Thursday, December 30, 2010

Reflections

As we prepare to enter into a new year, I thought it would be a good time to reflect on the past and also get into the appropriate state of mind for the future.

As part of our ongoing growth as Christians (followers of Christ), the short meditations written (below) are to help us overcome barriers in recognizing Jesus in our midst, so that we can serve Him. Specifically, the seven Capital Sins serve as reference points for our meditations because so often, those common failings in our lives prevent us from seeing Jesus all around us, and moving into the mode of serving Him.

Pride, Envy, Anger, Sloth, Greed, Gluttony, and Lust are among the principal hazards of the spiritual life that prevent us from seeing and serving Jesus. There are others as well - for example, Ignorance and Fear. You may wish to add whatever else should come to mind as you consider these barriers.

However, with the grace of Christ, we are able to overcome these hurdles. Each hurdle we overcome, each struggle that we succeed, each small victory over sin that we achieve, brings us one step closer to preparing us for the heavenly reward that awaits those who see, follow, and act according to His words.



Meditations:

There is never a moment when God does not come forward in the guise of some suffering or some duty, and all that takes place within us, around us and through us both includes and hides His activity.

-Jean-Pierre De Caussade, S.J.
(Abandonment to Divine Providence)


If we do not recognize Jesus in the poor, he will not be able to recognize us at the Day of Judgement.

- St. Teresa of Calcutta


The bread which you do not use is the bread of the hungry;
The garment hanging in your wardrobe is the garment of him who is naked;
The shoes that you do not wear are the shoes of the one who is barefoot;
The money that you keep locked away is the money of the poor;
The acts of charity that you do not perform are so many injustices that you commit.


-St. Basil the Great

Many excerpts are from the book "When did we see You, Lord?" by Bishop Robert J. Baker and Father Benedict J. Groeschel, C.F.R.

God bless you. And this is for His Glory!

Tuesday, November 30, 2010

Routines

We all have a routine. In fact, many of us have several. Some routines may only last a few weeks, others a lifetime.

There are many types of routines (yep, we can be very creative)...

Some are essential in order to function in modern society like - showering regularly, brushing teeth, combing hair, etc. Other routines are self created like... needing to drink a cup of coffee first thing in the morning. Or even reading a few pages in a book in order to help fall asleep at night.

We were made in God's image, but that doesn't mean we are consistent in doing what we should be doing. You see, just like us, God has a few routines of His own. The one difference is that His routines are not selfish or self imposed. However, God's routines ARE essential for our eternal salvation.

If I were to guess, I'd say here are a few of God's top routines:

1. Forgiveness
2. Mercy
3. Love
4. Patience
5. Kindness

You see, without God following these daily routines we would have absolutely no chance of eternal life. Salvation would be lost.

So, tonight begin a new routine for yourself. Begin the routine of prayer. Take time to speak to God through daily prayer. It will be something you will never regret.

I know that God won't break His routine.

Will you?

"The miracle is not that I finished. It's that I had the courage to start."
-John Bigham


God bless you. And this is for His Glory!

Tuesday, October 26, 2010

A Prayer of Humility

Dear Lord,

I admit that I am a sinner.
I admit that I am unworthy of your grace, your mercy, and your love.
I admit that I am weak in spirit, perseverance, and patience.
I pray that you show kindness to me even though I don't always show kindness to others.
Oh Lord, please forgive me of my sins.
Help me to always see the face of Jesus in others.
Help me to fight the projection and deceitful lies from the evil one.
Help me to be a pillar of Christ.
Help me to be a rock, just as Simon Peter.
Help me to be relentless in praising your name as Paul.
Help me to trust in you as Abraham trusted in you.
Help me to have the wisdom to discern right from wrong such as Solomon did.
Help me to love just a fraction as much as Jesus.

Amen.

Sunday, October 24, 2010

Humility

Parable of the Pharisee and Tax Collector

9 Then Jesus told this story to some who had great confidence in their own righteousness and scorned everyone else: 10 “Two men went to the Temple to pray. One was a Pharisee, and the other was a despised tax collector. 11 The Pharisee stood by himself and prayed this prayer: ‘I thank you, God, that I am not a sinner like everyone else. For I don’t cheat, I don’t sin, and I don’t commit adultery. I’m certainly not like that tax collector! 12 I fast twice a week, and I give you a tenth of my income.’

13 “But the tax collector stood at a distance and dared not even lift his eyes to heaven as he prayed. Instead, he beat his chest in sorrow, saying, ‘O God, be merciful to me, for I am a sinner.’ 14 I tell you, this sinner, not the Pharisee, returned home justified before God. For those who exalt themselves will be humbled, and those who humble themselves will be exalted.”
Luke 18:9-14


Most of the time we are not as good as we think we are. Even if we exceed the expectations of others, we probably still fall short in eye's of the Lord. Humility is a word that we are all familiar with, but it is also an act that is difficult to sustain. The word itself is used many times throughout the Bible (several times in Proverbs) and there seems to be clear indication God prefers a humble spirit over a proud one.

Young men, in the same way be submissive to those who are older. All of you, clothe yourselves with humility toward one another, because,
"God opposes the proud but gives grace to the humble."
1 Peter5:5


Over the next few days consider your outlook on life, your attitude, and how you interact with others. Are you seeking their approval? Are you looking for people to exalt you in some way?

Honor the Lord by honoring His word.

with humility comes wisdom
Proverbs 11:2


God bless you. And this is for His Glory!

Sunday, September 5, 2010

Unashamed of God

Dear God, how often we are tempted to push you into the background because we’re afraid of standing out in a crowd, afraid of how it will look. And yet what opportunities to bring people to you could be had if only we would be bold.
— from 39 New Saints You Should Know

Mark 8:38
Whosoever therefore shall be ashamed of me and of my words in this adulterous and sinful generation; of him also shall the Son of man be ashamed, when he cometh in the glory of his Father with the holy angels.

Matthew 10:32-33
Whosoever therefore shall confess me before men, him will I confess also before my Father which is in heaven.

But whosoever shall deny me before men, him will I also deny before my Father which is in heaven.


God bless you. And this is for His Glory!

Saturday, September 4, 2010

Reverence to the Holy Mother

"My goodness has decreed that anyone at all, just or sinner, who holds Mary in due reverence will never be snatched or devoured by the infernal demon."
-God's pledge through St. Catherine of Siena

— from Mysteries of the Virgin Mary

One way to satisfy this is to pray the Rosary daily...

God bless you. And this is for His Glory!

