On this 7th day of Christmas, which is also New Year’s Eve, my gift to each of you within the Say Yes to Holiness Community is a list of resources and tools from myself and others to help you gain awareness of changes you may need to make within your own life and/or within your parish community.
Why these particular resources?
Because we are on the cusp of another calendar year, and just like at the beginning of Lent, or even Advent, we have a cultural environment that is open for change to occur. It is a prime opportunity for us to assess and evaluate, and to make resolutions.
But to not make resolutions that will not last.
But rather, by using these tools and resources, we are capable of making resolutions that are grounded in reality and focused upon the vision of who we are created to be–living, breathing, wonder-working saints.
This is both our individual and collective call to holiness. For it is impossible for true and lasting transformational change to occur without a community alongside supporting you.
This is why I mentioned yesterday that it is only by working together that we have any chance to get to heaven. For we need a community of like-minded individuals, bound together in spiritual friendship, to fulfill our baptismal calling and to live as missionary disciples.
And just as important as having a community, is the process and practice of holistic formation.
And what might that be?
It is formation that is focused upon the entire person–human, spiritual, intellectual and apostolic.
My list of gifts today includes resources of my own, as well as from others, but each gift is designed to help you prayerfully assess, reflect and design a plan to make any changes necessary in whatever aspect of your life–human, spiritual, intellectual or apostolic–so as to allow you to be transformed through the power of the Holy Spirit.
So, on this 7th day of Christmas, when the 7 geese a-laying are symbolic of the seven gifts of the Holy Spirit, know that I will be praying for the Holy Spirit to enlighten you and grant you the wisdom you need in order to begin to bring about whatever change God desires for you and your community in the year ahead, all so that you may each become the saints you are created to be, so that together we may all embrace the life He created all of for–lives of purpose, peace and abundance.
Your 7 gifts for you today (and arranged according to the 4 aspects of holistic formation) are:
Human
2. The Temperament God Gave You article by Art & Loraine Bennett
Spiritual
3. My YouTube video entitled, “4 Hacks To Living A Happier Life Immediately”
4. Say Yes to Holiness Spiritual Wellness Assessment
Intellectual
5. Understanding the Spiritual Journey: From the Classical Tradition to St Ignatius of Loyola
6. Breaking In The Habit’s YouTube Video, “A Complete History of Catholic Social Doctrine”
Apostolic
7. M3 Ministries’ Seven Qualities of Fruitful Pastoral Leaders Worksheet
May these gifts empower you to grow closer to God and become more like Jesus not just during this wondrous Christmas season, but into 2021 and beyond!
Merry Christmas and Happy (almost) New Year!
PS–A practical way in which you can move forward in your Human formation is to Sign up for the Unhackable Catholics Book Club that will be happening in the Say Yes to Holiness group in SmartCatholics beginning on Thursday, January 7th (the day after Epiphany!)
Unhackable Catholics Book Club Sign Up in Smart Catholics
The 30 Day Unhackable Catholics Book Club will be discussing the book, Unhackable, by Kary Oberbrunner. The book itself is broken down into 30 days, so each morning, the group will gather briefly to watch a video from the author Kary Oberbrunner and to share with one another insights from the prior day’s challenge (given at the end of each day/chapter in the book).
Throughout the day, Unhackable Catholic Book Club members are encouraged to post and continue the conversation by sharing about what steps they are taking to become Unhackable in work and life.
(And here is a Link to purchase Unhackable book on Amazon so you are ready to participate in the Book Club on January 7th!)
Christina Semmens is a Roman Catholic author, speaker, and coach and host of the Say Yes to Holiness podcast. She currently lives in Fort Payne, Alabama where she strives to live out a life of authentic discipleship in the pursuit of holiness while empowering, teaching and accompanying others in striving to do the same.
If you are enjoying these posts, make sure to get a copy of Christina’s latest book, Say Yes: Discovering Purpose, Peace and Abundance in Daily Life either on the Say Yes to Holiness website, or here on Amazon.
Also, if you want to learn more about how to embrace the life God created you for and discover more purpose, peace and abundance in your daily life, then become part of the Say Yes to Holiness Movement! You can do that by either clicking here to join the Say Yes to Holiness Community group hosted on SmartCatholics, or if you prefer Facebook, you can join the Say Yes to Holiness TODAY Facebook group here. Finally, make sure to check out all of the FREE challenges, events and Materclasses that are available at the Say Yes to Holiness Movement on the web.
To stay in the know about all of the upcoming FREE challenges, events and Masterclasses, text SAYYESTOHOLINESS to 66866 to join the Say Yes to Holiness email list and receive not only the Say Yes to Holiness Newsletter, but also be notified whenever Christina posts. Or sign up here for the weekly Say Yes to Holiness newsletter.
Don’t forget to check out and listen to episodes of the Say Yes to Holiness podcast here, or go to the Say Yes to Holiness YouTube channel for lots of videos to help you grow in holiness and make your faith an integrated part of your daily life. More information can also be found at: www.sayyestoholiness.com and www.christinasemmens.com
