Show Up - Ash Wednedsay Reflection

Friends of Faith:

Yesterday the Ash Wednesday reflection was about our relationship with Jesus, about showing up to be with him. About showing up for him like we would for a friend, giving him our attention – not when we need his attention, but when, like a friend, he asks us to join him, to be present, so that he can have our undivided attention.

It got me to thinking about the empty pews we all see at church (regardless of which one we attend) and the difficulty so many have in following the “Keep Holy the Sabbath.” Commandment – even for only one hour on Sunday morning (or Saturday night).

It got me to thinking about why it’s so hard to just show up, for one hour to worship God, to give him our glory, our troubles and our attention; to just show up and be his friend.

Then today’s reading said this

Moses said to the people: “Today I have set before you life and prosperity, death and doom.
If you obey the commandments of the LORD, your God, which I enjoin on you today, loving him, and walking in his ways, and keeping his commandments, statutes and decrees, you will live and grow numerous, and the LORD, your God, will bless you in the land you are entering to occupy. If, however, you turn away your hearts and will not listen, but are led astray and adore and serve other gods, I tell you now that you will certainly perish; you will not have a long life on the land that you are crossing the Jordan to enter and occupy. I call heaven and earth today to witness against you: I have set before you life and death, the blessing and the curse. Choose life, then, that you and your descendants may live, by loving the LORD, your God, heeding his voice, and holding fast to him. For that will mean life for you, a long life for you to live on the land that the LORD swore he would give to your fathers Abraham, Isaac and Jacob.” 1 Dt 30:15-20

There’s 9 other commandments that this reading applies to – not just showing up for one hour on Sunday, but for “do not kill” (showing up to protect life at all ages), “do not take the Lord’s name in vain”(do not swear, including using “xxx’s” and showing up with positive words) etc, etc.

May you find this Lenten season to be a new time of commitment, a new time to take courage to say no to all of those Sunday activities which interfere with God’s request and to just SHOW UP!

And if your relationship with Jesus is what it should be on Sunday – you’re showing up -- then think about the other commandments that may take courage or change in order to grow closer to him, to be a better listener, to be a better example of Christian charity and mercy.

Blessings on your Lenten journey,

Charlotte

God First

Friends of Faith:

God First! This may seem like a no-brainer, but if we really think about it – do we really, truly and always put GOD First?

That’s what Jesus meant when he said: ‘Great crowds were traveling with Jesus, and he turned and addressed them, “If anyone comes to me without hating his father and mother, wife and children, brothers and sisters, and even his own life, he cannot be my disciple. Whoever does not carry his own cross and come after me cannot be my disciple. Lk 14:25-26

Wow – he really does mean we are to put HIM first. Of course, he doesn’t really mean that we are to hate our family, he just means we are to put HIM BEFORE even those we love. And if we are to put Him even before our family and friends then what does that say about all of the “things” we appear to love so much, things like money, cars, furniture, boats, sports, vacations and even abundant food and drink.

How often do we let something besides God make us happy in the moment? How often do we set aside prayer and never get back to it? How often do “things” take away our time with God? How often do we listen to a lie of the culture instead of making a decision based on God’s answer?

Earth is the devils playground. And the devil has been given all the time in the world to tempt us with money and materialism; a “me first,” feel good, culture; and technology which fills our time-- ultimately all of which can lead us to sin. The devil keeps us entertained so that we don’t have time to educate ourselves about God thru the Church or share God’s message of love with others.

The devil uses our selfish human nature and fights us with fire, storms of nature, illness, injury and even death by leading us down a path of despair instead of sacrifice. He uses whatever tactics he can to lead us in a godless culture down an easy street of degradation to our bodies and souls.

It is a constant challenge to remain with God: to take a tough line with our children by standing up to the sports and entertainment gods who insist on using Sunday morning as their playing field and where resources are spent by the millions. It is a fight to spend our time and resources helping the poor, caring for our elderly and encouraging our neighbors when our cell phones and computers keep us from getting to know our spouses, family and friends. It is a fight to choose deep, meaningful, conversations which can lead others closer to God when we are constantly interrupted by our cell phone. And it is easy to lose ourselves in a culture defined by sexual immorality, a lack of discipline and a desire to be materialistically happy.

