Posted on by Charly

“Here I am Lord; I Come to do Your Will”

As I tried to sing these words at Mass all I could focus on was not coughing. I have had a dreadful cough for over a week that has kept both my husband and I from having a good nights sleep. To soothe my aching throat and so I didn’t interrupt the beautiful children’s choir with my ugly coughing I stoped signing and merely read the words:

“Here I am Lord; I come to do your will.”

Yes here I am Lord. In your church. With your people. I am here obediently and lovingly worshiping you. I am here because you allowed me to be and you put me into existence. As if that isn’t profound enough I am suddenly struck by the promise I am making in next line:

“…. I come to do your will”

Your will. I am telling God I come to do your will, but so often I do my own will. How do I know the difference?

When discerning His will and making decisions about what to do next we must always keep the end in mind. By this I mean our death in this world and our ultimate meeting with Jesus. When Jesus guides our choices and our actions then we are doing His will. When meeting Jesus is our goal we can’t help but try and try again to follow His commands. In doing so we are trying and trying again to do His will.

Next time I read psalm 40 (I pray that I can sing it without a fit of coughing) I will be reminded that I am promising God that not only am I here because of His grace but I am promising to do His will.

Posted on by Charly

You Are Loved!

I recall being pregnant with my second child and wondering how I could ever love another child as much as I loved my first. I didn’t think I had any space left to fit another child in my heart. It was already so full. Then she was born and suddenly my heart swelled. I had just as much love for this little one as I did for my first.

This blissful feeling is so overwhelming when a new baby is placed in your arms. It’s not difficult to imagine loving this little human and protecting it from harm. You can easily imagine putting your life at risk to keep this precious new life safe. This love and safety that is automatic towards this new little human is the closest feeling I can come up with to describe Gods’ love for each of us. Of course He doesn’t question if He has enough love for more humans, He tells us to go forth and multiply. He knows He has more than enough love for all of us. It is us, humans, who don’t always have enough room for Him.

When I think of someone who loves me I immediately picture my own mom and dad. It truly didn’t matter what I did they always loved me. I pray everyone has at least one person that comes to mind when they think about who loves them. There is something that is strengthened inside of us when we know we are loved unconditionally. This kind of love gives us courage and a feeling of security.

Sadly there are many people who don’t feel loved. They don’t feel that there is someone that will love them no matter what. We live in a dysfunctional world where love is twisted, confused, and manipulated. Even if no human person comes to mind, or if you question weather those who are supposed to love you truly do there is always God. He never takes His love away. No matter what you have done or are going through He always loves you!

He loves you in exactly the way you need. A way that we can’t even understand completely because it is so unchanging. He doesn’t love you only when you do good. He loves you always and because of this He desires your happiness. He gives us rules to bring us happiness. He knows what is best because He knows each of us so completely. He doesn’t want you to be alone, to be scared, or to feel unloved. He wants to walk with you on this journey and at the end of this existence He wants you to be with Him for eternity.

He loves each one of us so much that He has a plan for good for each one of us. Even if we choose to stray from His plan we can always choose to come back to it. He is so good that He will continuously help us find our way back to Him. He is the ultimate guide to happiness because of His true love for each of us.

“For God so loved the world that he gave his only Son…” John 3:16 NAB

Photo: pixabay.com

Posted on by Charly

Eve asked Adam, “Do you love me?”

“Who else?” He replied

The priest we have when we go to the cabin always has a funny story or joke. This weekend was no different. Our large family took up an entire pew at this little church and we tried hard not to be a spectacle, but completely failed. It seems it is inevitable that we get stares and do some entertaining during mass. Not in a disrespectful way but just naturally by having so many children. It seems it should be the one place where we shouldn’t get stares for having a large family. Unfortunately there are not a lot of young families at mass. I wonder if God is asking these missing families, “Do you love me?” I wonder if he is asking the families that are there, “Do you love me enough to share me with others?”  What if we told people about the love Jesus has for them?  If they really understood I don’t think they could stay away, even if they have a gaggle of children to tend to during mass.

