Prayer Share

What a great prayer anytime, but especially to ponder these next few days:

Crucify me, O Lord.

Crucify my pride, my fear of being dependent, my love of self.                                                                     

Nail my fears, my pain, my shortcomings to the cross.

Hammer my weaknesses and shame steadfast, too.

Unite my aching heart with Yours, which is bleeding for love of my soul. 

Crucify me, O Lord.     

Grant me the grace to rise about this broken world, to fly to You in even the smallest need or desire.            

May I run into Your arms, totally dependent on You, content to let You lead me.                                          

Grant me the grace to want to need You, Lord, for only in seeking You is there peace and unending joy.

My Jesus, hold me. Crucify me. Bring me back to life in You.

Running In The Right Direction

This summer has been a tremendous learning experience for me. Unlike most students my age, I haven't learned many valuable career skills or interacted with loads of new people; in fact, I wasn't even technically employed. But what I have learned is so much more important; I've learned loads about myself and the way I handle the world around me-even (and especially) when things are most difficult. What I've seen in myself over the past few months certainly hasn't been all good, and, as always, there is room for growth.

Most recently, I have realized the need for stillness in my life. To me, "stillness" used to mean forcing myself to physically slow down, to pull away from my commitments and remind myself to breathe every once in a while. Lately, I've had so much freedom with my time that physical busyness hasn't been a problem. Mental busyness, on the other hand, has become the thing I most struggle with.

I run from God. I run from His love, mercy, peace. I run from the one who created us, loves us more than life itself, and makes me whole. It's a stupid, selfish, and ridiculous way of handling the problems of this world, but I run. Since God isn't here for me to physically avoid, I mentally block Him. Even when I have time to myself or in a small group (which would normally energize me), I make sure my mind is so occupied that there is no room for Christ in my thoughts, much less in my heart. I run from the stillness that allows beauty in.

Enough about me. I have a news flash for you; you run too. We all run at some point-for different reasons and in different ways, but we all do it. We may run through addictions, physical or mental busyness, or a million other avenues. We may not even realize at the time what we are doing, but the wounds we constantly discover in ourselves prove otherwise. Believing lies about ourselves, refusing to give thanks, choosing the easy way instead of the right one....we all run. We all break, we're all wounded.

God shouldn't love us. He shouldn't welcome us back as sinners, shouldn't have mercy on us, and certainly shouldn't love us for our brokenness. It isn't logical. He loves us not in spite of our wounds, but because of them. A love like that isn't logical. It's beautiful.

Among all of the running, one thing holds true. We won't find healing in running from Christ; we find it in running towards Him.

When Love Requires Sacrifice

"Since the Cross of Christ is the sign of love and salvation, we should not be surprised that all true love requires sacrifice. Do not be afraid, then, when love makes demands. Do not be afraid when love requires sacrifice." -Blessed JP II

Love requires sacrifice.

It's a simple enough statement, and seems pretty obvious to most practical people. Loving parenting means waking up in the middle of the night to hungry, crying, or sick children. A loving friendship means not always going to the movie or the restaurant you would prefer. Loving your family members means dealing with embarrassments and petty arguments. Love requires sacrifice in place of comfort. 

It's a simple concept, but one so often forgotten. If we have nothing invested, what motive do we have to continue caring? Think about the last project you were a part of. Did you participate? Did you invest? Did you care? Most likely, you just answered all three questions with a yes or all three with a no. As humans, we are incredibly selfish. If something is bigger than us, we usually don't take interest unless we are a part of that something. Participate, invest, sacrifice, love.

This world makes it so easy to get comfortable. We have air conditioners to avoid the discomfort of sweat, music to avoid the discomfort of silence, all kinds of food to avoid the discomfort of even the slightest hunger. What we need isn't comfort; what we need is discipline. Sacrificing even the smallest things-a song on the radio, an afternoon snack-can lead us into the discomfort of discipline that we so greatly need. A hunger for the physical leads us in a special way to a hunger for the spiritual. In participating, we have something invested in what is bigger than us; we have given up comfort for love. It is no longer about us, but about our part in the Body of Christ. In giving of ourselves, we are investing and we are loving.

