Fixing...

Couple of months ago, I was with a group of people talking randomly. Some how the topic about domestic violence comes up. One of the guy explained about a woman that he knows, how her husband treat her very bad, and don’t respect her.  He was talking kind of angrily because he couldn’t understand why that woman stays beside her husband.  He said, “How stupid she can be to stay there?” I didn’t react or said anything to him about his comment. But I ask to myself this question; who we are to judge something that we don’t know?

Why is so easy for us judge and fix “situation” of other people problems.  Things that looks so obvious for us like if you are in a bad relationship “just leave!” Or if you smoke and you have asthma “just quit!” If you have depression “just get out and have fun!” How easily we can find solutions, or judge other people problems, but how hard is for us fix ours.  How hard is for us resolve our own problems, and worse, how hard is for us recognize that we have an actual problem.

What seems very obvious for us it might not be that obvious or easy for other people. Yes, they can choose in some degree accept and change the situation, but our job is not judge or try to fix their problems. A truly friend just need to be there to support and help when ever they need us.  If they ask for advice then we can give it.

 Matthew 7:3-5

³ “Why do you look at the speck of sawdust in your brother’s eye and pay no attention to the plank in your own eye? ⁴ How can you say to your brother, ‘Let me take the speck out of your eye,’ when all the time there is a plank in your own eye? ⁵ You hypocrite, first take the plank out of your own eye, and then you will see clearly to remove the speck from your brother’s eye.

Big Hug,

MRM

I'm Sorry...

Last night I was sharing time with my family and saying good bye to my brother and his family that are returning back to their reality. We were sitting around the table, and were just taking and remember things from the past when we were kids.  It is really nice hear the stories from my parents about how things were when they were young, stories about my grand parents, and just bring memories that I totally forget about them.

Suddenly my dad asks us for a big mug that he was looking for. He asks us if we had it. One of my sister said that he left it in her car. My mom said,  “you see and you were blaming me!” We laugh and start teasing him. Then he comes down like ups! I know that is his way to said, “I’m sorry” Then I start thinking, and keep bringing memories to my head about the way he is.  He is the kind of person that don’t like verbalizing the words “I’m sorry” but express it with actions. That is the way I remember him. Then I realize that I am the same way. It is hard for me said, “I’m sorry, but I always find a way to compensate my mistake with whom I offended. I guess I get it from my dad.

I really don’t know if that is right or wrong, the way I express “I’m sorry” but I guess will be better if I can start verbalize it, because someone that do not know me probably wont get my way to express that I am sorry for what happened. So, I think, I can work in that, perhaps start practicing it with friends, my kids, and family. I am sure it is never to late to learn something good.

Ephesians 4:24

²⁴ and to put on the new self, created to be like God in true righteousness and holiness.

Big Hug,

MRM

Who Do You Follow?

What a great weekend sharing time with family. Giving thanks to God for all the good things that He give us, our new family members, and the new members that will be arriving next year. It is so nice be able to share good memories with family specially with the ones that you don’t get to see very often.

Today my brain is off after long great weekend. As I was trying to find what will be a good topic to write about, I read James 1:22-25 and make me think in how I live my life today, do I follow what I read in the bible? Do I practice what I heard in mass every Sunday? Do I forget what I learn about God, and how He wants me to live my life?

I realize that I really don’t live completely how God wants me to live, but I am sure that MOST of the time I truly try. How we can know if we are living the life that God wants us to live? Do we honor our parents? Do we are patient with them? Do we forgive their mistakes? Do we help them when they need us? Do we care about our families, brothers, sisters, and kids? Do we love our enemies? Do we are patient with the people around us?

I know we are not perfect, but just the act of trying from your heart, I believe will be pleasing God, because He knows that we are really trying to follow His example.

James 1:22-25
 ²² You must be doers of the word and not only hearers who mislead themselves. ²³ Those who hear but don’t do the word are like those who look at their faces in a mirror. ²⁴ They look at themselves, walk away, and immediately forget what they were like. ²⁵ But there are those who study the perfect law, the law of freedom, and continue to do it. They don’t listen and then forget, but they put it into practice in their lives. They will be blessed in whatever they do.

