#blessed

RISE & PRAY

REFLECTIONS FOR AN AUTHENTIC CATHOLIC LIFE

Sarah Beth Dippel

Dec 21, 2020
3 min

FOUR DAYS UNTIL CHRISTMAS!

MONDAY OF THE FOURTH WEEK OF ADVENT Since Thanksgiving, I've been praying with a quote that I found meaningful. No, not just meaningful, transformative. It wasn't something I read in an Advent reflection or something uttered by a great saint. No. It came from the holiday movie, "Love The Coopers." Now I won't encourage you to watch the film with your young children, but there is something about this movie that struck me in various ways—notably, this line from Officer Williams

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Sarah Beth Dippel

Nov 19, 2020
2 min

DO NOT FEAR. HE BRINGS PEACE & JOY.

THURSDAY OF THE THIRTY-THIRD WEEK IN ORDINARY TIME Reading today's Gospel, Luke 19:41-44, I cringe at Jesus weeping. You see, when Jesus approaches Jerusalem, His chosen people do not recognize Him. He knocks at the door of their hearts, asking to be let in, but they are too busy, too consumed with their own lives to open their hearts to Christ and His peace. As we come to the end of our liturgical year and approach the season of Advent, I reflect on my own heart. Am I conten

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Sarah Beth Dippel

Oct 20, 2020
2 min

THE LORD CALLS US TO COMMUNITY

TUESDAY OF THE TWENTY-NINTH WEEK IN ORDINARY TIME Reading today's Gospel from St. Luke, this line strikes me: "ready to open immediately when he comes and knocks." (Luke 12:36) Cris and I have just returned from a two-week visit to Michigan to visit his family. As a complete introvert, being with people continually is challenging for me. Ready to open immediately? When we are speaking of interior prayer life, I'm all in. An hour in the Adoration chapel, easy peasy! But I'm no

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Sarah Beth Dippel

Oct 1, 2020
2 min

PUP-LIKE TRUST IN THE LORD

MEMORIAL OF ST. THERESE OF THE CHILD JESUS Last night before I climbed into my bed, I laid down with my dog, Addie, on her bed for some goodnight snuggles. As I lay there with my sweet pup, I realized a few things. Cris and I have been getting ready for a road trip to visit his family. As always, I'm anxious about many things, not the least of which is leaving Addie with a sitter. She doesn't know I'm leaving her; she seems to think life is perfectly fine. She gets up with me

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Sarah Beth Dippel

Sep 21, 2020
2 min

HOW DO WE DEAL WITH CONFLICT?

THE FEAST OF ST. MATTHEW During this morning's Daily Mass, Father posed this question while preaching the homily: "How do we deal with conflict?" He continued with the question, "How do we deal with Roe v. Wade?" The second question was easy for me. I work in a pregnancy resource center. I have been on eight trips to Washington, DC, for the March for Life with hundreds of young people, and I've taught Theology of the Body to hundreds of teens. I believe Roe v. Wade is about a

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Sarah Beth Dippel

Sep 16, 2020
2 min

WHEN IT ALL SEEMS TO MUCH, LOVE WINS

MEMORIAL OF SAINTS CORNELIUS, POPE, AND CYPRIAN, BISHOP, MARTYRS It bears all things, believes all things, hopes all things, endures all things. Love never fails. (1 Cor 13:7-8) Today's first reading from 1 Corinthians is one that strikes the heart. St. Paul's words are so poetic and truthful. Love is patient and kind; it is not rude; it does not seek its own interests; it rejoices in truth! We are in the midst of the worst year for our country that my generation has ever see

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Sarah Beth Dippel

Sep 1, 2020
2 min

MONEY LOST, BUT GOSPEL SHARED = WIN

TUESDAY OF THE TWENTY-SECOND WEEK IN ORDINARY TIME Three weeks ago, the University of Wyoming pulled back it's opening, and my step-son, Jake, was among the many kids that stopped packing for college and made plans to start college from his bedroom. Since the day we got the news, I've been exchanging emails with our Airbnb host. Now, in fairness to her, her cancellation policy is pretty much if you don't come, you don't get money back. But me being me, I approached the situat

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Sarah Beth Dippel

Aug 29, 2020
2 min

SOUTHWEST LOUISIANA WILL BRING US ALL HOPE

I'm thousands of miles away. My house is standing. My family is safe. When I turn on the faucet, water comes out. The power is on. The internet works. The grocery stores are stocked. There isn't even a line at the gas station. Yesterday, UPS delivered my Amazon package with a brand new waffle iron. I am blessed. I am beyond blessed. This life offers us trials, and 2020 has put many things in perspective. Now, I watch as the people of Lake Charles and the surrounding areas beg

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Sarah Beth Dippel

Aug 19, 2020
2 min

LOVE HIM FIRST

WEDNESDAY OF THE TWENTIETH WEEK IN ORDINARY TIME Yesterday's Gospel was the story of the rich young man who is attached to his money and material possessions. The 19th chapter of Matthew ends with the verse, "And everyone who has given up houses or brothers or sisters or father or mother or children or lands for the sake of my name will receive a hundred times more, and will inherit eternal life. But many who are first will be last, and the last will be first." Today's Gospel

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OH, SOMEWHERE IN THIS FAVORED LAND THE SUN IS SHINING BRIGHT

Sarah Beth Dippel

Aug 16, 2020
2 min

OH, SOMEWHERE IN THIS FAVORED LAND THE SUN IS SHINING BRIGHT

TWENTIETH SUNDAY IN ORDINARY TIME My husband is with dad out fishing. A fishing trip I should be on—a fishing trip where I should be competing my Cutt Slam challenge. No, yesterday my back decided it didn't like me moving around and screams out sharp pains when choosing to do anything besides lay flat. This Tuesday, we should be loading up the cars and driving Jake down to Laramie, Wyo, to begin his freshman year of college, but UW changed the move-in dates until September, m

