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

Writing in the Sand

Friends of Faith:

Jesus bent down and began to write on the ground with his finger. But when they continued asking him, he straightened up and said to them, “Let the one among you who is without sin be the first to throw a stone at her.”Again he bent down and wrote on the ground. And in response, they went away one by one, beginning with the elders. So he was left alone with the woman before him. Then Jesus straightened up and said to her, “Woman, where are they? Has no one condemned you?” She replied, “No one, sir.” Then Jesus said, “Neither do I condemn you. Go, and from now on do not sin anymore.” Jn 8: 1-11

What was the writing in the sand? Could it be that what was written in the sand was not quite as significant as the patience that Jesus displayed as he was writing? A patience that gives all the characters in the story time to examine themselves as sinners? Only God knows.

Not only is God all merciful, but it is only God we need to please. And it is in our task on the journey of life to not only know what pleases him, but to know how and if we are pleasing him. We can’t fool God.

Yet sometimes I try. I know sometimes that what I do, big or little isn’t what God would want or wanted me to do.

It’s not necessarily that my choice is to be a hypocrite, or even to do wrong. It’s that I am human. Sometimes I don’t know any better and I need someone with better judgment than me to tell me that I am, or what I am, doing is wrong.

Sometimes I haven’t yet received the wisdom to know differently and I need to study more about how the Christian Church was formed.

And sometimes I just need to understand that I am listening to the wrong voice within me. And while it may seem “easier” in my human nature to do what everyone else is doing, or what makes me feel happier because it gives me pleasure in that particular moment. If it is not God’s right it won’t leave me with a lasting happiness so that I may feel joy and peace forever.

One of the gifts given by the Holy Spirit at Confirmation is the gift of Right Judgment (1Cor: 12). The gift to know what is right by God and what is not right by God: the gift to be able to make choices based on knowing the difference between right and wrong in God’s eyes. It is a gift given so that with every step I make I can see the “writing in the sand” and hear and feel the mercy of God so that I can “go and from now on sin no more.”

Not only is this a gift I am given to know my own right and wrong, but it is a gift that I am asked to both be a witness to and to share with others so that each of us may become more holy. As a Christian I cannot judge how God will see someone, but it is my duty, regardless of how I will be treated, to share His commandments and to learn and discern the difference between Gods right and wrong.

I cannot say “it doesn’t affect me, or that some choice wouldn’t be my choice.” Would it be God’s choice? If we know what God’s choice would be, if we know what God’s writing in the sand would be, then His message must be shared with compassion and mercy.

In the words of St. Paul: “This third time I am coming to you. “On the testimony of two or three witnesses a fact shall be established.”I warned those who sinned earlier …. that if I come again I will not be lenient, since you are looking for proof of Christ speaking in me. He is not weak toward you but powerful in you. For indeed he was crucified out of weakness, but he lives by the power of God. 2 Cor 13: 1-11 (Continued as a prayer)

Heavenly Father:  So also we are weak in him, but toward you we shall live with him by the power of God. Examine yourselves to see whether you are living in faith. Test yourselves. Do you not realize that Jesus Christ is in you?—unless, of course, you fail the test. I hope you will discover that we have not failed. But we pray to God that you may not do evil, not that we may appear to have passed the test but that you may do what is right, even though we may seem to have failed. For we cannot do anything against the truth, but only for the truth. For we rejoice when we are weak but you are strong. What we pray for is your improvement.  I am writing this while I am away, so that when I come I may not have to be severe in virtue of the authority that the Lord has given me to build up and not to tear down. V. Conclusion^*

Finally, brothers, rejoice. Mend your ways, encourage one another, agree with one another, live in peace, and the God of love and peace will be with you. 2 Cor 13: 1-11 Amen.

Sometimes the message God shared falls on fertile soil – soil that is being nurtured, that wants to grow and learn more. Sometimes that message falls on sand and withers as it dries up waiting for a rain (tears) to bring it back up because it is not yet ready to bear fruit or grow. And sometimes it falls on rock – a hard heart, a stubborn “I know better” or “I like what I know and I don’t want to know more” attitude.

