All posts by Vicki Scheenstra

Vicki Scheenstra is a former Catholic Bookstore owner and has been active in Catholic Education.

Faith, Featured, Poetry, Prayer, Thanksgiving

With Grateful Hearts

Quote November 20, 2024 Vicki Scheenstra Leave a comment

With Grateful Hearts

With grateful hearts

we contemplate

the beauty of the world.

The sunsets, mountains and beaches,

its flowers and its wildlife.

The mysteries of creation are too great to understand.

With Grateful hearts we thank you Lord for each and every day.

With grateful hearts we thank you Lord

for our family and our friends.

They bring us both joy and companionship.

For all who are near and dear to us, whether near or far,

With grateful hearts,

We thank you Lord for the priceless gift of Love.

With grateful hearts we thank you Lord

for the journey we call life.

The twists and turns, the ups and downs

both victories and defeat.

With grateful hearts we thank you Lord

for walking at our side,

always present, always loving,

showing us the way.

With grateful hearts we thank you Lord

for your mercy and your love.

Always kind and forgiving

planting seeds of love and wisdom

Helping us to grow.

With Grateful Hearts, We Thank you Lord.

Faith, Prayer, Quote, Spirituality

Messages of Hope from the Saints

Quote March 17, 2024 Vicki Scheenstra Leave a comment

Messages of Hope from the Saints

The following quotes are messages from the saints to encourage during times of trouble.

Hope is the lifeline that connects us to God’s mercy and grace.

St. Faustina

There is no love without hope, no hope without love, and neither hope nor love without faith.

St. Augustine

Hope has two beautiful daughters. Their names are Anger and Courage. Anger at the way things are, and courage to see that they do.

St. Augustine

He who loves the coming of the Lord is not he who affirms it is far off nor is it he who says it is near, but rather he who, who whether it be far off or near, awaits with sincere faith, steadfast hope and fervent love.

St. Augustine

For in our Hope we are saved.

St. Augustine

Hope is the dream of a waking man.

St. Augustine

St. Bernard of Clairvaux
Public Domain Image

Hope is the gift that God bestows on those who seek Him with a sincere heart.

St. Bernard of Clairvaux

Pray, hope and don’t worry! Worry is useless. God is merciful and will hear your prayer.

St. Padre Pio

I feel a great desire to abandon myself with greater trust to the Divine Mercy and to place my hope in God alone.

St. Padre Pio

St. Francis of Assisi
Public Domain Image

Lord, make me an instrument of your peace. Where there is hatred let me sow love. where there is injury, pardon. where there is doubt, faith, where there is despair, hope, where there is darkness, light. and where there is sadness, joy.

St. Francis of Assisi

Hope is the key that unlocks the door of possibilities.

St. Francis of Assisi

St. Elizabeth Ann Seton

Faith lifts the soul. Hope supports it. Experience says it must and Love says, “Let it be?”

St. Elizabeth Ann Seton

St. Ignatius Loyola
Public Domain Image

Hope is the sign of a soul that trusts in God’s promises.

St. Ignatius of Loyola

The cross of Christ is the true ground and chief cause of Christian hope.

St. Leo the Great

Hope is the beacon that shines in the darkness reminding us of God’s love.

St. Bonaventure

St. Thomas Aquinas
Public Domain Image

Grant me, O Lord my God, a mind to know you, a heart to seek you, conduct pleasing to you, faithful perseverance in waiting for you, and a hope of finally embracing you.

St. Thomas Aquinas

Hope is the anchor of the soul.

St. Thomas Aquinas

St. Maria Goretti
Public Domain Image

He loves, he hopes, he waits. Our Lord prefers to wait for the sinner for years rather than keep us waiting for an instant.

St. Maria Goretti

Live in faith and hope, though it be in darkness, for in this darkness God protects the soul. Cast your care upon God for you are His and He will not forget you. Do not think that He is leaving you alone, for that would be to wrong Him.

St. John of the Cross

St. Therese of Lisieux
Public Domain Image

God would never inspire me with dreams which cannot be realized! So in spite of my littleness, I can Hope to be a saint.

St. Therese of Lisieux

Hope is the virtue that sustains us in times of trial.

St. Teresa of Avila

St. Jane Frances de Chantal
Public Domain Image

Hope is the seed that grows into a flourishing garden of faith and love.

St. Jane Frances de Chantel

St. Jerome and the Angel
by Simon Vouet
Public Domain Image

Hope is the courage to trust in God’s plan, even when it seems uncertain.

St. Jerome

St. John Paul II
Public Domain Image

Although I have lived through much darkness, I have seen enough evidence to be unshakably convinced that no difficulty, no fear is so great that it can completely suffocate the hope that springs eternal in the hearts of the young…Do not let that hope die! Stake your lives on it! We are not the sum of our weaknesses and failures, we are the sum of the Father’s love for us and our real capacity to become the image of His Son.

St. John Paul II

The cross means there is no shipwreck without hope. There is no dark without dawn, no storm without haven.

St. John Paul II

Apart from the mercy of God, there is no other source of hope for mankind.

St. John Paul II

To humanity, which sometimes seems to be lost and dominated by the power of evil, selfishness and fear, the risen Lord gives the gift of His love which forgives, reconciles and reopens the soul to hope.

St. John Paul II

Believers know that the presence of evil is always accompanied by the presence of good… by grace…Where evil grows, there the hope for good also grows…In the love that pours forth from the heart of Christ, we find hope for the future of the world. Christ has redeemed the world. By His wounds we are healed. Isaiah 53:5

St. John Paul II

I plead with you…never ever give up on hope, never doubt, never tire, and never become discouraged. Be not afraid.

St. John Paul II

Poetry, Prayer, Psalm

Praying with Psalm 23 Trust in God

January 18, 2024 Vicki Scheenstra Leave a comment

The Lord is my Shepherd, I shall not want.

