tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-65627853160520373082024-03-13T04:15:19.527-07:00Faith Lessons for Kids and FamiliesFaith Lessons for our children to teach God's values and standards.
Guidelines for parents in their role as primary educators and gatekeepers of the home when faced by negative pressures by their children and other parents. We need to communicate the Catholic faith to the next generation so it takes hold and endures. Our role is basically to assist the Holy Spirit's transforming work. Our kids deserve the fullness of our Catholic faith (our roots) and wings to allow them to fly!What are parents to do?http://www.blogger.com/profile/12183397873932741932noreply@blogger.comBlogger25125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6562785316052037308.post-39071607936288390462011-06-12T21:52:00.000-07:002011-06-13T18:52:12.088-07:00Garbage In, Garbage Out"I do not allow into my presence anyone who speaks perversely. Whoever acts shamefully I hate; no such person can be my friend. I shun the devious of heart; the wicked I do not tolerate. Whoever slanders another in secret I reduce to silence. Haughty eyes and arrogant hearts I cannot endure." Psalms 101:3-5 <br />
<br />
"Do not conform yourselves to this age but be transformed by the renewal of your mind, that you may discern what is the will of God, what is good and pleasing and perfect." Romans 12:2 <br />
<br />
"Everything is lawful for me," 5 but not everything is beneficial. "Everything is lawful for me," but I will not let myself be dominated by anything." 1 Cor. 6:12 <br />
<br />
"Everything is lawful," but not everything is beneficial. "Everything is lawful," but not everything builds up." <br />
1 Cor. 10:23<br />
<br />
"So submit yourselves to God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you. Draw near to God, and he will draw near to you. Cleanse your hands, you sinners, and purify your hearts, you of two minds." James 4:7-8<br />
<br />
"Finally, brothers, whatever is true, whatever is honorable, whatever is just, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is gracious, if there is any excellence and if there is anything worthy of praise, think about these things." Philippians 4:8 <br />
<br />
"But I say to you, everyone who looks at a woman with lust has already committed adultery with her in his heart." Matthew 5:28<br />
<br />
"The lamp of the body is the eye. If your eye is sound, your whole body will be filled with light;<br />
but if your eye is bad, your whole body will be in darkness. And if the light in you is darkness, how great will the darkness be." Matthew 6:22-23<br />
<br />
"How can the young walk without fault? Only by keeping your words. With all my heart I seek you; do not let me stray from your commands. In my heart I treasure your promise, that I may not sin against you. Blessed are you, O LORD; teach me your laws. With my lips I recite all the edicts you have spoken. I find joy in the way of your decrees more than in all riches. I will ponder your precepts and consider your paths. In your laws I take delight; I will never forget your word." Psalm 119:9-16<br />
<br />
"Then let us no longer judge one another, but rather resolve never to put a stumbling block or hindrance in the way of a brother." Romans 14:13<br />
<br />
"that you should put away the old self of your former way of life, corrupted through deceitful desires, and be renewed in the spirit of your minds, and put on 9 the new self, created in God's way in righteousness and holiness of truth." Ephesians 4:22-24<br />
<br />
Bible Song:<br />
O be careful little eyes/ears/hands what you see/hear/do<br />
O be careful little eyes/ears/hands what you see/hear/do<br />
There's a Father up above<br />
And He's looking down in love<br />
So, be careful little eyes what you see<br />
<br />
Would you watch an R rated movie or listen to a song with questionable lyrics if God or Jesus were standing in the room? Is what you are doing up to God's standards or something that Jesus would want you to do? You should be careful about what you hear, what you see and the places that you go. You live in a world today that is highly sexualized, and the media reflects this Godless culture with cursing, nudity, violence, crude humor and horror. Therefore, you will be in a constant battle with your mind to stay focused on things that are moral and decent, pure and holy to avoid sin. When you are a follower of Christ, you are given the Holy Spirit to live in you to guide your conscience and lead you in truth.<br />
<br />
<br />
It is easy for you to be influenced by TV, movies, music, magazines, books and the internet. All these forms of media might play into how you think or can affect what you believe because what goes in is what may come out. It can be like a mind virus that will infect your thinking (especially when you hear a stream of cursing now even on television programs). You may think that you like the beat or your music and don't really know what the words are saying but your subconscious mind remembers everything you hear and see, whether you understand it or not. Images you may see and words you may hear can make you stumble on your spiritual journey, and any images or thoughts can stay with you and really damage your soul. Remember, anything that does not help you grow in Christ will only draw you away from Him. As members of the Body of Christ, you should be a holy example of what God has done in your life.<br />
<br />
There is no doubt that you are affected by all that is around you like the books you read, music you listen to, and the movies and TV you watch. But it is also true that you are influenced by the friends you choose to hang out with and what society finds acceptable for you to wear or who to look up to. Not only will it affect your mind but also your soul. You should seriously note what you are putting into your life if you watch TV, movies or listen to music that has bad language or other vulgar or obscene content. It will be harder to have the power to overcome temptation if you are weakened by sin. You should instead feed your mind with the things of God, especially by reading the Word of God and looking at the world through the eyes of Scripture. You are moving toward God or away from Him every day and if you do make a mistake in your judgment, you can run to Jesus and ask for his mercy and forgiveness that He has promised all Christians. <br />
<br />
God's Word will direct you on how to live in the world today and give you the holy values to guide you in your understanding. You will probably need filters to see the world through the eyes of God. Remember that the Holy Spirit is living inside of you and He sees what you see, hears what you hear and goes where you go. Do you really want to force the Holy Spirit to listen to any filthy music? Just remember in these situations to think, "Is this somewhere where the Holy Spirit would want to be Himself or are my thoughts or principles taught in line with God's Holy Word?" You might think the Bible is full of sin but these stories show the consequences to those who went against God's ways.<br />
<br />
There will be a spiritual warfare in your life, and the devil will be at constant attack of your mind. The good news is that you can guard against temptation. It is easy to become addicted to looking at things you shouldn't like pornography. Guys are stimulated by what they see while girls are by what they hear. You need to carefully consider your actions so that they might be pleasing to God. You should think of yourself as an ambassador of God's kingdom and live your life like you are being watched in everything you do. If you truly love God, you will live a holy life and not put garbage into your soul. <br />
<br />
You should be imitators of God and not let unholy talk come out of your mouth but only use words which are helpful in building up others when they listen. Then as you grow, you can start making the decisions of what's appropriate or not. You will be able to create your own standards and develop you own ideas on what is right and what is wrong instead of allowing others, the media or society telling you something is okay. You are taught to be in this world, not of this world and just because something is popular does not mean that it is acceptable. So be careful about the things you fill your mind with and monitor your eyes so you will sustain the good values and strong faith beliefs that you have been taught and help you make wise decisions when you have the freedom to choose you own entertainment. Remember, you are a temple of the Holy Spirit!What are parents to do?http://www.blogger.com/profile/12183397873932741932noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6562785316052037308.post-33358675565836634672011-04-17T15:52:00.000-07:002011-04-17T20:43:35.990-07:00Bullying"We urge you, brothers, admonish the idle, cheer the fainthearted, support the weak, be patient with all."<br />
1 Thess. 5:14 <br />
<br />
"Hope deferred makes the heart sick, but a wish fulfilled is a tree of life." Proverbs 13:12 <br />
<br />
"You have heard that it was said, 'You shall love your neighbor and hate your enemy.' But I say to you, love your enemies, and pray for those who persecute you." Matthew 5:43-44<br />
<br />
"I have told you this so that you might have peace in me. In the world you will have trouble, but take courage, I have conquered the world." John 16:33<br />
<br />
"Kindness is a virtue that could stamp out bullying. If more children are taught to be kind, bullies will have less support and be fewer in number." <br />
<br />
"Do unto others as you would have them do unto you." - The Golden Rule<br />
<br />
Did you know that bullying is a rising problem in schools and can happen anywhere in other places as well such as the park, on sports teams, on the bus and other places where there is little adult supervison? Kids get bullied every single day so if it's happened to you, know that you are not the only one and you haven't asked for it. <br />
<br />
Kids can be cruel and mean and want to hurt a person's reputation or harass others though personal attacks that are not good natured. It may be in the form of verbal name-calling, teasing, gossiping, insults, threats, spreading rumors or leaving you out of a group activity on purpose. It can also be in physical ways such as hitting, punching, shoving, and kicking. <br />
<br />
Why do bullies act this way? Bullies use aggression to have power and often they do not feel good about themselves and long for attention. They may think it's fun to hurt others' feelings. They may think that bullying will make them feel important or better about themselves. They use hurtful behavior because they want a feeling of superiority and security. They may even be acting out against the anger and loneliness that they feel at home. Words can hurt even if they aren't true much longer that a black eye. <br />
<br />
Besides verbal and physical, there is another type of bullying - cyberbullying. This form of bullying can can occur over the Internet, social networking sites and instant messaging. A cyberbully might broadcast your personal information with the purpose of embarrasing or hurting you. Cyberbullying can also take place with text messages, cell phones and chat rooms.<br />
<br />
Bullying is wrong and should not be tolerated. Bullies should in no way cause you physical harm or violate you in any way. They like to intentionally play into any insecurities you may have about yourself. Bullies usually have pain and inadequacies and need to feel like they have power so they belittle others. They may tell you you are ugly, that you're no good, make you feel small and try and take your joy away.<br />
<br />
You can learn some techiniques to handle a bully ridiculing you and show that you are not taking the attacks personally. These kids usually are seeking an emotional reponse. You should try to stay calm and not react to the teasing (count to 10 to avoid an emotional reaction). You can ignore the teasing, pretend the bully is invisible, act like it doesn't bother you, do not care what they have to say and are even amused or surprised by the bullying behavior. You can try and roll with it and blow it off. You should never tease back but you can develops tactics to throw off the bullies and confuse them. You can use the comeback, "Thanks for telling me", "And your point is"? and "Really? I hadn't noticed ... I would have gone around all day without knowing!" You can try and act more confidenly by practicing those mentioned phrases, saying them calmly and assertively each time. Standing up for yourself in this manner will maybe help convince them to leave you alone. You can work on building your confidence back up and learn to trust again so you can feel safe with other kids again.<br />
<br />
You shouldn't ever believe a word of the abuse that bullies dish out. Bullies are never justified in their actions of picking on you and making your life miserable. You need to know that you didn't do anything to deserve it. While they will try to make you afraid and even doubt your abilities, have faith in the fact no one is superior or inferior to the next person. Everyone has their strengths and weaknesses; everyone is incompentent in lots of areas. <br />
<br />
Bullies make a moral choice to harm you and will have to answer to God someday. Fighting back or retaliating will only make the situation worse and doing so will make you just as bad as them. After being bullied, you may not feel safe in the world, you can develop fear and intense anger and a need for revenge. You shouldn't treat the bullies in the same way they treated you. You don't want your behavior to be controlled by the bully. If you treat them like a friend when they treat you like an enemy, you will be controlling them. You need to learn to resolve arguments without violent words or actions and walk confidently, standing up for yourself. <br />
<br />
If adults shrug it off and make excuses, telling you that it's part of life, stop being a whiner, be strong or keep a stiff upper lip, then you need to go to a repected person who will listen and help. This is just too big of a problem to solve by yourself. Having close friends can be a good safety net for you. There is strength in numbers. Bullies like to single out their targets. They don't like confronting a group.<br />
<br />
After there has been repeated abuse by the same person(s) and you've taken the advice of not letting them get you down, ignoring them or having a funny retort or strong comeback, you must tell your parents or another authority figure to put a stop to it even if the bully warns you not to. You will not be able to rescue yourself if there are serious threats which are leading to physical aggression. <br />
<br />
Adults have a way of intervening and making it sound like you didn't snitch or tattle on them. Chances are there are other kids they are harrassing so they wouldn't even know the source. You should be so proud of yourself for speaking out against a bully and do it even if you feel afraid that worse things will happen. You can air out your thoughts, feelings and frustrations about the situation to someone who will listen and take it seriously. When the bully is warned or punished, that will hopefully make the bully think twice about ever taunting or laying a hand on any other kid. <br />
<br />
It doesn't matter what bullies think of you. You are special, loved and valued. You are God's creation and you need to turn to Jesus, see yourself through His eyes, trust your life to Him and pray. God is with you even when you are being bullied and He understands completely how you feel. God will help you resist fear when facing bullies. You can talk to Jesus anytime and He will listen and encourage you. He certainly understands persecution so knows exactly what you are going through since he experienced such ridicule and abandonment in His suffering. <br />
<br />
If you have an anger where you want to seek revenge on your tormenter, you can give your anger to God. You can go to confession and seek forgiveness for that deep resentment you are feeling. If you don't control your anger, it will probably spill over and be misdirected to relationships with your family members. You will be able to eventually forgive the bully with Jesus' help so you won't allow bitterness to control you. He will see you through, give you courage and help you to have peace when others are mean. So remember to see yourself as God sees you and turn it over to Him. Then you may even start to feel compassion for the bully and someday may even make them a friend. <br />
<br />
Even if you've never been harrassed, it is your duty to tell an authority figure if you see it happening around you. You're just as guilty being a bystander if you don't speak up in some manner. You don't want to be a coward when you see a classmate or friend get bullied. You certainly don't want to go along with it and join in on the aggression in order to avoid being targeted yourself. You can honor God by using your voice to defend the timid and encourage the weak by standing up for the victim or telling someone in authority so they can intervene.What are parents to do?http://www.blogger.com/profile/12183397873932741932noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6562785316052037308.post-52628802377251021062011-03-01T12:04:00.000-08:002011-03-05T19:39:46.452-08:00Marriage"God made all kinds of wild animals, all kinds of cattle, and all kinds of creeping things of the earth. God saw how good it was. Then God said: "Let us make man in our image, after our likeness. Let them have dominion over the fish of the sea, the birds of the air, and the cattle, and over all the wild animals and all the creatures that crawl on the ground." God created man in his image; in the divine image he created him; male and female he created them." Genesis 1:25–27<br />
<br />
<br />
"The LORD God said: "It is not good for the man to be alone. I will make a suitable partner for him." Genesis 2:18 <br />
<br />
"That is why a man leaves his father and mother and clings to his wife, and the two of them become one body. The man and his wife were both naked, yet they felt no shame." Genesis 2:24-25<br />
<br />
"Woman is not independent of man or man of woman in the Lord. For just as woman came from man, so man is born of woman; but all things are from God." 1 Corinthians 11:11-12<br />
<br />
"Love is patient, love is kind. It is not jealous, (love) is not pompous, it is not inflated, it is not rude, it does not seek its own interests, it is not quick-tempered, it does not brood over injury, it does not rejoice over wrongdoing but rejoices with the truth. It bears all things, believes all things, hopes all things, endures all things." 1 Corinthians 13:4-7 <br />
<br />
"For I hate divorce, says the LORD, the God of Israel, and covering one's garment with injustice, says the LORD of hosts; You must then safeguard life that is your own, and not break faith." Malachi 2:16<br />
<br />
If there is any encouragement in Christ, any solace in love, any participation in the Spirit, any compassion and mercy, complete my joy by being of the same mind, with the same love, united in heart, thinking one thing. Do nothing out of selfishness or out of vainglory; rather, humbly regard others as more important than yourselves, each looking out not for his own interests, but (also) everyone for those of others." Philippians 2:1-4 <br />
<br />
"So (also) husbands should love their wives as their own bodies. He who loves his wife loves himself. For no one hates his own flesh but rather nourishes and cherishes it, even as Christ does the church, because we are members of his body. ‘For this reason a man shall leave (his) father and (his) mother and be joined to his wife, and the two shall become one flesh.’ This is a great mystery, but I speak in reference to Christ and the church. In any case, each one of you should love his wife as himself, and the wife should respect her husband." Ephesians 5:28-33 <br />
<br />
"The beginning of wisdom is: get wisdom; at the cost of all you have, get understanding." Proverbs 4:7<br />
<br />
"Like a golden earring, or a necklace of fine gold, is a wise reprover to an obedient ear." Proverbs 25:12<br />
<br />
"Know this, my dear brothers: everyone should be quick to hear, 11 slow to speak, slow to wrath." James 1:19 <br />
<br />
<br />
Marriage is supposed to be a wonderful and joyous experience where you can feel total acceptance by your spouse. It is also the hardest thing in life that takes constant work and attention. It requires intentional effort and persistence. You will need to learn to love each other and become love for one another after the “feelings” wear off. You will also need to learn to build a trust level, lean on each other and bring 100% to the marriage. Marriage is a public vow you make as well as a sacred covenant between one man and one woman with God being in the center of your relationship as you remain committed to the other for a lifetime. Marriage is meant to be a representation of Christ and His love for the Church, and your marriage should reflect God's image. It should allow you to depend on God's power to build your covenant marriage on trust, and a total commitment to Him.<br />
<br />
The Church speaks of marriage as an intimate community of life and love founded by God. It is a strong relationship which forms the foundation of the Church, and we as Christians need to prevent the Church from weakening with dysfunctional and unhealthy marriages. God's ideal plan is that both partners in a marriage know Him personally, that they are first a part of His family before they try to build a family of their own. He created you to give yourself totally to your spouse for the rest of your life. A marriage is built when the two of you deny your selfishness and yield to Jesus Christ for the purpose of loving and serving your spouse. Jesus Christ will begin the process of building your home if you let Him and allow you to use all of the resources and tools He will equip you with.<br />
<br />
The Lord offers his spirit of love and grace to establish this kind of communion or oneness. If you don't allow the Holy Spirit to guide and empower your lives, you will lack the power to build your marriage with the oneness God intends. The Holy Spirit will help you control your temper and impatience as well as the hurtful words that you will later regret. And as you submit to Holy Spirit's control of your life, the fruit of the Spirit—love, joy, peace, patience, etc., will move you toward oneness. <br />
<br />
Satan wants to destroy marriages and the connection between the two of you. He likes it because it causes so much hurt and pain to everyone, to each spouse, the children, the rest of the family and friends. He plants thoughts in your mind, and he sends the wrong people onto your path to get you to think about other things. He does this to distract you from your marital commitment; he does this to doubt yourself and your spouse; he does this to threaten your moral fidelity. So you don't want to take your eyes off of Christ and open the door for Satan to step in. God hates divorce and would prefer you to work through your issues and restore your relationship. <br />
<br />
If you put your marriage in God's hands, you'll be amazed at what He can do. God doesn't just want you to get through your problems; He wants you to grow through them. It is God's will that you enjoy marriage and He will meet your needs if you ask Him and allow you to grow together and get each other to Heaven. If you don't give up and continue to press on, your commitment, love and compassion can continue to grow for each other. You need to remain committed to your sacred covenant obligation because your children's marriages, your legacy, and the strength of the Church all depend upon it. Once you have given up and broken your marriage, it will be that much easier to break the next marriage. This is because what you are searching for will never be found in an individual or within yourself but will only be found and satisfied with a real relationship with God.<br />
<br />
To help you understand God's role in marriage, you have to realize that God is the source of marriage, and you need to acknowledge His part in designing men and women, despite their differences. A godly marriage has at its center “agape” love (as opposed to the sexual kind called “eros”). Agape is unconditional and is demonstrated best by Christ's love for the Church. This is the kind of love that God wants you to build as a foundation of your marriage. And you don’t “fall in” agape. It is purposeful and unconditional love that requires commitment and shouldn't change based on life's circumstances. Adam accepted God's gift totally—he received Eve as God's gift to Him. He trusted God totally, knowing this woman was God's answer for his needs. Many marriages today are insecure and breaking down because the husband and wife have stopped accepting each other and have stopped trusting God. Instead each spouse may be focusing on each other’s differences and weaknesses.<br />
<br />
Marriage is God's idea and some choose to redefine marriage because they don't believe in God’s standards. We should let principles taught in Scripture define marriage instead of letting the culture do it. Marriage requires “leaving and cleaving,” a choice to leave your parents, join together with your spouse and build a relationship. This enables a husband and wife to become united, to become one flesh and experience a type of oneness. Then a true unity of body and soul, a total commitment to God and to each other can be allowed to form. When you learn to draw close to Jesus, He will redirect you back to your spouse so you will be dependent on one another, experience companionship and complete each other. God wants you to learn to become the husband or wife He created and intended you to be. <br />
<br />
Being united to your spouse means forming a permanent bond. It means committing yourself to a lifelong marriage. Unfortunately, commitment is the missing ingredient in many marriages. Many want out when the relationship changes or becomes more difficult. Remember the vows you spoke to each other and to God – “Through sickness and health, good times and bad, rich or poor … 'Till death do us part"? It is not some kind of social contract-something you just "do" for as long as you both shall "love."<br />
<br />