These attitudes, while they may look hypocritical on the outside are human nature.

But as long as my choice is to grow closer to God then God’s writing in the sand will not condemn me, but rather it will nourish me and help me to “go, and sin no more.”

Don’t ignore the writing in the sand.

Grow closer to the writing in the sand. Be patient with the writing in the sand. And share compassionately the writing in the sand.

Blessings,

Charlotte

Always present

Women of Faith:

And we wait, and we listen, and we watch and we hope.

“Then the LORD said to him, “Go outside and stand on the mountain before the LORD; the LORD will be passing by.” A strong and heavy wind was rending the mountains and crushing rocks before the LORD— but the LORD was not in the wind.  After the wind there was an earthquake— but the LORD was not in the earthquake.  After the earthquake there was fire— but the LORD was not in the fire.  After the fire there was a tiny whispering sound.  When he heard this, Elijah hid his face in his cloak and went and stood at the entrance of the cave.” 1 Kings 19: 11-13

“During the fourth watch of the night, he came toward them walking on the sea. When the disciples saw him walking on the sea they were terrified. “It is a ghost,” they said, and they cried out in fear. At once Jesus spoke to them, “Take courage, it is I; do not be afraid.” Peter said to him in reply, “Lord, if it is you, command me to come to you on the water.” He said, “Come.” Peter got out of the boat and began to walk on the water toward Jesus. But when he saw how strong the wind was he became frightened; and, beginning to sink, he cried out, “Lord, save me!” Immediately Jesus stretched out his hand and caught Peter, and said to him, “O you of little faith, why did you doubt?” Mt 14: 25-31

Is there anything too big for God? No… but it is not unusual to doubt, because the answer is in the silence and there is so little silence in this world we live in today.

I am constantly reminding myself, especially in these past few weeks that God is present, God is with us, and God has a purpose. Because I am human and even with this constant “self talk,” the self doubt is never far away, but with small reminders, gentle winds, I remain at peace—knowing that God is in the whispers of encouragement and support, holding me up in a stormy sea.

“There’s no space that His love can’t reach, There’s no place where we can’t find peace, There’s no end to amazing grace. “Take me in with Your arms spread wide, Take me in like an orphan child, Never let go, Never leave my side. “I am, Holding on to You, I am, Holding on to You. In the middle of the storm, I am holding on, I am. “Love like this, Oh my God to find. I am overwhelmed, With a joy divine. Love like this sets our hearts on fire.” “This is my resurrection song, This is my halleluiah come, This is why it’s to You I run.” I Am by David Crowder www.life1019.com/#songs/i-am-2/

So am I like Peter asking to walk on water, being given what I ask for, and then quickly forgetting or doubting that Christ is with me—always present? Is my doubt shown in my failure to say “thank you,” or by a greed that asks for more, not satisfied and content with what I already have?

Do I remember that Christ is always with me, wanting me to make my decisions by constantly seeking to choose the path directly beside him? Or do I try to make my own way thinking that all I need to do is be near the boat, choosing to get in only when it is at my convenience?

Heavenly Father Your presence is my stronghold, without you I am nothing. Help me to take the time to be silent so that I can feel your presence in the whisper of the gentle breeze. Keep me in your boat, rowing beside you, trusting your direction, staying afloat. Thank you for giving me the faith to know you are always present. Amen.

Without God, there is doubt and the sea is stormy and unmanageable. With God there is a constant gentle breeze, peaceful and calming. Don’t wait until you are sinking to choose Him.

Today may we seek Him, choose Him and allow Him to help us walk on water,
Blessings,

Charlotte

The Joy of a Mothers Labor

Friends of Faith:

With Mother’s Day just around the corner it is a great time to think about the wisdom God uses in passing on His kingdom through the lessons of acceptance, patience and perseverance learned in motherhood and childbirth.

From Mary’s first yes in accepting God’s call to be the mother of Jesus, to her peace and joy in his birth, to her sorrow and suffering in seeing him unjustly accused and crucified, and then again to her joy, peace and glory in his resurrection God has given all mother’s (and all humankind) a powerful and encouraging role model.

