Saturday, January 10, 2015
Romans 12:2
Do not be conformed to this world, but rather be transformed by the renewal of your mind, that by testing you may discern what is the will of God, what is good and acceptable and perfect.
Be The Change
So the other day I found my old rubber band bracelet that says "Be The Change". I got it about 3-4 years ago and I had misplaced it for awhile now, but when I was packing up to go back to college, I found it again. Seeing this little green band got me thinking though, what does it take to change something? What does it take to be the change as it says? Sure it's simply written down, but what does it really take?
Let's start with the beginning. The word "change" itself means: to become different, to make (someone or something) different, to become something else. So, to enact change, you have to be completely original and new. You have to do things no one else has ever done. You have to live off the grid or what not, right? Not exactly. You can simply enact change or at least become different from whatever the social media says to be by not following the mainstream idea of what it means to be normal. Sometimes by breaking what may seem the path of least resistance, you realize that it's also not the best or normal path to do things/be. I've found that by striking out on your own, while yes it might be difficult at first, it ends up being better and more engaging for you in the long run.
So now we know the definition and what it kinda means, so now, how to do enact it? All at once? That sounds too hard. No, you don't need drastic and sudden changes in your lifestyle to prove that you can be a change. You need deliberate, yet simple changes to make a difference. Also, I want you to make sure these changes are in a positive manner. There's no point in being a different person if it only makes your life worse. Try helping someone with their groceries, walk an elderly across the street, volunteer at your local homeless or animal shelter, or even simply compliment at least 1 new person everyday. Simple acts like those are small enough to not even think about twice, but it will make someone else's day and that's the whole point. These kinds of things can cause chain reaction and enact the change that this world needs.
I think we get so wrapped up in our day-to-day lives that we forget how others really react to us. How many times have you found yourself not communicating with someone clearly because of other issues in the way? We've gotten so involved with ourselves that we've started to lose our sense of caring about others and how do you think that makes God feel? We've only got a couple guidelines to follow, so why do we not enact them? How can we love our neighbors if we only care about ourselves? A little good deed goes a long way. So as my wristband says, "Be The Change".
Let's start with the beginning. The word "change" itself means: to become different, to make (someone or something) different, to become something else. So, to enact change, you have to be completely original and new. You have to do things no one else has ever done. You have to live off the grid or what not, right? Not exactly. You can simply enact change or at least become different from whatever the social media says to be by not following the mainstream idea of what it means to be normal. Sometimes by breaking what may seem the path of least resistance, you realize that it's also not the best or normal path to do things/be. I've found that by striking out on your own, while yes it might be difficult at first, it ends up being better and more engaging for you in the long run.
So now we know the definition and what it kinda means, so now, how to do enact it? All at once? That sounds too hard. No, you don't need drastic and sudden changes in your lifestyle to prove that you can be a change. You need deliberate, yet simple changes to make a difference. Also, I want you to make sure these changes are in a positive manner. There's no point in being a different person if it only makes your life worse. Try helping someone with their groceries, walk an elderly across the street, volunteer at your local homeless or animal shelter, or even simply compliment at least 1 new person everyday. Simple acts like those are small enough to not even think about twice, but it will make someone else's day and that's the whole point. These kinds of things can cause chain reaction and enact the change that this world needs.
I think we get so wrapped up in our day-to-day lives that we forget how others really react to us. How many times have you found yourself not communicating with someone clearly because of other issues in the way? We've gotten so involved with ourselves that we've started to lose our sense of caring about others and how do you think that makes God feel? We've only got a couple guidelines to follow, so why do we not enact them? How can we love our neighbors if we only care about ourselves? A little good deed goes a long way. So as my wristband says, "Be The Change".
Monday, January 5, 2015
1 John 4:7
Beloved, let us love on another, for Love is from God, and whoever loves has been born of God and knows God.
Love vs. Friendship - Is There a Difference?
It's easy to get lost or simply misunderstand things when we start a relationship of some sorts with a person. Whether it be creating a new friendship, or progressing an already existing one into a relationship, we need to be able to communicate and make sure we understand each other. Although this might seem like a daunting task, there is one thing that helps us out, and that's love. Yes, I know not all of us want to talk about it or mention -its gross, or too sensitive, etc., but we need to realize that with any relationship (no matter at what level it's at), love plays an important part of it.
The definition of love is actually 3 different notions:
1) A feeling of strong or constant affection for a person
2) A person you love in a romantic way
3) Attraction that includes sexual desire: the strong affection felt by people in a romantic relationship
All 3 notions are actually separate in their own way, but can also be used as levels of intensity when you judge how much you might "love" someone. The first notion of love can be actually used for anyone you might have already had a strong connection with or at least building to. It simply means that you feel that you like that individual and that most likely you want what's best for them. If you could help them out in anyway, you'd probably try to do so, but with limited efforts since you're not probably romantically or sexually involved with them. You can love someone even if you're only just friends with them. I actually have a couple people I would put in this notion of love.
The 2nd notion is like adding another layer of how much you love someone. This is usually where one would start dating another if both came to this level together. If you begin to date someone or you're engaged to them, you will feel this sense of pride and happiness anytime your around your significant other. You want to be with them. You want to take them out on dates. You want to hold hands, etc. Usually this is where the whole "young love" comes into notion because this is usually the time in which new couples or newly married people feel the most happy physically with their relationship with their significant other.
