It's raining right now, as it has been for the past three days. Rain is a sign of God's grace, a free gift of love that He gives to us as a sign of His ongoing love for us. It washes the earth, cleaning what was dirty and making it new. It softens the earth, preparing it to receive the seeds of love. It waters those seeds, allowing them to grow and then to bear fruit. Sometimes this rain falls gently, so that one hardly even notices it. Other times it falls so heavy that one cannot doubt its presence and is soon soaked and if caught unaware, even swept away by it.
Those who do not know that this is God's special love may choose to cover themselves up and hide away from the rain. Those who do know set barrels or bowls out to catch it. They run and play in it, splashing in the puddles that collect in the holes which were once a danger but are now filled and healed with God's love - turned into something useful. Others simply watch, marveling at its beauty and power.
Those who are not thankful for the rain today will later miss it when the earth grows parched for lack of it, and the summer's heat bakes them because it is untempered by the mercy of the cooling rain. Water is one of life's great miracles, but it is also one which we most often take for granted, failing to see it as the marvel it truly is.
Saturday, March 14, 2009
God Doesn't Make Junk
Journal entry from January 21, 2009
Last night, for the first time in two months, Randy and I dialogued. It felt so good. The question was how the statement, "God doesn't make junk" made us feel. For the first time in our relationship, my husband wrote that he now believes this is true. He has felt worthless for so many years, and I watned so badly for him to see himself as worthwhile. I knew if he could just believe in God's love for him, it would happen. I praise God I have been here to witness this. What greater gift can I have than a husband who sees himself as worthwhile, for out of that fountain of grace he will fidn the courage to become all that God intends him to be.
This is the 20th day of having prayed a daily rosary. I have not yet prayed it for today, but I will. It fills me with joy to know that I have been able to live up to this devotion and pledge. How sweet the rewards that have come of faithfulness.
Interesting note: a friend of mine was at morning mass today and I shared with her my husband's conversion. She joked "watch him become a deacon" and then told me the story of Augustine who was confirmed, ordained, and became a bishop all on the same day! I am seeing strong signs pointing towards this path for my husband. God seems to be moving him along very rapidly.
Last night, for the first time in two months, Randy and I dialogued. It felt so good. The question was how the statement, "God doesn't make junk" made us feel. For the first time in our relationship, my husband wrote that he now believes this is true. He has felt worthless for so many years, and I watned so badly for him to see himself as worthwhile. I knew if he could just believe in God's love for him, it would happen. I praise God I have been here to witness this. What greater gift can I have than a husband who sees himself as worthwhile, for out of that fountain of grace he will fidn the courage to become all that God intends him to be.
This is the 20th day of having prayed a daily rosary. I have not yet prayed it for today, but I will. It fills me with joy to know that I have been able to live up to this devotion and pledge. How sweet the rewards that have come of faithfulness.
Interesting note: a friend of mine was at morning mass today and I shared with her my husband's conversion. She joked "watch him become a deacon" and then told me the story of Augustine who was confirmed, ordained, and became a bishop all on the same day! I am seeing strong signs pointing towards this path for my husband. God seems to be moving him along very rapidly.
Pride
Journal Entry: February 7, 2009
Pride. My adversary, my achilles heel. It is what causes me to stumble so often in my efforts to serve, for I long for recognitino and worldly approval. What good is it to do my good works for the Lord and then trumpet them around as if I were so marvelous?
Blessed be Father Patrick. His advise to me in confession was so wonderful. He told me that when I am being praised for doing a good deed, let it be an encouragement for me to do even better the next time. He said such praise confirms that the Lord is using you to touch the life of another, and it is a sign that your steps are on the right path. It does not, however, mean that you should stay where you are but rather use it as a means to grow even closer in your walk with the Lord.
How blessed I am to be a member of St. Ann's, where I have regular access to such a holy priest. What a tender spiritual director he has been over this past year, shepherding me from my sins into a place where I am stronger in my faith than I have ever been.
In my pride, I sometimes find myself observing where others are in their walk and judging them for it. Yet I remember today that if they had received half of the graces, prayers, and guidance that I had received they might well be much further along in their journey than I am - look at my husband, for example! He has received a small fraction of what I was given and alraedy bears fruits of great holiness.
Last night, instead of going to the Apostolate as I should have, I took Eddie to see the Tale of Despereaux. On the way home, I bought a pregnancy test 2-pack and Eddie wanted to purchase a nerf gun with his gift card. His gift card, though, ended up having only $0.61 on it. I paid for the gun since his father and I had borrowed money from him anyway. The total came out to nearly $60. I know we did not have that money to spend, but because I did owe it to Eddie, is it not equally important to pay that debt to him?
At any rate, the pregnancy test came out negative. I am almost a week late, but I will wait until the 10th to take it again and then I will try to see a doctor. If I am not pregnant, something may be wrong.
Last night, before bed we said our family prayers. This morning before Randy left to go to his first retreat, we went to Mass together as a family. How beautiful it is to walk together as a family with the Lord.
Pride. My adversary, my achilles heel. It is what causes me to stumble so often in my efforts to serve, for I long for recognitino and worldly approval. What good is it to do my good works for the Lord and then trumpet them around as if I were so marvelous?
Blessed be Father Patrick. His advise to me in confession was so wonderful. He told me that when I am being praised for doing a good deed, let it be an encouragement for me to do even better the next time. He said such praise confirms that the Lord is using you to touch the life of another, and it is a sign that your steps are on the right path. It does not, however, mean that you should stay where you are but rather use it as a means to grow even closer in your walk with the Lord.
How blessed I am to be a member of St. Ann's, where I have regular access to such a holy priest. What a tender spiritual director he has been over this past year, shepherding me from my sins into a place where I am stronger in my faith than I have ever been.
In my pride, I sometimes find myself observing where others are in their walk and judging them for it. Yet I remember today that if they had received half of the graces, prayers, and guidance that I had received they might well be much further along in their journey than I am - look at my husband, for example! He has received a small fraction of what I was given and alraedy bears fruits of great holiness.
Last night, instead of going to the Apostolate as I should have, I took Eddie to see the Tale of Despereaux. On the way home, I bought a pregnancy test 2-pack and Eddie wanted to purchase a nerf gun with his gift card. His gift card, though, ended up having only $0.61 on it. I paid for the gun since his father and I had borrowed money from him anyway. The total came out to nearly $60. I know we did not have that money to spend, but because I did owe it to Eddie, is it not equally important to pay that debt to him?
At any rate, the pregnancy test came out negative. I am almost a week late, but I will wait until the 10th to take it again and then I will try to see a doctor. If I am not pregnant, something may be wrong.
Last night, before bed we said our family prayers. This morning before Randy left to go to his first retreat, we went to Mass together as a family. How beautiful it is to walk together as a family with the Lord.
Sunday, February 8, 2009
Sunday's Grace
This morning marks 1 full month and 8 days straight of praying the Rosary. I woke up this morning and was tempted to read, but instead made a concious decision to prioritize my life around God.
I spent time in prayer, then woke Eddie and we walked to Mass at nooon. I used that time to pray for Eddie, for Randy, and for me. Last night, I had prepared today's meal, and put that meal on keep warm before I left home. We were able to get a ride home from my CRHP sister Ruth, which was such a blessing, and it was so nice to be able to eat without working.
I did spend $10 on a raffle ticket for $10,000. However, the proceeds benefit the Highlands School so that even if I do not win I know that good works will be done for the Lord with that money. 25% of the winnings must be paid in taxes up front, so really it would only be a prize of $7500 but it would go a very long way in helping us to get out of debt and into financial freedom.
