Author Archives: ecusters

LifeTeen.com Blog

Are you willing to be crucified with Me?

By | March 15, 2013

A couple of days ago I was praying about Jesus’ crucifixion. While picturing the scene, I all of a sudden realized that Jesus had to open His hands in order to be crucified. I mean: there’s no way they could have nailed His hands to the cross if they weren’t open. Jesus opened His hands to be crucified for me – He was willing to die for me! An overwhelming love, that also gave me the desire to console Him, right there on the cross! But, how do you console someone who’s hanging on a cross to die

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LifeTeen.com Blog

Dolphin Tales

By | February 25, 2013

Dolphins have been my favorite animals since I was a little kid. I collected all possible dolphin things and my biggest dream was to become a dolphin trainer. I loved going to dolphin shows and sleeping with my stuffed dolphins. I never became this dolphin trainer but I still like dolphins a lot. I have never seen wild dolphins and I would love to see them one day. In the beginning of January we went to Florida for a retreat and had the opportunity to hang out at the beach for a little bit.

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LifeTeen.com Blog

I am still here!

By | February 7, 2013

That’s what Jesus said to me in the half empty church on Christmas Morning. “I am still here!” It was great to be back at home in The Netherlands for Christmas break. But it was hard to see the church being so empty during the only Mass on Christmas morning. Heartbreaking to realize that the Church I love so much is struggling. Painful to see that people from the country that’s so dear to my heart don’t realize how beautiful it is to give Jesus a central place in Christmas. Seeing that people

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LifeTeen.com Blog

I’m like St. Therese!

By | January 25, 2013

Yes, like Saint Therese (of Lisieux)! I’m not from France and don’t speak any French. I also didn’t loose my mom at a very young age. I don’t have siblings who entered the convent and I didn’t visit the Pope to ask permission to enter a religious order when I was 16. I’m 24, but hopefully I won’t die this year like she did when she was 24. I’m not famous and I’m not a saint. But there’s at least one thing we both share: we have the same vocation! Don’t be too shocked. I’m not telling you that

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My heart was locked….

By | September 3, 2012

Let’s go a couple months back in time… to my Easter break. I know, it’s September, summer is over and we’re not in Easter time anymore in our liturgical year, but I still want to take you back to my Easter break for a moment. I was able to spend this Easter break with a great and holy family in West-Texas, a huge blessing from God. When I arrived they warned me to be careful when I walked outside: their doors locked very easily, so there was a chance that I would lock myself out if I didn’t

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Sleeping in My Daddy’s Arms

By | April 4, 2012

A few weeks ago, I had the blessing of sitting a row behind a father and his three-year-old daughter during Mass. He was holding his daughter in his arms, and she fell asleep before Mass even started. She slept the whole Mass, no matter whether her father stood up, sat down, kneeled, or walked forward to receive Communion, she continued to sleep in his arms. It was beautiful to see, and it made me think about my relationship with my Heavenly Father. Do I trust my Father in Heaven enough to fall

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What Do You Mean Jesus?

By | January 11, 2012

During one of my Desert Days I decided to not make my own plan for my prayers and Holy Hours but to ask God to lead me. I sat down in the chapel before the Blessed Sacrament and said to Jesus: “Okay, here I am, just tell me where to go”. And immediately I heard Jesus saying in my heart:  ”Ellen, you are My Beloved”. Instead of being happy with these nice words, I was mad and frustrated because I knew that Jesus loved me, so I wanted Him to say something new. But that’s not what happened… Jesus

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