Matthew 22:37-39

"Love the Lord your God with all your heart and all your soul and all your mind.  This is the first and greatest commandment.  And the second is this: Love your neighbor as yourself."  ~Matthew 22:37-39

This is the Verse of the Day today, and it is quite appropriate for what's weighing heavy on my heart:  Bullying. 

Last night I found a publicly posted situation between two of the kids from the youth group, and it broke my heart.  I'm not going into any further detail than that, but man.... it's a prime example of the hypocracy in Christianity that is such a turn-off to so many others!  How does someone who's raised in a loving, Christian household with kind and gentle parents resort to public humiliation and slander for entertainment?  How does gossip really, truly make you feel better about anything you do? 

Choosing to call yourself Christian and then choosing actions motivated by anything LESS than Christ's love is a travesty to Christianity.  It's a false, absurd, distorted representation of what Matthew writes, of what Jesus teaches us. 

I've said it before and I'll say it again.  You NEVER know when your actions or inactions may affect someone's life, for the better or worse.  You may be the last person they speak with before they decide to end their life.  You may be the person they speak with that helps them change their mind about ending their life.  You may be the person they speak with who turns them off once and for all from what they think is a joke-of-a-Christian.  You may be the person they speak with who helps them see that Christianity is no joke. 

"Love your neighbor as yourself."  That doesn't mean look in the mirror and tell yourself that you're a bitch or a slut (and I'm quoting that).  It means looking at those around you and saying the same thing you'd say if you were looking in a mirror..."You look good today." "That outfit compliments your figure." "Your hair looks really nice.".... You get the idea! 

None of us are perfect, but we can definitely make a more concious effort each and every day.  That's a direct order from J.C. right there.  Forget wondering how someone sleeps at night after tearing someone down.... they've got to work to make things right between themselves and God. 

The Logan Foundation

Shortly before Christmas 2013 my friend lost her son to a very tragic suicide.  He lived with his father and stepmother in another state, and it's been.... an experience beyond words for her.

In Logan's memory, she has managed to establish two non-profit organizations over the last 6 weeks!  One of them is to build a loving, safe, supportive network to help stop teen suicide.  The other is to raise funds for a park in Logan's name. 

Please visit The Logan Foundation website for more information and for donation and volunteer opportunities!
 

The starting cost for a park to be built/dedicated is around $50,000.  *wince*  It sounds like a lot, well, because it is!  Any little bit helps. 
~
Suicide is no joke.  It's not taboo.  It's real.  It's a discussion that needs to be had.  It's a subject that can't be brushed to the side or hidden in the closet.  TALK ABOUT IT.  I promise you, if someone is truly suicidal, you bringing it up - out of genuine concern - is not going to make them follow through.  Discussing it with someone who battles depression will not push them over the edge or plant the idea to end their own life. 

Don't be a mannequin in someones life.  Take an active role.  Open that line of communication, and leave it open! 

It might save someones life.

A Year Ago, this Month....

... I thought life was good.  I was actively involved in my church's youth ministries and music ministries.  I was helping to plan the senior high retreat and confirmation mass, and was asked to be confirmation sponsor for a fantastic young man who was the perfect confirmande, and I had a (lying, cheating, abusive, ex)boyfriend who I thought loved me.  We all know where I am now, nothing left from everything that was so right just 12 months ago.  (except a few friends who help to define "unconditional love" and my family.  These people make me cry just thinking about how much they love me, and how they helped me to stay strong while I heal my brokenness)

This month, particularly the end of December and beginning of January, has been particularly trying. 

I've been finding comfort in the company of a few choice people, and some great God-songs.  Take My Hand, by The Kry, and Draw Me Close, from the Ultimate Worship Collection.  Literally, listening to these two songs on repeat one for the last few weeks, and it's amazing - no matter how angry, upset, hurt, frustrated, I am, when these songs come on, everything just melts away. 

I'm just on my break right now, I can't access any of the media sharing websites to hyperlink these songs right now, but do yourself a favor & look 'em up.  Download them.  They will make you feel so much better - even if you don't think you're feeling poorly, you'd be amazed at how much these words help and heal! 