I started today. With it came a bitter sort of grief that truly made me feel unity with poor Job. Yet, in the midst of this bitterness I stopped and offered my anguish, grief, and sorrow to Jesus that my pain might, in some small way, be used as reparations for my sins and those of the whole world. This grief and sorrow is a heavy cross, but no heavier than the cross of our Lord.
I spent time in prayer, then woke Eddie and we walked to Mass at nooon. I used that time to pray for Eddie, for Randy, and for me. Last night, I had prepared today's meal, and put that meal on keep warm before I left home. We were able to get a ride home from my CRHP sister Ruth, which was such a blessing, and it was so nice to be able to eat without working.
I did spend $10 on a raffle ticket for $10,000. However, the proceeds benefit the Highlands School so that even if I do not win I know that good works will be done for the Lord with that money. 25% of the winnings must be paid in taxes up front, so really it would only be a prize of $7500 but it would go a very long way in helping us to get out of debt and into financial freedom.
I started today. With it came a bitter sort of grief that truly made me feel unity with poor Job. Yet, in the midst of this bitterness I stopped and offered my anguish, grief, and sorrow to Jesus that my pain might, in some small way, be used as reparations for my sins and those of the whole world. This grief and sorrow is a heavy cross, but no heavier than the cross of our Lord.
Thursday, January 29, 2009
Project Judith
Yesterday, ice and 20 degree temps kept my son out of school and me at home. This morning was very heavy with fog and there were patches of ice on the sidewalks, but otherwise it was a good walk. I have prayed the rosary as of this morning for 29 days in a row.
For the past couple of days, I have felt the urge to make a whole gift of myself to the Lord - to consecrate myself entirely to Him for His purposes. Last night, I was praying again for this and then asked God to show me the words He had for me. I opened it up to the Gospel passage about Peter's denial of Christ. It seemed to me that Christ was asking me whether I truly thought I was strong enough, faithful enough, ready enough for the cup of suffering that would come as a result. I know myself, and I know that I am a much weaker person even than Peter was, so I told the Lord that though I knew I was not strong enough, nor faithful enough, nor ready enough if He would only lend me His strength to face the coming ordeals, I would not disappoint Him.
I think this must have pleased the Lord, for this morning His word opened to the Book of Judith. One woman, her maidservant, and the Lord face an army bent on destroying the people of the Lord and emerge victorious. Evil holds the people of America in sway, and they cannot fight it for they are deluded by it.
For the past couple of days, I have felt the urge to make a whole gift of myself to the Lord - to consecrate myself entirely to Him for His purposes. Last night, I was praying again for this and then asked God to show me the words He had for me. I opened it up to the Gospel passage about Peter's denial of Christ. It seemed to me that Christ was asking me whether I truly thought I was strong enough, faithful enough, ready enough for the cup of suffering that would come as a result. I know myself, and I know that I am a much weaker person even than Peter was, so I told the Lord that though I knew I was not strong enough, nor faithful enough, nor ready enough if He would only lend me His strength to face the coming ordeals, I would not disappoint Him.
I think this must have pleased the Lord, for this morning His word opened to the Book of Judith. One woman, her maidservant, and the Lord face an army bent on destroying the people of the Lord and emerge victorious. Evil holds the people of America in sway, and they cannot fight it for they are deluded by it.
Tuesday, January 20, 2009
The Battle Rages On
Today is Barrack Obama's inaguration as President of the United States. In some senses, it is a victory for us as a nation for we have our first African American president. For we who are Christian and pro-life, it is the gravest tragedy, however - a sounding of the end to any hint of moderation and an open declaration of intent to not just continue but increase the bloodshed which has been going on since 1973. Fifty million babies aborted in the US alone - an entire NATION put to death for the crime of having been conceived and nothing more. Worldwide the figure is 859 million and growing. My heart grieves for the world. I know God will not permit this to continue indefinitely.
On a much happier note, last night my husband suggested - on his own & without my prompting - that he start getting up when I do, we make the bed together, and then pray together. Praise God for all that He has done! He also told me that he intends to begin attending daily mass with me once he has been confirmed. WOW!! 19 days of praying the rosary.
On a much happier note, last night my husband suggested - on his own & without my prompting - that he start getting up when I do, we make the bed together, and then pray together. Praise God for all that He has done! He also told me that he intends to begin attending daily mass with me once he has been confirmed. WOW!! 19 days of praying the rosary.
Monday, January 19, 2009
Pray That You Can Be Made New
This weekend, my husband attended RCIA for the first time. Bill is coming over tonight so that he and Randy can get to know one another better and work on catching him up to speed. What a grace!
Last night, my husband revealed to me his anxieties about the future, and his feelings of inadequacy because he is unable to fully provide for us. I began to pray for him. During mass this morning, I got the message loud and clear: pray that you can be made new so that you can properly handle the prosperity I desire to pour into you.
Dear God,
I have heard your message to me and to my beloved. How well I know our need to be made new, crafted and fashioned in your image and likeness! Yet I also know that we have within us attachment to sin and wilfulness against obedience which hobbles us and prevents us from freely following you.
Lord, I desire to please you but my own desire for pleasure and comfort blinds my heart to the pains which my selfishness causes you. I am not ready to be made new because my heart is made of stone. So, Father, I do not ask you to give me prosperity, because I am all to o aware of my need to be made new for you. I do not ask you to make me new because my heart is not sincere in desire for this. I ask, instead, that you give me a heart to desire the changes I need to make to become new. I ask you to remove from me the selfishness that blinds me to the pain I cause you with my behavior. I ask you to teach me to be truly, sincerely contrite for my sins. I ask you to help me to clearly see the damage I do when sinning, not only to myself, but to others as well. I love you, Lord, but I do not love you as much as I should. Please change my heart so that I can be ready to be made new.
Love, your daughter,
Brandy
P.S. Please help me to have perfect trust in you.
Last night, my husband revealed to me his anxieties about the future, and his feelings of inadequacy because he is unable to fully provide for us. I began to pray for him. During mass this morning, I got the message loud and clear: pray that you can be made new so that you can properly handle the prosperity I desire to pour into you.
Dear God,
I have heard your message to me and to my beloved. How well I know our need to be made new, crafted and fashioned in your image and likeness! Yet I also know that we have within us attachment to sin and wilfulness against obedience which hobbles us and prevents us from freely following you.
Lord, I desire to please you but my own desire for pleasure and comfort blinds my heart to the pains which my selfishness causes you. I am not ready to be made new because my heart is made of stone. So, Father, I do not ask you to give me prosperity, because I am all to o aware of my need to be made new for you. I do not ask you to make me new because my heart is not sincere in desire for this. I ask, instead, that you give me a heart to desire the changes I need to make to become new. I ask you to remove from me the selfishness that blinds me to the pain I cause you with my behavior. I ask you to teach me to be truly, sincerely contrite for my sins. I ask you to help me to clearly see the damage I do when sinning, not only to myself, but to others as well. I love you, Lord, but I do not love you as much as I should. Please change my heart so that I can be ready to be made new.
Love, your daughter,
Brandy
P.S. Please help me to have perfect trust in you.
Friday, January 16, 2009
REJOICE!
Today I received great news! Monsignor Duesman has given my husband permission to receive his sacraments at Easter Vigil this year!! How great is our God! I cried I was so happy when I heard the news.
It is my 16th day of praying the rosary, my 16th day of living out my New Year's resolutions ( I made 20 of them). Last night, after paying the rent, we put $200 in the bank. On Randy's recommendation, I kept out $49 in cash for emergencies. I resisted the temptation to eat out and took the time to fix soup instead. I resisted the temptation to buy a book on the lives of the saints and spent time writing instead.
