There is one thing many eventually realize and desire , even if this is not realized for many years is  that  to be so focused and actually be so close to God that we can truly feel His presence.
This is evident in the Bible (Psalms 16:11 NKJV) You will show me the path of life; In Your presence is fullness of joy; At Your right hand are pleasures forevermore. Therefore once we experience  God's presence we can experience an  awesome pleasure beyond what  a person is capable of experiencing.in any other relationship or experience. Saints have discussed experiences of joy that filled them with rapture to overflowing.  The Bible indicates that nothing on Earth can compare to the joy and pleasure of being in God's presence and especially once you get a taste God nothing else can ever satisfy you to this extent . (Psalms 34:8 NLT) Taste and see that the LORD is good. Oh, the joys of those who trust in him!

Then we can  define that actually heaven is to be with or in the presence of  God and conversely the definition of hell can then  be the state of being separated from God and especially when a person acts in ways that are contrary to the 10 commandments and against the love of neighbour. (Proverbs 8:13 NKJV) The fear of the LORD is to hate evil; Pride and arrogance and the evil way And the perverse mouth I hate.

(Proverbs 14:27 NLT) Fear of the LORD is a life-giving fountain; it offers escape from the snares of death. The fear of the Lord then leads us always to then abhor evil and sin because these acts separate us from God and then are prayers are left unheard. (Isaiah 59:1-2 NIV) Surely the arm of the LORD is not too short to save, nor his ear too dull to hear. {2} But your iniquities have separated you from your God; your sins have hidden his face from you, so that he will not hear.

Christianity and the Saints create ongoing examples of themes of sacrifice and love of God and neighbour . Many movies portray these actions and virtues . Many movies can also be viewed on Utube
but discussion with others is missing when we view movies alone. So feel free to contact me for movies, prayer groups and bible studies . call Natalie 647-210-2150 prayinginthefire@gmail.com

Do you see the 10 commandments or other Church teachings in these writings of this Saint.

St Bernard of Clairvaux in his writings of on Loving God states;

But if you are reduced to want by such benevolence, what then? What indeed, except to pray with all confidence unto him who gives to all men liberally and upbraids not (James 1:5), who opens His hand and fills all things living with plenteousness (Psalm 145:16). For doubtless he who gives to most men more than they need will not fail you as to the necessaries of life, even as he has promised: "Seek the Kingdom of God, and all those things shall be added unto you" (Luke 12:31).

God freely promises all things needful to those who deny themselves for love of their neighbors; and to bear the yoke of modesty and sobriety, rather than to let sin reign in our mortal body (Romans 6:12), that is indeed to seek the Kingdom of God and to implore His aid against the tyranny of sin.

It is surely justice to share our natural gifts with those who share our nature.

But if we are to love our neighbors as we ought, we must have regard to God also: for it is only in God that we can pay that debt of love aright. Now a man cannot love his neighbor in God, except he love God himself; wherefore we must love God first, in order to love our neighbors in him.

This too, like all good things, is the Lord's doing, that we should love him, for he has endowed us with the possibility of love. He who created nature sustains it; nature is so constituted that its Maker is its protector forever. Rescued by God's hand, it should glorify him, as it is written, "Call upon Me in the time of trouble; so will I hear thee, and you shall praise Me" (Psalm 50:15).

In such wise man, animal and carnal by nature, and loving only himself, begins to love God by reason of that very self-love; since he learns that in God he can accomplish all things that are good, and that without God he can do nothing.

 In our search for Truth many of our movies carry themes that the lives of Christians envelope and demonstrate.

It is interesting to expand these themes in the writings of the Saints , for example here is an exert from the writings of St Bernard of Clairvaux in his On Loving God writings.
 ( email me for more info prayinginthefire @gmail.com or call 647-201-2150 )
Here St Bernard discusses the the issue of truth in how to love God above all things.

Even as the Preacher says, and the fool discovers, "He who loves silver shall not be satisfied with silver" (Ecclesiastes 5:10). But Christ says, "Blessed are they who hunger and thirst after righteousness, for they shall be filled" (Matthew 5:6).

Righteousness is the natural and essential food of the soul, which can no more be satisfied by earthly treasures than the hunger of the body can be satisfied by air. If you should see a starving man standing with mouth open to the wind, inhaling draughts of air as if in hope of gratifying his hunger, you would think him lunatic. But it is no less foolish to imagine that the soul can be satisfied with worldly things which only inflate it without feeding it. What have spiritual gifts to do with carnal appetites, or carnal with spiritual? Praise the Lord, O my soul: who satisfies your mouth with good things (Psalm 103:1ff). He bestows bounty immeasurable; he provokes thee to good, he preserves you in goodness; he comes before, he sustains, he fills thee. He moves you to longing, and it is he for whom you long.

I have said already that the motive for loving God is God himself. And I spoke truly, for he is as well the efficient cause as the final object of our love. He gives the occasion for love, he creates the affection, he brings the desire to good effect. He is such that love to him is a natural due; and so hope in him is natural, since our present love would be vain did we not hope to love him perfectly some day. Our love is prepared and rewarded by His. He loves us first, out of His great tenderness; then we are bound to repay him with love; and we are permitted to cherish exultant hopes in him. "He is rich unto all that call upon him" (Romans 10:12), yet he has no gift for them better than himself. He gives himself as prize and reward: he is the refreshment of holy soul, the ransom of those in captivity.

"The Lord is good unto them that wait for him" (Lamentations 3:25).