Respect, constructive communication and forgiveness are essential to a marriage. Selfishness can threaten a marriage. While dating and all through your engagement, you may do everything to attract and please your spouse-to-be. Then, once we are married, selfishness and pride can get in the way. You need to set aside your selfish interests for the good of each other as well as for the good of your marriage. Instead of wanting to be first, we must be willing to be last. Instead of wanting to be served, we must serve. You must love your neighbor (our spouse) as much as you love yourself. Instead of thinking about a relationship being a 50/50 plan, think of it as a 100/100 plan which would require a 100 percent effort from each of you to serve your spouse. Rather than, "You do your part and I'll do mine," each spouse needs to say, "I will do what I can to love you without demanding an equal amount in return. I am committed to this relationship for a lifetime, and I will do whatever it takes to make our marriage work and keep the family going." It is impossible to determine when your spouse has met you halfway so you shouldn't base it on your spouse’s performance. Giving 100%, treating your spouse with the respect they deserve, staying connected, accepting change, supporting growth in yourself and your spouse, sharing parental and housework duties, and listening are ways to bring on a more loving relationship and friendship for you and your soul mate.<br />
<br />
You'll have to stop seeing yourself as the victim or "good one" and leave the bitterness in a marriage behind. You need to let go of the expectations and see the good in each other. Change the way you respond to your spouse no matter how it hurts. Your positive behavior and humility will be contagious and encourage cooperation. Both of you need to take responsibility for your actions and learn from your human mistakes since you are bound to hurt each other even in an unintentional way. That is where forgiveness plays in and you have to sincerely apologize and correct the problem for the future of your relationship or to restore your marriage. And know that you may have to wait on and pray for a long time for this change of heart for yourself or your spouse. You can use the hard times in your relationship to grow from the experience and improve who you are as a person. Criticism, comparing your spouse to others, being defensive, using a snippy, attacking tone of voice, taking the other for granted and having apathy can also harm the relationship. Instead, practice common courtesy, respect and be sensitive to the others needs and feelings. <br />
<br />
You can pinpoint the exact problems and list quarrels and conflicts among yourselves and communicate your expectations so you have a clear understanding of the issues. Then identify the solutions, write them down, make them measurable, achievable and don't forget to put them into action and become solution focused. Since men and women are wired differently, you must live with your spouse’s differences and appreciate them, and may even have to compromise and negotiate on matters. You must honor your spouse and learn the male and female differences in communication. Men may have to learn to listen attentively with empathy and try hard to understand your wife's feelings without retreating; women may have to stop thinking they can solve your husband's problems and refrain from giving advice unless they are actually asking for help. You can ask your spouse what they need or ask what you can do for them today. Clearly let them know what your needs are so they can be met. <br />
<br />
It is so easy to focus on surface issues and focus on one another's weaknesses than their strengths. Don't keep a running tab on your spouse’s mistakes and wrong choices. This will only lead to resentment and bitterness. It allows you to finger point and blame your spouse rather than looking at yourself and take personal responsibility for your role in the marriage. Instead of thinking about all those little surface issues that you think are “so bad” about your spouse, think about those deep qualities of your spouse. Think about the character of your spouse, their parenting skills or their good work ethic, their devotion to you - .those things that really matter in a relationship. Those are the characteristics and qualities that make them who they are, that attracted you to them in the first place and made you fall in love. You should have a mentor to emulate and pattern your relationship after. Making yourself accountable to a friend and surround yourself with others who have been there.<br />
<br />
Incorporate forgiveness since Jesus has shown us how to forgive. He gave us the grace and unconditional love so continually make an effort to accept each other. Only Jesus has the power to change your heart and put you in right-standing with God. There may be times when you can't imagine even touching or looking at our spouse again, but then when your emotions calm down, you can see how you overestimated your little irritations, annoyances and frustrations. Unfortunately, some spouses continue in that cycle over and over until the bad thoughts and strong feelings win and call it quits.<br />
<br />
Follow these tips to make your marriage more rich and meaningful, fuller and rewarding:<br />
<br />
Practice the challenging discipline of prayer together as a couple as well as on an individual basis. Pray for each other, and the relationship for God to protect your marriage. This can be quite the spiritual discipline but making it a daily habit can help you resolve conflicts and keep the communication lines open and your dependence on Christ. When you invite God into your marriage on a daily basis, He will change things. Since he initiated the relationship, isn't it fitting that you bring your struggles and concerns to Him? Daily prayer prevents divorce and makes marriages stronger. Couples who pray together frequently (at least three times per week) have higher levels of marital satisfaction than those who don't. You will benefit by growing closer to each other and God, while strengthening your values and having a more intimate relationship. You could pray spontaneously, read from the Bible, do devotionals or Liturgy of the Hours together or even hold hands and have silent meditation.<br />
<br />
You can learn a constructive conflict resolution/management style. The speaker can speak for themself, keeping their statements brief,l while stopping to let the listener paraphrase. The listener can parrot talk back and focus on the speaker's message without rebutting. Remember not to start difficult conversations late at night or when you are short on time. Model honor and respect as you relate to one another in your marriage, and as you relate to your children. This doesn't mean you won't argue with each other on occasion, but let the kids know that you have a differing opinion on a matter right now. That will help you settle down and it also assures them that you love, honor, and respect one another. In some cases your might want to postpone the remainder of your "conversation" until later after the children were in bed. <br />
<br />
After you have acknowledged that there is a problem, clearly define it and discuss how serious of a issue it is to both of you (on a scale of 1-10). You must follow the steps of agreeing where to start, considering your contributions to it, clarifying who will do what, discussing possible solutions and come up with a mutually acceptable one. Then pray about it and put your plan into action and see if it works. If you can't agree on a solution, flip a coin or bargain some of your personal needs with some of your relationship needs. You may even find later what you thought was a big problem is just a miscommunication. Be sure to not use personal attacks, bring up past mistakes and failures, or "You always/never" statements but understand your spouse’s perspectives. Really listen, hear and have empathy and express your concerns in a healthy, mature fashion. You can also improve your skills in adjusting to your differences, resolving conflict, communicating expectations while speaking the truth in love, listening to each other and forgiving each other. You'll realize that your spouse and your relationship are not perfect but you can still have the joy which come from strengthening your marriage to work through the problems together and in the process learn to respect, listen, love and honor each other while increasing understanding and intimacy.<br />
<br />
Spend focused time together by scheduling regular dates with your spouse. Plan a weekend getaway away from your usual environment and demands of the ordinary grind to catch up with each other and share from your heart. Put your date night in writing once a month and even aim for two. Make it fresh, fun and interactive. It will be an opportunity to evaluate your marriage and parenting and, if necessary, redirect your family plan. Without any of the everyday distractions and demanding schedules, you can concentrate on romancing each other, cultivate the often forgotten-art of holding hands and find each other again. Show affection with small gestures of hugs and kisses and verbally tell them you love them on a daily basis. Have sex regularly even if you have to schedule it in and talk about your sex life. Avoid sharing your personal problems and pressures with someone of the opposite sex since this closeness could lead to intimate emotional and a physical relationship. Also, avoid pornography which leads to addictive behavior which leads to unrealistic expectations and will only destruct your marriage.<br />
<br />
Invest in your relationship by carving out some time for each other on a day-to-day basis. Make your spouse first, do not get too busy and over schedule yourself. Spend more time with each other and less time on the computer with shopping, e-mailing and networking. Dedicate 10 minutes of uninterrupted time every day focusing just on each other with undivided attention by dropping what you're doing, making eye contact, and genuinely being interested in what your spouse is saying. Have meaningful conversations about your day, current events, memories and your dreams - just don't discuss your marriage at these times. You'll feel closer, renewed and stronger. You need to give each other encouragement and words of affirmation, acts of service, speaking of their strengths, catch them being good and give one compliment a day. After all, the most effective way to modify your spouse’s behavior is to reinforce or positively reward them when they are doing what you want them to do. You need to find commonalities and the same interests to also enrich your marriage. Always go to bed at the same time allowing for some pillow talk. Play and have fun and remember to build, nurture and tend to your marriage one day at a time. You'll have a greater love, and it will be worth the process of extending grace to them and start making your relationship a priority. So turn your combative heart into a collaborative heart and watch your marriage transform.What are parents to do?http://www.blogger.com/profile/12183397873932741932noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6562785316052037308.post-40924490056385762962011-02-21T20:25:00.000-08:002011-11-12T21:35:54.302-08:00Eucharist"Blessed are they who hunger and thirst for righteousness, for they will be satisfied." Mat. 5:6 <br />
<br />
"Jesus said to them, "Amen, amen, I say to you, unless you eat the flesh of the Son of Man and drink his blood, you do not have life within you. Whoever eats my flesh and drinks my blood has eternal life, and I will raise him on the last day. For my flesh is true food, and my blood is true drink. Whoever eats my flesh and drinks my blood remains in me and I in him. Just as the living Father sent me and I have life because of the Father, so also the one who feeds on me will have life because of me. This is the bread that came down from heaven. Unlike your ancestors who ate and still died, whoever eats this bread will live forever." John 6:53-55<br />
<br />
"I have told you this while I am with you. The Advocate, the holy Spirit that the Father will send in my name--he will teach you everything and remind you of all that (I) told you." John 14:25-26<br />
<br />
"So that they may all be one, as you, Father, are in me and I in you, that they also may be in us, that the world may believe that you sent me." John 17:21<br />
<br />
"For just as from the heavens the rain and snow come down And do not return there till they have watered the earth, making it fertile and fruitful, Giving seed to him who sows and bread to him who eats, So shall my word be that goes forth from my mouth; It shall not return to me void, but shall do my will, achieving the end for which I sent it." Isaiah 55:10-11<br />
<br />
"For from the rising of the sun, even to its setting, my name is great among the nations; And everywhere they bring sacrifice to my name, and a pure offering; For great is my name among the nations, says the LORD of hosts." Malachi 1:11<br />
<br />
"Clear out the old yeast, so that you may become a fresh batch of dough, inasmuch as you are unleavened. For our paschal lamb, Christ, has been sacrificed. Therefore let us celebrate the feast, not with the old yeast, the yeast of malice and wickedness, but with the unleavened bread of sincerity and truth." 1 Cor. 5:7-8<br />
<br />
"The cup of blessing that we bless, is it not a participation in the blood of Christ? The bread that we break, is it not a participation in the body of Christ? Because the loaf of bread is one, we, though many, are one body, for we all partake of the one loaf." 1 Cor. 10:16-18<br />
<br />
"For I received from the Lord what I also handed on to you, that the Lord Jesus, on the night he was handed over, took bread, and, after he had given thanks, broke it and said, "This is my body that is for you. Do this in remembrance of me." In the same way also the cup, after supper, saying, "This cup is the new covenant in my blood. Do this, as often as you drink it, in remembrance of me." For as often as you eat this bread and drink the cup, you proclaim the death of the Lord until he comes." 1 Cor. 11:23-26<br />
<br />
"I urge you therefore, brothers, by the mercies of God, to offer your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and pleasing to God, your spiritual worship." Rom 12:1<br />
<br />
'"Behold, I stand at the door and knock. If anyone hears my voice and opens the door, (then) I will enter his house and dine with him, and he with me." Rev 3:20<br />
<br />
<br />
Did you know that Catholic Christians believe in Christ's Real Presence in the Eucharist? When Jesus told His disciples of this at the Last Supper, they found it difficult to accept. The Church has taught this for nearly 2000 years. The Church is the People of God and the Body of Christ. The Holy Spirit gathers you with your parish family and with Catholics all over the world. Because you have sinned during the week, it is a time to become right again with God and others. So by gathering as the Body of Christ, you are strengthened so that you will live faithfully when you leave. <br />
<br />
Eucharist means “Thanksgiving.” Each time you participate in the Eucharist, you are invited to show your thankfulness to God. You should not regard the Eucharist as merely a symbol or symbolic reminder of the Last Supper celebration as other faiths may believe. The celebration of the Eucharist unites all of history as well as joins heaven and earth. You go to Mass to share a meal with Jesus. As you know, sharing a meal brings people closer together; a special meal is sometimes called a banquet or feast. The Eucharist is the Church's special meal, and you gather at the Eucharist to celebrate God's love for you. Gifts of bread and wine are brought to the altar for the priest to bless and make holy. Through the power of the Holy Spirit the bread and wine become the Body and Blood of Jesus. Because Jesus is the Bread of Life and is celebrated in the meal of the Eucharist, you share in the life of the Risen Christ. <br />
<br />
When we celebrate the Eucharist, God changes the bread and wine so they become Jesus Himself. It still looks and tastes like bread and wine, but it is really Jesus in the form of bread and wine. He comes in the form of bread to remind us of His body and in the form of wine to remind us of His blood. It is a memorial of Jesus' death, a celebration of His resurrected life and an expectation of His coming in glory. It is the transformation of the bread and wine into the "bread of heaven" and "the cup of salvation," or in other words, the Eucharist becomes the Body and Blood of Christ ... the actual flesh and blood of Jesus which we receive in Holy Communion. Going to Mass <span class="yshortcuts" id="lw_1304480806_8" style="border-bottom-color: rgb(54, 99, 136); border-bottom-style: dotted; border-bottom-width: 2px;">every Sunday</span>, no matter what, reminds us that amid all of the uncertainty and changes, we gather to give our week to God, to praise and thank God for all the gifts we’ve been given. Going to Mass <span class="yshortcuts" id="lw_1304480806_8" style="border-bottom-color: rgb(54, 99, 136); border-bottom-style: dotted; border-bottom-width: 2px;">every Sunday</span>, reminds you that even though there may be uncertainty and changes in your life, you gather to give our week to God, to praise and thank God for all the gifts you've been given. It’s about praising God and taking part in the meal that reminds us who we are: the <span class="yshortcuts" id="lw_1304480806_11" style="border-bottom-color: rgb(54, 99, 136); border-bottom-style: dotted; border-bottom-width: 2px;">Body of Christ</span>. That gives us new energy to help transform our world. <br />
<br />
Jesus wants to be very close to you. He wants to become part of you and for you to become part of Him. The Eucharist helps us to be more like Jesus. Every time you recieve the Eucharist your soul becomes clean of any venial sin (a lesser sin that does not completely separate you from God) you committed through the week. God really comes to you in a special way in Holy Communion. When you receive Jesus in the sacrament of Holy Communion, you are expected to bring Jesus to others. You not only receive Him but He receives you. You are having an intimate dining experience with Jesus during Mass It is a celebration offered all over the world and unites all believers to the Lord's sacrifice. All those participating from east to west in this perfect sacrifice are bound to the Lord and to one another. In this sacrificial offering, God is glorified, you are sanctified, and the Catholic Church is built up. Jesus, our Paschal Lamb becomes sacrificed at this banquet and is a worthy offering to God the Father. When you take the cup of salvation it means Jesus offers you to God as you offer yourself through Him to His Father. <br />
<br />
The priest acts in the person of Christ, following His command to "do this in memory of me," but it is really Christ's action that causes the consecration or transubstantiation or the changing of the bread and wine into the Body and Blood of Christ. It is when the priest lays his hands over the hosts and wine that it becomes the very person of Jesus. It is through the power of God's Word and the Holy Spirit as well as the actions of the priest that the bread from earth becomes living bread from heaven. <br />
<br />
In the Eucharist you become one body. You are filled with God's grace and love. You go forth to serve others and help those who need your help. This is how you love and serve Jesus. By eating and drinking of his Body and Blood, you proclaim the Good News and God's mighty works. With Christ in you, it will be food for the journey of your faith life. You will see that the Eucharist will satisfy your spiritual hunger. You are nourished so you may feed others and bless others with Christ's presence. He wants to feed you with the bread from heaven and quench your thirst with the cup of His salvation every time at Communion so you can spread God's message of salvation. After the last blessing in Mass, you are sent into the world as disciples of Christ and treat one another as Jesus would. The Eucharist gives you the strength to live your life in a remarkable way. You are called to be the hands, feet, and heart of Jesus in our world today. The church has a mission to send you on, the mission is to make this world a better place, a place more like the way God would have things.” You just we need a community to accompany us and send us forth, which is exactly what the Mass does each week. The Eucharist must lead to action and this is how the power of the Eucharist can transform or change the world.What are parents to do?http://www.blogger.com/profile/12183397873932741932noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6562785316052037308.post-78283577906151907952011-02-17T19:41:00.000-08:002011-02-19T18:48:11.579-08:00Redemptive Suffering/Offering it Up"Now I rejoice in my sufferings for your sake, and in my flesh I am filling up what is lacking in the afflictions of Christ on behalf of his body, which is the church, " Col 1:24<br />
<br />
<br />
"If (one) part suffers, all the parts suffer with it; if one part is honored, all the parts share its joy." I Corinthians 12:26 <br />
<br />
"Three times I begged the Lord about this, that it might leave me, but he said to me, ‘My grace is sufficient for you, for power is made perfect in weakness.’ I will rather boast most gladly of my weaknesses, in order that the power of Christ may dwell with me. Therefore, I am content with weaknesses, insults, hardships, persecutions, and constraints, for the sake of Christ; for when I am weak, then I am strong." II Cor 12:8-10 <br />
<br />
"We are afflicted in every way, but not constrained; perplexed, but not driven to despair; persecuted, but not abandoned; struck down, but not destroyed; always carrying about in the body the dying of Jesus, so that the life of Jesus may also be manifested in our body. For we who live are constantly being given up to death for the sake of Jesus, so that the life of Jesus may be manifested in our mortal flesh. So death is at work in us, but life in you." II Corinthians 4:8-12<br />
<br />
"More than that, I even consider everything as a loss because of the supreme good of knowing Christ Jesus my Lord. For his sake I have accepted the loss of all things and I consider them so much rubbish, that I may gain Christ and be found in him, not having any righteousness of my own based on the law but that which comes through faith in Christ, the righteousness from God, depending on faith to know him and the power of his resurrection and (the) sharing of his sufferings by being conformed to his death, if somehow I may attain the resurrection from the dead." Philippians 3:8-11 <br />
<br />
"So they left the presence of the Sanhedrin, rejoicing that they had been found worthy to suffer dishonor for the sake of the name." Acts 5:41<br />
<br />
"Not only that, but we even boast of our afflictions, knowing that affliction produces endurance, and endurance, proven character, and proven character, hope" Romans 5: 2-3<br />
<br />
"I consider that the sufferings of this present time are as nothing compared with the glory to be revealed for us." Romans 8:18<br />
<br />
"For it was fitting that he, for whom and through whom all things exist, in bringing many children to glory, should make the leader to their salvation perfect through suffering." Heb 2: 10<br />
<br />
The Catechism of the Catholic Church encourages and reminds us of our vocation: "By His passion and death on the Cross, Christ has given a new meaning to suffering: it can henceforth configure us to Him and unite us with His redemptive passion" (#1505).<br />
<br />
"Once you are joined to the Lord, you become as omnipresent as He is. Instead of offering assistance in one particular place, doctor, nurse, or priest, in the power of the Cross you have the ability to be everywhere at once. At every scene of misery. Your compassionate love, drawn from the Redeemer's Heart, can take you in all directions, allowing you to sprinkle on every side the Precious Blood that soothes, heals and redeems." (St. Teresa Benedicta of the Cross, OCD)<br />
<br />
"Jesus did not come to do away with suffering or remove it. He came to fill it with His presence.” Paul Claudell<br />
<br />
<br />
Do you know what the words “offering it up” mean? When you endure suffering or any painful experience, you shouldn’t waste it but make it mean something. Offering up your sufferings in love of the Lord and uniting yourself to Jesus is also called redemptive suffering. We can give Jesus the gift of our redemptive suffering by offering up to Him your not so fun or easy trials. This will bring you closer to Jesus because He allows you to unite or merge your difficulties with Him like when Jesus redeemed us from sin with His death on the Cross. Christ also allows you to help Him in his work of repairing souls and bring more people to Him. Jesus invites you to share in His life or enter into His suffering so you can make up for the sins you have committed. It can be done with any small thing from having a headache to a disliked chore. So if you have an annoyance with your brother or sister, offer it up to God as a sacrifice and put your suffering to good use so you won’t feel like a victim but instead do it joyfully for the Lord! <br />
<br />
Every hardship and weakness is an opportunity for God to display His redemptive and saving power in your life. The Passion of the Lord on the Cross was how we were freed from sin. That is why the hardships and trials of daily life are considered your crosses to bear in life. Know that the hard times are all a part of your Christian journey and you should welcome your crosses in your life since they will only make your faith stronger to become His disciple. A cross can be physical pain, disappointments, humiliations, sickness, sadness and delays for example. Just think how many opportunities of spiritual growth and for helping others are wasted in complaining about the crosses in your life. So try to willingly accept without complaint the little irritations, frustrations and inconveniences that come your way. This way you can be collaborators in the work of Christ's redemption, building up His Kingdom in the world around you with not only your prayers and good works but also your sufferings.<br />
<br />
