Wednesday April 30, 2014 Lacking

And He has said to me, “My grace is sufficient for you, for power is perfected in weakness.” Most gladly, therefore, I will rather boast about my weaknesses, so that the power of Christ may dwell in me. 2 Corinthians 12:9

It is easy to concentrate on my shortcomings and bemoan my areas of weakness. God assured me through St Paul that instead of being upset about what is missing in my life… I need to realize that is where God is at work in me. The specific shortfalls are where I can and should LET GO, and LET GOD! He has loved me even in my weaknesses, maybe even because of them. For in the lack, I realize that God is my strength and my hope.

Whenever I face the day feeling in control and cocky… I do not ask God for help. He knows that I need Him but I tend to forget. When I realize my shortcomings and ask Him to bless my endeavors, that is when the greatest breakthroughs occur. It is important to seize each day and remember to use the gifts that God has given me but as crucial is to be grateful that I do not have all the answers. When I ask God for His help and trust that He will give it, I am doubly blessed and miracles can happen.

Lord I am grateful for my lack. Help me to trust You to fill in the gaps and bridge the rivers of tribulation that abound in my world. You have the grace and peace that makes all things new.

 

Tuesday April 29, 2014 Fearful?

Why are you so fearful? How is it that you have no faith? Mark 4:40

Having to trust is hard. Human beings are “see it. to believe it” types and I am no exception. Creating a sense of order and being able to plan out the conceivable future is what makes me happy. Leaving things to chance takes away my false sense of security. In this verse, Jesus confronts His apostles, who after seeing many miracles still worry that Jesus will let them drown in a storm on the Sea of Galilee. I am sure He could ask me these questions any day.

Each day, I face the doubts and discomfort of not knowing what my future holds. It sometimes causes me to tremble with excitement and sometimes it causes me to quake with fear. When the world seems bleakest is usually when God is preparing to do something incredible. How is it that I still have no faith when I can look back over my 63 years and see how He turned the seemingly terrible and turned it into good?

There will never be a way for me to see into the future while I am on this earthly plane. That is best for me. I know I would be intimidated and question my Redeemer. I would surely be convinced that I could NOT handle whatever He has in store. The truth is of course, I could not… but together there is nothing that can stop us because when I am putting my faith in Him, I will not be disappointed.

God You are my safety and my shelter from the storm. You are my defense and my salvation. Let me trust in You and KNOW that Your way is the only way!

 

Monday April 28, 2014 Knowing

Always be ready to give a defense to everyone who asks you a reason for the hope that is in you. 1 Peter 3:15

The reason for my hope is the Lord. I know my Redeemer lives was sung at Mass yesterday and tears filled my eyes as I sat reveling in the words as the song filled my mind and heart. It is hard to remember exactly when I KNEW! I believed when I was a tiny girl and I proudly made my First Communion. I believed when I was the sponsor for Confirmation for nieces and Godmother for nephews. I believed when I gave witness talks at Retreats and taught CCD classes for young people. But when did I KNOW?

It could have been when I was in a terrible depression and He was the light at the end of the tunnel. It could have been when I was giving birth to my daughters or holding each grandchild in my arms for the first time. For there is a glimpse of heaven for a mother during each treasured time with children. Jesus opened the eyes of the blind and set captives free and that is how I know my redeemer is all powerful. I know He lives because I see Him in the eyes of the people in my church who see me and love me despite my bad habits or warts.

Lord, open my heart each day to KNOW you are Risen indeed, that You are just as present today as You were 2000 years ago. Help me to share that knowledge so every heart is filled with Your love.

Sunday April 27, 2014 Marathons

They that wait upon the Lord shall renew their strength; they shall mount up with wings as eagles; they shall run, and not grow weary; and they shall walk, and not faint. Isaiah 40:31

This past Monday was the Boston “Strong” Marathon. I had a friend, Andrae Baily of Impact Homelessness, who was invited to run in it. I followed it as never before because of his presence in the event and the outpouring of support due to last year’s bombings. As this week is also my birthday, it gave me pause to reflect on how life is really a marathon and not a sprint or a dash. There is a much different strategy if you are running a long race! If you are not careful, you cannot finish unless of course you have prepared and have stores of energy to draw upon!