The 3rd notion of love is typically supposed to be saved for marriage. Unfortunately, in our modern society, this is sadly not the case. This also may be why so many marriages and regular relationships fail so quickly. Somewhere along the way, we got to thinking that if we have sex while in a relationship or even if we do it before we get into one, then it'll make or relationship better, stronger. Actually, that only works when you actually have the other levels of love involved first. You can't love someone like that if you don't even have an already deep connection with them in the beginning. Sure we might get it wrong and break up with someone even after we thought we were going to marry them, but that doesn't mean it was wrong. It just means we need to rethink how we live our lives. Love is a strong and complicated thing, sex doesn't solve that puzzle by itself alone. We're supposed to use it to show someone just how much we truly care about them. Sex is supposed to be meaningful, not just a fun one-night stand. I know it's ridiculous to think we have to wait till marriage to have sex with our loved one, but maybe God was right when He suggested that. I mean, How else do we out so much meaning into something as important as love into sex if w. e barely know someone?
Altogether, all 3 notions of love, like I said, can be built upon and used to define the relationship that you're in with someone. Remember though, if you want to or plan on moving to the next level, you have to communicate and understand how your partner feels so as to make sure you both come to an agreement and know that you both feel the same way about each other, otherwise, maybe it's best to just stay where you are with that person. Some relationships are not meant to be, or need to take more time to develop. So don't fret too much.
The definition of love is actually 3 different notions:
1) A feeling of strong or constant affection for a person
2) A person you love in a romantic way
3) Attraction that includes sexual desire: the strong affection felt by people in a romantic relationship
All 3 notions are actually separate in their own way, but can also be used as levels of intensity when you judge how much you might "love" someone. The first notion of love can be actually used for anyone you might have already had a strong connection with or at least building to. It simply means that you feel that you like that individual and that most likely you want what's best for them. If you could help them out in anyway, you'd probably try to do so, but with limited efforts since you're not probably romantically or sexually involved with them. You can love someone even if you're only just friends with them. I actually have a couple people I would put in this notion of love.
The 2nd notion is like adding another layer of how much you love someone. This is usually where one would start dating another if both came to this level together. If you begin to date someone or you're engaged to them, you will feel this sense of pride and happiness anytime your around your significant other. You want to be with them. You want to take them out on dates. You want to hold hands, etc. Usually this is where the whole "young love" comes into notion because this is usually the time in which new couples or newly married people feel the most happy physically with their relationship with their significant other.
The 3rd notion of love is typically supposed to be saved for marriage. Unfortunately, in our modern society, this is sadly not the case. This also may be why so many marriages and regular relationships fail so quickly. Somewhere along the way, we got to thinking that if we have sex while in a relationship or even if we do it before we get into one, then it'll make or relationship better, stronger. Actually, that only works when you actually have the other levels of love involved first. You can't love someone like that if you don't even have an already deep connection with them in the beginning. Sure we might get it wrong and break up with someone even after we thought we were going to marry them, but that doesn't mean it was wrong. It just means we need to rethink how we live our lives. Love is a strong and complicated thing, sex doesn't solve that puzzle by itself alone. We're supposed to use it to show someone just how much we truly care about them. Sex is supposed to be meaningful, not just a fun one-night stand. I know it's ridiculous to think we have to wait till marriage to have sex with our loved one, but maybe God was right when He suggested that. I mean, How else do we out so much meaning into something as important as love into sex if w. e barely know someone?
Altogether, all 3 notions of love, like I said, can be built upon and used to define the relationship that you're in with someone. Remember though, if you want to or plan on moving to the next level, you have to communicate and understand how your partner feels so as to make sure you both come to an agreement and know that you both feel the same way about each other, otherwise, maybe it's best to just stay where you are with that person. Some relationships are not meant to be, or need to take more time to develop. So don't fret too much.
Friday, November 7, 2014
Songs Bring Things into Focus
So here's another song I thought you guys would like to here. I personally like it because it reminds of a simpler time, yet it also tells us about how our relationship with God is and what He does for it and how it all compares. I hope you like it and once again, thanks for listening.
It's called "Preacher" by One Republic. You can copy the URL here and paste it in another tab to hear it.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=of0N_--eQlg
It's called "Preacher" by One Republic. You can copy the URL here and paste it in another tab to hear it.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=of0N_--eQlg
Proverbs 3:5-6
"Trust in the LORD with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding; in all your ways acknowledge Him, and He will make your paths straight."
Trust
Have you ever had a an embarrassing moment, or just a really crappy day and you need to tell someone about it, but you didn't everyone to know about? So, you tell your best friend, or your mom/dad, or one of your siblings? What makes you tell them instead of someone else? Why do you think they won't run off and tell everyone? It's simple - trust. Many people these days have forgotten how important it is to trust, whether it be with your significant other, your parents/sibling/friends, or even God. You need to be able to divulge yourself in people and do it without wondering if it's a good idea to do so or not. You need to be able to trust.
Relationships, whether they be marriages, simple gf/bf, or even with our friends, have been falling apart more than ever within the last 10 years simply because of trust issues. These days we have Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, etc. and then you add the real world social experience and it's easy to see how things can get out of hand when it comes to trying to control who see what info about us we're willing sharing. Does this mean we can blame the technology? No! This is because the understanding of what trust is.
The dictionary definition of what trust means is one that is a "belief in someone or something that is reliable, good, honest, effective, etc. - ie: a charge or duty imposed on in faith or confidence or as a condition of some relationship; something committed or entrusted to one to be used or cared for in the interest of another." What does this mean? It means that you are able to tell someone something and have faith in the other to not simply spread it around. It means that you can know in your heart whether someone will be there for you or not when you're in trouble or when you need them the most. It means being able to make important decisions with someone because you have faith in them that they're looking out for you and helping by making the appropriate choices in order to better both of you.
