There Is Only Grace
On those days you’re ashamed of what you’ve done,
If you don’t feel good enough or holy enough,
When you let your friends or your spouse or yourself down,
If you’re afraid you’ll never be what you used to be,
If you doubt God’s goodness or love,
When you fall over and over and over again in the same way,
Or if you’re waiting or looking for a sign and begging God to show up in a hard situation,
I was honored to share this talk and three others – Having Hope in a Faithful God, Trusting in God’s Will, & Bringing Our Wounds to Christ – in an online Lenten Retreat up today.
The retreat includes 19 talks with a printable study guide, reflective questions, and prayers to accompany the presentation, along with transcripts of all the presentations. And, here’s the best part, you can participate at your own pace.
Sign up here if you’re interested in joining the retreat with me this Lent.
As we mark our foreheads with ashes today and prepare our hearts to remember the Lord’s Passion, Death and redeeming Resurrection this Lent, I want to leave you with this:
In God’s eyes, there is only love and nothing you’ve ever done, do, or will do can change that.
Jesus Christ died for you, but please don’t ever forget Jesus Christ rose for you too.
“We rise again from the ashes, from the good we’ve failed to do.
We rise again from the ashes, to create ourselves anew.” 🎵
How can I pray for you as you prepare your hearts for the Lord this season?
Hi Ashley,
While searching for something that would make this Lent more meaningful, I came across the Pray More Novena Retreat, and have listened to and meditated after read ing the transcripts of two of your topic talks.
While the topics, especially the one on Hope in a Faithful God were inspiring while reflecting and meditating, the most inspiring is your faith-filled story and testimony of your auto accident, hope through recovery, and going on to marry on the accident anniversary date, followed by hope in having a family.
I am in my 10th year after an auto accident that left me totally blind. It has been Hope in my Faithful God that put me on a path of being better rather than bitter, and still believing in faith and hope that my faithful God will still restore my vision. In the meantime I am growing in my Catholic Faith through the working of the Holy Spirit, and serving God for His Glory by teaching 4th graders catechism and using my gifts of the Holy Spirit in the Catholic Charsmatic renewal and new evangelization.
So happy to hear from you! As another “10-years-after” accident survivor, I know the pain that comes with accepting what was lost while continuing to pray for a miracle.
Whether or not our miraculous healing unfolds, there is always a reason to hope. I will pray for your continued faith and healing. THANK YOU for your witness even when life doesn’t look like we thought it would.