I love the rosary almost as much as I love the mass. It gives me a peace that can only be from Jesus. However, I have always struggled with the mystery of the ascension. Why would Jesus leave? I’m sure the apostles struggled with this too.  They must have felt abandoned, lonely, confused, and maybe even unloved. We heard this past Sunday from the gospel of John chapter 14 verse 28; “If you loved me you would rejoice that I am going to the Father; for the father is greater than I.” We are reminded in this to love Jesus. To rejoice in the fact that He is ascending to heaven. The very place He died to open for us. He has gone to be there with His father who is The Almighty. There is no question about His love for us. He even asks his father to send us an advocate, the Holy Spirit, so that we can be reminded of Jesus’ love for us and not use the fleeting feelings we as humans experience as an excuse to forget what He has taught us.

His love for us cannot be denied, it is our love for Him that falters. So as we prepare to celebrate Pentecost, the great gift of the Holy Spirit,  in just a couple of weeks I will be praying;

“Come Holy Spirit fill me with your love so I can trust in You.  So I can spread your love to others and encourage them boldly to love you back.  So we are all strengthened by your love and have no choice but to live in it and share it.”

 

Posted on by Charly

Gratitude; Part of the Light of Christ

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Until I had Jesus and the church in my life I lived in the shadows. I wasn’t willing to let my guard down and truly enjoy or grieve things. I always kept the thought in my mind that I would be let down so I shouldn’t get my hopes up. I didn’t have a true understanding of trust. I was putting my trust in myself and in other humans, this leads to disappointment.  When I chose to put my trust in God I was shown that He will never disappoint.  I was given the light of gratitude which produces joy, peace, and hope.  I will still experience pain and suffering but I can see past that because of the joy He has blessed me with.   The joy in knowing Him.  The joy in His beautiful creation.  The joy in the promise of eternal life with Him.

Before opening up to God I missed out on a lot of true joy. I didn’t allow Jesus to fully shine in me. I thought I was protecting myself from pain and suffering but I was guarding myself from His blessings.  Experiencing pain without the joy of God holds no hope.  That is what draws me to Christ. The light of hope that can’t be burned out. The peace and the joy He gives that can be shared over and over and never run out.

This  wall around my heart robbed others of joy too. The hugs I held back. The smiles I froze before they crept across my face. The words of praise I swallowed.  The excitement I kept inside. The tears I didn’t shed with another…

There are people I know who can’t hold back their joy. It radiates from them.  They have so much pure joy and peace that even in horrendous situations their eyes still glow with a light that can only be Jesus shining from within them.  He lights the world around them showing them all the good that exists and these joy-filled people are grateful.  They are grateful for every good that they see because they do not drown in the darkness they seek out things to be grateful for.

I think that the light of Christ is flickering in me and I continue to fan it and fuel it in hopes that the rest of that wall will be burned away and I will be able to fully embrace and share His light with others.  It is a gift that each of us can receive from Him and as it burns brighter inside of us it can be a light to others who are looking for peace, joy, and hope.

I have started a gratitude journal. It is amazing how it changes your outlook.  It has become a concrete way of fanning the light of Christ inside me.  Everyday it is a new challenge to find moments to be grateful for.  To seek them out and thank God for them in  prayer.

Here’s a little sample from my gratitude journal:

For new pink rubber boots and the little feet that went into them

For big sister who held hands with the little ones and splashed in spring puddles

For the smell of dinner

For a case of the giggles with my big kids

For the moment we both got up with the baby in the night

 At times the things to be grateful for are so small they may be overlooked if they are not being sought intentionally.  The things to put on the list can be difficult when anger, fear, or doubt are clouding the view and at the same time there is never so dark a day we can’t find something to be grateful for.  Jesus gives thanks at the Last Supper.  He knows what is coming; His betrayal by friends, His arrest, His torture, His crucifixion and yet He gives thanks.  He shows us how to be grateful for all the good that God has blessed us with.  He gives us light to shine in the shadows and encourages us to be grateful.

 

Posted on by Charly

Denying Ourselves One Thing For Lent

Lent is a time for more prayer, extra fasting, and more focused alms giving. Translation for those who may not be catholic: for six weeks before Easter we prepare our hearts for Jesus by doing more prayers and/or bible studies. We do some self-denial and more fasting than other seasons of the year. We give to charity in a more thoughtful or prayerful way than the rest of the year. It is a beautiful season when Catholics and many other Christians together do these things to bring ourselves more in union with Christ.

