Valentine's Day is just a few days away. It's a special day to celebrate love and share it with others. Named after the many myths surrounding St. Valentine, the common theme is one of love and devotion. Many now refer to the day as a "Hallmark Holiday" yet why not use it as an excuse to share your appreciation for loved ones? Here are a few quotes, poems and a prayer that you may want to share with someone. Love…
Retreat presenter, Fr. Michael Schleupner, offers today's post and he continues his series on 'Spiritual Wellness'. Let's take a few quiet moments to read his thoughts about the importance of how we care for others and that relationship with our own spiritual wellness. Spiritual Wellness - 6 Look Beyond Yourself Dear Friends, We can say that we are to look beyond ourselves because that is what God has told us to do. We can say that we are to be…
We continue Fr. Michael Schleupner's series on spiritual wellness today with gratitude for his willingness to share with our blog audience! We hope that this reflection reinforces the knowledge that YOU are a child of God and provides inspiration for spiritual wellness today. Spiritual Wellness - 2 See Yourself As Beloved Dear Friends, Last week I began this series on Spiritual Wellness with the importance of staying centered on Christ. That, I believe, must come first - there is no…
Tomorrow, we commemorate Martin Luther King, Jr. and the incredible contributions that he made to racial justice, peace and spirituality. Many of the popular quotes that share his wisdom and passion will be shared across all forms of media tomorrow, but it isn't as common to see or hear his beautiful prayers, so we selected this particularly inspiring one. Will you take a few quiet moments to pray with us? Thou Eternal God, out of whose absolute power and infinite…
Happy New Year! As we embark on this fresh start, we invite you to intentionally summon the blessings and gratitude for the positive moments of the year behind us and set positive intentions for 2023. Let's step into the new year with love and cling to hope for the future... Love - to be the north star in my soul, leading me always in the direction of Divine Light. Stillness - to sweet through my restless mind, instilling calmness and…
In this season of waiting, breathe in life. Life of the One who created all things, whose image we bear. In this season of waiting, breathe in love. Love of the One who gave a precious Son to live as one of us. In this season of waiting breathe in peace. Peace of the One who calmed the sea and quiets the tumult of our souls. In this season of waiting breathe in hope. Hope that the One for whom…
Candles and Christmas lights are beginning to shine all around us now and the 1st candle of Advent has been lit. As the sun sets earlier, it's often a joy to light up the darkness with the glow of candles as we prepare for the birth of Jesus during Advent. This can be more than purposeful light though. There are many analogies that can be drawn from the candle. Let's prayerfully read this cute, but poignant story about our Advent…
Even at the gates of hell, Believe in redemption. Let my grace and power work, Where you have none. It is only for you To believe and to trust. Be confident. Trust. Love. Do not condemn. Believe, In the face of unbelief. Hope against hope. This is faith. This is the gift most needed For those who have suffered So deeply, and lost all. You must manifest love and hope. It is only then That my people will begin to…
We're sharing the beginning of a series written by our friend, Fr. Michael Schleupner. This opening reflection certainly has us conjuring our own unique image of God. Does it inspire you too? Our Image of God - 1 Dear Friends, What is your image of God? What words, phrases, maybe sentences would you use to describe God? How do you see God? What is God like to you? As I am writing this reflection, I am in my personal prayer…
Tee Biddle, Executive Chef here at the Retreat & Conference Center, shared the reflection below during our weekly Planning Meeting on Tuesday. Take a few quiet moments to close our eyes and sit with each sentence after you read it. Envision what this means for you. Let's put our gardening gloves on and work in our gardens! Remember, read this slowly, pausing after each line. Imagine your mind like a garden and your thoughts are the seeds. You get…