What will he be then to those who gain His presence? But here is a paradox, that no one can seek the Lord who has not already found him. It is Thy will, O God, to be found that thou mayest be sought, to be sought that thou mayest the more truly be found. But though thou canst be sought and found, thou canst not be forestalled. For if we say, "Early shall my prayer come before thee" (Psalm 88:13), yet doubtless all prayer would be lukewarm unless it was animated by thine inspiration.

WE are planning to return to movies in September . Also many are expressing an interest in Bible study . Let me know if you would like to attend also a prayer group that is forming ... Call Natalie at  647-201-2150

Prayer of Saint Teresa of Avila

Let nothing disturb you, Let nothing frighten you, All things are passing away: God never changes. Patience obtains all things Whoever has God lacks nothing; God alone suffices. -- St. Teresa of Avila

Hello everyone

We have really enjoyed the movie the Way and it really grasps many complexities of everyday life . One area demonstrated in this movie is humility the need to understand better how we fit in with the design of life . Check this futher and meditate on this issue of  humility or meekness as many scholars have grappled with how this relates to Christian living.....

James 1:21-25 - Meekness toward God's word requires doing  away filth and wickedness. Instead be doers of the word, not just hearers.

James 4:6-10 - God resists the proud, but gives grace to the humble. Humble yourselves in the sight of God and He will exalt you. Therefore be subject to God, draw nigh to Him, cleanse your hands, purify your hearts, be afflicted, mourn, and weep.  The true effect of humility in our lives, just as in Jesus' life (cf. 1 Peter 1:22).

When we are truly humble, and hold ourselves in low esteem compared to God's exalted greatness, we then submit to His will. This is why Scripture so often associates repentance with the act of humbling oneself. [1 Kings 21:27ff; 2 Chronicles 7:13f; Isaiah 57:15; 1 Peter 5:5-9; Proverbs 15:31-33]

Matthew 16:24 -  Here the  definition of "meekness," is to be meek is to deny oneself.

The self-centered  personality can  say "I want this, I want that...." True meekness says, "What does God want?What is  according to God's way? God's ways are then seen as  better than our way and  that we will then submit to God.

Therefore the humble and  the meek person carefully considers God's will first, then his own will last. It is very easy to sub-consciously desire to please ourselves, so we conclude an act doesn't matter to God, when really itdoes matter to Him. When every  act, word, thought is questioned as to what effect it will have on our service to God then we will act only to please God.

send any comments to prayinginthefire@gmail.com 

There are many Christian movies that are available to be seen even some with Hollywood stars. Emilio Estevez's film "The Way," about a  ophthalmologist from California whose life is turned upside down when his free-spirited son Daniel passes away  while on pilgrimage in Spain.

Looking to finish what Daniel, played by real-life son Estevez, started, Tom (Martin Sheen) drops his work and embarks on the El Camino de Santiago or The Way of St. James, with the goal of spreading his only son's ashes all across the route.

However, his quiet journey of mourning and self-reflection, threw him out of his box and opened him up to a whole new world of relationships which he never could have imagined.

Tom slowly begins to discover the beauty and the value in community, despite its prying presence, finding the road less traveled, less and less appealing.

So stay tuned for our next movie ......

Come Out to the Movies!

Christian Movies with Friendship,    Discussions & Refreshments.

St. Monica's Catholic Church

44 Broadway Avenue (Yonge/Eglinton subway)

Dates: Last Friday of the Month: May31, June 27,2014

Doors open 6:00, movie starts 6:30pm

call Natalie 647-201-2150 ( by donation)  

May Movie-  Safe Harbour 

God calls persons to all kinds of careers, but many Christians struggle to know what God is calling them to do.

This  movie is based on the remarkable true story of couple Doug and Robbie Smith, who founded the Safe Harbor Home for Boys in Jacksonville, Florida.

On the eve of their retirement cruise to luxury, self-made millionaire Doug Smith and wife Robbie get a call from Doug's past asking him to "pay it forward" by helping out troubled teens for a brief stay on their boat. A local judge, who took mercy on a young Doug when he was in trouble with police, asks the couple to put off their trip to help spare three teens from serving prison time with veteran criminals.

Through hard work, discipline, and the calm and confidence gained by challenging life at sea under Doug and Robbie's guidance, the boys turn their lives around. In return, the couple finds a renewed sense of purpose and calling for their twilight years.

Starring Treat Williams, Nancy Davis, and Orson Bean.

Come Out to the Movies!

Catholic  Movies with Friendship,

Discussions & Refreshments.

St. Monica's Catholic Church

44 Broadway Avenue (Yonge/Eglinton subway)

Dates: Last Friday of the Month:

March28,April26,May31,June27, 2014

Doors open 6:00, movie starts 6:30pm

call Natalie 647-201-2150 

March 28 Movie  Joseph Of Nazareth 

The people of Jerusalem are suffering under the reign of HEROD, and are hoping to be delivered from the Roman occupiers by the Messiah # whose arrival, it is rumored, is to take place very soon. Unlike his nephew JUDAS, who wants to join the zealots (freedom fighters), the 35-year-old widower JOSEPH is not interested in participating in any fighting against the Romans. He is well aware that such an uprising would be pointless, and Judas's death shortly afterwards confirms this. The other men in the village have to hide, and Joseph gets a visit from JOACHIM and ANNA, asking him to marry their unprotected 14-year-old daughter MARY. Joseph agrees, but promises to preserve her chastity. Nevertheless, one day Mary tells him, in Anna's presence, that she is pregnant. Believing in this immaculate conception is very difficult for Joseph, as is the message that her son JESUS will end the reign of Herod, which is announced to him in a vision. 

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Call 647-201-2150/  35 years experience /registered clinical therapist /McGill University social work graduate/former treatment supervisor