Sunday, August 29, 2010

John the Baptist

The drunken oath of a king with a shallow sense of honor, a seductive dance and the hateful heart of a queen combined to bring about the martyrdom of John the Baptist. The greatest of prophets suffered the fate of so many Old Testament prophets before him: rejection and martyrdom. The "voice crying in the desert" did not hesitate to accuse the guilty, did not hesitate to speak the truth. But why? What possesses a man that he would give up his very life?

This great religious reformer was sent by God to prepare the people for the Messiah. His vocation was one of selfless giving. The only power that he claimed was the Spirit of Yahweh. "I am baptizing you with water, for repentance, but the one who is coming after me is mightier than I. I am not worthy to carry his sandals. He will baptize you with the Holy Spirit and fire" (Matthew 3:11). Scripture tells us that many people followed John looking to him for hope, perhaps in anticipation of some great messianic power. John never allowed himself the false honor of receiving these people for his own glory. He knew his calling was one of preparation.

When the time came, he led his disciples to Jesus: "The next day John was there again with two of his disciples, and as he watched Jesus walk by, he said, 'Behold, the Lamb of God.' The two disciples heard what he said and followed Jesus" (John 1:35-37). It is John the Baptist who has pointed the way to Christ. John's life and death were a giving over of self for God and other people. His simple style of life was one of complete detachment from earthly possessions. His heart was centered on God and the call that he heard from the Spirit of God speaking to his heart. Confident of God's grace, he had the courage to speak words of condemnation or repentance, of salvation.

Each of us has a calling to which we must listen. No one will ever repeat the mission of John, and yet all of us are called to that very mission. It is the role of the Christian to witness to Jesus. Whatever our position in this world, we are called to be disciples of Christ. By our words and deeds others should realize that we live in the joy of knowing that Jesus is Lord. We do not have to depend upon our own limited resources, but can draw strength from the vastness of Christ's saving grace.

God bless you. And this is for His Glory!

Tuesday, August 24, 2010

St. Bartholomew

In the New Testament, Bartholomew is mentioned only in the lists of the apostles. Some scholars identify him with Nathanael, a man of Cana in Galilee who was summoned to Jesus by Philip. Jesus paid him a great compliment: "Here is a true Israelite. There is no duplicity in him" (John 1:47b). When Nathanael asked how Jesus knew him, Jesus said, "I saw you under the fig tree" (John 1:48b). Whatever amazing revelation this involved, it brought Nathanael to exclaim, "Rabbi, you are the Son of God; you are the King of Israel" (John 1:49b). But Jesus countered with, "Do you believe because I told you that I saw you under the fig tree? You will see greater things than this" (John 1:50b).

Nathanael did see greater things. He was one of those to whom Jesus appeared on the shore of the Sea of Tiberias after his resurrection (see John 21:1-14). They had been fishing all night without success. In the morning, they saw someone standing on the shore though no one knew it was Jesus. He told them to cast their net again, and they made so great a catch that they could not haul the net in. Then John cried out to Peter, "It is the Lord."

When they brought the boat to shore, they found a fire burning, with some fish laid on it and some bread. Jesus asked them to bring some of the fish they had caught, and invited them to come and eat their meal. John relates that although they knew it was Jesus, none of the apostles presumed to inquire who he was. This, John notes, was the third time Jesus appeared to the apostles.

God bless you. And this is for His Glory!

Thursday, August 19, 2010

Faith not Fear

I thought this short summary on the topic of fear was well written by Dr. David Jeremiah and I wanted to share it with everyone as a reminder of the importance of faith.

(Links have been added for you to go to the readings)

* * *

Reinhold Niebuhr (d. 1971) penned the original version of "The Serenity Prayer." The first line of the poem says, "God, grant me the serenity to accept the things I cannot change," often popularized today as, "Don't worry about stuff you have no control over." The problem is, it sounds like it is okay to worry about the stuff you can control. However, Christians are told in Scripture not to worry about anything (Philippians 4:6-7).

Worry is fear--not necessarily the white-knuckle, knee-knocking kind of fear, but a fear that leaves us unsettled and anxious. Fear and worry are all about the future. Like when Jesus' disciples were afraid in a storm at sea (Matthew 8:26). They were definitely worried about their future--whether they would arrive safely on the distant shore or not. Fear is a lack of faith in God. We believe God knows "the future," but not our future. Yes, not worrying requires faith--but not blind faith. It is faith in a God who has promised He will never leave nor forsake us (Hebrews 13:5).

If you know God through Christ, it's better not to worry about what you can't control. But it's biblical not to worry at all.

Nothing can cure us of fear till God cures us of unbelief.
-Francis Burkitt

God bless you. And this is for His Glory!

Wednesday, August 11, 2010

Stay Focused on God

Dear Lord, help us to stay focused on you, to forgive those who sin against us, to desire the best for them, and to have hope for your triumph over sin and death.

— from 39 New Saints You Should Know



God bless you. And this is for His Glory!

Tuesday, August 10, 2010

The Way to Heaven

What does it matter to you whether Jesus wishes to guide you to Heaven by way of the desert or by the fields, so long as you get there by one way or the other?

-- from Safely Through the Storm



God bless you. And this is for His Glory!

Monday, August 9, 2010

You took my parking space at church

One day, a man went to visit a church. He got there early, parked his car and got out. Another car pulled up near him. The driver got out and said, "I always park there! You took my place!"

The visitor went inside for Sunday School, found an empty seat and sat down. A young lady from the church approached him and stated, "That's my seat! You took my place!" The visitor was somewhat distressed by this rude welcome, but said nothing.

After Sunday School, the visitor went into the sanctuary and sat down. Another member walked up to him and said, "That's where I always sit! You took my place!"

The visitor was even more troubled by this treatment, but still He said nothing.

Later as the congregation was praying for Christ to dwell among them, the visitor stood up, and his appearance began to change. Horrible scars became visible on his hands and on his sandaled feet. Someone from the congregation noticed him and called out, "What happened to you?"

The visitor replied, as his hat became a crown of thorns, and a tear
fell from his eye, "I took your place."

God bless you. And this is for His Glory!

Sunday, July 11, 2010

To Bear Witness To the Truth

This was written by Father John Corapi over a year ago, but it's one of those reminders that has no expiration date.