 If everyone truly put God first (the no brainer) then we would all be on or searching for the same path in seeking truth and compassion. And with the help of God’s grace we would show each other mercy and forgiveness, healing and understanding while growing closer Him, to holiness and to each other. This is how God wants us to win the war against the devil; against powers, principalities and politics.

Putting God first is not just for Sunday morning. It means continuous prayers of thanksgiving and blessing before we eat and before we sleep, before we do anything of any consequence. It means a constant realization that we are here to make each other holy, that God has given us much and that whatever it is we are doing, we should be doing it without regard for our own happiness and comfort and for His greater glory.

If God was first then we could never forget that our time, our talents, and our treasures, our very lives are all a rich blessing, a blessing which no one can truly live without?

Several years ago I heard this wisdom: Happiness is fleeting, Joy is forever. God brings joy!

“Blessed are they who dwell in your house, O Lord. They are happy, who dwell in your house, for ever singing your praise. They are happy, whose strength is in you, in whose hearts are the road to Zion.” Psalm 84

I know I am happiest when I am putting God first. I feel the most joy when I give up my time to help a friend in need; when I take the time to pray the rosary while I am traveling; and when ministry work comes before my job.

“Then the king will say to those on his right, ‘Come, you who are blessed by my Father. Inherit the kingdom prepared for you from the foundation of the world. For I was hungry and you gave me food, I was thirsty and you gave me drink, a stranger and you welcomed me, naked and you clothed me, ill and you cared for me, in prison and you visited me.’ …. And the king will say to them in reply, ‘Amen, I say to you, whatever you did for one of these least brothers of mine, you did for me.’” Mt 25: 34-40

Without putting God first I cannot be instructed in his ways and without putting God first it is difficult to walk in his path. “That he may instruct us in his ways, and we may walk in his paths.” Is 2: 3

“Sing to the LORD a new song; sing to the LORD, all the earth. Sing to the LORD, bless his name; proclaim his salvation day after day. Tell his glory among the nations; among all peoples, his marvelous deeds. For great is the LORD and highly to be praised, to be feared above all gods. For the gods of the nations are idols, but the LORD made the heavens. Splendor and power go before him; power and grandeur are in his holy place. Give to the LORD, you families of nations, give to the LORD glory and might; give to the LORD the glory due his name! Bring gifts and enter his courts; bow down to the LORD, splendid in holiness. Tremble before him, all the earth; declare among the nations: The LORD is king. The world will surely stand fast, never to be shaken. He rules the peoples with fairness. Let the heavens be glad and the earth rejoice; let the sea and what fills it resound; let the plains be joyful and all that is in them. Then let all the trees of the forest rejoice before the LORD who comes, who comes to govern the earth, To govern the world with justice and the peoples with faithfulness.”  Amen. Psalm 96

Am I really putting God first? Be joyful, not happy. Be for God, not for yourself. For if God is for us, who can be against us?

Blessings,

Charlotte

Smelling Roses

Friends of Faith:

Smelling roses in January may seem a little odd, but that is why I love snow and ice days, because it allows me an opportunity to STOP for more than just an hour at church. The ice yesterday, gave me an opportunity to “stop and smell the roses” to stay home, to rest and to enjoy a day of relaxation.

“Today is holy to the LORD your God. Do not be sad, and do not weep”—for all the people were weeping as they heard the words of the law. He said further: “Go, eat rich foods and drink sweet drinks, and allot portions to those who had nothing prepared; for today is holy to our LORD. Do not be saddened this day, for rejoicing in the LORD must be your strength!” Neh 8: 8-10

But doesn’t it seem sad that we have to be “forced” to slow down, to do nothing, to stay home—to keep holy the Sabbath—not just one hour that I would have designated for church, but the entire day. Is history repeating itself “for the people were weeping as they heard the words of the law?”

Was I saddened because my plans for Sunday were cancelled, and I HAD to “rest” on the Sabbath?  Did I regret that church might be cancelled and I might not be able to spend time in a place of worship? Or was I frustrated or regretful because I realized the “law”—God’s law-- was going to be carried out without my control, beyond my control, and in HIS control –with an ice storm.

I personally felt true joy when Stan said it was still possible to go to church and I rejoiced because I was blessed to be able to dine with Jesus in receiving the Eucharist. Not only did I have the opportunity to spend time in the rose garden, but I was able to smell the roses in rest for the entire day.

