— 1 —   This Week’s Post:  I was honored to do this guest post for Esther’s blog, For Such A Time As This. My guest post is just one in Esther’s excellent series called, “What does it mean to you to be a woman of God in the 21^st Century?”  Go check her out and be inspired!  Thank you, Esther!

— 2 —   Next Week:  I will share my book review of These Beautiful Bones by Emily Stimpson.  The subtitle of her book is “An Everyday Theology of The Body.”  Emily shows us how to apply the T.O.B everyday, everywhere and in everything we do.  She shows us that T.O.B was never intended to be ‘just’ about sex.  Do I have your attention now?  😉 Oh, I am also working on my “Real Men Don’t Text” book review.   

 —3 —  Not Alone Series:  This week’s topic was “Guess Who’s Engaged?!”. You know what I love about this series?  I love how these girls support and edify one another!  Each girl shared the struggle that ensues, as well as, the excitement they feel when a friend/acquaintance gets engaged.  In some ways engagement news, to me, brings hope because at least we can say that marriages are still happening!  But, the struggle to know when it will be your turn is a reality.  I loved that Natalie identified in her follow-up post a common ’cause’ of the struggle which she calls the ‘blue f’:

“Ahh the joys and the sorrows involved with the blue f.  Nearly everyone talked about getting depressed/sad/angry about engagements they saw on Facebook.”

Oh, that darn Facebook! My only input to this topic is this:  What you are experiencing is hard.  I wrote about it here. God has not forgotten you and your plight has not passed out of His notice.

— 4 —  Spotlight On:  This week’s spotlight is on the Modesty Rediscovered blog.  I love, love, love the fashion and style they share.  Let’s support and follow these awesome girls on Facebook and Twitter!  Here is a little bit about them:

“This blog aims at helping young women dress stylishly while still being able to uphold their dignity. It also seeks to rekindle the important virtue of modesty.

Far from curtailing women’s freedom, modesty safeguards it by enabling them to choose the greater good. It also shifts their focus from physical beauty to spiritual beauty that inspires others towards good.”

— 5 —    The Occult:  I have had a number of emails from readers who are tempted to participate in the occult.  Things such as tarot cards and palm readers tempt them into thinking they can obtain peace by ‘knowing’ their future.  If you have done this in the past, please go to confession.  If, thank God, you have never sought false peace via the occult, then please never open up your precious and eternal soul to these demons.  If you think I am over-reacting, read Take # 6 and #7.

— 6 —   Dan Lord:  Gregg and I watched The Choices We Face with guest, Dan Lord.  Dan is married to Hallie Lord and he has quite a conversion story.  He also has a book which we ordered called Choosing Joy.  The thing that captured my attention about his journey was how he noticed that after years of having access to the fount of grace in the Sacraments, he still felt as if he was not growing in virtue.  He writes:

“it was as if my spiritual growth had reached a rock ceiling, that no matter what I did I could not seem to grow any more in virtue or in my relationship with Christ…. I was now forced to admit that there remained an ugly, nebulous blockade inside me, past which I simply could not go. I had no joy…”

Wow! You can see the show for yourself here:

— 7 —   Dan Lord’s Exorcism:  Yes, you read that right.  His 3-part story is here, here and here. The book of James Chapter 5 says:

“But above all, my brethren, do not swear, either by heaven or by earth or with any other oath; but your yes is to be yes, and your no, no, so that you may not fall under judgment.”

Dan’s testimony reminded me that our words and actions have meaning!  Just because we do not believe in evil does not mean it cannot take hold of our souls.  We can open ourselves up, unknowingly, to the occult. And, this stronghold or blockade has no expiration date.  It can stay in place for years. Be careful.  And, if you have done this, please go to confession! Only Christ can set you free.

God love and bless you!

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For more Quick Takes, visit Conversion Diary!