he promised one of the criminal’s paradise Luke 23:43.

Over the next few weeks, I want you all to think of the saints we have learnt about over the years, including this year and think about what we can learn from their lives? Saints are examples for each one of us and their relationship with Jesus opens our hearts and minds to grow closer and to become more like him. To become more like him we must learn to love and serve the Lord God with all our hearts, with all our souls, with all our minds and to love our neighbors as ourselves.

May God Bless Always, Faith, Hope and Love by My Mother Rose.

Written and created by Katie Robinson

 

Jesus

 May God Bless Always, Faith, Hope and Love by My Mother Rose. 

Created by Katie Robinson. 

God's Emotional Wheel- Mad.

May God Bless Always, Faith, Hope and Love by My Mother Rose. 

Created by Katie Robinson 

 

God's Emotional Wheel- Afraid.

 May God Bless Always, Faith, Hope and Love by My Mother Rose. 

Created by Katie Robinson 

God's Emotional Wheel-Sad.

 May God Bless Always, Faith, Hope and Love by My Mother Rose. 

Created by Katie Robinson 

God's Emotional Wheel- Calm.

 May God Bless Always, Faith, Hope and Love by My Mother Rose. 

Created by Katie Robinson 

Mental Health Check In.

A mental health check in helps those who support us to know where we are at. It also helps us to receive the right help with the right resources. 
 

May God Bless Always, Faith, Hope and Love by My Mother Rose. 

Written and created by Katie Robinson 

World Mental Health Day!

 

“Mental health is not a question of faith or belief; it is a universal human concern. It is important to create a culture of encounter and solidarity, where those suffering from mental illness are not stigmatized but supported and loved.” - Pope Francis

Today, being World Mental Health Day I wanted to share that quote as a reminder that we are never alone. You are loved more than you can ever imagine, and you are so important. Shoulder my yoke and learn from me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. Matthew 11:29. 

May God Bless Always, Faith, Hope and Love by My Mother Rose.

Written and created by Katie Robinson

God's Emotional Wheel- Happy.

 May God Bless Always, Faith, Hope, and Love by My Mother Rose. 

Created by Katie Robinson

God's Emotional Wheel-Strong.

May God Bless Always, Faith, Hope and Love by My Mother Rose. 
 Created by Katie Robinson

Holy Handmaids of the Lord.

 

Luke 1:38

“I am the handmaid of the Lord,” said Mary, “let what you have said be done to me.” And the angel left her.

What is a handmaid of the Lord? And no, it’s not a handmaid from handmaid’s tale rather it is someone who does the will of God.

What is the will of God?

According to the Catechism of the Catholic Church 2^ndEd. (51), “it pleased God, in his goodness and wisdom, to reveal himself and to make known the mystery of his will. His will was that men and women should have access to the Father, through Christ, the Word made flesh, in the Holy Spirit, and thus become sharers in the divine nature.”

I found it hard to answer that question, what is the will of God? As I was researching, I found that God’s ultimate will is the advancement of his kingdom. “Our Father who art in heaven, hallowed be thy name, thy kingdom come, thy will be done on earth as it is in heaven.” After Jesus was baptized and he began to proclaim his message we hear Jesus say “The time has come” he said, “and the kingdom of God is close at hand. Repent, and believe the Good News. Mark 1:15.”

The will of God, and the teachings in how we can grow the kingdom of heaven is available where Christ is. For our lives are meant to be with Christ, where we find Christ there, we will find our lives and the kingdom of heaven.

I believe we were all brought into this existence for a purpose, a reason to make a difference, to learn lessons, to reflect and grow in love, hope, and faith.

Over the past year or so I have been reading a book called; Holy Handmaids of the Lord, Women Saints Who Won the Battle for souls., written by Julie Onderko.

 In this book I read about the mystic warrior Perpetua, and Felicity who clothed herself in Christ Jesus. St. Joan of Arc who is known to be a teenage war hero, the church regards her as the maiden of Orleans and in France, they hold her to be a national hero. God gave Joan of Arc a mission to drive the English away from occupied French territory so France could be freed.  This peasant girl was uneducated in the fifteenth century France, but she feared nothing because deep down she knew in her heart that nothing is impossible for God Luke 1:37.

The book goes on to describe more extraordinary women who feared nothing such as St. Clare of Assisi who reminds us “what we love and who we love shapes who we become” and to let our souls go forth on the journey without any fear, trusting in the good guide who created, who loves and protects us always.

Like the many handmaids who allowed God to show them their true worth through receiving his vision for their lives. Are we all called to do the will of God?

I think we are all called to have a relationship with him, with each other and then we have the free will to choose whether we follow and join Jesus on the battlefield for souls. In conclusion I believe it is important to discern the will of God in our own lives especially when we are called to love and serve God in some way. Put your absolute trust in God like it says below the image of Divine Mercy “Jesus, I trust in you.” Our lack of trust painfully breaks his heart. Keep your faith solid like a
rock, for Jesus always completes the work he has started in you.

May God Bless Always, Faith, Hope and Love by My Mother Rose.

Written and created by Katie Robinson.  

 

Who battles for our souls?

 A battle is to engage in combat between individuals or armed forces. There are many different battles such as air battles, sea battles and land battles and we can also face internal battles which are full of deep sadness, temptation, doubt, or fear. Other battles we may encounter are battling with our health, finances, work, relationships even battling spiritually.

No matter what battle we face, we all must learn to protect and guard our souls. Recently, I started watching a documentary Live To 100: Secrets of the Blue Zones on Netflix and one of the women who were interviewed was asked what was the secret to living to 100? She said the secret was to never be angry, always try and forgive and be happy. So simple but also very true. When we are so angry, we want to battle, and fight. But being angry, and resentful is not healthy. We can tame our anger by knowing what pushes our anger buttons, and we can understand the warning signs so we can stop and think before we lash out and become rageful.

