Advent Week One: Learn to Love Well!

 

 3-minute Bible reading and meditation

Hello, and welcome!

Do you, like me, sometimes get to Christmas Eve and suddenly realize that, despite the best of intentions for a prayerful Advent, you have organized a feast, glitz, glamour and gifts, but feel spiritually depleted?

If the answer is ‘Yes’ join the club! Happily, as a Fan of the Fresh Start, I gratefully acknowledge that, though I cannot change yesterday, I can choose a new beginning today. I hope that you will join me in making this Advent a holy one!    

As Christmas is all about Love – celebrating Christ’s birth and looking forward to His Second Coming – it seems logical to make that the focus this week. Enter: Learn to Love Well!

St Paul reminds us in his letter to the Philippians, that there is no greater example of how to love than Christ’s example. He says: “If there is any encouragement in Christ, any incentive of love… complete my joy by being of the same mind, having the same love.” Philippians 2:1-2 

As Christians we are challenged to show Christ’s love to everyone we cross paths with. We can do this by being helpful, forgiving, generous, kind, and so on. Sometimes being loving is easy. But at other times it can prove extremely difficult. Yet we are bound to try. To think that over for a few moments use the following short, yet spiritually powerful, meditation.

Meditation

1. Sit up straight. Breathe in deeply through the nose. Hold a few seconds. Breathe out through the mouth and as you do so feel the whole of your body relax.

2. Now consider that God wants us to follow His example of love.

3. Read the above Bible quote of St Paul’s and ponder on it for a few moments.

4. Now say this prayer – or one of your own – “Dear Lord, I want to learn to love well so will you please help and inspire my efforts? I ask this in the name of Jesus Christ. Amen.”

5. When you are ready breathe in and out deeply as before. Then have a big stretch.

From today onwards, may we be open to God’s support and guidance as we strive to become ever more loving to all.

God bless,

Teresa x

For articles, plus more info about me and my work please visit my website.  (www.teresaodriscoll.co.uk)

BOOKS! BOOKS! BOOKS! 

I have been asking God for guidance and listening to His replies for many years. I share my methods in Pray Then Listen, A heart-to-heart with God.

Check out Pray Then Listen In UK / In US  / In Singapore/ In New Zealand / In Australia

Available as a Kindle version or paperback! 

Set on the green and beautiful Greek island of Corfu in this novel I show the ever-present backstory of life, as I interpret the supernatural elements of our dilemmas and choices. 

I know, that no matter what your beliefs or experiences, you will surely recognize the tussles of my characters, as tussles in your own life....  Enjoy!

Click on the following links to check out my novel, Angel at the Paradise Hotel In UK /  In US / In Singapore / In Australia / In New Zealand

Available as a Kindle version or paperback!

You may like to see my blog on the Backstory of this novel

I wrote 9 Days to Heaven, How to make everlasting meaning of your life as my personal evangelization effort.  

Check out 9 Days to Heaven In UK / In US / In Singapore / In Australia / 

Available as a Kindle version or paperback!

Here is the link for the YouTube book trailer:  9 Days to Heaven 

 

St Augustine: Sinner to saint through his mother's prayers!

 

Saint Augustine of Hippo by Philippe de Champaigne

Hello and Welcome! 

Thanks so much for dropping in to read my blog. I hope you are well and that this post blesses you. Today, after recent discussions with friends and relatives, my mind is full of thoughts of disappointed Christian parents. You see, a number of them have children, some now grown-up, who are not practising Christians, some not even believers, and some have become 'lost' to them. Of course, this is a great sadness in their life. Perhaps you too are experiencing the same sadness.

If this is blighting your life I want to give you hope. Perhaps you know about St Monica, the mother of St Augustine of Hippo theologian and philosopher. Monica, a very holy woman, was greatly concerned about her son as he was leading a hedonistic life and ignoring God. Her prayers for her son’s soul were answered in a spectacular way. Augustine, once converted, became such a paragon of virtue that the church holds him up as a shining example of sainthood. I once heard a priest comment on how this turnaround came about. He said that Monica ‘willed it’ by her constant and hopeful prayers for her son.

I have seen similar prayers of fellow-parishioners being answered by the returning of their off-spring to Christ. In my own life, for different reasons, I can assure you that God DOES answer our prayers, so please give Him a chance to answer yours - in every trial and situation you may find yourself in. If a loved one of yours has turned away from Christ, or, for example, rejects even His existence try saying this prayer, or one of your own, from your heart.

Prayer for a loved one to draw close to God

“Dear Heavenly Father,

I love You with all that is in me, and so I dare to say:

Please Lord, please bless my loved one [name them] with the gift of Faith.

