I just want to throw out a quick thank you to all who have taken the time to read my thoughts. I wish you all the best during this Advent season, and I ask you, what are you doing "extra" for the Lord this season? I am reading the Bible more, reading more literature then I ever have daily. I'm also finding subtle ways to donate and help around town here in various capacities.
Comments welcome!
Take care and God bless
Saturday, December 7, 2013
Friday, December 6, 2013
To Serve!
Hello Friends,
It has been quiet some time indeed since I have wrote. Well, here I am and here is a new topic for you to chew on.
“To love God and neighbor is not something abstract, but profoundly concrete: it means seeing in every person and face of the Lord to be served, to serve him concretely. And you are, dear brothers and sisters, in the face of Jesus.” (Pope Francis, Address during Visit at the Homeless Shelter “Dona Di Maria,” 5/21/13)
I have found myself with a desire to help and serve recently. Not because "The Pope says to" but because I've experienced the joy of sharing and helping...but there is something deeper.
Recently, I have been taking my daughter to Meijer (a local department store chain) and buying a few toys, clothes and baby items and donating them to the Catholic Charities of West Michigan. It feels great. Knowing that someone who doesn't have the means to provide a bottle, diapers, or even a little teddy bear for their own will now enjoy one. I would love to do more, but I find myself constrained within my budget, and feeling guilty that I can not do more.
So then, in my typical whirlwind mindset, I found myself thinking about a few things. There are numerous Saints who inherited huge fortunes, and donated it all. Which then made me think "What if I don't have a fortune, but still want to donate?" As well as "How, besides purchasing items with income, do I serve?"
Last week, I applied for a volunteer job at Muskegon Rescue Mission. I was in there for less the a minute to get the application, and then to drop it off. While I was in there I felt a disparity, a void that was getting filled, a canyon that was getting a bridge. I saw the volunteers there who had a genuine smile...with no income! Crazy, right?
Well, I continue. I was thumbing through Romans tonight, and came across Romans 1:18-23...
"18 The wrath of God is being revealed from heaven against all the godlessness and wickedness of people, who suppress the truth by their wickedness, 19 since what may be known about God is plain to them, because God has made it plain to them. 20 For since the creation of the world God’s invisible qualities—his eternal power and divine nature—have been clearly seen, being understood from what has been made, so that people are without excuse.
21 For although they knew God, they neither glorified him as God nor gave thanks to him, but their thinking became futile and their foolish hearts were darkened. 22 Although they claimed to be wise, they became fools 23 and exchanged the glory of the immortal God for images made to look like a mortal human being and birds and animals and reptiles.
24 Therefore God gave them over in the sinful desires of their hearts to sexual impurity for the degrading of their bodies with one another. 25 They exchanged the truth about God for a lie, and worshiped and served created things rather than the Creator—who is forever praised. Amen.
26 Because of this, God gave them over to shameful lusts. Even their women exchanged natural sexual relations for unnatural ones. 27 In the same way the men also abandoned natural relations with women and were inflamed with lust for one another. Men committed shameful acts with other men, and received in themselves the due penalty for their error.
28 Furthermore, just as they did not think it worthwhile to retain the knowledge of God, so God gave them over to a depraved mind, so that they do what ought not to be done. 29 They have become filled with every kind of wickedness, evil, greed and depravity. They are full of envy, murder, strife, deceit and malice. They are gossips, 30 slanderers, God-haters, insolent, arrogant and boastful; they invent ways of doing evil; they disobey their parents; 31 they have no understanding, no fidelity, no love, no mercy. 32 Although they know God’s righteous decree that those who do such things deserve death, they not only continue to do these very things but also approve of those who practice them."
Which, reminded me of Exodus 20:23 - "Do not make any gods to be alongside me; do not make for yourselves gods of silver or gods of gold."
Ok Geddy.....how does this tie in?
If we hoard our cash...spend it lavishly on ourselves, we fall victim to worshiping it. Worshiping doesn't mean you put it on a marble pedestal and do a dance around it...
If we are constantly worried about how we look, and what we end up spending our money on for ourselves, we then, in turn, worship ourselves.
Look at our "Time" and our "Money." God has given them both to us. At least, He has given us the ability to make more money, or put some of us in a better spot financially then others...but it's not about money. Look at the Parable of the Woman Who Gave All (Luke 21:1-4). Giving $100 or giving $10 is giving. It's a service.
Time...God is the one who put us on this Earth. We are the ones who decide what we do while we are here. Besides being a Sunday Christian, how else can we worship the Lord? Giving money and time. Two things that were given to us by The Holy Father Himself.
