Tohearfrometernity's Blog

Being beautiful is more than appearance. It is what lies within! It is discovering the worth of something long after it has come to be.

Real Beauty is discovering life’s blessings.

Beautiful people, beautiful places, and marvelous art are an expression of beauty, but real beauty is the Love of God through Jesus Christ.

God revealed individually, personally, and lovingly, that is ours alone; that is beautiful!

So unique and so wonderful, He in His infinite wisdom personalizes Himself,   for each of us.

He allows us to choose a relationship with Him.   I can no more enter into your relationship with God, anymore than you can enter into mine.

For one to presume that another can save you from evil, is to presume another can play God.   Yet, there are some who believe that a life of a spouse, of child, or friend, can be their salvation.

Salvation is of the choosing!   Salvation is given by God alone,when the choice of loving, His Son Jesus Christ is made and embraced!   So that then they may have eternal life with Him.

Book of Sirach Chapter 34 verses 13-17

13)”Lively is the courage of those who fear the LORD, for they put their hope in their Savior; 14)He who fears the LORD is never alarmed, never afraid; for the LORD is his hope.   15)Happy the soul that fears the LORD!   In whom does he trust, and who is his support?   16)The eyes of the LORD are upon those who love him; he is their mighty shield and strong support, A shelter from the heat, a shade from the noon day sun, a guard against stumbling, a help against falling.   17)He buoys up the spirits brings a sparkle to the eyes, gives health and life and blessing.”

When asked, ‘What is your greatest blessing?   What do you say?

Thanksgiving,  we all give a verbal thank-you after the blessing.

My faith is who I am.   When asked, I say, My Faith!   People usually give me a strange look.   Yet, I tell you I could not exist without my faith!

Faith is my reason for living!   Without it my life would not be worth living.   Why?   Simply because it is a living thing!   It gives me my foundation to life.   For life is temporary here on earth.   Whereby, ‘faith is life eternal.’

If the creator wasn’t first, then how could I be?   It is very simple to me.   Others say, family, their job, their new home, etc..Far be it from me to say they are wrong.   The heart of each of us differs.

As we each face and endure th struggles of this life, we all must choose the perspective we wish to keep.   His friendship is what I want.

I know that is what He wants….Friendship!   His friendship to me is absolute.   For no one can do or fulfill the deepest desires within the heart but Him.

To know that He knows,  gives me peace.     I trust His perfect love.    I know first and foremost, that a God that loves me so much that He gave me His Son, so that I may know Him intimatley, is ‘Awsome!’

The God of us all does send us challenges;  there is no doubt about it!

Yet, to remember that He is in charge, waiting to see if we will ask for His ‘help’ is key!    The ‘help’ is given when the ‘prayer’ is offored with depth of heart!   I mean with sincerity, and not arrogance.  With ‘humility’!  For God does not always answer right away, but He does answer.

Sometimes, He will test our faith to see if we will ‘walk’!    For some do walk!    He already knows who is ‘true blue’ and yet, the chance is still given, for God is fair and just!

So, if the ‘crisis’ before you is difficult to endure, then the best answer is to pray for ‘acceptance’ of His will!   This will bring forth peace!

If the ‘hurt’ is so unbearable, then start a prayer chain.   What is a prayer chain?   That friend, is having others pray for your ‘peace’ and well being.   God will anwer!

His delight will shine forth, and the awsomeness of who He is will prevail!   Yet, people turn from God when the trials come.    Remember, Jesus was subjected to the ‘trial’ too!   He does not ask of us anymore than He has already done.

Book of Matthew Chapter 5 verses 3-12 “The Beatitudes”: Jesus Speaks:

3)“How blest are the poor in spirit: the reign of God is theirs.

4)Blest too are the sorrowing: they shall be consoled.

5)(Blest are the lowly; they shall inherit the land)

6)Blest are they who hunger and thirst for holiness; they shall have their fill.