An Unequivocal Moral Obligation for All Christians
by Rev. John Corapi, SOLT, STD
www.fathercorapi.com

Every Catholic and, indeed, every Christian faithful to the Gospel, has the moral obligation to bear witness to the truth, “in season and out of season, convenient or inconvenient,” accepted or rejected. This mandate is nothing new, of course. It’s as old as the Old Testament, and as new as the New Testament. Nonetheless, I’m afraid that it has become more necessary than ever to remind ourselves of it.

The Magisterium formally teaches in the Catechism of the Catholic Church #2471, quoting Sacred Scripture, “Before [Pontius] Pilate, Christ proclaimed the He has ‘come into the world to bear witness to the truth’ (Jn 18:37).

The Christian is not to be ‘ashamed then of testifying to our Lord’ (2 Tm 1:8). In situations that require witness to the faith, the Christian must profess it without equivocation, after the example of St. Paul before his judges. We must keep ‘a clear conscience toward God and toward men’” (Acts 24:16).

Let me give you one definition of equivocation: “A statement that is not literally false but that cleverly avoids an unpleasant truth; intentionally vague or ambiguous.” How about this for an example: “A woman has the right to choose.” Choose what? A less vague, ambiguous, and equivocal statement would be, “A woman (or man) has the right to choose to perpetrate homicide. Or, “A nation has the right to facilitate, enable, or legislate genocide.” Oh, excuse me, that would be an unpleasant truth, or maybe an “inconvenient truth,” as the inventor of the internet, Al Gore, might say.

The Catholic Church unambiguously and formally teaches:

The duty of Christians to take part in the life of the Church impels them [IMPELS THEM] to act as witnesses of the Gospel and the obligations that flow from it. This witness is a transmission of the faith in words and deeds. WITNESS IS AN ACT OF JUSTICE THAT ESTABLISHES THE TRUTH OR MAKES IT KNOWN (see Matthew 18:16).

The recent travesty involving the University of Notre Dame’s invitation to the President of the United States to give the commencement address and receive an honorary doctor of laws degree is the antithesis of Catholic and Christian witness to the truth. A lawyer who vigorously, publicly, and consistently support an anti‐life and anti‐family litany of evils will now receive an honorary doctor of laws degree from what is arguably the most prestigious Catholic University in America. A picture is worth a thousand words. Indeed, what thousand words will be conveyed by the picture(s) of Mr. Obama receiving his honorary doctorate and sending off the graduating class at Notre Dame University?

This will be a dark day indeed for the University of Notre Dame and the Catholic Church that permitted it to happen. In the end the bishops have the right, and the duty, to decide if the University of Notre Dame can any longer claim “Catholic” credentials.

Father Corapi on the Notre Dame scandal


Meanwhile, the obligation to bear witness to the truth weighs more heavily than ever on each one of us. We have rapidly entered into a new era of persecution of the Church and the truth that she professes and teaches, reminding us again,

The disciple of Christ must not only keep faith and live on it, but also profess it,
confidently bear witness to it, and spread it: All however must be prepared to
confess Christ before men and to follow him along the way of the Cross, amidst
the persecutions which the Church never lacks.” (Lumen gentius 42; Dignitatis
Humanae 14). Service of and witness to the faith are necessary for salvation:
“So everyone who acknowledges me before men, I also will acknowledge before my Father who is in heaven; but whoever denies me before men, I also will deny before my Father who is in heaven” (Mt 10:32‐33).

Written by Rev. John Corapi on May 14th, 2009
www.fathercorapi.com

God bless you. And this is for His Glory!

Friday, July 9, 2010

Mi Amore

On very rare occasions you find two people that are inseparable from very first time they meet.

From an early age Adam and Jessica were two people that you knew were always meant to be together. From the first time they met in the second grade everyone could tell they were going to be "boyfriend and girlfriend" some day. As predicated, once they grew older they began dating in junior high school. Rarely did you ever see them apart.

Later, after Adam and Jessica graduated from high school they went on to college and dated all four years of college. It was not long after graduation that Adam proposed and they were married.

Adam and Jessica had a very special relationship. When people saw them together they would say (or think)... "That's the type of relationship that I want."

One evening they were driving home from a New Years Eve party and were hit by a drunk driver. Instantly Adam became a quadriplegic from the impact of the crash.

Jessica was only twenty-five years old at the time and no one would have blamed her if she decided to put Adam in a nursing home to handle the demanding need of a quadriplegic. Sadly, there was nothing anyone could do for Adam. He would most likely remain paralyzed for the rest of his life. However, for Jessica, she had her entire life in front of her...with hopes and dreams that she still wanted to accomplish.

Jessica went to church and prayed for guidance on what to do. It was an extremely burdensome decision for a twenty-five year old. But Jessica had loved Adam from the first moment they met. After praying, she made the decision to put her faith in God and to not only be Adam's caretaker, but to remain his wife. At the young age of twenty-five she was the wife of a man who would never be able to move his arms or legs again.

Friends, family and others who became familiar with the situation could not believe the decision she made. However, it wasn't long before everyone began to understand how deep and loyal Jessica's love for Adam was. Through Adam and Jessica's trials, other people began see the true meaning of love. Through Jesscia's example of selfless love, others began to see how much they took their existing relationships for granted. Others began to pray and thank God for the wonderful gifts in their lives. Others began to pray asking to be blessed with the same depth of love that Jessica showed for Adam. Through Jessica's trials others began to turn toward God.

Out of tragedy, the glorification of God was mobilized through thousands of people as they heard this story of true love. Through Jessica's faith and obedience to God, I wonder how many souls were saved because of her decision?

"And now these three remain: faith, hope and love. But the greatest of these is love.

1 Corinthians 13:13

God bless you. And this if for His Glory!

Friday, June 18, 2010

Staring Truth in the Face

We've all been in situations where we try to explain an idea, concept, etc... to someone and they JUST DON'T GET IT. But, in saying that...I'm sure we've all been on the opposite side of this equation as well. It's kind of like when people drive while talking on a cell phone...many are virtually oblivious to what's going on around them...they are so totally engrossed in the conversation that they pay little attention to the other cars on the road.

There are similarities to this example in John 18. It's where Jesus was arrested and the people were demanding that He be put to death. During the ordeal, Jesus and Pontius Pilate have a short conversation (as Pilate is trying to figure out exactly what it is that Jesus is being accused of)...

35 Pilate answered, Am I a Jew? Thine own nation and the chief priests have delivered thee unto me: what hast thou done?

36 Jesus answered, My kingdom is not of this world: if my kingdom were of this world, then would my servants fight, that I should not be delivered to the Jews: but now is my kingdom not from hence.

