There's a song by Dottie Peoples titled "He's An On Time God" and one of the lines in this song is:
He may not Be there when you want Him,
but He'll Be there right on time.
This is something I've been contemplating a lot lately, how I've often thought God should be at my beck and call, and how I've often thought He should be answering my every prayer in just the way I want it answered.
I'm trying to become much more at peace with trusting that He will provide my needs according to His plan, and He will be there at just the right time according to His plan.
I still take all my needs to Him in prayer, it's just that I'm trying not to be so anxious anymore about the answer, or about when that answer will arrive.
Patience really is a virtue, and patience is what I've been praying for lately.
Do not let your heart be troubled. Trust in God; Trust also in Me. ~ John 14:1
"If the Lord be with us, we have no cause of fear. His Eye is upon us, His Arm over us, His Ear open to our prayer - His Grace sufficient, His Promise unchangeable." ~ John Newton
Sunday, February 28, 2010
Sunday, February 21, 2010
Blessed Assurance
Lent is a time to reflect on the fulfillment of God's Promise to the world. For me Christmas was just the beginning, and it is Christ's Passion that brings us to the realization of God's Promise and His great love and desire for us.
Christmas is such a happy time, but Lent, for me, is a much more emotional time, it's humbling, it's awe-inspiring, it's sorrowful, and it's joyful all at the same time. But mostly it is overwhelming to think we are loved that much. Jesus Suffered and Died for us, and God Loved us enough to allow that to happen. It is what my Faith is based on.
Take up the shield of Faith, with which you can extinguish all the flaming arrows of the evil one. ~ Ephesians 6:16
"Faith is a living, daring confidence in God's Grace, so sure and certain that a man could stake his life on it a thousand times." ~ Martin Luther
Christmas is such a happy time, but Lent, for me, is a much more emotional time, it's humbling, it's awe-inspiring, it's sorrowful, and it's joyful all at the same time. But mostly it is overwhelming to think we are loved that much. Jesus Suffered and Died for us, and God Loved us enough to allow that to happen. It is what my Faith is based on.
Take up the shield of Faith, with which you can extinguish all the flaming arrows of the evil one. ~ Ephesians 6:16
"Faith is a living, daring confidence in God's Grace, so sure and certain that a man could stake his life on it a thousand times." ~ Martin Luther
Wednesday, February 17, 2010
Ash Wednesday
There is a prayer in my old St. Joseph Daily Missal that sums up for me this day:
O God, You desire not the death, but the repentance of sinners; look down most graciously upon our frail human nature; and in Your goodness deign to Bless us as we put this token of our lowliness which we purpose upon our heads, so that we who know we are but ashes and are to return to dust, may turn to You to obtain Your mercy and pardon.
Remember, man, that thou are dust, and unto dust thou shall return. ~ Genesis 3:19
"Every breath we draw is a Gift of His Love." ~ Thomas Merton
O God, You desire not the death, but the repentance of sinners; look down most graciously upon our frail human nature; and in Your goodness deign to Bless us as we put this token of our lowliness which we purpose upon our heads, so that we who know we are but ashes and are to return to dust, may turn to You to obtain Your mercy and pardon.
Remember, man, that thou are dust, and unto dust thou shall return. ~ Genesis 3:19
"Every breath we draw is a Gift of His Love." ~ Thomas Merton
Tuesday, February 9, 2010
God's Way
The fourth Anniversary of my Mom's passing is coming up in a few days. I'm not in a good place about it. I go through good spells and bad spells, there are times when I am very accepting, times when it all feels so right. But these past few weeks nothing feels right about it for me.
So I try reminding myself that my will for my Mom did not mesh with God's Will for my Mom. And I remind myself that God's Wisdom is Perfect.
Some days these beliefs are what carry me through.
"For My Thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways My Ways", declares the Lord.
"As the Heavens are higher than the earth, so are My Ways higher than your ways, and My Thoughts than your thoughts." ~ Isaiah 55:8-9
"For death begins with life's first breath. And life begins at touch of death." ~ John Oxenham
So I try reminding myself that my will for my Mom did not mesh with God's Will for my Mom. And I remind myself that God's Wisdom is Perfect.
Some days these beliefs are what carry me through.
"For My Thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways My Ways", declares the Lord.
"As the Heavens are higher than the earth, so are My Ways higher than your ways, and My Thoughts than your thoughts." ~ Isaiah 55:8-9
"For death begins with life's first breath. And life begins at touch of death." ~ John Oxenham
Friday, February 5, 2010
Living In Harmony
Living in harmony is about getting in touch with your inner feelings and through this you gain physical, psychological, emotional, and spiritual well-being. I've never been attracted to this because I felt that getting in touch with my inner feelings was all about 'ME' (and I feel that I'm self-centered enough), until I read that harmonic living is much more than that because it's an inter-connection with all creation, and it's by getting in touch with your inner feelings that you realize that true potential happiness, health, and living a fulfilled life can only come from a life connected to others.