There are so many ways to pray and study the Bible. There are also hundreds of good charities to donate time or money to. In this post I have only focused on sharing some of the self-denial, or what to give up for Lent, ideas I have had. This is in no way meant to make the prayer and alms giving traditions seem less important! Maybe those topics will be a post for another day.

There is something so satisfying in denying ourselves. It is meant to make us little, take away excess, and give us strength. It can help us open up to more from God when we give ourselves less. It’s really great to do this all year round but Lent is a special time to unite ourselves with Jesus and His suffering for us in the passion (His suffering and crucifixion).

Each year I spend quite some time deciding what one thing to give up for Lent. I make a list and have a hard time picking just one but I think that’s part of the challenge. It’s easy to give up or give in when you have too many things you’re trying to do. So I narrow it to just one. Sometimes it seems silly at first only to prove after six weeks it was actually very hard to do. Some years I have picked something I hope will become a habit after Lent. Other years I pick something that will make me appreciate what I have again after six weeks away from it.

Many of us give up chocolate and sweets for lent. When I do this I feel wonderful by the second week of Lent. By the end of Lent I feel better than ever. Then it is Easter and we celebrate with so many sweets and chocolates that I again am hooked and feel a bit gross and sugary again. Maybe I’ll try this again and hope I can make it stick. I do like to pick a sacrifice that I can continue after Lent. One that can become a new healthy and holy habit.

One year I decided to give up time everyday to pray the Rosary. Sound overwhelming? 15-20 minutes a day of quiet uninterrupted time to pray. All of us are busy and it can sound impossible to add another task in, but it worked. After that Lent I have rarely missed a day of the Rosary. It has become precious time with Jesus that I don’t want to go without.

Another Lent I decided I would not use plastic bags. I bought six heavy-duty cloth grocery bags and stuck to my guns. Even at the embarrassment of my children. At first it was hard to remember to bring my new bags into the store. So when I checked out and realized I had forgotten them I would ask the cashier to watch my stuff while I quick ran out the car to fetch my bags. If I just had a few items and forgot my bags in the car I would carry them out in my arms. Finally the kids started to remind me to take my bags in so they wouldn’t be mortified by their crazy mother again. This habit stuck as well and now 95 percent of the time I use my cloth bags.

Sometimes I have chosen things that I do not continue after Lent but they are things that have brought me closer to God because my gratitude and appreciation grows as the suffering brings me closer to God. Once I gave up socks. It was awful! Stinky, sweaty, cold feet for six weeks. Another time I gave up my pillow. This too was quite uncomfortable. There was a year I decided I was buying too much. I gave up buying extra items. So for six weeks I had to remind myself to only buy the necessities. These simple luxuries when taken away filled me with a longing for them. That is the point right? To create a longing that can translate into a longing for God.

There was one Lent when I was given a cross to bear that was so heavy I didn’t pick anything else to give up. My mom was put on hospice care and I devoted my time to her. There are years when our life circumstances demand almost more sacrifice than we can take but God gets us through when we allow Him to. So don’t be hard on yourself if you can’t come up with one thing to give up because your life is already sacrificial. In these times giving up a pillow or candy seems quite insignificant. However, every sacrifice great or small can be used by God!

This year my daughter and I decided to give up something together. We debated and finally we have agreed to not sit on chairs or couches. We will be sitting on the floor and standing for six weeks. I anticipate this is going to be harder than it seems. I am envisioning some strange looks in waiting rooms and a sore backside but it’s about a little suffering. I just have to look at the cross and realize my little suffering isn’t so bad.

I love Lent because in denying ourselves we can become holier people, closer to God, because by cleaning out the excess and/or comfort in our lives we make room for Jesus to dwell in us. And with our little sacrifices we become closer to the suffering of Christ which can unite us more strongly to His love.

Blessings to you this lent!!

If you are still looking for ideas of something to give up for lent here is a list of some concrete possibilities:

No Chairs or Couches

No sleeping past your alarm

No pillow

No socks

No chocolate

No plastic bags

No sugar

No blankets

No mattress

No silverware

No make-up

No snacks

No unnecessary purchases

No Radio

No TV

The options are endless….