So let's talk about what this means with God. So many of us have doubts everyday. It's ok to admit them, I do anyways. Doubts like whether He's real, or whether or not life will get better by His hand, or even whether or not He's even looking after us. It's understandable to have those kinds of doubts. If you don't, then great for you, you must have a stronger faith than a lot of us. For those of you who waver though, just know you're not alone. What makes the difference though? What makes a person stronger in their faith then? It's simple again - trust. If you can put the same, or even more trust (the same that you would give to your best friend, or significant other) to God when it comes to knowing whether He's looking after you or not, then I guarantee you will be a lot happier. Trust is the glue to what builds or faith in God, without it, we have nothing. Trust in Him and in return, He will grant you ever blessing and praise you could ever imagine. Afterall, our understanding of God is just like a relationship. He's put His trust in you, so now return the favor, otherwise you're going to fall apart from Him, just like any other relationship.
So trust in Him. Learn to have better trust with others. And most importantly, learn to trust yourself too.
Relationships, whether they be marriages, simple gf/bf, or even with our friends, have been falling apart more than ever within the last 10 years simply because of trust issues. These days we have Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, etc. and then you add the real world social experience and it's easy to see how things can get out of hand when it comes to trying to control who see what info about us we're willing sharing. Does this mean we can blame the technology? No! This is because the understanding of what trust is.
The dictionary definition of what trust means is one that is a "belief in someone or something that is reliable, good, honest, effective, etc. - ie: a charge or duty imposed on in faith or confidence or as a condition of some relationship; something committed or entrusted to one to be used or cared for in the interest of another." What does this mean? It means that you are able to tell someone something and have faith in the other to not simply spread it around. It means that you can know in your heart whether someone will be there for you or not when you're in trouble or when you need them the most. It means being able to make important decisions with someone because you have faith in them that they're looking out for you and helping by making the appropriate choices in order to better both of you.
So let's talk about what this means with God. So many of us have doubts everyday. It's ok to admit them, I do anyways. Doubts like whether He's real, or whether or not life will get better by His hand, or even whether or not He's even looking after us. It's understandable to have those kinds of doubts. If you don't, then great for you, you must have a stronger faith than a lot of us. For those of you who waver though, just know you're not alone. What makes the difference though? What makes a person stronger in their faith then? It's simple again - trust. If you can put the same, or even more trust (the same that you would give to your best friend, or significant other) to God when it comes to knowing whether He's looking after you or not, then I guarantee you will be a lot happier. Trust is the glue to what builds or faith in God, without it, we have nothing. Trust in Him and in return, He will grant you ever blessing and praise you could ever imagine. Afterall, our understanding of God is just like a relationship. He's put His trust in you, so now return the favor, otherwise you're going to fall apart from Him, just like any other relationship.
So trust in Him. Learn to have better trust with others. And most importantly, learn to trust yourself too.
Sunday, November 2, 2014
John 14:27
Peace I leave with you; my peace I give you. I do not give to you as the world gives. Do not let your hearts be troubled and do not be afraid.
Halloween & College Advice
So, last Friday was Halloween and since I'm in college, well, guess what that means. If anything like drugs, sex, alcohol, tons of parties, skimpy outfits, excessive makeup, etc. come to your mind, well, you wouldn't be wrong. However, not everyone celebrates like that. Some like to just hang with a couple friends in a Halloween themed hangout. Surprisingly, this is possible. Whatever your morals are, there is a place for you in college, don't worry. I go to the one of the nation's top party schools, yet I'm still able to find my niche here without getting high or drunk every other night, so you can too, don't worry.
Which brings me to my next point: don't think for a second that because you're in college all of the sudden that you have to change yourself, or drop any morals that you have in order to have a good time. What/who you were in high school, can still be you in college, but don't forget the becoming an adult thing too. Whatever is your thing, you can for sure find it in college, so don't worry about fitting in or standing out, everyone is unique and everyone is there own person.
Also, don't fall for the peer pressure. I don't drink, I don't sleep around, and I for sure don't do drugs. Those are just my personal morals and such, but I have been asked to do several of those things multiple times. I've said no multiple times. Sure some people will call you a coward or mess with you because of how you want to live your life, but it's your life. How you want to live your life, is your choice. You don't have to change your morals for others, or for yourself in order to have friends or even to have fun. I'm friends with people who do those things, but I also have friends that don't and are a little more like me. The key is to know where your values lie and to know what you really want to get out of the experience of college. It's all up to you. You're parents aren't going to call everyday and make sure you're not getting into trouble. College is the time that you're own your sort of. You have to learn who you are as a person and then how to make yourself a better version of that through education and simply experience.
I personally looked into some of the catholic stuff here on campus and found several opportunities to still stay connected to my faith. Therefore, so can you. I promise you that.
I hope that all helps and that you can rest a little easier if you're worried about college.
Which brings me to my next point: don't think for a second that because you're in college all of the sudden that you have to change yourself, or drop any morals that you have in order to have a good time. What/who you were in high school, can still be you in college, but don't forget the becoming an adult thing too. Whatever is your thing, you can for sure find it in college, so don't worry about fitting in or standing out, everyone is unique and everyone is there own person.
Also, don't fall for the peer pressure. I don't drink, I don't sleep around, and I for sure don't do drugs. Those are just my personal morals and such, but I have been asked to do several of those things multiple times. I've said no multiple times. Sure some people will call you a coward or mess with you because of how you want to live your life, but it's your life. How you want to live your life, is your choice. You don't have to change your morals for others, or for yourself in order to have friends or even to have fun. I'm friends with people who do those things, but I also have friends that don't and are a little more like me. The key is to know where your values lie and to know what you really want to get out of the experience of college. It's all up to you. You're parents aren't going to call everyday and make sure you're not getting into trouble. College is the time that you're own your sort of. You have to learn who you are as a person and then how to make yourself a better version of that through education and simply experience.