May we continually strive to give more each day, choosing Christ over comfort. 

Immaculate Heart of Mary, pray that we may be more like you!

20 Random Summer Lessons

Trying to write to a friend about what's been going on in my life this summer quickly turns into a list when I realize how much is actually floating around in my brain...much easier to comprehend ;)

• God will provide. Always. Period.
• Bananagrams is possibly the greatest invention ever.
• Hugs are wonderful, and the world needs more good ones.
• Stick to the classics. Even if someone tries to talk you out of it at Sonic, water is always the best.
• Quotes and stories are good....advice from living, breathing friends is way better.
• VHS movies are still the best.
• Eating pomegranates 3 days after having all 4 wisdom teeth removed is NOT a good idea, regardless of how stubborn you think you can be.
• Letter-writing is good for the soul.
• Some people should never be allowed to set foot in a Hallmark store. By "some people," I mainly mean me.
• $3 thrift store skirts rock.
• Praying friends are a beautiful thing.
• Adventures can only happen when we don't plan out every detail of our lives.
• Some people are meant to stay in our thoughts and prayers, not necessarily a part of our daily lives.
• Surrendering and admitting that we need others is hard...but so, so worth it. 
• Chats in the middle of nowhere, in laid back car seats, or at a cool Wichita fountain are way more beautiful after midnight.
• Family doesn't just include blood relatives.
• I love aprons.
• National bread holidays are a blast with great friends by your side.
• Dancing wildly around with a scrunchie in your hair should happen regularly.
• God is unbelievably, ridiculously, amazingly good.

I hope you are continuing to grow daily, allowing Christ to live in you and you in Him. Praise Him with everything! 

Love Is Not Just Giving

"If we have no peace, it is because we have forgotten that we belong to each other."

Whew, that Mother Teresa really knows what she's talking about. Amidst my various struggles and battles these past few weeks, I seem to have forgotten about others. I've taken to sulking and resorted to a ridiculously high level of selfishness...sometimes without even realizing it. I have shut out the friends who know me well enough to know something is wrong, I've been rude and unhelpful towards my family, and pretty successfully cut off all forms of communication with God. Some people have the tendency to build walls around themselves; I make mine miles long and made of steel.

I seem to have forgotten that serving isn't just loving others; it is also allowing others to love us in return.

For many people like me (productive, independent, task-oriented), that is something that can be hard to swallow. Allowing a part of ourselves to be given away in our service can be the toughest part-but also the most rewarding. Loving is a gift of self, not just the gift of a completed task. Unloading the dishwasher, turning down the music and investing in others on a car ride, calling to check on a friend you haven't seen in a while, or simply answering the question "how are you" honestly.....all are a way of giving. All are a way of allowing others to encourage, support, and lead us closer to heaven. Isn't that why we were given each other? We can't handle this world on our own, nor were we made to. We need each other. It is not only in loving, but also in being loved that we glorify God to the best of our abilities.

May we never stop giving, never stop loving, never stop allowing Christ's peace into this unsettled world.

"It is good that you are here."

This phrase has been the theme of my prayers this summer. It has been both a comfort and a cry to God when I can no longer find my way. "It is good that You are here, because I can't do this." It's a good thing we weren't made to handle things on our own, and that we have a God who can ;) 

My summer has been and will continue to be filled with surprises, adventures, and lessons...many of which my stubborn self is very hesitant to learn. I'm learning to take care of myself physically, which means slowing down and figuring out my health rather than my usual "go until nothing is left" philosophy. I'm being reminded how important it is to be an example of faith to those around me (especially my family), even if that means standing alone. In so many ways I am learning how to be there with others through grief and confusion as our small town is rocked with accidents and deaths of loved ones. I am learning to forgive, to trust, to allow Christ to lead me on into whatever the next adventure may be.

"It is good that you are here."