7)Blest are they who show mercy, mercy shall be theirs.

8)Blest are the single-hearted for they shall see God.

9)Blest are the peacemakers; they shall be called sons of God.

10)Blest are those persecuted for holiness’ sake; the reign of God is theirs.

11)Blest are you when they insult you and persecute you and utter every kind of slander against you because of me.

12)Be glad and rejoice, for your reward is great in heaven; they persecuted the prophets the very same way.”

Discovering who we are, and what we truly believe takes deep reflection.   Yet, we do not search our souls to the depth of understanding needed.   Rather many when confronted with disputes, many dwell within the past.    They choose to ‘blame another. This actionis an unrest within the soul that ‘blames’.   Blame, though at times has its place, is confrontational, and not debatable.  Why?   Because ‘blame’ is of the evil one.   It is a diffusing of  spirits, and a wreching of souls brought to conflict.   For evil is in the midst of us all, and is challenging each to conflict with another.   For God, who is love, is not combative, but truth.    In other words, when God is the ‘referee’ the ‘discussion’ of differnces will not ensue hate, and disgust, but understanding, and resolve.

People harbor ‘ill-will’ for years!   They hold ‘grudges’ life long.   God, who is love, is hurt, and sorrowful over such impudence.   For to love one another is everything to God.   If we wish rise to a fullness of living, then peace is achieved through ‘forgiveness’.   Forgivenss is not easy; that is a given.   Yet, we have a mediator who enables us to forgive, when we call upon Him.   This faithful friend is Jesus Christ!    Life without Christ is empty!

Life without Christ is not really living, but existing.  Going through the motions without experiencing the moment…devoid of emotion!   Emotion, is experiencing life with Christ!   He knows, and He lives, in each who embrace Him as their own.

Expecting from another, without accepting another for who he/she is, is a hollow heart!

For God has made us unique unto Himself!   His design and perfection, is who must realize we are.

Can we keep from looking back?    We must!   We must desire happiness now.   Today, is for the living and living is of God.  Choosing to love one another for who we each are, is fullness of living!  It brings peace to the soul!

How?   Because God is pleased!   When God is pleased, grace and peace abound!   It is evil that drives derission, and implants hate and unrest!   God, is perfect, and all loving.   To presume that God desires, hate, and war, is opposing to the love of God!

When we are conflicted with another, we must pray!   We must pray ourselves, and them as well.   Why?   Because hate is fueled by words and actions.   We must desire peace and harmony, to achieve peace and harmony.   Perhaps the best way to put it, is to leave you with the prayer of St. Francis.

Prayer of Saint Francis of Assisi:

Lord, make me an instrument of Your peace:

Where there is hatred let me sow love,

Where there is injury, pardon,

where there is doubt, faith,

where there is despair, hope,

where there is darkness, light,

 where there is sadness, joy.

O Divine Master, grant that I may not so much seek to be comforted as to comfort, to be understood, as to understand, to be loved as to love.

Because it is in giving that we recieve, it is in pardoning that we are pardoned, and it is in dying that we are born to eternal life.

Book of Luke Chapter 9 verses 61-62  The Apostles’ Requirements:

61) “Yet another said to him,”I will be your follower, LORD, but first let me take leave of my people at home.”   62) Jesus answered, “Whoever, puts his hand to the plow but keeps looking back is unfit for the reign of God.”  

Since the dawn of time, there have been great prophets, and eloquent speakers, and wisdom seemed a ‘gift’ entitled to them.

Yet, there has never been, nor will  there ever be one that reigns with the ‘King Of Kings’! Jesus Christ left behind many, many great teachings.   Yet, the greatest of all His worldly miracles  is the Victorious Cross!  

Of all the great ones, Who can you think of that has left behind such a profound impression, as the Victorous Cross?   There have been many, Budda, Nostadomus, Confuscious, to name a few, but they were simply people.    They perhaps had wisdom, but the Cross of Christ is such because He is the Son of God!