(Photo from pixabay.com)

Posted on by Charly · 1 Comment

Love Your Enemies

Love: to will the good of others. It is easy to love those who love us, who are kind to us, who help us, or do things for us. We aren’t asked to do only what is easy though we are told to love our enemies.

Who are our enemies?

People who are out to physically harm us? Yes. However loving them doesn’t mean allowing them to hurt us. It means wanting justice for them. Loving them means wanting them to be healed of their cruelty and set free from it. We are to move past our anger and desire what is best for that person. This is not to say we need to continue a relationship with them. We do need to look out for our safety and protect ourselves from harm.

For the average person the “enemy” might be people in our lives that irritate us. We are called not to just be kind but to love them. They maybe people we have to interact with on a daily basis; co-workers, neighbors, family members. They may make our blood boil and our emotions erupt with anger but we are called to love them. Actually it doesn’t end there. The passage goes on to say “… and do good for them.”

So not only do we have to want good for them we are told to do good for them. It is easy to feed the hungry, clothe the naked, shelter the homeless when you don’t know them. What if I knew their political views and their sins before I scooped a warm heap of hot dish onto their plate? What if I knew how they treated their children before I handed over handmade blankets to their shivering bodies? It clearly doesn’t matter we are called to love and act.

It seems to me this is what the command love your enemies is getting at, there are no if, ands, or buts. God calls us to: “Love your enemies and do good for them.” Luke 6:35

Photo from pixabay.com Bible verse from New American Bible Standard Edition 1970

Posted on by Charly

How About Mercy?

How about mercy as a New Years resolution?

Mercy is compassion or forgiveness shown toward someone whom it is within one’s power to punish or harm (dictionary.com). This sounds simple enough. Most people do not want to harm anyone. Sometimes we just don’t notice that is what we are doing. Sometimes I want my way so badly I don’t realize that I have harmed someone. My smug grunt when I feel something is obviously stupid. My eye roll when I think someone has done something ridiculous. Staring at my phone in the midst of other people sending the message that they don’t matter because I have better things to do. There are truly many ways I harm people every day. It’s on my heart to be more intentional about how I treat others, to be more merciful.

How about every morning we pray that everyone we encounter will be shown God’s mercy through us. Starting with those in our own homes, including ourselves. Reaching out for God’s mercy in our hearts as we interact with friends and strangers around us. Smiling tenderly, making eye contact, and remembering that everyone is made in the image of God. Showing and or asking for God’s mercy in every situation, especially difficult ones.

Digging deeper into my faith on the topic of mercy I came across the Spiritual and Corporal Works of Mercy.  What if we use this as a guide for mercy in 2019? The fourteen things Jesus teaches us to do to help our neighbors. Fourteen things in 12 months. Mercy for all those whom we come into contact with in 2019. Think of the effect!

With all the division in our world today we need to look to God for the answer. He gives us the Golden Rule, the Ten Commandments, and tells us none of that matters if we do not put on love. It seems to me when we show mercy we are being loving. As I look at the Works of Mercy I see things I can do that aren’t fluffy and fruitless. These aren’t superficial or self-serving tasks. They are ways to serve our Lord and to bring His mercy to the world He created.

Image of the Divine Mercy from praymorenovenas.com

James 2:13For judgment will be merciless to one who has shown no mercy; mercy triumphs over judgment.

(Biblehub.com/ New American Standard Bible)

May God bless you this 2019!

 

Posted on by Charly

Joy

This week we are reminded to rejoice. We have a savior and he has already won the battle for us. As we sang “O Come, O Come, Emmanuel” this past Sunday at mass I noticed I was not paying much attention until the words “rejoice rejoice” brought a smile to my face as I realized I can have joy no matter what is going on in this crazy world because I have Jesus. It reminded me of a little acrostic that the kids brought home from school. The J is for Jesus. The O is for others. The Y is for yourself.

When I struggle to be joyful in a world full of darkness and despair I remind myself to put Jesus first in my life by engaging in mass, praying, reading the Bible, receiving the sacraments, spending time at adoration, and simply being hopeful in the Lord.