The Lord has been my strength for this long race which is my life. At 63, it has been a good run already. But because I am blessed with longevity in my DNA, this year could mark mile 18 for me. Puts perspective on the need for some divine help to not grow weary. My faith makes the difficult places when I feel like I am not able to continue possible to keep steady. I know that I can eventually rejoice in the day when I cross the finish line and step into heaven. I will join with St Paul to do the high fives as I break the tape… holding forth the word of life; that I have not run in vain, neither labored in vain. Philippians 2:16

There are times when I feel completely drained, You are my portion and cup. It is only through Your divine help that I can continue to run this early race. I am so grateful for the gifts which You give… Faith which is the vision to see the finish line! Hope with is the wellspring that keeps my body and spirit strong and hydrated! And Love which makes the lonely journey bearable! I trust in You to make this marathon not a vain struggle but a satisfying journey that will end in paradise.

 

Friday April 25, 2014 Know, Like Trust

And the Word became flesh and dwelt among us, and we beheld His glory, the glory as of the only begotten of the Father, full of grace and truth.  John 1:14

I have spent the better part of 50 years of my life selling everything from socks to stocks; from Girls Scout Cookies to Credit Card Processing. I know that people only buy from you when they KNOW, Like and Trust you. God knew this too and realized that unless He became flesh and allowed the human race to know Him, we were doomed to continue our confused and desperate lives. Humanity would not buy into changing their brand and switching to a redeemed life until we KNEW God. The only way that could be accomplished was for the Word to become flesh and dwell among us.

I have spent my life allowing people to know me so that they hopefully would like and eventually trust me. Establishing myself as a trustworthy person is only accomplished by being faithful and doing what I say that I am going to do. God is always Faithful. He promised redemption to Adam… He guaranteed to Abraham that he would be the father of a great nation, He told David that his lineage would never fade away and that he would produce a king forever. God is trustworthy. I buy what He is selling and live my life as a witness of His love.

Lord, help me to embrace the principles You have established and seek every opportunity to know You. When I read scripture and study the great teachers, You are revealed to me and how can I do anything but Love and Trust You with my life because You are the Alpha and the Omega.

 

Thursday April 24, 2014 New

Through the Lord’s mercies we are not consumed, because His compassions fail not. They are new every morning; great is Your faithfulness. “The Lord is my portion,” says my soul, “therefore I hope in Him.” Lamentations 3:22-24

When I read Lamentations, I cannot help but feel the weight that the author bore. I, too have felt the burdens of life and that there was no way up from the cares and frustrations that are part of being alive on this earthly plain. It is even more uplifting then to read these verses when in spite of physical suffering, painful injury and imprisonment, Judah can say that the Lord has delivered him from the bitterness of his life. He knows that God’s love for him is never ending and new every morning. With that love comes HOPE and the ability to rise up from his bed and tackle the day even when he knows that he will be the brunt of many hardships.

God’s love never ceases, it is NEW every morning and keeps pouring down when I am so undeserving. There is no end to His compassion. The world may seem to be crumbling around me but the Lord is by my side, shielding me from the danger and making me courageous when I feel like crawling back under the covers. Seeking Him is the key, Trusting Him is my only chance, Knowing that He is with me even in the darkness and the storm is my portion and cup. He can help me whether any storm. It is my job to wait on the Lord and allow Him to work to whittle down these overwhelming odds. When the mountain of grief seems so high that I cannot see over it, I have to trust that God will lift me to higher ground and give me the ability to deal with every issue or remove it.

Lord thank You for making all things new each day. When I turn loose of yesterday’s problems and face this day with You… I know Your grace is sufficient. Help me to trust in Your promise and Hope for the strength to overcome every obstacle. You are making me NEW!

Wednesday April 23, 2014 Stubborn

Therefore, my beloved brethren, be steadfast, immovable, always abounding in the work of the Lord, knowing that your labor is not in vain in the Lord. 1 Corinthians 15:58

When I read this verse, I always feel like Paul is inviting me to be stubborn. I do stubborn WELL. My husband can tell you, immovable is my middle name. I can be like a dog with a bone and several of my grandchildren have inherited this trait. It has not always been cast as my best quality.  I do believe that having tenacity and being steadfast are the positive attributes of stubbornness. I can say with all modesty that I have these as well. I think Paul would be proud.

Choosing to do the work of the Lord is not always comfortable. Standing up for what I believe in, when it would be easier to back down or be silent takes conviction and a willingness to be subject to ridicule and run the risk of being ostracized. That is where immovability comes into play. Jesus did not succumb to the taunts to come down from His cross to “prove” His Deity. He remained stationary, demonstrating the strength that was only His to show under such dire circumstances. Paul and Peter, and most of the apostles suffered and died for their belief in God. Paul encouraged His followers to do the same. Being steadfast in dark and troubling times requires more than a touch of stubbornness.