Today I find myself resisting the temptation to spend money celebrating, as I know that would only ultimately lead to sorrow and guilt later. Truthfully, I intend to put the money into our account so that I am not tempted to spend what I do not have. I also packed myself a lunch for the same reason. I am learning how to walk in ways that keep me safely away from my tree of temptation so that in all things I may please the Lord more and more each day.
It is my 16th day of praying the rosary, my 16th day of living out my New Year's resolutions ( I made 20 of them). Last night, after paying the rent, we put $200 in the bank. On Randy's recommendation, I kept out $49 in cash for emergencies. I resisted the temptation to eat out and took the time to fix soup instead. I resisted the temptation to buy a book on the lives of the saints and spent time writing instead.
Today I find myself resisting the temptation to spend money celebrating, as I know that would only ultimately lead to sorrow and guilt later. Truthfully, I intend to put the money into our account so that I am not tempted to spend what I do not have. I also packed myself a lunch for the same reason. I am learning how to walk in ways that keep me safely away from my tree of temptation so that in all things I may please the Lord more and more each day.
Thursday, January 15, 2009
Learning to Trust You
This morning, Ginger told me that she had put in for me to receive some additional money on my next check due to my willingness to be helpful with any project I'm given. I give all praise to God who is teaching me to have a true servant's heart and to be faithful in my work. She has no idea how much this extra will mean to us.
Today is my 15th day of keeping my New Year's resolutions. I have prayed the rosary each day, we have overdrafted the account only 5 times, eaten out only 3 times, I have only had 2 sodas, I have written an average of 175 words per night, and I have been progressing through the Preparation for Total Consecration again. We have also resisted taking out a new payday loan. I don't know how we will make ends meet, but I am trying to trust that God will provide for us. We are $2000 short of everything we need.
Today is my 15th day of keeping my New Year's resolutions. I have prayed the rosary each day, we have overdrafted the account only 5 times, eaten out only 3 times, I have only had 2 sodas, I have written an average of 175 words per night, and I have been progressing through the Preparation for Total Consecration again. We have also resisted taking out a new payday loan. I don't know how we will make ends meet, but I am trying to trust that God will provide for us. We are $2000 short of everything we need.
Wednesday, January 14, 2009
Pride and Humility
Last night I got a letter notifying me that one of my Christmas songs - A King Is Born - has been selected for a Director's Award (basically Honorable Mention) and is in the running for 1st or 2nd prize. I was excited. I hadn't won any prize money yet - just a ribbon - but at least it was recognition. They included a brochure offering a $20 rebate on the fees they charge to produce a professional song demo - between $200 and $500 per song - and a contract saying that I agree to give 5% royalties made back to them. Of course, when I showed Randy, his only comment was, "You do realize they are charging you money," like I can't read or am too stupid to comprehend what I do read.
No congratulations, no encouragement, no words of praise. I didn't say anything except, "I love you," and went to bed. I know he can't help himself. I do. I know he's going to do this every time. It's just part of who he is. I just wish it didn't have to hurt so much when he did it. I try to tell myself that this is God's way of humbling me, and I should be grateful for it, but it is a struggle. Perhaps that's my biggest clue that I still need to work on my pride. Were I humble enough to not to seek his admiration and approval, I would not then be so hurt when I did not find it.
No congratulations, no encouragement, no words of praise. I didn't say anything except, "I love you," and went to bed. I know he can't help himself. I do. I know he's going to do this every time. It's just part of who he is. I just wish it didn't have to hurt so much when he did it. I try to tell myself that this is God's way of humbling me, and I should be grateful for it, but it is a struggle. Perhaps that's my biggest clue that I still need to work on my pride. Were I humble enough to not to seek his admiration and approval, I would not then be so hurt when I did not find it.
Tuesday, January 13, 2009
God Be Praised
This week is a very special week for me! My husband has told me he is ready to commit to being Catholic. What a huge difference a year has made. Even just a month ago he was telling me he would NEVER be Catholic and NEVER believe in God. It amazes me that there is a God who so loves us that, rather than allowing such things to build walls, he uses them as tools to move mountains. There is no joy in my heart to surpass this, for all is right in my world. He even asked me about how to become a deacon!
Monday, September 8, 2008
Amazing Grace
Well, it's been a long time since my last post in large part due to the fact that we lost internet access after struggling for a long time with financial problems (as mentioned in a previous post). A lot has happened since that time, and we have been experiencing God's grace in abundance!
First, Randy (my husband) has told me that he feels a desire to know God and to believe in God but he hasn't figured out whether that desire is coming from God or from a desire to please me. If he converts, he wants it to be because of God and not because of me. This is a relief on my part. He has begun to pray spontaneously at moments of stress and has also taken me to adoration on his own without any suggestion from me and then sat with me, asking God for answers in the presence of the Lord.
Second, we have been given a huge financial blessing by a CRHP sister of mine, which has given us hope that we may yet climb out of the financial hole in which we find ourselves. The bank has worked against us, though, and held the check she wrote causing 2 items to bounce which shouldn't have. Those two things were groceries and rent - costing us not only $70 in overdraft fees from our bank but incurring for us an additional $155 in overdraft fees and late fees from the grocery store and the apartment complex. These are the times when I grow very weary of working with nothing to show for it, as most of what I have gets eaten up by fees before I can claim it. These are also the moments when I am utterly convinced that CLASP (Comprehensive Life Achievement Skills Program) needs to be brought to fruition. Without comprehensive help to get out from underneath the circumstances that brought them to the point in their lives where they are, those in poverty simply cannot succeed. We cannot afford to neglect helping those in poverty, for in helping them we help ourselves.
On the brighter side of life, I discovered something I believe will ultimately prove to be the answer to many of our prayers: Limu. My husband, during adoration, prayed for the restoration of my health. I have many times prayed for his healing, as he has chronic back pain and is usually completely unable to sleep through the night without waking every two hours. I have also prayed for the way to get out of our financial mess not so that we might be able to own big fancy cars or buy a big fancy house, but so that I might use the money we make to help those in poverty climb out of it. I do want to own a large house, but only so that we have a place to offer to those in poverty until they can get back on their feet. At any rate, while I was at a church festival this weekend a gentleman stopped me to introduce me to a product he was selling. He told me how it had healed his back problems, given him the ability to sleep through the night, and the energy to do things he had never had the energy to do. His wife, who was working with him, told me how it had helped her to heal from a crushed pelvis and restored movement to joints which had stiffened after a car accident. Reading the literature, I saw the sheer list of things which this product can help with. It is an all-natural product derived from brown seaweed. It is God's gift to a world in need. Best of all, they are a new company and are looking for distributors to help them spread the word and make money doing it. I signed up and just today set up my website. You can check it out at http://discoverlimu.com/setmefree! For just $25 you can get a membership which allows you to purchase the product at a low cost. For $177 (including shipping) you can get your first case of 4 bottles – a 30 day supply for one person – and begin testing the product yourself. If you’re serious and have the money, though, you will want to spend the $399 (including shipping) for 3 cases which will give you product to use for 3 months plus 30 dvds to share with others about the way in which this business can change your life and your pocketbook.