There's a Book of Titus?!

"For the grace of God has appeard that offers salvation to all people.  It teaches us to say 'NO' to ungodliness and worldly passions, and to live in self-controlled, upright, and godly lives in this present age." ~Titus 2:11-12

This was the verse of the day today, and I had to do a double check - I had no clue that the bible had a Book of Titus!  *palm-forehead*  Guess I'd better brush up on The Good Book!!! 

Either way, these are wonderful words to live by.  While part of me says "I wish I'd have stuck closer to these words this time last year!" there's the other part of me that says "You thought you were, and you thought he (who shall not be named) was The One." (foolish!)  At the time, I made a decision based on what I thought was true.  The ultimate price wasn't worth it.  Now I'm left with a 20/20 hindsight, and a lot of humble "I'm sorry's" to say, and a lot more healing left to do, for all parties involved. 

Part of that healing process for me is getting back to church on a regular basis.  It's really hard to go back to my church, a place where I still feel most at home, and not be a part of, well, anything. 

New Year's Eve I found myself at church, just wanting some one-on-one time with my buddy J.C.  I was hoping, praying that the church would be open for something and I'd be able to sneak into the sanctuary and just.... just be.  Well, I walked in to Fr. Ed asking me if I was there for mass.  HA!  Guess my prayers were answered!  The church was opened, and I'd get to spend a whole lot of time with J.C!  It wasn't alone time, but that's okay.  It was more good healing time for me.  And I saw some familiar faces who welcomed me with open arms, and I can't tell you how much that meant.  Beyond words. 

When I went to light a candle, for the many people who lost loved ones this holiday season, I realized I was doing the right things, taking the right steps, and in the right place.... someone had playfully arranged the candles, and I could see, quite evidently, that God was smiling at me.

On the First Day of Christmas

My True Love Gave to Me... a Partridge in a Pear Tree!

Do you know that the 12 days of Christmas are actually December 26th to January 6th?  Do you know that the poem-turned-carol was originally written to continue passing on the traditions of the Catholic church in Protestand England? 

The True Love who is bestowing gifts upon us is God.  The Partridge in a Pear Tree is Jesus, as He was given to us on Christmas.  Here's the full list of the meanings:

Two Turtle Doves - Old & New Testament
Three French Hens - Faith, Hope, Love
Four Calling Birds - the Gospels - Matthew, Mark, Luke, & John
Five Gold Rings - Five books of the Old Testament, which describe man's fall into sin & the Love of God in giving us Jesus
Six Geese a-Laying - the 6 days of creation
Seven Swans a-Swimming - sevenfold gifts of the Holy Spirit (prophesy, Serving, Teaching, Exhoration, Contribution, Leadership, and Mercy
Eight Maids a-Milking - the eight beatitudes
Nine Ladies Dancing - nine fruits of the Holy Spirit (Charit, Joy, Peac, Patience, Goodness, Mildness, Fidelity, Modesty, and Connectivity)
Ten Lords a-Leaping - the Ten Commandments
Eleven Pipers Piping - the 11 faithful apostles
Twelve Drummers - the twelve points of belief in the Apostle's Creed.

Just some food for thought on this First Day of Christmas!

Gifts of the Spirit, I hear you LOUD & CLEAR!

1 Corinthians 12

New International Version (NIV)

Concerning Spiritual Gifts

12 Now about the gifts of the Spirit, brothers and sisters, I do not want you to be uninformed. ² You know that when you were pagans, somehow or other you were influenced and led astray to mute idols. ³ Therefore I want you to know that no one who is speaking by the Spirit of God says, “Jesus be cursed,” and no one can say, “Jesus is Lord,” except by the Holy Spirit.

