Monday, February 18, 2013 - Sins

It is not about living a narcissistic lifestyle. It is not about cheating, lying, stealing, or a lack of loyalty or honor. It is not even about murder. Jesus' death absolved all of our sins once and for all. The condemning nature of sin comes when we flaunt this nature before God and refuse to change our ways. Each time we give in to temptation, our heart hardens just a little more. After time, we grow so cold, we no longer can recognize our nature as sinful. Desiring God above all things, frees us from these temptations. In His love, we are strengthened in faith and fortified to change our lives to honor our Savior. Jesus has paid the price for our sins. It is up to us to choose Him over them.

The sacrifices of God are a broken spirit; A broken and a contrite heart, O God, You will not despise. - Psalm 51:17

Friday, February 15, 2013 - Fasting

It is not giving up candy for Lent that makes us a better Christian. It is the fact that giving up something we love, and crave, strengthens our self control. Learning to control our physical desires is an integral part in learning to control our emotional and spiritual natures. Choosing to leave behind our own pursuits, frees us to be ready when God calls us to His.


if you call the Sabbath a delight
and the LORD’s holy day honorable,
and if you honor it by not going your own way
and not doing as you please or speaking idle words,
14then you will find your joy in the LORD,
and I will cause you to ride on the heights of the land
and to feast on the inheritance of your father Jacob.”
The mouth of the LORD has spoken.

Isaiah 58:13-14

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Monday, February 11, 2013 - Actions

Yes, we know God can, but are we truly worthy enough that He would want to? If He wants to, is it right for Him to intervene? Would helping me hurt someone else? Am I more loved because he spared me and not another? Questions abound that can make our faith very shaky. And as long as we brood on these questions, we will never have an answer. Actions speak louder than words. When we find ourselves questioning God's motives, stop, for in all probability, we will never find the answers while we are still on this earth. What we must do is keep moving forward in faith. Place your thoughts into actions and become His hands to help another, His heart to love each other, and His voice to speak for another. When times are hard, we can be there in His compassion and hope. When we put our thoughts into action, we will find our answers. - Becki


They begged him to let the sick just touch the edge of his cloak, and all who touched him were healed - Matthew 14:36

Friday, February 8, 2013 - Self Knowledge

My mother used to say, "Be careful what you ask for.  It just may come true." Many times temptation enters into a split second decision. Pressure to act immediately may very well send us down a wrong path. For a person of prayer, these moments are less frightening when they occur. Walking closely with our Lord, makes us receptive to His discernment and our decisions become a whole lot easier. Facing a choice is so much easier with a clean heart and clear conscience.

When You said, "Seek My face," my heart said to You, "Your face, O LORD, I shall seek." - Psalm 27:8

Wednesday, February 6, 2013 - Discipline

The word discipline is often associated with punishment.  As a child, I received a quite a lot of discipline as consequences to my actions.  Yet admonishment comes in many forms throughout our lives.  Without it, we would be void of compassion, consistency, focus, and self-control. These are the qualities we must possess to live a peaceful and fruitful life. Do not be discouraged when life becomes hard to bear. We must remember that trying times are allowed by God, for these struggles awake our senses and bring us to total reliance on God. In the discipline of His mighty hand, we will be saved from a greater demise and can learn to walk in dignity and grace.

And you have forgotten that word of encouragement that addresses you as sons: “My son, do not make light of the Lord’s discipline, and do not lose heart when he rebukes you, because the Lord disciplines those he loves, and he punishes everyone he accepts as a son.” - Hebrews 12:5-6

Tuesday, February 5, 2013 - chances

We are placed on earth to help each other. We are also here to accept that help. As brothers and sisters in Christ, we find many opportunities to succeed. Sometimes a door is opened and we discover that allusive opportunity just by being along on the other person's journey. It is good and commendable to stand on our own. However, we must think long and hard before turning away a helping hand. Christ just might be the one extending it. - Becki

He did not let anyone follow him except Peter, James and John, the brother of James - Mark 5:37

Monday, February 4, 2013 - Simplicity

Life’s choices do not have to be complicated.  Simply order each with this one assessment:  Is the moment God driven or self-driven?  It’s your choice. - Becki

 

Love uprightness you who are rulers on earth, be properly disposed towards the Lord and seek him in simplicity of heart. – Wisdom, 1:1

