One Family, One Way-Christ's Way -- A tribute to Grandma C

Friends of Faith:

A tribute to Grandma C, a child of God for 106 years, a teacher to many, a wife to one, a mother to three, a grandmother of 19, a great grandmother of 44, a great-great grandmother to 7½, a cook, a farmer, a fisherman, a musician, a rosary and prayer warrior, living one way—Christ’s Way.

 

Her purpose was always God’s purpose—to live His Way. She lived by AND let her life teach us what Paul spoke to the Philippians about living. “Rejoice in the Lord always. I shall say it again: rejoice! Your kindness should be known to all. The Lord is near. 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.

 

She rejoiced always, finding good in all, being kind to all.

 

She prayed always, never beginning a meal, or a day, without the Lord. He was always near to her. She prayed for us all—especially these last few years when praying for us became her soul purpose in life. She made known to him the requests of family and friends and the hopes she had for each of us: that we would be holy, that we would be well and that we would be one with Him—without division, without anxiety, with our hearts open to love and our minds guarded from taking and making our own paths.

 

Even her card playing had a greater purpose: to teach us how to seek and grant forgiveness… especially to those who in partnership caused her an unintentional loss, or who in competition were granted the luxury to win even a single hand.

 

"Finally, brothers, whatever is true, whatever is honorable, whatever is just, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is gracious, if there is any excellence and if there is anything worthy of praise, think about these things. Keep on doing what you have learned and received and heard and seen in me. Then the God of peace will be with you.” Phil 4: 4-9

 

This week we give her tribute. As one of her daughter’s said: Grandma C continues to remind and inspire us never to forget to live one way, Christ’s way…she, like He, is still near, still teaching us to live by His example— drawing us together as one family, as Christ draws us to be one Church in understanding and peace.

 

Yesterday we heard another of the gospel’s she lived by, another tribute to her desire to teach us not to live our way, but to live Christ’s way; not to create any division amongst God’s family or any of ours—but to be one Christian church family, with one purpose to live as Christ loved, serving each other in gracious patience and kindness.

 

“I urge you, brothers and sisters, in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, that all of you agree in what you say, and that there be no divisions among you, but that you be united in the same mind and in the same purpose. For it has been reported to me about you, my brothers and sisters, by Chloe’s people, that there are rivalries among you.” 1 Cor 1:10

 

She understood what was truly great and important about life. That life was about “Old MacDonald’s farm,” singing “ti, ti, ti,” eating and baking: kolaches, dumplings, and fried chicken, hard work, always being ready to lend a helping hand, playing a game of “Pepper,” and praying and teaching us to pray (never just say) the Rosary.

 

So she lived a life that was honorable, that was pure, that was lovely and gracious, an example of over a 106 years to all of us who knew her and were blessed by her presence in our lives: “That he might present to himself the church in splendor, without spot or wrinkle or any such thing, that she might be holy and without blemish” Eph 5:27.

 

Eternal rest, grant unto her O Lord. And let perpetual light and the peace of God be with her always. May the spirit of Christ be with her, and with us, always. And may the angels carry her and every unfinished rosary to heaven. Amen.

Great-Great Grandma Hattie Agnes Cibula, 1908-2014.

Blessings,

Charlotte

http://www.kruse-phillips.com/fh/obituaries/obituary.cfm?o_id=2388206&fh_id=14151

Wherever I Am

Women of Faith:

Cozy, warm and tucked in. That is what I want to feel. It was difficult to get up this morning and face the fact that I have to go somewhere, anywhere. I want wherever I am to feel like it feels in bed—safe, loved and comfortable.

For me, it’s the cold, and colder, weather of Iowa and the knowledge that work for the next few weeks will consume me enough that I won’t be able to get even an occasional day off like I have grown accustomed to since last April. I can’t play hooky, stay in bed a little later or read a good book a little later or longer.

For many of those that I have been praying for who are going thru tough times—financially, medically, emotionally— they just want to be somewhere secure, safe, enfolded in comfort, and have the knowledge that everything will turn out in their favor.

It’s what we all want, to be surrounded by warmth, love and peace; to know pure contentment, to feel hope, accomplishment, and acceptance.

And then I read this.

The light of God surrounds me;

The love of God enfolds me;

The power of God protects me;

The presence of God watches over me;

Wherever I am, God is.

–James Dillet Freeman

It’s the prayer and reminder I needed. It’s all anyone should need. The knowledge that God is present in our day…. if we take the time to look, if we are aware of the people God has put in our paths to give or receive his direction through us or to us, and if we accept and react according to his will.