⁴ There are different kinds of gifts, but the same Spirit distributes them. ⁵ There are different kinds of service, but the same Lord. ⁶ There are different kinds of working, but in all of them and in everyone it is the same God at work.
⁷ Now to each one the manifestation of the Spirit is given for the common good. ⁸ To one there is given through the Spirit a message of wisdom, to another a message of knowledge by means of the same Spirit, ⁹ to another faith by the same Spirit, to another gifts of healing by that one Spirit, ¹⁰ to another miraculous powers, to another prophecy, to another distinguishing between spirits, to another speaking in different kinds of tongues,^[a] and to still another the interpretation of tongues.^{[b] 11} All these are the work of one and the same Spirit, and he distributes them to each one, just as he determines.

This is one of the most comforting verses for me, mainly because of the Soul Cries I hear, feel, see, experience.... I had a minister at a non-denominational church try to tell me that my Soul Cries, my gifts of wisdom, knowledge, Faith, and understanding "tongues" (aka the Homily in Norwegian when I don't speak a lick of it) were from a demon, trying to hide in the cloak of Catholicism.  HA!  It's more like his words were that of the devil trying to faulter my beliefs!

Hm.  Well, that being said, what I really wanted to write about is how I have been having Soul Cries like crazy.  I'm not going to share them here, not just yet, but yeah... even though I haven't been at church regularly since the summer, my Faith is in tact, and I have left myself opened, ready, and willing to receiving whatever the Spirit is willing to give! 

Know that I will be in contact with any one of you if your name falls on my heart.  The Spirit has put it there for a reason.

A Healing Prayer Through Worship

My mom's cousin - I believe that makes her my second cousin once removed, right? - is dying, she's fought long and hard with the cancer that has infected her body.  She finds comfort in the Lord's Prayer, in this amazing, worship-filled, meditation of the Lord's Prayer.  I really don't have much else to say about it right now, as I am moved by the Spirit to tears every time I read it.... I just need to share it with you all!

A Prayer of Healing through Worship

Heavenly Father,

We come into Your presence to love and adore You.

Thank You for Your love and Your desire for union with us.

We welcome all that You wish to do through

this healing prayer. We open ourselves to communication with You and Jesus through the ministry of the Holy Spirit. Come Holy Spirit, anoint us with healing so deep it reaches back into our blood line; with

healing so wide it impacts our friends and relatives;

with healing so high it draws us into Your holiness.

Holy Spirit, come with Your fire.

Our Father Which Art In Heaven---

Father God,

by Your grace I come to You with all that I am

and all that I ever hope to be.

I am Your child born of Your love.

Jesus brought me into Your presence.

You alone satisfy my soul.

You in me and I in You;

this is the path of healing for my soul.

By Your grace I come into Your presence

with simple, trusting assurance, certain

of Your love for me. In Your presence all

fear and insecurity melt away and deep hurts

become healing memories. In Your presence

I am strengthened and filled with hope. Father

in heaven, I breathe the breath of heaven

deep inside my spirit. Your heaven flows

through me. May the light of Your glory be

present with me throughout this day.

I love You Father.

Hallowed Be Thy Name---

Father,

I choose to live this one precious life in a

way that honors Your holy name. You call me

to worship, and I come. Oh Father, let all

that is within me cry holy. Let every wound

of my past dissolve in the light of Your

wonderful presence. Turn my weaknesses into

strengths, my failures into victories, my sorrows

into joy. Perfect all that concerns me as I

gaze upon Your holiness.

Thy Kingdom Come---

Father,

Your kingdom of love is in my heart.

It is not I who live but Christ who lives

in me. I am identified with my risen Lord

Jesus and Your kingdom is established in my

spirit. In coming to know Jesus, I am

discovering who I am, Precious Lord. Your

kingdom has come into my emotions,

and they are in a healthy balance.

Your kingdom has come into my mind,

and it is sanctified. Your kingdom

has come into my body, and I am becoming

healthy. Your kingdom rules my heart, and

I live a life of richness and depth. Your

kingdom has come into my mouth, and I speak

words that heal and liberate. Because Your

kingdom rules my life I am resilient and

filled with hope in all circumstances.

Thy Will Be Done---

Father in heaven,

unite my will with that of Your son.

