When Life Doesn't Turn Out the Way You Planned

 

When Life Doesn't Turn Out the Way You Planned

Sometimes life looks nothing like we imagined. Doors close, plans change, prayers seem unanswered, and we find ourselves on a road we never expected to travel.

But a changed plan doesn't mean a lost purpose.

In Episode 12 of When Faith Meets Real Life, we talk about trusting God when the story changes—and discovering that He is still with us on the road we never planned to take.

“Your purpose did not disappear simply because your plans changed.”

🎙️ The Catholic Journey with Deacon Pat Kearns

#TheCatholicJourney #DeaconPatKearns #FaithMeetsRealLife #TrustGod #CatholicFaith #GodsPlan #Hope #Faith #CatholicPodcast

What a way to celebrate 62!

 What a way to celebrate 62! 🎂❤️

My brother Dan and Barbara Kearns surprised me by writing this song for my birthday, and I absolutely love it. Somehow they managed to fit a whole lot of my life into one song—faith, family, BBQ, motorcycles, writing, and maybe just a little bit of brotherly humor.

As I turn 62, I’m reminded that the greatest gifts in life really aren’t things. They’re the people who have walked the road with us, shared the holidays, sat around the table, laughed at the stories, and loved us through all the different seasons of life.

Dan and Barb, thank you for the song, the memories, and most of all, for being family. I love you both.

And yes… apparently I am officially “a man of the Word and a man of the grill.” 😂🔥🏍️

Here’s to 62—and whatever God has planned for the road ahead!

#Happy62ndBirthday #Family #Brothers #FaithFamily #BirthdayBlessings #Grateful #TheCatholicJourney #KingOfTheGrill

When You Are Carrying Regret

 When You Are Carrying Regret

We all have moments we wish we could change—words we wish we could take back, choices we would make differently, and roads we wish we had taken.

But your past does not have to become your prison.

In Episode 11 of When Faith Meets Real Life, we discover how God can take even our regrets and transform them through mercy, forgiveness, and grace.

God doesn't need a perfect past to create a meaningful future.

🎙️ The Catholic Journey with Deacon Pat Kearns

#TheCatholicJourney #DeaconPatKearns #CatholicFaith #Regret #Forgiveness #Mercy #Healing #FaithMeetsRealLife #CatholicPodcast

Today I turn 62 - Deacon Pat Kearns

 

Today I turn 62.

When I look back, I don’t just see years—I see a journey. I see a young Navy Corpsman, a nurse, a husband, a father and grandfather, a deacon, a writer, and a man who is still learning what it means to trust God.

There have been beautiful chapters and difficult ones. There have been plans that worked out exactly as I hoped and others that God completely rewrote. Through all of it, one thing has remained constant: His grace.

So I wrote this song, “Sixty-Two Years of Grace,” not because my story is finished, but because I’m realizing how much of it is still being written.

At 62, maybe life isn't about proving anything anymore. Maybe it's about loving more deeply, slowing down enough to notice the blessings, holding the people you love a little closer, and trusting God with whatever comes next.

Today, I’m simply grateful—for Liz, my children, my grandchildren, the people I’ve served and who have touched my life, and every road God has allowed me to travel.

Sixty-two years behind me, a new chapter ahead, and by the grace of God… I’m still becoming me.

#SixtyTwoYearsOfGrace #BirthdayReflections #StillBecoming #FaithFamilyGrace #TheCatholicJourney #DeaconPatKearns

The Journey Continues

 

Inspired by Health, Happiness, and Holiness, this song reflects on a life of changing roads, unexpected lessons, and discovering what truly matters. We may chase success and happiness, but eventually we learn that the deeper journey is toward health, lasting joy, holiness, and God.

Through victories and failures, laughter and tears, God continues to shape our lives and lead us toward our true purpose.

The destination is Heaven—but until then, the journey continues.

🎵 The Journey Continues
The Catholic Journey with Deacon Pat Kearns

#TheCatholicJourney #DeaconPatKearns #TheJourneyContinues #HealthHappinessHoliness #CatholicFaith #FaithJourney #GodsPlan #Hope #Holiness 

When You Are Lonely

 

When You Are Lonely

Loneliness isn’t always about being alone. Sometimes we can be surrounded by people and still feel unseen and disconnected.

In this episode of The Catholic Journey, we discover how God meets us in our loneliness—and how one small step toward another person can begin to change everything.

You may feel alone, but you have not been abandoned.

#TheCatholicJourney #DeaconPatKearns #WhenYouAreLonely #CatholicPodcast #CatholicFaith #YouAreNotAlone #Faith #Hope #Jesus

My Story Isn’t Over

 

My Story Isn’t Over 

A broken heart can make you believe that something beautiful in your life has ended forever. But heartbreak does not get to write the final chapter.

This song was inspired by my book, A Broken Heart: 40 Days of Healing After a Broken Relationship—a journey through grief, anger, loneliness, forgiveness, surrender, and ultimately hope.

Healing takes time. Some scars remain. But with Christ, your past does not define your future, and your story is not over.

If your heart is hurting today, I hope this song reminds you: God is still writing your story.

#MyStoryIsntOver #ABrokenHeart #HealingAfterHeartbreak #CatholicFaith #CatholicJourney #HealingWithChrist #Brokenhearted #HopeInChrist #FaithOverFear #DeaconPatKearns