Friday, February 20, 2009

Standing Up For Our Father

"...Whoever is ashamed of me and of my words in this faithless and sinful generation, the Son of Man will be ashamed of when he comes in his Father's glory with the holy angels." Mark 8:38

I listen to a Country Worship CD quite often and there is a song on there called "I Can Only Imagine" by Emerson Drive. It's a very heartfelt song that expresses wonder about what we will do when we are face-to-face with our Lord. Will we stand or will we bow? Will we sing or will we be silent? I can't even imagine what it will be like to be able to see our Father, in all of His perfect glory. Talk about a humbling experience.

That experience won't happen though if we don't live our lives here on Earth according to Him. Jesus is telling us that if we express shame in this life of Him and don't speak His truths, then He will be ashamed of us when we face His Father. And rightfully so! He suffered greatly for us. He put Himself out there to be scrutinized for us and our eternal life. How can we turn around and deny Him or hide our faith in Him?

But believe me, I have done it. It hurts to say it, but I've definitely done it. Sometimes it can be embarrassing to say you are religious nowadays. It used to be the norm, but now we are considered crazy, rule-following snobs. It's that hate that scares me. I don't know what these other people, obviously overtaken by Satan, will do! But God will be glorified in our truths, in our ability to speak out for Him and the path He has laid out for us.

So how will you speak up for God the next time you are faced with shame or fear of your religious convictions?

Lord, I believe in you wholly. Please help me to shake off my sin and stand up with You.

Thursday, February 19, 2009

Human Thinking

"Get behind me, Satan. You are thinking not as God does, but as human beings do." Mark 8:33

What does it mean to think as a human being? Well, I'm not really sure how to put this into words, but I can put in an example here.

I was talking with a good friend of mine, about a week ago I guess, and we were talking about why people leave the Catholic church. And she had just learned of an insight from someone else about this. A lot of times, people leave the Church because they don't like the priest, or they don't like all the rules. I'm sure there are more reasons, but these are all human reasons for leaving the Church. The examples I listed here are not guided by God, they are guided by Satan.

Satan will do everything in his power to keep us from getting closer to God and doing what we need to here on Earth to be with Him eternally in Heaven. We must be conscious of those efforts and tell him to get behind us! Tell him to get out of the way! Stand up and fight those human urges guided by Satan to deny God and His Word.

Have you recognized events in your life where you let Satan guide you in human responses rather than with Godly ones? How will you resist those temptations in the future?

Lord, when Satan gets in my face, help me to put him behind me so I can follow Your ways.

Wednesday, February 18, 2009

Therapy

When they arrived at Bethsaida, they brought to Him a blind man and begged Him to touch him. Mark 8:22

"Mommy, do you need a hug today?" Those are the words of my soon-to-be seven-year-old sweetheart of a daughter. And every time she asks me, of course I say, "YES!" It's very healing. She typically asks me if I'm having a tough day with them. You know how it is. The hormones kick in and the kids are just on your last nerve?! And then I get a hug. It just all seems to melt away and I remember how much I love my babies. And this behavior passes on to my younger children and my four-year-old son will ask me if I need a hug too.

Touch is so very powerful. And I never thought about how touch is all through Jesus' teachings. That's how He healed, is through touch. That's how we can heal each other, is through touch. We are afraid to touch each other nowadays, and I am one of them that is afraid, or maybe I should say, cautious. We don't want to invade the others' personal space. And to be honest, some of us just aren't touchy kind of people! But just the touch of someone's hand on your shoulder or your hand, says something, doesn't it? It tells you that that person cares about you. Touch makes things more personal between us human beings and it can have that therapeutic affect, just like Jesus.

How will you reach out and touch your brothers and sisters today?

Lord, teach me to touch my brothers and sisters as You did.

Tuesday, February 17, 2009

Getting Back on Track

Do you not yet understand or comprehend? Are your hearts not hardened? Mark 8:17

Jesus warns His disciples against the actions of the Pharisees. He warns them not to get caught up in their ways and in their doubts about Jesus and His power. The Pharisees do not realize why He says these things. They think it is because they did not bring bread as they were told.

Jesus did a lot of teaching when He was here on Earth. He taught for about 3 years and there was a lot to teach us in that short period of time. So when His followers didn't listen to everything He told them, I can imagine He may have gotten a little frustrated.

But we all still need reminders don't we? We all have times where we need to be reminded to stay on the right track. I know I do! We fall off the bandwagon. We skip a prayer now and then, and then that prayer time is gone and we have to get it back. We start gossiping about others, being jealous of what others have, or disrespecting our parents. These are all human characteristics, but they are all works of the devil too. And it's human nature to get caught up in that and forget His ways. And our lives are different when we give in to those temptations isn't it? I know for me my thoughts are more clouded and my irritability increases. That's my little reminder that I have gotten off track.