Lost and confused? Seek God…TRUST God

Fear no evil……God Protects

God serves…You set the table before me.

My cup overflows.

Goodness and mercy shall follow me

all the days of my life.

I am not alone…God is with me.

Psalm 23

The Lord is my shepherd; I shall not want.
²    He makes me lie down in green pastures.
he leads me beside still waters;^[a]
³    he restores my soul.^[b]
He leads me in right paths^[c]
    for his name’s sake.

⁴Even though I walk through the darkest valley,^[d]
    I fear no evil,
for you are with me;
    your rod and your staff,
    they comfort me.

⁵You prepare a table before me
in the presence of my enemies;
you anoint my head with oil;
my cup overflows.
⁶Surely^[e] goodness and mercy^[f] shall follow me
all the days of my life,

Music recommended:

Shepherd me o God

Marty Haugen

Faith, Poetry, Prayer

New Year Blessing

December 30, 2023 Vicki Scheenstra Leave a comment

May peace fall like snowflakes on our wounded world.

May the New Year bring rest and healing for all those who suffer.

Wash me… make me whiter than snow.

May joy and happiness once again fill our hearts.

May the lost be found and serenity reign.

May we all say goodbye to the pain of the past.

The New Year is here…finally…at last!

The road is long and sometimes filled with pain.

May we learn from mistakes and begin again.

Out with the old and in with the new!

May our journey be upward …may all be renewed!

Blessings to all…may our faith only grow.

May the Peace of Our Lord be with us this year!

Poetry, Prayer, Spirituality

Understanding Suffering

April 4, 2023 Vicki Scheenstra Leave a comment

No Pain…No gain!

Character building

Test of Courage

Weak or Strong

Motives Revealed

Honor and Dignity

Integrity

Honesty

Humility

Persecution

Sacrificial

Protective

Forgiving

Birth

Transformation

Death

Rebirth

True Love

Faith, Poetry, Prayer, Spirituality

Help Me to Forgive

March 12, 2023 Vicki Scheenstra Leave a comment

God of Love, God of Mercy,

Help me to forgive.

I have been wronged; I have been hurt.

I feel angry and bitter.

Help me to forgive.

God of Love, God of Mercy

Help me to forgive.

Not only are you the God of Love and the God of Mercy;

You are also the God of Truth and the God of Justice.

Help me to forgive.

God of Truth, God of Justice

I put this matter into Your hands.

Only YOU can see into people’s hearts.

Only YOU know the entire Truth.

Help me to forgive.

God of Love, God of Mercy

lift my anger, lift my bitterness.

Replace it with compassion.

Replace it with trust in YOU.

Help me to forgive.

God of Truth, God of Justice

lead all souls to repentance.

Help me to forgive.

as I ask to be forgiven by You

for all I have done wrong.

Grant all who seek YOU with a sincere heart…

Forgiveness, Peace, Love, Mercy and Trust in YOU.

AMEN

The Mystery of Faith

All posts by Vicki Scheenstra

With Grateful Hearts

With Grateful Hearts

Messages of Hope from the Saints

Messages of Hope from the Saints

Hope is the lifeline that connects us to God’s mercy and grace.

There is no love without hope, no hope without love, and neither hope nor love without faith.

Hope has two beautiful daughters. Their names are Anger and Courage. Anger at the way things are, and courage to see that they do.

He who loves the coming of the Lord is not he who affirms it is far off nor is it he who says it is near, but rather he who, who whether it be far off or near, awaits with sincere faith, steadfast hope and fervent love.

For in our Hope we are saved.

Hope is the dream of a waking man.

Hope is the gift that God bestows on those who seek Him with a sincere heart.

Pray, hope and don’t worry! Worry is useless. God is merciful and will hear your prayer.

I feel a great desire to abandon myself with greater trust to the Divine Mercy and to place my hope in God alone.

Lord, make me an instrument of your peace. Where there is hatred let me sow love. where there is injury, pardon. where there is doubt, faith, where there is despair, hope, where there is darkness, light. and where there is sadness, joy.

Hope is the key that unlocks the door of possibilities.

Faith lifts the soul. Hope supports it. Experience says it must and Love says, “Let it be?”

Hope is the sign of a soul that trusts in God’s promises.

Hope is the beacon that shines in the darkness reminding us of God’s love.

Grant me, O Lord my God, a mind to know you, a heart to seek you, conduct pleasing to you, faithful perseverance in waiting for you, and a hope of finally embracing you.

Hope is the anchor of the soul.

He loves, he hopes, he waits. Our Lord prefers to wait for the sinner for years rather than keep us waiting for an instant.

Live in faith and hope, though it be in darkness, for in this darkness God protects the soul. Cast your care upon God for you are His and He will not forget you. Do not think that He is leaving you alone, for that would be to wrong Him.

God would never inspire me with dreams which cannot be realized! So in spite of my littleness, I can Hope to be a saint.

Hope is the virtue that sustains us in times of trial.

Hope is the seed that grows into a flourishing garden of faith and love.

Hope is the courage to trust in God’s plan, even when it seems uncertain.

The cross means there is no shipwreck without hope. There is no dark without dawn, no storm without haven.

Apart from the mercy of God, there is no other source of hope for mankind.

To humanity, which sometimes seems to be lost and dominated by the power of evil, selfishness and fear, the risen Lord gives the gift of His love which forgives, reconciles and reopens the soul to hope.

I plead with you…never ever give up on hope, never doubt, never tire, and never become discouraged. Be not afraid.

Praying with Psalm 23 Trust in God

Psalm 23

New Year Blessing

Understanding Suffering

Help Me to Forgive

Discovering the Spirituality of Catholicism