For thousands of years, the Cross has stood!    Many have come and gone to profess the magnificense of the Cross of Christ and He who died on it!   They gave their lives for the Victorious Cross of Christ.   Some very wealthy, gave up everything, to walk with, and in Christ.    To experience such great love, to be so devoted, and so moved, as to put everything aside for the sake of the Victorious  Cross of Christ, is to be His ‘Beloved’!    The presence of the Messiah, is living within the world through the chosen, the ‘beloved’ of Christ! 

Who are these, the beloved of Christ?    They are the many who walk in His Light, profess His teachings, and suffer for Him, with Him, and because of Him!   His great love, His great sacrifice, living, and breathing,  among us His chosen, His beloved!  

  The Cross of Christ remains today because God ordains it as such.     A Love so profound we in our minds can not imagine the maginificense of Our Heavenly Father.    A Father so loving, He chose to take His Only Beloved Son as a sacrifice for the whole world, so that all may come to know Him and His great Love for all mankind!  

Jesus Christ, the Son Of God, with greatest humility and Love for His Father, accepted the will of His Father, and came to live among us the lowly.   

We need Him!   He is the God of All!   The Father of All!   It is in Him that we live and breathe and have our being!   He, has done all for us.   We have only to accept His great love, and embrace His Son Jesus Christ as Our Lord and Savior! 

  The Light of the Word is still among us, yet, the hour is fast approaching where Our Lord will claim His bride, (the Roman Catholic Church) call His own Beloved, and the world will fall to darkness.

God is Love!   Yet, God does instruct, teach, and admonish!   This is the Love of a Father! Yet, because everything is of the Father, it is the Father that will decide when time will stop! 

For time is of God!   Make no mistake about it!   God lives and breathes in you and I!   For life is of the Father, but ETERNAL LIFE IS OF THE SON, JESUS CHRIST!     This is absolute!   Debate it if you will,  but,  Jesus Christ is the ‘Light of the World’!   He died on Good Friday, and rose on Easter, so that all may believe, and come to eternal life.  

Yet, it is ‘free will’ that determines what side you choose.   For we all are given ‘free will’ and we all have to choose whether we will accept Christ or reject Christ, as the Savior of the World.

He waits!   He waits for many!   For many have not known Christ!  Many do not wish to know Christ,  for they are happy in their ‘free will’!   This however will come to an end!   Where we choose to spend eternity, is up to each of us! 

  On who’s side will you remain?

Jesus speaks: Book of Mark,  Chapter 8 verses 34-38

THE DOCTRINE OF THE CROSS:

34) He summoned the crowd with his disciples and said to them: “If a man wishes to come after me, he must deny his very self, take up his cross, and follow in my steps. 35)Whoever would preserve his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for my sake and the gospel’s  will preserve it. 36) What profit does a man show who gains the whole world and destroys himself in the process? 37)What can a man offor in exchange for his life! 38) If anyone in this faithless and corrupt age is ashamed of me and my doctrine, the Son of Man will be ashamed of him when he comes with the holy angels in his Father’s glory.”

Book of Mark Chapter 10  verses 23-25

23) Jesus look around and said to his disciples, “How hard it is for the rich to enter the kingdom of God!” 24)The disciples could only marvel at his words. So Jesus  repeated what he had said: “My sons, how hard it is to enter the kingdom of God! 25) It is easier for a camel to pass through a needle’s eye than for a rich man to enter the kingdom of God.”

Jesus Speaks: Book of John Chapter 14  verse 23

23)Jesus answered: “Anyone  who loves me will be true to my word, and my Father will love him; we will come to him and make our dwelling place with him.”

