Brave

I've recently stumbled across [thanks to JoyFM] this older song "Brave" by Nichole Nordeman. The first time I heard it I simply liked the beat and thought it was catchy, then the past couple of times I've heard it have been perfectly placed and exactly what I needed to hear at that moment, thank you God. So I just wanted to [re]introduce you to this lovely song :)

And here are the lyrics if you like to follow along while you listen to a new song....I know I like to do that :D

Well it isn't letting me copy and paste so here is a link to lyrics.

I hope this songs speaks to you as it has to me. Peace.

Agony in the Garden

WEEDING.

If you have a garden, it must be done. It isn’t much fun to do, people usually put it off way to long, and then they dread having to spend ALL day (or two or three) outside working to restore their once beautiful garden. I’ve had my fair share of weeding time this summer, so I speak from personal experience.

Weeding is necessary because it allows the plants who were chosen to be in the garden to grow and flourish. It eliminates the competition. Allowing the plants to have full access to the nutrients they need to live. If one does not weed a garden, the weeds choke, bind, and overgrow the plants that are supposed to be in the garden. The plants will then either stop growing or die all together, neither of which is what the gardener intended.

Similarly, as Catholics we need to remember to weed the garden of our souls. Confession is a powerful Sacrament, by which our gardens are beautified once again. Through confession, we eliminate the competition for our love. All sins and idols are removed; we are released from their grasp. God frees us so that we may now live, totally and completely for Him. Giving Him all of our love, and using of all the gifts He bestowed on us to further His kingdom. If we choose not to go to confession, we are allowing ourselves to be held captive and choked by the weeds that have entered our garden.

Weeding is not always easy, the ground can be dry and hard or it could be super soft from rain. When the ground is hard and dry, it is easy to simply pull the tops off of the weeds. You can no longer see anything sticking out of the ground, so the problem has been eliminated right? Well, not quite. Your garden may look good for a few days or weeks but come back a month later and it is all over grown again! Talk about frustrating!! However, if you put in the extra work and time to dig down a little bit and discover the root of the weed, you can pull the whole thing up! And with the whole weed pulled up, your garden will flourish greatly!

Similarly, it is difficult at times to get yourself to confession. Why go? I’ve told God that I am sorry, and I truly am, so why do I need to go to confession? Why, because through the Sacrament of confession God pours grace upon grace on your garden. He gives you to tools needed to get down to the root of the weeds, and the strength to pull them up. With God’s grace moistening your garden, and the proper tools in hand, it will be much easier to remove the next weeds that spring up in your garden.

The longer you wait, the harder your ground becomes. So don’t put off weeding your garden!

Allow God to rain His graces upon you to beautify your soul once again!!

A Little Something I learned at Bible Study

Hello again! So this post is interactive, meaning you are going to need to put forth a slight bit of effort. So go grab your Bible and then continue on!

Slowly read Acts 5:12-42, and then continue.

Woah. Sounds like the apostles were having a bit of a rough time, to say the least. They were simply going about their daily life; preaching and healing when they were throw in jail for following the commands of God. They did not despair. The apostles had hope and faith that God would rescue them; they did not worry or fear they simply trusted.

And God rescued them indeed! They were led out of the jail and commanded to go and tell all people about their new way of life. When it was noticed that the apostles were missing from their cell and instead found in the temple, the high priest questioned them, “We gave you strict orders to stop teaching in that name. Yet, you have filled Jerusalem with your teaching and want to bring this man’s blood upon us.” ~Acts 5:28. To which they replied, “We must obey God, not man.” ~Acts 5:29

Gamaliel then spoke to the people, bidding them to be careful about what they do to these men. Saying, “have nothing to do with these men, and let them go. For if this endeavor is of human origin, it will destroy itself. But if it comes from God, you will not be able to destroy them; you may even find yourselves fighting against God.” ~Acts 5:38-39

So, the apostles were flogged and dismissed. And upon their departure they were “rejoicing that they had been found worthy to suffer dishonor for the sake of the name.” ~Act 5:41

In this life we are called to imitate the apostles; and that is one tremendous task! We are called to share our faith with all of those around us, knowing that it will not always be peaches and cream, that we will face persecution and opposition. But instead of backing down or despairing we are called to live boldly, knowing that the truth will indeed set us free. And set free, you will always be when you learn to obey God rather than man.

In a reflection by the “A to Z Guide to Bible Application” it is written, ‘Faith in God does not make troubles disappear. Rather, it makes troubles appear less fearsome because it puts them in the right perspective. You cannot expect everyone to react favorably when you share something as dynamic as your faith in Christ. But remember that you must be more concerned about God’s reactions than people’s.’ <--Epic win!

The high priest did not want the apostles to be teaching or ‘bringing this man’s blood upon us.’ However that is EXACTLY what we are called to do. To teach, by example and words, the way of Christ and to bring His blood upon everyone, for in Christ’s blood alone are we purified.

Troubles will arise, opposition will be had; but fall on God and you will be upheld. For what is of God, no matter how brutally or consistently attacked, will stand forever. You will not be destroyed if God is your center.

And when you are attacked, REJOICE! For as the apostles, you have been found worthy to suffer dishonor for the sake of Christ!! You were chosen from all people, because God knows that you have what it takes to withstand the hurricane of suffering. He knows this because you, His chosen one, do not have only yourself but you also have Him. And not only do you have Him, you have faith and trust that He has you, cradled in the palm of His hand; where He is and will be watching over you forever.

Life cycle of a Christian disciple:


Go out and live!
Peace