37 Pilate therefore said unto him, Art thou a king then? Jesus answered, Thou sayest that I am a king. To this end was I born, and for this cause came I into the world, that I should bear witness unto the truth. Every one that is of the truth heareth my voice.

38 Pilate saith unto him, What is truth? And when he had said this, he went out again unto the Jews...
John 18:35-38

The part I want to place your attention on is verse 38, when Pilate asks..."What is truth?" The irony of this is that Pontius Pilate asks Jesus "what is truth?" as he is standing there staring Truth right in the face! Jesus Christ is the TRUTH.

"I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me.
John 14:6

It's clear that Pilate was oblivious to the "truth" that Jesus came to redeem the sins of the world...and most importantly that He was the Son of God.



Some people are oblivious to the truth, others just don't want to hear it, and some hear it, understand it, but choose to either ignore it or pick the parts that best fit in to their daily lives. Jesus Christ proclaimed the truth of God's Word in the first four books of the New Testament (which are called The Gospels) - Matthew, Mark, Luke and John.

Never let the truth slip from your grasp. Study it...so that you never find yourself staring at the thorns instead of the rose.

“The optimist sees the rose and not its thorns; the pessimist stares at the thorns, oblivious to the rose”
-Kahili Gibran

God bless you. And this is for His Glory!

Friday, June 11, 2010

"I require Heroism"

The Congressional Medal of Honor is the top service award bestowed upon those in the armed service of the United States of America. The Medal of Honor is given to those who have distinguished themselves through their gallantry in action, in which they went above and beyond the call of duty. In many cases the award is given posthumous after the recipient has passed, usually due to injuries sustained during the heroic act.

The Medal of Honor is a symbol of bravery, sacrifice, courage, and selflessness. It's when a person puts the the well being of others above his own self interests.

The cross is a symbol as well.

Because it was at THE CROSS that Jesus made His brave and selfless sacrifice. It was at the cross where God allowed and willed his only begotten Son to die for our sins.

It was the ultimate act of heroism and love.

Jesus' suffering and death on the cross was and still is the single most significant event in human history. I can think of nothing more brutal or more painful than what happened to our Lord on that day.

As Christians, we sometimes carry and even wear the symbol of Christ's love for us. It is the symbol of the cross. The cross is a direct reminder of God's immeasurable love.

"For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life."

John3:16

Jesus' death on the cross was indeed an act of heroism. He knew what He was destined to do... He was destined to teach God's word to those around Him, heal and perform miracles for those lost or undecided about their faith, die on the cross, rise, bestow the apostles with the Holy Spirit... and thus change the world forever.

If we are to walk in the footsteps of Christ, I believe that we too need perform acts of heroism. It doesn't have to be something big, but it does need to be a personal sacrifice. For example, it could be something like getting up a half hour early each morning and praying.

It's the little acts of heroism that add up and it's the daily sacrifices that God silently requires us to make in order to thank Him for the gift of another day.

This is the day the LORD has made;
let us rejoice and be glad in it.

Psalm 118:24

So think about it...

What will your next act of heroism be?

God bless you. And this is for His Glory!

Monday, May 17, 2010

Jacob's Well

It was a typical blistering Saturday afternoon in the middle of August in Tempe, Arizona and Bobby was making his way down a rural stretch of road that was void of any buildings for over 50 miles. Bobby had decided to go out for a ride on his new Honda Motard motorcycle and was planning on enjoying a few hours of wind and road.

Fifteen minutes into the ride, Bobby noticed another biker parked on the side of the road. It looked like the guy was having some sort of trouble, so Bobby stopped and asked the guy if he needed any help.

After over an hour working on the Harley in the 115 degree heat, Bobby eventually helped the guy get his bike working well enough to ride. Bobby insisted that he'd follow the guy home (45 miles from the current location) to make sure he made it back without any difficulty.

Before the guy on the Harley turned down the street toward his house, he waved Bobby over and handed him his business card. Bobby pulled out his wallet and did the same. Each gave the other a silent wave and off they went in separate directions. Bobby never even considered the fact that he had gone out of his way. He was in the mindset that if a fellow biker needed help, then he would help. It was just an unwritten rule of the road.

* * *

What this story doesn't tell you is that the guy on the Harley was actually the CEO of the same company that Bobby worked for. It wasn't until Bobby got home and cleaned out his pockets that he read the business card. He nearly choked on his Coke when he read the title... "CEO".

After reading the business card, Bobby's shock must have closely resembled the Samaritan women who spoke with Jesus at Jacob's Well in John 4. Here Jesus tells her that He knows who she is, the number of husbands that she's had, and that He is the Christ. I can't help but try and picture the look that must have been on the woman's face when she heard those words. I'm sure you could have heard a pin drop.

The woman said, "I know that Messiah" (called Christ) "is coming. When he comes, he will explain everything to us."

Then Jesus declared, "I who speak to you am he."

John 4:25-26


The point is that we never really know who we are going to meet throughout our journey in life. Many people that we meet, might only be placed in our lives for a short time. Others might be with us for many years. However, one thing is for certain...we will all see Christ one day and stand before Him to give account.

As you walk down this road in life, allow others see Christ in you so that you can see (and enjoy) the surprise on their face as you remain obedient to God and emulate the footsteps of Christ.

God bless you. And this is for His Glory!

Wednesday, May 5, 2010

Beyond the goal

Tim was a very gifted athlete. He was a high school standout in baseball, football, and track. Tim had been offered over 10 different scholarships from various universities (in both baseball and football) and when it finally came time for him to decide which sport he wanted to play, he choose to go the baseball route.

While playing college baseball, Tim worked extremely hard each and every day to get stronger, faster, and more fundamentally sound in his game. During that time, he had dedicated his life to achieving one goal - get drafted to play in the Major Leagues.

After a successful collegiate career, Tim was drafted 15th overall in the Major League Baseball draft. Along with being picked so high, he also received a $3 million signing bonus and a 4 year contract worth $7 million a year ($28 million over 4 years).

But, a funny thing happened after Tim reached the Major Leagues...

He somehow lost his drive. He still loved the game, but somehow he fell into a comfort zone (or false sense of security) and stopped training as hard as he once had. Tim was living a very comfortable lifestyle and had it in his mind that he could retire after re-signing for another 4 years. Tim had it all planned out. He would play 8 years in the major leagues and retire at the age of 30. By then he would have enough money to take care of any "troubles" for the rest of his life. He could relax on the beach, go jet skiing, go fishing, surf...do just about anything he wanted to do.