I personally looked into some of the catholic stuff here on campus and found several opportunities to still stay connected to my faith. Therefore, so can you. I promise you that.
I hope that all helps and that you can rest a little easier if you're worried about college.
I'm Back!!!
Hey guys, sorry that I have been so quiet for so long there (what, 4 months now?), college is a busy thing sometimes. But I promise to start posting more from now. So look forward to more coming through from me!!! :)
Friday, July 18, 2014
1 Thessalonians 2:9
"For you remember, brothers, our labor and toil: we worked night and day, that we might not be a burden to any of you, while we proclaimed to you the gospel of God."
My Mission Trip
So last week I went on a mission trip with my youth group. We drove 10 hours to go to Moore, OK and be apart of a Catholic work camp that was set up to help residents affected by the tornado that ripped through their town last year. Although most of the houses were either rebuilt or moved and rebuilt elsewhere, there was still a lot to be done. Schools start in about a month or so out there, yet the grounds still needed to be cleaned up. There were still residents that needed new fences and their yards cleaned out. And finally there were food pantries, homeless shelters, and thrift stores that needed help organizing and aiding help to those less fortunate. Our mission? Help as many people as we could.
We left Sunday morning, July 6th. We were all excited and ready to get on the road and get there soon, so we could start working, however, we needed to pick up a few extra cars from another parish nearby that was caravaning with us. We had arrived to the meeting place early and the other parish was also running late, so it was about an hour before they met up with us. I think it was then I started feeling a surreal moment coming over me. Yeah I was joking around with my friends and we were laughing and such, but in the back of my mind I started thinking about what we were really getting ready to do. We were going to do work, but what kind of work? With whom would we be working with exactly? Was there decent food and shelter? Who was going to be in charge? How many people will there be? How badly damaged is the town? Will we have to build any homes or do landscaping? Etc, etc, etc. All these questions and more were running through my mind at the time, but one thing was for certain. We were going to be helping people and by doing so, we were all being servants of God.
We all had summer plans and if not, I'm sure most of us wouldn't have minded just laying back by the pool or hanging out with friends, or possibly even going to work to get some cash, but the difference we didn't do any of that. No, we worked throughout the past school year to raise money, prepare ourselves, and clear our schedules so that we could all come on this trip. How cool is that? It wasn't until we actually arrived at the church we were basing camp at that I realized that being a servant of God was more than just the title. In fact, the camp leaders changed that thought for me by saying we were all being "Servants of C.H.R.I.S.T.". What does that mean, you're probably wondering? I didn't figure that out till our last day nearly. It was Thursday night and then we were finally told. "C.H.R.I.S.T." stood for "Chosen Heros Rising In Service & Truth". That's right.
We were out there, whether painting a classroom for a teacher, replanting and putting up fences for a resident, or even restocking the church's food pantry, we were out there all serving Christ in some way or another. That is because we brought the Truth, the word or action of God to people in need. They needed help, although some of them did't want to admit it. They needed to see that people still care. They needed to feel that someone is still out there watching over them and that someone is God. Although some had damaged homes and yards, others were damaged financially and couldn't afford help. Yet still more so, others were damaged emotionally because they couldn't begin to comprehend what had happened. The Truth tho? God loves all His children and He will not abandon any of them. We were called to rise up and be servants of Christ to help others. Our Service reinforced the Truth through our actions, our words, and our feelings. What we did gave people an understanding of God they hadn't seen before. To able to see over 200 teens and young adults hearing the call of Christ and stepping up to do their part to help out a community not even theirs, is astounding. When I found out how many people were helping out, I was floored. I've never seen that kind of power of God and I could see it in each one of those people I met while on my trip.
While we were on our trip, our camp leaders told us to try and find Christ in at least one thing each day. I found too many to count. The camaraderie we had with each other, and the willingness to help others no matter what the job was screaming God's name in themselves. There was one moment however in which I found god speaking to me the most while on the job. The last day we were given a special task (our whole youth group and a couple other small groups) to go about 50 miles south and help a group called "Rebuild Ministries" start the foundation for a new house and green house. There was only one welder and only one or two of us could help him, so I volunteered. I watched the guy first blow torch (basically) a couple holes in a piece of metal and then he gave me a chisel and a hammer and said, "you see the metal that's sticking up around the sides of the holes; I need you to chisel that off". I was glad to and started right away.
This took awhile and so my mind started wondering. The night before we had adoration and reconciliation and I started thinking about what the monk (who was from a nearby monastery) told us at the beginning of it all. He said, "while we try and drown out the voice of God and our own voice even, we soon come to realize that it is in the silence sometimes that God can actually heal us the most. That is when we take time to think of our wrongs, to ask God for forgiveness, and try to reexamine our lives so as not to commit those sins again. So take some time to just sit still, look at God upon this altar, and if there is something you want from Him, don't hesitate to ask. This is because He is all forgiving and wants us to be happy and He will never give up on you because of your wrongs, because He is stronger and bigger than them." Thinking about what He said made me think about how we were like the piece of metal I was trying to fix and clean up. Our sins were like the metal that was twisted and built up on the sides of the holes and God was like me. He was there, taking a chisel and a hammer and cutting and smoothing our sins away and just like I didn't give up every time the welder handed me another piece of metal to clean, neither does God. He continues to fix us, to heal us, to make us clean and whole again no matter what the cost is. All we need to do is ask for His grace and mercy to help.