For even if things don’t turn out in my favor, even if it stays cold outside, I will find a blessing in going to work. God will surround me, enfold me, and protect me. He will give me what I need, when I need it. 

Courage, strength, a perfect smile, a loving hand, a perfect opportunity, even the understanding of why it is my time for sacrifice, IT will be given to me—when I trust that God IS wherever I am.

Here I am, Lord, I come to do your will. Help me to have that attitude of gratitude that will make my sacrifice, yours; my burdens, lighter and my concerns, hopeful. Thank you for being my light, my love, and my power. Watch over me, wherever I am. Amen.

It will be a great day—because I am in the presence of God. My day is His! Make Him yours,

Blessings,

Charlotte

Baptized

Women of Faith:

I have this picture of a small child in a high chair, confined yet happy, with their little mouth open like a birds waiting for their parent to put in the next spoonful of oatmeal—faces covered by the excess and still smiling as they await the next bite.

I think it is very significant that we baptize infants—because they are our example of total need, total desire and total trust—they are the way God intended us to be for Him. In a babies innocence they trust blindly enough to wait, want and to fully reach their outstretched hand for someone to quench their thirst and their hunger.

Thus says the LORD: Here is my servant whom I uphold, my chosen one with whom I am pleased, upon whom I have put my spirit; he shall bring forth justice to the nations, not crying out, not shouting, not making his voice heard in the street. A bruised reed he shall not break, and a smoldering wick he shall not quench, until he establishes justice on the earth; the coastlands will wait for his teaching. “I, the LORD, have called you for the victory of justice, I have grasped you by the hand; I formed you, and set you as a covenant of the people, a light for the nations, to open the eyes of the blind, to bring out prisoners from confinement, and from the dungeon, those who live in darkness. Is 42: 1-4, 6-7

The Lord puts his Spirit upon us, he lights our way, but he does not shout, he whispers. He often leaves us at least somewhat hungry and often wanting until we fully answer his call, until we trust enough to blindly reach for his outstretched hand.

Jesus answered and said to him, “Amen, amen, I say to you, no one can see the kingdom of God without being born from above.” … Jesus answered, “Amen, amen, I say to you, no one can enter the kingdom of God without being born of water and Spirit. What is born of flesh is flesh and what is born of spirit is spirit. Jn 3: 3, 5-6

God made us in his own image. And Christ tells Nicodemus that we must be born of water and the Spirit so that we can enter His kingdom. Being baptized as infants claims us for Christ and says that our parents accept that we are made in Christ’s image and that they will raise us as Christians. And then later when we reach an age of reason where we can make our own decision for God, we confirm that we accept what our parents decided for us at our baptism—that we will live according to God’s plan and by Christ’s example.

When was the last time you thought about what your baptism and subsequent confirmation meant?

Heavenly Father, you are the victor waiting for justice. You have formed us and given us the choice to answer your call, to do your will. Help me to see your light, to reach for your outstretched hand. Thank you for waiting patiently for my answer. Amen.

We are baptized by water and the Spirit. God has claimed us as His own. He is waiting patiently for us to make Him our own to use our gifts to claim those who have not yet had their eyes opened.

Be a beacon of light to the world,

Blessings,

Charlotte

Unwrapped

Friends of Faith:

Even though my favorite part of Christmas are the lights and the reactions of everyone to those lights, for many it is the unwrapping of presents—big, small and everything in between. A lot of attention goes into shopping, buying and wrapping and then of course unwrapping all of the glitter that was so carefully placed around each treasured purchase.

But after they are all unwrapped, and more importantly for those of us who are practical shoppers, we hope that the presents we so carefully gifted won’t just continue to sit under the tree or on a shelf, be wrapped back up to be re-gifted, or be hidden in a cupboard, but that the presents will be explored, loved and/or put to good use.

“Raise your eyes and look about; they all gather and come to you: your sons come from afar, and your daughters in the arms of their nurses. Then you shall be radiant at what you see, your heart shall throb and overflow, for the riches of the sea shall be emptied out before you, the wealth of nations shall be brought to you. Is 60: 4-5

It is the same with God’s greatest gift to us, Christ Jesus. God intends us not to just “unwrap” his presence in our lives, but to explore him—learning all we can about Him, love Him as the greatest gift we have ever been given and put his presence to good use—learning, doing and being by his example of servitude, charity, kindness and compassion.