Big Hug,
MRM

The Obligate Topic

The obligate topic of the week, give thanks! Well, I was thinking do this topic maybe tomorrow or Thursday, but since I going to be on vacation I probably wont write until Monday, so here is my topic of giving thanks.

As I was thinking about writing this topic I was evaluating for what I need to give thanks, and there is a lot that I have to give thanks. I give thanks to God because I have a roof for me, and my kids, a plate of food everyday for the three of us including coco (my dog), and my two guineas pigs.  I have a car that takes me everywhere, and a job to support all my needs.  I have a big group of friends (sisters) that are my support and my strength when I need it the most or even when I don’t need it, they are always there. I have to give thanks for my family, friends, and my health. I can keep on and on giving thanks to God for the wonderful things that I have in life.

Almost forget I want to thank God for the bad experiences because from them I learn myself, and grow as a person.  I give thanks for the things that I ask Him and still don’t get it that make me keep talking and bother Him all day long (I believe He likes that!).

Do you know the things for what you have to give thanks to God?

I wish you all had a wonderful thanks-giving day full of thanks. That you might spend time sharing with family and friends all together on the table giving thanks to God.

1 Chronicles 16:8

 ⁸ Oh, give thanks to the LORD! Call upon His name;
   Make known His deeds among the peoples!

Big Hug!

MRM

Disciple

When I was 15 years old, I participate in a beauty contest from my hometown. I really didn’t care too much about it, but my mom like the idea, and since I was kind of “tomboy” in my early teens, I think that’s why I was there. By my surprise, I was elected as one of the five finalist (I know what are you thinking, there were only 5! NO! There were 25 girls), and as every beauty contest they ask me the “must do” question: If I have the opportunity to meet anybody famous, which I would like to meet? My answer was pretty fast, “Madre Teresa de Calcutta” why? “Because she is an example of the kind of love Gods want us to share with each other.” That was kind of my answer to why.

Yesterday, I was the custodian of Mother Theresa relic at church after mass. At the beginning I really didn’t think about it until I see her (hair) was so tinny but with so much power! At age 15 I never thought that I could be that close to her. It was very emotive see all the people coming around to touch her, and pray with her. I don’t know why is taking so long to proclaim her a saint.

A lot of people, and I include myself, believe that the bible was written 1000 years ago, how we can said that Jesus, His disciples truly do all the things that the bible said they do? How we can compare those times with today’s time?  As in Mark 1:16-18 where Jesus call the disciple to leave everything and follow Him, Jesus was there in the flesh! Mother Theresa didn’t have that, but still, she hears Jesus and her mother to follow them, and be a fisherman. She is a today’s example of what the disciples do when Jesus was here on earth. She abandon everything including her family and herself to serve God, to teach us what God wants from us, to demonstrate that is possible be God’s disciple and leave with joy.

It’s time to start reflecting on what we are fishing? Do we are following Jesus in the way He wants us to follow Him? What things are keeping me from follow Him? Doubts, arrogance, money, selfishness, laziness, what is it?

Mark 1:16-18

 ¹⁶ As Jesus walked beside the Sea of Galilee, he saw Simon and his brother Andrew casting a net into the lake, for they were fishermen. ¹⁷ “Come, follow me,” Jesus said, “and I will send you out to fish for people.” ¹⁸ At once they left their nets and followed him.

Big Hug,

MRM

Be Still...

Have you ever have been going through hard times, and your instinct make you react, and just do things without taking the time, to think, and understand what is going on in your life? Well, I guess that is happening to me right now. The last two days I have been thinking in what I have been doing in the last 17 month since my separation/divorce. That make me realize things that I didn’t want to think about, and bring memories that I didn’t want to remember. The other day backpacking one of the guys ask me what is my turning point that is making me do so much changes in my life. I did not know what to say, I simply say because I just want to do it.

