Disclaimer

Disclaimer

“My God will fully supply whatever you need, in accord with his glorious riches in Christ Jesus.” ~ Philippians 4:19

     Have you ever seen those advertisements either on tv or magazines about this incredible weight loss or saved from an enormous debt?  Now, what comes right after it? A disclaimer. The disclaimer will say results will vary or not a guarantee you will get these same results. I think that when we give our testimonies about the life we have in God, Jesus, Holy Spirit, Mary or the Saints or how They have helped us over come something, a disclaimer should also appear. Now before you get upset by that hear me out as the reason it should be. 

      First let me say what the disclaimer should be: " Each of us will be touched, healed, moved, tested, given graces, shown the way, given answers, and prayers answered all differently. No relationship is the same, no one is loved more or less, no one is heard clearer in prayers or thoughts, no one is put ahead of another, and we are all the same in the eyes of God." 

      There are two reasons I feel this way. The first is : To many times we, and I include myself in this as well, see how God, Jesus, Holy Spirit, Mary or the Saints move, act and appear to those around us and compare how they are in our lives. The second is : When people hear what has been done in others lives it can have both a positive and negative result. The positive gives them hope and that is what sharing our testimonies should be doing. The negative can make people lose that hope as well. The reason is that they may turn away because they feel less, that God doesn't love them, that He cares for others and not them. For example if someone is ill and they hear how someone was given a miracle it can make them feel why not them. There is also a part  where people say that they were healed by going to a place, being prayed over by, or went through a program. Those events are a personal one and is not a guarantee.  Yes, this is where faith and hope come into it but when someone is holding out and feel that if they follow that persons way, they too shall be healed. It is not the way of the person but the way God has acted in them and through them. People when they are desperate do not see things as clearly as others. We need to keep that in mind when we speak about our lives. It is in the turning to God, Jesus, Holy Spirit, Mary and the Saints that we are touched, healed and shown the way. It is not in a program, a person, or a group. Yes, each of them can be used by all those in Heaven but it is not on them ( program, person, group) alone. 

    When we speak we need to be clear on how these events in our spiritual lives truly take place. We can not give false or questionable hope to those who are seeking that connection, healing, or answers.  Yes, God will use us to glorify Him and give hope to those who are in need but it is in His name that all things were made possible. 

    This does not mean that we pull back and do not share our journey or our testimony but be aware that people are listening and we are never sure what they are holding onto from what we are saying. Our lives should be giving people hope that there is a God and that He loves them just as much as us and that He will and can do great things in them and through them as well. The disclaimer is not to take away hope but to direct that hope to the Heavens and not to man or women or place or group or object. 

    The disclaimer is for both the person hearing the testimony and the one giving it as we'll. We are the ones who are speaking and we must allow the Heavens to be glorified and not those people or things of the world. Yes, say who helped you, what program helped, what prayers helped but remind them that is how God used those things to help,  heal and connect with YOU and how it may be different for others. 

Until tomorrow, God Bless, and remember the disclaimer of this world so the Heavens can be glorified. 

Quote of St. Augustine

Quote of St. Augustine

"If you believe what you like in the gospels, and reject what you don't like, it is not the gospel you believe, but yourself."

 ~ St. Augustine

   I read this quote the other day and I must say it has been playing over and over in my head. I must say that I know at time I have down played some messages of the Gospels because they did not fit the life that I was looking to live or those that made me feel less justified in my actions. In that sense I was rejecting some of the messages of Jesus and making my opinions greater then His messages.

    In the world we live in today we are taught to question, demand proof, take what you want and leave the rest. When we adhere to the voices of the world and allow them to make us question what is true, then we risk our faith. Now, I am not saying that questioning is wrong because it is in questioning we can go further but those questions should come from our soul and not those of the world. 

   Saint Augustine’s quote calls us into question wether we are believing in ourselves more then the gospels. Every so often I feel we do need this kind of check in our lives. Who are we believing in ? and who is it that our trust is in? I am not saying that we can not believe in ourselves or that we can not have faith in ourselves but when our own beliefs start to cast  shadows on those of Jesus then we are heading down a dark area. 

   Think about this quote and reflect on it for a while today and see if the messages of the Gospels ,as a whole,are what you believe in or just what you want to believe in them.

Until tomorrow, God Bless, and may the Gospels Message increase your faith in Jesus. 

Impossible Possible

Impossible Possible

   I heard this song the other night at a concert and besides its great message of hope when you think there is none, but it is upbeat and gets the spirit within you to start to burn stronger. We all need at times those songs that just inspire us to go forth and make the Impossible Possible. 

Until tomorrow, God Bless, and all things are Possible with God by our side. 