Thank You for giving me a spirit of

submission, tender and open to the

Holy Spirit. In every circumstance I

commend myself to Your grace and choose

what is pleasing to You. Father,

I delight to do Your will. When I

lay my life before You and say "Thy

will be done," You receive it

as an act of worship. Wonderful Lord,

You have come tenderly into the deepest

struggles of my life and whispered, "Just

keep your eyes on Me. Trust Me to take

care of you." You have come into my

broken heart and made it a place of worship.

You have drawn me to praise You when

everything in my world was in ashes.

You have called me to trust beyond all

reason. I lay my life upon the altar of

Your love and say with joy in my soul,

"Thy will be done." Jesus, I trust in You.

On Earth As It Is In Heaven---

Father,

my heart beats with Your heart

for me to live in Christ.

Thank You, Holy Spirit,

for bringing my life into harmony

with heaven. Thank You, Holy Spirit,

for teaching me how to walk with

Jesus in His resurrected life. Thank

You, that the attitudes of heaven

are my attitudes. I think Your

thoughts and walk in Your presence.

I carry the light of Heaven wherever I go.

Give Us This Day Our Daily Bread---

Father,

you have always taken care of me, and

You always will. You give me what

I need each day and prepare for my

tomorrow. My faith is growing. Thank

You for my daily joy that draws me

to worship when sadness comes. Thank

You for Your healing balm that soothes

the day's aches and pains. Thank

You for Your perfect love that soaks

away my fear. Your tender daily

care in every area of need draws me

to my knees in worship. Thank You

for walking with me day by day.

In our growing friendship You have

never failed me, ever. I love You,

Father. I love You, Jesus, Bread

of Heaven. I love You, Holy Spirit.

Forgive Us Our Debts---

Father,

thank You for Your gift of mercy in my life;

Your mercy that reaches my heart, because I have

forgiven those who hurt me. I confess my sins and

receive forgiveness. I am free from condemnation

and safely united to You. Your truth has made me free.

I love You Father.

As We Forgive Our Debtors---

Father,

by the grace of the cross I let go of

bitterness resentment and unforgiveness.

If there are hidden roots of unforgiveness,

thank You for shining Your light on them.

I entrust this area to You. Thank You, for

turning injury into compassion and hurts

into intercessions. Forgiveness brings

heaven to earth. I love You, Father---

And Lead Us Not Into Temptation---

Thank You, Father,

for keeping me on a path that leads to holiness.

With Your grace I see temptation when it comes,

and brush it off the path. Your love is stronger

than the urge to sin. Thank You for healing any

areas of my soul that might be vulnerable to temptation.

Jesus, You are my Shepherd and my hiding place. You

guide me to safe pastures. I am responsive to the

voice of the Holy Spirit who warns me of trouble ahead.

Thank You, Father. I Love You.

But Deliver Us From Evil---

Father,

Thank You for protecting me from every evil and for

bringing me a gift of peace. You have broken the chain

of oppression, delivered me from depression, anger, guilt,

and fear. At the name of Jesus every knee shall bow;

addictions, perversions, hopelessness, worthlessness,

loneliness and despair must bend their knee to the

name of Jesus. I cast down every argument and every

high thing in me that exalts itself against the

knowledge of God. I bring every thought into captivity

to the obedience of Christ. Thank You for giving me

the power over all the power of the enemy. Nothing

shall hurt me. You have given me a spirit of praise

and worship, which is my strength in the face of the

enemy. Thank You for Your armor, Your name, Your blood,

Your Spirit. No weapon formed against me shall prosper.

Thank You Father. I love You.

For Thine Is The Kingdom.. And The Power.. And The Glory Forever

Father,

every gift You have given me, every dream, every talent,

every possession, every resource and hope for the future,

I return to You with love. All is Yours.

May Your name be glorified, may Your kingdom come.

Take Lord, receive, All my liberty, My memory,

my understanding, my entire will. All that I have

and possess. You have given all to me; To You,

O' Lord, I return it. All is Yours. Dispose of it

wholly according to You will. Give me Your love

and Your grace, for this is sufficient for me.

Amen!!