Made New by THE Magic Words

Friends of Faith:

I would love to be made new—to wipe away all of my flaws, all of my imperfections, all of the little things I don’t like about myself, what I have said or what I have done over time, to have every relationship I have ever made, be made “new.”

But wait, I have been made new by God and I continue to have the opportunity to be made new over and over again by Christ being made present within me if I can say three simple magic words—I’m Sorry, Please, and Thank You. The same holds true for our relationships with others.

“Behold, I make all things new.” Rev 21: 5a

I was first made new in baptism: cleansed by the water; and in confirmation when I asked to be made new by the Spirit. Our parents Please for what they wanted most for us and then our own Please for what we most desire.

And I am given the opportunity to be made new each time I ask for reconciliation (I’m sorry) or celebrate the Eucharist (Thank You) —because I truly believe that Christ is present and he will make me a new person and give me a new opportunity to be more like him in my daily life.

“Jesus said to them, “I am the bread of life; whoever comes to me will never hunger, and whoever believes in me will never thirstwhoever eats of me shall not die.” John 6: 35

My slate can be wiped clean and the hunger, the emptiness inside of me, can be filled if I have a desire, a faith, that Christ does make all things new by my I’m sorry, my please, and my thank you.

Our human imperfections make us hungry and wanting. And it is these same imperfections that make us search for fulfillment of the deepest needs within us.

But the longer I put off saying I’m sorry, please and thank you, the harder my heart gets. And the farther I am from the source, the more difficult it is to see and ask for what is really necessary to be make any relationship new and to understand what truly fills, or has created, the emptiness within me.

To be renewed in Christ is what conversion means. It is what we are called to do. It is our purpose and our ultimate fulfillment here on earth.

The difficult, and sometimes seemingly impossible duty and task, is to live as Jesus did and to be “new” in Him. Just as we are to imitate Christ in his teachings to us, so were we taught by our parents to imitate him in those very first words they taught us: I’m sorry, please and thank you.

So what do I do to be made new in my relationship with God and with others?

I must ASK to be forgiven (to SAY I’m sorry)—first of all to God, and then of those I have hurt. I strive for humility and compassion.

I must ASK to get fed (Please)—fed by the Eucharist as often as possible. And I must patiently allow others to serve me.

I must remember to say Thank You to God for giving me His Son as my daily bread and to gratefully say thank you to others when they serve me.

Heavenly Father, You are the fulfillment of life. It is in You I am made new. I am sorry for the times I try to fix it myself. Help me to understand that the same desire you have for me is the same desire I have to fill the hunger within me. Thank You for giving us Your son to wipe away all of our failures. Amen.

Please (come into my life), Thank You (for giving me life) and I’m sorry (for taking what I have for granted).

These first words when said out loud to God (and to others) will ultimately make those relationships new.

Become new in Christ,
Blessings,
Charlotte

Happy Thanksgiving!!

Friends of Faith:

Happy Thanksgiving! This week we celebrate Thanksgiving, an “annual” cultural reminder to say THANK YOU for what God has given to us, for our earthly treasures.

But should our “attitude of gratitude” only be celebrated during this week of Thanksgiving?

And does our Thanksgiving only say thanks for “all that we have?” Or does our Spirit of Thanksgiving include “all that we are?”

“Have no anxiety at all, but in everything, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, make your requests known to God. Then the peace of God that surpasses all understanding will guard your hearts and minds in Christ Jesus”. Phil 4: 6-7

Does our thanksgiving acknowledge that as “imitators of Christ” (Eph 4) God will guard our hearts and minds so that we can BE the person God is calling us to be? Are we “without anxiety” because we are “in Thanksgiving?”

Does it feel right when we thank him for everything we are and everything we have because everything we have and are, and everything we do, honors of him?

“I give thanks to my God always on your account for the grace of God bestowed on you in Christ Jesus, that in him you were enriched in every way, with all discourse and all knowledge, as the testimony to Christ was confirmed among you, so that you are not lacking in any spiritual gift as you wait for the revelation of our Lord Jesus Christ. He will keep you firm to the end, irreproachable on the day of our Lord Jesus Christ. God is faithful, and by him you were called to fellowship with his Son, Jesus Christ our Lord.”1 Cor 1: 3-9

Thank you for reading God’s word in these reflections and for sharing them with your friends. But more importantly thank you for using this time to reflect and to become more like Christ himself, to become what God is calling you to be, so that we are firmly enriched by the Spirit and in the end we will be “irreproachable”  to God.

Heavenly Father, Thank You for being the ultimate hope and power in my life. Thank you for the many gifts and blessings found in the richness of friends and family.  May I graciously serve you by sharing my time and talents with them, and with those I don’t yet know, in an attitude of gratitude, knowing that everything I have is yours and that everything I have should rightly be given back to you. Amen.

And now, bless the God of all, who has done wondrous things on earth; Who fosters people's growth from their mother's womb, and fashions them according to his will! May he grant you joy of heart and may peace abide among you; May his goodness toward us endure in Israel to deliver us in our days. Sir 50: 22-24

I am thankful that God is in each of our lives for “he has done wondrous things on earth.” May you continue to find hope, peace and joy by fashioning yourself thru Him with an attitude of gratitude.

Make every day a day of Thanksgiving!

Blessings,

Charlotte