I am also a distributor of Melalecua products, but I haven’t been active on that front at all even though I’ve been a member for a year. I think I should change this, since Melaleuca’s products actually really complement the Limu benefits. Melaleuca is, like The Limu Company, a wellness company focused on creating high quality, all-natural health products. They have a wide range of products from household cleaners to beauty products such as makeup and perfumes. I have tried many of the products and absolutely love them. To find out more about the health side you can visit http://www.livetotalwellness.com/brandymmiller and to learn more about Melaleuca, like The Limu Company, can help you build an income that allows you to live the lifestyle you’ve always wanted you can visit http://www.workathomeunited.com/brandymmiller . I think these two products, working in tandem, have a strong potential to lead us out of the problems we are facing and into a new life of health and wellness both financially and physically.
All in all, I must say that I do see God working in our lives and even this financially hardship is God's way of helping us to become better people.
First, Randy (my husband) has told me that he feels a desire to know God and to believe in God but he hasn't figured out whether that desire is coming from God or from a desire to please me. If he converts, he wants it to be because of God and not because of me. This is a relief on my part. He has begun to pray spontaneously at moments of stress and has also taken me to adoration on his own without any suggestion from me and then sat with me, asking God for answers in the presence of the Lord.
Second, we have been given a huge financial blessing by a CRHP sister of mine, which has given us hope that we may yet climb out of the financial hole in which we find ourselves. The bank has worked against us, though, and held the check she wrote causing 2 items to bounce which shouldn't have. Those two things were groceries and rent - costing us not only $70 in overdraft fees from our bank but incurring for us an additional $155 in overdraft fees and late fees from the grocery store and the apartment complex. These are the times when I grow very weary of working with nothing to show for it, as most of what I have gets eaten up by fees before I can claim it. These are also the moments when I am utterly convinced that CLASP (Comprehensive Life Achievement Skills Program) needs to be brought to fruition. Without comprehensive help to get out from underneath the circumstances that brought them to the point in their lives where they are, those in poverty simply cannot succeed. We cannot afford to neglect helping those in poverty, for in helping them we help ourselves.
On the brighter side of life, I discovered something I believe will ultimately prove to be the answer to many of our prayers: Limu. My husband, during adoration, prayed for the restoration of my health. I have many times prayed for his healing, as he has chronic back pain and is usually completely unable to sleep through the night without waking every two hours. I have also prayed for the way to get out of our financial mess not so that we might be able to own big fancy cars or buy a big fancy house, but so that I might use the money we make to help those in poverty climb out of it. I do want to own a large house, but only so that we have a place to offer to those in poverty until they can get back on their feet. At any rate, while I was at a church festival this weekend a gentleman stopped me to introduce me to a product he was selling. He told me how it had healed his back problems, given him the ability to sleep through the night, and the energy to do things he had never had the energy to do. His wife, who was working with him, told me how it had helped her to heal from a crushed pelvis and restored movement to joints which had stiffened after a car accident. Reading the literature, I saw the sheer list of things which this product can help with. It is an all-natural product derived from brown seaweed. It is God's gift to a world in need. Best of all, they are a new company and are looking for distributors to help them spread the word and make money doing it. I signed up and just today set up my website. You can check it out at http://discoverlimu.com/setmefree! For just $25 you can get a membership which allows you to purchase the product at a low cost. For $177 (including shipping) you can get your first case of 4 bottles – a 30 day supply for one person – and begin testing the product yourself. If you’re serious and have the money, though, you will want to spend the $399 (including shipping) for 3 cases which will give you product to use for 3 months plus 30 dvds to share with others about the way in which this business can change your life and your pocketbook.
I am also a distributor of Melalecua products, but I haven’t been active on that front at all even though I’ve been a member for a year. I think I should change this, since Melaleuca’s products actually really complement the Limu benefits. Melaleuca is, like The Limu Company, a wellness company focused on creating high quality, all-natural health products. They have a wide range of products from household cleaners to beauty products such as makeup and perfumes. I have tried many of the products and absolutely love them. To find out more about the health side you can visit http://www.livetotalwellness.com/brandymmiller and to learn more about Melaleuca, like The Limu Company, can help you build an income that allows you to live the lifestyle you’ve always wanted you can visit http://www.workathomeunited.com/brandymmiller . I think these two products, working in tandem, have a strong potential to lead us out of the problems we are facing and into a new life of health and wellness both financially and physically.
All in all, I must say that I do see God working in our lives and even this financially hardship is God's way of helping us to become better people.
Saturday, August 23, 2008
World Wide Marriage Encounter
I think I may have mentioned a time or two that my husband is as devout an atheist as I am a Catholic. We were married at a time in our lives when my faith was weak, and I wasn't too sure if God really did exist. I also didn't know whether to trust the Catholic Church's teachings or not, so I wasn't really all that interested in what they had to say. I left the Church in search of the truth. The nice thing about the truth is that it is testable. You can hold it up and under examination it will be as true now as it was the first time you encountered it. The more I tested it, the more I found that the Catholic Church really did hold the truth and that yes, there really is a God and He really does love us and He really does care what we do with our lives.
When I came back to the Church, my husband was less than ethusiastic to say the least. Suddenly there was a being in competition with him for first place in my life, and it wasn't a competition my husband could win as he was neither omnipotent nor all good nor all loving nor all powerful. As God became a larger part of my life, a part which my husband told me he didn't want to hear about and wasn't interested in, we had less common ground on which to stand and found ourselves growing further and further apart. The gap between us just seemed to great for us to cross.
I spent a LOT of time in prayer on this, as it hurt my heart to lose my best friend. I had, years before, asked him to go on a world wide marriage encounter weekend, but he wasn't interested in anything that had to do with God. This year, however, I got up the courage to just mention it to him. He said he thought he would give it a try if he weren' so new to the company (the encounter weekend was advertised for June) and unable to get that time off. I looked it up, there was a weekend in August, and we scheduled time to go.
I have never, ever, been a really patient person. I like my results yesterday, please. I have been no different in my prayer time, usually, expecting God to deliver sooner rather than later. This year He has been teaching me patience. For instance, back in January He promised me that August 8th my circumstances would change and prosperity would begin to wash over our family as it has never before done. He explained to me that I would have to go through a lot of hardship before we got there, as we were in need of a lot of work. We would have to start respecting our prosperity and gifts more, using them wisely instead of wasting them and transforming our hearts and minds so that when we got the prosperity it would be used to help others in need rather than being wasted on stupid stuff for ourselves. August 8th seemed a world away for me back then, but I trusted God to be true to me. He told me one of the reasons He takes so long to do things is that He's building for eternity, and that takes time. If he built it quicker, as I had asked, it wouldn't last.
In early March, during Adoration, I receive a message that my husband believes but is not ready to admit this either to himself or anyone else and to watch for changes in behavior as signs of this new belief. I marvel at this but I do indeed watch. He backed me up when I insisted that Eddie should go to Mass, practically forced my son to attend a Mission they had at church the week before Easter, but he refused to go to Mass with us.
Later that month, I am feeling very depressed and my husband agrees to go to Adoration with me as I want both his company and the company of Christ. The next month I forgot to schedule someone to take my place in Adoration while I am on retreat. Nobody I asked is able to do it for me. The morning of, in desperation, I turn to my husband and ask for him to go. He reluctantly agrees. He knows that he must be there the whole hour, and knows who it is he will be sitting with that day and how important this is to me. I do not know that whole weekend whether or not he has fulfilled my request, or if he stayed the whole hour, or if he left the Lord alone, but I put it in God's hands. Not only did my husband show up on time, stay the whole hour, and make certain Christ had two others with him before he left but he brought my son with him as well. I was floored.