However, during the 3rd year into Tim's contract he suffered a shoulder injury. The team trainer told him that he needed to work hard to rehabilitate his shoulder in order to avoid re-injury. Unfortunately, Tim was never able to fully rehab his shoulder and ended up getting released from the team prior to starting his 4th season.

Tim never played professional baseball again.

* * *

In the story above it's obvious that Tim had a singular goal in mind - to play professional baseball. He prepared himself physically, mentally, fundamentally, and worked day and night to reach his goal. However, what happened after he got there?

Tim fell into a comfortable state of mind where he was living the glamorous life of a professional athlete. He had money and popularity...and most importantly...he had achieved his goal. For him, that was satisfying enough. However, Tim also had a choice. He had a choice to either continue to work hard or slack off. He had a choice to possibly put himself in a position where he could play the sport for many more years to come. He had a choice to adhere to the same level of standards and rigor that he had practiced during his high school and collegiate career.

Many of of us are in a similar situation...we have a great passion and desire to get "drafted" into God's kingdom. But, just as the Major League draft, it doesn't matter if you're drafted 1st or 100th. It only matters that you are picked and given an opportunity. (or "chosen" as it relates to scripture)

Therefore, as God's chosen people, holy and dearly loved, clothe yourselves with compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness and patience.


Colossians
3:12


For professional athletes there is not a set of "black and white" criteria that must be met in order to play professionally. Professional athletes come in all shapes and sizes; however, one thing is certain - each had a desire to make it to the next level. We too, should live daily with a desire and passion to meet the criteria set out by God. Unlike professional sports, Christians have a criteria to adhere to. It's called The Word of God...the Bible, which tells us how we must to act. There is no question that it's the truth, because in many passages we hear things that directly go against modern culture...and for many people the commands are difficult to hear, (but not impossible to obey).

There are numerous citations written that prove that the bar is set really high to enter Heaven. The passage from Revelation 21 helps to re-emphasize this point very clearly...


Nothing impure will ever enter it (Heaven), nor will anyone who does what is shameful or deceitful, but only those whose names are written in the Lamb's book of life.


Revelation 21:27

Let us never get too comfortable in our daily relationship with God, because Satan is always waiting for an opportunity to strike. If Tim's story tells us anything, its that we should never take our blessings for granted. So take some time and think about what you are going to do (next) once you reach a goal in your life...think about what you are going to do beyond the goal.

God bless you. And this is for His Glory!

Monday, May 3, 2010

The Rhyme

I have never heard anything like this in my lifetime. I really enjoyed it and hope you will too!
(Thanks to EW for sharing this)




Therefore God exalted him to the highest place
and gave him the name that is above every name,

that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow,
in heaven and on earth and under the earth,

and every tongue confess that Jesus Christ is Lord,
to the glory of God the Father.

Philippians 2:9-11

God bless you. And this is for His Glory.

Thursday, April 29, 2010

Sweet Joe

There was once a boxer named Joe. "Sweet Joe" to be exact. Sweet Joe had trained for 5 solid months for an upcoming fight that could (if he won) make him a top contender for the heavy weight title. After 5 grueling months of training not only was Joe in the best shape of his career, he had also worked out a solid strategy to defeat his upcoming opponent. Actually it was Joe's trainer (who had been in the boxing business for 30 years) that had come up with a solid game plan to help him be victorious. His trainer had told him many times to be patient and stick with the plan. "It will work." He would say. "Just stick to the plan."

Joe's trainer was totally convinced that if Joe listened and "stuck with the plan", he would win and be next in line for a title fight.

On fight night Joe's adrenaline was pumping. He had never felt so confident and prepared for a fight like he did tonight. During the fight, Joe was controlling the tempo and was winning the after the first 5 rounds of the 12 round bout. He had stuck with the game plan and thus far, was doing rather well.

About 1 minute into the 6th round, Joe slightly dropped his hands and took a hard jab that broke his nose. Joe immediately knew his nose was broken and became furious. He fought back with a vengeance and in his fury nearly knocked his opponent down before the end of the round.

Joe won the 6th round.

In between rounds Joe's trainer evaluated the break and told Joe to settle down and stick with the game plan. Basically, the plan was to conserve his energy and not throw more than 25 punches for the first 2 1/2 minutes of each round. The idea was to conserve as much energy as possible up until the last 30 seconds of each round and then get really aggressive. The conservative game plan had worked up to this point, as it was really frustrating his opponent. Joe's opponent was stronger, had more knockout power, and did not fight well against conservative opponents.

Joe's strategy was to stay light on his feet, move around, and limit his punches. The strategy was to wear down his opponent and knock him out in the late rounds.

As the bell rang for round 7, Joe was reminded to stick to the plan. After a few exchanges Joe got caught (rather lightly) in the nose again. It didn't take much force to aggravate his already broken nose as the fresh break was swollen and extremely tender. At that moment Joe decided he had enough. He wasn't going to let his opponent continue to tear his nose up for the next 5 rounds...he was going to end this now.

As Joe hurled a flurry of punches at his opponents head, he could hear a distant voice from his trainer yelling, "Stick to the plan....stick to the plan, Joe!"

Joe blinked his eyes several times and was suddenly startled at the sight of his trainer kneeling beside him only inches away. "You okay, Joe?" The trainer asked.

It was then that Joe realized he had been knocked out. In his fury, he abandoned his strategy and got caught with an uppercut. Joe was knocked out cold before he ever realized what happened.

* * *

We all get advice. Sometimes we ask for it and sometimes we don't. Some advice is good and some...eh...not so good. Then there's advice that we just really need to listen to regardless of what/how we feel. Sweet Joe's story above ties into the Story of the Wise and Foolish Builders in the Gospel of Matthew...

"Therefore everyone who hears these words of mine and puts them into practice is like a wise man who built his house on the rock. The rain came down, the streams rose, and the winds blew and beat against that house; yet it did not fall, because it had its foundation on the rock. But everyone who hears these words of mine and does not put them into practice is like a foolish man who built his house on sand. The rain came down, the streams rose, and the winds blew and beat against that house, and it fell with a great crash."

Matthew 7:24-27

Sweet Joe trained for 5 grueling months and had a solid game plan that should have aloud him to defeat his opponent. Then in the midst of adversity (and thinking he knew better than his trainer), he abandoned the plan and paid the price. He was knocked out and lost a chance to fight for the heavyweight title.