I ask this, in confidence, in the name of Your Son, Jesus Christ. Amen.”

If your prayer is not answered immediately, do not give up hope that God will answer, in His own time. Remember St Monica and her years of fervent prayer. I am praying regularly for some of my loved ones who have not yet come to Faith…

If anything in this post has piqued your interest in my work you may like to take a look at my books. I've put a few links too as maybe even just taking a 'look inside' may bring you comfort or blessings...

I have been asking God for guidance and listening to His replies for many years. I share my methods in Pray Then Listen, A heart-to-heart with God.

Check out Pray Then Listen In UK / In US  / In Singapore / In Australia / In New Zealand / In Hong Kong

Available as a Kindle version or paperback! 

Set on the green and beautiful Greek island of Corfu in this novel I show the ever-present backstory of life, as I interpret the supernatural elements of our dilemmas and choices. 

I know, that no matter what your beliefs or experiences, you will surely recognize the tussles of my characters, as tussles in your own life....  Enjoy!

Click on the following links to check out my novel, Angel at the Paradise Hotel In UK /  In US / In Singapore / In Australia / In New Zealand / In Hong Kong

Available as a Kindle version or paperback!

I wrote 9 Days to Heaven, How to make everlasting meaning of your life as my personal evangelization effort.  

Check out 9 Days to Heaven In UK / In US / In Singapore 

Available as a Kindle version or paperback!

Here is the link for the YouTube book trailer:  9 Days to Heaven 

For articles, plus more info about me and my work please visit my website.  (www.teresaodriscoll.co.uk)

I'd love to hear your thoughts or feedback on this post, or any of my posts or work.

God bless,

Teresa 

PS. About the links to Singapore, please see my blog post Singapore and Christianity  

Sharing your love of Christ gently!

 

Me at Llantwit Major beach, South Wales, UK. 

Hello and Welcome!

Thank you so much for stopping by today! I hope that you and yours are keeping well! Today my mind is turning on evangelization, the sharing of our Christian faith, and how we are all, as baptized Christians, called upon to do that. But I know, from personal experience, that it's not always an easy thing to do. And it can even be a bit of a balancing act, like me on that wall in the photo above... 

Many years ago when I tried to do that it felt more like I was supposed to 'stand up for Christ' and it often led to an argument. An argument during which I felt completely out of my depth as I am not a theologian. There is a saying in the UK relating to say, a dinner party, or gathering of friends if you want to keep things harmonious: "Never argue about religion or politics." How true that is! And after one particularly bitter exchange I made the decision to never argue about religion again. 

Well, for some years I mostly kept quiet. But one day I knew I had to start speaking up again though I didn't know how to do that. I wasn't going to argue with anyone on the subject of Christianity. So, how on earth was I going to share my faith? I prayed about it. 

I began to speak my truth very gently. When people said, for instance, that they no longer believed in God as something bad had happened to someone in their family I would empathize. Tragedy has also struck my own family, and I had felt like turning my back on God. They shared their story and I shared mine. I told them I could understand their turning away. But I had, eventually, decided that as God is Love He must have a reason for letting X happen. And I had decided to trust Him. I explained that God is as real to me as them and that Jesus has been my best friend since I was about seven years old.

And if you are wondering how the conversation went on after that let me tell you. Most people looked wistful, and said they wished they had what I had. In answer to that, and following me praying I had the following advice, which you may want to try out for yourself... 

If you want to know if God exists

When you next have a few quiet minutes alone: Open your heart and say to God, "If you are there God I want to know You." If He has anything to say then, let Him speak. And if not go about your business but keep open for His reply. Then, get a Bible, and go to a church service. 

I know that sounds very simple, but St Paul tells us clearly in Acts 17:27 that God made us so that we would seek Him. And "By feeling [our] way towards Him [we]would succeed in finding Him..." 

After that, being a writer, I wrote a book based on Revelation 3:20 "Behold I stand at the door and knock..." The book is 9 Days to Heaven, How to make everlasting meaning of your life. I call it a Programme, as it takes place over a 9 day period, 15 minutes a day, where you slowly get to know God better through simple prayers and meditation. I am confident that it will free you from the fear and confusion about life that fills you when you are trying to live without God. 

I wrote 9 Days to Heaven, How to make everlasting meaning of your life as my personal evangelization effort.  

Check out 9 Days to Heaven In UK / In US / In Singapore 

Available as a Kindle version or paperback!

Here is the link for the YouTube book trailer:  9 Days to Heaven 

Here are some details of my other two books.