Heavenly Father, the gift of Your Son, Jesus was a manifestation of Your love for us. Just as we have given our family heartfelt gifts, so too did You give us Your heartfelt gift—love enough that Your son sacrificed His entire life for our sake. Help me to be as kind, as charitable, and as compassionate in serving others. Help me to look beyond the glitter, looking inside the package you presented so that I can give to others in a way that uses your gifts to me compassionately and worthily. Thank you for unwrapping Your presence in my life. Amen.

Christmas doesn’t end when the wrapping paper is torn off. Christmas has only just begun!

Blessings,

Charlotte
 

Walk in His Way in 2014

Friends of Faith:

Blessed are those who fear the Lord and walk in His ways. Ps 128: 1

I often wonder what my life would be like if I could, in my humanity, completely live this one single Psalm, this one line of scripture.

I often wonder what ALL our lives, our community and our world would be like if we ALL could truly, completely, walk in His way—if evil and temptation, society and deception never entered our lives.

And Sunday, this Psalm was followed by the beginning of my favorite “to be” readings, a reading I continually strive to live better. Another reading that makes me wonder if….

Brothers and sisters: Put on, as God’s chosen ones, holy and beloved, heartfelt compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness, and patience, bearing with one another and forgiving one another, if one has a grievance against another; as the Lord has forgiven you, so must you also do. And over all these put on love, that is, the bond of perfection. And let the peace of Christ control your hearts, the peace into which you were also called in one body. And be thankful.  Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly, as in all wisdom you teach and admonish one another, singing psalms, hymns, and spiritual songs with gratitude in your hearts to God. And whatever you do, in word or in deed, do everything in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through him. Col 3:12-21

I know that to live this sacred reading completely seems “idealistic,” difficult and virtually impossible for mere human beings.

But we aren’t “just” human… Through our baptism we are God’s children. And God makes all things possible. Possible to try, possible to hope, possible to forgive, possible to be compassionate, kind, humble, gentle and patient, for it is what HE calls us to do.

And then the peace of Christ will control our hearts.

It is possible to hope and to pray that everyone we love will join us in faith, because God makes possible the gift of faith to everyone. And he gives everyone the free will to open their hearts and eyes to be taught by example through the peace and joy surrounding us in our own lives.

So have the courage to mentor, teach, and if necessary admonish and ultimately seek forgiveness for those who sell God and their faith short.

Heavenly Father, In the name of Jesus, I give thanks to You in all that I do. I yearn for and seek patience with those who seem to discount Your goodness. Give me compassion and kindness in abundance for those who are unaware of Your gifts in their lives. May the joy, the peace and the hope I have been given as a gift bring others to seek You, to know You and to Love You. Thank you for the gift of faith which controls my heart and helps me to walk in Your way. Amen.

Be thankful and let the peace of Christ dwell in you richly. And may God grant you an abundance of faith and forgiveness to share with others.

May your lives be blessed by Your resolve to Walk in His Way in 2014.
Happy New Year,
Charlotte

Let the Lord Enter "Inn"

Friends of Faith:

Our family is looking forward to the arrival of Sara, Luke, Colby and Karolina today from Colorado. They were traveling last night despite snowy roads as anxious to get here as we are to have them arrive. Andy is home and Kristy, Tyler and Avery will be back tomorrow morning.

I spent the day yesterday decorating so that I could see eyes sparkle in glee, making kolaches for Colby & Karolina’s tummies and wrapping gifts in anticipation of their unwrapping on Christmas morning. I want them to “feel” my love by meeting their every need.

“Let the Lord enter; he is king of glory. He shall receive a blessing from the LORD, a reward from God his savior. Such is the race that seeks for him, that seeks the face of the God of Jacob.” Ps 24: 5-6

Our blessing just like Christ’s blessing is seeing each others faces. All they (and we) really want are our hugs that say “I love you” and their presence in our house. They are the present themselves, and none of the things that I have been doing in anticipation of their coming speak as loudly as our thoughts, anticipation, or the time we will spend together and the joy their presence will bring.

It isn’t the gifts, or the kolaches, or the glittering lights that really make the kids and the grandkids happy. It is the time I spend with them and the fact that I thought enough ABOUT them to get ready for them,  that want to be “inn” my space. That is what truly says “I love you.”

So how do we prepare, how do we anticipate allowing and making our home, our heart, our life worthy of Christ’s coming? How do we anticipate and prepare to accept the ultimate love that the true king, Jesus Christ, presents to us?