This holds true wherever "here" is for you-in your parents' house or out of the country, in your dream job or no job, in the best or the hardest of times. It is good that you are here. We have a God who knows our hearts better than we know our own...after all, he created them, right? He knows when we need consoled and when we have just enough strength to finish the job. He know when we are about to burst with joy; he knows when we feel alone, helpless, abandoned. He knows what we need, not what we want....and that is exactly what he will give us. I am in awe that we have a God so great that all things work together for good. Joy, despair, tragedy, hopelessness, truth, goodness, beauty and lies....they ALL work together for the glory of a kingdom so much greater than our own.

May today you find peace in knowing that where you are, there also is Christ. My brothers and sisters, it is good that you are here.

The Beauty of Brokenness

Brokenness. It's such a horrible sounding word for something so full of beauty. The last few weeks have been rough for me-insanely blessed, busy, and amazing-but rough nonetheless. Today, I hit the end of my rope. After running face-first into the solid steel walls I've built around myself, I lost it. Conveniently, I'd also just agreed to take a friend's adoration hour (classic, right?). After walking into the chapel, I found myself starting to journal out of habit. My pen only seemed willing to form one sentence onto the paper: "Why do you want me?" I was so far gone from Christ, had pulled myself down there, and I was beyond the point of ever trying to get out. 

I guess it was a good thing that I had nothing left, because that's where grace stepped in. 

We may not be whole-actually, let's be honest. We're horribly broken. But He comes to us anyway, and that's the beauty of grace. We have a Lord so good, so kind, so unbelievably forgiving and loving that even the depths of hell will not keep him from us. There isn't any beauty in a million puzzle pieces unless they are a part of something bigger-they're just pieces until a child begins to make a picture. An empty canvas is lacking until an artist begins their work. We do not reach the beauty we are capable of until we allow grace to step in.

We were not made to be whole; we were to be made whole by a God who loves us unceasingly. 

May you realize the beauty in our brokenness and allow Christ to work through it in His amazing way. 

Finishing the Race

My dad and I always joke that sending snail mail back and forth would be just about as fast as the way we communicate now, if not faster. Today, this joke went one (amazing!) step further. I checked my mailbox and found a letter (typed, but still awesome) from my dad. It was a full page, typed in professional memo format and signed in pen at the bottom...yep, definitely my father. The letter contained a detailed update on what was going on in the family-who was beating who in tennis, who was getting married soon, where the next garden adventure will be this year. It's also May, so naturally, there was a paragraph about the Kentucky Derby. I didn't expect anything going into it, but realized pretty fast that this was my dad's way of relaying his life advice.

My dad and I have always had a fascination with horse racing. It started out as something to do in Wichita when our family would go for the day. My sisters and mom would go shopping, and the two of us would go to the dog track and watch horse racing on the TV's. I was that seven year old that all the old men came and talked to, the "cute one" who always got free hot dogs, and the happiest girl in the world. There was just something about the races, and as I got old enough to travel to live tracks, that fascination only grew. There really is nothing like the adrenaline, challenge, and unpredictability of a good horse race. My dad isn't one for talking about serious matters, so he would always sneak in a bit of life advice while advising my horse pickings for the day. Usually it would be something like "Never trust the one who backs out of the gate the first few times," or "Sometimes you have to wait for the two prideful ones to burn out before the real winner takes over." 

Well...that's your little tidbit about my life you didn't need to know! I'll get to my point soon, promise. In this letter, after talking about the Kentucky Derby and how my favorite Arkansas horse was so close to being in it, my dad began to talk about the track itself. The Kentucky Derby isn't a turf race like most million dollar races; it's on the normal track so more horses can fit and the conditions are usually safer for everyone. This year the track conditions weren't the best. They were muddy...and I mean MUDDY. Like, the kind of mud you and I can barely walk through without sinking and barely pulling our foot out with our shoe still attached. After describing the conditions and the details of the race, my wise old man ended the paragraph with another one of his lessons-intended, I'm sure of it. 

You find out which horse has the biggest heart when the mud is flying. 