Your walk with Jesus is not about explaining the mysteries of this life but understanding the truth - the truth being that you have a God who loves you so much He sent His Son to die for you. You live in a world that is filled with problems and struggles from which none of you can escape nor can you completely explain. In those hard times, you can cry out to our Heavenly Father for comfort. He is with you, walking with you, carrying you through all of life’s struggles. So you have a choice. Do you dwell on struggling to find the answers to the "why" or do you look to our Lord and place your trust in Him? You cannot understand what God's purpose or plan is for you. He has given you His Holy Spirit to guide you and comfort you. You are called to look towards Him and know that He is with you and will never go through your struggles alone. The Lord does not want you to not get caught up in trying to explain the mystery, but to focus on Him. So when you cry out why, He alone will give you peace and rest.<br />
<br />
God can handle the tears, the screaming, and the groaning from our hearts. He’s big enough. He loves you and is the closest to you at those times. He is not done with you yet. God is using your circumstances to recreate your life. In tough times, God gives you opportunities to see how big He really is. If you look closely in the midst of troubles, you can see that God is not finished making you stronger, deeper and more reliant upon Him.<br />
<br />
In suffering you may be tempted to lose hope and faith in the Lord’s love and in His desire for your eternal life with Him. But that same suffering can teach you, if you let it, to turn to God and place your hope and trust in Him. You'll develop a better character while learning some of the fruits of the Spirit ... .love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, gentleness, faithfulness, self control... <br />
<br />
So remember the promise and hope that the Lord is walking with you the entire time in the midst of your pain and struggles. He will not leave you on your own to handle things by yourself. He is walking with you, guiding you, strengthening you and helping you build character and perseverance so you can remain strong. You shouldn't always pray that others may be delivered from their pains, but rather pray to God that He would give them strength and patience to bear them as long as He pleases. <br />
<br />
So what are some ways to "offer it up?" You could say the Morning Offering every day when you wake up since it dedicates your entire day to God. Or you can stop at a moment of stress, or as you enter into a situation that you know will be stressful, and make the Sign of the Cross and say something like, "O Jesus, I offer up my struggles and sacrifices today for the relief of the Holy Souls in Purgatory." Or after you may have gone to confession and are truly sorry for your sins, you can help living people that are in need too by offering up your bad time to them, winning them grace from God. You may ask that your suffering be applied to a special petition for someone. God will use them for the good of the Church when you accept the pain of stubbing your toe or having to wait in line a long time. Of course this act is hard to do but will make your suffering meaningful for another. You will then reduce your sin penalty, repairing your soul so you will be rewarded in Heaven. So don't run away from suffering since it will only strengthen you, humble you and set you on the path to becoming a saint.What are parents to do?http://www.blogger.com/profile/12183397873932741932noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6562785316052037308.post-80232427268228916572010-10-11T17:59:00.000-07:002012-02-09T20:35:44.882-08:00Self Esteem/ConfidenceSelf Esteem/Confidence<br />
<br />
<br />
"You formed my inmost being; you knit me in my mother's womb. I praise you, so wonderfully you made me; wonderful are your works! My very self you knew; my bones were not hidden from you, When I was being made in secret, fashioned as in the depths of the earth. Your eyes foresaw my actions; in your book all are written down; my days were shaped, before one came to be. How precious to me are your designs, O God; how vast the sum of them! Were I to count, they would outnumber the sands; to finish, I would need eternity." Psalm 139: 13-18<br />
<br />
"Are not five sparrows sold for two small coins? Yet not one of them has escaped the notice of God.<br />
Even the hairs of your head have all been counted. Do not be afraid. You are worth more than many sparrows." Luke 12:6-7<br />
<br />
"My son, with humility have self-esteem; prize yourself as you deserve. Who will acquit him who condemns himself? who will honor him who discredits himself?" Sirach 10:27-28<br />
<br />
"I have the strength for everything through him who empowers me." Philippians 4:13 <br />
<br />
"For we are the handiwork, created in Christ Jesus for the good works that God has prepared in advance, that we should live in them." Ephesians 2:10<br />
<br />
"Do not judge from his appearance or from his lofty stature, because I have rejected him. Not as man sees does God see, because man sees the appearance but the Lord looks into the heart." 1 Samuel 16:7<br />
<br />
"For no one hates his own flesh but rather nourishes and cherishes it, even as Christ does the church, <br />
because we are members of his body." Eph. 5: 29-30<br />
<br />
"They that hope in the LORD will renew their strength, they will soar as with eagles' wings; They will run and not grow weary, walk and not grow faint." Isaiah 40:31<br />
<br />
"Such confidence we have through Christ toward God. Not that of ourselves we are qualified to take credit for anything as coming from us; rather, our qualification comes from God, who has indeed qualified us as ministers of a new covenant, not of letter but of spirit; for the letter brings death, but the Spirit gives life." <br />
2 Cor. 3: 4-6<br />
<br />
"I rejoice, because I have confidence in you in every respect." 2 Corinthians 7:16<br />
<br />
"Not that we dare to class or compare ourselves with some of those who recommend themselves. But when they measure themselves by one another and compare themselves with one another, they are without understanding. For it is not the one who recommends himself who is approved, but the one whom the Lord recommends. 2 Cor. 10: 12,18<br />
<br />
"Beloved, if (our) hearts do not condemn us, we have confidence in God" 1 John 3:21<br />
<br />
"I urge you therefore, brothers, by the mercies of God, to offer your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and pleasing to God, your spiritual worship. Do not conform yourselves to this age but be transformed by the renewal of your mind, that you may discern what is the will of God, what is good and pleasing and perfect. <br />
<br />
For by the grace given to me I tell everyone among you not to think of himself more highly than one ought to think, but to think soberly, each according to the measure of faith that God has apportioned. Rom. 12: 1-3<br />
<br />
Self esteem is how you feel about yourself and confidence is the assurance that God is with you in whatever you do or say. How do you feel about your looks, personality and abilities? Your opinion of yourself usually depends on how you have learned to think of yourself from the important people in your life who love you or the opinions and beliefs of strangers as you grow. You have to remember that you are loved by God your Creator and you must honor him by loving Him, yourself and others. You were designed for greatness. You shouldn't settle for less than what you are truly worth. <br />
<br />
Despite what the world says, your worth is not the sum of your appearance, your abilities and how rich you are or how the culture thinks you should fit in. How do you see yourself? Do you define yourself by how many trophies you have or how much you have in the bank? It's not about what the world values with looks, brains, wealth and talent but God looks at your character, your attitude, your generosity and your faithfulness. Are you more concerned about looking good or doing good? You need to do the best you can with what the Lord has given you. You also need to try and live for Him and less for you. You have to realize that you can love and be loved and you need others as they need you.<br />
<br />
You exist by the will and wisdom of the God who made you for Himself to know, honor and enjoy Him forever. God should be the most important person in your life because He not only made you but he cares and loves you more than anyone can imagine. You need to think of yourself as the person God says you are to reshape the way you think about yourself. He alone can give you every reason to feel good about yourself. You need to accept your imperfectness, limitations and what you cannot change. You can rise above your problems and circumstances and take control of what you can but let God do the rest. Even though we have weakness and are flawed by human nature because of original sin with our first parents, Adam and Eve; in God's eyes you are adequate, likeable, valuable and needed. <br />
<br />
You should have a good, healthy, high self esteem but one with humility and not have too high of an opinion of yourself. To achieve this, you need to understand your dependence on God and on one another. You need to put your confidence in God and not just yourself and the opinion of others. If you feel you have nothing to offer then you'll probably act like you don't, if you think poorly of yourself and think you're going to fail, then you will act poorly. On the other hand, if you know you have something to offer in life, then you'll make a positive difference in others lives. You won't back away from relationships and you'll have what it takes to handle any challenges that come your way. You must think well of yourself to meet your own goals and expectations. Self-esteem and confidence are something you need if you expect to grow in your faith. Getting on a bike for the first time showed that you had confidence in yourself and in the person helping you. Jesus wants you to place your confidence in Him, for He is your strength and will carry you through any situation in life. Just like you didn't learn to ride a bike in a flash, you need to wait patiently for Jesus to fulfill your needs. <br />
<br />
In your walk with Christ, you can by His Spirit be anything He wants you to be, do anything He wants you to do and say anything He wants you to say. But Jesus also wants you to put Him ahead of every other relationship. God sees everything more clearly than you do so you need to trust Him for your needs. If you completely rely on God, you will find dignity and self-acceptance. It is normal to feel discouraged by your failure because that shows that you care about yourself. You were made to serve God and feel good about the privilege of being one of His servants. If you serve anything other than God, you will feel empty and unfulfilled. You just need to depend on Him to resist temptation and overcome the struggles and obstacles in your life. <br />
<br />
Your soul and spirit can only be filled by giving of yourself. It's not about having or getting the latest and greatest electronic...it's about contributing and not acquiring things. So you can try and do something for someone every week, thinking of others rather than yourself. Other ways to boost your self-esteem are to think positively about yourself and catch yourself when you say something negative about yourself and replace it with an affirmation or something good. Satan sometimes will have his hand on the recorder in your brain....with his themes of shame, guilt and defeat. But hearing the true voice of God and seeing God the right way, you will always triumph in making wise decisions and choices with His help. <br />
<br />
Furthermore, you can write down a list of reasons why you are valuable and put it on a mirror and read it every day. Also read your Bible and you'll renew your mind with the words and thoughts of God. There you will find self-respect, self-acceptance and see yourself from heaven's point of view. And don't forget that trying new things, exercise and getting outdoors have been proven to boost your spirits as well. You must give up your own will and follow the will of God. Believe you can do anything God enables you to do. If you are faithful to the plan God reveals to you, you will be successful. And as you succeed by figuring out His plan for you, your self-confidence will soar.What are parents to do?http://www.blogger.com/profile/12183397873932741932noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6562785316052037308.post-9894629982377063922010-09-20T20:55:00.000-07:002012-02-14T19:02:30.695-08:00Being Positive instead of Complaining"Have among yourselves the same attitude that is also yours in Christ Jesus," Philippians 2:5<br />
<br />
"Do everything without grumbling or questioning, that you may be blameless and innocent, children of God without blemish in the midst of a crooked and perverse generation, among whom you shine like lights in the world," Philippians 2:14-15<br />
<br />
"Be hospitable to one another without complaining." 1 Peter 4:9<br />
<br />
Do you know anyone who complains and thinks nothing ever good happens to them? They might groan, roll their eyes and stomp their feet a lot. When things go wrong, how do you react? Do you ever feel down, grouchy, lazy, hateful, mean, or just want to act ugly? Then you are a victim of a bad or negative attitude. God wants you to trade those bad attitudes for better ones. He tells you that we should not trust your feelings. Feelings lie to us. Jesus has a good attitude and the cure for this syndrome. You need to ask yourself when you feel like moping, "How would Jesus act?" We should think in the same way that Jesus thinks. This is not always easy for us but He can help. You just need to work on your attitude and change the way you think. It is a daily challenge. Match up your attitudes to that of Jesus and see if they looks like His. Acting as Jesus would can bring joy <br />
back into a bad situation! Seek God out and he will help you have an attitude that will honor Him. <br />
<br />
Complaining is very common and problems happen all the time in everyday living. But it doesn’t make it right to complain if you feel you are suffering a hardship or being inconvenienced. And who really wants to be around whiners who can rub off on you, lead you to pout yourself and pick up a bad habit? But did you know that the gripers and grumblers of the world don’t have any more problems than anyone else? And did you also know that complaining will not change anything or make the situation better. You might have heard that life is 10% what happens to you and 90% how you react to it. Having a bad attitude will cause you to feel bitter inside and make you think that the whole world is against you and in turn hurt those around you. Your only hope is prayer and cooperation with God to have a positive attitude. <br />
<br />
You need to have an attitude like Jesus and handle situations in your life like He would. He should be your model so you will be a positive Christian example to all those around you. There will be a lot of stress, disappointments and frustrations that you will face in life and family and friends can really let you down. You have the choice of either making them get you down or not. It's how you react to disappointments and act when you don't get your way. It's all in how you handle it! When you feel sorry for yourself and blame others or think that you don't deserve it, just rise above it and choose to repond in a more loving way instead of getting all hurt and angry. It is not easy to free yourself of these feelings but God wants that for you. If you complain too much or focus on all the negative things and all the things that go wrong in your life, you can forget all the good things God does in your life. You can waste your time complaining or you can find a way to make things better, remembering all the others things God has done for you.<br />
<br />
A bad attitude can turn you away from God and may lead you to make wrong choices. A happy, positive person can do God’s work and teach others about Him and others will listen. The good news is that you have control over your emotions and can decide your reaction. Having a good attitude and remaining positive will let Christ show in your life. You don’t want to show discontentment with the life God has given you and dissatisfaction with what He is doing in your life. After all, aren’t you supposed to show God’s love in what you say and what you do?<br />
<br />
Negative attitudes come from negative thoughts. When negative actions and words come from negative thoughts, your body and mouth will follow with what you are thinking. So all you need to do is turn any negative thoughts you have into positive responses. Every day is a balance of doing what you really want to do and what you feel you have to do that you might not enjoy. When your mom asks you to do something, you can say in a nice tone, "Okay mom" and when you know you did something wrong, just say,“I’m sorry" and when you can’t do something and get a "no" for an answer just say, "Okay, maybe next time." Saying any of those words may feel forced at first but with practice it will become easier and more natural to you. You have a choice every day on what attitude you will have for the day. You are in charge of your attitude.<br />
<br />
When you feel in a complaining mood, you can stop and think before you speak and tell yourself that you need to take a deep breath and calm down. You could make a list of the positives and negatives in your life and then focus on the things you wrote on your positive list. This may require a lot of work on your part to pull you back into the positive mode when you think you are slipping into negativity. So try and seek the good and learn to be okay with the bad and then look past the bad to see the good in life. If you can keep a positive attitude then you can manage difficult situations that will creep up in your life. And I bet you can still find the good in those challenging times because God’s blessings are right in front of you. <br />
<br />
The opposite of complaining is being grateful and thankful to God because you have to trust that He is only working out His plan for you in your life. And being strong in your faith will make the trials easier and keep you from the temptations of Satan. Put on a new attitude because you belong to God. You can choose not to get mad, or ugly. Ask the Holy Spirit to help you act in kindness and love. No one is stronger than God! The Holy Spirit will show you His power as He helps you change your unpleasant attitudes. When you ask for God's will to be done in you, even your own will is not stronger than His. He wants you to choose to do what is right and use His Holy Spirit's power to help you change the way you act. So remember not to gripe and whine but ask God to help you change and He will give you the grace to overcome complaining and move forward.What are parents to do?http://www.blogger.com/profile/12183397873932741932noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6562785316052037308.post-53357683404316420892010-08-25T20:11:00.000-07:002010-08-27T21:07:34.791-07:00Heaven, Hell and Purgatory"In the beginning, when God created the heavens and the earth," Gen. 1:1<br />
<br />
"Look down, then, from heaven, your holy abode, and bless your people Israel and the soil you have given us in the land flowing with milk and honey which you promised on oath to our fathers." Deu. 26:15 <br />
<br />
"The Lord is in his holy temple; the Lord's throne is in heaven. God's eyes keep careful watch; they test all peoples." Psalms 11:4 <br />
<br />
"Thus says the Lord: The heavens are my throne, the earth is my footstool. What kind of house can you build for me; what is to be my resting place?" Isaiah 66:1 <br />
<br />
"Rejoice and be glad, for your reward will be great in heaven. Thus they persecuted the prophets who were before you." Mat 5:12 <br />
<br />
"But store up treasures in heaven, where neither moth nor decay destroys, nor thieves break in and steal." <br />
<br />
Mat. 6:20 <br />
<br />
"See that you do not despise one of these little ones, for I say to you that their angels in heaven always look upon the face of my heavenly Father. Mat. 8:10 <br />
<br />
"So then the Lord Jesus, after he spoke to them, was taken up into heaven and took his seat at the right hand of God." Mark 16:19<br />
"In my Father's house there are many dwelling places. If there were not, would I have told you that I am going to prepare a place for you? And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come back again and take you to myself, so that where I am you also may be." John 14:2-3<br />
<br />
"The heavens are my throne, the earth is my footstool. What kind of house can you build for me? says the Lord, or what is to be my resting place?" Act 7:49 <br />
<br />
"Then we who are alive, who are left, will be caught up together 4 with them in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air. Thus we shall always be with the Lord." 1 Thes. 4:17 <br />
<br />
"But according to his promise we await new heavens and a new earth 11 in which righteousness dwells." <br />
2 Peter 3:13 <br />
<br />
"Whoever has ears ought to hear what the Spirit says to the churches. To the victor I will give the right to eat from the tree of life that is in the garden of God." Rev. 2:7 <br />
<br />
<br />
Heaven is where you can enjoy the fullness of communion with God so it is the state of supreme happiness. You can also think of it as the dwelling place of God that you can experience for all eternity if you believed in Him and remained faithful to His will. Jesus opened heaven to us when He died on the cross and rose from the dead. It is not a physical place in the clouds but a living, personal relationship with the Holy Trinity. Heaven is the ultimate goal that you should strive for through His grace if you lived your life welcoming God and opening yourself to His love.<br />
<br />
<br />
Hell<br />
<br />
"Enter through the narrow gate; for the gate is wide and the road broad that leads to destruction, and those who enter through it are many. How narrow the gate and constricted the road that leads to life. And those who find it are few." Matthew 7:13-14 <br />
<br />
"Thus it will be at the end of the age. The angels will go out and separate the wicked from the righteous <br />
<br />
and throw them into the fiery furnace, where there will be wailing and grinding of teeth." Matthew 13:49-50 <br />
<br />
"And these will go off to eternal punishment, but the righteous to eternal life." Matthew 25:46 <br />
<br />
"If your hand causes you to sin, cut it off. It is better for you to enter into life maimed than with two hands to go into Gehenna, into the unquenchable fire. And if your foot causes you to sin, cut it off. It is better for you to enter into life crippled than with two feet to be thrown into Gehenna. And if your eye causes you to sin, pluck it out. Better for you to enter into the kingdom of God with one eye than with two eyes to be thrown into Gehenna, where 'their worm does not die, and the fire is not quenched." Mark 9:43-48 <br />
<br />
"These will pay the penalty of eternal ruin, separated from the presence of the Lord and from the glory of his power," 2 Thess. 1:9 <br />
<br />
"Once I was dead, but now I am alive forever and ever. I hold the keys to death and the netherworld."<br />
Revelations 1:18b <br />
<br />
"The Devil who had led them astray was thrown into the pool of fire and sulfur, where the beast and the false prophet were. There they will be tormented day and night forever and ever." Revelations 20:10 <br />
<br />
"But as for cowards, 8 the unfaithful, the depraved, murderers, the unchaste, sorcerers, idol-worshipers, and deceivers of every sort, their lot is in the burning pool of fire and sulfur, which is the second death." <br />
Revelations 21:8 <br />
<br />
<br />
Hell is the opposite condition of existence than heaven and is the ultimate consequence of sin if you chose to freely reject God’s love and forgiveness during your life. It brings eternal suffering and everlasting punishment with the loss of God and no return to Him, the source of all life and joy. You can avoid the fiery furnace of hell by saying “yes” to God and “no” to the temptations of the Devil.<br />
<br />
Purgatory<br />
<br />
<br />
"In it he also went to preach to the spirits in prison, who had once been disobedient while God patiently waited in the days of Noah during the building of the ark, in which a few persons, eight in all, were saved through water." 1 Pet 3:19-20 <br />
<br />
"for no one can lay a foundation other than the one that is there, namely, Jesus Christ. If anyone builds on this foundation with gold, silver, precious stones, wood, hay, or straw, the work of each will come to light, for the Day will disclose it. It will be revealed with fire, and the fire (itself) will test the quality of each one's work. If the work stands that someone built upon the foundation, that person will receive a wage. But if someone's work is burned up, that one will suffer loss; the person will be saved, but only as through fire." <br />
1 Cor. 3:11-15 <br />
<br />
"They disciplined us for a short time as seemed right to them, but he does so for our benefit, in order that we may share his holiness." Heb. 12:10<br />
<br />
He then took up a collection among all his soldiers, amounting to two thousand silver drachmas, which he sent to Jerusalem to provide for an expiatory sacrifice. In doing this he acted in a very excellent and noble way, inasmuch as he had the resurrection of the dead in view; for if he were not expecting the fallen to rise again, it would have been useless and foolish to pray for them in death. But if he did this with a view to the splendid reward that awaits those who had gone to rest in godliness, it was a holy and pious thought. Thus he made atonement for the dead that they might be freed from this sin. 2 Maccabees 12:43-46 <br />
<br />
"but nothing unclean will enter it, nor any (one) who does abominable things or tells lies. Only those will enter whose names are written in the Lamb's book of life." Rev. 21:27<br />
<br />
"And whoever speaks a word against the Son of Man will be forgiven; but whoever speaks against the holy Spirit will not be forgiven, either in this age or in the age to come." Mt. 12:32<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
You can think of purgatory as the boot camp of heaven so that our sins can be taken off our souls. It is simply the last stage of sanctification or purification (cleansing) after death before you enter into perfect and complete communion with God. It is not a place but a state of being where you have to be brought up to the level of spiritual excellence. In order to do this you must endure some kind of pain or discomfort before you receive the reward of heaven. It is also joyful because your soul is in closer union with God than it is on earth and you will have a final and full appreciation of just how much God loves you and how gracious He is to you since you know you are guaranteed to enjoy God forever. <br />