So, while that was my moment of seeing Christ in the work that I was doing, the overall message was that we were there. We helped people and we acted in Christ's name, so that the people there could see that they were not alone. They had not been abandoned and that they can receive God's grace and love to heal and strive on. I personally think this was one of the best experiences of my life and I hopr to do it some day again.
We left Sunday morning, July 6th. We were all excited and ready to get on the road and get there soon, so we could start working, however, we needed to pick up a few extra cars from another parish nearby that was caravaning with us. We had arrived to the meeting place early and the other parish was also running late, so it was about an hour before they met up with us. I think it was then I started feeling a surreal moment coming over me. Yeah I was joking around with my friends and we were laughing and such, but in the back of my mind I started thinking about what we were really getting ready to do. We were going to do work, but what kind of work? With whom would we be working with exactly? Was there decent food and shelter? Who was going to be in charge? How many people will there be? How badly damaged is the town? Will we have to build any homes or do landscaping? Etc, etc, etc. All these questions and more were running through my mind at the time, but one thing was for certain. We were going to be helping people and by doing so, we were all being servants of God.
We all had summer plans and if not, I'm sure most of us wouldn't have minded just laying back by the pool or hanging out with friends, or possibly even going to work to get some cash, but the difference we didn't do any of that. No, we worked throughout the past school year to raise money, prepare ourselves, and clear our schedules so that we could all come on this trip. How cool is that? It wasn't until we actually arrived at the church we were basing camp at that I realized that being a servant of God was more than just the title. In fact, the camp leaders changed that thought for me by saying we were all being "Servants of C.H.R.I.S.T.". What does that mean, you're probably wondering? I didn't figure that out till our last day nearly. It was Thursday night and then we were finally told. "C.H.R.I.S.T." stood for "Chosen Heros Rising In Service & Truth". That's right.
We were out there, whether painting a classroom for a teacher, replanting and putting up fences for a resident, or even restocking the church's food pantry, we were out there all serving Christ in some way or another. That is because we brought the Truth, the word or action of God to people in need. They needed help, although some of them did't want to admit it. They needed to see that people still care. They needed to feel that someone is still out there watching over them and that someone is God. Although some had damaged homes and yards, others were damaged financially and couldn't afford help. Yet still more so, others were damaged emotionally because they couldn't begin to comprehend what had happened. The Truth tho? God loves all His children and He will not abandon any of them. We were called to rise up and be servants of Christ to help others. Our Service reinforced the Truth through our actions, our words, and our feelings. What we did gave people an understanding of God they hadn't seen before. To able to see over 200 teens and young adults hearing the call of Christ and stepping up to do their part to help out a community not even theirs, is astounding. When I found out how many people were helping out, I was floored. I've never seen that kind of power of God and I could see it in each one of those people I met while on my trip.
While we were on our trip, our camp leaders told us to try and find Christ in at least one thing each day. I found too many to count. The camaraderie we had with each other, and the willingness to help others no matter what the job was screaming God's name in themselves. There was one moment however in which I found god speaking to me the most while on the job. The last day we were given a special task (our whole youth group and a couple other small groups) to go about 50 miles south and help a group called "Rebuild Ministries" start the foundation for a new house and green house. There was only one welder and only one or two of us could help him, so I volunteered. I watched the guy first blow torch (basically) a couple holes in a piece of metal and then he gave me a chisel and a hammer and said, "you see the metal that's sticking up around the sides of the holes; I need you to chisel that off". I was glad to and started right away.
This took awhile and so my mind started wondering. The night before we had adoration and reconciliation and I started thinking about what the monk (who was from a nearby monastery) told us at the beginning of it all. He said, "while we try and drown out the voice of God and our own voice even, we soon come to realize that it is in the silence sometimes that God can actually heal us the most. That is when we take time to think of our wrongs, to ask God for forgiveness, and try to reexamine our lives so as not to commit those sins again. So take some time to just sit still, look at God upon this altar, and if there is something you want from Him, don't hesitate to ask. This is because He is all forgiving and wants us to be happy and He will never give up on you because of your wrongs, because He is stronger and bigger than them." Thinking about what He said made me think about how we were like the piece of metal I was trying to fix and clean up. Our sins were like the metal that was twisted and built up on the sides of the holes and God was like me. He was there, taking a chisel and a hammer and cutting and smoothing our sins away and just like I didn't give up every time the welder handed me another piece of metal to clean, neither does God. He continues to fix us, to heal us, to make us clean and whole again no matter what the cost is. All we need to do is ask for His grace and mercy to help.
So, while that was my moment of seeing Christ in the work that I was doing, the overall message was that we were there. We helped people and we acted in Christ's name, so that the people there could see that they were not alone. They had not been abandoned and that they can receive God's grace and love to heal and strive on. I personally think this was one of the best experiences of my life and I hopr to do it some day again.
Thursday, March 6, 2014
Matthew 6: 1-34
Beware of practicing your righteousness before other people in order to be seen by them, for then you will have no reward from your Father who is in heaven. Thus, when you give to the needy, sound no trumpet before you, as the hypocrites do in the synagogues and in the streets, that they may be praised by others. Truly, I say to you, they have received their reward. But when you give to the needy, do not let your left hand know what your right hand is doing, so that your giving may be in secret. And your Father who sees in secret will reward you. And when you pray, you must not be like the hypocrites. For they love to stand and pray in the synagogues and at the street corners, that they may be seen by others. Truly, I say to you, they have received their reward.