I know without a doubt that my dad meant this the exact same way I took it. It's easy to run hard when the track is fast, when the ground is solid beneath your feet and everything is going as planned. But when your heart is sinking in your chest, when you feel like someone tore out a piece of you, when you have nothing (and I mean nothing) left, what do you rely on?

There is no guarantee that the track gets better-in fact, a lot of times the mud only thickens. But if we back out before the race ever begins, we automatically lose. If we go into things with half of our hearts, we get no results. It is better to go all in and get stuck in the mud than to have never ran at all, for in running we at least know there is something more. There is something unknown, something better, something created for our individual joy and fulfillment. We may not be able to see it through the haze of fog and swamp of mud, but it IS there.

The mud is flying and it seems like the darkness of this race will never end. Will you finish?

Infinite Worth

As humans, we fail, we fall, we lose hope. We face trials together, and we stand alone through battles that others cannot understand. Often times we are weak, dependent, and unable. But you know what else? We have WORTH. Due to the simple fact that we are children of The King, we have an infinite beauty and goodness that nothing (not even this world) can take away from us.

We are not worthy, but we are by no means worthless.

I will leave you with this song by Matthew West. Listen. Jam. Recognize your worth. Repeat.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=I8yxnP2ZUXw

Living For The Weekends

When I was recently thinking about what the next few weeks of my life are going to look like, I realized something I  never had before. I'm living for the weekends. And I'm not living for them in the sense that I just don't like schoolwork and I want to go out and have fun for a few days...although that is a bonus. I realized something a little more important than that. 

My faith has been living for the weekends. 

Physically I've been going to daily mass, spending time in prayer, and being around people/going to events that can help shape my faith. I am there, baby! Physically present as ever. But spiritually? You couldn't find me with the best tracking equipment on the planet. I have been absent...completely, totally, awfully absent for the majority of the past few weeks. Occasionally I take time to really pray, really reflect, really care about others. But for the most part I keep my faith buried under walls of solid steel while making sure that I act out the motions flawlessly. But really...what good does that do anyone? Goodness knows it doesn't glorify God, and my selfish attitude sure as heck isn't bringing anyone else along for the ride. 

There is no right time to follow Christ. We either commit or we don't; we go all in or we don't bother going at all. Allow yourself to be present with others, present with yourself, present with Christ.

There is no room for a "weekend only" Christian.

Ker-Plunk

Oh come on, you know what I'm talking about-that sinking feeling we all get in our chests when we just know something isn't right. Like....when that babysitter is about to open the closet door because she thinks she heard a scream on the other side, or( more up my alley) when the speck that holds Whoville gets dropped into a sea of identical ones in Horton Hears a Who. NOOOOOOOOOO! 

Ker-Plunk goes the heart.

We may be small, but we aren't stupid. We know when things aren't right, and often times it's our hearts that tell us-they feel heavy and unsettled by the way things are going. When that ker-plunk of our hearts seem to be echoing in our ears, when it is so easy to dwell on the unsettled feeling inside, when we just want to "fix" everything, there is only one thing to change-and that is the state of our hearts.

Don't dwell on the past or worry about the future. Stop thinking about how you have fallen, or how hard it will be to resist temptation from now on...live in the present. Do what you can to discern and obediently follow God's Will today, and allow tomorrow to take you on a joy ride. You can't fix what may be wrong, but He can; give it up and free your heart. Laugh, sing, dance, allow yourself to be full of joy! It's not in worrying or preparing that we glorify God...it's in living!

Lightheartedness is key. This world is dark and heavy, but the love of God is beautifully light. Let that love fill your heart, lifting you up. Let nothing disturb you to the point of that ker-plunk; allow Christ to relieve that sinking feeling and take you into His arms.

With heavy hearts, how can we expect to soar to Heaven?

A Trail of Worlds

So....for those of you who I haven't seen in a while (which is most of you), let me update you on life real quick.

I am very blessed.