My point in all of this is, in serving other, we are serving God. This is a way to worship him outside of the pews and see a direct effect to our cause. You don't have to go out and buy stuff to donate. You just have to be willing to listen to Him, the options are there. It's up to you to decide what you do...
So, when we give, we are doing a service to our Lord, a service to the people he created and doing our part to make the world a little better.
Take care and God Bless.
It has been quiet some time indeed since I have wrote. Well, here I am and here is a new topic for you to chew on.
“To love God and neighbor is not something abstract, but profoundly concrete: it means seeing in every person and face of the Lord to be served, to serve him concretely. And you are, dear brothers and sisters, in the face of Jesus.” (Pope Francis, Address during Visit at the Homeless Shelter “Dona Di Maria,” 5/21/13)
I have found myself with a desire to help and serve recently. Not because "The Pope says to" but because I've experienced the joy of sharing and helping...but there is something deeper.
Recently, I have been taking my daughter to Meijer (a local department store chain) and buying a few toys, clothes and baby items and donating them to the Catholic Charities of West Michigan. It feels great. Knowing that someone who doesn't have the means to provide a bottle, diapers, or even a little teddy bear for their own will now enjoy one. I would love to do more, but I find myself constrained within my budget, and feeling guilty that I can not do more.
So then, in my typical whirlwind mindset, I found myself thinking about a few things. There are numerous Saints who inherited huge fortunes, and donated it all. Which then made me think "What if I don't have a fortune, but still want to donate?" As well as "How, besides purchasing items with income, do I serve?"
Last week, I applied for a volunteer job at Muskegon Rescue Mission. I was in there for less the a minute to get the application, and then to drop it off. While I was in there I felt a disparity, a void that was getting filled, a canyon that was getting a bridge. I saw the volunteers there who had a genuine smile...with no income! Crazy, right?
Well, I continue. I was thumbing through Romans tonight, and came across Romans 1:18-23...
"18 The wrath of God is being revealed from heaven against all the godlessness and wickedness of people, who suppress the truth by their wickedness, 19 since what may be known about God is plain to them, because God has made it plain to them. 20 For since the creation of the world God’s invisible qualities—his eternal power and divine nature—have been clearly seen, being understood from what has been made, so that people are without excuse.
21 For although they knew God, they neither glorified him as God nor gave thanks to him, but their thinking became futile and their foolish hearts were darkened. 22 Although they claimed to be wise, they became fools 23 and exchanged the glory of the immortal God for images made to look like a mortal human being and birds and animals and reptiles.
24 Therefore God gave them over in the sinful desires of their hearts to sexual impurity for the degrading of their bodies with one another. 25 They exchanged the truth about God for a lie, and worshiped and served created things rather than the Creator—who is forever praised. Amen.
26 Because of this, God gave them over to shameful lusts. Even their women exchanged natural sexual relations for unnatural ones. 27 In the same way the men also abandoned natural relations with women and were inflamed with lust for one another. Men committed shameful acts with other men, and received in themselves the due penalty for their error.
28 Furthermore, just as they did not think it worthwhile to retain the knowledge of God, so God gave them over to a depraved mind, so that they do what ought not to be done. 29 They have become filled with every kind of wickedness, evil, greed and depravity. They are full of envy, murder, strife, deceit and malice. They are gossips, 30 slanderers, God-haters, insolent, arrogant and boastful; they invent ways of doing evil; they disobey their parents; 31 they have no understanding, no fidelity, no love, no mercy. 32 Although they know God’s righteous decree that those who do such things deserve death, they not only continue to do these very things but also approve of those who practice them."
Which, reminded me of Exodus 20:23 - "Do not make any gods to be alongside me; do not make for yourselves gods of silver or gods of gold."
Ok Geddy.....how does this tie in?
If we hoard our cash...spend it lavishly on ourselves, we fall victim to worshiping it. Worshiping doesn't mean you put it on a marble pedestal and do a dance around it...
If we are constantly worried about how we look, and what we end up spending our money on for ourselves, we then, in turn, worship ourselves.
Look at our "Time" and our "Money." God has given them both to us. At least, He has given us the ability to make more money, or put some of us in a better spot financially then others...but it's not about money. Look at the Parable of the Woman Who Gave All (Luke 21:1-4). Giving $100 or giving $10 is giving. It's a service.
Time...God is the one who put us on this Earth. We are the ones who decide what we do while we are here. Besides being a Sunday Christian, how else can we worship the Lord? Giving money and time. Two things that were given to us by The Holy Father Himself.
My point in all of this is, in serving other, we are serving God. This is a way to worship him outside of the pews and see a direct effect to our cause. You don't have to go out and buy stuff to donate. You just have to be willing to listen to Him, the options are there. It's up to you to decide what you do...