Wednesday, March 5, 2014
Time is of the Essence
What kind of person are you when it comes to dealing with time? Are you a down to the last minute get everything done as quick as possible? Or are you the type that takes their time and carefully executes every detail of the plan? What gets you motivated? Can you relax and work or do you have to constantly move?
It seems that we're always moving now in days, but what are we moving towards? That appointment? That game? What about moving towards God? Many of us don't really think about it, since we typically only go to church once a week, but time is of the essence. How much time do you think you have left on Earth? How much time do you think you have to change your ways? How much time do you think you have to make things right with your past?
Several times a week I personally have to stop and remember that this world isn't here for long. Sure it seems that life will be forever, or that it will move on without us, but what happens when it's too late? What happens when you can't go back and apologize for a mistake or rude comment? What happens even you realize you weren't the nicest of a person to that elderly lady driving on the road because you were late and thought you were more important? What happens when you realize you don't have enough time to make up for the lost time of not spending enough with your kids and they're all grown up?
Sometimes we need to realize that we won't live forever. We have to realize also that our lives aren't more important than others. We need to sometimes slow down and relax. God didn't say that we should work on Sunday, but rather to keep the holy day Sabbath. We need to slow down and fix our wrongs. Pray a little more for help from God. We need to help others and treat our neighbors like we wanted to be treated. Love them, care for them, and pray for them.
After all, when we're called from this Earth, to you really think God is going to judge you on how well you work or how you get your projects done well? No, He's going to judge you on your character. Were you nice to your neighbors even even you had a rough day? Were you ok to that elderly lady in traffic and not cutting her off? Did you decide to stop your work for some time to spend with your kids? You're character is what will weigh more than anything because character is doing the right thing even when no one is watching.
So what are you going to differently from now on? What are you going to go back and apologize for or try to make right? After all, you might have more limited time than you think. So remember, time is of the essence.
It seems that we're always moving now in days, but what are we moving towards? That appointment? That game? What about moving towards God? Many of us don't really think about it, since we typically only go to church once a week, but time is of the essence. How much time do you think you have left on Earth? How much time do you think you have to change your ways? How much time do you think you have to make things right with your past?
Several times a week I personally have to stop and remember that this world isn't here for long. Sure it seems that life will be forever, or that it will move on without us, but what happens when it's too late? What happens when you can't go back and apologize for a mistake or rude comment? What happens even you realize you weren't the nicest of a person to that elderly lady driving on the road because you were late and thought you were more important? What happens when you realize you don't have enough time to make up for the lost time of not spending enough with your kids and they're all grown up?
Sometimes we need to realize that we won't live forever. We have to realize also that our lives aren't more important than others. We need to sometimes slow down and relax. God didn't say that we should work on Sunday, but rather to keep the holy day Sabbath. We need to slow down and fix our wrongs. Pray a little more for help from God. We need to help others and treat our neighbors like we wanted to be treated. Love them, care for them, and pray for them.
After all, when we're called from this Earth, to you really think God is going to judge you on how well you work or how you get your projects done well? No, He's going to judge you on your character. Were you nice to your neighbors even even you had a rough day? Were you ok to that elderly lady in traffic and not cutting her off? Did you decide to stop your work for some time to spend with your kids? You're character is what will weigh more than anything because character is doing the right thing even when no one is watching.
So what are you going to differently from now on? What are you going to go back and apologize for or try to make right? After all, you might have more limited time than you think. So remember, time is of the essence.
Sunday, February 2, 2014
Songs Bring Things Into Focus
I thought this video might be perfect for getting a better picture of what we're all up against these days. Listen to the lyrics carefully, and enjoy! :)
Matthew 5:14-16
"You are the light of the world. A city set on a mountain cannot be hidden. Nor do they light a lamp and then put it under a bushel basket; it is set on a lampstand, where it gives light to all in the house. Just so, your light must shine before others, that they may see your good deeds and glorify your heavenly Father."
My Battle Cry, What's Yours?
So during this weekend's youth group retreat, our theme was "This Means War". We got to learn about what the war is truly and what it means to fight it. We also learned what armor or weapons we have already been given that we have the ability to use at any time we want. Then on the last day, we had a prayer circle and individually came up with a battle cry for ourselves that would help ourselves to continue the fight and to remind us what we're fighting for. This is mine:
"Although the Devil may press
Although the temptations build
You're Stronger Anyways
Although they might rebel
Although they may not want to listen
Make Them Anyways
Although the end may seem so far
Although the light at the end seems so small
Lead Them Anyways
So shod your feet in the gospel of peace, wrap the belt of truth around you,
Put on the breastplate of righteousness, put on the helmet of salvation,
pick up your shield of faith, and wield your sword of the word of God
And finally, always Pray"
Now, what's your battle cry?
"Although the Devil may press
Although the temptations build
You're Stronger Anyways
Although they might rebel
Although they may not want to listen
Make Them Anyways
Although the end may seem so far
Although the light at the end seems so small
Lead Them Anyways
So shod your feet in the gospel of peace, wrap the belt of truth around you,
Put on the breastplate of righteousness, put on the helmet of salvation,
pick up your shield of faith, and wield your sword of the word of God
And finally, always Pray"
Now, what's your battle cry?
This Means War
There's a battle being waged right now. It's not always visible. It's not specific to one person or another. Each one of us have felt it. Have gone through it. Everyone'e outcome is different. Some are even still stuck fighting it. What's this battle you say?
