Finding Blessings

Women of Faith:

As summer approaches, the grass turns green, and flowers appear where none existed before, are you in awe of all that God has created? Or are you so wrapped up in your daily duties that you miss the blessings of life?

Pope Francis spoke this week about the world’s worship of the “golden calf” – all that is material and how our wants and desires have become not just needs, but our expected necessities. http://www.vatican.va/holy_father/francesco/speeches/2013/may/documents/papa-francesco_20130516_nuovi-ambasciatori_en.html

“Brothers and sisters: Those who are in the flesh cannot please God. But you are not in the flesh; on the contrary, you are in the spirit, if only the Spirit of God dwells in you. Whoever does not have the Spirit of Christ does not belong to him.” Rm 8: 8-10

We have received many blessings. (Our spouses, our children, our friends, our homes, clean water, ABUNDANT food, clothing, shoes, purses, cars, silverware, toothpaste and even laundry soap.)

But do we give thanks for someone to love and for those who love us; for the freedom to attend church, school and to go shopping; for our own health or the health and ability of those who take care of us; for the opportunity to do or to receive something done for us (like fixing or taking us out to lunch, mowing the lawn or having it mowed for us, or having or working at a job that pays the mortgage); or for all of the pleasures that we have come to expect as necessary?

What everyday blessings are we expecting or taking for granted? What opportunities have become expectations?

God has created each of us in His image (the flesh), and in each of us the ability to accept, receive and recognize His gifts for His glory (the Spirit). The flesh is empty without His spirit.

If I use and abuse the flesh (the human, the material) without recognizing them as a blessing from God, then I will be hungry (empty, a shell) missing His Spirit. When I accept Him and use His blessings to affect others, in the Spirit, I become full, completed, and even more richly blessed.

Creator God! Jesus our brother! Life giving Spirit! For the many wonders of our lives, we bless your name, and find in turn, that we are blessed. Guide and strengthen each of us on life’s journey so that we may be the face and voice of Christ in the world. Give us the desire to bring your blessings into the places of our hearts and homes both now and tomorrow. Amen.

Take the opportunity to find His Spirit within you and give it to others!

Receive His blessing and go forth to be a blessing!

Charlotte

Path to Summer

Women of Faith:

The allure of the promise of summer sunshine is tempered by sunglasses, wind, and rain.

The blinders of friends, the winds of society, and the pull of the gravity of cultural politics make walking into the sunshine on a straight and narrow path difficult. 

The path also has deep ditches on either side: the law on one side and my personal “feel good” wants and desires on the other. And the blinders, the winds and gravity make it very easy to be pulled into the ditches of “the law says it’s okay” or “it must be okay, because I feel happy.”

And it is difficult to climb up out of the ditch and change when we fall off the path. But that is what we are promised by Christ’s cross, by Scripture, by Church teachings and thru the lives of the Saints. We are reminded that we won’t necessarily “feel good” while striving for God’s kingdom, but that we can change and get back on the path and that we can be forgiven for stepping off.

“Blessed are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven. Blessed are they who mourn, for they will be comforted. Blessed are the meek, for they will inherit the land. Blessed are they who hunger and thirst for righteousness, for they will be satisfied. Blessed are the merciful, for they will be shown mercy. Blessed are the clean of heart, for they will see God. Blessed are the peacemakers, for they will be called children of God. Blessed are they who are persecuted for the sake of righteousness, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven. Blessed are you when they insult you and persecute you and utter every kind of evil against you [falsely] because of me. Rejoice and be glad, for your reward will be great in heaven. Thus they persecuted the prophets who were before you. Mt 5: 3-12

Do we fall off the path because the sun that is guiding us is shadowed by the beliefs of our friends and neighbors who say “it’s right because everyone is doing it?” Do we use slang words that are a common part of our language but that are sexually suggestive (taking God’s name in vain), by taking what is not rightfully ours from others or our workplace, such as tools and office supplies etc. (stealing), or by accepting that it is okay to live together before marriage and to have sex outside of marriage (fornication/adultery).