Now, July 31st comes - just weeks before we're scheduled to go the encounter weekend, and I'm thinking to myself that I cannot handle another day of our empty marriage. My loneliness has just reached an absolute peak. Furthermore, I had learned a few months ago that an unbaptized person and a baptized person cannot have a sacramental marriage - even if the marriage is recognized by the church - as a sacramental marriage requires that both parties are baptized. This broke my heart. I had begun to despair that we would ever have the marriage I had dreamt of. I tried several times that day to write him a letter saying Good bye. Each time I, who love to write and do it so often, could not find the words to say. I put the letter away, figuring that perhaps this was the intervention of the holy spirit, and turned on Catholic radio to see if God might be trying to speak to me about this matter. Sure enough, every program was on marriage and relationships that day. That night as I worked with my sister Julie on Communique, I told her about my feelings of despair for our relationship. She encouraged me to stick with it, though I didn't really appreciate it at the time. I listened as another sister gave her witness that night, and she talked about some of her own marital struggles. I knew now God was telling me to hang in there and have faith both in my husband and in my God.
Saturday, August 2nd, I am sitting in Eucharistic Adoration just writing the small things which I hear God saying to me. He whispers to me that even if my husband should leave me, He will bring him back to me. I think that's a pretty odd thing, but I write it down and reflect on it. Monday, August 4th, and I decide to write my husband a letter. I tell my husband that if he wants to find out whether or not God is real, he should know all the ways in which God has protected our family from a major fall even though my husband is not thankful for the protection. I tell him also that I am praying that God stop protecting him so that he will see that God is real and, perhaps, on his knees find his way to God.
My husband is furious. He tells me he wants a divorce, that he no longer loves me. He says I've changed from the girl he married and he doesn't love the woman he's married to. I spend all night thinking, and in the morning write him another letter. I agree that I have changed, but I remind him of who I really was when he met me and how much he really didn't like the ways in which that girl hurt him, rejected him, treated him. I also explained to him that I was only praying for God to take away His protections because the only time I had ever seen my husband pray was when he was being crushed by adversity. I told him also that if prosperity would have the same effect for my husband, I would have been praying for that instead.
The next day I am furious. I am thinking of all kinds of letters to write the man. How dare he leave me! Heh. I'm so glad the Holy Spirit intervened, as it was a really busy day and I had no chance to write anything. Around 11 am I realize that my phone hasn't rung once. I check it, and it's off. I turn it on and there are four messages from my husband. One of which says "You have some valid points. We need to talk". We meet for lunch. He tells me that he will start going to Mass with us on Sunday and that I can try to convert him all I want as long as all of our conversations aren't about God. I agree.
The Friday of the weekend, neither of us know what to expect and we are both very nervous, but my husband is a ball of nerves. I try to reassure him that things will be fine. He's worried he'll be rejected by others because of his atheism, that we won't get to spend much time together, or that others will try to convert him. The weekend is like nothing we had expected, and in the process we begin to reconnect. Saturday, though, we fight because of my misinterpretation of something he said. I confess this to the priest, who reminds me to be more patient and more loving, and admonishes me to apologize for my part in the disagreement. I do , we make up, and by the time the weekend is finished, my husband has agreed to daily prayer in addition to weekly mass. We both walk out of the weekend feeling as if we have our spouses back, and are deeply in love and deeply committed with tools to help us communication and connect on a deeper level than ever before.
Since then, my husband has been faithful to his promise of daily prayer with me and the daily dialogue exercises recommended by the encounter weekend. He attended Mass. He has expressed a desire to get "a little" involved in the Church and has made suggestions on ways to change and improve the prayer I wrote for us. He has also suggested that we start a website to help other couples like us. I am amazed every day at the little changes I find happening, and the way in which God is clearly working to transform my husband. I know that things will be brighter in our future, and I hold great hope for each new day.
When I came back to the Church, my husband was less than ethusiastic to say the least. Suddenly there was a being in competition with him for first place in my life, and it wasn't a competition my husband could win as he was neither omnipotent nor all good nor all loving nor all powerful. As God became a larger part of my life, a part which my husband told me he didn't want to hear about and wasn't interested in, we had less common ground on which to stand and found ourselves growing further and further apart. The gap between us just seemed to great for us to cross.
I spent a LOT of time in prayer on this, as it hurt my heart to lose my best friend. I had, years before, asked him to go on a world wide marriage encounter weekend, but he wasn't interested in anything that had to do with God. This year, however, I got up the courage to just mention it to him. He said he thought he would give it a try if he weren' so new to the company (the encounter weekend was advertised for June) and unable to get that time off. I looked it up, there was a weekend in August, and we scheduled time to go.
I have never, ever, been a really patient person. I like my results yesterday, please. I have been no different in my prayer time, usually, expecting God to deliver sooner rather than later. This year He has been teaching me patience. For instance, back in January He promised me that August 8th my circumstances would change and prosperity would begin to wash over our family as it has never before done. He explained to me that I would have to go through a lot of hardship before we got there, as we were in need of a lot of work. We would have to start respecting our prosperity and gifts more, using them wisely instead of wasting them and transforming our hearts and minds so that when we got the prosperity it would be used to help others in need rather than being wasted on stupid stuff for ourselves. August 8th seemed a world away for me back then, but I trusted God to be true to me. He told me one of the reasons He takes so long to do things is that He's building for eternity, and that takes time. If he built it quicker, as I had asked, it wouldn't last.
In early March, during Adoration, I receive a message that my husband believes but is not ready to admit this either to himself or anyone else and to watch for changes in behavior as signs of this new belief. I marvel at this but I do indeed watch. He backed me up when I insisted that Eddie should go to Mass, practically forced my son to attend a Mission they had at church the week before Easter, but he refused to go to Mass with us.
Later that month, I am feeling very depressed and my husband agrees to go to Adoration with me as I want both his company and the company of Christ. The next month I forgot to schedule someone to take my place in Adoration while I am on retreat. Nobody I asked is able to do it for me. The morning of, in desperation, I turn to my husband and ask for him to go. He reluctantly agrees. He knows that he must be there the whole hour, and knows who it is he will be sitting with that day and how important this is to me. I do not know that whole weekend whether or not he has fulfilled my request, or if he stayed the whole hour, or if he left the Lord alone, but I put it in God's hands. Not only did my husband show up on time, stay the whole hour, and make certain Christ had two others with him before he left but he brought my son with him as well. I was floored.
Now, July 31st comes - just weeks before we're scheduled to go the encounter weekend, and I'm thinking to myself that I cannot handle another day of our empty marriage. My loneliness has just reached an absolute peak. Furthermore, I had learned a few months ago that an unbaptized person and a baptized person cannot have a sacramental marriage - even if the marriage is recognized by the church - as a sacramental marriage requires that both parties are baptized. This broke my heart. I had begun to despair that we would ever have the marriage I had dreamt of. I tried several times that day to write him a letter saying Good bye. Each time I, who love to write and do it so often, could not find the words to say. I put the letter away, figuring that perhaps this was the intervention of the holy spirit, and turned on Catholic radio to see if God might be trying to speak to me about this matter. Sure enough, every program was on marriage and relationships that day. That night as I worked with my sister Julie on Communique, I told her about my feelings of despair for our relationship. She encouraged me to stick with it, though I didn't really appreciate it at the time. I listened as another sister gave her witness that night, and she talked about some of her own marital struggles. I knew now God was telling me to hang in there and have faith both in my husband and in my God.