Romans Chapter 13 verses 11-14

11)“Take care to do all these things for you know the time in which we are living.   It is now the hour for you to wake from sleep, for our salvation is closer than when we first accepted the faith. 12) The night is far spent; the day draws near.   Let us cast off deeds of darkness  and put  on  the  armor of light.   13) Let us live honorably as in daylight; not in carousing and drunkeness, not in sexual excess and lust, not in quarreling and jealousy. 14) Rather, put on the Lord Jesus Christ and make no provision for the desires of the flesh.”

Jesus speaks Book of John: Chapter 21 verses 8-11

8) He said, “Take care not to be misled.   Many will come in my name saying, ‘I am he’ and ‘the time is at hand.’  Do not follow them.   9)Neither must you be perturbed when you hear of wars and insurrections.   These things are bound to happen first, but the end does not follow immediatley.”   10) Then he said to them further: “Nation will rise against nation and kingdom against kingdom.  11) There will be great earthquakes, plagues, and famines in various places-and in the sky fearful omens and great signs.”

In all the world, in all of time, there is no pain that can equal the pain infused upon the man, the Lamb, the God, who hung on the cross on calvary that first ‘Good Friday’!   The man, that took the pain, of the sins of world upon Himself, for the ‘sake’ of all mankind; in that one ’pure’ ’perfect’ act, is not enough to bring mankind to the one and Only God!

What does it take for a soul to realize he is only a spec?   A passing of time, like a wave that crashes upon the shore and is over, or a flower that is, and then dies?

He, the Christ is and has fulfilled ‘His’ and ‘Our’ Fathers desires.   Yet, there are ‘few’ very very few, who want Him.   To know Him, Love Him, and crave Him!    Jesus Christ is the Alpha and Omega!   He is the same yesterday, today, and forever!    Think of it!   This one perfect love available to all mankind, from the beginning of all time, He is and always will be!    We, the insignificant have been invited to a very beautiful feast, one that lasts a life time.    People prefer to live for the now, rather than eternity with God.  Unreal!    Really to come to Jesus and to know Jesus and to love Jesus is to love the Father!   To know He who made you and I is really the greatest gift anyone can ask for.   Peace for all eternity, love for all eternity, joy for all eternity, yet it is refused!   Why?   For what?   For a fleeting  of an instant of passion, of power, of fame?   Inconcieveable to those of us who have found and come to know Jesus.   He is a lifetime of favor!   He is a lifetime of love. He is a life time of forgiveness!

Scripture has it: Book of Luke  Chapter 14 verses 15-24

15) At these words one in  the party said to him, “Happy is he who eats bread from the kingdom of God.”

16) Jesus responded, “A man was giving a large dinner and he invited many.

17)At dinner time he sent his servant to say to those invited, ‘Come along, everything is ready now.’

18)But they began to excuse themselves, one and all.   The first one said, I have bought some land and must go out and inspect it.   Please excuse me.’

19) Another said, ‘I have bought five yoke of oxen and I am going out to test them.   Please excuse me.’

20) A third said, ‘I am newly married and so I cannot come.’

21) The servant returning reported this to his master.   The master of the house grew angry at the account.   He said to his servant, ‘ Go out quickly into the streets and alley’s of the town and bring in the poor and the crippled, the blind and the lame.’

22) ’The servant reported, after some time, ‘Your orders have been carried out, my Lord, and there is still room.’

23) The master then said, to the servant,  ‘ Go out into the highways and along the hedgerows and force them to come in.   I want my house to be full, 24) But I tell you that not one of those invited shall taste a morsel of my dinner.’”

A great wealthy man gave a great feast, and invited all.   Yet, they did not come.  So, he called tha lame and the broken and the forgotten.   They came and shared the greatest feast ever, and for all time. 

The arrogant, the self reightous, and the haughty could not bring themselves to this great feast.    The very idea that they were to busy, to important, to take time is the determining factor as to who comes to the feast of the Eternal Father!

Ever been in a situation where you thought, ‘It’s all over’?   At some point in time if we are put to the reconciling of our mortality to definition, then we realize death is eminant.