Mary’s faithful example teaches us patience, trust, courage, and perseverance, in giving God control: in pain, in sorrow AND in joy; in the sacrifice of doing his will at whatever the cost.

“When a woman is in labor, she has pain, because her hour has come. But when her child is born, she no longer remembers the anguish because of the joy of having brought a human being into the world.” (John 16:21)

God has the power to do all, so that must mean He had a purpose in allowing Jesus to suffer for us and in making Jesus human thru Mary. Likewise, God has a purpose in each of our own sufferings: so that we learn to accept his grace and give him our trust.

The grace of God allows us as wives and mothers (fathers and friends) to accept and bear both pain and sorrow in the sacrifices we make while serving each other. The same grace of God that allows us to accept suffering will also allow us to be rewarded in His time (years, nine months, or tomorrow) with the joys of seeing God’s kingdom, through them.

Just as Mary said yes to God in being a mother, so then for the sake of all she bore the pain of her son’s death on a cross so that we might be saved. Think of her agony as she watched him die for our sakes. We have somewhat those same types of experiences and feelings of pain when our children are struggling in school, careers or relationships. But like Mary we must also trust God to lead them (and us) to the right conclusions.

And we are constantly being asked to give up and sacrifice time, talents and treasures to help others, to die to our selfish desires – that is what it means to be Christian, a follower of Christ, to act as Jesus did, to give up our life, our desires and our wants for the sake of others.

As a spouse we are asked to become a vehicle to help “deliver” our spouse to heaven – if we accept our role in God’s design we will be asked to make sacrifices for the sake of the other, and we will be rewarded with the joy of seeing Christ thru them.

And just as the birth of a child (the end result of God’s grace) create joy, so too does the end result of other situations given over to God: a healing after an illness; a “thank you” after an act of service; or a conversion of heart/Spirit after soul searching or sin. Each act of kindness done with a heart of giving, in a Spirit of humility, can create joy – both for the person that sacrifices or gives up, and for the person that suffers or for the one who has been healed.

Like a woman who bears the pain of pregnancy and childbirth we will ultimately be rewarded with new birth, the joy of being a child of God in heaven.

Heavenly Father, We are your children, given by you to help others find joy in you. Help us to have patience in bearing the pain created by our own sins. Help us to be willing to sacrifice and bear pain for the sake of others. And may we be blessed by the encouragement of finding your joy in our lives. Thank you for the gift of all mothers and for Mary’s powerful example to each of us. Amen.

I think God’s most visible example of His love is the role and the outcome of a mother’s labor of love – the joy of a child—new life created and found through self-sacrifice and pain.

May all who labor find the joy of new birth in Jesus Christ,

Blessings,

Charlotte

Monday Morning Reflection

Am I There Yet?

Friends of Faith:

This week I took a little time to file and reflect on some of my recent writings—some of which you have seen, and many which you have not (I often journal to sort out my own personal struggles or in response to personal questions from others.) That is in fact how these reflections started in the first place.

Father said/asked in his homily this week: 1)” Are you there yet? And 2) Good things become bad, when they are an obstacle (definition of Satan or evil) for what God calls you to be.”

“So be imitators of God, as beloved children, and live in love, as Christ loved us and handed himself over for us as a sacrificial offering to God for a fragrant aroma. Immorality or any impurity or greed must not even be mentioned among you, as is fitting among holy ones, no obscenity or silly or suggestive talk, which is out of place, but instead, thanksgiving.” (Eph 5: 1-4)

I translated into my own life: if I am not taking or making time for what’s really important to God in my life, if I am spending too much time “working or playing for the culture,” instead of God’s purpose, than am I really doing what God wants me to do, and what are the things that are interfering with making time for God, what are the obstacles, the Satan’s, that pull me away from God?

I am definitely not there yet. (I guess that’s a good thing, since Father Mike also said that when we are there, we will be with God in heaven.)