Saturday, August 2nd, I am sitting in Eucharistic Adoration just writing the small things which I hear God saying to me. He whispers to me that even if my husband should leave me, He will bring him back to me. I think that's a pretty odd thing, but I write it down and reflect on it. Monday, August 4th, and I decide to write my husband a letter. I tell my husband that if he wants to find out whether or not God is real, he should know all the ways in which God has protected our family from a major fall even though my husband is not thankful for the protection. I tell him also that I am praying that God stop protecting him so that he will see that God is real and, perhaps, on his knees find his way to God.
My husband is furious. He tells me he wants a divorce, that he no longer loves me. He says I've changed from the girl he married and he doesn't love the woman he's married to. I spend all night thinking, and in the morning write him another letter. I agree that I have changed, but I remind him of who I really was when he met me and how much he really didn't like the ways in which that girl hurt him, rejected him, treated him. I also explained to him that I was only praying for God to take away His protections because the only time I had ever seen my husband pray was when he was being crushed by adversity. I told him also that if prosperity would have the same effect for my husband, I would have been praying for that instead.
The next day I am furious. I am thinking of all kinds of letters to write the man. How dare he leave me! Heh. I'm so glad the Holy Spirit intervened, as it was a really busy day and I had no chance to write anything. Around 11 am I realize that my phone hasn't rung once. I check it, and it's off. I turn it on and there are four messages from my husband. One of which says "You have some valid points. We need to talk". We meet for lunch. He tells me that he will start going to Mass with us on Sunday and that I can try to convert him all I want as long as all of our conversations aren't about God. I agree.
The Friday of the weekend, neither of us know what to expect and we are both very nervous, but my husband is a ball of nerves. I try to reassure him that things will be fine. He's worried he'll be rejected by others because of his atheism, that we won't get to spend much time together, or that others will try to convert him. The weekend is like nothing we had expected, and in the process we begin to reconnect. Saturday, though, we fight because of my misinterpretation of something he said. I confess this to the priest, who reminds me to be more patient and more loving, and admonishes me to apologize for my part in the disagreement. I do , we make up, and by the time the weekend is finished, my husband has agreed to daily prayer in addition to weekly mass. We both walk out of the weekend feeling as if we have our spouses back, and are deeply in love and deeply committed with tools to help us communication and connect on a deeper level than ever before.
Since then, my husband has been faithful to his promise of daily prayer with me and the daily dialogue exercises recommended by the encounter weekend. He attended Mass. He has expressed a desire to get "a little" involved in the Church and has made suggestions on ways to change and improve the prayer I wrote for us. He has also suggested that we start a website to help other couples like us. I am amazed every day at the little changes I find happening, and the way in which God is clearly working to transform my husband. I know that things will be brighter in our future, and I hold great hope for each new day.
Sunday, July 20, 2008
Thoughts on Things
I have been thinking that I really need to focus on writing out my life story. Now that I have confronted my aunt and uncle about their part in my brother's abuse, I think it's crucial that they understand my story so they see I truly do understand them and I'm not judging them. I honestly want them to seek forgiveness and return home to the Church. I think I also want to send a copy to my grandmother, so she will see that there is nothing she has done that is so bad that God cannot forgive and use for her benefit. Truthfully, once it is written, I think I'll send a copy to each of my siblings. I just want to become an instrument of healing for our divided family, and I think that perhaps this will do it.
Of course, since it also happens to be the first chapter of my book Healing From Sexual Abuse, it can also then be used as part of the query letters I send out. I've gotten no response from the one publisher I did send a query to, but since I'm an unknown and had nothing to show them it doesn't surprise me. I'm sure they get about a gazillion posts a day with similar kinds of queries.
Of course, since it also happens to be the first chapter of my book Healing From Sexual Abuse, it can also then be used as part of the query letters I send out. I've gotten no response from the one publisher I did send a query to, but since I'm an unknown and had nothing to show them it doesn't surprise me. I'm sure they get about a gazillion posts a day with similar kinds of queries.
Hi Ho! Hi Ho! It's Off to work we go
Well, I got out of confession a few days ago for my financial mis-management, and got some very useful budgeting advice from Father Flynn as well as the admonition that if my income wasn't meeting the bills, then I had an obligation to go back to work. Fortunately, God worked things out rather neatly so that I am able to go right back to Verizon Wireless. Sophia had three interviews lined up the last couple of weeks but they all kept canceling. The temp agency told me she'd been having lots of trouble finding someone who was right for the job.
Monday, July 14, 2008
The Stars Were Made for Man
Before God created men, He created all of the planets and the stars and set them in motion. He then created the earth and all of the things that man would need to survive before, finally, creating man. Why would He have created more than just our planet if He had not meant for man to someday travel outside of it?
Not only did He create other planets, but a multitude of them, and He made certain we could see the stars and chart their courses as they moved. He knew we were curious creatures, and wouldn't rest until we had figured out what those bright shining lights in the night sky were. He built us with a desire to go up and explore. I don't think this was an accident.
You see, God's very first commandment to man was to be fruitful and multiply. Now, God being God, He knew that if we were obedient to His commands to the degree that we ought to be there would come a time when we would need more room. For this reason, He built the other solar systems and the other planets within our own solar system. So, to my way of thinking, this hype about needing birth control and abortion because we're going to run out of room to feed ourselves is a rather short sighted point of view. It presumes that the only place we have to go is Earth. Well, truthfully, we have a lot of room for expansion on Earth (think about all the land under the sea which we have not even begun to tap) before we run out of room on the earth. And, if we dumped all of the money spent on research for birth control, spent passing out birth control and condoms, and combined it with the money we spend to fund new and creative ways to kill off our own children (Darwin would be shuddering in his grave!), I think we could easily have funded such a project and been well on our way to having solved the problems we think we face while saving our souls at the same time. God never gives commands that He doesn't provide us ways to follow.
Not only did He create other planets, but a multitude of them, and He made certain we could see the stars and chart their courses as they moved. He knew we were curious creatures, and wouldn't rest until we had figured out what those bright shining lights in the night sky were. He built us with a desire to go up and explore. I don't think this was an accident.
You see, God's very first commandment to man was to be fruitful and multiply. Now, God being God, He knew that if we were obedient to His commands to the degree that we ought to be there would come a time when we would need more room. For this reason, He built the other solar systems and the other planets within our own solar system. So, to my way of thinking, this hype about needing birth control and abortion because we're going to run out of room to feed ourselves is a rather short sighted point of view. It presumes that the only place we have to go is Earth. Well, truthfully, we have a lot of room for expansion on Earth (think about all the land under the sea which we have not even begun to tap) before we run out of room on the earth. And, if we dumped all of the money spent on research for birth control, spent passing out birth control and condoms, and combined it with the money we spend to fund new and creative ways to kill off our own children (Darwin would be shuddering in his grave!), I think we could easily have funded such a project and been well on our way to having solved the problems we think we face while saving our souls at the same time. God never gives commands that He doesn't provide us ways to follow.
The ULTIMATE Green Machine
I've been reading up on advances in solar technology. I was amazed at what I found. Thanks to MIT's development of solar textiles http://web.mit.edu/newsoffice/2008/solar-textiles-0609.html and solar windows http://web.mit.edu/newsoffice/2008/solarcells-0710.html combined with solar paint http://technology.newscientist.com/article/dn13424-generate-as-you-decorate-with-solarpower-paint.html, we now have the ability to create a completely solar powered electric vehicle. The paint on the car, the windows, and the upholstery could all be sources of solar collection. Combining these three things would make the entire car one giant solar cell, meaning that the car is continuously recharging whether running or not. Since the technology of solar power has improved sufficiently that direct sunlight is not necessary, this will work even in overcast weather.