The important thing though is that we come back to Him and His commandments.

So how are you reminded that you have fallen away from our Lord? How do you get yourself back on track?

Lord, I feel so much better when I follow Your teachings. Help me to stay on Your path.

Monday, February 16, 2009

Seeking Signs

[Jesus] sighed from the depth of His spirit and said, "Why does this generation seek a sign?" Mark 8:12

So why do we? Why do we seek signs from our Lord? I know for me it's because I want to know I'm doing the right thing. I want to know that I'm making the choices He wants me to make. Then when I get a sign, I wonder if it's His sign, or if it's the devil. It can be so confusing!!

So then I sit back and think about it some more. The outcome of our decision may not come right away. As long as it stays consistent with His commandments, we must make our decision and just do it! I'm a very impatient person though, so waiting to see what is going to happen is not easy. I want to see those results right away.

I was recently finishing my book by Mother Angelica and she talks about getting into projects without figuring out the details (like if she's going to have enough money). She said that when money got tight, she would get some sort of big donation and all would be well. Her efforts were rewarded and supported by our Lord, so He paved the way for her success.

Now I'm not saying to go out and buy a house without knowing whether or not you can afford it. But He will clear the path for our success if it is in His plan.

So what is on your mind today? What do you have to decide to do? How will you wait for His signs?

Lord, I want to do Your will. Please be with me as I make my decisions today.

Friday, February 13, 2009

Let Go of the Reins

But the serpent said to the woman: "You certainly will not die! No, God knows well that the moment you eat of it [the tree] your eyes will be opened and you will be like gods who know what is good and what is bad. Genesis 3:4-5

I feel like I'm in English class sometimes when I read the Bible. This particular passage in particular because the whole scenario of Adam and Eve is one big metaphor. The tree that Eve was tempted to try the fruit from is a reminder to us that the devil is out there tempting us all the time with promises of power. He wants us to think that power and control over our lives comes from us, and not with God.

I lived for a long time thinking, and trying very hard, to control my life. I was making decisions based on the life that I wanted to live. I wanted my life to be what I wanted it to be. I wasn't considering God's wants. And do you think it was a happy and good time of my life? NO!! It was full of turmoil and fighting with family and friends. The devil loves that and will let you go at that.

But when I relinquished that control to Him, and let Him guide me in the direction He had planned for me, things became easier. Everything seemed to fall into place and it all was truly starting to make sense. It's not easy giving up that control, don't get me wrong. We all want to feel like we have control over our lives. But really, it is God who has a special plan for us.

So how are you going to relinquish that control today?

Lord, I want to live by Your way. Take the reins of my life and show me Your plan for me.

Wednesday, February 11, 2009

From the Rib

The LORD God then built up into a woman the rib that He had taken from the man. Genesis 2:22

God created us women from man's rib. Some may say that makes us less than man, but I couldn't DISagree more. God created man first. When he saw that this man was lonely, He created many other creatures in order to provide him with a suitable partner. The man named all the creatures, but none of them proved to be suitable.

So God put him into a deep sleep and created woman.

Did you notice the use of the word "partner" here? Man and woman are partners. We were given different qualities so that we could work together. Man is not meant to be woman, and woman is not meant to be man. We each have qualities about us that enable us to live together and raise children and to be able to participate in society.

It's hard to work with someone who is just like you isn't it? If you both want control, the partnership doesn't work. If you both want the other one to make all the decisions, the partnership doesn't work. That's why God set man as head of the household. It doesn't mean that women are any less than them, just that we have different, but also important, roles.

So how will you show your spouse that you want to follow God's order today?

Lord, I realize that you created us in Your image. Please stay with me and help me to be that for You so that I may have a happy, healthy family.

Pollution of Our Souls

Nothing that enters one from outside can defile that person; but the things that come out from within are what defile. Mark 7:15

Defile. What is defile? Defile is unclean, filthy, dirty. This Gospel reading is telling us that our sins come from inside of us. It's not the food we eat, or the people around us, it's what is inside of us and the decisions that we make for ourselves that creates the pollution of our souls.

When I think of pollution, I think of dirty, cloudy air that makes it difficult to breathe. I can't see things good and it destroys our Earth little by little. The same thing happens to our souls when we sin. When we make the choice to show malice, commit adultery, be arrogant, or act with envy, we are polluting our souls with sin. That sin slowly eats away at our souls until we bring them to God and repent for them.