<br />
It is not a middle state between heaven and hell but is more like a mudroom or closet to heaven since everyone who goes to purgatory goes to heaven. After all, you need to get gussied up before entering the King’s palace. You need to be fitted for life in heaven so this transition is necessary to become fully united with God and the whole communion of saints. <br />
<br />
You, the living can pray for the souls in purgatory for them to be made holy more quickly and in the most painless way possible. You can even help your deceased loved ones and other poor suffering souls in purgatory by doing good works for them and making sacrifices. If you don’t go straight to heaven, you will remain in purgatory until you pay or make up for your sins (even the ones already forgiven) depending on the number and seriousness of them or until Christ’s second coming at the end of the world. It is then that you will achieve the holiness needed to enter the joy of heaven. While on earth, you can even try and lessen your time in purgatory by avoiding sin, fasting, almsgiving, doing penance and gaining indulgences.What are parents to do?http://www.blogger.com/profile/12183397873932741932noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6562785316052037308.post-84086616172362868552010-08-07T21:44:00.000-07:002010-08-07T21:46:03.895-07:00The MediaInappropriate TV, Movies and Songs<br />
<br />
*omit if not age-appropriate<br />
<br />
There’s no mistaking that watching TV, videos, movies and listening to songs causes you to relax because it requires low levels of concentration. But did you know that whatever you read, listen to or look at has an incredible power and an effect on you? The power of your mind is awesome, and it can have positive and negative influences on you. When you feed your mind with negative influences, the negative will come out. On the other hand, if you feed your mind with positive messages, then the positive will win. What comes in must come out is often the case with the common phrase "garbage in, garbage out!" When you fill your mind with garbage, the natural thing to do is to act upon it and it may be who you become. <br />
<br />
But the good news is that you can, for the most part, control and allow what you want to enter your mind. This ensures that you can live a positive and healthy lifestyle. It's hard to escape the effects media can have on you after processing everything you see and hear. Offensive or inappropriate material is found in TV shows, movies, music, books, magazines and the Internet. Even when you view violence, it makes you less likely to repond to others in a caring and loving way. You have the power to choose what kind of shows and music you invite into your mind. This is why you should choose only media and entertainment that is uplifting for you so you won't lose the Spirit of the Lord. So you really shouldn't attend, view or participate in forms of entertainment which are immoral, violent or vulgar. <br />
<br />
A lot of shows that you may find cool and exciting are full of reckless driving, nudity, bad language, drug use, casual *sex/relationships and other risky behaviors such as smoking and underage drinking. So many of them are unrealistic and don’t resemble the true lives of anyone you may know. Even commercials can bombard you with images of impossible thinness and beauty. So you have to ask yourself if will you be truly happy if you buy a certain product that a celebrity is telling you you must have. *Did you know that two-thirds of TV shows and movies contain sexual content with verbal and visual references? So this entertainment is a major source of information/misinformation about sex and does not give healthy attitudes and messages surrounding sex. <br />
<br />
Music is an important and powerful part of life and it can have a good influence on you. There's no denying that it plays a significant role in your life. But some music can have evil effects on your mind and spirit. Do you know what the lyrics in the song you listen to are actually saying or referring to? Whether you realize it or not, your mind is recording everything that is placed in it. You might think you are more concerned with the beat than with the words but your mind will pick up on the lyrics even when you aren't focusing on the words to the songs. <br />
<br />
Some songs in popular music today (and it can include rock, hip hop, heavy metal country and rap) have lyrics that are full of bad language and themes. These themes can be drugs, alcohol, destructive relationships, and even hate aimed at women and minorities. There are subtle and not-so-subtle lyrics coming out of the mouths of some of your favorite music superstars. Video games can even encourage violence. Some are filled with obscene and indecent images, and they portray characters making poor moral decisions. These are not appropriate values for you. Don't you want to keep your mind and spirit pure like God wants you to be? Taking in questionable content also leaves little room and time for God and takes away from family and friends as well.<br />
<br />
So, what's wrong with watching and listening to inappropriate shows, videos, pictures and songs you may find appealing? This type of media can ruin your mind and heart and weaken your affection for God. You'll hear actors cursing God or take God's name in vain in times of anger, pain and even joy. God and the Christian faith are made fun of in many ways with all the immorality, impurity and drug usage. They show disrepect for Jesus and the Holy Spirit and go against the Word of God.<br />
<br />
You should choose carefully the shows, videos and music that you watch and listen to; you should be a selective watcher and listener. If you encounter anything that you don't think will meet and keep God's standards, you should have the courage to turn it off, change it, or put it down. You can ask yourself if a certain favorite show or song has control over you. Do you glorify God by watching or listening to it? Could your time be better seeking God's wisdom or spent better in prayer? And just think, would you still be watching these kinds of shows and listening to your music if Jesus came to visit? It is important to show others the love of Christ through your behavior and your lifestyle. You can bring others into God's Kingdom by serving God, living a clean life and guarding your mind against poor influences.What are parents to do?http://www.blogger.com/profile/12183397873932741932noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6562785316052037308.post-54424345872924929192010-08-06T06:22:00.000-07:002011-03-02T18:36:51.302-08:00Alcohol and DrugsAlcohol and Drugs<br />
<br />
"Old wine and new deprive my people of understanding." Hosea 4:11b <br />
<br />
"Hear, my son, and be wise, and guide your heart in the right way. Consort not with winebibbers, nor with those who eat meat to excess; For the drunkard and the glutton come to poverty," Proverbs 23:19-21a<br />
<br />
"Wine is arrogant, strong drink is riotous; none who goes astray for it is wise." Proverbs 20:1<br />
<br />
"But these also stagger from wine and stumble from strong drink: Priest and prophet stagger from strong drink, overpowered by wine; Led astray by strong drink, staggering in their visions, tottering when giving judgment." Isaiah 28:7<br />
<br />
"For a bishop as God's steward must be blameless, not arrogant, not irritable, not a drunkard, not aggresive, not greedy for sordid gain, but hospitable, a lover of goodness, temerate, just, holy, and self-controlled. <br />
Titus 1:7-8<br />
<br />
"Now the works of the flesh are obvious: immorality, impurity, licentiousness, idolatry, sorcery, hatreds, rivalry, jealousy, outbursts of fury, acts of selfishness, dissensions, factions, occasions of envy, drinking bouts, orgies, and the like. I warn you, as I warned you before, that those who do such things will not inherit the kingdom of God." Galatians 5:19-21<br />
<br />
"But I now write to you not to associate with anyone named a brother, if he is immoral, greedy, an idolater, a slanderer, a drunkard, or a robber, not even to eat with such a person. God will judge those outside. "Purge the evil person from your midst." 1 Corinthians 5:11, 13 <br />
<br />
"nor thieves nor the greedy nor drunkards nor slanderers nor robbers will inherit the kingdom of God."<br />
1 Corinthians 6:10 <br />
<br />
"And do not get drunk on wine, in which lies debauchery, but be filled with the Spirit," Ephesians 5:18<br />
<br />
<br />
Do you want to become a statistic in the war on drugs? You better believe that when your lives are controlled by addictions to cigarettes, alcohol or drugs, you are made a slave and those bonds can lead to a life of ruin or even death with the negative effects these substances can have in your life. The world that we live in today will tell you that to have fun and to be social and to look cool, you have to drink or get high. And then later you may end up as an alcoholic or a crackhead. Yes, nowadays you can't drive your car, watch TV, or turn on your radio without somehow seeing and hearing how the world glamorizes the use of alcohol and drugs. <br />
<br />
But how does God feel about these substances? The fact is that you are commanded by God to live a life of holiness and you are not showing your love or being a good witness for Christ if such addictions control you, now are you? How many of you are trying to prove something to your so-called friends and fit in with them instead of following God's warning to not abuse these substances that alter your behavior and damage your mind? Don't you want to be used by God? How can God use you as a witness to others if you have no self-control, are setting a bad example to others, and are behaving just like the world by drinking and getting high? God's Word tells us that for us to be used by God, we must be sober and avoid intoxicating substances. The Devil loves it when you get drunk and use drugs because you are then in no shape to fight against his attacks. He knows that with your inhibitions lowered and your judgment gone, you will sin and get into things that you would have avoided had you been sober.<br />
<br />
Smoking is an uncool, costly and smelly habit. Why throw your money away on tobacco when you could use that money for clothes or computer games? Smoking makes your skin look older, your teeth yellow and your breath, clothes and hair stink. Most people know that smoking is bad for them and want to quit but find it hard because of the nicotine ingredient. The tar in cigarettes can cause serious health problems like lung cancer. Are you aware that the nicotine in cigarettes can be more addictive than illegal drugs and the tar in marijuana can be four times more dangerous than tobacco smoke? Yes, cigarettes can be a gateway to stronger, more hardcore drugs.<br />
<br />
Underage drinking can set you up for a lifetime of trouble because it causes long lasting changes to your developing brain. When of age, drinking itself is not a sin but abusing alcohol is because you no longer have power over yourself. Not only do you lose control of your ability to think clearly, but did you know that drinking alcohol can cause you to become argumentative, act violently, engage in risky behaviors and drive recklessly? It can even go as far as causing the breakdown of families. In fact, illegal drinking and driving causes over half of all road accidents. Did you also know that heavy drinking can lead to liver damage, ulcers, malnourishment, cancer and that it kills brain cells? Don’t you think as a Catholic Christian, you should be strong enough and avoid drinking too much (not consuming alcohol above your tolerance level) and not get into the party scene? When you first go away to college, peer pressure can be heavy because you want to fit in. Our culture tells you that drinking is fun, that people who drink are social and attractive, and you even may see the allure of partying with how the young celebrities behave and how movies portray it. Do you really want to live in such a messed up reality?<br />
<br />
If you are a smart, sensible person, you will never even try cigarettes and illegal drugs because of their addictive and harmful nature. Drugs are indeed people wreckers. These substances affect so many of your loved ones if you become a user because they see the damage that it causes you. Drugs don't make you more social, more creative or a cooler person. Those substances only steal your health, cloud your mind, make you a danger to others, and lead you farther from God. They only create money problems, the inability to do well in school or hold down a job, and even lead to an overdose resulting in death. There are many users who even have committed crimes against their neighbors and friends because they had to get some money for a quick fix.<br />
<br />
Do you know why a lot of people drink and do drugs? They do it to try to escape their lives, improve their mood and confidence, medicate themselves when they are feeling stress or pain and in times of celebration, make them more outgoing and forget all their worries. But these substances will only weaken your common sense and give you a false sense of security. It makes you feel that you can only experience those things through using these substances. There are a lot of other social interactions that do not revolve around drinking and chemicals such as sports activities or theatrical performances. So live your life without being drunk or getting high. You need to choose this day whom you will serve. You can serve God or you can serve your own fleshly lusts. And if you choose to serve God, you need to follow His commands. The Holy Spirit is in you and you need to glorify God in your body. That means you should look after your body and not put harmful substances in it at all while treating your body as a Temple of the Holy Spirit.What are parents to do?http://www.blogger.com/profile/12183397873932741932noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6562785316052037308.post-83912096363060524782010-07-19T21:23:00.000-07:002010-09-29T07:10:30.223-07:00Peer PressurePeer Pressure<br />
<br />
*omit if not age-appropriate<br />
<br />
"Happy the man who follows not the counsel of the wicked. Nor walks in the way of sinners, nor sits in the company of the insolent, But delights in the law of the Lord and mediates on his law day and night." Psalms 1:1-2 <br />
<br />
Peer pressure is when you act a certain way because you want to fit in and be accepted by certain people. The pressure comes from your peers, it comes from the media, and it's all around us. Usually we give in to peer pressure from our friends and from the world in order to fit in with certain people and to feel like we belong. You try and behave in certain ways in order to get along with people and blend in with the crowd. You usually have a choice of how you will act. If you decide to do your own thing, you might get laughed at or talked about or shunned. Others may only tease or ridicule you to get you to do the wrong thing and try to do what they want you to do. Nobody wants to be the person who gets talked about or laughed at. <br />
<br />
Sometimes the pressure that you feel involves superficial things, like dressing a certain way to be considered cool. You have to have the name-brand clothes or shoes. Or maybe the pressure involves doing things that you think everyone else is doing. Or maybe the pressure involves doing something illegal like drugs or drinking under age. Maybe your friends were in on something and you went along and joined in because you didn't want them to think that you were scared. Or maybe you were the one who convinced one of your friends into doing something wrong. So there's no mistaking, you sometimes feel pressure from our friends. <br />
<br />
So why does it seem so important for you to fit in and be accepted? It is probably because you want to belong to something. You want to feel chosen like being picked on a team...feeling as good as everyone else for not being the last person chosen. You want to be part of the "in"crowd but the "in"crowd may not be the crowd you should be with. But then on top of that, you may also get caught up in what the world says is important. The world stresses to us that we have to look a certain way to be cool. The world's value system revolves around money and status. There are going to be times when you have to make a choice. Are you going to choose your peers or what God would have you do? Are you going to choose what the world says is important or what God's Word tells you is important? <br />
<br />
Even though to us this might sound like something small, as Catholic Christians we should know that if we don't stand for Christ in the small things, then we are only fooling ourselves if we think we will persevere and be able to stand when really put to the test. The Devil is smart and can trick you. You'll be tempted with, "Why don't you just take a sip of beer just to taste it. What's the harm?" He will say, "Everybody's doing it. It's 'in' to get high" and the next thing you know you're an alcoholic or into drugs.<br />
<br />
But, unfortunately, sometimes you lose focus of who you really are because it becomes more important to you just to fit in. So peer pressure happens, basically, when you lose focus. Instead of focusing on God and listening to God's voice and being in touch with what God is trying to do in your life, you start looking at those people around you. Then you start worrying about what other people do and what other people think that you let other people influence your actions. If you are someone who blends in too easily with the crowd and you are comfortable being in the company of friends who don't respect or honor God, you will be influenced by them. <br />
<br />
You can even miss out on what God is trying to do with your life. So peer pressure happens when instead of going forward towards God, you get stuck trying to fit in with the world. But if you are smart, you will eventually realize that there is no way to please the world, so why are you even trying? No matter what you do, there is going to be someone who wants to put you down. If you are really smart, they will say you think you know it all. If you are good looking, someone is going to say that you are stuck up or conceited. If you are really thin or really heavy, someone will call you an unflattering nickname. <br />
<br />
And do you think in the end when you die and face God on Judgment Day, will your peers matter then? God is not going to look at you and say, "Oh, you have on name-brand clothes. Come on in." "Oh, you had much respect in your neighborhood. I'm impressed." When you die, will you end up in Hell with Satan and those other people who never cared about God, or will Jesus step up and say, "He's on my team. He chose me, and I died for him." Don't you realize that no matter what you look like, whether you have nice clothes or not, Christ is willing to say, "I'll take him." What do your so-called friends have to offer that compares with that?<br />
<br />
As you know now, peer pressure sometimes shows itself by the way you act a certain way because you want to blend in and be accepted by a certain group of people. But sometimes you can fold under peer pressure not so much by what you do, but by the things that you don't do. For example, when you don't speak up even though something is going on that you know isn't right. Or maybe it shows itself just in your conversations. *For example, while in the locker room, the conversation turns to dirty jokes or sexual comments about girls that, as a Catholic Christian, you know are inappropriate, but instead of voicing your opinion against such talk, you just smile as though you think it's funny. Did you know that whenever you don't take a stand for your Catholic Christian beliefs and instead you just go along with anything and everything that this world says is okay, then you are giving in to peer pressure? <br />
<br />
If you are a true follower of Christ, you should carry yourself in such a way that you are making God proud of you, not saddened by you. Is God proud of you when you are cussing up a storm with your friends, watching R-rated films, *watching sex and violence TV? I bet that breaks God's heart. Even though He knows that we are going to do it, I bet it saddens Him greatly when we let the world influence our actions and we desert Him.<br />
<br />
Peter denied knowing Christ three times around Jesus' death. Peter went from being someone who at first gave in to worldly pressure, to ultimately becoming someone God used in a mighty way. And God can do the same for you, but you have to make a choice: Jesus or the world. Is there a time when you should have stood up for someone, but instead you went along with the crowd? Have you ever denied Christ by your words or actions because it was more important for you to be comfortable around your friends? And fortunately for us, God is so good that even when we've denied Him in the past and given in to the temptation of this world, he will still give us another chance. But only if you sincerely admit your mistakes, ask his forgiveness in confession, and turn away from sin.<br />
<br />
You don't need to please the wrong types and give into the pressure; just please the Lord and fix your attention on Him and don't take your eyes off Him. Recognize what God wants from you and then you can respond to Him. You don't have to go along with someone who doesn't care if something is right or wrong or care that it may hurt someone. You just need to keep doing what is right and not worry what others think. If you truly love the Lord, then don't follow Christ from a distance. Don't deny Christ by your actions. Read your Bible daily (the 4 Gospels are a good place to start). Pray daily. Wherever the pressure comes from, avoid that situation! And surround yourself with people who will help you to grow in your faith. Stop being a coward trying to please other people rather than standing up for Jesus Christ. You can stop living like the rest of the world and start being a true follower of Christ! <br />
<br />
But you know what? If you call yourself a follower of Christ, you are not supposed to even care what is going on with everybody else, let alone try to go along with it. And in the end, people will respect you more if you stand up for what you believe in. Jesus will turn things around to where even your enemies will be at peace with you. The way to reach people isn't by coming down to their level. It is by holding your head up high and standing your ground. Your friends may come around when they see us live lives that honor God and when we refuse to bow down to peer pressure. And what about you? Wouldn't you rather be special and unique and blessed by God instead of being just another face in the crowd? We are supposed to stand out from the crowd. Show that they weren't interested in being like everybody else. Live your life in such a way that shows that Jesus is the only one you care about fitting in with and impressing.<br />
<br />
You are the sum total of the choices you make. With every choice you reveal what you actually believe. There really is no confusion in figuring out who a person is and what he or she really believes...simply look at his or her choices!<br />
Every decision tou make either brings us closer to God and His design for our lives, or moves you further from Him and His design. Every choice is filled with opportunities for growth or for stepping backward. There are a lot of voices to which you can respond when making choices. Each voice comes from something or someone who wants you on their side. Remember, God is calling you to choose. Which voice are you going to respond to most often in your life? Are you going to listen to those other 'gods' who are calling for you to follow them, or are you going to tune into God's frequency and follow His voice? As you think about your life today, remember how God has loved you and guided you faithfully. Then as each voice comes and wants you on thier team, choose to follow the voice that leads you onto a path of holiness.What are parents to do?http://www.blogger.com/profile/12183397873932741932noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6562785316052037308.post-65797962415399644242010-07-16T21:17:00.000-07:002010-07-16T21:17:00.848-07:00Lust vs. Chastity (Purity)Lust vs. Chastity (Purity) <br />
<br />
<br />
"Like an open city with no defenses is the man with no check on his feelings. Proverbs 25:28<br />
<br />
"This is the will of God, your holiness: that you refrain from immorality, that each of you knows how to acquire a wife for himself in holiness and honor, not in lustful passion" 1 Thess. 4:3-5a<br />
<br />
"For the love of money is the root of all evils." 1 Timothy 6:10 (a)<br />
<br />
"For this very reason, make every effort to supplement your faith with virtue, virtue with knowledge, knowledge with self-control, self-control with endurance, endurance with devotion, devotion with mutual affection, mutual affection with love." 2 Peter 1:5-7<br />
<br />
"Finally, brothers, whatever is true, whatever is honorable, whatever is just, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is gracious, if there is any excellence and if there is anything worthy of praise, think about these things." Philippians 4:8<br />
<br />
<br />
Lust is the self-destructive drive for physical pleasure or for material possessions. It is an excessive love for something that you either shouldn't love or not love as much as you do. It is really about control. Lust is worshiping or idolizing anything material above God. Instead of putting your hope in God for your joy, you put all your hope in money or material things for your happiness. These things are needed to make you feel good, so lusting after things like money is what is really evil. It also can be the desire of power, financial gain, revenge, having an ego (self-importance) or treating someone like scum or a servant to accomplish your own personal will. <br />
<br />
Sexual excitement without love is lust and is immoral. Prolonged sexual fantasies are desires that seek to use people and things with the intent of satisfying your own needs and desires. Using a person just as a means of sexual gratification instead of treating a person with respect and dignity and as a child of God is wrong and a serious sin. <br />
