Coffee Moments with Sam

Pope John Paul II defines freedom as: “Freedom consists not in doing what we like, but in having the right to do what we ought.When freedom does not have a purpose, when it does not wish to know anything about the rule of law engraved in the hearts of men and women, when it does not listen to the voice of conscience, it turns against humanity and society.” Freedom is not always an issue of liberty or independence to choose and do whatever pleases us, but freedom is about “being in a state of peace, happiness, satisfaction, as a result of our choosing what is right”. It is a guilt-free, fearless, shameless, stress-free kind of life. So how exactly can we live free? wallpapers.com Read full article:  What it Means to Live Free - Live Free Column - Tapat Catholic News

Sometimes the best way to succeed is to be yourself.

“I’m participating in the Keeping LOVE in LENT Blog Link-Up 2013, hosted by Raising (& Teaching) Little Saints ,  Truly Rich Mom   and  Arma Dei: Equipping Catholic Families . We’ll be sharing different ways, tips, stories and real-life experiences that will help us focus on Lenten sacrifices, prayer and good deeds, and how to carry them out with LOVE instead of a GRUMBLE. Please scroll down to the end of the post to see the list of link-up entries." It’s simply amazing how much I can learn from someone so young.  A child can definitely teach us - older ones - a lot about love…  Out of nowhere, my son told me, “ Faith is my life ”.   He was actually referring to his playmate, a girl about his age named, Faith.   I honestly didn't know where he learned to say those words, but in the pureness and innocence of his heart he was happy and proud to express it.   There was another time he came up to...

To let go is not to adjust everything to my desires, but to take each day as it comes and cherish the moment. To let go is not to criticize and regulate anyone, but to try to become what I dream I can be. To let go is not to regret the past, but to grow and live for the future. To let go is to fear less and love more. - author unknown image source: http://weheartit.com/entry/41455692 # What does it really mean to "let go"...  I had my shares of dealing with it.  I often encounter various situations wherein it is extremely difficult to move on and get on with my life. But one thing I realized is that letting go may be a painful experience, but it is an essential part of life.  Some people believe that we are strong if we keep "holding on".  But in reality, we become even stronger when we learn to let go.   Letting go doesn't mean we are giving up... It means ...

"One clue that you're doing something wrong is when you start spending a lot of time trying to convince yourself that what you're doing is right." - Crystalina Evert, Pure Womanhood  (image: freedom by hannadeva)

Have you ever wanted something so badly only to realize that it isn’t as good as you hoped it would be? Are you currently waiting so long for something to happen in your life and are already getting impatient?  Have you ever hoped for something but received a different thing?  Do you desire something that’s not really meant for you? Image Credits: silhouette of a girl praying (icarly.wiki) We all desire the best in life.  Most of the time however, we are misguided by our worldly desires.  We confuse “our best” to be “God’s best”.  We can easily fall into the trap of aspiring the most beautiful, most famous, wealthiest, most expensive, most prestigious, best job, the perfect relationship, the comfortable life, the easiest way out… we are made to perceive that the best things in life can only be fulfilled by vanity, money, fame, power, ultimate perfection.      But God’s best is beyond what money can buy or what power can acquire. ...

The movie's official theatrical poster, US Release, 2012 I recently saw the movie, "OCTOBER BABY" .  It touched my heart so much that I decided to see it again.  The second time I saw the film, it spoke deep into my heart and my mind, touching my soul as a woman.  The message is just so beautiful, so real, so inspiring...   Perhaps, it is because the movie centered its story on the beauty of life and the chance to live it.   "October Baby" is about Hannah, a 19 year old college freshman, who found out that she was an adopted survivor of a failed abortion.  She then embarked on a personal journey to discover more about herself and her real life in hope to find answers to her most profound questions about who she really was.  The search eventually led her to come into terms with herself, to appreciate love, and find fo...

Instant coffee moment based on the Gospel according to Mark 7:1-8, 14-15, 21-23: "Nothing that enters one from outside can defile that person; but the things that comeout from within are what defile.  From within people, from their hearts, come evil thoughts..." - Mk7:21 - 22 photo credits: withagratefulheart.com Christian living is the unity of the heart, mind, soul and body.  In simple words, it is the oneness of our entire being.  The Christian life is a tough one to pursue.  It should be our goal to live a life that is pleasing to God... to walk the path to righteousness.  It is to follow in Christ's steps. But this is not the easiest road to take...  There is no perfect life... There can never be a person untainted with sin... but we can strive to live free.   Set our hearts free from worldly desires and ill feelings. Set our minds free from evil thoughts. Set our souls free from the co...