If we are to listen, remain obedient, and put God's word into daily practice then we emulate the wise man that built his house on the rock. Meaning that when the storms of life come (temptation, impatience, selfishness, greed, etc.) we are grounded in the foundation God's word and remain steady. However, if we abandon, get out of practice, or alter our path because we think that we have a better way...then we will soon meet a similar fate to Sweet Joe and the man who built his house on the sand.

There's only one way to salvation... and it's not your way... and it's not my way.... it's God's way.

Jesus answered, "I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me.

John 14:6

God bless you. And this is for His Glory!

Tuesday, April 27, 2010

Nine words

Unfortunately, there are many poor and crippled people on this earth. I think in many instances, we have become so use to seeing beggars/panhandlers that we tend to ignore then. In some situations (mostly in larger cities), there are people who intentionally panhandle for a living. These individuals deliberately seek and take advantage of the good will and charity of others in order to make a living. In fact, there are numerous surveys where (depending on the location) a panhandler can make between $150-$200 a day.

There are many things that have changed over the past 2,000 years, but petitioning the charity of others certainly has not...

and many less fortunate people actually rely on it for their very survival.

* * *

Gospel Story:

One day, (this was after Jesus' ascension) Peter and John were making their way to a temple around prayer time (3p in the afternoon). As they made their way up the temple stairs a crippled man called out to them. He had been a cripple since birth and begging was his only means for paying for a meal. Upon hearing him both Peter and John turned toward the man and Peter instantly said...

"Look at us!" So the man gave them his attention, expecting to get something from them.

Then Peter said, "Silver or gold I do not have, but what I have I give you. In the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth, walk." Taking him by the right hand, he helped him up, and instantly the man's feet and ankles became strong. He jumped to his feet and began to walk. Then he went with them into the temple courts, walking and leaping, and praising God.

When all the people saw him walking and praising God, they recognized him as the same man who used to sit begging at the temple gate called Beautiful, and they were filled with wonder and amazement at what had happened to him.

While the beggar held on to Peter and John, all the people were astonished and came running to them in the place called Solomon's Colonnade.

Acts3:3-11

* * *

Try to imagine the absolute joy felt by the man as he stood up for the first time in his life. Imagine the emotion and adrenaline that poured through his body. I'm quite sure that before that day he had accepted his fate. He most likely had come to terms with the fact that he would never walk and would remain a crippled beggar for the remainder of his difficult life.

He was down, but through the power of Jesus Christ he stood up.

For many us we get knocked down on a daily basis. Most of us have the power to stand back up. For God has blessed us with the ability to walk and work in order to take care of ourselves and our families. It's these small things that we take for granted every day. But for this man...his life changed the instant Peter spoke those nine words. "In the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth, walk." Acts 3:6

The road in life is riddled with challenges and the walk down the path toward Christ is not easy. Read 1 Peter 4-18

So my question is this...Do we have to wait for a miracle before we go walking and leaping and praising God? Does it always need to be a "what's in it for me" scenario? The answer to that question is simple.

What's in it for us = Eternal Life.

God bless you. And this is for His Glory!

Sunday, April 11, 2010

Guardian Angel

Question:
How is it that we avoid so many close calls in life? I can't even count the number of near miss collisions that I see just driving home on the freeway. How do we keep it together? How do we keep it from falling apart? Today's post might bring to light some answers...

Saint Joesemaria Escriva, founded Opus Dei in Madrid, Spain on October 2, 1928 (which is the Feast of the Guardian Angels). Although he wrote and spoke about many great things as it relates to our daily relationship with God, the focus for today's post is on a true story involving an Angel. Saint Joesemaria Escriva was convinced that God had placed an Angel beside each and every human being to help that person along the road of life.

Here is a true story:

One day during a very intense time of anti-clerical persecution in Madrid, Spain, an assassin made his way toward Monsignor Escriva (intending to kill him) as he walked down the street. As the would be assassin got closer, a very large man (who seemingly came out of no where) instantly placed himself between the assassin and Monsignor Escriva and drove the would be assassin away.

It all happened within the course of a few seconds and was over as quickly as it started. Swiftly, the large man turned, came over to Monsignor Escriva, and whispered into his ear... "Mangy donkey, mangy donkey."

It was the exact phrase that Joesemaria Escriva would recite while praying privately to God and his Guardian Angel. You see, in private, Joesemaria Escriva would pray something along the lines of..."Lord, I am nothing more than a mangy donkey, help me to do your will and glorify your name for I am nothing without you." The expression "mangy donkey" was only confessed in prayer and no human had ever known that he expressed this. Immediately, peace and joy filled his heard as he recognized this intervention was his Guardian Angel.

- - -

Answer:
The Lord watches over His children and has charged His angels to guard us every moment of the day. God loves us more than we can ever comprehend and He has a specific plan for each of us. In the case of Saint Joesemaria Escriva, this point proves that God alone has the final say in every matter on earth and in Heaven. When the devil deceived the heart of the would be assassin, the Lord vetoed the final act. Saint Joesemaria Escriva had much more of God's work to do on this earth and it was not his time.

Even the Saints humble themselves in front of the Lord. If they do this, then certainly we should try to emulate that as well. Mangy donkey, mangy donkey...


10 then no harm will befall you,
no disaster will come near your tent.

11 For he will command his angels concerning you
to guard you in all your ways;

12 they will lift you up in their hands,
so that you will not strike your foot against a stone.

Psalm 91:10-12 (NIV)


10"See that you do not look down on one of these little ones. For I tell you that their angels in heaven always see the face of my Father in heaven.

Matthew 18:10 (NIV)

God bless you. And this is for His Glory!

Tuesday, March 30, 2010

"I thirst"


After this, Jesus knowing that all things were now accomplished, that the scripture might be fulfilled, saith, I thirst.

John 19:28 (KJV)

For six agonizing hours Jesus suffered and carried upon Him the sins of the world as He was crucified. The "thirst" mentioned in John 19:28 was probably much more than a physical thirst, it was spiritual. Because Jesus was covered in our sins, He was separated from the Father and probably felt completely empty inside.

As human beings, we all have felt emptiness in our lives. These feelings can be brought on by disappointment, despair, guilt, loss, uncertainty, etc. Yet, throughout the Bible the Word of God continuously hits on one key point...Love.

God thirsts for our love.

Time and time again we are given chance after chance to redeem ourselves and ask for forgiveness. If God were not a loving and forgiving God then none of us would stand a chance at gaining eternal life.

It's easy to validate this statement because the most well known verse in the Bible proves it.

For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life.