I have been asking God for guidance and listening to His replies for many years. I share my methods in Pray Then Listen, A heart-to-heart with God.

Check out Pray Then Listen In UK / In US  / In Singapore

Available as a Kindle version or paperback! 

Set on the green and beautiful Greek island of Corfu in this novel I show the ever-present backstory of life, as I interpret the supernatural elements of our dilemmas and choices. 

I know, that no matter what your beliefs or experiences, you will surely recognize the tussles of my characters, as tussles in your own life....  Enjoy!

Click on the following links to check out my novel, Angel at the Paradise Hotel In UK /  In US / In Singapore

Available as a Kindle version or paperback!

For articles, plus more info about me and my work please visit my website.  (www.teresaodriscoll.co.uk)

I'd love to hear how you got on if you tried out my method of speaking to God, or shared it with someone who didn't yet know Him. 

God bless,

Teresa 

PS. About the links to Singapore, please see my blog post Singapore and Christianity  

PPS If you are living in Singapore I would really love to hear of your personal faith journey. Perhaps you would like to do that through my website via Contact me.

Singapore and Christianity

Hello dear friend,

Thanks so much for stopping by! My friend Susan has just booked a cruise and the place she's looking forward to visiting the most is Singapore! This made me want to find out some facts and info about this country. 

I do know a friend-of-a-friend whose son and daughter love Singapore so much they have married and settled there! Their mother, from Wales, visits as often as she can and loves it too.

And anytime the country is mentioned by people I know, they speak of it in glowing terms and say how lovely the Singaporeans are. Just looking at the above photo brings a smile to my face: it looks so vibrant and exciting!! A really happening place. 

The first thing I checked out for myself was Christianity, as that is the aspect of most interest to me.  I was thrilled to discover that of the religions in Singapore Christians make up 18.9%. And the information that delighted me even more is that a growing number of Singaporeans are converting to Christianity. If you are among their number then I highly recommend my prayer guide, Pray Then Listen, A heart-to-heart with God. 

I write in the book's Preface: "If you are one of the many turning to Christianity for the first time to get answers in this sometimes frightening world, then, by God's grace, you will find them using my methods. These are simple, easy, and often relaxing, and can be adapted to fit perfectly to your own life."

Of course, Pray Then Listen is not only for the newcomer to Christ as I add. "No matter where you are right now in your walk with God, I show you how to speak to Him from your heart and to listen expectantly for His reply."

I just did a quick search online and discovered that all three of my books (please see below) are available in Singapore!! Wow!! 

Here's a link to check out Pray Then Listen in Singapore:  You will also find links on that site for 9 Days to Heaven and here is the link to Angel at the Paradise Hotel. 

Here is some more info about my work.

My book Pray Then Listen, A heart-to-heart with God is a prayer guide that shows you how to listen for God's voice in order to draw closer to Him. It is for all. You may not know God yet or you may know Him well, in either case the book can be of great help in deepening Faith. Check out Pray Then Listen

My book 9 Days to Heaven, How to make everlasting meaning of your life shows you how to invite God into your everyday life for a better way to live. It can do this no matter where you are in your walk of Faith and will free from fear and confusion. Check out 9 Days to Heaven

My debut novel, Angel at the Paradise Hotel,  Christian fiction - Holidays-romance-suspense - is set in Corfu and features characters from Wales, America and Ireland. Find all the details here.       

               

Read the novel's Backstory here

Also, for more info about me please visit my website.  

I'd love to hear from you! 

God bless,

Teresa 

 

Fatima Miracle of the Sun:106 years ago today!

Hello dear friend,
Thank you so much for stopping by! I hope you are having a good day..

Today my mind is filled with miracles and therefore with hope. Because it is 106 years ago today that Our Blessed Lady caused a miracle to show she really had been speaking to three young shepherds in Fatima, Portugal. This miracle was witnessed by a crowd of some 70,000 people, including top journalists from around the globe.

This is what was reported by an onlooker: "After speaking to the children as she had done before, opening her hands Our Lady shone the light issuing from them onto the sun, and as she rose, her own radiance continued to be cast onto the sun. At that moment, Lucia [one of the children] cried, 'Look at the sun!'

Once Our Lady had disappeared the children saw some visions: three scenes symbolising the three mysteries of the Rosary - Joyful, Sorrowful and Mysterious.

"While these scenes took place, the great throng of about seventy thousand spectators witnessed the miracle of the sun.