At first we say, we already know!   Yet, it does come to pass whereby we hear from a friend that the diagnosis was fatal.   Really seems like it should be someone else, and not you or I.

Yet, as we meet people and build friendships we come to realize the fragility of life.   If someone has brain cancer, and it is stage four, what can one say?   I am sorry?!   It is so important to realize life is fleeting!

Preparation for eternity is essential.    The hour of our demise is not for us to know.    When we close our eyes, we presume we will open  them.    Sometimes that is not the case.

That is not to say we should live in fear of dying, but rather to live in peace.   Peace is the knowledge that God is love.   That all powerful love is proven through the greatest sacrifice one can imagine….death on a cross.    A profound statement to mankind….that His love is so deep, and so pure,  He is willing to suffer with us, in proof of His perfect love.

As the Holy Season of Easter is upon us, we need to reflect more on the sacrifice, the season, and its impact on our lives.

Hurtful, and hateful is the soul who desires to take the Lamb Of God for granted!   Yet, we all are guilty of it.   Not one of us is perfect..he came to perfect us.   If we can not and will not embrace Him, we can not, and will not know peace.

Knowing of the sacrifice of the gift of  the Lamb of God is not enough!   It must be embraced!   To embrace Jesus Christ is to choose to suffer with him!   Some may say as they read this, He does not expect that!   She is wrong!   I tell you for sure and for certain, that a ‘best friend’ is there in good times and bad.   If you truly know love, then you know this to be true.   So if you are only a freind when it is convenient then I say you are ‘fickle’!    Harsh?   Perhaps!   If you or I called upon a friend and the request was inconvenient  and that friend refused to help, would you feel loved?

Friendship is love!   It is harmony in action!  It is fullness of heart, and perfection of spirit!     God’s love is apparent in those who love Him.

His presence is a moving force within His beloved!   His beloved, being those who choose Him above all else!   Can you say you are His beloved?

Do you rise above humility for the sake of Christ!   Do you ‘pray’ before each meal regardless of where you are?   Or do you refuse Him?

His presence is within, and if stifled does not rise to illuminate as the light it is, because of lack of humility!   Humility is big to Jesus !   He suffered for the sake of humility!   Why?   Because of the great love for His Heavenly Father!   There you go!   That is it in a nut shell!   Gods perfect love, all encompassing is found in humility.   Difficult at times, but He does call upon each of us in different ways to prove this great love for Him!   We must ask ourselves, ‘am I equal to the task’?   For to be true and loving is to be humbling!

Book of John Chapter 6 verses 60-71 ” EFFECT OF THE DISCOURSE”

60)After hearing his words, many of his disciples remarked, “This sort of talk is hard to endure!    How can anyone take it seriously?”   61)Jesus was fully aware that his disciples were murmuring in protest at what he had said. “Does it shake your faith?”  He asked them.   62)What, then, if you were to see the Son of Man ascend to where he was before…?   63)It is the spirit that gives life; the flesh is useless.   The words I spoke to you are spirit and life.   64)Yet among you there are some who do not believe.”  ( Jesus knew from  the start, of course, the ones who refused to believe, and the one who would hand him over.)65) He went on to say: “This is why I have told you that no one can come to me unless it is granted him by the Father.”   66)From this time on, many of his disciples broke away and would not remain in his company any longer.  67) Jesus then said to the Twelve, “Do you want to leave me too?”  68)Simon Peter answered him, “LORD, to whom shall we go?   You have the words of eternal life.   69) We have come to believe; we are convinced that you are God’s holy one.”   70) Jesus replied,”Did I not choose the twelve of you myself?   Yet one of you is a devil.”.  71)(He was talking about Judas, son of Simon the Iscariot, who, though one of the Twelve, was going to hand Jesus over.”)

“….and lead us not into temptation,but deliver us from evil. Amen”   Pretty difficult, considering temptation is everywhere!