<br />
Sexual promiscuity and immoral practices turns a person into an animal. It's thinking you can use your body as you see fit and that you're not hurting anyone. It is dominating another person or having an attraction turn into a conquest. Sexual desire is not only a physical attraction but emotional or mental as well. It can not only be a physical attraction but you can even being attracted to someone's mind or demeanor. Lust of the eyes and the flesh lead to sexual sins. Looking at nude pictures or treating or seeing a person as a sexual object does not respect them as a full person with a personality and a soul. You must have self-control and self-discipline to avoid premarital sex, perverse sex, pornography, adultery, homosexuality, and prostitution.<br />
<br />
Chastity is innocence and purity in body and soul. Purity is keeping yourself uncontaminated from the world, the flesh and the devil. It is the ability to keep your mind and heart from bad thoughts, desires and feelings. It helps you to guard your senses as well as your own body and those of others as a temple of the Holy Spirit. It is also being chaste in your behavior, manner of clothing and appearance and reflecting your love for God. The purpose of God's creation of sexual feelings was for procreation of humankind. Losing your virginity outside of marriage is sinful and will ruin your reputation. You are called to holiness. Inappropriate images in video games, movies and TV shows can lead to having disordered desires. They can leave mental images in you that can lead to impure thoughts and actions. You can be tempted by dirty magazines and pornography on the Internet. <br />
<br />
You can practice romantic courtship and friendship and abstain from sexual conduct if in an unmarried state. You need to try and keep a pure heart and be strong to avoid this sin. Serving your personal desires sets your will against God's. You must develop the ability to refrain from being distracted and influenced by temptation. Self-control is controlling our actions to do what is right. The Holy Spirit will help you do what is right. When you hear Him and obey what He says, you are using your gift of self-control.<br />
<br />
Joseph faced a lot of different temptations from Potiphar's wife to thoughts of revenge on the brothers that sold him into slavery. Yet Joseph never wavered in his devotion to the Lord. His actions were always defined by his relationship and faith in God. When he turned down Potiphar's wife, it was with the words, "How then could I do such a wicked thing and sin against God?" <br />
<br />
We can all learn lessons from Joseph's self-control. It is so easy today to give into the temptations that you face. Sometimes it is more difficult to walk away from temptation than to give into it. After all, there is so much peer pressure to drink, have sex, do drugs, not go to church, and more. God will eventually reward your self-control and help you to overcome temptations.What are parents to do?http://www.blogger.com/profile/12183397873932741932noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6562785316052037308.post-74653526205186566512010-07-08T20:42:00.000-07:002010-07-29T11:59:29.050-07:00Wrath (Anger) vs. Patience (Meekness)Wrath (Anger) vs. Patience (Meekness)<br />
<br />
<br />
Deadly Sin vs. Heavenly Virtue/Fruit of the Holy Spirit<br />
<br />
"… for the wrath of a man does not accomplish the righteousness of God." James 1:20<br />
<br />
"The fool immediately shows his anger, but the shrewd man passes over an insult." Proverbs 12:16<br />
<br />
"The quick-tempered man makes a fool of himself, but the prudent man is at peace." Proverbs 14:17<br />
<br />
"The patient man shows much good sense, but the quick-tempered man displays folly at its height." Proverbs 14:29<br />
<br />
"A mild answer calms wrath, but a harsh word stirs up anger." Proverbs 15:1<br />
<br />
"An ill-tempered man stirs up strife, but a patient man allays discord." Proverbs 15:18<br />
<br />
"A patient man is better than a warrior, and he who rules his temper, than he who takes a city." Proverbs 16:32<br />
<br />
"It is honorable for a man to shun strife, while every fool starts a quarrel." Proverbs 20:3<br />
<br />
"Like golden apples in silver settings are words spoken at the proper time." Proverbs 25:11<br />
<br />
"Like an open city with no defenses is the man with no check on his feelings." Proverbs 25:28<br />
<br />
"The fool gives vent to all his anger; but by biding his time, the wise man calms it." Proverbs 29:11<br />
<br />
"An ill-tempered man stirs up disputes, and a hotheaded man is the cause of many sins." Proverbs 29:22<br />
<br />
The acts of the sinful nature are obvious: sexual immorality, impurity and debauchery; idolatry and witchcraft; hatred, discord, jealousy, fits of rage, selfish ambition, dissensions, and factions (Galatians 5:19-20).<br />
<br />
"Be angry but do not sin; do not let the sun set on your anger, and do not leave room for the devil." Ephesians 4:26-7<br />
<br />
"All bitterness, fury, anger, shouting, and reviling must be removed from you, along with all malice." Ephesians 4:31<br />
<br />
"Know this my dear brothers: everyone should be quick to hear, slow to speak, slow to wrath, for the wrath of a man does not accomplish the righteousness of God." James 1:19-20<br />
<br />
"Do not return evil for evil, or insult with insult; but, on the contrary, a blessing, because to this you were called, that you might inherit a blessing." 1 Peter 3:9<br />
<br />
"Leave it to the Lord and wait for him; Be not vexed at the successful path of the man who does malicious deeds. Give up your anger, and forsake wrath; be not vexed, it will only harm you. For evildoers shall be cut off, but those who wait for the Lord shall possess the land.” Psalms 37:7-9<br />
<br />
"Be patient, therefore, brothers, until the coming of the Lord. See how the farmer waits for the precious fruit of the earth, being patient with it until it receives the early and the late rains. You too must be patient. Make your hearts firm, because of the coming of the Lord is at hand. James 5:7-8<br />
<br />
"… strengthened with every power, in accordance with his glorious might, for all endurance and patience, with joy," Colossians 1:11<br />
<br />
"It is good sense in a man to be slow to anger, and it is his glory to overlook an offense." Proverbs 19:11<br />
<br />
"Better is the patient spirit than the lofty spirit." Ecclesiastes 7:8 b<br />
<br />
Wrath is senseless anger. It causes you to be irritated and intentionally want to cause harm to others. It is when you want revenge or to get even when you feel someone is not treating you fairly. Wrath or anger can strike when you are tired or frustrated. There are days you may find it hard to be loving. You can become angry with the very people we love the most. When someone is not nice, you shouldn't repay one bad deed with another bad deed. You shouldn't take the matter into your own hands but leave the justice to God. You should fill your heart with love and not anger. <br />
<br />
God commands us to forgive those who sin against us. This doesn't mean you have to forget about the offense against or ignore the pain that it has caused you. You just need to choose to let go of the wrong that was committed and move on without seeking revenge. You need to take responsibility for your own actions and Jesus asks us to love the sinner but to hate the sin. You shouldn't keep your anger in but turn it into something positive instead. Angry people usually justify their anger, saying it's someone else's fault they are angry. We shouldn't give into anger when we are upset by other people's words or actions. When we give in to anger, we often focus on our own well being, comfort or happiness. Instead, we should be first and foremost concerned about other people’s welfare and being a good witness for God. God does not want us to simply react emotionally to others' actions. God is the judge and will take care of others. Instead, we should respond with a gentle spirit or find a way to turn the situation around for the betterment of everyone concerned.<br />
<br />
Patience is the ability to be calm (have control of your emotions), tolerant (kind and considerate to the people different from you) and understanding (putting yourself in another person's shoes). Patience is a type of meekness and selflessness that avoids harming others. Sometimes you may feel that the hardest thing to do is to wait. Waiting your turn in line can be extremely difficult especially when you are excited and in a hurry. You usually know what you want and when you want it which is usually right now. But the right time for things to happen in your life is determined by God and not by us. He will help you in His own time and according to His own plan and he will eventually reveal what He has in store for you. In other words, you must wait for God to make His plans clear. <br />
<br />
Are you patient when someone else is unhappy? God wants you to choose not to get angry or upset with yourself and others when things are not going your way. You should also watch out for the feelings of others. You can choose not to get upset because God gave us this wonderful gift of Holy Spirit to help you with this. <br />
<br />
Patience is the ability to remain calm in difficult situations. When you are patient, you will have better relationships since you will have tolerance for others’ shortcomings, and able to forgive when someone wrongs you. It can be hard to wait when we want something right NOW and so much harder not to complain about it. We live in a society that promotes instant gratification. The wait on things can be frustrating. After all, you want that guy to ask you out right now. Or you want that car so you can go to the movies tonight. Or you want that great skateboard you saw in the magazine. Advertising tells us that the "now" matters. Yet, there is something to the saying, "Good things come to those who wait." We shouldn't want everything right now because things/tasks can take more time than we thought. You must take your turn, wait for your friend or wait to go somewhere. It may take a lot of practice. If you can just put the needs and wants of others ahead of you, you'll get better at being patient. <br />
<br />
We don't always understand why God says "no" to our prayers. You also might not want to wait on God to do something. He wants you to trust Him. He wants you to use the gift of patience as we love Jesus, others and, yes, even yourself, with His special love. God has His own timing so you need to wait on that timing or sometimes our blessings get lost. We cannot know all of His ways, so it is important to have trust in the delay. Eventually what will come your way will be better than you ever thought it could be, because it will come with God's blessings. God will help you gain the patience and the strength to wait for the things He desires for you. Allow Him to work in your heart to provide you with the patience you need.<br />
<br />
When you lose your temper, you want to strike out at others with an intention to hurt them and say and do things you shouldn't. So when you are tempted to say unkind words or start an argument, you should learn to slow down and think about things before you do them. After all, you can't take words back. If you blurt out the first words that come into your head, you may say the wrong thing. God wants you to choose your words carefully or you will regret it later and may even lose a friend. You can ask yourself before you speak, if what you say is necessary, true and kind. <br />
<br />
Frustration can lead to anger and then even worse, rage and bitterness can follow. Anger may be good for identifying problems but not the answer to solving them. But as you know, the feelings of anger will pass.<br />
<br />
You need to take responsibility for your own actions and not blame your hurtful responses on someone else. Stepping back and taking a break from the situation to be alone can be very helpful in managing your anger. This gives you the chance to calm down, think over the happening and determine what to do next. If your response is to act out or attack, you may just need to take a deep breath and leave the room to clean out your anger tank. You can talk about it after you settle down so no mean words will be exchanged. This way you can think more clearly and get a better handle on your emotions to control your anger. Thinking how bad it could have been and expanding your view of the others perspective or thinking of someone who is dealing with a difficult situation can ease the anger. You can try praying, singing a song (in their head); read a favorite passage of Scripture or a "feel-good" wise saying; go for a run, count backwards, call someone to vent or just to just shift your focus and get redirected. Or use grace by serving the object of your wrath a cool glass of water – then have one yourself while you're at it. Inhale slowly, hold your breath for five seconds, then completely exhale slowly and wait five seconds before repeating the inhale and exhale three times...this can at least reduce your pulse rate and lower blood pressure. You may need to try again and start over, adjust your attitude, accept your instruction and remain calm and not blow up. It takes a lot of patience, prayer, self-control and self discipline to get over your anger quickly, channel it into different areas or express it at a different time.What are parents to do?http://www.blogger.com/profile/12183397873932741932noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6562785316052037308.post-61814723733273263552010-06-30T09:35:00.000-07:002012-10-04T18:54:07.131-07:00Greed (Avarice) vs. Charity (Generosity)Greed (Avarice) vs. Charity (Generosity)<br />
<br />
<br />
Deadly Sin and Heavenly Virtue<br />
<br />
<br />
"Rely not upon deceitful wealth, for it will be no help on the day of wrath." Sirach 5:10<br />
<br />
"For we brought nothing into the world, just as we shall not be able to take anything out of it." 1 Timothy 6:7<br />
<br />
"For the love of money is the root of all evils, and some people in their desire for it have strayed from the faith and have pierced themselves with many pains." 1 Timothy 6:10<br />
<br />
"Tell the rich in the present age not to be proud and not to rely on so uncertain a thing as wealth but rather on God, who richly provides us with all things for our enjoyment." 1 Timothy 6:17<br />
<br />
"Let your life be free from love of money but be content with what you have, for he has said, "I will never forsake you or abandon you." Hebrews 13:5<br />
<br />
"But when you give alms, do not let your left hand know what your right is doing, so that your almsgiving may be secret. And your Father who sees in secret will repay you." Matthew 6:3-4<br />
<br />
<br />
"Do not store up for yourselves treasure on earth, where moth and decay destroy, and thieves break in and steal. But store up treasure in heaven where neither moth nor decay destroys, nor thieves break in and steal. For where your treasure is, there also will your heart be." Matthew 6:19-21<br />
<br />
"It is easier for a camel to pass through (the) eye of (a) needle than for one who is rich to enter the kingdom of God." Mark 10:25 <br />
<br />
"Then he said to the crowd, "Take care to guard against all greed, for though one may be rich, one's life does not consist of possessions." Luke 12:15<br />
<br />
"If therefore, you are not trustworthy with dishonest wealth, who will trust you with true wealth? If you are not trustworthy with what belongs to another, who will give you that is yours? No servant can serve two masters. He will either hate one and love the other, or be devoted to one and despise the other. You cannot serve God and wealth." Luke 16:11-13<br />
<br />
"Give and gifts will be given to you; a good measure, packed together, shaken down, and overflowing, will be poured into your lap. For the measure with which you measure will in return be measured out to you." Luke 6:38<br />
<br />
"Tell them to do good, to be rich in good works, to be generous, ready to share." 1 Tim. 6:18<br />
<br />
"Bring the whole tithe into the storehouse, That there may be food in my house, and try me in this, says the Lord of hosts: Shall I not open for you the floodgates of heaven, to pour down blessing upon you without measure." Malachi 3:10<br />
<br />
"...nor thieves, nor the greedy nor drunkards nor slanderers nor robbers will inherit the kingdom of God." <br />
1 Corinthians 6:10<br />
<br />
<br />
"Consider this: whoever sows sparingly will also reap sparingly, and whoever sows bountifully will also reap bountifully. Each must do as already determined, without sadness or compulsion, for God loves a cheerful giver." 2 Corinthians 9: 6-7 <br />
<br />
<br />
Greed is the desire for wealth (money), power and material things or earthly treasures as well as other people's property. Greed is about more than money, and it is a kind of selfishness. It can also mean that you want the honor of the world and the best for yourself instead of pleasing God first. It is thinking you can never have enough money or possessions and that more is always better. We often assume that money exists for our own benefit, rather than for God or others. You start being a slave to these objects. God doesn't care how many toys, electronics, trading cards or other trinkets you have, He just wants you to follow Him. When you want to get your share and more, you don't make room for the spiritual reward of Heaven. For if your treasure is on earth, your heart will experience disappointment.<br />
<br />
Charity is having an unselfish attitude which causes you to perform actions out of love for God. To be charitable is to have authentic love for others, which means to want what is really good for them. Charity or generosity will open your heart as well as the hearts of people who receive from you. It means being willing to share with others, and realizing that all you have belongs to God. It is also the ability to give to those in need without feeling superior or wanting to show off to others in a public way. And the more generously you give, the richer you will become. If you give, God will give back to you in some form of a blessing. You have to ask yourself, "Are you giving all you can to the Lord's Kingdom?" Giving at church and giving to your community is a selfless act. Tithing or almsgiving (10% of what we have earned) is bringing an offering to God or giving to a need. Charity may mean letting others get the credit or praise. You can also share the credit of successes with others or even share in the blame. You also need to remember to accept the help from others gratefully, knowing you can't do it all. <br />
<br />
You are most like God when you give to others and doing good for others honors them and God. You need to give to God by enjoying what He gives to you. You cannot outgive God so give what you can of the money you earn and/or the services you provide with your time. In fact, He is the God of More - more of Himself and His goodness, more of His kindness and His mercy. He gives us not only eternal life, but the very presence of His Holy Spirit in our lives. <br />
<br />
The best way to give is to give with cheer - it has to be from the heart, having a heart willing to give. You should give your time, attention and energy without expecting anything in return. Even being anonymous or doing your good deed in secret can bring about a lot of fun planning your surprise strategy. Too often our actions are good, but our reasons are not. Time and again people serve and give not from compassion, but from selfish motives. God knows sincere faith and loves a pure heart. You cannot give while expecting to get something in return. You must give and serve in response to God’s love not for others approval or recognition. <br />
<br />
You can't take money or possessions with you when you die. You don't want your possessions to own you. It may be nice to bless others by giving maybe your toys, books or clothes to other children who don't have much. You can reach out in many ways with good works like cleaning a park, give 10% of your Halloween candy to missionaries in Africa or Operation Shoebox or perhaps shoveling, washing a car, doing yardwork for a neighbor. So start now to reserve a little extra money, time and energy so you can share it with those around you. As Catholic Christians, we should serve and give, even if no one notices because we know there is One who always sees.What are parents to do?http://www.blogger.com/profile/12183397873932741932noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6562785316052037308.post-15794480188564808482010-06-29T18:24:00.000-07:002010-07-14T07:39:46.802-07:00Envy vs. Kindness (Love)Envy vs. Kindness (Love)<br />
<br />
<br />
Deadly Sin and Heavenly Virtue (Fruit of the Spirit)<br />
<br />
"Anger is relentless, and wrath overwhelming-but before jealousy who can stand?" Proverbs 27:4 <br />
<br />
"But if you have bitter jealousy and selfish ambition in your hearts, do not boast and be false to the truth." James 3:14-16 <br />
<br />
"Let not kindness and fidelity leave you; bind them around your neck;" Proverbs 3:3<br />
<br />
"A kindly man benefits himself, but a merciless man harms himself." Proverbs 11:17<br />
<br />
"Do to others whatever you would have them do to you, This is the law and the prophets." Mathew 7:12 <br />
<br />
"And the king will say to them in repky, "Amen, I say to you, whatever you did for one of these least brothers of mine, you did for me." Matthew 25:40<br />
<br />
"Put on then, as God's chosen ones, holy and beloved, heartfelt compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness and patience." Colossians 3:12<br />
<br />
"See that no one returns evil for evil; rather, always seek what is good (both) for each other and for all." <br />
1 Thessalonians 5:15<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
Envy is the desire for your neighbor’s property, status or situation. It is also the last Commandment, “Thou shall not covet your neighbor's goods.” In other words, it is when you wish you had it and they didn't have it. No matter what we have (own), you always want more, and more and more. It is also not being happy for the well-being of others, not caring about their joys and successes. It's thinking how good things always happen to someone else or that person doesn't work as hard as you and doesn't deserve the good things they have received. It is wishing you were as smart, popular or as good at sports as someone else and thinking you should have these characteristics instead. Sometimes it’s being jealous of that person for getting away with something. It makes you so angry, resentful that you start feeling sorry for yourself because someone has more than you. You may start wishing them ill and you behave badly to them, plotting evil plans for them. <br />
<br />
Has something like this happened to you? You set your eyes on something that your friend has and you want it so badly. You know you'd be much happier if you only had what your neighbor has. Then you realize there's no way you can have it and that makes you want it even more. "That person doesn't deserve it then since I can't have it!" Then it becomes more about the desiring of the object than the possession itself. You want to rise above others and become better than them. This will backfire and only make you suffer and experience negative emotions and feel inferior to them.<br />
<br />
Kindness is having a friendly and good-natured attitude toward others. It is having a positive outlook and cheerful demeanor, and this quality can help you make and keep friendships. It is having the attitude of knowing, liking and accepting other people, even someone you may not like very well. It is accepting them the way they are because that is how God made them. Kindness means taking a tender approach and having patience and compassion. It is the "golden rule" of treating others the way you would want to be treated. It encourages you to be good to everyone and having unconditional love towards all others. That way you can really care, help and trust others and you can inspire others to do the same. Kindness is also when you make sacrifices for others which helps you to be in God's image and likeness. <br />
<br />
You are commanded to love your neighbors as ourselves as Jesus did. Just like in the story of the Good Samaritan, the Samaritan showed a great deal of kindness for the Jewish man who was hurting, even though Samaritans were not liked and often mistreated by the Jews. It is easy to be kind to those you like and those who like you. Are you willing to put your own hurt feelings aside to help someone that has not been kind in return? Jesus tells us that we are to show mercy to all ... not just the people we like. Jesus not only forgave his enemies but loved them and so should you.<br />
<br />
You can speak a kind word or do a good deed. You should practice saying lots of kind words and do lots of kind things and be especially kind to your loved ones. When you do good deeds for others, you've done a good deed for God. Gentle words are better than harsh words, and good deeds are better than the other kind. Kind words help and cruel words hurt. That means to not gossip about others or listen to people who do (saying something about them that you wouldn't normally say if they were standing in earshot of you). It may be tempting to say bad things about people, and it can even make us feel important for awhile. But those bad things hurt others and they will come back and hurt you, too. You can also pray for the needs of others and ask God to place kindness and mercy in your heart. If someone doesn't treat you kindly or mistreats others, ask God to give you a merciful heart and kind attitude toward that person. And don't forget to thank God when someone treats you with a good and kind heart.<br />
<br />
God wants you to be good and kind to everyone, especially the less fortunate. He will show you the needs of others and fill your heart with joy as you help people. When we are in trouble, it is God who sends us help through others. When God gives us a way to help others, that is what we must do. He will bless us and them too! We should treat both our friends and our enemies with kindness. If you're waiting for other people to be nice to you before you be nice to them, then you have it backwards. It starts with you. When someone is discouraged or sad, you can take the matter into your own hands and think of something you can do to cheer them up. When you say the right words at the right time to someone, you give them a gift that can change someone's day or even someone's life. It's up to you to step in and lend a helping hand and encourage others.What are parents to do?http://www.blogger.com/profile/12183397873932741932noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6562785316052037308.post-64392206827145940322010-06-16T21:45:00.000-07:002013-01-31T19:09:50.106-08:00Sloth (Laziness) vs. Diligence (Self Discipline)Sloth (Laziness) vs Diligence (Self Discipline) <br />