Come all you weary ones 

Come all you thirsty sons 

Come to the water 

The water that never runs dry 

Come all you crooked thieves 

Cast your cares and believe 

He is the water 

The water that never runs dry 

Jesus makes the impossible possible 

Jesus makes the incapable more than able 

If you call He will answer 

If you seek you will find 

He is the water 

The water that never runs dry 

Come all you tattered saints 

Double-mined and afraid 

Come to the water 

The water that never runs dry 

Come all you broken down 

Put your feet on His solid ground 

Receive the water 

The water that never runs dry 

Taste and see, come and drink of the water 

He is all that we need (2X) 

He is all that we need

"Decline or Accept"

"Decline or Accept"

    I saw this picture and I had to smile. Just imagine for a bit that God called you on your phone.... How would you react when you looked down at the phone and saw that it was God calling? Would you answer right away or let it go to voice mail? Would you decline the call right from the start? I must say that I think I would freeze for a second and let it sink in.  Here is the reality of it, God calls each of us every day. There is not a day that goes by that God doesn’t call us. 

     A call from God is not just to the religious life as many think of when they hear someone say “God’s Calling .......” There are many reasons why God calls us. Maybe it is for us to have a deeper relationship? Maybe it is for us to return to Him? Maybe it is for us to serve? Maybe it is to a mission? There can be a hundred more reasons that He would be calling You! 

     Yes, That’s right YOU! You are being called to do something more with this life that has been given to you. We are all asked to give more in this life. There is no exception to this rule. For each of us there are different calls to answer but the same goal in the end. To bring others to know the God that lives and reigns in us and for us. You may be asking yourself should I answer this? Why is He calling me? What does He want me to do? 

      Ok... So you hit accept and now you say “ummmm Hello...”  You hear God’s voice speak to you and it goes to your core and resides in your soul. There are times that His voice is very clear to you and you understand and then others where you strain to hear Him. In your head you may be thinking. “ Did God call the right number”, Is He sure about this? I don’t think I can do this? Sounds good to me. Where do I go from here”. We may ask all of these or just say “Ok, Let Your will be done”. God doesn’t call the wrong number. Believe me I have tried that excuse many times with Him. I would say “ That was meant for someone else”, and then I would even go as far as say who I thought it was for. God knows our gifts, talents, and what we have inside of us. He knows what we able to do and not do way before we do. That call. That message, That conversation, was meant for you and only you. 

    Now what? You are done talking and you exhale finally that breath that you held as you listened to God. Now, pray on what you heard and ask for clarity on what you didn’t hear or understand. Just because it is not clear, doesn’t mean that you get to ignore the call. You have to act on whatever you have been asked. It may be just a personal internal change or a change that takes you out into the world. Either way there are steps that need to be taken. The first step is always on your knees and pray. Pray for understanding, Pray for Guidance, Pray for the talents and the knowledge, Pray for the equipment you will need. You will receive all that you need to do and work. 

     Up until now this has been about you accepting the call, but what if you ignore and God leaves that message. You can ignore the call and even delete the message that is left. That is the gift of your free will. He will not force you to listen. But, I will say this and I speak with experience, God will keep calling you. He will not give up on you ever. No matter how many times you hit ignore. What if, you let the calls go to voice mail and He leaves a message for you? Well, very simple. He knows you will listen to it when you are ready. Again it is not forced. You have the power to listen when you are ready to hear the message.  I must say that I am still going through some of the messages He left for me. It is a good feeling to know that He never stop trying, caring or loving me. God will do the same for you as well. 

    Sometimes the call is not what we thought it would be about. It is not always a call to do or work on something but just that call to say Hello and I am thinking about you. He wants to talk to us each day to remind us that He loves and cares for each of us. That means YOU as well. I know for myself that was a hard concept at times and that He does want to just say Hello and talk and not require anything else but that. 

    God is calling You! He calls us all, all the time. Answer the call and see where it takes you. See what God has to offer you today and each new day that follows. 

Until tomorrow. God Bless, and answer the call, God is calling. 

St. Gerard Majella

St. Gerard Majella

Feast day: October 16

Patron of expectant mothers

Died: 1755

St. Gerard Majella, religious, is the patron of expectant mothers. He was born at Muro, Italy, in 1726 and joined the Redemptorists at the age of 23, becoming a professed lay brother in 1752. He served as sacristan, gardener, porter, infirmarian, and tailor. However, because of his great piety, extraordinary wisdom, and his gift of reading consciences, he was permitted to counsel communities of religious women.

This humble servant of God also had the faculties of levitation and bi-location associated with certain mystics. His charity, obedience, and selfless service as well as his ceaseless mortification for Christ, made him the perfect model of lay brothers. He was afflicted with tuberculosis and died in 1755 at the age of twenty-nine.

This great saint is invoked as a patron of expectant mothers as a result of a miracle effected through his prayers for a woman in labor.

Prayer: O Great Saint Gerard, beloved servant of Jesus Christ, perfect imitator of your meek and humble Savior, and devoted Child of the Mother of God: enkindle within my heart one spark of that heavenly fire of charity which glowed in your heart and made you an angel of love. O glorious Saint Gerard, because when falsely accused of crime, you did bear, like your Divine master, without murmur or complaint, the calumnies of wicked men, you have been raised up by God as the Patron and Protector of expectant mothers. Preserve me from danger and from the excessive pains accompanying childbirth, and shield the child which I now carry, that it may see the light of day and receive the lustral waters of baptism through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.