So I let the common themes of the 200 plus writings guide my prayer this morning: to grow closer to God with the requests in many of those writings: to change myself, to make more time for prayer, to continue to bless our marriage with grace and opportunities to share, and to listen to His call (and law) rather than the call (and law) of culture.

This week’s readings included teachings about the Ten Commandments, the Beatitudes (Mk 5: 2-12), and the greatest 2 commandments (to love Him and to love each other as He loves us.) Mk 12: 30-31.

But as one of the writers of the USCCB daily reflections commented: It is sometimes difficult to put these instructions into our daily lives.

The beatitude: Blessed are the poor in Spirit, is easier understood if worded as the negative: we will not be blessed because we are rich. (God isn’t impressed by our stuff or even our wisdom/knowledge.)

So too the command: “thou shalt not kill,” makes us complacent because our thought says, “I have never murdered anyone.” But yet our country, by it’s law, allows 3,600 abortions per day and there are many who won’t speak (or vote) against abortion.  Stan was talking to some nursing students yesterday and asked them, “Why are they interested in saving people’s lives but yet their intended vote would continue to fund legalized abortion?” Isn’t it an inconsistent thought for any future or current medical provider, to vote for someone who will not protect the innocent unborn, while educating themselves to save the lives of others. (Or anyone who works to in ANY way to save ANY other life, or ANY type of “earthly” life—pets, trees, birds, etc….)

Heavenly Father, You created us in your image, so that we would become like you. Help me to answer your call to spend more time with You in silence. May I listen to Your Spirit whom You send to guide me. Help me to be a better spouse, a better citizen, and a better child of God. Thank you for continuing to enlighten and remind me of the many opportunities and blessings we have in America, while those living in other areas of the world struggle to live because they are persecuted for their religious beliefs. May my choices and actions be according to Your will. Amen.

“If there is any encouragement in Christ, any solace in love, any participation in the Spirit, any compassion and mercy, complete my joy by being of the same mind, with the same love, united in heart, thinking one thing. Do nothing out of selfishness or out of vain glory; rather humbly regard others as more important than yourselves, each looking out not for his own interests, but also everyone for those of others.” Phil 2: 1-4

I realized as I wrote this that much of it is a repeat of what I have written before. I guess I shouldn’t be surprised, since it started with my “look back” so I hope that I do never bore you by my “introspections” but rather draw you each closer to God.

And I hope that because you have taken the time you are reminded of what God’s call is in each of your lives this week.

Don’t forget to vote—for life, liberty and freedom, under God,

Blessings,

Charlotte

Exposing the Iceberg

Women of Faith:

“I believe in God.”” God loves me.” “I was saved on …..” “I have been saved because I took Christ as my savior.”

Have you said those words? How much do you know about what they mean to you and to others?

Have we become like the captains of the Titanic in our faith? Do we think we know what is ahead of us simply because we believe in a few words? Could it be that we are just seeing the tip of the iceberg? Are we going to be shipwrecked because we didn’t take the time to seek and expose what lies below?

Stan and I have always believed in the saying, “you never stop learning until the day you die.” And we have pushed ourselves to continually learn in every aspect of our lives. We understand that without continuous learning we would soon live only to exist. Unfortunately that is what many Christians do in their faith journey—they merely believe that God exists in their life, and that belief is all they need to know about Him.

Several years ago we went to a NACFLM (National Assoc. of Catholic Family Life Ministers) conference. Instinctively we knew that there was something under the “tip of God’s iceberg” that we hadn’t yet been exposed to as we shared our marriage in coaching couples who were struggling in their own marriages.

While our faith heard God’s call to give hope to our friends, we were blessed with the wisdom to know that our practical knowledge of marriage and faith was hiding something much richer, and much deeper, than the surface cliché’s of cultural marriage—we knew we were only seeing the “tip of the iceberg.”

We could easily have become just like the captains of the Titanic—shipwrecked by not knowing what lay below the surface, shipwrecked because we did not choose to “expose the iceberg!”