So how will you cleanse your soul today? Are you going to go to Confession? Are you going to "come clean" with your sins that you and you alone have committed?

Lord, I know that it is I who have committed my sins. Please lead me down Your path of righteousness so that I may rightfully confess my sins and cleanse my soul.

Tuesday, February 10, 2009

Overcoming Rules as a Barrier

You disregard God's commandment but cling to human tradition. Mark 7:8

Boy am I learning a lot by reading the Bible... go figure.

Anyway, Jesus was speaking to the Pharisees here. They were concerned because some of His apostles had not washed their hands before eating. This disturbed them very much because it was a tradition of the elders. So Jesus basically told them that they should be more worried about what God commands, instead of what human beings command.

Rules generally keep order in our society, don't they? But what happens when there are too many? What happens to us when we start making rules that are petty? I know for me I feel like I want to rebel more because I'm feeling controlled. Something comes to mind from a recent conversation I had with a friend: Make sure you pass a bicyclist with 3 feet of space. There is an effort around here to make that a LAW. I believe in rules and laws, but there are also things that we as human beings need to use our best judgment on and we need to keep God's rules first.

So how are you going to honor His rules today? What rules are you following that are human, and perhaps against God's?

Lord, Your commandments are the most important to me. Help me to follow these throughout my day.

Monday, February 9, 2009

Reach Out to Him

They scurried about the surrounding country and began to bring in the sick on mats to wherever they heard he was. Mark 6:55

Jesus was a healer and the word spread fast! I know if I was in need of healing, I would have found Him too. So what holds us back now? Why don't we seek Him more readily when we need healing nowadays? Is it our lack of faith? Or maybe we feel like we don't need Him because we can take care of things ourselves.

Well, we can't. Without our Lord and His healing ways, we have nothing. Without our faith in His ability to help us and heal us, we have nothing. Granted, He doesn't always reach out and heal us directly. Remember, he also uses others to help us heal.

But it takes humility to admit that we need healing doesn't it? It takes a certain amount of admission of a failure to help ourselves. And that takes courage! So let's be courageous today!

How are you going to reach out to our Lord today? What is it that you need healed? Something physical? Something emotional? Something psychological?

Lord, I am bringing you my sufferings and worries. I am open to Your healing.

Saturday, February 7, 2009

Quiet, Rest, Peace

[Jesus] said to them, "Come away by yourselves to a deserted place and rest a while." Mark 6:30

"Rest? Rest?! No time for rest!" we say. How can we rest when there's laundry to do, kids tugging on my leg, dirty dishes in the sink, and my husband is calling me?? Where are we supposed to rest?

We are supposed to find time to rest, to find quiet, peaceful moments to pray. Jesus took time during His teachings to find quiet and pray. It's essential to us as human beings, as followers of Christ, to find that time to pray. Leave the laundry. Leave the dishes. Give your children a job to do or a toy to play with. Tell your husband to wait a minute. :) Go find some quiet and pray. Even if it's for a few minutes. Take that time for yourself.

I'm not saying that I do this often, but when I make time to pray, it makes a big difference in my attitude towards others. I prayed my Rosary Monday morning because I was feeling grumpy. I knew that I was going to start my day off bad if I didn't take some personal time with the Lord or our Blessed Mother. I sat on the couch, took out my Rosary beads, and prayed the Rosary. WHEW! It really helped. It usually does. But just that 15-20 minutes that it took me to get through it was enough to refocus on my life, on my kids, on my house, on the goals I set for myself that day.

So take some quiet time to rest, find peace, and pray today. How will do you that?

Lord, help me to follow Your example in prayer. I want it to be an essential part of my life.

Friday, February 6, 2009

Entertaining Angels

Do not neglect hospitality, for through it some have unknowingly entertained angels. Hebrews 13:2

Hospitality can mean so many different things. When I think about it, showing hospitality for our neighbors can be scary nowadays. We don't really know our neighbors the way we used to. Because of that, a lot of us, including myself, fear reaching out because we don't know what they will/could do.

But there are alternatives to visiting with a stranger. We don't have to go knocking on their door and have tea. We can do little things like let a car come into the long traffic line. Wait for a mom and her kids to cross safely across the street or parking lot. We can let a customer go ahead of us that has 2 items over our 100. We can help our elderly to their car and load their groceries for them.

Those are also acts of hospitality. It doesn't have to be award-winning, just thoughtful and done to help each other as human beings. I think we have lost this, but it only takes a few to get the ball rolling, and maybe some of those we help, will pay it forward and we can slowly turn our society around and entertaining more angels....

So what will you do today to show your hospitality?