These words from the ‘Lords Prayer’ are real, as real today, as the day He said them.    As a matter of fact everything He said, applies as much today, as it did then.   Yet, people forget that Jesus, ‘ is the same yesterday, today, and forever.’

If we gave thought to the fact that Jesus sits amongst us today, as He did  then, we would perhaps pay more heed to our sins, and the temptations that confront us daily.

Typically when Mass is over and a family congregates with others, the sermon is often the topic of conversation.   Usually someone will disagree with what was said.   This is to be expected.   Yet, it is important to realize that the Priest or Pastor, is teaching us the doctrine of the reading.   Those readings from the Bible still stand today.

People do not wish to see themselves in them or be held accountable.

Guilt will cause the defenses to rise up if He has said something that hits home.

Recently, I was speaking to a friend that had been to a Mass whereby the Priest spoke on the sin of homosexuality.

I too, know some who profess to be ‘gay’.   That is not to say, that I do not like them.   As a matter of fact the people I know, I genuinely love.

However,   I do have a  problem with what they profess!!    When addressed upon the issue of how they choose to live, I will have to say, I can not agree with it!!   Anger seems to cause desrission at this point. Why?

The truth remains.   You can not change the truth!   Talk around it and through it and about it, but the truth is the truth, there is no exception!!

Sin is in the world!   It is here to stay!   The world does not want to hear of sin, because sin endorses ‘free will’ and free will is fun!!   Is it not ?!

If it were not, then everyone would be running to Christ!   Yet, because Jesus is discipline, people reject Christ.   Yet, that is where the peace is!  When we decide to discipline ourselves we reap the rewards of our work.

The teachings of Jesus are the discipline each soul thirsts for.   This is only realized when the teachings are learned and applied to the heart.

How does one apply it to their heart?   By coming to Christ!   How is that done, you say?  By invititaion!    When we invite Jesus to enter into our heart, we have chosen to love Him.   He then teaches us along the way!   He does this when we pray.   Prayer, is that most powerful ‘tool’ that God has blessed us with.

Jesus, His Son, is the mediator to God, for us.   He takes the sins of the world away.

All, things will pass away’ but only truth remains!   Christ is the truth!

So if you prefer, to ‘take the Lords name in vain’  and sleep with your neighbor, and lie to yourself and your friends, and kill that baby you have conceived, because it is not ‘convenient’ and array of all the other sins of broken commandments, know that there is only one that you will have to answer to in the end…Jesus!

Jesus is the sheepgate.   He has the keys to the kingdom of heaven, and your excuses and mine will not work.   For that is the truth!

Temptation starts in the mind.     So if you decide not to go to church because you did not agree with what was said, then evil has worked its way in, and Satan has won that round; for he has caused you to remove yourself from the ‘word of God’!   Round One, Satan wins, when sin enters in!

Book of Luke: Chapter 8 verses 19-21

19)”His mother and brothers came to be with him, but they could not reach him because of the crowd.   20) He was told, “Your mother and your brothers are standing outside and they wish to see you.”   21)He told them in reply, “My  Mother and my brothers are those who hear the word of God and act upon it.” “

It starts with a thought, and becomes an action.    When we desire, we examine our conscience to persue the depth of our direction.

Seems simple enough, does it not?   Yet, whether it is a relationship or a career, the thought it takes is what takes us there.   Life without ‘truth’ is dead!

If you know someone and they are a proven liar, do you care to cross the street to say, ‘hello’?   If nothing else, you keep your distance, for you know the damage a lie can do.

In our lifes direction, we do not know precisely where we will go, but if we are wise, we  direct and govern our thoughts to attaining our hearts desire.

Is there really anything that we are so certain of?   The heart to each human is so ‘fickle’ that though one wishes to ‘trust’ only he/she can give entirely!    When lacking of the giving is apparent, then ‘truth’ is lost.   The relationship is ‘fake’.