The conference was an opportunity for us to have God’s design for marriage revealed to us through Pope John Paul II’s Theology of the Body and in couples like Greg and Julie Alexander, who’s own “crash” into the iceberg had given them an opportunity with God to delve below the surface. (www.thealexanderhouse.org)

We continue to expose God’s plan for marriage—in a very practical sense begun in those first verses of Genesis 1: 26-27 and Gen 2: 18-24, continued through every book of the Bible (Eph 4,5, & 6 is a concise summary) and ending in our marriage to God in Revelations.  What we knew before and what we continue to learn each day is that our knowledge of all of God is only the tip of His heavenly “iceberg.”

THE key to a much deeper, much richer plan for our faith journey is continual learning and continual Eucharistic presence with God—because through our study and exposure to His Eucharist we continue to have God’s design and call in our lives revealed to us.

We often recall the story of Peter when he attempted to walk on water: when his faith waivered, he began to sink. (Mt 14: 22-33)

I am no different. Unless I constantly look below the surface of my faith and trust in His presence in my life – I will sink—regardless of where I think I am at personally. It is up to God to give me the grace I need on my journey. I have to ask so He can give; and it is not something I deserve, it is a gift I receive.

And there is always MORE below the surface to learn and I am always in need of His food in the Eucharist for strength on the journey.

And just like those who sank with the Titanic, many so called Christians of today’s world will sink because they choose to “believe” in God only on the surface: fearful of change or content to see only the “tip of the iceberg.” We all want “easy” rather than what God tells us will be persecution because we choose to expose, and to live, and to profess His truth.

"Lord, will only a few people be saved?" He answered them, "Strive to enter through the narrow gate, for many, I tell you, will attempt to enter but will not be strong enough…." Lk 13:22-30

"Enter through the narrow gate; for the gate is wide and the road broad that leads to destruction, and those who enter through it are many. How narrow the gate and constricted the road that leads to life. And those who find it are few." Mt 7: 1-14

It is easier to take the wide path than it is to take the narrow. It is up to us to “expose” God’s truth, but culturally it can be easier to “believe” or ignore, than it is to “expose” the truth.

It is easier to say “I have been saved” than it is to act as if I believe (Jm 2:26 “faith without works is dead.”)

It is easier to say a private prayer than it is to regularly attend church and spend time with God.

It is easier to center our priorities on cultural entertainment (music and sports) or in trying to make ourselves happy through societies definition of “success and happiness” (money and stuff) than it is to give up our time and money for another’s well being.

We can choose to change course and act on what is exposed to us by complete submission and trust in him, or we can choose to be shipwrecked by what is below the tip of the iceberg. God gives us that choice!

Heavenly Father, Your Truth is infinite. Help me to expose You and Your truth in my life. Strengthen me with Your grace and the courage to act on Your will. May I always be ready to dig below the surface of human truth. And may my exposure to Your truth, help me to evangelize and speak Your will to others, without fear of the consequences of this world. I only look forward to seeing You revealed in heaven. Amen.

Have I done everything possible to expose the truth of God’s call in my own life? Do I live my life according to God, and do I expose what is revealed to me, by God, to others? Will I be able to stay afloat on God’s heavenly water? Or will I sink, and allow others to sink with me, because I didn’t seek and expose God’s treasures that lie below the surface?

Blessings,
Charlotte

In Awe

Women of Faith:
My first title this morning was Rise Up and Say Amen. I wanted to write about Ash Wednesday and beginning anew. But there are some mornings when I don’t seem to have words, when I know what is in my heart but I don’t have the energy to think so I just want to use someone else’s words.

Not only am I searching for words, but for hope and light. I just want to be able to say “yes, amen, that’s right.”

I suppose it is human nature to doubt. I feel like my faith is strong, like I should have enough faith to always believe, but yet I am constantly awed by what is set before me.

I said to someone earlier this week, “Things just keep happening, in a good way, but not always in good circumstances. And I continue to feel, each time, “wow” can that really be. What just happened? I am awed by God’s presence. But, why am I still surprised and in awe? Awe and wonder is one of the seven gifts of the Spirit we receive at confirmation.”
So while some of you may be doubting and/or searching, I pray that you will have the faith to believe and have hope.

