Hmmm!

Hmmm! When I look at other people - do I look at them through the eyes of Jesus, or through the eyes of a Pharisee?

Too often, I think, through the eyes of a Pharisee!

I don't like it. I'm not proud of it. But I think it's true. I think I have some work to do!! (Or rather, I think it's time to allow God to do some work in me!)

Obedience vs Understanding

Trust in the LORD with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding; Proverbs 3:5

I love this scripture verse. I think it is very powerful and full of wisdom in itself. Many of us say - and even believe, that we trust God. But, when it comes right down to it, our acts reflect our own understanding rather than our trust in God's wisdom. When we can't reconcile our opinion with Scripture, we often times twist the words of Scripture in order to support our opinion. Other times we choose to remain ignorant of Scripture saying "I've never seen that in the bible" when in fact we never really take the time to search and understand.

Thus we have people, who profess to be Christians, who profess to trust God, and yet they remain divided on key issues which leave many outsiders wondering "What exactly do Christians believe?"

It takes true humility - and courage, I believe to act according to God's wisdom, rather than our own understanding. It takes humility to be 'obedient' to any authority that tells me I can't follow my own desires - especially when I don't understand the reasons.

John 14:23
Jesus replied, "If anyone loves me, he will obey my teaching. My Father will love him, and we will come to him and make our home with him.

This promise of Jesus is reason enough for me to obey, in spite of the fact that I don't understand.

Prayer

I need to remember that the purpose of prayer is not to bend God to MY will. The purpose of prayer is to open me up to God's will allowing Him to transform me into His image and likeness.

Transformation

If I don't first allow the Gospel message to transform my own life - how can I expect it to transform the lives of others? How can I expect the world to become a better place - if I can't even become a better person?

There's always room for growth. I can't get where God wants me to be overnight - but I can take a step toward that place everyday.

Forgiveness

God does not excuse me from forgiving someone because they have treated me badly. Rather, it is WHEN someone treats me badly that God INVITES me to forgive.

Spiritual Beings

WE ARE NOT HUMAN BEINGS GOING THROUGH
A TEMPORARY SPIRITUAL EXPERIENCE.

WE ARE SPIRITUAL BEINGS GOING THROUGH
A TEMPORARY HUMAN EXPERIENCE. (Anonymous)


This is easy for us to get backwards, is it not?

Gratitude

Why is it so hard for us to recognize the good in our lives, acknowledge it and be grateful for it?

Whatsoever You Do.....

It seems to me that the way we love and praise God is reflected by the way we love and treat other people.

If I say I 'love' God but disregard the dignity of another human being then I am a liar.

Jesus said "Whatsoever you do to the least of my brothers, you do unto me." And so I have to ask myself.


Do I recognize Jesus in my spouse? Do I treat my spouse with love and respect? ("Whatsoever you do to the least of my brothers, you do unto me.")

Do I recognize Jesus in my child? Would I discipline Jesus the way I discipline my child? ("Whatsoever you do to the least of my brothers, you do unto me.")

Do I recognize Jesus in my co-worker? Would I gossip about Jesus the way I gossip about my co-worker? ("Whatsoever you do to the least of my brothers, you do unto me.")

Do I recognize Jesus in my employee? Would I talk to Jesus the way I talk with someone under my authority? ("Whatsoever you do to the least of my brothers, you do unto me.")

Do I recognize Jesus in myself? Do I love unconditionally, see the good in people and treat others the way I want to be treated - regardless of how they treat me? ("Whatsoever you do to the least of my brothers, you do unto me.")

Obviously, I fall very short of the mark. Do I love Jesus enough to keep trying?

Church Teachings

I have to say - I don't have a good understanding of all that the Church teaches.

For instance, I don't understand why the Church teaches that using artificial birth control is sinful. I've TRIED to understand it - but I'm having a hard time wrapping my head around it. I also don't have a clear understanding of why the Church teaches that homosexual behavior is sinful.

But I'm at a place in my faith where I humbly submit myself to the teachings of the Holy Catholic Church without question. I don't HAVE to understand. I simply OBEY.

How did I get to this place? Well, to be honest, I think God took me there! Because, I was pretty far away and I don't think I could have found it on my own.

It starts with humility, I think. Think of it this way. The Church is over 2000 years old! The bishops are learned people. Serving God has been their LIFE'S work. They've spent YEARS studying theology, and studying Greek,Latin and Hebrew languages. They've studied history and ancient culture. They spend HOURS in prayer EVERY SINGLE DAY! I, on the other hand, have NEVER studied theology. I can't speak OR understand Greek, Latin or Hebrew. I'm not crazy about history and can't really tell you ANYTHING about the culture surrounding the time of Jesus.