Today I think for the first time I was mad at God and to myself, but one of my qualities (I guess) is that I can’t be mad at someone for too long, I will probably don’t talk to you, but I can keep be mad all the time. So am not mad at God anymore, I’m just trying to understand, and I’m giving to me the reasons of why things end this way.

I truly love the life that I am having right now. I have been doing so much, learning, and growing spiritually in the past 17 months more than what I did in the last 12 years. That is only one of the good reasons of why I can’t be mad at God anymore. I know I still have a lot to learn and keep growing (spiritually, I think I can’t go taller than what I’m now!) but sometimes the doubt and the uncertainty kills me.  Everything goes back to the beginning…

Psalm 46:8-10

⁸ Come and see what the LORD has done, the desolations he has brought

   on the earth. ⁹ He makes wars cease to the ends of the earth. He breaks the bow and

   shatters the spear; he burns the shields^[a] with fire. ¹⁰ He says, “Be still, and know that I am God; I will be exalted among the

    nations, I will be exalted in the earth.”

Ok God, I will really try to be still, but create me and You know that is really hard to me be still, but I trust you, and I know you are my God, so I will do my best to be still and keep trusting in You!

Big Hug,

MRM

Querer Es Poder

The title means "where there is a will, there is a way."  The other morning, I was listened to the radio and the guy was talking about his son that moves to Boston to go to college. He loves music and plays the drums. His son gets an opportunity to play with a band. He have to go to rehearse but he doesn’t have a car, nobody to give him a ride, and of course kind of hard to ride the train with a set of drums. He figures it out renting an Uhaul truck twice a week. He drive the drum set to the rehearse, when they finish, he takes his drum set to his apartment, then he drive the truck to a friends house (since he can’t park the truck near his apartment), and the ride the train   back to his apartment. He does all this after midnight. In the morning he goes to pick up the truck, return it, and go to his classes. Amazing right?

How many times we have dreams or desires and because of we have to work hard we just let it go? What are the common excuses that we use to not do what we want? Then we complain because we are not happy or we don’t get what we like or want. If you want something you have to work hard to get it.  Things do not come to knock your door, you have to go out and look for them.  We have to make sacrifices, get out of our comfortable box to obtain what you need or want.

What steps are you taking today to reach that dream?

  Proverbs 6:6-11

 ⁶ Go to the ant, O sluggard; consider her ways, and be wise.
⁷ Without having any chief, officer, or ruler, ⁸she prepares her bread

 in summer and gathers her food in harvest. ⁹ How long will you lie

there, O sluggard? When will you arise from your sleep? ¹⁰ A little

sleep, a little slumber, a little folding of the hands to rest, ¹¹ and poverty

 will come upon you like a robber, and want like an armed man.

Big Hug,

MRM

How Do You Hear Him?

Yesterday I meet somebody, and we were having lunch. During our conversation he tells me that not even God can take his coffee away. I told him that he should not express himself that way.  He responds to me that if I really think that God will have the time or of He really care if he said something so insignificant like that, also he said that he is an “ant” in this whole universe.  I respond yes, God will care what you said, even you an “ant” in this whole universe.  He starts laughing at me, and asks me how I know that God cares. I tell him because I talk to him, and he said: “what do you, send a text message? How do you hear Him?”

How do I hear Him??? I just respond: it’s a feeling I don’t know how to explain it. For me is like an impulse to do something that until I don’t do it I can’t feel ok. Like one time I feel bad inside like I have to do something. I write a letter asking for forgiveness and after I finish my letter I feel better. Most of the time even that His answer is not too clear, I relate His present with goose bumps or tears. Other times I have a question in my head and just reading the bible I find and answer to that question.

So, today I will love to hear (read :P) some of you comments (if you want), and share in what way do you feel God talks to you? Do you clearly hear His voice? Do you have “angels that come and go from you life with answers? How is the most common way that you know God is talking to you?

Revelation 3:20

²⁰ Here I am! I stand at the door and knock. If anyone hears my voice and opens the door, I will come in and eat with that person, and they with me.