So, when we give, we are doing a service to our Lord, a service to the people he created and doing our part to make the world a little better.
Take care and God Bless.
Sunday, June 2, 2013
Formation of Faith
Good Evening!
Thank you for once again checking out my blog. Tonight I want to talk about what I think the "Formation of Faith" is. This, as all of my topics are, is my opinion, and you are open to comment.
When I first heard "Formation of Faith" I couldn't put my finger on exactly what it meant. The sole definition of it.
As I share my story with others, I come to an understanding of what the formation is.
We are born with the knowledge of right and wrong. God has installed in us how to feel guilt, happiness, success, disappointment. So, when it comes time to choose right or wrong, we start to walk down that path of formation, that puts us either with, or against God. We know if it's right or wrong.
We also have to open our hearts and minds to God. Once we open them, We allow ourselves to experience his awesomeness.
It's like a puzzle coming together. But the puzzle of faith and religion will never be complete. Each peice though, makes sense and makes the picture a little more clear.
Our faith is defined by our experiences as well. And faith, is the belief in something that you can not prove with science.
I have noticed that my faith is formed. In certain cases, and certain situations, I have the opportunity to minister to someone, and do it with no doubt in my mind what I speak. I have also experienced my heart drop when I hear or see things that offend my beliefs. When that happens, I don't respond with anger, but I realize what my faith is.
My faith is constantly forming, into an object that can not be stripped from me.
Once you decide to open your heart to God, Jesus Christ, Mary and the communion of Saints, you notice changes in your life. Changes to which you need to recognize, thank God for and follow.
This seems like it's a bit pieced together in itself, but my main point is, our faith is always forming. But you have to be open to the change, for the change to take place.
Take care.
Geddy
Thank you for once again checking out my blog. Tonight I want to talk about what I think the "Formation of Faith" is. This, as all of my topics are, is my opinion, and you are open to comment.
When I first heard "Formation of Faith" I couldn't put my finger on exactly what it meant. The sole definition of it.
As I share my story with others, I come to an understanding of what the formation is.
We are born with the knowledge of right and wrong. God has installed in us how to feel guilt, happiness, success, disappointment. So, when it comes time to choose right or wrong, we start to walk down that path of formation, that puts us either with, or against God. We know if it's right or wrong.
We also have to open our hearts and minds to God. Once we open them, We allow ourselves to experience his awesomeness.
It's like a puzzle coming together. But the puzzle of faith and religion will never be complete. Each peice though, makes sense and makes the picture a little more clear.
Our faith is defined by our experiences as well. And faith, is the belief in something that you can not prove with science.
I have noticed that my faith is formed. In certain cases, and certain situations, I have the opportunity to minister to someone, and do it with no doubt in my mind what I speak. I have also experienced my heart drop when I hear or see things that offend my beliefs. When that happens, I don't respond with anger, but I realize what my faith is.
My faith is constantly forming, into an object that can not be stripped from me.
Once you decide to open your heart to God, Jesus Christ, Mary and the communion of Saints, you notice changes in your life. Changes to which you need to recognize, thank God for and follow.
This seems like it's a bit pieced together in itself, but my main point is, our faith is always forming. But you have to be open to the change, for the change to take place.
Take care.
Geddy
Tuesday, May 21, 2013
Faith - Part 1
A long time mission of mine, is to find out for myself what faith is. Faith, as in every aspect of the word. If you look on dictionary.com , you find definitions of faith such as ;
1. Confidence or trust in a person or thing: faith in another's ability.
2. Belief that is not based on proof: He had faith that the hypothesis would be substantiated by fact.
4. Belief in anything, as a code of ethics, standards of merit, etc.: to be of the same faith with someone concerning honesty.
5.A system of religious belief: the Christian faith; the Jewish faith.
6. The obligation of loyalty or fidelity to a person, promise, engagement, etc.: Failure to appear would be breaking faith.
7.The observance of this obligation; fidelity to one's promise, oath, allegiance, etc.: He was the only one who proved his faith during our recent troubles.
8. Christian Theology . the trust in God and in His promises as made through Christ and the Scriptures by which humans are justified or saved.
Wow. 8 definitions. For all of those, I can see a reason for the definition. But my quest is to find out the difference between faith and hope. I've come up with numerous analogies to help myself, but last night, faith was defined. The pure definition of faith.
A while ago, I met someone who told me they were a Mormon. We got into a brief religious discussion when I told them about my entry into the Catholic Church. At the time, I said "Cool, it's good that you have a strong faith in Christ." - - - That was before I looked up what Mormons believed in. I also took a gander at Jehovah's Witnesses. Just out of curiosity.