Friday, January 25, 2013 - Personality

One of the harder things a parent faces is that of molding a child's personality. God created the determined and tenacious character and has plans for this child who tests his boundaries and rolls his eyes at Mom. This child will be the advocate for the suffering and the helpless in only a few short years. How do you form this young spirit for the Glory of God? We must pick our battles. The greatest war is not with us. Teaching your child yes, it is good to stand up for what you believe, but to do so with respect sets them on a path that searches for truth in every law. – Becki

 

But the Lord said to him, “Go, for this man is a chosen instrument of mine to carry my name before Gentiles, kings, and children of Israel.” - Acts, 9:15

Thursday, January 24, 2013 - More

I love this quote:  "Jesus expects more from you because when you are with Him, you can do more". - Daniel Cardinal DiNardo in his homily to the St. Thomas Essay Finalists on January 23. May we always remember that Jesus is right there with us. - Becki

I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me. - Philippians 4:13

Tuesday, January 22, 2013 - Tools

The gardener’s friend is her spade. It is easy to dig a hole in soft ground. But for the times when the hole becomes deeper, and the hard earth becomes unyielding, we have to grab hold of bigger tools. Scripture is filled with the tools you need for life. Within its pages lay the Wisdom, Faith, Trust, and Hope to overcome all obstacles. Set your meager tools aside, and take up the strength of Faith. You can move those mountains in your path. – Becki

 

For in it the righteousness of God is revealed from faith to faith; as it is written, "But the righteous man shall live by faith." – Romans 1:17

Friday, January 18, 2013 - Lies

Life is hard. We get stuck in a routine, a habit, or a job, and we lose site of the fact that our motives and perceptions have altered. Our views of success, morality, and integrity, become compromised with the viewpoints of the world and the unaccepted becomes the acceptable. We profess to be Christians, but live with a different perspective. We are caught in a lie. Sometimes our friends discover we are lying well before we realize it ourselves. They've seen us as we are, not as we want to be, and the good friend will point out our shortcomings in a loving way. Daily time with God is essential in learning to pass over the temptations of the world. Friendships based on Christ's love, bring accountability to one another and help us all walk a life of Truth. - Becki

 

Dear children, do not let anyone lead you astray. He who does what is right is righteous, just as He is righteous. – 1 John 3:7

Thursday - January 17, 2013 - Atonement

Last night I had a dream. God wanted a gift. He knows how fun it is to receive them. And since He makes everything on this earth, He had to first give the gift to His children. But then, what kind of a God would He be if He gave away something to only say, “Give it back.”? He had a great idea. God gave everyone a very large bowl of ice cream. (Yes, it was a dream.) He knew this amount of ice cream was way too much for any one person to consume, but that was ok. He provided this much so that each one would easily be able to share some with Him and not lack for themselves. This way, He would also get a gift.

 

Each person who received the ice cream was very excited to get their treat. Their eyes lit up. They jumped with joy. God was very delighted to see His children so happy. When every child had their treat, God eagerly took his empty bowl and reached out to them. But the unthinkable happened. Each child He stood before looked at Him with surprise in their eyes. "No", they said, "I want all of the ice cream." When the first one refused, He went to the next and then the next. God stood for a very long time with longing in His eyes, holding out His empty bowl. And then, He sadly walked away.

 

The children greedily dug into their treats. There was so much ice cream; they could not eat it all. It started melting and running down their hands and arms and even soiled their clothing all the way through their shoes. The sticky mess became so bad, that they could not clean it up fast enough. Everywhere they walked, because they were so sticky, dust and dirt would cling all over them. When they walked through the house, anything they brushed up against glued onto their clothes. They ran outside, trying to find a way to get clean. Leaves from the trees and feathers from the birds stuck to them so badly, they were no longer even recognizable as children. They looked more like creatures from another world. No longer did they resemble the beautiful child God had so lovingly made.

 

But God heard them crying and He turned around and saw His children hurting. He reached out to them and held His hands over each of the children. One by one, He washed them clean once more.

 

Some of the children loved Him and clung to Him, promising to make better choices. Some gave Him a hug, thanked Him, and then ran back to their house. But the saddest ones of my dream were the children who were too embarrassed to let God wash them. They chose instead to stay dirty, and they left the yard, with the grass, feathers, leaves and dust following as they walked away.