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Sarah Beth Dippel

Aug 11, 2020
2 min

THE POWER & PRESENCE OF ALMIGHTY GOD

TUESDAY OF THE NINETEENTH WEEK IN ORDINARY TIME It is not the will of your heavenly Father that one of these little ones be lost. (Matthew 18:14) We are in the final hours of preparing for our annual summer Gala at Turning Point Pregnancy Resource Center in Jackson, Wyoming. Like everyone, we've had to pivot and turn our beautiful summer evening Gala into a virtual event. A virtual Gala requires lots of social media announcements, email campaigns, and digital advertising to g

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Sarah Beth Dippel

Aug 9, 2020
2 min

THE TINY WHISPER

NINETEENTH SUNDAY IN ORDINARY TIME Today's first reading from 1 Kings is a favorite scripture of mine. Elijah is on the mountain of God, Horeb, where he is waiting for the Lord to pass by. A wind so strong it blows about rocks, an earthquake shakes the land, a fire passes by, and then a tiny whisper. For folks in south Louisiana several times a year, we hold our breath and wait to see where the models predict a hurricane will come ashore. Hurricanes are rated on their wind st

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Sarah Beth Dippel

Aug 5, 2020
2 min

HOPE FOR COURAGE

WEDNESDAY OF THE EIGHTEENTH WEEK IN ORDINARY TIME Cris is away at Fire Camp again, so last night, I watched The Blind Side. The film came out in 2009 and is based on the real-life story of Michael Oher, a homeless black teen. Leigh Anne Tuohy, played by Sandra Bullock and her husband, Sean, played by Tim McGraw, take Michael in from the cold one night. A pivotal scene in the movie that left me sobbing for a good five minutes. The Tuohys eventually become Michael's legal guard

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Sarah Beth Dippel

Aug 3, 2020
2 min

SINK OR BELIEVE IN HIM

MONDAY OF THE EIGHTEENTH WEEK IN ORDINARY TIME Oh, Peter! The same Peter that Jesus entrusts with the keys to the kingdom is the one who has so little faith in our Lord that he begins to sink in today's Gospel. Perhaps there is hope for you and me yet! I know you've heard this scripture before but humor me, read it again: At once, Jesus spoke to them, "Take courage, it is I; do not be afraid." Peter said to him in reply, "Lord, if it is you, command me to come to you on the w

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Sarah Beth Dippel

Jul 29, 2020
2 min

LORD, I KNOW YOU CARE

WEDNESDAY OF THE SEVENTEENTH WEEK IN ORDINARY TIME I live in one of the most beautiful places in the US. A fact not lost on the 40,000+ visitors that are streaming through our town currently. Despite a pandemic raging through most of our country, tourism in our small town has not slowed down; great for businesses' bank accounts not great for their employees who are inevitably being exposed to the virus, causing businesses to repeatedly open and close. Today's Gospel leads me

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Sarah Beth Dippel

Jul 27, 2020
2 min

JUST A LITTLE YEAST

MONDAY OF THE SEVENTEENTH WEEK IN ORDINARY TIME In today's Gospel, Jesus is again speaking in parables. This time it is the parable of the mustard seed and the leaven. Parables are frequent in the Synoptic Gospels. Jesus's parables conceal and reveal the divine mysteries by comparing earthly scenarios to heavenly mysteries. The humble look deeper into the parable's meaning to search out God's revelation while the purpose remains hidden from the proud. Parables in their negati

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Sarah Beth Dippel

Jul 25, 2020
2 min

FOR THE GLORY OF GOD

FEAST OF ST. JAMES, APOSTLE We hold this treasure in earthen vessels, that the surpassing power may be of God and not from us. (2 Cor 4:7) This treasure St. Paul speaks of is God's glory, the message of Jesus Christ that we hold in our hearts. While our existence some days may seem far from glorious, St. Paul tells us that despite our suffering and ultimately our death to self, we have great life within us. We might be persecuted or knocked down in this life, but we are not a

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Sarah Beth Dippel

Jul 22, 2020
2 min

MRS. VELMA

FEAST OF SAINT MARY MAGDALENE Six-years-ago this week, I was on my first Vacherie Mission Trip with St. George youth group. It was a mission trip to serve the people of Vacherie, Louisiana, hosted by Our Lady of Peace. The teens would be assigned to workgroups during the day serving the people of Vacherie by fixing up their homes with the help of skilled volunteers leading them. In the evenings, we'd listen to praise and worship music, motivational speakers, and play games. I

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Sarah Beth Dippel

Jul 21, 2020
2 min

HE DELIGHTS IN US

TUESDAY OF THE SIXTEENTH WEEK IN ORDINARY TIME The readings from the Book of Micah have been so beautiful these last few days. I hope you take the time to read them. Yesterday's first reading contained this favorite verse: Only to do the right and to love goodness, and to walk humbly with your God. (Micah 6:6-8) Act Justly. To do justice refers to our relationship with others. To do the right thing seems simple, but if I've learned anything from this COVID business, doing the

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Sarah Beth Dippel

Jul 16, 2020
2 min

HE INVITES US

THURSDAY OF THE FIFTEENTH WEEK IN ORDINARY TIME Today's Gospel is only three verses. Three simple little lines that mean so much. People quote them all the time. "Come to me, all you who labor and are burdened, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you and learn from me, for I am meek and humble of heart; and you will find rest for yourselves. For my yoke is easy, and my burden light." (Matthew 11:28-30) Jesus's words do not mean what most people desire them to mean. A

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