Urgent Preparation

Friends of Faith:

The readings this weekend were about the end times – not because the Church or anyone else besides God knows when the end time will come, but rather because as we draw near to the end of the cyclical Church year it is important to be reminded that there should be an urgent sense of preparation for God in all that we are and all that we do.

God has given us a promise of eternal glory through Christ’s life, death and resurrection. And as His faithful believers we need to be reminded often that our lives here on earth not only have a purpose, but that the end of our life is imminent and unknown. So therefore “getting it done” is urgent so that we are not caught off guard, sleeping or waiting for someone else to do it, but rather that it is important that we take an active role in imitating Christ for ourselves so that others may come to know Him through us.

Brothers and sisters: You know how one must imitate us. For we did not act in a disorderly way among you, nor did we eat food received free from anyone. On the contrary, in toil and drudgery, night and day we worked, so as not to burden any of you. Not that we do not have the right. Rather, we wanted to present ourselves as a model for you, so that you might imitate us. In fact, when we were with you, we instructed you that if anyone was unwilling to work, neither should that one eat. 

We hear that some are conducting themselves among you in a disorderly way, by not keeping busy but minding the business of others. Such people we instruct and urge in the Lord Jesus Christ to work quietly and to eat their own food. 2 Thes 3: 7-12

We are also reminded that it is the devil’s way to divide us, by making worldly truths, things and power seem more important than what Christ, His Church, and the Holy Spirit guide us to do. He reminds us that it won’t be easy to live in faith but that if we trust in Him He will give us what we need to suffer whatever challenges are placed in our lives.  We are challenged to live our faith through the works and sufferings he has gifted us to share for the purpose of spreading His urgent message to others.

"See that you not be deceived, for many will come in my name, saying, ‘I am he,’ and ‘The time has come.’ Do not follow them! When you hear of wars and insurrections, do not be terrified; for such things must happen first, but it will not immediately be the end.” Then he said to them, “Nation will rise against nation, and kingdom against kingdom. There will be powerful earthquakes, famines, and plagues from place to place; and awesome sights and mighty signs will come from the sky.

“Before all this happens, however, they will seize and persecute you, they will hand you over to the synagogues and to prisons, and they will have you led before kings and governors because of my name. It will lead to your giving testimony. Remember, you are not to prepare your defense beforehand, for I myself shall give you a wisdom in speaking that all your adversaries will be powerless to resist or refute. You will even be handed over by parents, brothers, relatives, and friends, and they will put some of you to death. You will be hated by all because of my name, but not a hair on your head will be destroyed. By your perseverance you will secure your lives.” Lk 21: 5-19

God has given us a promise, but we have been challenged that we have a responsibility of taking an active role as His servants. We cannot be fed by the Spirit if we don’t work in the Spirit.

I have been given by God the right to life and a duty to work. Every minute of every day I must do it with a sense of urgency and selfless servitude, not for me, but for Him; not for my success, but for His will; not to promote the worlds good but to achieve eternal good.

My challenge is to be hopeful, perseverant and watchful – remaining in Him, thru Him and for Him in everything I do. It is my challenge to each of you to act with a sense of urgency in spreading His message to all.

Blessings,

Charlotte

The Beginning and the End

Friends of Faith:

This is not harsh, this is mercy. It seems so complicated, and yet it is so simple.

For God was. The Beginning and the End—AND everything in between.

In the beginning, God made us.

“The LORD God formed man out of the clay of the ground and blew into his nostrils the breath of life,  and so man became a living being.” Gn 2: 7

We were tempted. Everything “in between” is a choice. Heaven or earth. God’s way or man’s way.

At this, Jesus said to him, “Get away, Satan! It is written: The Lord, your God, shall you worship and him alone shall you serve.” Then the devil left him and, behold, angels came and ministered to him.”Mt 4:1-11

In the end, Jesus saved us.

“Through one man sin entered the world, and through sin, death, and thus death came to all men, inasmuch as all sinned. For if, by the transgression of the one, death came to reign through that one,
how much more will those who receive the abundance of grace and of the gift of justification come to reign in life through the one Jesus Christ. In conclusion, just as through one transgression condemnation came upon all, so, through one righteous act, acquittal and life came to all. For just as through the disobedience of the one man the many were made sinners, so, through the obedience of the one, the many will be made righteous.” Rm 5:12, 17-19

I know the beginning... I am a sinner. I know what I want in the end... I want to be saved. And I struggle, like all humans, in between, to make the choice to worship and serve God alone.