Big Hug!

MRM

Bag of Gold

Yesterday the homily was about the talents. I really don’t know how many times I had heard the parable of the bags of gold. Where the master distribute five bags of gold to one servant, two bags of gold to another, and one bag of gold to another servant. When the master return from his trip the servants with five bags of gold and two bags of gold duplicate their bags of gold, but the servant with one bag just buried the bag because of fear. Mathew 25:14-30

I always thought about this in money terms, I never visualized as “gifts” from God. I can tell by my own experience that when we use, and duplicate the gifts from God we feel better and happier.  I have always liked to write, but never find right forum or ways to do so or the courage to share with others what I think, feel or just say something. Today, I enjoy a lot writing this “thoughts” with everybody, and give me great satisfaction knowing that sometimes it help others to feel better or see things from other perspective or even a remainder that there is a wonderful God that love us deeply.

Do you know what gifts God give you? Are you taking advantages of those gifts, and sharing those gifts with others? What are you doing today to multiply your gift? Perhaps, maybe you are too shy or too scare to show and share with everyone you gift? If that the case STOP! And open the box where your gift is wrapped up and use it! Ones you start to use it you are going to love it!

James 1:17

¹⁷Every good gift and every perfect gift is from above; it comes down from the Father of all [that gives] light, in [the shining of] Whom there can be no variation [rising or setting] or shadow cast by His turning.

Big Hug!

MRM

Do you know Him?

The other day I was talking with a person that I consider the most noble and respectful person, but at the same time the most insecure one.  We were talking about how he has become more close to God in last month.  He told me that if he loose everything; his job, friends, family, he will still trusting in God. That comment stays in my head. If I loose everything would I turn to God? Alcohol? Drugs? Will become depressive?

As I was walking yesterday to burn some calories of a piece of a very delicious cake that I ate on Tuesday night, I start thinking, if I loose my kids, and my family, if I stay without a job and loose my house, I will still believe that there is a amazing God? Do I will keep praying everyday and every night? Would I still think that He is a good God that takes care of me? Do I will turn my back to Him?

Only thinking in losing my kids make me cry and mad.  Yes, I have been thinking, I should be prepared, and open to anything, but moreover I should start knowing God deeply. Only knowing Him, and I mean truly deep, knowing Him in the way that I can talk to Him and listen to Him, that, I think will make the difference if one of this big changing in life come across. Do you know God? How much do you know Him? How close do you feel to Him?

Today I know that I need to work harder to know God and trust Him, and believe that no matter how hard or bad the circumstances can turn, He will be there with me even in moments that I don’t believed it. I believe that is the only way to survive.

Luke 8:49-50

 ⁴⁹ While He was still speaking, someone *came from the house of the synagogue official, saying, “Your daughter has died; do not trouble the Teacher anymore.” ⁵⁰ But when Jesus heard this, He answered him, “Do not be afraid any longer; only believe, and she will be made well.”

Big Hug!

MRM

Specks and Planks

My dream of last night helps me to write the blog today.  In my dream my bother’s wife die, and all he wants to do was just be in his motorcycle all the time.  I can remember all my sisters and parents sitting in his leaving room trying to persuade his desire of been on the motorcycle all the time. We didn’t want to let him go out in his motorcycle.  He explains us that be in his motorcycle was what he wants, and makes him happy, specially now. I don’t know the reasons of why we didn’t want to let him runs his motorcycle all the time.  But as I try to understand the conversation a really loud sounds starts, and I couldn’t hear anybody anymore… Ahh! It was my alarm time to wake up!

How many times we try to make others do what we want or what we think is correct or right for other person? How many times we judge other people for their actions without thinking why that person is doing that? Why we have to look the plank of our neighbor? What about our plank? Do you remember when was the last time that you judge someone without knowing the reason behind?

In this word and out of this word there is only one perfect person, God. My 7 years old son knows that! As we were driving back home the other day we were talking about been perfect.  I told him “papi, nobody is perfect” and he replay, “yes, there is one person that is perfect” I said,” who?” he said,” God” With this, yes only God is perfect, this mean we can’t expect other not even us to be perfect.