Deadly Sin and Heavenly Virtue<br />
<br />
<div>
</div>
“ The soul of the sluggard craves in vain, but the diligent soul is amply satisfied. ” Proverbs 13:4 <br />
<br />
<div>
</div>
“In the seedtime the sluggard plows not; when he looks for the harvest, it is not there.” Prov. 20:4<br />
<br />
<div>
</div>
"Anything you can turn your hand to, do with what power you have" Ecclesiasstes 9:10<br />
<br />
<div>
</div>
“When hands are lazy, the rafters sag; when hands are slack, the house leaks.” Eccl. 10:18<br />
<br />
"So whether you eat or drink, or whatever you do, do everything for the glory of God." 1 Cor. 10:31<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<div>
</div>
Sloth is the failure to do what needs to be done when it needs to be done. It is the deadly sin of avoiding physical and spiritual work. Physical sloth includes laziness and procrastination. It is not doing things at the proper time. Procrastinating is not getting around to doing things and leads you to have excuses. Sloth can also mean spiritual laziness in our relationship with God. It is about not caring about the things that should matter and that are meaningful to the soul. It is also failing to seek the spiritual growth that God calls you to and not making good use of the talents God has given you. Being busy all the time may even be more of a deadly sin than “doing nothing.” Have you heard yourself ever breathe these words?:<br />
<ul>
<li>What fun is that?</li>
<li>I shouldn’t have to do it.</li>
<li>This is boring. </li>
<li>Do I have to say my prayers? </li>
<li>I’ll do it, I’ll do it!</li>
<li>Why does Mom always have to be such a nag?</li>
<li>Hang on mom, I'll do it after.</li>
<li>I don't feel like it.</li>
<li>I'll do it tomorrow? </li>
</ul>
<br />
When your parents ask you to do them a favor or help out around the house, they don't want to give you an extra 15 minutes to finish that last level of Super Mario Brothers. It may be easy for you to see how your dad never gets around to do what he promised you, but do you see the same sin in your own life? Did you know that when you are lazy, you are committing acts of selfishness, extreme arrogance and irresponsiblity? <br />
<br />
<div>
Responsibility is doing what is expected of you. Work is not being lazy, but doing the tasks God gives you. If you put off the voice from heaven telling you what God’s will is, then that is sloth. Even Peter, James and John did not remain with Jesus and stay awake with Him in the Garden. Jesus could not rely on them and they let Jesus down. You may wait to do your chores or school work and decide to take a break or figure you’ll just do it in the morning. If this is the case, you are just plain lazy and if you don’t correct it, it may become part of your character. You become a real slacker. <br />
<br />
You may put off making commitments and living life to the fullest. You may have every excuse in the book, "When I get out of school, then I'll commit my life to God" or "As soon as I have some money, my life will change." You may have no time to even think or listen. We know what God wants us to do, but we pause and make an excuse. You shouldn't make excuses and waste you life by putting off the important long-term priorities for the less important short-term ones. You need to hear God’s will and hear what others need. You may need to give advice or listen instead of talking. You might need to listen and rest instead of being on the move. You have a responsibility to God to make use of the gifts He has given to you.</div>
<br />
<div>
</div>
Diligence is the virtue and the opposite of sloth. You need to have the kind of self-discipline that does not wait to be asked to serve, that does not need to be reminded a second time even when you’d rather be lying down on the couch in front of the TV. God wants you to be diligent in taking care of your soul. That means you need to pray and learn about God. Sometimes you are so busy and your lives are filled with distractions and interruptions with noise, that you do not listen to God. You should set your heart on making the most of the time you have, so you need to evaluate your priorities.<br />
<br />
You need to put God first in your life instead of filling your life up with so much busyness or activities where you don’t have anything left over for God. Otherwise, this may lead you into temptations and give you no time to serve others. If you fill your life with things that are not important or are low priority commitments, you don’t even have the energy left for those closest to you. You shouldn't waste time or effort on things that don’t really matter. You should not be lazy about making, maintaining or deepening relationships since these are the things that you should value and give your effort toward. So take action in the present moment and spend your time more wisely in loving and serving God with your whole heart, soul, mind and strength. God has called you. He has something for you to do. How are you spending your time? Are you productively making a positive difference with your life? Today is the first day of the rest of your life. You can choose to make it a wonderful day with God. So rise up and do it!What are parents to do?http://www.blogger.com/profile/12183397873932741932noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6562785316052037308.post-62008471882432901692010-06-16T21:37:00.000-07:002013-03-12T20:51:55.232-07:00Pride vs. HumilityPride vs. Humility<br />
Deadly Sin and Heavenly Virtue<br />
<br />
"Likewise, you younger members, be subject to the presbyters. And all of you, clothe yourselves with humility in your dealings with one another, for: "God opposes the proud but bestows favor on the humble." 1 Peter 5:5 and 6<br />
<br />
“God resists the proud, but gives grace to the humble.” James 4:6 <br />
<br />
"Do nothing out of selfishness or out of vainglory; rather, humbly regard others as more important than yourselves, each looking out not for his own interests, but (also) everyone for those of others." <br />
Philippians 2:3-4 <br />
<br />
Pride is the 1st of the 7 deadly sins and Humility is its opposite heavenly virtue. <br />
<br />
Pride is when you give yourself credit for things that God has done. It’s bringing praise and honor to yourself instead of God who is really the one accomplishing something though you. Do you ever hear yourself saying, “I’m the best. I’m always right. I’m the greatest. I’m more talented that you.” If you have mouthed these words, then it shows you have a big ego. In other words, you’re saying, “It’s all about me and my interests and I’m above everyone else.” It may even lead you into thinking that you are even superior to God. False pride takes on the form of self-worship also known as arrogance. This is when you pretend you are better than everyone else and are unwilling to admit mistakes. It means bragging about how good you have it. <br />
<br />
When you think only of yourself, you are being conceited. It can mean being unkind to people by being hurtful or sarcastic to them or even angry with them because they aren’t doing what you were planning on doing. It may mean you are talking too much, thinking that what you have to say is more important than what anyone else has to say. You may even feel the need to act out with bizarre behavior or dress differently to get noticed because you want the attention. It is thinking you don’t need other people or feel so down on yourself to the point that you think you have no gifts, talents or special abilities. In this case you are not respecting who you are or what you can do without getting the approval from others. You are rather wanting others to acknowledge that you are a more important human being. <br />
<br />
When you have such a high value placed on yourself, it usually means you have a low value of others. When you are self-concerned and overly consumed with yourself and your own desires, you are in your own little world and become selfish or not other-concerned people that God has called you to be. Selfishness can ruin friendships, work relationships and, ultimately, pulls us further from Christ and lead to despair and lonliness. To be Christ-like, you must put others before yourself.<br />
<br />
<br />
Humble people live differently than proud people. To them, it is all about God and putting your relationship with God at center stage. When you are humble, you have the attitude that you need God and that you can accomplish things only under God’s power and authority. Being humble has to do with respect for yourself without having it confirmed by others and not trying to seek outside approval. It’s a matter of controlling what you say or holding your tongue. Having true humility is putting others first and ahead of yourself. It’s offering help to others as well as accepting help given to you. It’s accepting each other for who they are and supporting each other with their struggles and problems. You shouldn't think of yourself first but think of other people ahead of yourself. Your friends are just as important to God as yourself. It is selfish to want your way all or most of the time. I'm sure you've heard, "It is so much more wonderful to give than to receive," and it is really true. <br />
<br />
Thinking of others and caring about your friend's interests and concerns is what you are called to do. It is a call to unity, a call to be others-focused.It is better to put others’ needs before your own. It is easy and natural to look after and care only for yourself, but the Lord wants you to look out for more than just number one. He tells you to love your neighbors. Understanding that everyone is equal in God’s eyes will help you walk in true humility. It allows you to work better together with those in your church, neighborhoods and communities when you realize that your needs are not any greater than the needs of another. It is easy to get so wrapped up in yourself-your schedule, your problems, your stresses—that you do not take time to think about what others around you are going through. So each day, ask the Lord to give you a humble spirit and an eye for the needs of others. <br />
<br />
Why is it difficult for you to love our enemies? It is because of pride. You think to yourself: how can I love someone who does not see my kind gestures, does not understand what a wonderful person I am? How will I do good unto someone who does not value me? And how do you love your enemies or someone you find hard to love? What is the key? Humility.<br />
<br />
Try to be nice to someone, no matter how the other person acts towards you; try to do something good for him or her without expecting anything in return. If you are able to do this, an entirely new world will open up to you, a higher world, and you will feel the extraordinary power and energy of love that you get from God and the Holy Spirit within you. Then you will clearly realize that it is much more wonderful to give than to receive – both things and feelings. How is your sensitivity toward other people? Do you take time to care about the needs of your friends and family? Sometimes we get so absorbed with our own personal problems we forget that others are hurting inside and may need our attention. The strange thing about it is that when we give love and concern to others, we usually forget about our own problems. Who can you make feel special or like royalty today? How can you show them that you care about them?<br />
<br />
We are all imperfect people and we can turn our brokenness over to God and find love and support in a community of other not so perfect people. You can walk a mile in someone else's shoes and seek God’s will above all else. Just don’t forget that all your capabilities and skills come from God. You will then have peace with God and others. After all, the humble will inherit the earth.What are parents to do?http://www.blogger.com/profile/12183397873932741932noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6562785316052037308.post-19812519440465209712010-06-16T21:35:00.000-07:002010-07-14T08:41:46.911-07:00Gluttony (Excess) vs. Temperance (Moderation)Gluttony vs. Temperance<br />
Deadly Sin and Heavenly Virtue<br />
*omit if not age-appropriate<br />
<br />
<div></div>“For the drunkard and the glutton come to poverty.” Proverbs 23:21a<br />
<br />
<div></div>“He who keeps the law is a wise son, but the glutton's companion disgraces his father.” Proverbs 28:7 <br />
<br />
<div></div>Gluttony is not being able to control yourself - whether it is eating, drinking too much or allowing yourself to be guided by what you feel. It is also the desire for obtaining more than you really need. In other words, it is being self-indulgent.. It is also worshiping your things too much, making them idols. It can apply to toys, television, entertainment, *sex or relationships. Instead, we should obey the First Commandment of "having no other gods before Me, the Lord, your God."<br />
<br />
Have you ever heard yourself or others say<br />
<br />
<ul><li>Super size it!</li>
<li>I just got to have that</li>
<li>I might as well have a third one because I want to enjoy myself</li>
<li>Fat genes run in my family so I can’t help how I take care of my body.</li>
</ul><br />
A glutton can never get enough to fully enjoy and it can harm your soul as well as not be healthy for your body.<br />
<br />
<div></div>While gluttony is about being a slave to something, the virtue of temperance brings freedom. Temperance is having balance or moderation in what you do and how you live. You must have moderation in all aspects of your life. For example, moderation in your speech would be to not gossip or tell stories that aren’t true or hurtful to someone. There’s moderation for your eyes, not looking at indecent and inappropriate things. What about moderation for your temper by managing your anger and not bursting into flames at someone? It is having the will power to stop since you want to honor the body God gave you instead of turning into a fat slob. <br />
<br />
We live in a world that tells us that if feels good, it must be good for us. Just because it may fill our senses with a thrill, it does not always bring us the best of circumstances. Instead of consuming too much or focusing on things that give us pleasure for only a moment, we should practice temperance. True pleasure is found through awareness and appreciating the practice of moderation and self-control. <br />
<br />
You can try to strengthen your will and the ability to control yourself with God’s help. You may be too concerned about what makes you feel good that you forget the ways of God. You need to make a point to leave room for God instead of filling your life with too much so God can be your reason for living. We must also put your own wants and needs aside for the good of others.What are parents to do?http://www.blogger.com/profile/12183397873932741932noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6562785316052037308.post-73988178743904060822010-06-16T21:33:00.000-07:002010-09-28T09:40:49.826-07:00GraceGrace<br />
<br />
"But grow in grace and in knowledge of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ." 2 Peter 3:18<br />
<br />
"For I am convinced that neither death, nor life, nor angels, nor principalities, nor present things, nor future things, nor powers, nor height, nor depth, nor any other creature will be able to separate us from the love of God in Christ Jesus our Lord. Romans 8: 3<br />
<br />
Grace is love given freely by God to you. It is God's powerful force of love within us. It fills your body and your soul to the very top so you can love. There is sanctifying grace and actual grace. Sanctifying grace is the life of God within you. In other words, it is God's gift of divine life into man's soul. It's what stays in your soul and it's what makes your soul holy. It IS supernatural life. God's free and generous gift is also called the "state of grace." Baptism puts sanctifying grace into your soul for the first time. You need sanctifying grace so you are able to live in Heaven (to share in God's happiness) and be in the perfect union with God, the source of all life. It really transforms your soul, actually wiping away our sins, makin it spotless and holy. If this kind of grace is in your soul when you die, you can live in Heaven (but you may need your soul first purified in Purgatory). If however, you are in a state of mortal sin (the serious kind), you cannot live in heaven. So you can lose sanctifying grace by committing a mortal sin because it destroy God's life in your soul. Once you have achieved sanctifying grace, you can increase it by doing good actions, receiving Communion and other sacraments, saying prayers, performing good works. You can serve the community of God through good works toward the sick and needy, and keeping God's commandments. You can also serve God through acts of charity through His love and acting out the virtues. You need to work on it to keep it by responding to His actual graces and continue to seek these actual graces ... a totally different kind of grace. <br />
<br />
Actual grace is an undeserved favor or gift from God or you can think of it as a push of encouragement. You can think of it as a kind of helping grace or God's support for us in our day to day life. It kind of acts on the soul from the outside. It gets you moving so it's like a kick in the pants. With God's help, it allows you to act above your nature. When God gives you these divine pushes, all you have to do is go along with them. He may move you to do an act of faith or go to confession where through your reconciliation you will receive more sanctifying grace. Then you can have supernatural life again, But you can lose it very easily by committing a mortal sin. Venial sins don't do this but they can weaken us making you more distant from God. Using God's gift of free will or freedom of choice, you are called to accept the divine love of God. Grace gives you the ability to live life according to the love of God and the teachings of Jesus Christ. It is received and celebrated in community with each other. You are empowered to forgive, to accept without judgment, to give without asking for return, to love without end. This is a power that can do marvelous things! It can heal and bind people together, give comfort and peace, offer affectionate love and create new persons, rest peacefully and disturb the comfortable! So remember no matter what you do, there is nothing that can separate you from God's love. It's not about what you've done ... we really can't do enough. It's about God extending his grace to you because of God's crazy love for you! There's really nothing else like it in all the world!<br />
<br />
Examples of grace from the Bible: <br />
Jesus showed grace to Zacchaeus, a rich cheating tax collector when he invited himself to to stay at his house. He even said the name of Peter, the disiple who denied knowing Christ when Jesus returned from the dead and asked him if he loved Him....now that is God's amazing grace! Just think, the disciples didn't even get the concept of grace. Although everybody in town hated Zaccheus and looked down upon him as a crook, Jesus saw something different. He saw that Zaccheus had a new heart. Jesus saw that Zaccheus was sincerely seeking Him out. Zaccheus came seeking the Lord's forgiveness, he came seeking Him for direction, and Jesus told him then and there that He would come spend time with him at his house. Zaccheus may not even have known that he was lost, but he obviously knew that something in his life wasn't right. Fortunately for him, he went to the right person (Jesus Christ), and Zaccheus went from being a known sinner to becoming a child of God! <br />
<br />
Jesus gave Peter a second chance. After Christ was crucified and rose from the dead, He appeared to His disciples. In front of everybody, Jesus specifically asked Peter if he loved Him. And when Peter said, "Yes, Lord, you know I love you," Jesus told Peter, "Feed my sheep" (John 21:15-19). What the Lord meant by that was that He wanted Peter to take on the role of a leader. Jesus knew that Peter was truly sorry for denying Him in the past, and he showed Peter that He still believed in him and that He wanted to use him for great things.What are parents to do?http://www.blogger.com/profile/12183397873932741932noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6562785316052037308.post-90776211685530806122010-06-16T21:27:00.000-07:002012-06-11T19:59:30.737-07:00The Mass"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. Whatever you bind on earth shall be bound in heaven; and whatever you loose on earth shall be loosed in heaven." Matthew 16:18-19 <br />
<br />
"For where two or three are gathered together in my name, there am I in the midst of them." Matthew 18:20<br />
<br />
"For my flesh is true food, and my blood is true drink. Whoever eats my flesh and drinks my blood remains in me and I in him." John 6:55-56<br />
<br />
At Mass we come together as members of God's family. We listen to God's Word and we gather around the table of the Lord to remember God's gift to us - Jesus. We give thanks and praise to God. The most important part of Mass is not the Homily but the Eucharist (or Communion). Mass was how Jesus set it up almost 2000 years ago so the Church gets its authority from Jesus. He made Peter the head of the Church - our first Pope. Jesus gave Peter and the Church "the keys to the kingdom of heaven." Jesus established a new covenant when He started His ministry of teaching and when He died for our sins. It is then that we became His new people or the Church. The priest at Mass has been given the authority from Christ to be Jesus to us during the liturgy as the priest accepts the simple gifts of bread and wine and consecrates the Eucharist to change it into the Body and Blood of Christ.<br />
<br />
The Church houses Jesus Himself in the Eucharist so He is giving His very self to us - Body, Blood, Soul and Divinity - a kind of self-giving when we receive Him at Communion. The Mass is God's precious gift to us when God comes to us. God has invited us to enter into the Eucharistic ceremony in which the Sacrifice of Christ is offered to the Father through the priest just as Jesus offered Himself to the Father on the Cross. <br />
<br />
We repeat the Last Supper when we remember His great act of love for us on the Cross. Jesus said, "Do this in remembrance of me" That is a pretty specific command - "Do this." He didn't just say "Remember me." He told us exactly how to celebrate His passion, death and resurrection for the redemption of the world by taking our sins so that we, if we follow His commandments, can live with Him forever in heaven. <br />
<br />
It is because we are baptized into the Body of Christ (the Church) at your baptism, it is important to worship with other members of the Church who are all a part of His one body. So it's not a "Jesus and me" religion. In fact, at each Mass we celebrate with the Church past, present and future. This includes the saints, your deceased loved ones and all who live in Christ are praying together. Because the Mass “re-presents” (makes present) the sacrifice on Calvary, Catholics all around the world join together to be made present in Christ’s timeless sacrifice for our sins. There is something fascinating about continuing to celebrate the same Mass with the whole community of Catholics around the world … and in heaven. So if you're not holding both hands with someone during the Our Father, your other hand is really holding the hand of an angel!<br />
<br />
You should not feel like you have to go to Mass even though honoring the Sabbath or the Lord's Day is a Commandment, but you should feel like you want to. We shouldn't treat Mass as an obligation or a duty or something we want "to get out of the way." Mass is not supposed to be entertainment for us, to get something out of it but instead it is what we bring to Mass. We not only go to praise Him but also give Him thanks for all He has done for us and act sorry for our sins. We get our own personal audience with God and get a glipse of Him in Heaven on his Throne. <br />
<br />
So we go to Mass to worship our Creator, develop a relationship with God, keep our faith strong, and help build up the Church - the Body of Christ, the Communion of Saints, His family of believers. You can also pray your petitions or personal needs for yourself and others. We all need the sacrament of the Eucharist to remain in the state of grace when our venial sins (or less serious sins) get wiped away off our soul. <br />
<br />
In fact, at Mass we find everything else we’ve talked about: celebration, our community, our shared values, and the call to serve others. This is what Catholics mean when they say Eucharist is the “source and summit” of Christian life. This sacrament nourishes us so that we can be the Body of Christ on earth and live like Christ.<br />
<br />
You can even look forward to hearing the Gospels by preparing for them (reading them ahead of time online), reflecting on your week and offering it to God, singing, praying, sharing with the other members of the Body of Christ. Mass can then be more of a moving experience if we participate and get involved with the Church. You should come open and willing to be touched by God. If you miss a Sunday, He will truly miss you. The Church should be your second home to celebrate and chill with your extended family. It should give you a sense of belonging when you participate with people of the same faith.<br />
<br />
There are two parts to the Mass, the Liturgy of the Word and the Liturgy of the Eucharist. Mass is a sacrifice, a perfect and holy sacrifice. It is also a meal. At the consecration, the bread and wine, through the power of the Holy Spirit, become the Body and Blood of Christ. This is called transubstantiation. Not a symbol, but Jesus' real flesh and real blood, under the appearance of bread and wine. With Holy Communion, we get to eat at his table like his apostles did and share in Jesus' body who is the Lamb of God who takes away our sins. <br />
<br />