Yep, I think that about covers it. Beautiful friends, wonderful and hilariously entertaining family, and lots of opportunities for growth in so many different ways. It's been the most...uh....interesting few months I've ever had-extremely difficult, extremely different, and exactly what I've needed. I needed to get away from the comfortable bubble I had built in Ark City and into something different...apparently God thought so too ;) Along with all of the new friends, events, clubs and classes going on in good ole Manhattan, I've started doing something else.

 I've started leaving people their own world.

Now yes, it's perfectly alright to wonder at this point if I'm crazy. My answer? ABSOLUTELY. But hey, it makes everything a little more interesting,right?  The whole story about how the idea came about is a pretty long one that honestly makes a lot more sense in my head than anywhere else, but after a few years has now found it's way as a daily part of my life.

I have a few notepads shaped like the globe. They're all different shapes and sizes, all different colors, and,best of all,they are blank on the back. Perfect place to leave a hand-written note or quote....YES! So I leave a trail of worlds behind me on a daily basis. I try my best to leave 3 a day in random places-in a study alcove at the library, at a table in the coffee shop, sitting randomly in some quiet part of the dorms. I try to leave something positive, but not necessarily religious. Whether it's a pick-me-up quote, a part of some good song lyrics, or a homemade coupon for a pre-paid Radina's cup of coffee, I hope that the worlds show whoever receives them half as much as they have shown me in giving them.

My point of this post is not to brag, and it's not to spoil your confusion as to who left you a paper world if you ever find  one on a table in a coffee shop. I promise.  My point is this: It's the little things. It's a crazy world. It teaches us to seek emptiness, to only care about ourselves, and to do anything and everything we can to make sure our own little world is exactly the way we want it to be. Well, friends, I call B-O-L-O-G-N-A. Serve. Serve with everything you are, and give in the little things each day. It doesn't have to be on paper, it doesn't have to be out loud, it doesn't even have to be seen. I leave worlds so that people might think a little bit outside their own. As hard as it may be, serving daily can be summed up in one sentence:

Do something, give everything, and expect nothing in return. 

The Great Balancing Act

We think the opposite of pride is humility; this isn't true. The opposite of pride is despair. Pride is putting ourselves so high that none, even God, can reach us. Despair is burying ourselves so low that none, even God, can save us.

There is a beautiful balancing act between these, a solid soul for pure souls to stand on-the fertile soil of humility.

Humility is realizing that God is greater, and we ourselves will never reach that height. It is at the same time placing ourselves below others in order to serve Christ through them. Humility is burying ourselves deep enough to realize only God can truly reach us. It is burying the part of us full of sin, pride, envy.

Humility is the only firm ground upon which to stand in this great balancing act. Pride tips the scales one way, despair the other.

May you find joy, peace, and contentment in the middle.

Seek Ye First

"But seek first the kingdom [of God] and his righteousness, and all these things will be given you besides." ~Matt 6:33


Have you ever thought that everyone seeks the kingdom somehow? Even those who have no idea who Christ is search for something more. We all want what this Earth can't give us, we all want what we can't create ourselves. We all want the kingdom of God, and every single one of us tries to find that glory somehow. Some of us search in churches, some of us in service to others, some in the satisfaction of a job well done or a successful career. And still more of us focus on building ourselves up so high that we eventually reach the glory we think we deserve.

We all search for the kingdom somehow, whether we realize it or not. But even those of us who are consciously striving for holiness often forget a part of the passage above. Seek FIRST the kingdom of God. Seek first His glory, His power, His love above all else. Everything else is insignificant, regardless of how much emphasis the world may put on them.

Do not seek their kingdom (the opinion of others), for it only causes hurt, envy, despair, pride.
Do not seek your kingdom (self-satisfaction), because with it comes loneliness, emptiness, longing.
Seek His kingdom, complete with the unfailing love and the true glory that every heart desires.

Flee from the darkness of this world and run towards the light. For once we see that glory, everything else is beautifully illuminated. 