Matthew 7:1-5

 ¹ “Do not judge, or you too will be judged. ² For in the same way you judge others, you will be judged, and with the measure you use, it will be measured to you.

   ³ “Why do you look at the speck of sawdust in your brother’s eye and pay no attention to the plank in your own eye? ⁴ How can you say to your brother, ‘Let me take the speck out of your eye,’ when all the time there is a plank in your own eye? ⁵ You hypocrite, first take the plank out of your own eye, and then you will see clearly to remove the speck from your brother’s eye.

Big Hug,

MRM

Reconciliation or Talking Directly to God

Last night I attended a meeting where our topic was “reconciliation.” Because we are a Catholic group, we were not only discussing being reconciled to God and to one another, but specifically about the Catholic sacrament of Reconciliation. One belief that came out at our meeting was the fact that too many Catholics believe the Sacrament of Reconciliation, like the Sacrament of the Eucharist, is either untrue or not necessary. They believe that the Eucharist is nothing more than bread and that Reconciliation is a ploy of the Church when all that is necessary for forgiveness is to ask God directly.

Reconciliation is a subject that we should all take seriously because it is our loss if we don’t. We are deceiving ourselves if we think that we are so good that we do not need this sacrament…or that since we are not in the state of  “mortal sin” we have little or no need for the Sacrament of Reconciliation.

This Sacrament has been with us since early Christianity. Absolution was always given by a Bishop (a direct, ordained successor of an Apostle) and later by priests, who are also direct, ordained successors of Apostles. The gift of ordination and of absolution was given to Peter and the Apostles to use as an aid to spiritually strengthen the Christian community. We come as a repentant sinner to be reconciled to God….but more than that, we come to grow….to change…to live our lives more Christ-like….and the priest helps us to do that through absolution and serious suggestions, much like spiritual direction.

The one Protestant at the meeting claimed that if we truly can receive this absolution, he could not understand why Catholics are in line on a daily basis! How right he is! My husband made a point that is worthy of thought:

Prayer and Reconciliation complement one another. The saints who were great men and women, but also sinners, had powerful prayer lives. Prayer led them closer to a spiritual union with God that seemed to also lead them to more frequent “reconciliation” as most of them had spiritual “confessors” that they saw regularly. If we develop our prayer lives, we can do the same. We will long for reconciliation and the blessing of friendship with God that results from the sacrament…as we continue our journey towards God. God gave the Apostles this amazing gift…the gift to reconcile us to Him. If we believe this, we will want to be reconciled as often as possible. How do we develop this belief? Through prayer. May we all open our hearts in prayer as we seek to increase our faith, grow in hope and share in the infinite love of God!

JN 20:21-23 Jesus said to them again, “Peace be with you. As the Father has sent me, so I send you.” And when he had said this, he breathed on them and said to them, “Receive the Holy Spirit. Whose sins you forgive are forgiven them, and whose sins you retain are retained.”

Mt 16:16-18  “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. I will give you the keys to the kingdom of heaven. Amen, I say to you, whatever you bind on earth shall be bound in heaven, and whatever you loose on earth shall be loosed in heaven.”

Mt 18:18  “Amen, I say to you, whatever you bind on earth shall be bound in heaven, and whatever you loose on earth shall be loosed in heaven.”

Scare of Heights

This past weekend, I went backpacking to Mount Le Cont at the Smokey Mountains TN. Is the third highest pick of the park with 6,593 elevation feet. We climb 5.5 miles to get to the top. We were backpacking and my backpack was really heavy, even that my friends make me take out half of my stuff!!! We start hiking in a beautiful trail next to a river, not for too long. After we pass Alum Cave we really start climbing. 