The ideas of Mormonism to me are laughable and to a certain extent offensive. Teaching that Jesus was conceived by Mary through "Elohim?" I was sick to my stomach when I heard "And Elohim came to Mary to have sex with her. And he created Jesus."
This is where I found out what faith is. Faith is the unbridled confidence in what you believe. It's not a belief, it's a "know." I know that story isn't true. I know Our Lady was a virgin her entire life. I know Jesus was conceived by God in Mary. Seeing something taught that I know wasn't truth made me sick. My faith was not rattled, but I knew at that point, that just as I know water extinguishes a flame, my faith is a knowledge to which will never be bolstered or replaced.
My friends, when I first started talking with Sister about what I wanted to know, and what I wanted to believe, this is what I was looking for. I wanted evidence, I wanted proof. I found it all. The Catholic faith has taught me that Catholicism is faith with reason. I love what I know, and I know Jesus Christ is the only way to Heaven, and that he died for you and I to get there. I know this. Do you?
Thursday, May 2, 2013
Buried
I have my face buried in my hands. With a sigh, I think to myself, the thing's I've gone through, the events I'm going through, and the events I will go through. I like to have an optimistic outlook on life, but then sometimes, reality sets in. I have to bring up my thoughts to get them out, and decide how to deal with them.
I have a daughter, but I do not feel like a parent.
I have a life, but I do not feel like I am living.
I want to wake up, but I am not sleeping.
Wants are wants I know. But don't we all want - and desire something better? When will it happen? How will it happen?
My "job" or "mission" in life is to live a life that glorifies God. To spread His word. But God, throw me a bone. I'm going nuts down here.
So, buried in my sorrow and self pity, it's time to pull myself up and get going on this. I have to shake not only this attitude, but this mindset too.
I know I can, I know I will.
I am buried alive now, but I will rise. Just as Christ did, I will rise into a new life. It may take me more then three days, but it will happen.
I have a daughter, but I do not feel like a parent.
I have a life, but I do not feel like I am living.
I want to wake up, but I am not sleeping.
Wants are wants I know. But don't we all want - and desire something better? When will it happen? How will it happen?
My "job" or "mission" in life is to live a life that glorifies God. To spread His word. But God, throw me a bone. I'm going nuts down here.
So, buried in my sorrow and self pity, it's time to pull myself up and get going on this. I have to shake not only this attitude, but this mindset too.
I know I can, I know I will.
I am buried alive now, but I will rise. Just as Christ did, I will rise into a new life. It may take me more then three days, but it will happen.
Tuesday, April 30, 2013
Worry
Tonight, I sit here, winding down from the day, reflecting on what was a pretty good day, until it was interrupted by an unnecessary phone call, and a stroll past my old home. Then I because agitated, upset and worried.
What's worrying me? It's not one thing. It's not one person. It's the fact that I am worrying. I am 28, once again living at my parents home, with no end in sight of that in the near future. But then when I do, will I have a job long enough to pay for the bills? Will I ever remarry? These thoughts and questions speed through my mind, and in an instant, I wake up where I am again.
I am trying to read the Bible and the Catechism within a year, and currently, I am in the Gospel According to Matthew.
God speaks to us. We might not hear a voice, but our eyes are the light to his word. I came across Matthew 6:26-34, I heard him speak to me.
"Look at the birds in the sky; they do not sow or reap, they gather nothing into barns, yet your heavenly Father feeds them. Are not you more important than they? Can any of you by worrying add a single moment to your life-span? Why are you anxious about clothes? Learn from the way the wild flowers grow. They do not work or spin. But I tell you that not even Solomon in all his splendor was clothed like one of them. If God so clothes the grass of the field, which grows today and is thrown into the oven tomorrow, will he not much more provide for you, O you of little faith? So do not worry and say, ‘What are we to eat?’ or ‘What are we to drink?’ or ‘What are we to wear?’ All these things the pagans seek. Your heavenly Father knows that you need them all. But seek first the kingdom (of God) and his righteousness, and all these things will be given you besides. Do not worry about tomorrow; tomorrow will take care of itself. Sufficient for a day is its own evil."
Imagine how well we would be if we lived like the birds. Completely care free. I do not think Jesus is saying for us to just throw all of our cares to the wind, but to live our lives without fear or worry, because, in the end, does it matter if you were a career doctor, pilot, construction worker or taxi cab driver? No. God will take care of us. All we have to do, is praise him and trust him!