Sufferings of Mary

The last few weeks of my life have been insanely, insanely blessed. It's been easy for me to see God working in and around me, and the result has been a nice dose of joy. Ahh....I'm glad to have that again :) 

This morning, when I should have been studying for my Biology test, I ended up writing instead. I was really excited about my new journal, it's beautiful weather outside, and I just happened to have said journal handy in my backpack. Besides, what I do know about Biology tells me that I won't physically die from lack of test preparation...so we're good, right? As I was journaling (at a table complete with cheesy jazz background music and the glorious smell of coffee, I might add!), I began to think about my crazy weekend. It was a pretty easy-going one for me, but for others I know it was a fight all the way.

As easy as it's been to see Christ where I am lately, I know that his work in the lives of my brothers and sisters hasn't been so obvious. I have a lot of friends and family who seem to be struggling with various battles lately, and it drives me absolutely crazy that I can't do more to help them. It makes my heart ache to hear what they're going through-deaths in friends and family, relationship struggles, school problems, and all sorts of spiritual warfare. I'm continually trying to think of ways to offer up prayer and sacrifice for them, and I'm ready to fight with them. But I still wish I could do more solid, visible things to help them. After thinking about all of this, here's what the Holy Spirit decided to show me:

If our heart aches this much watching those around us suffer, how much more did Mary's heart burn when watching her son carry his cross?

If it hurts us so much to watch the ones we love suffer, I can't even imagine what she felt. Our friends and family, no matter how great they are, are sinners all the same. They struggle, but they also turn themselves away from God sometimes. Christ was spotless. He never turned away from his father, never struggled with disobedience, never once complained about carrying all of our sins on Calvary. He was (is) without blemish, without hatred, love without reservation. Can you imagine meeting your sinless son on his way to be crucified, silently watching that undeserved suffering? There's no way to comprehend it.

Well, friends, I'm going to let you in on a little secret: I'm pretty sure the reason I'm still sane (which I realize is a debatable point) is because of Mary's intercession over the last couple of years. Whether it was despair, anger, doubt, confusion, or just about anything else I couldn't handle on my own, her intercession played a major role in getting me out of it and seeing Christ amidst it all. She knows what it's like to watch those around us suffer-in fact, she knows  better than any of us ever will. 

Ask the Blessed Mother to pray for you and those you love. It must bring her great joy to help her sons and daughters from her seat in Heaven. She's ready and waiting to help....all you have to do is ask.

Immaculate Heart of Mary, pray for us!

Fall Into Christ

It's FALL!!!!

In case you can't tell....that single statement makes me extremely extremely EXTREMELY happy. Ahhh....love it :) Along with the leaves falling, the temperature falling, and the length of days falling, I've been thinking an awful lot about falling in a different way.

You know trust falls-those wonderfully annoying exercises that seem to be in every type of team "bonding," so that you can trust each other when things get tough? I reaaaaally don't like them, regardless of who is standing behind me ready to catch me. I never have, and I probably never will. But you know what? Life's a trust fall.

I've often heard spiritual life (and life in general) compared to climbing up a mountain or something of the sort. While that can be true, I see it a little differently. Life doesn't have to be an uphill climb-it can also be a downhill fall.....a terrifying, stomach whirling, beautifully glorious fall. A falling into the arms of a God who will ALWAYS be there to catch us. Whether we trip over a stumbling block and crash down to the ground or just close our eyes and brave the 8 inch drop, falling can be scary when we can't see where we're going. Fall anyway and trust that he will be there to catch you, bringing you closer to his heart that's on fire for you.

Close your eyes, and imagine something you need to fall away from. Fall away from temptation, fall away from fear, fall away from the noise of this world. Fall into the arms of Christ, and fall ever closer to his unfailing love.

As the leaves begin to change this autumn, may God's grace change your hearts and give you the grace to brave the fall.

What Love Looks Like

What does love look like? 

It has the hands to help others. 

It has the feet to hasten to the poor and needy.

 It has eyes to see misery and want.

 It has the ears to hear the sighs and sorrows of men.

 That is what love looks like.

 -St. Augustine

I don't know about you, but I get really tired of hearing the word "love" tossed around like it's nothing-because in all honesty, love is everything. I've been blessed to spend an insanely awesome amount of time in adoration since I've moved to Manhattan, and it seems that love is all I think about when I enter that chapel.-love in friendships, love in vocations, love in the monstrance staring back at me. 