Because everything in the secular world  was cancelled or postponed I felt a sense of peace that I did not even have to make a choice that I could just spend the day as it was originally intended when God created it—in rest, relaxation and quiet.

The saying “stop and smell the roses” always reminds me that there is something more than the busy stuff that I often find myself doing. It is a reminder for me to become Mary instead of Martha, (Lk 10: 38-42) to look around me for the “better part,” the creations of God, that I have put aside or missed because I have on blinders, I am “too” busy, and I have become desensitized to God’s purpose for me.

Yesterday was an opportunity to slow down long enough to find “the better part,” to “check” my attitude, my “values,” and my “priorities” for what is and what should be truly important.

So, how has the culture desensitized all of us to the original purpose of the day of rest? And beyond that how has the culture desensitized us to all of God’s purpose for us?

Has Sunday, the Lord’s day, become just another day to rush, to do, and to achieve something? Am I going so fast that I don’t have time to slow down for one day, yet alone one hour of one day?

And I think of someone who is in pain, who is suffering for any reason. Is that pain blinding them, or is the pain instead creating for them an opportunity to turn back to God, to grow, and to change? Is there a “silver lining,” a “rose” in nature, in what God proclaims for our Sundays, our today, and our every day?

“Jesus returned to Galilee in the power of the Spirit, and news of him spread throughout the whole region. He taught in their synagogues and was praised by all. …. He stood up to read and was handed a scroll of the prophet Isaiah…. ‘The Spirit of the Lord is upon me, because he has anointed me to bring glad tidings to the poor. He has sent me to proclaim liberty to captives and recovery of sight to the blind, to let the oppressed go free, and to proclaim a year acceptable to the Lord. …. He said to them, “Today this Scripture passage is fulfilled in your hearing.” Lk 4: 14-21

Heavenly Father, Your Spirit and glory has created roses in every corner of the world. Open my eyes to see them and my ears to hear you. Help me to take the time to smell them and feel the joy they are intended to produce in my life. Thank you for allowing me the opportunity for a day off, to rest and to see beyond this hectic world. Amen.

Is time rushing past you? Are you seeing and feeling thorns instead of flowers? When was the last time you truly “stopped” to smell the roses?

The roses of God are true and beautiful. Taste and see the goodness of the Lord,

Blessings,

Charlotte

www.morningreflection.blogspot.com

Who is My King?

Women of Faith:

I am sure everyone of us has, or is, or will, at some point in our lives, get up five days a week and either put the kids on the bus, or go to a job.

Why? Because it is our responsibility. To “learn,” because the government tells us we should, and to provide for our basic needs.

I am sure, that because we are all Christians we are just as diligent every Sunday, in spending the Sabbath with God as our primary boss, and as our focus. First, we set an example and take our children to church and then, we spend time refreshing our Christian souls, spending time with our family or by using Christ’s day to serve others. We set aside school (the government) and jobs (money) and let Sunday be “God’s day.”

Or are we? What are we letting intrude into “God’s day?” Are we standing up as Christians and telling our other “kings” that Sunday is sacred? Are we showing our children and our neighbors who the real King in our lives is? Is Christ our King?

Ps 121: 7-8 “Our help is from the Lord, who made heaven and earth. The LORD will guard you from all evil; he will guard your life. The LORD will guard your coming and your going,both now and forever.

How can we be helped if we don’t make God our King? How can God guard us if we allow 5 days of the week to overshadow God’s day or if we “skip” God’s day this week? Why is it so important to remind ourselves and others that Christ is our King.

Matthew Kelley, in “The Rhythm of Life” talks about God’s day, with an emphasis on it as a day of rest: “The philosophical foundation of the lifestyles celebrated by the media screams, “Life is about what you have and what you do.” Pleasure, possession, and power are the three pillars… The emphasis is on having and doing, rather than on BECOMING. The truth is that what you BECOME is infinitely more important than what you do, or what you have.”

So , can I become “Christ” if I don’t spend a day with Christ? How can I become an imitator of Christ, my King, if I let the world become my King?

Dear God: Praise be Your Holy Day! I am sorry for the times when I let someone or something other than you be my King. Thank you for giving me a day to “rest” with you. Thank you for giving me time to spend with you and with my Christian family. Refresh my soul. Refresh the souls of my friends. Guard and protect me this week. And help me always to “become” more like you. Amen.

Blessings on your Week—
Charlotte