It’s probably hard for y’all to believe, but I’m picky about the shows I watch. I don’t get into the Shondaland dramas or anything too dark and depressing. I binge-watched Jessica Jones when it came out since I liked Daredevil, but by the time I got to the end of the series, it left a really bad taste in my mouth. As much as I liked aspects of Jessica Jones, I hated that what motivated the heroine wasn’t a desire to atone... Read more
One thing that keeps getting brought up in a lot of reviews of Star Wars: The Force Awakens is that the plot is basically the same as A New Hope, but with characters we don’t really know and aren’t as invested in as the older characters. We’re at this point in media where we understand that there is nothing new under the sun when it comes to ideas for movies and TV shows. The stories that drive the Star Wars films are centered around Joseph... Read more
Welcome to 2016 everyone! Like most people during this time of year, I want to reflect on the past year and make resolutions for 2016. But since, like most people, I watched Dick Clark’s New Year’s Rockin Eve in anticipation of the countdown, I got to watch the premiere of Taylor Swift’s latest music video “Out of the Woods.” Out of all of the videos that Taylor has released from her 1989 album, this is by far my favorite since “Bad Blood.” It... Read more
It was a cold winter’s day in the land of Wildepond. The wandering huntress, Lilirese, was seeking shelter for the night. She saw a bright light coming from the Red Dragon Inn and decided to sneak in there. The inn was packed as the town was celebrating the annual feast of Erymanthia, which centered on feasting on a boar’s head. She was surprised to see that many of the friends and allies she encountered on her journey through Wildepond... Read more
2015 for me was not something I could share with pictures. Instead, the year centered on the renovations of my interior castle, the temple of my soul. And this castle is still undergoing a serious reconstruction. However, there were 10 beautiful moments of 2015 that helped the diamond castle that I call my heart shine. 1) This was the year that I started making a name for myself through blogging at Patheos and publishing Bible Studies at the Heart... Read more
For this last week of Advent, I want to share some poems and short stories that will hopefully fit with the spirit of the season. The Lady and the Lion: A Spoken Word Poem It started with a desire and a treacherous first step. I journeyed across an infinite web in search of some kind of connection. Reaching out to the stars, I found a lady in the constellations Small, yet radiant; gentle, yet strong I chased the... Read more
From Heart of Mary Women’s Fellowship: I don’t know what kind of year you had, but I’m certain that there are times that God brought you out of the dark. If you feel like you’re still in the dark, know that God is already rescuing you from that. You may not see it, but like the famous Footprints poem, God is carrying you through whatever adversities or trials you are undergoing right now. Read the rest here Read more
From Heart of Mary Women’s Fellowship: Today’s passages come from tonight’s Evening Prayer in the Liturgy of the Hours (also known as the Divine Office). For those who don’t know, the Liturgy of the Hours is a series of prayers dating back to the times of St. Benedict. Most religious orders pray the Liturgy of the Hours on a daily basis. Leah Libresco, author of Arriving at Amen, prays the Liturgy of the Hours as part of her daily commute. During... Read more
From Heart of Mary Women’s Fellowship Some of us may find it hard to trust in the Lord. But as the Psalm says “those who choose another god multiply their sorrows.” We may not bow down before statues of cows, but many of us would rather find comfort in things such as wealth, pleasure, power and honor. In this time of year, wealth and pleasure are especially tempting idols. Like Ebenezer Scrooge, we can hold onto our things like a... Read more
From Heart of Mary Women’s Fellowship: Being aware of the present moment does mean distracting ourselves with television or going on the computer. It means to be aware of God being with us in the moment. The passage from John is a familiar one: “I am the vine, you are the branches. Those who abide in me and I in them bear much fruit, because apart from me you can do nothing.” Read more
Monique Ocampo Writes
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