Love isn't a feeling, it isn't a walk along a beach in the moonlight, and it isn't a magic formula for happiness when sandwiched between the words "I" and "you." It's a choice. That means choosing to give when it's hardest, choosing to put the other first, and choosing to act in a way that upholds the dignity of the other. Phew....love is hard. 

There's a lot that God's been throwing at me about love lately, and it's going to take some more time with him to figure out exactly what he's getting at....so until then, a picture is worth a thousand words.  

 This isn't what love looks like:

This isn't what love looks like:

This isn't even what love looks like:

This is what LOVE looks like:

  

Where No One Is Looking

I had a 7:30 a.m. Principles of Biology Studio class this morning......and it was AWESOME.

Yes, I am crazy-but we established that a long time ago, right? I could go on for hours about how blessed I am to be in Manhattan, because I definitely am. But really, it doesn't matter where I am; where I am is where God wants me, so I'm blessed regardless. The class? Well, my 3 partners and I succeeded in completing the exact opposite of what our yeast lab intended....so this year should be an adventure!

The reason this morning was so great was because it was a new day.  It's as simple as that.

I had forgotten how much I LOVE mornings. Wonderful weather, beautiful sunrises to satisfy my slightly huge obsession with the sky, stillness, and silence. At 6:30 a.m., most people haven't totally given in to the rush of the day and the stress of their schedules. We're just getting started, refreshed and ready to face whatever comes. Before today, I don't remember the last time I got up before 9....weird, considering my last semester of high school I arrived at school after 6:30 a grand total of 3 times. It was wonderful to be reminded that life can still be slow, that we can look forward to what's ahead in our days, to have the simple beauty of God's creation put me in awe once again, and to find  hope in the most unexpected of places. Mornings may not be one of your favorite things, but they are definitely one of mine.

May you continue to find beauty in the places where no one seems to be looking.

Live As You Believe

             "If you do not live as you believe, you will begin to believe as you live." -Fulton Sheen

I just got a goodbye card/letter from a friend who has put up with the absolute worst of my attitudes and actions over the past year. Especially the last couple of months, believing as I live has been an all too common occurrence. I convinced myself that I wasn't good enough to live out this faith like those I saw living out theirs. I gave in to a despair so real that I failed to remember there is a greater plan for me involving hope. I let the light fade away and was content with sitting in the dark. I was believing as I was living.

Well friends.....that doesn't go over well with God.

I believe very strongly in bringing others to Christ through actions-so strongly that sometimes I forget words are necessary, too. When 99.9% of the people I was surrounded with on a daily basis (especially this summer with all of my family home) claim to have a Catholic faith but live out something completely different, I started to believe the way that they are living. Faith is something not spoken of unless it's in a fight or a rude joke, so it must not really be worth the fight,right? Wrong. It's worth every fight we will ever have to endure. It was worth every drop of blood of God's only Son....it sure as heck is worth everything we've got. 

To bring others to Christ, we've got to give everything. That doesn't mean standing on a street corner preaching about God's unending love, and that doesn't mean living a life of faith without ever speaking a word. It means giving everything we are for what we believe. It means living out our faith through actions, and being comfortable enough in that faith to speak about it to others when necessary.

May you continually strive to live as you believe, and give your all for something greater. Peace!

Unworldly

True Love is unending, unfailing, unpredictable, unselfish, uncommon, unstoppable, unceasing. 

Yep,God's Love is pretty much un-everything of this world.........AWESOME. Think of the things that hold you back, bring you down, make you feel worthless. Think about why this world is so hard to live in joyfully sometimes; He is the opposite. 

Worthless? Your worth is in Christ. 

Lonely? He's waiting in the tabernacle. 

Tired? He's carrying all except a sliver of your cross.

Unsure? Find comfort in the sure arms of the Lord.

There is only one way to find true joy in this world, and that is in Christ, who's love is unworldly. Embrace it, rejoice in it. Receive it, share it.