This also means that homes and businesses can now easily tap into this solar technology. According to the researchers at MIT, just solar curtains in each of the windows were enough to power almost half of the needs of the home. If the windows and paint were also collecting, in addition to panels on the roof, you should have no problem powering even the most energy hungry buildings. We have the technology. Now, who's got the funding? It would be great if the US would step up to the plate here and fund this. It would end so many conflicts, especially those in the middle east. With no one needing gasoline to generate power, there would soon be no money funding terrorists. Talk about peace through environmental friendliness.
This also means that homes and businesses can now easily tap into this solar technology. According to the researchers at MIT, just solar curtains in each of the windows were enough to power almost half of the needs of the home. If the windows and paint were also collecting, in addition to panels on the roof, you should have no problem powering even the most energy hungry buildings. We have the technology. Now, who's got the funding? It would be great if the US would step up to the plate here and fund this. It would end so many conflicts, especially those in the middle east. With no one needing gasoline to generate power, there would soon be no money funding terrorists. Talk about peace through environmental friendliness.
Monday, July 7, 2008
A LOT Has Happened Since Then
Well there's a lot that has gone on in the past few months. A LOT! I have written quite a few more things, which I will go back and back-post for my own amusement and the value of having records. Yes, that's cheating. No, I don't care. :) It's my blog.
A week after my April 5th post, I attended my Parish's CRHP retreat weekend. AWESOME experience, and highly recommended for anyone who is Catholic and has it available to them. I am now dead center in the middle of my formation process, and I can't wait. My faith has grown by leaps and bounds, and I am a regular attendee at daily mass. This is something I would NEVER have imagined myself being, truthfully just 7 months ago I would have rather gone to the dentist and faced a root canal without anesthetic than set foot in daily mass of my own volition. Then I came to realize, as a direct result of studying True Devotion to Mary by St. Luis de Montfort, that the daily readings at the Mass were Christ speaking to me each day, and the Eucharistic feast provided at Mass was Christ's effort to share Himself with me in the most intimate way possible. How could I say no to that and call myself a real Christian? For those who think that devotion to Mary couldn't possibly be good for the development of your faith in Christ, I can provide a certain witness that it not only is good for it but that of all the things I have done it has been the very best.
I did leave Verizon Wireless, but not until June 6th. In fact, come to think of it, yesterday was my one month anniversary of having left them. Due to the work of the Holy Spirit, I left on very good terms and had overcome my initial personality conflicts with my manager. I wish them nothing but the best, but I know I am needed elsewhere. I have three books I am in the process of writing. I think I will begin to post blurbs periodically here. The first book is called Healing from Sexual Abuse: Reconstructing your identity, Reclaiming Your Life, Rebuilding Your Faith. It's about healing from a Catholic Christian viewpoint. I'm excited about it. It's a long time in coming. The second book is called An Extravagant Love: A Divine Romance. It's Human History written from God's perspective. Ambitious, yes, but I think the timing is right for it. The third book is called Planning Your Way Into Heaven: Authentic Christian Goal Setting and Planning.
I've also written 14 additional songs since the ones I posted in February and found one I wrote 3 years ago. That brings my song count up to 18. I've also downloaded a music composer to help me get the music for it all together. Very exciting stuff.
A week after my April 5th post, I attended my Parish's CRHP retreat weekend. AWESOME experience, and highly recommended for anyone who is Catholic and has it available to them. I am now dead center in the middle of my formation process, and I can't wait. My faith has grown by leaps and bounds, and I am a regular attendee at daily mass. This is something I would NEVER have imagined myself being, truthfully just 7 months ago I would have rather gone to the dentist and faced a root canal without anesthetic than set foot in daily mass of my own volition. Then I came to realize, as a direct result of studying True Devotion to Mary by St. Luis de Montfort, that the daily readings at the Mass were Christ speaking to me each day, and the Eucharistic feast provided at Mass was Christ's effort to share Himself with me in the most intimate way possible. How could I say no to that and call myself a real Christian? For those who think that devotion to Mary couldn't possibly be good for the development of your faith in Christ, I can provide a certain witness that it not only is good for it but that of all the things I have done it has been the very best.
I did leave Verizon Wireless, but not until June 6th. In fact, come to think of it, yesterday was my one month anniversary of having left them. Due to the work of the Holy Spirit, I left on very good terms and had overcome my initial personality conflicts with my manager. I wish them nothing but the best, but I know I am needed elsewhere. I have three books I am in the process of writing. I think I will begin to post blurbs periodically here. The first book is called Healing from Sexual Abuse: Reconstructing your identity, Reclaiming Your Life, Rebuilding Your Faith. It's about healing from a Catholic Christian viewpoint. I'm excited about it. It's a long time in coming. The second book is called An Extravagant Love: A Divine Romance. It's Human History written from God's perspective. Ambitious, yes, but I think the timing is right for it. The third book is called Planning Your Way Into Heaven: Authentic Christian Goal Setting and Planning.
I've also written 14 additional songs since the ones I posted in February and found one I wrote 3 years ago. That brings my song count up to 18. I've also downloaded a music composer to help me get the music for it all together. Very exciting stuff.
Saturday, April 5, 2008
The Greatest Lie Ever Told: Created for Love
Human beings were created for the purpose of loving God and being loved by Him. Everything which God created is given to mankind to use as tools in our quest to fulfill this purpose. We please God when we show appreciation for His gifts by appropriately using our tools. We offend God when we are unappreciative of His gifts and misuse those tools.
The greatest of the gifts which God has given us is life. It is the greatest gift because it is required to fulfill our purpose and it is the gift from which all others derive their meaning. Without life, all other gifts cannot be received. Without life, there can be no free will. Without life, there can be no love. Without life, there can be no happiness nor pursuit of happiness. This is why murder is a sin, as it robs men and women of their ability to fulfill their purpose and to receive the gifts which God has intended to give them. This is why abortion and embryonic stem cell research are sins, as it cuts short the ability of the unborn to fulfill their purpose and to experience the fullness of God’s many gifts. This is why God does give permission to kill in defense of our own lives, although certainly care must be taken to do only as much harm as is strictly necessary when defending life.
Conception is the starting point for new life. Biblical accounts of a child being born are usually sequenced as man has relations with woman who conceives and gives birth. This links action (the relations) with result (conception), thereby establishing that children are conceived through marital relations and that conception creates a new person. Psalms 139 talks about God knitting us in our mother’s womb before we were ever born and even before . Indeed, Christ was Christ from the very moment the Holy Spirit overshadowed Mary and she conceived, as demonstrated by the fact that even though she was not showing evidence of bearing Christ within her yet, both Elizabeth and her unborn son, John the Baptist, reacted to His presence when she visited them. Moreover, this is not merely a biblical principle but has been proven by science. When sperm and egg are joined, a totally unique individual is created from that union. We no longer have the excuse of ignorance. We know this for a fact.
God created man and woman as fitting partners for one another and He commanded them to be fertile and multiply, subduing and filling the earth. This commandment introduces the gift of sexuality, which permits human beings to participate in the creation of new life and permits the expansion of God’s great love to every part of the world. The sexual act is pleasurable to both the man and the woman, encouraging them to engage in it often. Each time the man and the woman experience the pleasure of this union, chemicals are released in the brain which bond the pair closer together. This gift of sexuality is intended to be used solely within the bounds of matrimony. In matrimony, the couple vow that they will love one another unconditionally throughout their entire life and that they will accept children from God lovingly, bringing them up according to the law of Christ and His Church. The proper use of this gift of sexuality ensures that new life is created and raised in an environment of stability and love. This is why marriage is sacred, carrying with it specific responsibilities and duties, and must be protected from misuse. It is also the reason that rape, prostitution, masturbation, fornication, adultery, oral and anal sex, homosexuality, and bestiality are all sins. They are perversions of the gift of sexuality and do nothing to further the purpose for which the gift was granted: to participate in the creation of new life which will love God and be loved by God. It is also the reason that contraception and sterilization is a sin, since it is a deliberate attempt to prevent the gift of sexuality from fulfilling the very purpose for which it was created.