The trail was ok until we start going through a one single person trail next to really high points where if you are afraid of heights, like me, can be really scary. I start walking slow first because was really tire but more because I didn’t want to look anywhere else that was not the trail. I was just looking down. At one point, two of the hikers that were hiking with me told me to look at the great view. They say, “Lets stop here and enjoy the view! Yes right! Stop here!!! “In one of the most dangerous spots of the trail.” It was just a big cliff in front of me. I just hold really tight to the cable, and my hands start shaking because of the height. They hold me as I was in the middle of them and say “just look up don’t look down” as I open my eyes I could see the most beautiful view of the trail. I don’t know how high we were already but we were way to high for me!

On Sunday, we were driving back to reality; one of the hikers asks me, what I was taking with me? Like what I learn from this experience. I think was the most intelligent thing that he talks in the trip! (Just kidding he was very funny guy). I really was tire even to think, but as we drive, and back home I stat thinking in his question.  Now I have an answer.

I learn that living with fear hold me back to enjoy and learn new things that God give me everyday.  Because of my fear of heights I was missing a perfect view. With this I don’t say am cure, I still afraid of heights, but I want to conquer that, I want to enjoy more things that I have missing for years because of fear. How my good friends hikers taught me this weekend “baby steps!” and the best thing I know God is with me helping me, especially in places so high like this one!

What fears is holding you back from do things that you would like to enjoy? What are you missing because of your fears? What you are not learning because you are afraid?

Isaiah 41:13

¹³ For I am the LORD your God who takes hold

of your right hand and says to you, Do not fear;
 I will help you.

Big Hug!

MRM

What Makes You Happy?

This week for the first time, I decide to go to an acupuncture office.  For very, very long time I had low back problems.  So, I went to my appointment, after tons, and tons of medical history questions the lady finally asks me, “what make you happy?”  I did not think for one second, and response very quickly, “Nature, God, my kids, and certain TV shows that I watch from time to time depending of my mood.” She said, “wow that was quick, and they are good answers” I said, “really?” she said, “yes! Most people don’t know what to answer to that question or just say spouse and kids” What about you? Do you have to think hard or were very easy to think what makes you happy?

Because of my nature of think, and think most of the time I think about my conversations during the day. As I was laying down with my needles all over my body, I start thinking in that question, what makes me happy? Yes, all the things that I mention to her makes me happy, but I didn’t mention something that I think makes me really happy, LOVE! I not only refer to relationship love, I mean all kind of love. For example on Wednesday blog sees all the responses, and how we as a Christian group we can share, and backup one to each other, that love makes me happy.

God teach us with His own example that love plays an important roll in our live.  We should live around love! Every thing that you do, do it with love, and because of love.  You need to wake up in the middle of the night because you son have a nightmare, you do it because of love, when you help somebody cross the street, you do it because of love, when you friend call you because need help or advise or a simple listening, you do it because of love. When you forgive somebody that hurts you, you do it because of love. When you stop the fight with you significant other and just let it be to avoid make it bigger fight, you do it because of love. Today I am going to do something that I love! Backpacking for the weekend, so, pray for me so the cold weather doesn’t bother me too much!!!

Remember the two more important commandments that God let us…

Matthew 22:34-40

34 Hearing that Jesus had silenced the Sadducees, the Pharisees got together. 35 One of them, an expert in the law, tested him with this question: 36 “Teacher, which is the greatest commandment in the Law?”

 37 Jesus replied: “‘Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind.’[38 This is the first and greatest commandment. 39 And the second is like it: ‘Love your neighbor as yourself.’ 40 All the Law and the Prophets hang on these two commandments.

Have a great weekend!

Big Hug!

MRM

 

Thankful Hearts are Forgiving Hearts

Today, we end our Gospel with Lk15:10...."In just the same way, I tell you, there will be rejoicing among the angels of God over one sinner who repents." This verse was an immediate reminder of a time when I desperately was trying to forgive someone that I considered downright evil.  I knew that forgiveness of his behavior was not necessary, but forgiveness of him as a child of God and one whom God loves, was necessary. I understood that God did not condone his actions but that God's love is unconditional and so must be mine ("forgive us our trespasses as we forgive those who trespass against us").  But when I read the verse above, I knew that I could not stand the thought of this person in heaven, even as a repentant sinner, with the angels rejoicing! He did not deserve it! It was this verse that opened my eyes to my need to forgive and the fact that such forgiveness would have to be supernatural.  I could not do it on my own. I knew the situation was not hopeless because with the help of the Holy Spirit, forgiveness of any person is attainable. I cried. I prayed and begged for help because it seemed that whenever I was close to forgiveness, memories would be triggered and once again, the anger and frustration and hatred that I once held onto "in righteousness," filled my heart and soul.