Then I focus on those around me, others. What can I do to help them find joy? Maybe just a smile or a word of encouragement. Maybe I need to cook, bake, or clean for them. Maybe they need to be lifted up in prayer. Maybe I can find joy again by serving others.

Last only because it keeps me humble and not because I am unimportant; is to look inward. To look and see if my needs are being met. Am I getting enough rest, nutritious food, exercise, and enjoyment?

When I am lacking in joy the answer is short and sweet. It is seemingly simple yet can be a daily struggle to keep in perspective:

Jesus

Others

Yourself

Posted on by Charly

Advent To Do List:

(Photo from pixbay)

I have been making lists for years.  Things always get checked off but the next day a new list is created.  December’s to do list is especially long and difficult to finish.  I started out this advent season listening to some podcasts while making my list of gift ideas.  Father Mike Schmitz always engages me and his homely the first Sunday of Advent was especially thought-provoking.  I stopped writing my list and listened carefully.

Father Mike Schmitz said, “You are going to die.  The date you will die is December 25.”  In other words that don’t get your attention quite as fiercely as those, “You are going to die and you will meet Jesus! So don’t just clean your house, decorate it beautifully, and buy great gifts for loved ones but prepare your heart for meeting Him! “Get ready now!’ He said.

My mom’s dying words were, “Lord help me.” She met Him. I know we will all meet Jesus. Whether we love Him or not we will come face to face with Him. I am working on getting my heart ready for that meeting whether it is December 25 or not I want to be ready.

We may meet Him before our death. Here was a new take on the second coming of Jesus. It was from Father James at mass this past Sunday.  He took a view I have never considered.  He said something like this; Jesus will have a second coming.  What if He is trying to right now through you?  Are you listening? Are you obeying? Do you love Him enough that others can “see Him through you”?

Can others see Jesus through me? As I let that settle in my mind it rattles me. I have knowledge of Jesus and even a deep relationship with Him but does that bring others to know Him? I have some sharing to do!

This year I am adding two things to my advent to-do list.  Two things that will be harder than decorating my house with all the little helpful hands I have.  Harder than finding and buying gifts for those in my life.  Harder than finding time to get my whole family together to get a Christmas tree.  Harder yet so much more meaningful!

Additions to my Advent to-do List:

  • Clean up my heart
  • Bring Jesus to others
Posted on by Charly

Loneliness

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In spite of my unworthiness He; the King of the Universe and Creator of the World chooses me. He allows me to receive His very body and blood and to have a meaningful relationship with Him. This alone should keep me from spells of loneliness. To know that I have the Almighty Father as a guide, a friend, and a savior reminds me that I am never truly alone. Yet sometimes, especially this time of year when the days are short, the air is cold, and life seems frozen in grey tones my feelings can overshadow reason and a sad lonely cloud envelopes me.

I am at the cemetery where my mom is buried staring at a tree. It stands bare and alone on the snowy winter landscape. This tree has all it needs; soil, water, and sunshine yet it looks lonely to me. By design that tree has no feelings. It doesn’t feel left out even though just 100 yards away there is a whole forest of trees that are together. If I were in its spot alone and exposed I would be sad and lonely. It took me a while of staring before I realized that Jesus has felt this too. It seems there is nothing He didn’t feel when He took on human form.  He felt so many terrible feelings during the crucifixion.  I believe loneliness was included, afterall He asked God “Why have you abandoned me?”

I learned long ago in my elementary science class that all animals need to survive is food, water, and shelter. Maybe that is all other species need but as humans we also need meaningful relationships. We have a painful desire deep in their heart to have others around us who truly care for us. That tree may survive and even thrive in its’ lonely spot. The woodland animals nearby can serve their purpose by taking the food, water, and shelter provided to them. Us humans though, we will merely survive with only food, water, and shelter.

Relationships with people can partially fill that loneliness inside of us.  God can fill it completely.  Even though we are not worthy He chooses us, He wants to be with each one of us to care for our needs and bring us into eternity with Him. He provides the people He wants in our lives we just have to notice, take time to see them, and welcome them into our lives. Ironic or maybe so obvious that I don’t even think about it but when the sun shines and it’s a bright beautiful day I don’t feel lonely. Maybe that’s a reminder that like the sun the Son wipes away my loneliness.