Lord, I want to make your angels smile. Help me to keep my mind open to this today.

Thursday, February 5, 2009

Determining Our Freedom

He summoned the Twelve and began to send them out two by two and gave them authority over unclean spirits. Mark 6:7

Have you ever called someone immature? I have. But I also know that I myself have been immature for most of my 31 years of life. I was immature because I was out having fun. I was hurting people that hurt me. I was stubborn in a hateful way. I was angry in a very angry way. I was out doing what I wanted to do without thinking about what God wanted for me.

Isn't that what immaturity is? We are immature when we live our lives with that sense of freedom. That sense of, "I can do what I want and who cares!" But now I live with more maturity and the freedoms that God creates for me. I actually use my senses when I make a decision and think about our Lord and other people before I celebrate "freedom."

I'm so glad that the Lord gave his Apostles this power to cleanse us of those unclean spirits that make us feel "free." Once I came to terms with the fact that this "freedom" I was feeling wasn't freedom at all, I was able to repent. I went to confession and the priest was able to talk to me about the things I was there for. Now I'm able to turn my life into freedom with our Lord. I have found that the rules He gave us creates freedom, not stifles it.

So how are you going to determine your freedom?

Lord, thank you for sending your Apostles out to cleanse us. Thank you for giving me chance after chance after chance to repent and show my love for you and live according to You.

Wednesday, February 4, 2009

Faith Can Lead to Healing

So He was not able to perform any mighty deed there, apart from curing a few sick people by laying His hands on them. He was amazed at their lack of faith. Mark 6:5-6

Jesus cannot heal us without our faith in Him. We need to keep our hearts and our minds open to His teachings. Through this openness and acceptance, we learn to trust Him. All of this leads to a greater faith in the works of our Lord.

We all need some sort of healing don't we? While Jesus is not literally walking the earth any longer, healing us with His touch, He is still all around us. He uses us to heal each other. He uses our strong faith in Him to heal those that need healing, but He may also heal us Himself.

He cannot do these works without us. Well, I suppose He could, but He doesn't want to. He wants us to believe in Him and have faith in His love and power.

How are you going to show Jesus your faith in Him? How are you going to show Him your openness to His love and generous acts of healing?

Lord, my mind and heart are open to You. I trust You. Heal me of all my physical and emotional pain according to Your Will.

Tuesday, February 3, 2009

How Powerful is Faith?

Daughter, your faith has saved you. Go in peace and be cured of your affliction. Mark 5:34

By this Scripture, faith is everything. Faith is what's going to get us through this life and into the next.

Jesus was talking here to a girl who was very sick. She had been hemorrhaging for years. She had heard of Jesus and knew if she just touched Him, she would be cured. She found Him, touched His cloak, and she was cured. Jesus didn't even know what had happened! When He turned to find out, He told her that her faith had saved her. Because she believed, because she had that faith, she was able to be healed of her physical suffering.

How awesome is that?! I heard a song on the radio last week, in bits and pieces, and it was about faith and doubt. She was asking questions like "What if it's a folktale?" "What if..." "What if...." Then she says, "What if you're wrong? What if there's more?" So if you don't believe, and there's more, what do you say to Him when you are confronted on your judgment day? I can't even imagine.

It's faith vs. doubt. I have doubt sometimes, we all do. But it's important that we keep our faith. I do that by recognizing all the amazing things God has done for me in my life since I put it in His hands.

Some may ask, why doesn't He show Himself if He's there? Well, there's a simple answer for that: He's testing our faith.

So how will you keep your faith today? How will you fight the evils of doubt?


Monday, February 2, 2009

His Test

Because He Himself was tested through what He suffered, He is able to help those who are being tested. Hebrews 2:18

Have you ever thought about what Jesus was like when He was growing up? Have you ever wondered what Mary and Joseph said to Him or the questions He asked? Did He like to take things apart like my son to see how it works? Did He like to sit down and read and write like my daughter? Did He dance around the house as a toddler like my other daughter?

I wonder about those things. How He might have been like before He came out to us with all of His Godly wisdom, suffering, and death. Thinking about Him in this way gives Him more human characteristics and helps me to be able to talk to Him, pray to Him, and ask Him for guidance.

Jesus was sent to us in human form so He would know what it's like to be tempted. So He would know what it's like to be human! This experience helps Him to be understanding of what we go through as a human, but it also enables Him to help us.

What are you going to talk to Jesus about today? Patience? Health? Wisdom? Happiness? Guilt?

Dear Lord, thank you for suffering for me so that you can understand me and the temptations that I endure every day. I ask you to guide me in Your ways and answer the door when the devil comes knocking.