An examination of conscience is the core to the ‘truth’ of any individual.   Without the ‘boldness of character’  to enter into the depth of ones being, one can not grow, spiritually.

Without spirituality, life is dead!   For life is of God!   To leave God out of the equation of living, is to choose not to ‘breathe’!    Yet, by the same token, for one to try to explain ‘God’ and the relationship to God  is to try to explain the scent of a perfume.   The most one can do is to say, ‘it is’!   To want to know what is, is to choose to ‘enter in’.

‘Entering in’ to a relationship with the “Heavenly Father” is beginning in desiring.  In desiring, the first prayer said, will be the first step closer to Him.   Yet, once having said, that prayer, choose to never go back, never give up.    For just as one loves another completely, without reservation, so it must be within the relationship of God.    He, God, is waiting!   That first prayer, is the first step to becoming ‘whole’.   For the ‘spirit’ of a person, is like a desert without the irrigation.    It becomes whole and complete when it is ‘watered’ and so it is when the ‘spirit’ is irrigated with prayer.

There is no explaining it.  Similarily to the experiencing the scent;    It becomes alive!

To become alive, is to believe, and to believe is to pray.   For without prayer, life is dead!   For ‘Praise’ to God is everything!    Then as with any relationship, it begins to grow.    Before you know you have the ‘cornerstone’ to the building blocks of living.   Then all things are possiable.

Book of Psalm: Chapter 40 verses 5-6

5) “Happy the man who makes the LORD his trust; who turns not to idolatry or to those who stray after falsehood.   6)How numerous have you made, O LORD, my God, your wonderous deeds!   And in your plans for us there is none to equal you Should I wish to declare or to tell them, they would be too many to recount.”

Sometimes life can  get pretty quiet!  People need people.   Yet, even that  has its time.

When people are lonely they can resort to some pretty strange things.   I met a man who’s been ‘married’ ten times!    He is really fine with it!   If it doesn’t work get over it!

However, marriage is to be a lasting comittment.  What consititutes a lasting relationship?    Relationships of any sort, take care, comittment, and devotion.

When we need somone, it is typical to search someone one to talk to, but to what end?    When living together, is considered ‘normal’ for the choosing; have we not lost our sense of morality entirely?   To throw morality to the wind is to say, ‘I want it, I’ll take it’!

In the battle between good and evil, none of us would care to see ourselves on the ‘evil-side’.    Yet, if we were to take roll-call, and apply the standard rules as a measuring stick (so to speak)…then after applying the ‘code of conduct’ according to God’s standards, where would you fall?

For to give up entirely, is not an option!   As long as one is alive, there is hope!   As a matter of fact the bottom line is….Jesus came to buy your soul and mine back from the devil!   He’s the only one that can do it!    The price has already been paid!   You just must realize that He did the paying!   Anything less is taking Him for granted!   Ever been taken for granted?    Not much fun is it?!

So, if you already realized all this, then why, have you waited to call on Jesus!   There are no answers without the common denominator!

So, if you think you will go ‘straight up’ without Him, you are sadly mistaken.    For one thing is for sure, The Heavenly Father will make certain, He does not get taken for granted any longer.

If you decide to leave Jesus out of the ‘equation’  you will have chosen to let Him die in vain for you!   Scary?  Absolutley!

Finding ones way is never easy, but it is most difficult with no compass.  Jesus is all-encompassing!   He will never forsake anyone who calls upon Him.   Trust Him and the answers will come.

Chapter 12 verses  36-40 Jesus Speaks: Preparedness for the Master’s Return

36)Be like men awaiting their master’s return from a wedding , so that when he arrives and knocks, you will open for him without delay.   37) It will go well with those servants whom the master finds wide-awake on his return.   I tell you, he will put on an apron, seat them at table, and proceed to wait on them.   38)Should he happen to come at midnight or before sunrise and find them prepared, it will go well for them.   39) You know as well as I that if the head of the house knew when the thief was coming he would not let him break into his house.   40)Be on guard, therefore.   The Son of Man will come when you least expect him.”