It had rained all during the apparition. At the end of the conversation between Our Lady and Lucia - when the Blessed Virgin rose and Lucia shouted, 'Look at the sun!' - the clouds opened up, revealing the sun as an immense silver disk. It shone with an intensity never seen before, but was not blinding. This lasted only an instant. Then the immense ball began to 'dance'. the sun began to spin rapidly like a gigantic circle of fire. Then it stopped momentarily, only to begin spinning vertiginously again. Its rim became scarlet; whirling, it scattered flames across the sky. Their light was reflected on the ground, on the trees, and on the very faces and clothing of the people, which took on brilliant hues and changing colours.

After performing this bizarre pattern three times, the globe of fire seemed to tremble, shake, and then plunge in a zigzag towards the terrified crowd.

All this lasted about ten minutes. Finally the sun zigzagged back to its original place and once again became still and brilliant, shining with its everyday brightness.

Many people noticed that their clothes, soaking wet from the rain, had suddenly dried.

The miracle of the sun was also seen by numerous witnesses up to twenty-five miles away from the place of the apparition."

I have written two books that show clearly how to come close to God. The latest release is Pray Then Listen, A heart-to-heart with God - which shows how to listen expectantly for God's guidance.

UPDATES!!!

I have been asking God for guidance and listening to His replies for many years. I share my methods in Pray Then Listen, A heart-to-heart with God.

Check out Pray Then Listen In UK / In US  / In Singapore

Available as a Kindle version or paperback! 

Set on the green and beautiful Greek island of Corfu in this novel I show the ever-present backstory of life, as I interpret the supernatural elements of our dilemmas and choices. 

I know, that no matter what your beliefs or experiences, you will surely recognize the tussles of my characters, as tussles in your own life....  Enjoy!

Click on the following links to check out my novel, Angel at the Paradise Hotel In UK /  In US / In Singapore

Available as a Kindle version or paperback!

I wrote 9 Days to Heaven, How to make everlasting meaning of your life as my personal evangelization effort.  

Check out 9 Days to Heaven In UK / In US / In Singapore 

Available as a Kindle version or paperback!

Here is the link for the YouTube book trailer:  9 Days to Heaven 

For articles, plus more info about me and my work please visit my website.  (www.teresaodriscoll.co.uk)

I'd love to hear your thoughts or feedback on this post.

God bless,

Teresa 

PS. About the links to Singapore, please see my blog post Singapore and Christianity  

Live One Day at a Time!

Hello dear friend,

Thank you so much for stopping by!

In my last post I shared a link with you to the Catholic People, the official newspaper to the Catholic Archdiocese of Cardiff. It is a really good read so here is the link to the August edition. https://rcadc.org/wp-content/uploads/2018/10/Catholic-People-August-2020.pdf

I am blessed to have a monthly column in this publication and below, for inspiration, I am sharing that with you now.  

Let Biblical Inspiration Fire Your Imagination!

A 3 minute reading and meditation.

                                         

You will need a Bible, a chair, and few minutes alone

“Do not worry about tomorrow: tomorrow will take care of itself.” Matthew 6:34

                                    

Do you, like me, feel as if we are in the eye of the Covid-19 storm? As the numbers of infections in Wales, thankfully, plummet we are eager to take advantage of the respite and enjoy a little taste of normality. But as this is the “new normal” - where we must stay alert and keep Covid-safe at all times - there is not that much peace of mind generally to be had. 

As Christians though, remembering that we are urged to live one day at a time, we are much better placed to feel secure. When we keep our focus on Jesus we can be sure that we will always be safe; no matter what happens in our lives! I hope the meditation below helps you to stay focused on the present.  

1. Read Matthew 6:31-34

2. Sit up straight and close your eyes. Breathe in deeply through the nose. Hold a few seconds. Breathe out through the mouth and as you do so feel the whole of your body relax.

3. Now meditate for a few moments on the fact that Christ does not want you to worry about anything. He wants, instead, your complete trust.

4. Now say this prayer – or one of your own – ‘Dear Lord, I want to trust You, always, but sometimes I find life very scary. Please will you remind me often to stay as close to You as possible, and to feel the security of Your loving presence. I ask this in the name of Jesus Christ. Amen’

5. When you are ready breathe in and out deeply as before. Then open your eyes and have a big stretch.

I hope that with Jesus by your side you enjoy a measure of tranquility each day, no matter what your circumstances.  

God bless

Teresa

For more info on my work please visit my website: www.teresaodriscoll.co.uk or other blog: https://creativelivingforthebestyou.blogspot.com/

For more inspiration check out my book 9 Days to Heaven, How to make everlasting meaning of your life. 