The greatest of the gifts which God has given us is life. It is the greatest gift because it is required to fulfill our purpose and it is the gift from which all others derive their meaning. Without life, all other gifts cannot be received. Without life, there can be no free will. Without life, there can be no love. Without life, there can be no happiness nor pursuit of happiness. This is why murder is a sin, as it robs men and women of their ability to fulfill their purpose and to receive the gifts which God has intended to give them. This is why abortion and embryonic stem cell research are sins, as it cuts short the ability of the unborn to fulfill their purpose and to experience the fullness of God’s many gifts. This is why God does give permission to kill in defense of our own lives, although certainly care must be taken to do only as much harm as is strictly necessary when defending life.
Conception is the starting point for new life. Biblical accounts of a child being born are usually sequenced as man has relations with woman who conceives and gives birth. This links action (the relations) with result (conception), thereby establishing that children are conceived through marital relations and that conception creates a new person. Psalms 139 talks about God knitting us in our mother’s womb before we were ever born and even before . Indeed, Christ was Christ from the very moment the Holy Spirit overshadowed Mary and she conceived, as demonstrated by the fact that even though she was not showing evidence of bearing Christ within her yet, both Elizabeth and her unborn son, John the Baptist, reacted to His presence when she visited them. Moreover, this is not merely a biblical principle but has been proven by science. When sperm and egg are joined, a totally unique individual is created from that union. We no longer have the excuse of ignorance. We know this for a fact.
God created man and woman as fitting partners for one another and He commanded them to be fertile and multiply, subduing and filling the earth. This commandment introduces the gift of sexuality, which permits human beings to participate in the creation of new life and permits the expansion of God’s great love to every part of the world. The sexual act is pleasurable to both the man and the woman, encouraging them to engage in it often. Each time the man and the woman experience the pleasure of this union, chemicals are released in the brain which bond the pair closer together. This gift of sexuality is intended to be used solely within the bounds of matrimony. In matrimony, the couple vow that they will love one another unconditionally throughout their entire life and that they will accept children from God lovingly, bringing them up according to the law of Christ and His Church. The proper use of this gift of sexuality ensures that new life is created and raised in an environment of stability and love. This is why marriage is sacred, carrying with it specific responsibilities and duties, and must be protected from misuse. It is also the reason that rape, prostitution, masturbation, fornication, adultery, oral and anal sex, homosexuality, and bestiality are all sins. They are perversions of the gift of sexuality and do nothing to further the purpose for which the gift was granted: to participate in the creation of new life which will love God and be loved by God. It is also the reason that contraception and sterilization is a sin, since it is a deliberate attempt to prevent the gift of sexuality from fulfilling the very purpose for which it was created.
Thursday, April 3, 2008
The Pope and St. Joseph
Christ is the bridegroom and the Church is His Bride. However, Christ’s work requires that He be physically away from His Bride for a period of time. As a loving bridegroom, He does not wish to leave His bride without a defender during His physical absence. It is for this reason that He established the Pope. The Pope stands in the same place that St. Joseph stood for Mary.
Mary is the Spouse of the Holy Spirit. The Holy Spirit chose her for this role and brought her into the world for that reason. He sent His archangel, Gabriel, as Best Man to bring His proposal to her and to witness her response and their subsequent union. He gave to St. Joseph the task of standing in His place as groom, a surrogate husband to His virgin bride and a surrogate father to the Incarnate Word. Mary was obedient to St. Joseph. She knew that he acted out of love for both her and for her son, a love born of his love for the Lord. She did not argue when St. Joseph led them out of Israel and into Egypt. She did not question when he hid them in Nazareth. She obeyed.
St. Joseph defended Mary’s virtue. He protected her from those who sought to harm her and her child in word and in deed. He defended their faith and held to God’s word even in the midst of the Egyptians. He did not seek to usurp the place of Mary’s true Spouse, he loved her Spouse even more than he loved her and because of his great love for her Spouse, he loved Christ with all of his heart.
St. Joseph taught Christ to know, love, and serve God. In the process of teaching Christ, he helped Christ to reveal His true nature and to live that true nature with responsibility and fidelity. Christ loved Joseph and because of that love for Joseph, trusted that what he was being taught was worth learning and worth emulating. Mary encouraged Christ to love and trust in His surrogate father as much as He loved and trusted His true Father. Joseph was given special gifts by the Holy Spirit to ensure that he would not lead Christ astray with his teachings.
This is the position of the Pope. He is not Christ. He does not seek to take the place of Christ. He is the surrogate bridegroom, defending the Bride throughout the ages from those who would attack Her, from those who would harm Her in word or in deed. He directs the Church to move only when it is necessary to protect Her, and She obeys because She knows of His great love for Her Spouse.
The Pope is the surrogate father of the children born of the union between Christ and His Bride. These Children of God turn to their surrogate father for help in revealing their true nature and for living that true nature with responsibility and fidelity. The Church encourages Her children to love and trust in their surrogate father as much as they love and trust in Christ. The Pope is given special gifts by the Holy Spirit to ensure that he does not lead these Children astray with his teachings.
Mary is the Spouse of the Holy Spirit. The Holy Spirit chose her for this role and brought her into the world for that reason. He sent His archangel, Gabriel, as Best Man to bring His proposal to her and to witness her response and their subsequent union. He gave to St. Joseph the task of standing in His place as groom, a surrogate husband to His virgin bride and a surrogate father to the Incarnate Word. Mary was obedient to St. Joseph. She knew that he acted out of love for both her and for her son, a love born of his love for the Lord. She did not argue when St. Joseph led them out of Israel and into Egypt. She did not question when he hid them in Nazareth. She obeyed.
St. Joseph defended Mary’s virtue. He protected her from those who sought to harm her and her child in word and in deed. He defended their faith and held to God’s word even in the midst of the Egyptians. He did not seek to usurp the place of Mary’s true Spouse, he loved her Spouse even more than he loved her and because of his great love for her Spouse, he loved Christ with all of his heart.
St. Joseph taught Christ to know, love, and serve God. In the process of teaching Christ, he helped Christ to reveal His true nature and to live that true nature with responsibility and fidelity. Christ loved Joseph and because of that love for Joseph, trusted that what he was being taught was worth learning and worth emulating. Mary encouraged Christ to love and trust in His surrogate father as much as He loved and trusted His true Father. Joseph was given special gifts by the Holy Spirit to ensure that he would not lead Christ astray with his teachings.
This is the position of the Pope. He is not Christ. He does not seek to take the place of Christ. He is the surrogate bridegroom, defending the Bride throughout the ages from those who would attack Her, from those who would harm Her in word or in deed. He directs the Church to move only when it is necessary to protect Her, and She obeys because She knows of His great love for Her Spouse.
The Pope is the surrogate father of the children born of the union between Christ and His Bride. These Children of God turn to their surrogate father for help in revealing their true nature and for living that true nature with responsibility and fidelity. The Church encourages Her children to love and trust in their surrogate father as much as they love and trust in Christ. The Pope is given special gifts by the Holy Spirit to ensure that he does not lead these Children astray with his teachings.
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