Jesus Christ is the perfect model of forgiveness and hope. Do we remember the words of Jesus in the agony of the garden? He begged his (our) Heavenly Father to reconsider what was about to happen, to find a way that would lead to salvation where he did not need to suffer the humiliation, the pain and horror of crucifixion. Nevertheless, Jesus was willing to do the will of his Father because he was our model of HOPE. He trusted that he would be with his Father in heaven and that his actions would bring hope to his disciples, as well as teach us how to hope...by praying for help from our Father in heaven. Hanging on the cross, Christ was the epitome of forgiveness of others. He demonstrated that we (I) must forgive the person, not the behavior.

Once I stopped trying to forgive on my own and prayed for help, my heart was flooded with strength from the Holy Spirit. Forgiveness is truly possible if we truly want to forgive and if we ask for God's help.

If we are to live our lives in gratitude for all that we have been given from God, we must first forgive our neighbor (or our selves). If we reserve a part of our mind, heart and soul to be filled with "righteous" anger or unforgiveness, we will have less room in our hearts for thankfulness, not to mention the love and joy that we are meant to have from God. Unforgiveness is often responsible for the inability to have and develop the attributes that we desire....kindness, patience, faithfulness, love, joy and peace.
Father, we thank you for loving us so much that you gave us your Son, Jesus Christ, to show us the way. We know that you are always with us and ready to answer our prayers when we pray for the ability to change our ways, to change our hearts, and request your help to forgive others and ask for understanding, patience and love. Help us to examine our hearts and minds so that we will know ourselves as you know us, to forgive others as you forgive us. Help us to love ourselves and to love those whom have hurt us as we love ourselves. Amen. (Respectfully written for Michele by Jan)

Lk 22:42  "Father, if you are willing, take this cup away from me; still, not my will but yours be done."


Eph 4:32 "And be kind to one another, compassionate, forgiving one another as God has forgiven you in  
                 Christ."
Phil 4:6  "Have no anxiety at all, but in everything, by prayer and petition, make your requests know to 
                God."
1 John 5:14  "And we have this confidence in him, that if we ask anything according to his will, he hears 
                      us."

Goals

A couple of months ago, I was dating a guy, which I thought, was a really good potential for my future.  I remember one conversation with him, we were talking about the future, and how he feels about the relationship.  He mentions me that he just doesn’t know because he doesn’t know were he will be tomorrow or even in the next couple of hours. That he is just living, and enjoying the moment.

I believe, that 50% of that theory is true.  We should enjoy every moment that we have with our love ones, every moment that we have we our kids, family, and friends.  We must enjoy every second of our life I believe that. Now the other 50% of that theory that I believe is wrong is that we should not think of what we want for our future, that we don’t plan what we want for us as person.  What are our goals? Where we are leading our future? I think that is an easy escape to blame others, perhaps God for the things that we don’t get.

We want to be good parents, what we are doing to accomplish that? I cannot think; “well I don’t know if I will be alive tomorrow” or if you want that special person be with you the rest of you life, how you can accomplish that? Would you work for make that happened or you just live everyday without thinking what you want for you future and not working on it? You want to have a career? What are the steps you need to do to reach that goal? We cannot sit and wait for things happened we have to work on it and ask for God’s help.

I believe we need to plan ahead what, and where we want to go or be in the future; that way we will enjoy every second that we spend making that happened. God don’t want us to be worried about tomorrow. In Matthew 6:34 said ³⁴ Therefore do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will worry about itself. Each day has enough trouble of its own. But we should hear our hearts; if our desires are good and righteous I am sure God will lead our steps, and grant us that desires, He already told us that!