My goal is to stop worrying - stop worrying about getting fired, if I will ever gain full independence again, if I will ever get married again. Because God will take care of it. It's time for me to put all my trust in him.
Do you?
What's worrying me? It's not one thing. It's not one person. It's the fact that I am worrying. I am 28, once again living at my parents home, with no end in sight of that in the near future. But then when I do, will I have a job long enough to pay for the bills? Will I ever remarry? These thoughts and questions speed through my mind, and in an instant, I wake up where I am again.
I am trying to read the Bible and the Catechism within a year, and currently, I am in the Gospel According to Matthew.
God speaks to us. We might not hear a voice, but our eyes are the light to his word. I came across Matthew 6:26-34, I heard him speak to me.
"Look at the birds in the sky; they do not sow or reap, they gather nothing into barns, yet your heavenly Father feeds them. Are not you more important than they? Can any of you by worrying add a single moment to your life-span? Why are you anxious about clothes? Learn from the way the wild flowers grow. They do not work or spin. But I tell you that not even Solomon in all his splendor was clothed like one of them. If God so clothes the grass of the field, which grows today and is thrown into the oven tomorrow, will he not much more provide for you, O you of little faith? So do not worry and say, ‘What are we to eat?’ or ‘What are we to drink?’ or ‘What are we to wear?’ All these things the pagans seek. Your heavenly Father knows that you need them all. But seek first the kingdom (of God) and his righteousness, and all these things will be given you besides. Do not worry about tomorrow; tomorrow will take care of itself. Sufficient for a day is its own evil."
Imagine how well we would be if we lived like the birds. Completely care free. I do not think Jesus is saying for us to just throw all of our cares to the wind, but to live our lives without fear or worry, because, in the end, does it matter if you were a career doctor, pilot, construction worker or taxi cab driver? No. God will take care of us. All we have to do, is praise him and trust him!
My goal is to stop worrying - stop worrying about getting fired, if I will ever gain full independence again, if I will ever get married again. Because God will take care of it. It's time for me to put all my trust in him.
Do you?
Thursday, April 25, 2013
Prayers
So, you and I have always heard of the saying "God answers all prayers" , right? Right. Well, my friends, Here is one thing I have learned. It has taken a while for me to understand what I've been saying, but here is my best attempt to describe it.
God answers all prayers. Sometimes immediately, sometimes, gradually. Sometimes yes, sometimes, no.
And I sit here tonight, thinking of all the prayers I've cast up. I have a typical prayer I recite before bed, then I make sure to include an Our Father...Hail Mary...etc.
But I want to share with you an experience I had today.
A particular person in my life had a job interview a few days ago. She came back and was really excited about how it went. I maintained the thought "If it's God's will..." But I also prayed on it, because the benefits are excellent and will solve many problems.
The next day....nothing.
The day after....nothing again.
Nothing as in, she didn't hear from the place she interviewed. So, as my typical Thursday dictates, I went to mass in the morning and spent a little extra time in prayer before mass, as well as after. On Thursdays, we do the novena to Our Lady of Perpetual Help, and during it, I prayed for this woman and the job she is seeking.
This afternoon, I got a call.
"Geddy, I got the job!"
I was thrilled.
Prayers do go answered.
But in order to achieve the full power of prayer, you have to understand that God isn't a wishing well. He isn't a genie in a bottle We are at HIS will. So, you may pray to him, and he will answer. As much as we hope the answer is yes, sometimes, his answer is no as well.
Take care my friends.
Geddy
God answers all prayers. Sometimes immediately, sometimes, gradually. Sometimes yes, sometimes, no.
And I sit here tonight, thinking of all the prayers I've cast up. I have a typical prayer I recite before bed, then I make sure to include an Our Father...Hail Mary...etc.
But I want to share with you an experience I had today.
A particular person in my life had a job interview a few days ago. She came back and was really excited about how it went. I maintained the thought "If it's God's will..." But I also prayed on it, because the benefits are excellent and will solve many problems.
The next day....nothing.
The day after....nothing again.
Nothing as in, she didn't hear from the place she interviewed. So, as my typical Thursday dictates, I went to mass in the morning and spent a little extra time in prayer before mass, as well as after. On Thursdays, we do the novena to Our Lady of Perpetual Help, and during it, I prayed for this woman and the job she is seeking.
This afternoon, I got a call.
"Geddy, I got the job!"
I was thrilled.
Prayers do go answered.
But in order to achieve the full power of prayer, you have to understand that God isn't a wishing well. He isn't a genie in a bottle We are at HIS will. So, you may pray to him, and he will answer. As much as we hope the answer is yes, sometimes, his answer is no as well.
Take care my friends.
Geddy
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