A Strengthened Faith

 

Welcome to Spiritual Journey Thursday, a small group hoping to strengthen our faith with each other. Margaret is rounding up posts if you would like to join or read along.

I have been a Catholic all my life, a practicing one for most of my life. We fell away for a short time but have been back now for many years.

As a child, we didn't memorize scripture, and if I am being honest, I really didn't know much about Bible. I listened to our three readings at Mass and sang the responsorial Psalms. But I didn't know them, and I could not recite verses.

Over the past several years, reading the Bible has become a part of my spiritual life. Even if it ebbs and flows. I can now recite verses that hold special meaning to me, and some that "people say I should know."

This year, one of my goals is to read the entire Bible in chronological order. I am following a plan, like many others. I know that many people have started this on January 1 and have failed within a few days.

I think failure is part of any goal. But through this failure, I hope to find strength. I hope to build such a strong habit, that missing a day will only make me want to return.

The word strengthen is found in many verses in the Bible. This one in Isaiah 41:10 is one I am holding on to.

"Fear not, for I am with you; 
be not dismayed, for I am your God; 
 I will strengthen you, I will help you, 
I will uphold you with my righteous right hand.

By reading His word, I am finding a different kind of strength. A strength from something much bigger than myself. And I am looking forward to seeing how this strength plays out in other parts of my life throughout the year.

Hard Habit to Break

 

Thank you to Two Writing Teachers for creating 
a space for me and other teacher-writers to share our stories.

Being an English teacher, I know how to make words plural. I know the spelling changes and the rules. But my son has pointed out one word that I say incorrectly. 

Maybe you do this as well. 

Aldi is a grocery store that is found in 30 states across the country. One recently opened here in my small hometown. 

Me texting my son:  I'm going to Aldis, do you need anything?

Son's reply:  Oh, is there more than one now?

Yep, I make Aldi plural and call it Aldis. I do the same thing with JC Penney. I never call it "JC Penney." It's just "Penneys."

I try to be intentional now and try to say correctly, but some habits are just hard to break.