Good vs. Evil
God vs. Satan
Heaven vs. Hell
The Devil has infiltrated us in almost every aspect in our society these days. Whether it be what you see in the media, or what you hear through the gossip at the lunch table. The Devil is nearly everywhere. He tempts us. He lies to us. He tries to make us feel good about doing bad. And it almost seems like he's been winning recently with the raise in the our crime rates, the violence in our politics, and the wrong messages in our media.
Now I know what you're thinking, "How can I possibly win against him in this battle then?"
Well, here's some good news:
1) God has already won the battle. He's taken dominion over Satan and the Devil can never touch Him again. God gave His only begotten Son for us in order to be able to conquer death and save us from our sins, so that we could go to Heaven with Him.
2) God has given us the ability to fight against sin and temptation by giving us the Church. That is our home base of resistance against Satan. He gave us a rock to hold onto when the tides get to high.
and
3) God has given us the 7 pieces of armor to defend ourselves against Satan and his demons.
What are these 7 pieces of armor you ask?
Ephesians 6:13-17 reads
"Therefore, put on the armor of God, that you may be able to resist on the evil fay and, having done everything, to hold your ground. So stand fast with your loins girded in truth, clothed in righteousness as a breastplate, and your feet shod in readiness for the gospel of peace. In all circumstances hold faith as a shield, to quench all the flaming arrows of the evil one. And take up the helmet of salvation and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God."
I know what you're thinking, I only counted 6 there. That's because the 7th one isn't really a piece of armor. its the Power of Prayer. Prayer is an amazing thing that can help bring everything together and keep the connection open to the Lord. Just as a soldier must keep the communication lines open for the commander, we must do with the Power of Prayer.
So God has given us armor and weapons to battle against the Devil, but you might still be asking why? If God has already won, then why do I need to fight? It's over, right?
Not exactly. God gave His only begotten Son for us because He wanted to even the playing field. He could've easily gotten rid of Satan, but instead He decided to let us participate in our own salvation. So the Devil tries to tempt us. He lies to us and tells us things that we get confused about. He twists the truth to make something bad sound/seem good.He wants us to forget the true king. He wants us to leave our allegiance to him, not God. And everyday is a battle. That's the fight you fight through everyday and God can't force you to want Him or listen to Him for that matter.
So it comes down to choice. Look at your options. Look at the consequences of your actions. Decide who you want to swear your allegiance to in this battle, because in the end; God is still going to come and He is still going to judge the living and the dead. That judgement decides whether you go to Heaven or Hell, so choose wisely. That's all this battle is truly about. The choices we make and the consequences of them. So now it's your turn. You still get to decide. God is always going to be there and He's willing to always help you to Heaven, but you have to want it. So talk to Him. Ignore the temptations of sin from the Devil. It's your turn to rise and fight for your eternal life. Give it all, or lose it all.
It's your choice.
Good vs. Evil
God vs. Satan
Heaven vs. Hell
The Devil has infiltrated us in almost every aspect in our society these days. Whether it be what you see in the media, or what you hear through the gossip at the lunch table. The Devil is nearly everywhere. He tempts us. He lies to us. He tries to make us feel good about doing bad. And it almost seems like he's been winning recently with the raise in the our crime rates, the violence in our politics, and the wrong messages in our media.
Now I know what you're thinking, "How can I possibly win against him in this battle then?"
Well, here's some good news:
1) God has already won the battle. He's taken dominion over Satan and the Devil can never touch Him again. God gave His only begotten Son for us in order to be able to conquer death and save us from our sins, so that we could go to Heaven with Him.
2) God has given us the ability to fight against sin and temptation by giving us the Church. That is our home base of resistance against Satan. He gave us a rock to hold onto when the tides get to high.
and
3) God has given us the 7 pieces of armor to defend ourselves against Satan and his demons.
What are these 7 pieces of armor you ask?
Ephesians 6:13-17 reads
"Therefore, put on the armor of God, that you may be able to resist on the evil fay and, having done everything, to hold your ground. So stand fast with your loins girded in truth, clothed in righteousness as a breastplate, and your feet shod in readiness for the gospel of peace. In all circumstances hold faith as a shield, to quench all the flaming arrows of the evil one. And take up the helmet of salvation and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God."
I know what you're thinking, I only counted 6 there. That's because the 7th one isn't really a piece of armor. its the Power of Prayer. Prayer is an amazing thing that can help bring everything together and keep the connection open to the Lord. Just as a soldier must keep the communication lines open for the commander, we must do with the Power of Prayer.
So God has given us armor and weapons to battle against the Devil, but you might still be asking why? If God has already won, then why do I need to fight? It's over, right?
Not exactly. God gave His only begotten Son for us because He wanted to even the playing field. He could've easily gotten rid of Satan, but instead He decided to let us participate in our own salvation. So the Devil tries to tempt us. He lies to us and tells us things that we get confused about. He twists the truth to make something bad sound/seem good.He wants us to forget the true king. He wants us to leave our allegiance to him, not God. And everyday is a battle. That's the fight you fight through everyday and God can't force you to want Him or listen to Him for that matter.
So it comes down to choice. Look at your options. Look at the consequences of your actions. Decide who you want to swear your allegiance to in this battle, because in the end; God is still going to come and He is still going to judge the living and the dead. That judgement decides whether you go to Heaven or Hell, so choose wisely. That's all this battle is truly about. The choices we make and the consequences of them. So now it's your turn. You still get to decide. God is always going to be there and He's willing to always help you to Heaven, but you have to want it. So talk to Him. Ignore the temptations of sin from the Devil. It's your turn to rise and fight for your eternal life. Give it all, or lose it all.
It's your choice.
