Hi! I am Mary from Hope Echoes checking in on the Community of Catholic Bloggers. I feel like the light weight on the "team." The Lord and I have many laughs together and I share some of those and other thoughts on my blog. I am both honored and humbled to be included in this group. I will add what I can and hope that they don't ask me to leave the room, so to speak.
I have found that one of the guiding scriptures in my life is from Romans 5:5. "...And hope does not disappoint, because the love of God has been poured out into our hearts through the Holy Spirit that has been given to us." For me, the gift of the Holy Spirit has enlivened my life, has energized my faith, has brought me to where I am today and takes me on this journey of life to meet Our Lord and dance with Him for eternity in Heaven. I have hope in the resurrection and love in my heart that is filled to overflowing by the Holy Spirit. The really great thing is, it isn't just me, all of we Baptised have receive a full measure of the Holy Spirit.
I journey each day using the gifts of the Holy Spirit to grow closer to God and to bring the message of Christ to the world because of my Baptism. My Baptism was where it all began even though I was too young to know fully the gift. I am known for scheduling my posts ahead, and although I wrote this last Thursday, today, when this appears I will be on a sentimental journey taking my 90 year old mother up to a family reunion and then on to the little town where I was born and to see the church where I was Baptised. I haven't been at that church since I was 4 years old, over 50 years ago. What a tremendous gift I received there at that church--Salvation, the Holy Spirit, the light not to dwell in darkness. That day, in that church I received hope that does not disappoint because the love of God was poured into my heart through the Holy Spirit.....
Come, Holy Spirit, enter our hearts and enkindle in them the fire of your love.
Hi Mary,
ReplyDeleteWelcome to the Community.
And thank you for this lovely post.
God bless.
Hi Mary,
ReplyDeleteI,too, would like to welcome you to the Community.
I love the scripture passage from Romans 5:5, it is joyfully inspiring!
Thank you for this wonderful post!
God bless
Hi Mary,
ReplyDeleteWelcome aboard :) I love this scripture, too. It helps me remember that God is always with us and that His love will never fail us, no matter what.
Great post! I hope you enjoy your family reunion and your trip down memory lane!
Welcome Mary. The Scripture passage you quoted is one that I always find very hope-filled or as the title of your blog describes-Hope Echoes. I look forward to reading more from you here and I will check out your blog as well.
ReplyDeleteThanks and God bless!
I went to the Church of the Immaculate Conception in Fulton, IL today. I met the priest and he was gracious enough to let us in to see the church.
ReplyDeleteThanks for letting me into the room.
Mary, very much enjoyed your post. Happy to know another one that has been loved and is helped, and knows it, by the Holy Spirit!
ReplyDeleteHi Mary, what a lovely post about your devotion to the Holy Spirit. How was your family reunion? You and your mother must have enjoyed visiting with family and the church where you were baptized. God Bless!
ReplyDeleteWelcome, Mary. I enjoyed your post. Thank God for baptism. So many people today have not been baptized. They are truly without hope, that great gift that has been given to us.
ReplyDeleteI'm looking forward to reading more of your posts.