Even Jesus was tempted (three times), by Satan’s distortion and application of the words of the scriptures.

One: “The tempter approached and said to him, “If you are the Son of God, command that these stones become loaves of bread.” Mt 4: 3

Two: “If you are the Son of God, throw yourself down. For it is written: He will command his angels concerning you and with their hands they will support you, lest you dash your foot against a stone.” Mt 4: 6

Three times: “Then the devil took him up to a very high mountain, and showed him all the kingdoms of the world in their magnificence, and he said to him, "All these I shall give to you, if you will prostrate yourself and worship me.” Mt 4: 8-9

Jesus knew the whole story. Not just the beginning and not just the end. The devil tried to trick him with his own words, by three times taking His own words out of context. But Jesus knew the whole story, not just the beginning and not just the end. He knew that EVERY choice in-between was important.

“There are also many other things that Jesus did, but if these were to be described individually, I do not think the whole world would contain the books that would be written.”Jn 21:25 So, He left us His Church to instruct us and His Spirit to guide us.

I am called to Pray! to Learn! To Discern! And my choices will include being tempted to stop in-between. He gave me, He gives me, His son, every minute of every day, so that I can learn by my mistakes, be forgiven, and move forward to the end.

Merciful Father, You are slow to anger and great in Your kindness. Give me the courage and strength to withstand the temptations of this world and to have the desire to know You more. Thank you for the gift of grace which helps me to understand You more fully. The gift of Your words, spoken and unspoken, which give me the tools to move closer to You. And for the gift of Your Son, through the forgiveness of the cross, which allows me to look forward to You. Amen.

We have all begun. We all want the same end. We were put here to help each other through the in- between.

This is our Lenten journey—together in Christ,

Blessings,

Charlotte

In the Middle

Women of Faith:
Happy New Year!

I would guess that you are surprised that my subject is “the middle” rather than the “beginning:” for it is the beginning of a new year, the beginning of new resolutions, and even the beginning of a new tax season.

Remember the old saying: 'It’s how we live in the “dash” (19??- 20??) that counts?’

In the beginning ….with childlike faith we planned for perfect happy endings, for happiness and “honeymoons.”

And as Christians we all hope and believe that at the end of our dash we will be granted eternal life in heaven.

But the middle of life brings stresses, challenges, obstacles, loneliness, sufferings and even failures. And we are challenged to keep the same attitude as we had in the beginning: to live life in faith that He has control of the outcome, to TRUST in Him.

“Let what you heard from the beginning remain in you. If what you heard from the beginning remains in you, then you will remain in the Son and in the Father. And this is the promise that he made us: eternal life. …And now, children, remain in him, so that when he appears we may have confidence and not be put to shame by him at his coming.” 1 Jn 2:22-26

God tells us that as believers, life, the middle, will not be “perfectly happy,” that we will be persecuted for our belief in Him (Timothy 3:12); and that while we suffer we are supposed to “have peace” and “take courage” for “I have conquered the world.” (John 16:33)


The middle is about crosses: crosses which reflect His gift on the cross; about His will, not mine.

In the middle of life’s journey we are given choices, choices of trust and faith which are forced by sufferings, challenges, and loneliness, by new beginnings and untimely endings. I am given the choice to freely give love even when it is not given back; to pray rather than to complain; to accept responsibility for my actions rather than to blame others for what has happened to me or my family; to serve rather than to be served; and to chose God’s world rather than this world.

Do I trust God like a child trusts a parent or am I overcome by worry and fear?

Do I have an “attitude of gratitude” or do I expect rather than accept?

Do I choose God’s love in the middle, to love one another as He loved us (He died for us) and as He asks us to love: “love is patient, love is kind... it does not seek its own interests, it is not quick tempered, it does not brood over wrongdoing but rejoices with the truth… it bears all things, believes all things, hopes all things, endures all things.” (Cor1:13 4-6)?


Do I make choices in faith: to keep my resolutions, vows and His covenant, even in the sufferings, so that my middle, my dash, will have “new life” at the end?

Dear God, May I always praise you even when things aren’t going my way. May the middle of my life say “faithful, courageous, peaceful and loving.” Thank you for the gifts that you have given me in the middle of the hardships to remind me of your presence each day. Amen.

Blessings in the middle of each of your decisions,
Charlotte