A big part of reaching a state of harmony is isolating ourselves from the world at times for religious/spiritual contemplation. We need periods of retreat where we can step away from everyday stresses, to look at how we are conducting our lives, and look for ways to improve our lives.
As I develop a deeper relationship with God I do sense joy and peace, and I do think that part of developing a deeper relationship with God does involve a lot of self-reflection.
I used to get annoyed at men and women who chose to live a cloistered life, I thought it was such a waste, I thought they could be using their lives for so much more as missionaries, or even as living everyday lives raising children, working at jobs where they connect with others and can be an example, or working to donate part of their salary to those in need, and volunteering their time to help those less fortunate. But then I thought about the Power of Prayer, and I thought about how so many of us don't pray enough, and how the cloistered take up that slack for us. And I was so humbled when I realized that every life has profound meaning, and it's not for me to judge God's Calling for each life.
For we are God's masterpiece. He has created us anew in Christ Jesus, so we can do the good things He planned for us long ago. ~ Ephesians 2:10
"Love comes while we rest against our Father's chest. Joy comes when we catch the rhythms of His Heart. Peace comes when we live in harmony with those rhythms. ~ Ken Gire
A big part of reaching a state of harmony is isolating ourselves from the world at times for religious/spiritual contemplation. We need periods of retreat where we can step away from everyday stresses, to look at how we are conducting our lives, and look for ways to improve our lives.
As I develop a deeper relationship with God I do sense joy and peace, and I do think that part of developing a deeper relationship with God does involve a lot of self-reflection.
I used to get annoyed at men and women who chose to live a cloistered life, I thought it was such a waste, I thought they could be using their lives for so much more as missionaries, or even as living everyday lives raising children, working at jobs where they connect with others and can be an example, or working to donate part of their salary to those in need, and volunteering their time to help those less fortunate. But then I thought about the Power of Prayer, and I thought about how so many of us don't pray enough, and how the cloistered take up that slack for us. And I was so humbled when I realized that every life has profound meaning, and it's not for me to judge God's Calling for each life.
For we are God's masterpiece. He has created us anew in Christ Jesus, so we can do the good things He planned for us long ago. ~ Ephesians 2:10
"Love comes while we rest against our Father's chest. Joy comes when we catch the rhythms of His Heart. Peace comes when we live in harmony with those rhythms. ~ Ken Gire
Tuesday, February 2, 2010
The Purification Of The Blessed Virgin Mary
February 2 is traditionally celebrated in the Catholic Faith as the Purification of the Blessed Virgin Mary, and it is also known as The Feast of the Presentation of our Lord in the Temple. In the Catholic Church the Presentation is also the fourth Joyful Mystery of the Rosary.
Candles are blessed on this day, a symbolic representation of the words of holy Simeon concerning Christ: "A Light of revelation to the Gentiles." Traditionally a procession of the faithful with lighted candles was held to commemorate the entry of Christ, 'The Light of the World', into the Temple of Jerusalem.
Mary came to the Temple for her purification ceremony, a religious observance of her time, where she would offer a burnt offering at the door in thanksgiving for a happy delivery, and also a sin offering, she would then be cleansed and reinstated in her former privileges. It was also the custom for the first-born son to be offered to God and then ransomed back. Mary would offer her Son to God, and then St. Joseph would have paid the priest five shekels to ransom Him back.
It is also a foretelling of the Great Ransom that Jesus Himself would be as Savior of the world.
...because my eyes have seen Your salvation, which You have prepared before the face of all peoples: a Light of Revelation to the Gentiles, and a Glory for Your people Israel. ~ Luke 2:32
The Church asks us this day to remember to pray to always be generous with God, always ready for any sacrifice He may ask of us.
"If Jesus Christ Be God and died for me, then no sacrifice can be too great for me to make for Him." ~ C T Studd
Candles are blessed on this day, a symbolic representation of the words of holy Simeon concerning Christ: "A Light of revelation to the Gentiles." Traditionally a procession of the faithful with lighted candles was held to commemorate the entry of Christ, 'The Light of the World', into the Temple of Jerusalem.
Mary came to the Temple for her purification ceremony, a religious observance of her time, where she would offer a burnt offering at the door in thanksgiving for a happy delivery, and also a sin offering, she would then be cleansed and reinstated in her former privileges. It was also the custom for the first-born son to be offered to God and then ransomed back. Mary would offer her Son to God, and then St. Joseph would have paid the priest five shekels to ransom Him back.
It is also a foretelling of the Great Ransom that Jesus Himself would be as Savior of the world.
...because my eyes have seen Your salvation, which You have prepared before the face of all peoples: a Light of Revelation to the Gentiles, and a Glory for Your people Israel. ~ Luke 2:32
The Church asks us this day to remember to pray to always be generous with God, always ready for any sacrifice He may ask of us.
"If Jesus Christ Be God and died for me, then no sacrifice can be too great for me to make for Him." ~ C T Studd
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