John 3:16 (KJV)

This point is also echoed in the words that Jesus spoke to St. Margaret Mary Alocoque when He said to her..."I so ardently thirst to be loved by men in the Most Blessed Sacrament that this thirst devours me..."

Do you thirst for Christ? Are you empty inside, do you feel alone, unmotivated or maybe just a little afraid of what's next in your life?

Then take a moment to quench your thirst by reaching out to Jesus.

If any man thirst, let him come unto me, and drink.

John 7:37 (KJV)

God bless you. And this is for His Glory!

Sunday, March 28, 2010

Drawing Heaven

Watch and listen to the amazing story behind this young girl as she obtains her painting inspiration from God.





If anyone speaks, he should do it as one speaking the very words of God. If anyone serves, he should do it with the strength God provides, so that in all things God may be praised through Jesus Christ. To him be the glory and the power for ever and ever. Amen.

1 Peter 4:11


God bless you. And this is for His Glory!

Tuesday, March 23, 2010

The time is now

Quick memory test...

Try to recall how often (just this week) you decided to put something off. Perhaps it was going to the store, cleaning the house or something else that was on your "to do list." It doesn't matter if it was a big deal or not, just think about it for a moment.

In most cases we start off with very good in intentions. Then somehow along the way we end up talking ourselves out of doing what we had originally planned to do. Often the excuses we have are legitimate...and yet some times they are not.

If we look inside the 8th chapter in the Book of Matthew we will find a similar situation.

Then a teacher of the law came to him and said, "Teacher, I will follow you wherever you go."

Jesus replied, "Foxes have holes and birds of the air have nests, but the Son of Man has no place to lay his head."

Another disciple said to him, "Lord, first let me go and bury my father."

But Jesus told him, "Follow me, and let the dead bury their own dead."

Matthew 8:19-22 (NIV)

In this scenario, it's very likely that the man's father was not dead. It's most likely that he was old or even sick and the man wished to go home and wait for his father to die, and then he would follow Jesus.

Jesus' answer was a little tricky, but the message He was delivering was that we should never make excuses when it comes to following him. The time is now and there is no better time than the present.

Just keep this in mind the next time you have a little free time in the morning, afternoon or evening. Do you watch TV, get on the computer, pick up your Bible, etc. It's really easy to say "I can do it later."

Remember - On His way to the cross Jesus never paused, never said, "Ah, I can do it later." He had a job to do and He did it.

As followers of Christ we have a job to do as well and that includes interacting with God on a daily basis.

The time is now.

God bless you. And this is for His Glory!

Thursday, March 11, 2010

Obedience and Consequence

If you were to go to the doctor and he were to tell you that you had high cholesterol and that you had to change your diet or risk a heart attack, chances are you would follow his advise. The consequences would just be too great to ignore.

If you were driving down the road and noticed flashing blue lights in your rear view mirror you would probably pull over without giving it a second thought. The consequences of not doing so would be too great to ignore.

If you were at work and your boss gave you a due date to complete an assignment, chances are you would complete the assignment by the date requested. The consequences would be too great to ignore

* * *


During Jesus' first miracle at the wedding feast in Cana, His mother, Mary, set a very early example for us to follow….to do whatever Jesus tells us to do.

Once the wine was completely gone, Mary told the servants…

"Do whatever He tells you."
John 2:5

It was a very simple request.

This one little statement of faith showed us the love and dedication Mary had for Jesus. Mary knew, without a shadow of a doubt, that Jesus would do something special even though He had not performed a single public miracle up to that point.

Mary’s simple request still holds true today. "Do whatever He tells you."

Since we should be fully obedient to God and obey every one of His commands, then basically we should “do whatever He tells us to do”. Therefore, by reading the Bible we know exactly how God desires us to act and treat others. The Bible is The Word of God and it provides us with His unquestionable laws for mankind.

Of course, out of convenience, there are many decrees in the Bible that people would rather ignore. Some of the scriptures can be down right disturbing or even unsettling. However, no amount of denial on our part will make the reality of God’s Word disappear. We do not get to pick or choose the convenient parts of the Bible that we want to follow. Whether we like it or not, the truth is exists on each and every page. We certainly may have several favorite passages, but that does not provide us with the luxury of ignoring the rest of the truth.

* * *

If you were to pick up your Bible and read God’s Word, chances are you would follow His commands for the rest of your life. The consequences would just be too great to ignore.

"At the end, forever, you and I will either be in Heaven or Hell. Period."
-Father John Corapi

This post was inspired by a message delivered by Father John Corapi.

God bless you. And this is for His Glory!

Sunday, February 21, 2010

I can't get no Satisfaction

Jeremy was an extremely smart young man. He was born with exceptional intelligence and the personal drive to go along with it. Once Jeremy finished college and was in the work force, he began to realize that he could use his intelligence to his advantage. Jeremy was so driven to be successful, that it really never bothered him if he hurt anyone on the way to his next promotion.

On his journey to the top, Jeremy said and did just about anything in order for a situation to look favorable for him. Failure was not an option for Jeremy. He was not willing to learn from his mistakes, because in his mind he had none. It was always that everyone else was too stupid to understand his point and therefore they needed to be fired. Finally, after fifteen years of stepping over (not around) anyone in his path, he became the CEO of a mid-size financial company.

Jeremy deceived and lied to many people. Some of his deception was harmless, yet some would be considered mind-boggling to anyone with a fraction of any ethical standard. None the less, Jeremy's drive, willingness to do/say anything and his intellect, eventually got him to the top.

Every night Jeremy would come home and tell his wife a story about how he had manipulated a certain situation in his favor and that everyone was too stupid to realize how he had "played them". He might not always had put it in those exact terms, but he would angle the story to his benefit. Heck, he even had his own wife fooled.

Even though he had stepped over many people to become CEO, he had done it so cleverly and so insidious that few people (who were still in the company) had ever caught on. Jeremy's mistake was that he loved himself and his ambitions above everything else. He had always thirsted for more. Sadly, he died of a heart attack at the age of 57 after walking out of a business meeting. At his funeral one of his colleagues said this...

"I remember Jeremy as a shiny red corvette. Yeah, he was like a fast car that never slowed down. He never took his eyes off the speedometer. Because if he had, if he had looked up, he would have seen the many road signs warning him to SLOW DOWN, STOP or YIELD. But that wasn't in his nature. Because when Jeremy put his eye on the prize, he went after it with every ounce of his being. And I don't think that he ever had a chance to sit back and enjoy everything that he had...everything that he was given."