When we receive Christ, He lives within us in a special way and gives us the real food for our soul. Holy Communion will strengthen our bond with Jesus, rid us of our venial sins (mortal or more serious sin require forgiveness in Confession), it increases our love of God and neighbor and gives us the grace to avoid sin in the future. The Lord is not wanting to condemn us for our sins but heal us. Receiving Jesus in the Eucharist gives us the strength to go on with our daily lives, get healed of our brokenness and hurts and become whole again so we can follow Him and respond to others....we're lifting all our troubles up to the Lord and carrying him with us every week to go out into the "mission fields" and do Hi work. We should always say thank to God when we go to Mass and pray boldly for yourself and others, asking your favors be conformed to God's will. Your gift of an hour of good attitude and attention is even a way to thank Him. So when you participate, be alive and not say your responses like they are a throwaway word...say the Great Amen with what it means, "Yes, I believe." Afterall, God doesn't need to hear it but we need to say it and God speaks to us directly when we listen to the readings and the Gospel, He's really proclaiming His story.<br />
<br />
Jesus wants us to share in His own divine life. You are who we are because of our sharing with our brothers and sisters in Christ. And what we share is Jesus Christ Himself, His special gift to you. You live in Jesus and He in you and you need to give to others in faith, hope and love. This means that you must see Christ in one another. The Body of Christ unites us and strengthens you for the week ahead as you take on the work of being Jesus' hands and feet in the world today. You can do this by performing some works of mercy, e.g., feeding the hungry, visiting the sick and welcoming the stranger. So have a positive effect on other people's lives!<br />
<br />
There is proper conduct to follow while you are at Mass. Try and finish your breakfast early to allow an hour before Mass begins so you'll be able to receive Jesus. Respectful silence is to be observed in the church, so don't forget to turn off any cell phones. Dressing appropriately for Mass is simply a matter of showing respect, not only for God, but for others around you. You should wear clothes that are modest and clean and the nicest clothes you have. So just say no to street clothes like t-shirts (especially with any writing on them) and denim. Think about how you would dress for an important event, and then recall we are meeting Almighty God at Mass. It doesn’t get more important than that! You are free to leave once the priest finishes walking down the aisle. The best part about Sundays is that you get to keep holy the Sabbath by making it a day of rest for you … it means no shopping or heavy duty chores for you!What are parents to do?http://www.blogger.com/profile/12183397873932741932noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6562785316052037308.post-49689955219204902282010-06-16T15:24:00.000-07:002011-01-13T20:01:47.862-08:00Pre-marital Sex“God created man in his image; in the divine image he created him; male and female he created them. God blessed them, saying: Be fertile and multiply; fill the earth and subdue it.” Gen 1:27-28<br />
<br />
"Now the works of the flesh are obvious: immorality, impurity, licentiousness, idolatry, sorcery, hatreds, rivalry, jealousy, outbursts of fury, acts of selfishness, occasions of envy, drinking bouts, orgies, and the like. I warn you, as I warned you before, that those who do such things will not inherit the kingdom of God." Galatians 5:19-21 <br />
<br />
"Immorality or any impurity or greed must not even be mentioned among you, as is fitting among holy ones, no obscenity or silly or suggestive talk, which is out of place, but instead, thanksgiving." Ephesians 5:3<br />
<br />
"This is the will of God, your holiness: that you refrain from immorality, that each of you know how to acquire a wife for himself in holiness and honor, not in lustful passion as do the Gentiles who do not know God." <br />
1 Thessalonians 4:3-5<br />
<br />
"Do you not know that the unjust will not inherit the kingdom of God? Do not be deceived; neither fornicators nor idolaters nor adulterers nor boy prostitutes nor practicing homosexuals nor thieves nor the greedy nor drunkards nor slanderers nor robbers will inherit the kingdom of God." 1 Corinthians 6:9-10 <br />
<br />
"The body, however, is not for immorality, but for the Lord, and the Lord is for the body. Avoid immorality. Every other sin a person commits is outside the body, but the immoral person sins against his own body." <br />
1 Corininthians 6:13 b, 18 <br />
<br />
"But because of cases of immorality every man should have his own wife and every woman her own husband. The husband should fulfill his duty toward his wife, and likewise the wife toward her husband." 1 Corininthians 7:2-3 <br />
<br />
"Put to death, then, the parts of you that are earthly: immorality, impurity, passion, evil desire, and the greed that is idolatry." Colossians 3:5<br />
<br />
"So turn from youthful desires and pursue righteousness, faith, love and peace, along with those who call on the Lord with purity of heart." 2 Timothy 2:22<br />
<br />
"He said in reply, "Have you not read that from the beginning the Creator made them male and female and said, "For this reason a man shall leave his father and mother and be joined to his wife, and the two shall become one flesh? So they are no longer two, but one flesh. Therefore, what God has joined together, no human being must separate." Matthew 19:4-6<br />
<br />
<br />
There is a lot of talk going on around you about pre-marital sex or fornication. Sex is just about in every song, magazine, newspaper, TV show and movie. The media makes you think that everyone is "doing it" but in fact, everyone's not doing it. Sexual talk, innuendoes and jokes are quite the norm in our sex-crazed society. Our highly sexualized culture tells us that sex outside marriage or premarital sex is okay because it feels good and will make you popular and feel worthwhile. The world may have nice, fun terms for pre-marital sex, terms such as "sleepin' around," "doin' it," "getting some," "foolin' around," "having an affair," "a fling," "one-night stand," "hooking up," "friends with benefits" and "losing your virginity." <br />
<br />
Popular media show unrealistic expectations of what true love feels like. Romantic love isn't love at first sight since a trusted and committed love are qualities that take time to build. Exploring your sexuality with no strings attached will only harm you emotionally. Sex changes a relationship forever and can have powerful repercussions such as exploitation, pressure, disrepect and lowering your self-worth either during or after a sexual relationship. A lot of teens later wish they would have waited and wished they would not have disregarded the warnings and disobeyed God's laws. The Bible warns you not to believe it when the world tells us that "sex outside of marriage is okay as long as you are practicing safe sex," or that "same-sex unions are normal and they should have the same status as male/female marriages." God's Word warns you not to fall for these man-made standards of living.<br />
<br />
Sex is not just the act of sexual intercourse, it bonds a man and a woman together. It is more than just an act. Any kind of pleasure to the body is sex, even if it is not the textbook way. It is intended to be a union that comes out of the marriage covenant. Sex isn't really what most people are probably looking for - they're looking for intimacy or the emotional need for closeness instead. It's the emotional intimacy that confirms a relationship, but you don't need sexual intimacy to connect. Love is the emotion and sex is the act so “having sex” and “making love” are two different things! Generally speaking, girls seek intimacy and guys seek sexual activity. God designed it that guys seek sex to feel loved and girls need to feel loved to have sex. In other words, girls use sex to get love and guys use love to get sex. The girl may give into sex to hold onto the relationship and they guy wants sex even more than the relationship itself. The girl may be picturing marrying the guys someday while they guy is picturing everything he wants to do with the girl before he goes back to tell his buddies about it. <br />
<br />
Nonetheless, a sexual union is designed for the marriage relationship only. Hooking up, or physical pleasure for fun, will take away from the close bond and depth of a relationship. The couple is only treating one another as objects and using each other for their own gratification. There is no exchange of giving or receiving love and they'll never be satisfied or be relieved of their feelings of loneliness or boredom. This, in turn, will make them feel empty and may even lead to depression. It is then that they lose respect for the sacredness of their bodies. Sin is tempting and doesn't usually come with warning or stop signs. God calls us to control our passions and wait for marriage. If you keep your eyes on God, he will allow you to set boundaries so you can resist temptation. Studies show that if you "sleep around,” you will not be fulfilled in your marriage later in life. <br />
<br />
Sex may seem very cool to you, but it can make you feel bad about yourself and your partner. It will bring a lot of emotional and spiritual struggles, too. Just saying “no” to it may not be enough. You have to think about it ahead of time, make a plan, and follow through with your plan. Be aware, since flirting can quickly turn into experimentation. The human body is designed to respond to foreplay, kissing, touching and other sexual stimulation and is not designed to just stop. So be sure to think before you act - use self-control, think about your future and the consequences. It's a lot easier too when you have support from your parents, friends and people you trust. It takes a strong person, one backed up by the strength of God, to resist temptation and be a good example to your peers. You can always have the comeback, "At anytime I could become like you, but you can never again be like me" You can better believe that they'd admire you and wish that they had waited in making their critical decision to have sex outside the bounds of marriage. <br />
<br />
Your motto should not be "If it feels good, do it." Instead, you should be doing all you can to avoid those people and things that will cause you to stumble and give in to sexual temptations. It doesn't matter what all of your friends are doing or what you see in movies or videos or even what unmarried people who live in your own house are doing. God's Word has not changed. God wants us to have sexual relations with your spouse only. And as Catholic Christians, we are to use our body in ways that glorify God. God knows what is best for us. He has given us standards to follow because He wants to save you from yourself and from the pain you can bring to your life. There is so much pressure for you to be sexually active and as your sexual hormone production increases, you may think about it often. But giving up your virginity is not what makes you feel like a man or woman.<br />
<br />
Remember that you are more than just a body. You are creation of God and your body is the temple of the Holy Spirit. When God creates something, He creates it with purpose and design. God created sex, so it is a beautiful thing. God created sex for the obvious reason of procreation, for creating new life, but God also wanted Adam and Eve to develop intimacy with one another. Sex is then a miraculous and sacred act. That God allows us to take part in co-creating lives with Him is such an unbelievable honor. The Bible says it is the way for a husband and wife to express their love for each other. Yes, husband and wife! God did create it to be a beautiful and enjoyable expression of love, but only between a man and wife. <br />
<br />
Being abstinent and staying chaste is respecting God's gift as well as the dignity of the person you are dating. Your body may be sending you strong messages with the hormones you produce, but those hormones may only make it feel like you are in love. The desire to have sex can be very strong and you are adjusting to your new body filled with hormones. You need not give into your raging hormones. It is only by relying on God for strength that you can truly fight off the temptation to have sex. God wants you, His child, to choose obedience and self-control instead of instant pleasure. You should avoid situations which might cause you to compromise your commitment to sexual purity and have regrets later. <br />
<br />
It is a lie to think that sex is what makes a relationship work. You don't have to have sex with someone to prove you like or love them. Intimacy is what it takes to make a relationship strong, that is, sharing time, thoughts, beliefs, feeling, mutual respect and being affectionate without having sex. The messages out there in the world are that you need to feel liberated and express your sexual identity, to not suppress who you are. These are the views expressed in the media and in movies. But in fact, sex won't fulfill you and you won't be a more complete person or experience a higher form of living. It is a complete myth in our culture and sex gets too much hype. It's not what the movies make it out to be. The movies never show that "love hangover" or the "emptiness" feelings that the characters may be experiencing the next morning. <br />
<br />
The one thing that God desires most from you is your obedience. God wants you to glorify Him by the way we use our bodies. If you want to live for Christ, then you should no longer be living for yourself; but instead you should be living to glorify God. God's commands are not always easy to follow. Being an obedient child of God in this area requires you to see this sin the way God sees it. He wants you to turn our backs on the ways of this world. You cannot think of sex as just something exciting and fun to do. You must learn to treasure and respect your body as something that is beautiful and special, a work of art that is only to be shared with one person under God's conditions. And when you are disobedient to God in this area, you even run the risk of harming our relationship with our Heavenly Father. God still loves you and will forgive you, but you might feel too ashamed to go to God in prayer.<br />
<br />
When you go against God's specific standards, it can become harmful and destructive. You can choose to do things God's way and experience the beauty of His plan, or you can choose to do things your way and experience the physical dangers like an unwanted pregnancy that may lead to abortions, the frightening realities of sexually transmitted diseases, sexual dysfunction, AIDS as well as the emotional dangers and shame. You may even rob yourself of the ability to have a fulfilling sexual relationship in the future when you do get married. <br />
<br />
So are you're still why you should save sex for marriage? Let’s sum up why. God is the one who created sex. It is His gift to us. And God gave you the ability to enjoy sex not only so that we could reproduce, but it is also a way for husbands and wives to bond and experience intimacy. God wants you to experience fulfilling, joyful sexual relations with the person to whom you are married; otherwise, he wants you to lead a celibate life.<br />
<br />
If God didn't want you to enjoy sexual relations, He would not have made sex pleasurable. He is the author of sex, love and relationships and His Word makes it clear that He only gives sexual relations His blessing when it occurs between a husband and a wife. The reason for this is because God wants what is best for you and knows that knowing Him will being you the most fulfillment and satisfaction.<br />
<br />
What a lot of people don't realize is that sex is not just something that is to be done casually for temporary pleasure. When you are intimate with someone in a sexual way, you are actually "becoming one" with that person on a deep spiritual level that goes far beyond just temporary thrills.<br />
<br />
Are you using your body in a way that you think would make God proud? Masturbation is a selfish act where you take advantage of and abuse God's gift. God cares about what we do with our bodies, in public or in private, and He doesn't want you to abuse ourselves in any way. This activity does not lift you up spiritually. It brings you down. God did not create our sexual organs so that you could fantasize and have sex by yourself. God created sexual pleasure as something to be shared and experienced between two people -- a husband and a wife. Masturbation will not truly relieve the sexual pressure that you may feel. It may for a short moment, but in the long run it only creates a deeper desire and capacity for sex, which will lead to more masturbation and, ultimately, the desire for sexual intercourse. And with masturbation, there is a vicious circle. You are only temporarily satisfied. And the more you indulge in this activity, the more addicted you become to it. When you fantasize and masturbate, you open your hearts and mind up to strange and perverse thoughts and possibilities. <br />
<br />
You may feel weak within yourself, but God will equip you with His holy power to overcome any sin if only you ask in faith. Maybe you sometimes feel overwhelmed by the temptations that you face. But never underestimate the power that you have over sin. On your own you might not be that strong, but with God's power, you can overcome. You can fight and be victorious against your sexual thoughts and desires. Self-control takes effort. God will help you to reject those things that will cause you to stumble, whether it be sexually-themed movies, music, books, videos, anything that fills your mind with images and words that will make you weak and vulnerable. When you have unmarried sex or masturbate, there is shame, regret, and loss of self-respect. On the other hand, when you are intimate with your husband or wife, there is no shame. Every time you casually have sexual relations with someone to whom you are not married, a little bit of your soul dies in a way. You have given away something that is valuable and precious, and you may feel that your honor has been taken away. When you honor the opposite sex by not taking advantage of them, you are honoring yourself by doing what you know is right in your heart. You can have then that special bond and a lasting commitment without buying the cow and getting the milk for free. Then you will see how you can get to know one another emotionally, mentally and spiritually, not just physically. <br />
<br />
Even if you have acted inappropriately in this area, it is not too late to stop what you are doing and to recommit your life and body to God. The Bible tells us that no matter how bad we think we are or how much we have already sinned, God is able to forgive us and make us whole again if we only confess our sins, repent and turning away from the sin. All of the above Bible verses show that it is still not too late for you to make a fresh start with God. Won't you stop chasing your own lusts and start letting God lead you? The cheap thrills that you could gain by living like the rest of this sinful world cannot compare to the beautiful, rich relationship that you can have if you obey God's Word and follow His standards for living.<br />
<br />
You must go to God in prayer and ask for the strength you need to not give in to the temptations of the flesh. You will need to make it a point to not put yourself in situations where you are likely to stumble. God will reward you if you choose to honor Him and save sex for marriage. You'll have the joy of waiting for your future spouse and deepening your love with each other. Your Church and your family have expectations for you to live up to. May you have the wisdom and judgment to handle these commitments with the guidance of the Holy Spirit living within you, helping you to resist the temptation of engaging in pre-marital sex. You'll not only have a stronger relationship with God as a result of depending on Him, you'll have a better and stronger marriage someday because you waited. <br />
<br />
You shouldn’t move in with someone or have sleepovers no matter how commonplace it is in this world. So it is a poor decision that goes against the will of God. Just because our society has lowered its standards does not mean that you need to. In fact, shacking up is a demeaning nickname and it’s not known as “living in sin” for nothing. It can cheapen and ruin the uniqueness of marriage. A healthy relationship does not require sex to be intimate. It is only waiting to receive each other from the Lord that allows you as a couple to establish real intimacy. <br />
<br />
So sex is not something to base your relationship on because it was not designed to be a test to find a good spouse so waiting to share the gift of sex for your honeymoon will only train you in faithfulness. Even when you get engaged, it may feel that you are “almost married” but your vows and a permanent commitment has not been made before God. It is at this time that you should be preparing for marriage as a sacrament and laying the foundation for the rest of your lives. It is a time of serious discernment and sex can even blind your ability to see your relationship clearly. With love being patient, you can be better confident in your love knowing that you will have the rest of your lives to enjoy sex.<br />
<br />
<br />
Give your child a blessing<br />
<br />
We ask God for protection over your innocence and purity, and for that of your spouse. May He fill your life with good relationships including you, O Lord. May you feel accepted and influenced by good friends. We ask, too, for Godly people to positively influence your life at the crossroads you will face. We bless you and ask that You, O Lord, fill my child with "whatever things are true, noble, just, pure lovely, of good report, have virtue or anything praiseworthy ... may you think on these things." Go before my child and prepare the way for a life of purity and modesty. In Jesus' name, we pray.What are parents to do?http://www.blogger.com/profile/12183397873932741932noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6562785316052037308.post-927681028967148942010-06-16T15:21:00.000-07:002010-07-12T20:38:57.609-07:00ModestyModesty<br />
<br />
<br />
"Charm is deceptive and beauty fleeting; the woman who fears the Lord is to be praised. Proverbs 31:30 <br />
<br />
But put on the Lord Jesus Christ, and make no provision for the desires of the flesh." Romans 13:14<br />
<br />
"For you were called for freedom, brothers. But do not use this freedom as an opportunity for the flesh; rather, serve one another through love." Galations 5:13<br />
<br />
"Similarly, (too,) women should adorn themselves with proper conduct, with modesty and self-control, not be braided with hairstyles and gold ornaments, or pearls, or expensive clothes, but rather, as befits women who profess reverence for God, with good deeds." 1 Timothy 2:9-10 <br />
<br />
"Your adornment should not be an external one: braiding the hair, wearing gold jewelry, or dressing in fine clothes, but rather the hidden character of the heart, expressed in the imperishable beauty of a gentle and calm disposition, which is precious in the sight of God." 1 Peter 3:3-4 <br />
<br />
"...it is good not to eat meat or drink wine or do anything that causes you brother to stumble." Romans 14:21<br />
<br />
<br />
Did you know that your body is a temple that houses the Holy Spirit? Yep, and because a person's body is a temple of the Holy Spirit, it contains the real presence of Christ. Because of this, you should look the way that brings out the best in yourself and those around you ... not wearing revealing, racy, suggestive and even provocative clothing. It is not only your looks but your virtue, talents and gifts that defines you and gives you dignity. A lifestyle of modesty is not just about the way you dress, it's about the way you talk, act, treat guys/girls and even the way you dance. Instead of a lifestyle of lust, you should aim for a lifestyle of modesty and self-respect. The immediate gratification of someone gawking at your body will leave you feeling unfulfilled in the end for your desire for love. For God himself is the source of all love and He doesn't want someone else experiencing pleasure at your expense and not seeing your internal beauty.<br />
<br />
Are you really wearing an immodest bathing suit because it is the accepted style, or are you using your body to get attention, appreciation and approval ... drawing attention to yourself in a sexual way? Wouldn't it be better if someone noticed you for your worth, mind and beauty instead of flaunting your body and sexuality with immodest attire? Who needs stares and turned heads over just your looks? Instead of begging for attention, don't you want be taken seriously and feel like you're being respected for who you really are as well as experience REAL love and acceptance? Your bodies can really make a statement...some choose to cover their body with the graffiti of tattoos or hostile punk hair styles, piercings, gaudy makeup and threadbare clothes that show cleavage. In these cases, the body is an expression of vanity and pride and even provokes passion and lust. Guys are very visual and they know how to read a girl's body language. You don't want guys treating you as if you were not fully human, making you feel like an object instead of a person. Dressing modestly does the opposite, it personalizes you and reveals your dignity. It also protects the treasure of chastity in not encouraging immoral practices. <br />
<br />
Do you want the opposite sex more interested in your body than in your mind, heart and spirit? Do you want them to approach you with respect and honor or just think that your body is the greatest thing about you...not your personality, soul and true identity. You shouldn't dress to call attention away from your face to your body. You want people to look at who you are and that is found in your face and reflected in our eyes, the mirrors to your soul. Dressing modestly ensures that people keep their focus on your face, on you.<br />
<br />
