Thursday, August 27, 2009

Pondering My Sainthood...


1 Thess.3:13
We're all called to be saints, I mean if you make it to heaven, then you're a saint...right?? (that's rhetorical)!! Even if the Pope hasn't formally declared your sainthood, you're in if St. Peter lets you through the gate!! But, sometimes I wonder if I'll make it, when I look at the resume of some of the greats. If I were called to stand up for Christ in a crisis would my courage and virtue prevail or would my human nature kick into overdrive? Could I face being stoned to death? Could I face being eaten by lions? Could I face being burned alive? I wonder! Then I reflect on the lesser known and less dramatic saints, those who lived quiet lives, but no less virtuous. Some of these saints were hardly heard of in their time. They were just as God made them...human, with human flaws, shortcomings, and failures. They were sinners who overcame! It takes a ordinary human being living an extraordinary life to be a saint. We can't say a few words and expect sainthood. If it were that easy then everyone could get in the gate! God wants us to grow, learn, develop, and show our love for him. Just saying you're a Christian is not enough, you have to BE a Christian. Christ wants us to participate, not be spectators. This is definitely a daily struggle. Today is the Feast Day of St. Monica, the ever vigilant mother of St. Augustine. He was a scoundrel and lacking in all virtue, but she prayed diligently for years for his conversion. For all those people who aren't perfect (everyone) and for all those parents who worry and pray for their own children, stay faithful, be persistant, pray and don't worry!

Keep on Dancing!!

Thursday, August 20, 2009

Small Successes

FaithButton

It’s important for moms to recognize that all the small successes in our days can add up to one big triumph. So on Thursday of each week, we do exactly that.



My Small Successes for the Week:

1. I started walking 3 times/week for exercise. I hope to increase my time/distance.
2. Sold one team sign.
3. Getting up early for school and work.
4. Finished a t-shirt project for one of Taylor's classes.
5. Kept up with all the weeks activities..so far!

Keep on Dancing!!

Here Comes the Son!


I have found great encouragement in the following verses:

Simon Peter said in reply, "You are the Messiah, the Son of the living God." Jesus said to him in reply, "Blessed are you, Simon son of Jonah. For flesh and blood has not revealed this to you, but my heavenly Father. And so I say to you, you are Peter, and upon this rock I will build my church, and the gates of the netherworld shall not prevail against it."Matthew 16:16-18

There's so much to digest within these 2 verses, but what really caught my attention was "the gates of the netherworld" (hell). Yes, you see Simon and his acknowlegement that Jesus is the Messiah, you see where Jesus gives Simon a new name...Peter, meaning rock. And you see Jesus leaving his earthly kingdom in the hands of Peter. Those few things are enough to keep you talking for awhile. Plenty of books have been written on those subjects alone, but as I was reading the verses; I realized that I had always read the last verse backwards and had always misinterpreted the whole thing.

I always pictured the gates of Heaven, holding back Satan...I had given the power to the Devil and pictured Christ and his followers in a defensive position. Like as Christians, we along with Christ were keeping Satan at bay. When nothing could be further from the truth. Christ is speaking of the gates of hell...we're on the offensive...nothing can hold "US" back...we're on the Lord's team. Satan can build all the defenses he wants, but we're the Body of Christ...his Church. And with Jesus we have the power to defeat Satan. The gates of hell WILL NOT prevail against Christ and his Church!! This is so encouraging to me in the times we are now living. Whether we're struggling with disease, finances, addictions, relationships, or just the world itself; we can know the power of God. Nothing can stop our Savior, Jesus Christ. Here comes the Son!!

Keep on Dancing!!