Thursday, December 5, 2013
Christmas Bible Verses
John 3:16
For God so loved the world, that he gave his only Son, that whoever believes in him should not perish but have eternal life.
Romans 6:23
For the wages of sin is death, but the free gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord.
James 1:17
Every good gift and every perfect gift is from above, coming down from the Father of lights with whom there is no variation or shadow due to change.
For God so loved the world, that he gave his only Son, that whoever believes in him should not perish but have eternal life.
Romans 6:23
For the wages of sin is death, but the free gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord.
James 1:17
Every good gift and every perfect gift is from above, coming down from the Father of lights with whom there is no variation or shadow due to change.
What Is Christmas?
What does it really mean to celebrate Christmas? Buying and wrapping presents for each other? Decorating the house with lights and festive decor? Does Christmas mean to make cookies and gingerbread houses and take a break off from school?
No
While all of those things might be great and makes Christmas even more enjoyable, that's just simply not what Christmas is about. Can you guess what is the most important part of Christmas tho? It shouldn't be that hard, since his name is in the word; Christ. The birth of the Christ, our savior, who came down to Earth to deliver us from evil and forgive us for our sins. Christmas, or rather the Advent season, is the waiting for the coming of Christ. Although we would like to think that Christmas is about waiting for jolly old St. Nicholas to come on the 25th, that's simply not what it's supposed to be about.
The History?
The Advent season always starts after Thanksgiving and from then on until Christmas day, we celebrate the coming of our Savior. Back then when people believed in god, they believed he would send a savior to rescue them from the darkness they were in. The weeks before Christ's birth were just like others; dark and lacking in faith. Those weeks were supposed to be reflected in our culture now in days with without all the lights and festivities. We were supposed to experiencing what it was truly like to be waiting for a savior to came and rescue you. Only after Christmas day are we actually supposed to celebrate the birth of Christ. Then we could have all the festivities, cookies, lights, etc.
The Problem?
We've forgotten what the true meaning of Christmas is. I know it sounds cheesy, but why should it? Why have we forgotten about the birth of Christ? how many of us actually go to church on Christmas, or Christmas Eve? How many of us have a nativity scene somewhere in our house when we decorate it for the Holiday season? How many of us actually understand what it was like waiting in the dark for a savior to rescue you with the light? So many of us focus on the gifts, Black Friday shopping, getting a Christmas tree, lighting up the house inside and outside. No one really stops and thanks Him for giving us the one thing that we absolutely needed (and still need); Himself.
Solution?
So, how about this Christmas season we take that initiative to know about this time more and thank Him for everything He's given us and try to put yourselves in those people 2,000 years agoto understand how they felt without a Savior? Is that too much? I hope not, but something is better than nothing. I think we all could a little better in praying and simply being thankful for what you have and not be so needy for what you want. So instead of asking for so much this Christmas season, how about we ask for less? how about we simply ask for our families safety and love? How about we ask for simply being able to enjoy the littlest things we have? how about we ask for grace, mercy, and love from Him during this extraordinary time of the year?
After all, for someone's birthday that we've been supposedly been celebrating for the past 2,000 years, I would think we should know just why and what we are celebrating because He's obviously important, instead of just going through the motions.
So Merry Christmas this season. I hope you all have a great and happy holidays. Amen.
No
While all of those things might be great and makes Christmas even more enjoyable, that's just simply not what Christmas is about. Can you guess what is the most important part of Christmas tho? It shouldn't be that hard, since his name is in the word; Christ. The birth of the Christ, our savior, who came down to Earth to deliver us from evil and forgive us for our sins. Christmas, or rather the Advent season, is the waiting for the coming of Christ. Although we would like to think that Christmas is about waiting for jolly old St. Nicholas to come on the 25th, that's simply not what it's supposed to be about.
The History?
The Advent season always starts after Thanksgiving and from then on until Christmas day, we celebrate the coming of our Savior. Back then when people believed in god, they believed he would send a savior to rescue them from the darkness they were in. The weeks before Christ's birth were just like others; dark and lacking in faith. Those weeks were supposed to be reflected in our culture now in days with without all the lights and festivities. We were supposed to experiencing what it was truly like to be waiting for a savior to came and rescue you. Only after Christmas day are we actually supposed to celebrate the birth of Christ. Then we could have all the festivities, cookies, lights, etc.
The Problem?
We've forgotten what the true meaning of Christmas is. I know it sounds cheesy, but why should it? Why have we forgotten about the birth of Christ? how many of us actually go to church on Christmas, or Christmas Eve? How many of us have a nativity scene somewhere in our house when we decorate it for the Holiday season? How many of us actually understand what it was like waiting in the dark for a savior to rescue you with the light? So many of us focus on the gifts, Black Friday shopping, getting a Christmas tree, lighting up the house inside and outside. No one really stops and thanks Him for giving us the one thing that we absolutely needed (and still need); Himself.
Solution?
So, how about this Christmas season we take that initiative to know about this time more and thank Him for everything He's given us and try to put yourselves in those people 2,000 years agoto understand how they felt without a Savior? Is that too much? I hope not, but something is better than nothing. I think we all could a little better in praying and simply being thankful for what you have and not be so needy for what you want. So instead of asking for so much this Christmas season, how about we ask for less? how about we simply ask for our families safety and love? How about we ask for simply being able to enjoy the littlest things we have? how about we ask for grace, mercy, and love from Him during this extraordinary time of the year?
After all, for someone's birthday that we've been supposedly been celebrating for the past 2,000 years, I would think we should know just why and what we are celebrating because He's obviously important, instead of just going through the motions.
So Merry Christmas this season. I hope you all have a great and happy holidays. Amen.
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