Are we pulled away from the sun by the gravity of laws that are passed by the powers and the principalities? Does our business set unreasonable prices because the government can afford it, the $468 hammer (free enterprise), does our government allow the union of same sex partners as marriage (equality), and do we shut our eyes against the evils of abortion (freedom to choose)? Is law setting its own path of promise and side-stepping God’s design for humanity, marriage and His commandments (stealing and killing)?

Or is the straight and narrow path dulled by the rain of the tears of pain? Often we will be asked to embrace suffering and accept grief. Rain can either wash us off the path in anger and blame or cleanse and clear the path through acceptance and forgiveness.

The ultimate reward is at the end of God’s path…. “Son”shine in heaven….priceless!!

"Amen, amen, I say to you, you will weep and mourn, while the world rejoices; you will grieve, but your grief will become joy. When a woman is in labor, she is in anguish because her hour has arrived; but when she has given birth to a child, she no longer remembers the pain because of her joy that a child has been born into the world. So you also are now in anguish. But I will see you again, and your hearts will rejoice, and no one will take your joy away from you. Jn 16: 20-22

Heavenly Father the joy you promise is unending. Help me to search for and to strive to live by Your truth. Thank you for giving me living examples, like Mary and the Saints (Saint Paul, Saint Francis, Mother Teresa, and many more) for they inspire me to know that I can change, be forgiven and survive human suffering (just as Christ did) and reach your unending joy in heaven. Amen.

Will we step off to the side of the path, fall into the ditches of law, and blindly fall into the depths of the acceptance of cultural evil and sin? Or will we walk the straight and very narrow difficult path, following the allure of His son who shined thru gravity, wind and rain by speaking the truth, accepting our sufferings and showing us how to live righteously?

God’s promise is that His path will lead us to a joy that no one can take away.

May you be filled with the Spirit to stay on His path and search for that joy,
Blessings,
Charlotte

Long Summer Daze

Women of Faith:

I’d like to start with a prayer request for the mom’s (and families) of Nick and Luke who left home this weekend on a new journey. It’s never easy when the nest gets empty, but even more so when they go far away. Pray not only that Nick and Luke (and family) will be at peace, but that they will be guided and protected by God in all that they are asked to do. And that their moms (and families) will find comfort and peace in knowing that they are following God’s path by using the gifts and talents He has given them to serve others.

I don’t know why, but the longer the days, the more I try to fit into them. Instead of the lazy days of summer, I feel dazed by the rush and like I am missing out on more than I am enjoying.

“Brothers and sisters, 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 13:11-12

I find that when I am distracted I am more easily led astray. I need encouragement. I seek peace and comforting acknowledgment that there will be another day to get it all done.


I have three things I keep close by to help me stay grounded. 1) I always have a Christian or motivational book by my bed— to put my mind back on the right track, or to help me fall asleep :)

2) My radio is turned to Christian: KNWS 101.9 FM or 1090 AM—both in my car and on my computer at work—music not only relieves my stress, but alternatively the beat of the music energizes me, or if I am on AM then the motivation is turned on!!

And 3) When I am on a long ride in the car, dreading the thought of using the elliptical, or taking a true “time out,” my rosary and a prayer book are always close at hand. Sometimes I just don’t know where to begin to pray, and sometimes I just need the calming effect of a common prayer --in either case I know that praying will bring me closer to Jesus’ and that Mary will understand and reassure me that my requests are really no different than hers were for her son, her family and her friends.

Heavenly Father: Alleluia, Alleluia, Alleluia. Help me to keep it simple. Help me to keep on the straight and narrow path towards you. Thank you for the encouragement of friends you put in just the right places at just the right times. Thank you for Christian musicians and writers. Amen.

Keep your days lazy and your gaze turned upward.
Blessings,
Charlotte