* * *

Let's be clear about one thing in this story. God is the sole provider of everything that we have. Our home, car, job, money, stature, health, relationships - everything. Out of love, these things are given to us because He wants us to find joy and in turn glorify Him for these wonderful gifts.

However, Jeremy loved himself more than anyone or anything. He loved the feeling of success. He loved being on top of the world and yet he was never satisfied and was always on the lookout for his next conquest. And at the age of 57 his world came to a sudden halt.

Whoever loves money never has money enough;
whoever loves wealth is never satisfied with his income.
This too is meaningless.

Ecclesiastes 5:10 (NIV)

We can learn a valuable lesson from Jeremy. We too should never be satisfied. We should never be satisfied in our relationship with God. We should never be satisfied with how much we give back to Him. We should never be satisfied with the amount of love or compassion that we show our family or friends. All of us have daily struggles with temptations and many times we may not even realize that we're in the Devil's cross hairs...but rest assured we are.

Don't give the Enemy the satisfaction of pulling us away from our daily duties to glorify God. And before we rest our heads on that pillow tonight, let's give ourselves the satisfaction of knowing that we did everything we possibly could to please God today.

And finally, I am satisfied with this post and will close it here. :)

God bless you. And this is for His Glory!

Tuesday, February 9, 2010

When the game is on the line

There is a common sports analogy that goes something like this…

“Big players,
make big plays,
in big games.”

Essentially, this means that great players step up when the game is on the line and somehow (presumably through their skill or athleticism) turn the game into their teams’ favor.

Translating this into Christianity…

For many of us, when we tend to think about Jesus the first thing that comes to mind is His death on the cross. But what about all those other times that He stepped up and came through? As a matter of fact, can you think of a time when Jesus did not “make a big play?”

*Every time someone was sick or impaired…He showed compassion and healed them.

*Every time someone attempted to trick Him..He got the better of them and they left Him alone.

*Every time His flock was hungry...He fed them.

*Every time He was asked to dispel a demon…He removed it in the name of Almighty God.

*Every time He told a parable…it was done in order to help us understand.

*Every time He spoke…people listened.

*Every time He prayed…God heard him.

*Every time someone doubted Him…He proved them wrong.

*Every time we sin against Him…He has the power to absolve us.

Over 2,000 years ago, when “the game” was on the line, Jesus stepped up and made a “big play”. He sacrificed Himself for all of us. He suffered, was crucified and died so that our sins would be forgiven.

“Big players,
make big plays,
in big games.”

No one has ever had more responsibility placed on their shoulders than Jesus Christ did when He walked the earth. Once he gathered His apostles, He showed up every single day to teach the word of God and to turn sinners toward the path of righteousness.

Jesus gave us 100% then, and He gives us 100% now.

Can we say the same?

For us, it's a much more serious matter than winning or losing a game. It's a matter of eternal life or eternal suffering.

Think about it.

God bless you. And this if for His Glory!

Thursday, January 28, 2010

Tough Love

Many years ago there was a woman who was extremely distraught over her sons behavior. Eventually, she went to visit her priest to ask him if he would talk to her son. The priest agreed and met her son a week later. During the meeting the young man (let's call him Robbie) was the most obnoxious, rude, disrespectful, and arrogant person the priest had ever met.

The priest absolutely could not get through to him at all. Eventually, Robbie got up to leave and right before he got to the door the priest said, "Do you mind if I pray for you?" Robbie turned around, gave a shrug and said, "Yeah, whatever."

The priest then said..."I'm going to pray that God takes you by the throat, lifts you up and crushes you for your sins." Robbie hesitated for a second, mumbled a few words and then left.

About one week later Robbie was in a terrible car accident and was basically placed a full body cast in the hospital. The priest walked into his room, saw the boy laying in bed and grinned widely. The boy did not smile back. Every day or two the priest returned to visit and it took Robbie several months to get through his rehab. The injuries were serious, but they were not physically life altering.

During numerous visits and watching Robbie go through countless rehab sessions, the priest noticed that Robbie's spirit had changed. The boy had evolved into one of the humblest individuals that the priest had ever known. Robbie's near death experience had changed his entire outlook on life and he became close to Jesus.

* * *

I want to go back to a point in the story where the priest said..."I'm going to pray that God takes you by the throat, lifts you up and crushes you for your sins."

After that first meeting the priest did pray for Robbie. He prayed that the Lord humble the boy in order to bring him closer to Jesus.

It's only through trials and tribulations that we find ourselves seeking and moving closer to God. God gives us these burdens to bear because He loves us. Trials, tribulations and hardships are invisible blessings from above and it's in these times that we draw closer to God and really find out how dependent we are upon him.

* * *

The story above is TRUE and I believe there are at least three points that standout:

1) It's okay to pray that God humble someone who has grossly strayed off the path. God will decide the appropriate action to take...we don't need to be specific. But, this should only be done out of love, not out of malicious intent.

2) The cross that we bare in life can be heavy at times, but God will never give us more than we can handle. He does this to remind us that we need Him more than anything else in the world.

3) Sometimes we just need a good kick in the (you know where) as a wake up call to remind us why were are here.


Humble yourselves, therefore, under God's mighty hand, that he may lift you up in due time.

1Peter5:6


God bless you. And this if for His Glory!

Tuesday, January 12, 2010

Your Favorite Sin

The beginning a new year is always a good time to reflect upon all the blessings that we had over the past year and to look forward to what's to come. Most of us find ourselves making a new year resolution. This typically leads to giving up something for the betterment of our physical, mental or spiritual health.

If you are contemplating the idea of a "resolution", then consider your favorite sin. Everyone has one. It's that one sin that we keep repeating over and over again. It's that one sin that if we were to go to confession or ask for forgiveness on a weekly basis, it would be on our list every single time.

Of course, I'm being facetious when I say "Favorite Sin". It's more like least favorite (being the repeat offender that it is). Mine is selfishness...and I struggle with it daily.

So, I challenge you to work from "the top down" to reduce and eventually eliminate your favorite sin this year. Put it in your cross hairs, make it a priority and by God's grace all the other loose ends in your life will start to fall into place as well.

15 This is a trustworthy saying, and everyone should accept it: “Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners”—and I am the worst of them all.

16
But God had mercy on me so that Christ Jesus could use me as a prime example of his great patience with even the worst sinners. Then others will realize that they, too, can believe in him and receive eternal life.

1 Timothy 15-16

Happy New Year.

God bless you. And this is for His Glory!

Verse of the Day