Here is the link for the book trailer:  9 Days to Heaven

You can buy the book from any good bookshop or online bookstore. Click here to buy the e-book on Amazon. https://www.amazon.co.uk/Days-Heaven-Make-Everlasting-Meaning-ebook/dp/B00AIR8CSC

News News News!

I have two new books in print.

My book Pray Then Listen, A heart-to-heart with God is a prayer guide that shows you how to listen for God's voice in order to draw closer to Him. It is for all. You may not know God yet or you may know Him well, in either case the book can be of great help in deepening Faith. Check out Pray Then Listen

My debut novel, Angel at the Paradise Hotel,  Christian fiction - Holidays-romance-suspense - is set in Corfu and features characters from Wales, America and Ireland. Find all the details here.  

Getting to Know Him! - Part Two

      The Light of the World painted by Holman Hunt

From one man [God] created all races of mankind and He made them live throughout the whole earth. He himself fixed beforehand the exact times and limits of the places where they would live. He did this so that they would look for Him, and perhaps find Him as they felt about for Him.
St Paul speaking to the Athenians in the Acts of the Apostles Chapter 17 verses 26 & 27

Dear friend in Christ,

In lock down, where we have been living apart from each other in order to prevent the spread of the potentially lethal Covid-19 virus, many people have finally had the opportunity to be still for a while and have listened to Christ's gentle knocking on the door of their hearts - which is what the above painting by Holman Hunt is depicting.  They have been reaching out by watching or listening to church services, and so on. Many of these people have never even been inside a church.

If you are among those newly reaching out to Jesus for answers and help you may, perhaps, be feeling perplexed about your decision to do this. But. If you read the above Bible quote you can see clearly that this has always been His intention.

From your birth He has been waiting for you to turn to Him. To let Him share your life and to guide you through the good times, bad times, and everything in between. And only when you do that can you achieve your full potential. Until you know what He wants you to do on earth you will never be truly happy or fulfilled!

Start to open out to Christ’s guidance by saying this prayer, or one of your own, Dear Heavenly Father,  I want to get to know You better. Please will you share my life and guide me in all of my decisions? I ask this through Your Son, Jesus Christ. Amen  

I wrote a book showing clearly how to come close to God. It is called 9 Days to Heaven, How to make everlasting meaning of your life. 

Through the pages of this book take a simple 9 day spiritual journey to get to know God or to draw closer to Him.

Here is a lovely review:

9 Days to Heaven, How To Make Everlasting Meaning Of Your Life is such a wonderfully simple yet powerful way to reach what monks and mystics have sought for centuries: a deep, one-on-one communion with God. The use of everyday items connects us with the Divine through the natural world in a way that can't help but touch readers on many levels. It's the best of many traditions used in a thoroughly Christian way.

John Backman, author of
Why Can’t We Talk? Christian Wisdom on Dialogue as a Habit of the Heart

Check out 9 Days to Heaven In UK / In US / In Singapore 

Available as a Kindle version or paperback!

Here is the link for the YouTube book trailer:  9 Days to Heaven 

For articles, plus more info about me and my work please visit my website.  (www.teresaodriscoll.co.uk)

I'd love to hear your thoughts or feedback on this post.

God bless,

Teresa 

PS. About the links to Singapore, please see my blog post Singapore and Christianity  

UPDATES!!!

I have been asking God for guidance and listening to His replies for many years. I share my methods in Pray Then Listen, A heart-to-heart with God.

Here is a great endorsement: Teresa’s book on how to talk to God flows from her experience of prayer as a two way conversation. Mixed with everyday examples, she practically shares how to live a life seasoned with prayer. Providing foundational frameworks for prayer in the different seasons of life, this book will help us all move deeper in our relationship with God. 

Andy Frost, Director of Share Jesus International

Check out Pray Then Listen In UK / In US  / In Singapore

Available as a Kindle version or paperback! 

Set on the green and beautiful Greek island of Corfu in this novel I show the ever-present backstory of life, as I interpret the supernatural elements of our dilemmas and choices. 

I know, that no matter what your beliefs or experiences, you will surely recognize the tussles of my characters, as tussles in your own life....  Enjoy!

Here is a great review: Teresa's highly inspirational and illuminating debut novel is full of intrigue, heart, depth and meaning, sprinkled with an array of colourful, identifiable characters. A guaranteed page-turner, which has tremendous potential for adaptation to the silver screen.

Brett Syson, Consultant/Producer on six official Oscar submissions for Best International Film

Click on the following links to check out my novel, Angel at the Paradise Hotel In UK /  In US / In Singapore

Available as a Kindle version or paperback!