Providential Calls to Penance: Chapter 13  verses 1-5

1) At that time, some were present  who told him about the Galileans whose blood Pilate had mixed witht their sacrifices.   2) He said in reply: “Do you think that these Galileans were the greatest  sinners in Galilee just because they suffered this?  3) By no means!   But I tell you, you will all come to the same end unless you reform.   4) Or take those eighteen who were killed by a falling tower in Siloam.   Do you think they were more guilty than anyone else who lived in Jerusalem?   5)Certainly not!   But I tell you, you will all come to the same end unless you reform.”

The state of being, is just that.   Whether we sit or stand, walk, run, laugh or cry.   But Why?   With life it seems to be at face value just that–it just is!

Yet, it is so much more than just being, just doing, just existing.   It is a presence within us!

If I were to share with you, what is  for me–It is a journey.   Not a day to day journey, but a state of mind.   For life, is more than going through the motions of living and crying, sleeping and dying.   Life is lifting up!   When one decides to ‘go up’ then you must decide to take the ‘stairs’.   Really!  The ‘Spirit’ needs a form of exercise.

Just as the body becomes stronger, quicker, more agile, when exercised, so the spirit becomes, stronger, quicker, and wiser through prayer !   For it is ‘human nature’ is to deny that the spirit needs exercise, it does.    Done through ‘prayer’, The state of ‘praying’ is elevating the mind to ‘highness.’   It is an experience!

The growth that comes through praying is quiet and unassuming, yet, very real.   As when one starts out ‘exercising’ the body and finds themselves feeling ‘more alive’!   So, in the most of unexpected circumstances does prayer change the ‘soul’.

Though it is natural for a ‘child’ to deny responsabilty to task, so it is with us.   For each of us, a ‘child’ of God, finds ourselves in the state of denial from time to time.   Yet, if we wish to be ‘wise’ we must reflect.   Then the reality of living will reveal itself.   This is accomplished through prayer.

For just as one can choose not to exercise, one can choose not to pray.  No one makes us do anything.   Choosing to ‘take the stairs’ is when the living begins.

Years ago, in the seventies, I believe it was; someone wrote a song, ‘Stairway to Heaven.’  If indeed it is a stairway to heaven, then it will indeed take work to take each step.   We all know to take the stairs is more work than taking the elevator.

If we wish to attain heaven, we must do the work, and prayer being the state of lifting the mind up each step; then the journey begins to make sense.

For once we realize the ‘journey’ we are on is work, then we have the ‘acceptance’ Our Heavenly Father desires.

Prepare yourself for distractions!   For life is full of them.   You must want heaven!  If you want heaven,do the work, and ‘take the stairs’!   The the mind will grow into dimensions beyond your wildest dreams.

If  fullness of life is what you desire…lift yourself up through prayer, and the journey of a lifetime will begin.

Book of Isaiah: Chapter 58: 6-9

6)” Seek the Lord while he may be found, call him while he is near.   7)Let the scoundrel forsake his way, and the wicked man his thoughts; Let him turn to the LORD for mercy; to our God, who is generous in forgiving,  8)For my thoughts are not your thoughts, nor are  your ways,says the LORD.   9)As high as the heavens are above the earth, so high are my ways above your way and my thoughts  above your thoughts.”

Book of Sirach: Chapter 1 verses 14-18

14)”Fullness of wisdom is fear of the LORD, she inebreates men with her fruits.   15)Her entire house she fills with choice foods, her graneries with her harvest.   16)Wisdom’s garland is fear of the LORD, with blossoms of peace and perfect health.   17)Knowledge and full understanding she showers down; she heightens the glory of those who possess her.  18)The root of wisdom is fear fo the LORD her branches are length of days.”