Proverbs 16:3, 8-9

 ³ Commit to the LORD whatever you do, and he will establish your plans.

 ⁸ Better a little with righteousness than much gain with injustice.

 ⁹ In their hearts humans plan their course, but the LORD establishes their steps.

Big Hug!

MRM

Is God in Control or Are We?

I don't think anyone would deny that they have "free will" and make hundreds of choices throughout the day. Will I get up on time? (my choice) Will I eat too much? (my choice) The list of choices we make is endless and if we didn't have free will, and God made all the choices for us, we would be nothing more than puppets on a string! Yet, don't we tell our selves that "God is in control?"

How is it possible that God is in control and we say that we have free will at the same time? Could it be that we have the free will to make good choices as well as bad ones  We have the free will to pray each day or to turn our backs on God because we are so wrapped up in our own lives that we "don't have time" (for God).  Who we date, what we wear, how much we pray, what we do each day with the time that God has blessed us with is completely up to us. Even in prison where the choices are made for us as to what we will wear, what and when we will eat, work, play and sleep....we still have a choice to pray and to use the time God has blessed us with to get to know God.....or to be kind.....to make the choice to begin living our lives for God. Yet, God is in control.  He allows us to make bad choices, to run from him and towards evil. But God is always with us.  He knows every hair on our head.  There is a Master Plan that we will never full comprehend other than to know that in the end, God will never cease to exist just as God is the beginning of all things.....He is the Alpha and the Omega.....who can truly comprehend that?

Often times our choices are simply our way of being in control. We want to control who we spend time with and how we spend our time. We want to control our work environment and/or those who work with us so that we may "look better" or grab a spot that will put us in a better position for a promotion. There are some who will do whatever it takes to climb the corporate ladder, whether it means hurting another or costing another their job, to "be in control" and therefore get what they want. Fighting for control of our lives can happen at the expense of others but in the end, it usually happens at our own expense. We know deep down that we are never really "in control." Life is a continual battle. We want to control our looks, our friends, our habits, our time. We battle for control but we will never win the battle.  Why? Because God IS in control. In the end, we will have to succumb to the will of God....for all that we have is a blessing from no one else but God! God gives us the strength and intellect to perform; he gives us the opportunity to multiply our talents and riches; he gives us our health; he gives us our families; he gives us the world in which we live. Are we jealous of the success of another? We can control whether we applaud the success of another or whether we are resentful. Do we have gratitude for all that we have? Or are we never satisfied? We have free will to choose to be grateful for all that we have....and even all that we have not. When we develop a trusting relationship with God...when we choose to pray each day and give back to God at least a small portion of the blessing of time...it will become easier to relinquish control.....to allow God to use us as He chooses....as his instruments of love, of peace, understanding. This is not easy and will most likely be our challenge for our entire lifetime. Yet, is is worth the challenge because in the end, we are given no choice.  God is in control!

Father, we pray that you will help us to have the patience we need and the insight to look at our thoughts and actions honestly, so that we can stop trying to control our lives, stop trying to control those around us but rather, choose to take each day and do everything in gratitude for all that you have given to us. We thank you for the blessing of time and pray that we spend our time in accordance with your great Master Plan.  We know that in the end, every result of our thoughts and deeds are in your control. We know that you are using us as the thread to weave your final master plan.  Amen.
(respectfully submitted by Jan)

Sir 15:14 When God, in the beginning, created man, he made him subject to his own free choice. The eyes of God see all he has made; he understands man's every deed. No man does he command to sin, to none does he give strength for lies."


1 Peter 2: 16 "Be free, yet without using freedom as a pretext for evil, but as slaves of God."


James 3:16-17  "For where jealousy and selfish ambition exist, there is disorder and every foul practice. But the wisdom from above is first of all pure, then peaceable, gentle compliant, full of mercy and good fruits, without inconstancy or insincerity."