Do we truly seek to know those we love so that we can do what is best for them? Do we listen to and know our spouses, family, and friends worries, cares and dreams?

And if I truly understood and believed that a king was coming to my house today what would I do to get ready? How would I prepare myself? Would my house, my heart anticipate his coming? Would I make room for the king “at the inn?” What actions would I do to “clean” my home (my heart, my life)? What “jobs” (kolaches/gifts) would be important enough to take the time to seek and to finish?

It isn’t about the instant gratification of the “feeling” of all of the goods “things” I can give someone I love but about the fact that I love them enough to do be ready and waiting for them.  The fact that I would do anything and everything possible FOR them is what really expresses the love I have for them.

So am I ready to do the same with Christ Jesus? Am I willing to set aside just 10, 15, or 30 minutes today, tomorrow and every day to prepare, in the same manner, with the same thoughts of showing love, for the coming of the King of Glory?

I often wonder what would happen to the world if every person would take SOME time to let Christ Enter In. If all of us had more than one fleeting thought and took the time to really pray and to really spend time worshiping HIM—as much time as we do training and educating ourselves about our careers, favorite team, attending sporting and shopping events, or coaching a game or a fellow employee.

What if we spent the same amount of time learning about God’s plan for marriage, attending a bible study, listening to a Christian CD or music or mentoring a young adult—with the thought that this is how GOD wants  me to get ready for His coming, how God sees my face, my true self?

Heavenly Father: My hope today is that Christ will truly be my reason for the season. And that I will prepare to let the Lord enter by making room at the real “inn” -- my heart. Thank you for all of the gifts you have given to me—so that I may do with them for others. May I be open to your call and always preparing and ready to do your will. Amen.

God won’t come in if we don’t ask. He is only the king if we make him so.
Let the Lord enter!
May the true Spirit of Christmas enter your “inn” this week,
Blessings,
Charlotte

What did you Go Out to See?

Friends of Faith:

What did you go out to see?

“When John the Baptist heard in prison of the works of the Christ, he sent his disciples to Jesus with this question, “Are you the one who is to come, or should we look for another?” Jesus said to them in reply, “Go and tell John what you hear and see: the blind regain their sight, the lame walk, lepers are cleansed, the deaf hear, the dead are raised, and the poor have the good news proclaimed to them. And blessed is the one who takes no offense at me.”

As they were going off, Jesus began to speak to the crowds about John, “What did you go out to the desert to see? A reed swayed by the wind? Then what did you go out to see? Someone dressed in fine clothing? Those who wear fine clothing are in royal palaces. Then why did you go out? To see a prophet? Yes, I tell you, and more than a prophet. This is the one about whom it is written: Behold, I am sending my messenger ahead of you; he will prepare your way before you. Mt 11: 2-11

 

John the Baptist told the people that Jesus was coming, but the people thought Jesus would come as a king, as a ruler, who wore fancy clothes and lived in a royal palace. They were looking for someone who would give them the physical things they desired.

 

Instead Jesus came in much more common clothes, as a much more common person and with a gift of giving to all who asked for him in faith, eternal and everlasting love. And he gave us a gift of love that served without any expectation and that if we accepted would give us eternal life, eternal joy.

 

So what is it that I am looking for, searching for or expecting to find? And what is it that I have overlooked?

 

Am I looking for happiness provided by fun, entertainment, or personal pleasure? Or am I looking for eternal joy found by simply being in God’s presence? My most requested and fulfilling gift is to be able to attend mass together as a family on Christmas morning.

 

Am I looking for someone to serve me, or am I looking to give a gift of service?It truly is better to give than to receive.

 

Am I looking for presents, or am I looking for presence? I have always been happier with a pile of family than with a pile of gifts under the tree.

 

And do I look for the fleeting happiness created by others outside of me? Or do I look for the joy of Christ within me to share with those around me?

 

Heavenly Father, As we await the arrival of your most royal package, Your heavenly son, keep Your loving arms are wrapped around me. Help me to see You in those who seek and those who offer Your presence in my life. Thank you for the gift of a guiding star to light my way. Amen.

 

The truly great gifts are not those wrapped in glitter and bows, but those wrapped in blankets who travel the distance to be with us.

 

What are you going out to see? Search for the gifts of love, joy, hope and peace offered by Jesus Christ.

 

And accept his presence....it is our greatest present,

Charlotte