Lord, I know that being stubborn is not necessarily my best trait. Help me to be filled with wisdom to know when I should back down and when I should be steadfast. I know that when I am following Your Will for me, it is okay to be immovable. Enlighten me and show me the instances and opportunities to be steadfast for YOU!

Tuesday April 22, 2014 JPS

Jesus said to him, “I am the way, and the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through Me.” John 14:6

Jesus Positioning System. JPS. Jesus was lifted up as He said He would be to call all people to His Father and be a beacon leading the way home. So many are wandering aimlessly without direction in our world today. Begging for something to guide them, it is too easy to follow all the wrong things… wealth, power, celebrity, and our stomachs. Jesus needs to be the way and then there is no darkness, no stumbling. The real gift of believing in Jesus is HOPE. Without hope, there is no courage to look beyond the present situation. The inclination is to stay and wallow in doubt and self-pity when I am feeling hopeless. When I see Jesus, I have HOPE and with that comes Courage. I begin to move forward and follow the light and the truth does set me free.

The true direction is upward. God is calling me home. Jesus is the only way to get there. Heaven is real and I want to live there with Jesus, my parents, friends and all the believers who have preceded me in death. Finding my way without my JPS is impossible.

Lord, help me live always in Your truth. Give me the Hope that gives me the courage to stay on the path even when the road is rocky and I am unsure that I can stay the course. When others fall around me, help me to stay upright and determined to see You in paradise.

Monday April 21, 2014 Endurance

 

Patient endurance is what you need now, so that you will continue to do God’s will. Then, you will receive all that He has promised. Hebrews 10:36

Jesus endured so much. Hours of questioning, scourging, torture and ridicule, carrying a heavy cross, being nailed and hung upon it suffocating. I have friends who compete in Iron Man competitions and what Jesus endured was even more grueling and He knew what He was getting Himself into. How could He choose to allow Himself this agony? I believe that He endured this to show me exactly how much He loved me! His gift of self to redeem my sins was miraculous. There is no other word for it. All that before the greatest miracle of all, the Resurrection.

I went to see the movie, “Heaven is for Real” It is based on the book by Todd Burpo who lived this story with his son. It is a story of endurance also. No one wanted to believe that this little boy had gone to heaven and was there to tell about it. He gave witness about things that he could not possibly have known and his description of Christ was duplicated by a little girl in Lithuania who had also witnessed heaven and painted a picture of Jesus. Todd and his son, gave testimony and endured through criticism and persecution.

There are many opportunities to endure in faith. To believe and continue to act when all the odds are against me. God knows it would be easier to throw in the towel but He needs for me to endure. Believing and acting in God’s divine will creates a ripple effect in the universe. Each life is changed and a wave of goodness can be felt around the world when one simple act of kindness is performed. No one can do it alone, but when my actions are paired with others… my witness is shared with another… the word is alive and God’s Will is done.

Lord give me the endurance to do Your Will in spite of the pressures of the world. Help me to stand and proclaim “You are Risen!” and invite others to do the same. When we endure together, the load is lighter and the way is easier. Thank You for my Brothers and Sisters in Faith, for they make enduring possible.

Holy Saturday April 19, 2014 Confused

 Now the women who had come with Him out of Galilee followed, and saw the tomb and how His body was laid.  Then they returned and prepared spices and perfumes. And on the Sabbath they rested according to the commandment. Luke 23:55-56

The women who stood at the foot of the cross went home to prepare spices for Jesus body and they waited until Sunday morning to go to Him because it was the Sabbath. They did not know that He would be RISEN and they would be freed from their sins. Holy Saturday is a kind of day of emptiness. Like the women with a plan for Sunday, Christians find themselves in a state of pause on Holy Saturday. Sure, there are much preparations happening today for an Easter feast and dying eggs with little ones but on the spiritual side… God’s people are holding their breath.

The Lord was the Messiah, wasn’t he? He came to rule Israel, didn’t He? Confusion abounded because He was miraculous and could even raise people from the dead… why then did He allow Himself to be crucified of all things?

Today, the world is still confused. We want to HIT the lottery and believe God should fulfill our every wish. Some consider God to be a grandfather, doting and generous; instead of a father, regimented and strict with standards. It is much easier to follow the Commandment rules than to live the Beatitudes. Being a Christian is confusing.

The challenge, then is to be like these women, preparing and doing what is the right thing to be done. Being ready for what is to come, is not entirely possible but when I do what is mine to do… I am being a faithful child of God. He will help me to see how I need to adjust to the circumstances that I find myself thrust into each day.

Lord, Thank you for this moment of limbo to take a breath and wait on Your will. I look forward to the future You have in store for me. I know it includes plans to prosper me, full of hope and a future with You!