Let’s pause and say this prayer together.

‘Help me lord to forgive my neighbor for the hurt they do. Teach me to be kind, merciful, slow to anger and rich in compassion. Amen.’

So, who battles for our souls?

Jesus Christ of course is the one who battles for our souls, he is our salvation, his death on the cross was the ultimate sacrifice and we are reminded of that in Isaiah 53:5, ‘Yet, he was pierced through our faults, crushed for our sins, on him lies a punishment that brings us peace, and through his wounds, we are healed’   We are asked to be strong, stand firm for the Lord will do the fighting for us. There is no need for us to go to battle, to be angry and react. We only need to keep still, while he battles for us. Right now, a part of me is grateful for a load has been lifted off my shoulders and I no longer carry so much anger and frustration. He carries it for me. Do I feel guilty? Yes, but time and time again we are asked and told to hand it over to God for he will make our burdens lighter.

A month ago, my son was so terribly upset he didn’t want to go to school because he was afraid of getting angry and he didn’t know how to control that anger and he wanted to know how he could stop himself before he hurt someone. At first, I was taken back because I didn’t realize how he was truly feeling and all I could do was hold him and reassure him that we all get angry and when we get angry, we need to make a choice to either walk away, take deep breaths and calm down or we stay and say things that we are going to regret and we hurt people physically, mentally, and psychologically.

So, here is a little reminder for parents, never drive your children to resentment but in bringing them up, correct them and guide them as the Lord does Ephesians 6:4. As I have said before, being a mother is hard work but I believe being empathetic and understanding is what children need and that is what my son needed to hear from me because we all get angry, we are human beings, we are not perfect but we need to learn to stop and think before it’s too late and resentment grows.

May God Bless Always, Faith, Hope and Love by My Mother Rose.

Written and created by Katie Robinson

Something to be proud of.

 Companions Sep 2023.pdf

Our fourteenth bible hero is Jonah.

 

Our fourteenth bible hero is Jonah.

What makes Jonah a hero?

Has God ever given you an important job to do? Did you want to do it?

Our next and last bible hero Jonah had an important job given to him by God, but Jonah didn’t want to do it.  So, he sailed away on a ship and tried to hide from God. A terrible storm washed Jonah overboard and a big fish swallowed him. Jonah felt scared and lonely inside the big fish that he prayed for God to help him. After he had finished praying the big fish spat him out onto the shore. This time, Jonah did what God wanted him to do, he traveled to a city name Nineveh and told the people how to please God and God was pleased with Jonah.

May God Bless Always, Faith, Hope and Love by My Mother Rose.

Written and created by Katie Robinson.

Our thirteenth bible hero is Daniel.

 

Our thirteenth bible hero is Daniel.

What makes Daniel a hero?

• Daniel was the King’s closes friend and he helped him to make important decisions.
• Others grew jealous of Daniel, so they trapped him.
• They told the king to make a new law, anyone who didn’t pray to him would be thrown into the den of hungry lions.
• Knowing Daniel would only pray to God and not the King, Daniel broke the law, and he was thrown into the lion’s den.
• The king rushed to the lion’s den and called out, “Daniel, has your God saved you?”
• Daniel answered, “It’s all right, Your Majesty, God sent his angel to shut the mouths of the lions.” 
• Daniel had trusted God. And God protected Daniel.

May God Bless Always, Faith, Hope and Love by My Mother Rose.

Written and created by Katie Robinson.

Our twelfth bible hero is Esther.

 Our twelfth bible hero is Esther.

What makes Esther a hero?

There was a beautiful and brave queen named Esther. One day, she discovered that a wicked man had planned to destroy all of God’s people. Now, there was a law that no one could talk to the king without permission, not even Esther could. But one day, she went to the king, bowing low and begged him to protect the people. The king listened to Esther because she had the courage to speak up and she had saved the lives of thousands of people.

May God Bless Always, Faith, Hope and Love by My Mother Rose.

Written and created by Katie Robinson.

Our eleventh bible hero is Elijah.

 Our eleventh bible hero is Elijah.

What makes Elijah a hero?

• Elijah listened very closely to God and shared God’s message with others.
• Elijah taught the way of God in wicked times and with God’s power Elijah performed many miracles.
• When his work was finished, he was carried into heaven in a chariot of fire.

May God Bless Always, Faith, Hope and Love by My Mother Rose.

Written and created by Katie Robinson.

 

 

Our tenth bible hero is Solomon.

 

Our tenth bible hero is Solomon.

What makes Solomon a hero?

• Solomon was David’s son, and he became King.
• God was pleased that Solomon did not pray for riches rather he prayed for an understanding heart.
• God made King Solmon the wisest man who ever lived.
• People came from all over to listen to his words.
• They gave him gifts of gold, silver, and precious jewels.
• These treasures were used to build a glorious temple for everyone to go and worship God in.

May God Bless Always, Faith, Hope and Love by My Mother Rose.

Written and created by Katie Robinson.

Our ninth bible hero is David.

 Our ninth bible hero is David.

What makes David a hero?

• There was a shepherd boy named David. One day David heard Goliath who was a giant cursing God and his people. Even though David was only a boy, David went out to fight Goliath.
• The giant laughed at David but what Goliath didn’t know was David prayed for God to guide his hands. He picked up a small stone and placed it into his sling shot and hurled it towards Goliath hitting him right in the middle of his forehead and he fell at David’s feet.
• After he had killed Goliath, David grew up to be strong and a mighty warrior.
• He sang songs to thank God for giving him victory over his enemies.
• David pleased God so he was made King over all the people. 

May God Bless Always, Faith, Hope and Love by My Mother Rose.

Written and created by Katie Robinson.