And for those of you who have been given, by the Spirit, the gift of awe in His presence, I pray that you will share your faith by being an example of hope, joy and love for others.

These are the words set before me this morning, the first song I heard, the bible verse I last read and words from both yesterday and today’s readings. I am so in awe!

“Everybody falls sometimes. Gotta find the strength to rise from the ashes and make a new beginning. Anyone can feel the ache. You think it’s more than you can take. But you're stronger, stronger than you know. Don’t you give up now. The sun will soon be shining. You gotta face the clouds to find the silver lining.

I’ve seen dreams that move the mountains, hope that doesn’t ever end. Even when the sky is falling I’ve seen miracles just happen, silent prayers get answered, broken hearts become brand new. That’s what faith can do.

It doesn’t matter what you’ve heard. Impossible is not a word. It’s jus t a reason for someone not to try. Everybody’s scared to death when they decide to take that step, out on the water. It’ll be alright. Life is so much more than what your eyes are seeing. You will find your way. If you keep believing.” What Faith Can Do – Kutless

“For however many are the promises of God, their Yes is in him; therefore, the Amen from us also goes through him to God for glory. But the one who gives us security with you in Christ and who anointed us is God; he has also put his seal upon us and given the Spirit in our hearts as a first installment.” 2 Cor 1: 20-22

“Awake, O sleeper, and arise from the dead, and Christ will give you light.”* Eph 5: 14

"Why could we not drive the spirit out?" He said to them, "This kind can only come out through prayer." Mk 9:29

I am so in AWE!!

Heavenly Father, It is in your presence that I am awed! Thank you for the gift of awe and wonder sent by your Spirit. Give us strength to begin anew in this Lenten season and to rise from the ashes!! Help those who are struggling to find You. May they have the faith, strength and courage to ask for your guidance and wisdom. May they answer your call and do your will. Help me to continue to feel that “WOW!” To see the silver lining in the clouds and to pray unceasingly. I say, “Yes! Amen! I believe!” Amen.

God says it all! I can say no more—Have an AWEsome week,
Blessings,
Charlotte

Searching

Women of Faith:
This is a reflection of hope; a hope that I am always encouraged within the encounters of those also searching along a similar journey in their marriage vocations.

It is often how I feel after we spend time preparing for and sharing within our Covenant of Love, date night family as we did last night.

The response is overwhelming humbling. It is the knowledge that we are given so much, yet need so very little. It comes from those who are also searching for the truth. Ready to share, willing to give up everything for each other and yet so like ourselves in their struggles in daily life. Trying to balance love for each other with their own needs; trying to balance family needs with life’s worldly pressures.

I find myself searching for just the right words, to reach just one more person. I find myself searching for just the right answers, for some secret that will fix all the brokenness, not just in the small circle of those closest to us, but in the entire world around us.

And as most answers go, the answer is so close we tend to overlook the most obvious. (I had to look no farther than these readings left open on my computer.)

“With their patience worn out by the journey, the people complained against God and Moses…."We have sinned in complaining against the LORD and you. Pray the LORD to take the serpents from us."” 1 NM 21:4B-9

“Hearken, my people, to my teaching; incline your ears to the words of my mouth…they inquired after God again, Remembering that God was their rock, … but they lied to him with their tongues, Though their hearts were not steadfast toward him, nor were they faithful to his covenant. But he, being merciful, forgave their sin and destroyed them not; ...Often he turned back his anger and let none of his wrath be roused. Do not forget the works of the Lord!" PS 78:1BC-2, 34-35, 36-37, 38

"Christ Jesus, though he was in the form of God, did not regard equality with God something to be grasped…., he humbled himself, becoming obedient to death,… that at the name of Jesus every knee should bend." 2 PHIL 2:6-11

“So must the Son of Man be lifted up, so that everyone who believes in Him may have eternal life." For God so loved the world that he gave his only Son, so that everyone who believes in Him might not perish but might have eternal life. For God did not send his Son into the world to condemn the world,but that the world might be saved through him." JN 3:13-17

Heavenly Father: With my patience worn thin, help me to remember that You are my rock. Thank you for forgiving all my sins, for not being angry when I search for something or someone other than Your all merciful truth. Let me bend my knee in prayer, so that I may have eternal life. Thank you for Your never ending merciful, healing, forgiveness. Thank you for sending us Your son so that we might all be saved. Amen.