Modesty in dress is an important value that reflects your personal dignity and integrity. So you should make it a point to cover your body with dignity rather than reveal your flesh because the way you dress sends messages about yourself to others and often influences the way you and others act. It really has a positive effect on your behavior and self-esteem and shows respect for God, yourself, and others. God especially wants you to be a person of influence with your character, and we should dress to please and honor God, not the world and what the fashion lovers world dictate. Your value comes from God, your Creator, and not from you appearance and what others think of you. God gave you the sacred gift of your body for a specific purpose and that is to do His work. Dressing modestly will help you focus on God's purpose for you.<br />
<br />
The way you dress is a reflection of who you are inside. Your outward dress should match your inner beauty. When your outward appearance is not living up to the standard you may want to set, it really contradicts everything you may stand for and you become a cheap version of yourself. Worse yet, posing for indecent pictures, working at Hooters or being in a wet T-shirt contest speaks volumes on your faith beliefs. Being party to such things is inconsistent with righteous living and certainly does not allow you to become more virtuous. <br />
<br />
Girls, instead of "short" shorts, micro-mini skirts, sheer blouses, skimpy bathing suits, skirts with slits up the side, tight cropped shirts and low-cut shirts (bare midriffs), low slung or tight jeans that show every little curve, wear clothing that doesn't reveal too much skin. A good rule of thumb is wearing shorts and skirts as long as your middle finger when your arms are down. <br />
<br />
Boys, you should only take off your shirts when swimming. Don't let your eyes stray to female body parts especially when talking to a girl. <br />
<br />
We as Catholic Christians are called to serve God's will in holiness. Modesty in dress is one of the identifying characteristics of true saints. It serves as a physical and spiritual guard against immoral behavior. Immodesty however, cheapens your image and reputation, and causes a loss of respect. It is not likely to win the hand in marriage of a Christ-like person. You can really tempt the opposite sex to sin especially when physical intimacy is supposed to be reserved for marriage. <br />
<br />
Men and boys should be called to a higher standard as well. They should never use, abuse or take advantage of girls or women. A boy with integrity does not look at pornographic imagery and have lust in his heart. Even though certain clothing or lack there of may be socially accepted, they can be weapons of lust. We should help each other journey with Christ, and bring each other closer to Christ and not provide ammunition for each other's sin and cause another to lust.<br />
<br />
Today's fashion says that women are sex objects and plain ignores God's purpose for clothing. The fashion industry believes that the principle purpose of clothing is sexual attraction. The scantily clad women in the magazines should have a sense of shame on how they are posing. Sex may sell, but we don't have to buy it. You can show the world how adorable and pretty (good disposition/handsome) you really are by keeping your clothes on. Why not show how sexy and respectable you are by living your faith and backing it up with your actions. It will set you apart as a person with substance and because you were made in the image and likeness of God, you must reflect God's purity with the way you carry yourself and respect the body He has given you. <br />
<br />
So dress decently to display your godly character and don't show the body parts that only your future spouse should be allowed to see. After all, you're not hiding yourself to them but revealing your dignity to them ... leaving room for mystery. Do you wanted to be treated like a child of God or be reduced to an object? Exercise care when you buy your clothes and ask yourself if it's decent and would it be approved of by Jesus. You don't want to harm your chances to being loved. You want to be drawn to the right kinds of person who will treat you as a child of God. Instead of distracting or tempting the opposite sex and leading them to sin, you have the power to educate, influence and inspire them to virtue and changing their hearts and bringing the closer to the Lord. Show them that you respect yourself and that you recognize your dignity before God. <br />
<br />
Girls, don't be afraid to be feminine, pure and modest. You'll be glorifying God, the source of unconditional love, and no matter what your shape or size, your body will always be precious in the sight of God. Your body is sacred because it is a temple of the Holy Spirit. Don't be afraid to be modest even in your behavior and speech. Be in control of your own actions. Your whole lifestyle, including your clothes should reflect Christ. Just ask God to change you from the inside out and He will help you make this commitment to yourself to be more like Christ in your daily life and give you the tools to live it out. You can change to live a modest lifestyle if this has been your flaw. Your past does not have to determine your future.<br />
.<br />
*Land's End and L.L. Bean offer fashion that keeps up with trends but in kid friendly and timeless styles.What are parents to do?http://www.blogger.com/profile/12183397873932741932noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6562785316052037308.post-10536491135685355042010-06-16T15:15:00.000-07:002011-02-07T12:23:05.567-08:00Purpose/God's Plan"For I know well the plans I have in mind for you, says the Lord, plans for your welfare, not for woe! plans to give you a future full of hope." Jeremiah 29:11<br />
<br />
"He made the whole human race...so that people might seek God, even perhaps grope for him and find him, though indeed he is not far from any one of us." Acts 17:28<br />
<br />
"You formed my inmost being; you knit me in my mother's womb. I praise you, so wonderfully you made me; wonderful are your works! My very self you knew;" Psalm 139:13-14<br />
<br />
Did you know that God picked and designed you even before the world was created? God made you to know, love and serve Him in this world so that you might share in His happiness in Heaven. To get to heavem, you must worship God by faith, hope and charity. You must believe in Him, hope in Him and love Him with all your heart.<em><span style="font-family: Arial;"> </span></em>Our Father in heaven is perfect. It is only if you know God, that you can love Him. God gave you life and from the beginning two things were true: You were all born weak and wounded by Original Sin; second, and most important, God has loved you each and every moment of your lives. Yes, He loves you on our best day and He loves us just as much on your worst day. He not only knows you when you are good and bad, but he loves you no matter how you are at any moment in your lives. Did you know Jesus gives you a standing ovation daily? He loved you enough to die for you. He wants you to make Him first in your life even if that means making a sacrafice sometimes. You were created to be with God for all eternity; that's why he gave you life in the first place. He loves you and wants to share his love, his life and eternity with you. God is good and you belong to Him! Actually, He is goodness itself. Your journey with God is a walk of faith and trust. The bible is God's love letter to you and the world. 1. He wants us to know and believe Him. 2. To glorify Him. 3. To find satisfaction in Him. 4. To experience His peace. 5. To enjoy His presence.<br />
<br />
You are called to be holy or Christ-like in all you do. As Catholic Christians you are called to love your neighbor as yourself. Giving and loving and thinking beyond yourself can make a world of difference in someone else’s life. You are to imitate God and represent His love. Therefore, you need a personal relationship with God. Christ lives in you and you represent Jesus to the world around you. You may be the only Jesus somebody knows. He will use you to help others around you if you'll let Him. You need others to stick by, encourage and guide you so your faith can remain strong. As Catholic Christians we need to encourage and bring hope to one another. Even giving a stranger one of your smiles might be the only sunshine a person sees all day. And these kind of gestures will make a difference in their life and yours. As children of God, we are called to love one another, love our neighbors, demonstrate kindness, be generous and practice hospitality – all in the name of Jesus. The old hymn still rings true today, “They will know we are Christians by our love…”<br />
<br />
You were born into this world for a purpose and you need to find out what He is calling you to do to be perfect like Him. God thinks that you are very special and a person of great worth. He thinks the world of you and loves you so much that He died for you. God is love and He will never stop loving you no matter what you do wrong. You are so important to Him. He loves you unconditionally, cares for you, knows what’s best for you and gives without asking for anything in return. God doesn't keep good things from you. He walks alongside you every step of life’s journey, its joys and its trials, never leaving us alone. You are so dependent on God for everything good. You need God and everything He has to offer. You depend on God as a baby depends on his mother. <br />
<br />
Did you know that He has a plan for you, a plan of good, not evil and that only you can achieve it? That is why he has given us all different abilities, personalities, and talents called gifts to develop and use for his glory. He knows you will be able to do much for Him The Lord will reveal it to you as you do His will so you can live like Christ. Your life is not an accident. God loves you and calls you to a life of great significance, no matter your circumstances. Now, be aware that following God’s purpose often requires great sacrifice. But, living for God’s purpose makes a life worth living.<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
But sometimes you get in the way of what God wants to do in your life. He knows you will be able to do much for Him. You either listen to your friends instead of what the Bible tells us is right, or we listen to the devil's lies and get sidetracked. Or sometimes you are just stubborn and you don't have anyone to blame but yourself when you miss out on what God has in store for you. <br />
<br />
How would you feel if God asked you to do something? Would you feel like you weren't worthy to be used by God? Would you feel kind of insecure about being able to do it? Sometimes you think that to be used by God you have to be really smart or speak really well. Moses obviously felt that he wasn't a very good speaker. And now we see that Moses just couldn't believe that God wanted to use him for such an important task. But you have to remember that God doesn't require you to be talented. God will give you whatever you need to accomplish His work. God only requires that you be obedient and that you go where He tells you to go and do what He asks. God wants to use humble people, shy people, ordinary people. He wants to use people who were once sinners. God wants to use people who will know that the greatness they achieve is a direct gift from Him. When you act as God designed you, you're able to be all he made you to be. <br />
<br />
If you believe that you are greater than God and that you don't have to do God's will, you are probably teaching that same attitude of disobedience to those around you - your little brother, your cousin, and your friends. You are not being a good role model for them or a disciple of Christ. He wants your life to count for something so you need to live a life in which you follow God's will. You need to ask for God's special grace if we are going to be or do anything pleasing to Him. He can do lots of things in and through you if you make time for him ... He is waiting to hear from you. <br />
<br />
How precious you are, How wondrously God formed you from the moment of your creation into the miracle that you are, unlike anyone else who has ever lived. God is at work in you. Not a single thing in your life will be wasted/ You will be used by God. You must trust your past, believe in your future and surrender your life to His plan. God want to reveal a wonderful plan for your life. "Living in Jesus" is giving Him your insecurities and fears and letting him draw out the very best in you. Are you willing to let God work in your life. Believe that He will equip you to do what He has called you do do!What are parents to do?http://www.blogger.com/profile/12183397873932741932noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6562785316052037308.post-82559850631406214602010-06-16T11:50:00.000-07:002011-02-28T20:54:59.141-08:00Body as a Temple of the Holy SpiritWe Are His Temples<br />
<br />
<br />
*omit if not age appropriate<br />
<br />
"The spirit of the Lord will rush upon you, and you will join them in their prophetic state and will be changed into another man."1 Samuel 10:6<br />
<br />
"... that He may grant you in accord with the riches of His glory to be strengthened with power through His Spirit in the inner self." Ephesians 3:16<br />
<br />
"Do you not know that you are the temple of God, and that the Spirit of God dwells in you? If anyone destroys God's temple, God will destroy that person; for the temple of God, which you are, is holy." 1 Cor. 3:16-17 <br />
<br />
"... and hope does not disappoint, because the love of God has been poured out into our hearts through the holy Spirit that has been given to us." Romans 5:5 <br />
<br />
"But you are not in the flesh; on the contrary, you are in the spirit, if only the Spirit of God dwells in you. Whoever does not have the Spirit of Christ does not belong to Him. For if you live according to the flesh, you will die, but if by the spirit you put to death the deeds of the body, you will live." Romans 8:9, 13<br />
<br />
God made you special and He created you to be holy and faithful to His ways. Your body is what your soul wears when you're on earth. Your body is only temporary and your soul is what will go up to Heaven. Our bodies belong to God so we are not our own. We were bought by Jesus' blood when He died on the Cross for us. Your actual physical body then is the Temple of the Holy Spirit and great care was given in the design of you. <br />
<br />
A temple is a sacred place and so too is your body. It is a place where we worship and honor God. He wants us to honor Him with our bodies and our minds. So you are the "temple of God" when you are faithful to Christ. He wants you to honor Him with our bodies and our minds. You are His temples! <br />
<br />
You belong to Jesus. Loving Him first, others second, and ourselves last, will honor God. You are more than just flesh - you have a soul. If you're not faithful to Christ, He is available and knocking on the door of your body, so to speak, and you can invite Him back in by being sorry for your sins and going to Confession. The human body is a place where human life and love happen. The Spirit of God transforms your body into the grace of God which in turn moves you to pray and serve others. <br />
<br />
By taking care of our bodies, you are taking care of your wonderful Holy Spirit's temple. Because the Holy Spirit lives within you, He is with you wherever you go and whatever you do. You are joined with Him as one. The Holy Spirit knows your every word, every thought and every deed. He knows you, your strengths and your weaknesses. He knows your sinful acts and you good deeds and Heaven knows you better than you know yourself. <br />
<br />
In terms of our bodies, we need to be careful where it goes and what it does and make sure everything we do and say glorifies Him. It is our great responsibility to keep God's house clean because we can't expect God to live in an unclean temple. God does care what you have done or are doing with your body. He wants you to be the best person you can be since he has given you your gifts or talents, your abilities, your thoughts, your energy and opportunities. <br />
<br />
The Holy Spirit is a Person, one of the three Persons in one God. The Holy Spirit forms you in Christ's body when we get baptized. The purpose of the Holy Spirit is to build you up in the body of Christ to the glory of God. This happens by knowing God's Word, sharing in the other sacraments and virtues. This will help you grow spiritually and act according to what is good. Therefore, your body is meant for holiness in Christ since your body belongs to Christ. The power of the Holy Spirit is available when you need it. He is a great encourager. <br />
<br />
When you are filled with the Spirit, you are living in His presence, next to Christ. You can take up your Cross everyday and follow Jesus then. Wonderful things happen through your life when you're Spirit-filled. When you are filled with the Spirit, you have an attitude that you want to share the Good News of Christ. When you receive Communion, you are receiving the real presence of Christ so you are in Christ. You as a member of a Church, make up the Body of Christ. For where the Church is, there also is God's Spirit; where God's Spirit is, there is the Church and every grace. <br />
<br />
You can put on the Lord Jesus Christ and live a holy life, loving Him, honoring Him, pleasing Him, worshiping Him and enjoying His endless presence. You need to control what you think, see and hear. So you shouldn't think unclean thoughts, watch unclean movies and listen to bad language in shows and music. *You must choose not to do some things even if you like to do them - drugs, binge drinking, underage drinking, smoking, sex outside marriage - and only choose to do the things that will make your true Master happy. There is only one Master and you can't serve an addiction too. <br />
<br />
*Would you invite the Lord to a dirty, sexually explicit movie? Would you take the Lord to a public bar and ask Him to watch you get drunk? Would you cover your body with a whole bunch of tattoos and piercings? *Would you let your girlfriend/boyfriend do what he likes with your body and violate you? Would you take the temple of God and fill it with alcohol, illegal drugs, unhealthy food or cigarettes? <br />
<br />
Never! These things would be totally insulting to God. Don't play with immorality but rather run from it or it will destroy your soul. As a Catholic Christian, you should follow the examples of Jesus and live the way He did, avoiding things that dishonor or displease Him. The Bible is God's Word and it is clear on what is appropriate for your body and your mind. You just need to respond to the promptings of the Holy Spirit in your life by listening to Him and being obedient to God.What are parents to do?http://www.blogger.com/profile/12183397873932741932noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6562785316052037308.post-74113503614420226782010-06-04T10:19:00.000-07:002010-08-06T20:45:44.052-07:00TemptationTemptation<br />
*omit if not age appropriate<br />
<br />
"But Peter and the apostles said in reply, We must obey God rather than men." Acts 5:29<br />
<br />
"Blessed is the man who perseveres in temptation, for when he has proved he will receive the crown of life that he promised to those who love him." James 1:12 <br />
<br />
"Watch and pray that you may not undergo the test. The spirit is willing, but the flesh is weak." Matthew 26:41<br />
<br />
"No trial has come to you but what is human. God is faithful and will not let you be tried beyond your strength; but with the trial he will also provide a way out, so that you may be able to bear it." 1 Corinthians 10:13<br />
<br />
"Therefore, since we have a great high priest who has passed through the heavens, Jesus, the Son of God, let us hold fast to our confession. For we do not have a high priest who is unable to sympathize with our weaknesses, but one who has similarily been tested in every way, yet without sin." Hebrews 4:14-15<br />
<br />
Temptation is when you are drawn to something or someone and you have a desire to do something (usually something evil or sinful) because you think that there is a pleasure or an advantage in finally getting the thing you want. During your lifetime on earth, it is as if you are on an island surrounded by temptation. When you are faced with temptation, God gives you the freedom to choose how you will react. And the only sure way for us to not give in to sin is for us to "put out" that temptation while it is just a thought. For sinful thoughts later become sinful actions. Your sin will always find you out or come back to you. Even if no one here on earth sees you commit your sin, God sees it. You can't hide any sin from God no matter how clever you think you are. And you will have to give an accounting to God one day when you die. So you have to have the power to overcome temptation before it turns into sin. <br />
<br />
Life is a series of choices and you are faced with them daily. Things we choose are the things that are the most important to us. If we don't think about our lives and decide and clarify what's most important to us, we'll end up wasting it. We will face many temptations in life. God allows us the freedom to choose how we respond. We can overcome temptation with God's help. The Devil, also know as Satan, is the enemy. He exists all around us and especially can show up the closer you get to God. He roams around like a fierce lion. God gives you the escape route, but you have to move yourself away from the tempting situation. Are you willing to serve and worship God only? You can either do what others want you to do or do what God wants. We may get laughed at or put down but that shouldn't stop us from doing what we know is the right thing to do. God's ways are much higher than ours, Just shrug and say "Who cares what they think?" as God will give you the strength to stand up and be a witness to God. It makes God happy when we choose Him and His ways over what the world says. God's ways are so different than the world's ways. Something might seem right on the surface, and evil too often appears as good. But it's really lies that may seem like the truth to you. <br />
<br />
At first temptation whispers, "Come get me. You will love what I have to offer. I will make you happy and satisfy your needs." But then later that same temptation will call out to you, saying, "Look at you. You're worthless. You're weak. You're pathetic. You are nothing but a loser." Temptation is like poison covered in candy coating. We know it is better to avoid things that will harm us. Sin will harm us but sometimes it is not easy to see sin for what it is. Like the forbidden fruit that Eve was tempted to eat, sin may look "pleasant to the eyes" and may satisfy our desires, but it is not good for us. So how do we overcome temptation? Run away from it.. Turn your eyes when you see it coming. Call on the Lord.<br />
Sometimes the biggest sins start out very small. You might think, "I'll just go along for the ride. I'm not going to do anything." Then you end up being part of some criminal activity with your buddies. Or maybe you think, "I can handle myself. I know when to quit." And then you end up in a situation too deep, unable to quit even though down deep you want to. Temptation is like fire. And if you play with fire, you are going to get burned and lead to a blazing fire, destroying everything in its path. You can get deeper and deeper into sin and farther and farther away from God. <br />
<br />
*This world and the people in it encourages us to cover up sin and evil. We try to cover up the sin of alcoholism and drug use by calling it a "disease" or an "addiction." If we fornicate or commit adultery and become pregnant, we try to cover up our sin by having an abortion so that we can kill our baby, and the world has given us the legal right to do so. If you want to disobey God's standards of what a normal relationship is and instead have a homosexual relationship, the world helps you to cover it up by calling it an "alternative lifestyle." <br />
<br />
Sin carries with it a price that you do not want to have to pay! For example, a person who commits a crime may ask for and receive forgiveness from God, yet still have to serve the sentence given by the courtroom judge. And you will have to live with the choice you made. Do you sit and ponder whether you can get away with something and about how fun the sin will be? If so, it is no wonder that you struggle and give in to temptation. You need to put God and your relationship with God first! If you do, you will not be so likely to fall when you are tempted. There may be some people that you need to stop spending time with. There might be a hobby or pursuit that you need to quit doing. *Maybe you have a computer that is making you stumble. Remember, sometimes just one look is all it takes. So be cautious about where you set your eyes, and be on guard so that you can overcome temptation and lust. <br />
<br />
Jesus is our example of how to overcome temptation. Jesus was tempted as we are but he never sinned. <br />
No matter what the ungodly are telling you what to think and do, it is better to stand up for Jesus and the truth of God's word. God will show you the truth and counsel you and let you see the difference between lies and the real truth. You need to be on guard and recognize if something is of God or of Satan. Remember Christ in you is greater than Satan in the world. Many times you'll want to give in to how you feel, even thinking it's not that bad because it seems "everyone" is doing it. You can be easily fooled that something seems alright because Satan has a way of disguising it. <br />
<br />
Instead of going by what you feel, you should go with what God says to do in His Word. You need to react against what you feel is the natural thing to do. You might feel that you should lie so you don't get into trouble, take something you want that is not yours, or say mean things because someone said mean things to you. Instead, you need to love your enemies, bless those who persecute or hurt you, turn the other cheek. Satan loves to tempt you to do things you shouldn't, but you can pray to Jesus to help you since he knows what it is like to be tempted. You need to walk in His ways and be firmly grounded in His Word. And let me warn you, this is usually not the easiest or most popular place to be. In fact, most of the time, it is difficult. That is why you must be prepared or sin will conquer. So don't walk down the wrong path and come under bad influence. If you ask God to help you, He will help you escape temptation and do the right thing. May God help you to make the right choice!What are parents to do?http://www.blogger.com/profile/12183397873932741932noreply@blogger.com0