Portugal is filled with elaborate and ornate churches, religious statues, and ruins of isolated churches from ancient days. The beauty of so many European churches are always impressive to observe. There are times when I walk in and can feel a presence of peace, and other times I feel sadness.
Peace usually occurs when people are visibly sitting in the pews. My mind wonders about the condition of one’s mind and heart as they are clearly seated and silently praying or contemplating a situation that has brought them to this place or worship. There are times when you can sense a dire demand for or from God, and other times a calmness of consciousness is evident from those occupying the pews.
Sadness is felt when I realize that many of these churches are just sanctuaries that display opulence instead of being a place alive with active worship.
One can easily compare our own bodies to the above mentioned scenarios of peace and sadness.
How is your heart? How do you treat your body? In 1 Corinthians 6:19-20 we read:
You should know that your body is a temple for the Holy Spirit that you received from God and that lives in you. You don’t own yourselves. God paid a very high price to make you his. So honor God with your body.
When you are a Christian, meaning that you have accepted Jesus Christ as your personal Savior and have a relationship with Him, your body is a temple. The Holy Spirit lives IN you. Therefore, can others sense sadness when they are around you or can they perceive the power of peace radiating through you?
Now, I’m not saying that once you are a Christian you don’t feel sadness or your life is perfect. You have all the feels in life…you’re human. Your life is not perfect…but you know The Perfect One. However, with the Holy Spirit living within you, you have the privilege of knowing peace because of the Prince of Peace, living a life of hope because the God of Hope is residing within you, and radiating light since the Light of the world inhabits your heart.
I pray that your life will epitomize Jesus Christ, Who has taken up residency in you. May others desire to know more about The One who gives you calmness of consciousness in dire situations, hope for what is to come, and outpouring of love because He is Love.
Blessings to you and yours,
Stephanie
—–Okay, so today’s journal entry originally started out differently and was going to end including another topic from where it went. So, I guess God is turning this into a three part series. The next two will include: 1) an incident that occurred, while in Portugal, and my man was bold in witnessing, and 2) “Where is Jesus?” Stick with me.
Here are a few of the churches visited on our trip:
Church of St. Dominic is a Catholic church in Lisbon, Portugal. The church was dedicated in 1241 and was, at one time, the largest church in Lisbon.
A Baroque chapel at a family vineyard called Quinta de Sant’Ana.
Church of St. Dominic
The Church of Santa Maria is from the 13th century.
Jeronimos Monastery Construction began in 1501.
Igreja de São Pedro de Miragaia in Porto is a historic church first built by the area’s fishermen and dedicated to Saint Peter.
The Igreja de São Gonçalo in Amarante. The church dates back to 1540.
The Monastery of São Gonçalo was established in 1543, in the town of Amarante. ,
The Igreja de Santo Ildefonso is an 18th century church in Porto.
The Clerigos Church, located in Porto.
Igreja Do Carmo and Igreja Dos Carmelitras. Two churches divided by a one meter wide house.
A church dedicated to Leonardo de Galafura. This was located on viewpoint overlooking the Duruo River Valley.
A chapel at the Quinta da Regaleira, located in the town of Sintra.