I Am Loved Retreat: The Talks

I know it has been a terribly long time since I promised to post this but, I promise to work on this this week as we are on spring break.  Hope everyone is having a blessed Holy Week.

 

Have any of you ever wished that you were a princess? (show hands)  Have you ever wanted to live in a big castle? (Show hands)  Well, I have good new, you already are.  You are the best kind of princess, because your Father is the King, of Kings.  As God’s princess, you are worth more than any jewel.  You are the most beautiful creature, not because of how you look on the outside, but because the Holy Spirit is living in your soul. A soul in the state of grace is the most beautiful thing in the world.  You are beautiful and loved.

Does anyone have a special talent or gift? All of our gifts come from God.  Our gifts alone aren’t what make us special.  Everyone's gifts are just as precious.  God made us all unique.  We are special because God made us and loves us more than we could ever understand.  

God has special plans for all of us.  Do you know that he already planned out all your days?  He knew before you were born that you would be here today.  He knew the exact minute you would be born and he knows when He will bring you home.  Along the way, we sometimes make mistakes, but God is ready to forgive us.  

We’ve probably all heard this verse from the Bible, “ For I know the plans I have for you," declares the LORD, "plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future.” (Jeremiah 29:11)  Sometimes people take that to mean that God has a plan to give us everything we want, make us very happy, and nothing bad will ever happen to us.  However, I found this version in the Douay-Rheims, “For I know the thoughts that I think towards you, saith the Lord, thoughts of peace, and not of affliction, to give you an end and patience.”  

God is thinking about you, always.  Isn’t it amazing that He is thinking of all of us at once and no one is forgotten, that is a great mystery, but doesn’t it make you feel good to know the LORD is always thinking about you?  God definitely has a plan for every one of you.  Every person is created to play a completely unique part in His Plan for the world.  If you are following the path of God, you will have peace and joy, even when life is tough, because you will be walking in His grace. And that end that He promises, is eternity in His Kingdom, His princess will be welcomed into her castle.

One of my favorite quotes is from St Catherine of Sienna, “Be who you were meant to be and you will set the world on fire.”  Being who you are, who God created you to be, just as He created you, will set the world on fire!  You may not be world famous or make it into the history books--but you might.  When you hear the name Mother Teresa what do think?  She did become famous because of her humble work doing what God designed her to do.  However, greater than that, she became a saint.  Like the song we just heard said, “I am famous in my Father’s Eyes.”  

You are all famous!  It reminds me of a book my mom bought for my siblings and me called, “You are all my favorites.”  Each of us is God’s favorite, God’s special child.  Today we are going to talk about what makes us special, how to take care of the gifts that God gave us, and how to follow the path that He has planned for us.  We are all the most magnificent type of princess, because we already belong to the greatest Kingdom that ever was and ever will be.  When life gets tough, just say to yourself, “I am God’s Princess, and I am LOVED!”