Worn by Tenth Avenue North

"Worn" by Tenth Avenue North

     I heard this song today and it reminded of last Monday and the events in Boston. That no matter what we have done or what brings us down that all we need to do is find the strength to look up to the heavens and let the healing begin. When we are all worn, we need our God to remind us and show us that we can be reborn and be renewed. That we need to know that at some point we will have rest and that the struggle will end for us. When we have Faith we are able to pull strength from our souls to help us get by and be strong in all things. This song reminds me to pull that strength and continue on. As usual I have included the song and the lyrics. 

Until tomorrow, God Bless, and may you lift your eyes to heaven when you feel worn. 

I'm tired 

I'm worn 

My heart is heavy

From the work it takes to keep on breathing

I've made mistakes 

I've let my hope fail

My soul feels crushed

By the weight of this world

And I know that you can give me rest

So I cry out with all that I have left

Let me see redemption win

Let me know the struggle ends

That you can mend a heart that's frail and torn

I want to know a song can rise

From the ashes of a broken life

And all that's dead inside can be reborn

Cause I'm worn

I know I need 

To lift my eyes up

But I'm too weak

Life just won't let up

And I know that You can give me rest

So I cry out with all that I have left

Let me see redemption win

Let me know the struggle ends

That you can mend a heart that's frail and torn

I want to know a song can rise

From the ashes of a broken life

And all that's dead inside can be reborn

Cause I'm worn

And my prayers are wearing thin

I'm worn even before the day begins

I'm worn I've lost my will to fight

I'm worn so heaven come and flood my eyes 

Let me see redemption win

Let me know the struggle ends

That you can mend a heart that's frail and torn

I want to know a song can rise

From the ashes of a broken life

And all that's dead inside can be reborn

Yes all that's dead inside will be reborn

Though I'm worn 

Yeah I'm worn

Merge

Merge

“For through the law I died to the law, that I might live for God. I have been crucified with Christ; yet I live, no longer I, but Christ lives in me; insofar as I now live in the flesh, I live by faith in the Son of God who has loved me and given himself up for me.” ~Galatians 2:19-20

   The other evening on my way home I was driving and got off my exit. As I drove around the bend I saw that I was lucky to be getting off where I did because just right passed the exit there was traffic. The four lanes of traffic were merging into one lane. It got me to think about how we are to merge all the aspects and areas of our lives into one lane that follows the road that Jesus took each day of His life. 

     All areas of our lives should reflect Jesus in some way. We should be known as a follower of Christ and that of a person of faith. For many of us we may have areas of our lives that may not show Jesus or the faith as clear as other areas of our lives. It is not as easy for some as it is for others. Maybe some have been away from a life that included Jesus or the faith and it is harder to merge all those areas in our lives. Also maybe that some did not have that influence of Jesus or the faith as they grew up and came later to know Jesus or the faith. 

     As we know when we drive and try to merge into one lane, how hard it is at times. It is the same for merging our lives with Jesus and the Faith. As we merge there are different influences that hinder us. Think of the time when someone who would not let you into the lane and you have to wait. This is the same for those who are trying that merge with Jesus. Those around that person may not let them forget who they were and constantly remind them of their past. It can be someone who not only doesn’t live that life but those who are also merging as well. For some its easier to bring down then lift up. When people do this it makes us question if we may even belong on that road to begin with. It can cause us to slow down and feel that we are not ready or worthy to try. When those around do this we have to inch our way into the merge and show that we want this. We need to stand firm and make our way anyway. 

     We also need to remember that just like when driving we are told in advance that we need to merge. We are given notice that we need to start to merge. Same with our lives and Jesus merging. We are given the time to merge because it is not so easy. People are there trying to get in before you and get ahead of others so they may get there quicker. That merging can take time. We have to allow the Spirit to guide us and work in us. If we just merge immediately, we can cause an accident and in this case we can fall from Jesus and the Faith. That accident can keep us from merging fully and just keep us on the side. I am not saying that it always takes time but that for some it may need to be an easing in process. At the same time we can not wait till the last minuet to merge either. If we wait for the last moments in our lives to do this then we missed out on those moments that Jesus wanted us to have. Also like if you wait as you drive to do this, it is not really you making this merge but the fact that the cones on the road are making you merge. It was not your choice but outside influence. It may be that you are ill and know the time is coming and that illness is making you merge. It is still good that you are doing this but you miss those extra miles that you could have had with the faith and Jesus. You have to want to merge your life for it to be real. 

     I am trying to merge all the areas of my life but must admit that there are some areas that are harder then others. People are starting to see more and more how Jesus and the faith is becoming my focus but not everyone is clear with it. It is guiding my choice and decisions but I should be more vocal about it. There are areas of my life that need Jesus to be more present and reflective of the faith. I am trying. It is hard to let go sometimes because it is giving control to Jesus so He may work in me with the Spirit and guide me in this merge. 

   Jesus and the Faith should be seen within us at all times, in all circumstance, with all the people and no matter where we are. It is a time for us to stand for what we believe and as we merge our lives with that of Jesus and the Faith, it will become easier. We will gain in power and strength. 

Until tomorrow, God Bless, and start by putting on your blinker so others know you are ready to merge.