It is through Him we have hope. It is through Him that our searching will be completed. It is through Him that we are saved.

Seek and you shall find! Forgive and be forgiven! Pray and your prayers will be answered!

Blessings,
Charlotte

Hooked on God First

Women of Faith:
It’s taken me a long time to fully grasp the idea of “putting God first.”

Maybe my confusion came from the church worker who used to guilt me into working church functions by saying I needed to “put God first.” At the time, I just kept thinking, no I need to spend more time with my family; I don’t have any more time to spend “at church.”

Unfortunately though, she was communicating the wrong idea of “putting God first.” While God calls us to “serve,” volunteering or working at church doesn’t necessarily mean we have a relationship with God, or that we are putting God first in our lives.

The concept of putting God first clicked again last night when the comment was made at our couples of faith date night—“you can’t pull someone UP, unless you are firmly anchored yourself.” God First!!!

In yesterday’s gospel we heard the story about how the apostles put God first by leaving their profession as fishermen and immediately following Christ. “He said to them, “Come after me, and I will make you fishers of men.” At once they left their nets and followed him. Mt 4:12-23

They realized Jesus was the true prophet and by following Him first, they were making the choice to be “with Him first.”

I have asked God for many things this week: For healing for friends and family who are taking cancer treatments; for peace and comfort of the family who just found out their mother has terminal cancer and less than 6 months to live; for healing and comfort for young friends who have recently lost loved ones who were also young; for a friend who’s father was in a serious car accident and for the couples who we coach that their marriages would be strengthened by allowing God to be at the center of their marriages.

My first response is no longer “what can I do,” it is “what can God do.” I know that while it is helpful to be a caring friend, it is more important to offer prayers and then trust that God will heal them in His own way.

Each of these requests asks for healing and strength for those involved. But more importantly my prayers are that those involved would be able to see God first, in their sufferings, as their hope and as the strength and comfort that will allow them to move forward. I am asking that God would be first in their lives.

Just as we talked last night at date night, God is the “ultimate hook” that holds us up. What are we “hooked” to? What are the things we’re hooked to that are pulling us up or pulling us down? What pulls us “closer to our or further from our goal?” What pulls us closer to Christ or further from Christ? These are the questions we must ask ourselves when we make decisions, when we try to take control of our lives.

By hooking ourselves only to someone or something other than God do we pull down our spouse or someone else down because our weight and problems are much too heavy for them to bear? Do we place undue burdens and pressures on our spouse because we haven’t put God first and entrusted him with our burdens? At the top of the hook, holding us up and pulling us up is God because we have put God first in our lives.

When I realized that it wasn’t my spouse, family or friends that pulled me up; when I realized how God was always there for me; when I asked God first; then I made the change that I was no longer doing it for myself or depending on myself or others for strength; but that my service was for God, my strength was in Jesus Christ and not only was God first, but God was always and would always be with me.

Putting God first is the hook that keeps me up. And God first is what pulls me up when I feel grief, loneliness, confusion or despair. Without God first, without God at the top, I don’t have the strength to do it myself, and unless Stan and my friends are firmly anchored in God themselves neither can they have the strength to help pull me up. God must be our anchor and we must be willing to follow Him FIRST.

Come Holy Spirit fill my life with your grace. Rescue me when I am sad, lonely, hurt or depressed. Fill my life with the knowledge that God is my strength. Help me to see the hope that You offer me every minute, every hour, every day of my life. Amen.

How are you hooked up? Ask yourself if you are putting God first, immediately, like the apostles did when God called on them to follow Him. Or are you hooked on your own strength, the strength of a friend or spouse and only calling on God when nothing else is working?

Hook up to God First!

Blessings,
Charlotte