 

A tear rolled down God's eye as He sadly watched those children leave. Yet His face turned to a smile as He took hold of the hands of the children who loved Him. He would take them to His home where they would always stay clean. Their love became His greatest gift. As He led them on, He glanced back into the children’s house and sighed. He watched the children who stayed behind fill their bowls with more ice cream. "I will return", said He. "Turn to me, and I will wash you clean."

 

- Becki


for it is on this day that atonement shall be made for you to cleanse you; you will be clean from all your sins before the LORD. - Leviticus 16:30

 

Wednesday, January 16, 2013 - Success

I have a to do list at work that spans over 30 pages of notes.  These notes are just the surface.  Beyond each prompt, lies an action that has to be completed in order for the project to be successful. To move forward, I have to do more than just read the notes, I have to react, respond, and physically complete the task. If I omit any part, the projected result is failure. God sends us multiple pages of notes and prompts: His Word given as Scripture. These notes for our life mean nothing unless we read through them, respond in prayer, and take action to make a difference in God's Kingdom. God has taken the first initiative, it is our turn now. In His Word, we will find success. - Becki

"For I know the plans I have for you," declares the Lord, "plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future." - Jeremiah 29:11

Monday, January 14, 2013 - Can

Every so often a difficult moment fills us with overwhelming doubt. The odds appear insurmountable, the devastation surreal and we scream "I can't”.  Yet the reality is, this moment is here, and God is holding it in His hands. He has known about it before the beginning of the world, and has chosen to allow it for the good of His Kingdom. Christ willingly stepped into the pain for every individual.  He did not promise this would keep us from having pain of our own. His promise is: if we walk with Him through the pain, we will be able to arise victorious. So when fear finds us and despair reaches into our soul, remember, “we can”, one Grace at a time. – Becki

 

And David was greatly troubled; for the people were talking of stoning him, because their hearts were bitter, every man sorrowing for his sons and his daughters: but David made himself strong in the Lord his God.  - 1 Samuel 30:6

Friday, January 11, 2013 - Joy

Joy is a presence that must be sought.  It does not come naturally.  It has to be entered into, not created. The Summa Theologica of St. Thomas Aquinas defines joy as being an act of charity achieved through a lack of desire.  It is not until we put ourselves aside and focus on the needs of others, that we can experience real joy.  Yet, how can charity create joy?  For, when we open ourselves to one another we share in added heartache and sorrow. We are reminded of the extent of our helplessness in fighting the forces of the evil that touch all of our lives. Here, we must seek God.  He, the source of all life, came down to bring hope to a world torn apart in sorrow and pain. When we choose to enter into Him, desiring nothing but His charity of love and mercy, seeking to trust beyond our understanding, we find the hope to walk in eternal Joy.  – Becki

 

"The kingdom of God is not meat and drink, but justice and peace, and joy in the Holy Ghost." -  Romans 14:17

Thursday, January 10 - Choice

God created man with the ability to choose. This gift is what sets us apart from all other creation. As His Children, we absorb a great responsibility. Although we retain the capacity to choose, our accountability shifts and we no longer hold the prerogative of not loving another individual or living an immoral life.  Our choices define who we are.  Let each choice we make clearly state we are Children of God.  - Becki

Am I now trying to win the approval of men, or of God? Or am I trying to please men? If I were still trying to please men, I would not be a servant of Christ. - Galatians 1:10

Friday, January 4, 2013 - New

When we take on Christ, we take on a new being. Becoming fully engaged in the ways of God transforms us. No longer seeking satisfaction from the empty promises of this world, we can look forward in faith and hope. A daily walk with Our Lord instills strength and fortitude to withstand temptations and truly honor our calling as children of God.

And he brought him to Jesus. Jesus looked at him and said, “You are Simon the son of John; you will be called Cephas,” which is translated Peter. - John 1:42

Thursday, January 3, 2013

When we flee from the devil, he will eventually give up. A character that reveals the Way of Truth, surrounds itself in goodness. Temptations become easily set aside as we find a greater joy and a fulfillment in the joy of Christ.

James 4:7-8 - Submit therefore to God and stand against Satan, and he will flee from you. Draw near to God and he will draw near to you. Purify your hands, you sinners; sanctify your hearts, doubting souls.