So with that in mind - I think it would be pretty arrogant of me to rely on my own OPINION to guide me rather than the teachings of the Church. Proverbs 3:5 says "Trust the Lord with all of your heart and lean not on your own understanding."

God didn't create me to understand it all. I don't need to. He created bishops to guide me and teach me. I simply have to humble myself to the teaching of the wise! How very good God is to give us a Church to guide us in all of His ways. We simply need to humble ourselves to obey!

Listening for God's Voice

Listening for God's voice is a big challenge for me.

When I fail to hear it, often times I'm tempted to think that He doesn't really speak to me.

In truth, I guess I know that He DOES speak. I think maybe it's hard to discern His voice sometimes over my OWN thoughts. Often times when I pray, I already know what I want to hear. I have a specific prayer intention and I'm sure that if I pray hard enough God will answer my prayer exactly the way I pray it. Often times, I feel I already know the mind of God. His opinion has to be the same as mine, right? (Because what other opinion could there be?) My mind is set and I leave little room for Him to get a word in edgewise!

I am trying to learn to be more humble in my prayer. I am trying to learn to say to God "This is how I see the situation...." "This is how I feel..." etc., "BUT - YOUR Wisdom surpasses all human knowledge. YOU see the WHOLE picture while I can only see what affects me. YOU, God, are ALL Good, ALL Loving, ALL Wise. I recognize that I am merely the created. YOU are the CREATOR. I trust You with this situation because I TRUST Your love for me and ALL mankind. Help me to open my heart to Your direction and please give me the courage and grace to DO what You ask me to do and BE who you want me to be! Amen."

Working on Me

The whole purpose of being a Christian, I think, is to allow God to transform me into the image and likeness of Christ. It took me awhile, but I finally realize that I can't do the work without God - and to be honest about it, I guess God can't do it without me either. We both have to work on me!!

I think that I've finally figured out a few things. The goal is to allow God to work on ME. I can pray and ask God to change other people - and that's fine - but even if the other people change - how will THAT transform ME????

How can I learn forgiveness - if I do not FIRST experience hurt?
How can I learn to let go of anger - if FIRST, someone doesn't make me angry?
How can I learn unconditional love - if FIRST, I don't experience someone who is unlovable?
How can I learn 'hope' - if FIRST, I don't experience disappointment?
How can I learn 'faith' - if FIRST - I don't experience fear?
How can I learn 'humility' - if FIRST - I don't have all the answers.

And so, Thank You God, for the times people have hurt me. Thank you for allowing people to make me angry. Thank You for putting mean, negative, ungrateful and unloving people in my path. Thank You for allowing me to experience disappointment and fear. Thank you for the times you have allowed me to be humbled.

I always ask you to take trials from me but You are wise to allow me to grow through them instead. You are a good and loving parent. You know what's best and You stand firm in Your hope for me. Thank You for believing in me and for standing by me - picking me up when I fall, dusting me off and sending back on my way to try again.

The Voice of God

I think it's really hard sometimes to hear the voice of God over the voice of the world. The world SHOUTS. God whispers.

A Prayer

I praise You for Your great Love. I praise You for Your Wisdom. I praise You because You are perfect in every way.

Who am I but a mere creature? I have NOTHING that did not come from You. Therefore - I own nothing. I am merely a steward of everything you have entrusted to me. Even my life is not my own but created by You to serve Your purpose. My personal plans mean nothing to me - because any thing I do and anything I accomplish that does not serve Your purpose is meaningless in the grand scheme of things.

Oh Lord, I am Yours. Make of me what You will. I give my all to You. I do not know what You want me to do. I just want to be available to You to use whenever and however You please.

I love You so much. Sometimes, I can hardly contain myself. Keep me safe in Your care.
Amen

Purpose to Life

I think there's really only one purpose to life - and that is to grow in the image and likeness of Christ. That makes total sense to me. I think we have to grow spiritually before we're ready for Heaven. And I firmly believe that whatever growth we don't achieve here on earth, we will have to achieve before we inherit the Kingdom of God. That's where Purgatory comes in.

The thing about it is - God gives us the opportunity to grow in our every day lives and circumstances but most of the time, we don't see what's right before our eyes. We hate trials of any kind and view them as a curse. We hate loss of any kind - loss of a dream, loss of health, loss of a friend or lover, loss of a job, etc. And loss IS scary. But I've learned that God is faithful. He doesn't bring the trial but He will stay with us through the trial. And if we trust Him, He will bring us out on the other side - wiser and more steadfast in our faith.

My greatest fear I think is to die and only then recognize all the opportunities that I wasted on earth to grow in the image and likeness of Christ.