Since I believe the church which has lasted over 2000 years is being guided by YOU even with evil people at the top. I should not have a problem that you are still governing them. 

You were the one who made the apostles write the infallible word of the Bible. Of course you can make the holy church decisions if traditions just as infallible no matter who you use to write them for out for us. 

Since I believe you and your ability to not steer the church wrong, I believe I must humble myself and obey your teachings.  I do not have to understand. For You make good out of evil. I would’ve never thought the cross was the way to show salvation-how much more some of the thoughts of yours compared to mine. 

Therefore to help my psyche I must be in full communion with the holy church. You chose the liturgy, the Bible translation, the devotions, the leadership, everything that pertains to your holy church. All for your own purpose and I don’t need to believe the  humans governing, but I do need to believe your holy power to make your Will well known and done through the church. 

And in humility and in trust in you Almighty God, I surrender my fears and my will. I pray for you to keep guiding your church and little me, to do and believe your will. Help us not to apostatize  in these great unsure times. You are the way to eternal life and your church is the bulwark of Your Truth. 

Save me. 

Amen

Since I believe the church which has lasted over 2000 years is being guided by YOU even with evil people at the top. I should not have a problem that you are still governing them. 

You were the one who made the apostles write the infallible word of the Bible. Of course you can make the holy church decisions if traditions just as infallible no matter who you use to write them for out for us. 

Since I believe you and your ability to not steer the church wrong, I believe I must humble myself and obey your teachings.  I do not have to understand. For You make good out of evil. I would’ve never thought the cross was the way to show salvation-how much more some of the thoughts of yours compared to mine. 

Therefore to help my psyche I must be in full communion with the holy church. You chose the liturgy, the Bible translation, the devotions, the leadership, everything that pertains to your holy church. All for your own purpose and I don’t need to believe the  humans governing, but I do need to believe your holy power to make your Will well known and done through the church. 

And in humility and in trust in you Almighty God, I surrender my fears and my will. I pray for you to keep guiding your church and little me, to do and believe your will. Help us not to apostatize  in these great unsure times. You are the way to eternal life and your church is the bulwark of Your Truth. 

Save me. 

Amen

Miracle You Believe 

Everything God does is a surprise. First, creation. There is no need for this. It is an utter superfluity. 

Creation of all being out of nothing. 

Not merely imposing new form on old matter but imposing existence on nonexistence. For in creation, the God who is everything and needs nothing acts as if He needs everything. He comes out of Himself and creates a universe that is infinitely less than Himself and yet real, beings that are not Being Itself, real things that are really other than Reality Himself. 

God is not reasonable, in any human, expected sense. It is closer to the truth to say that God is crazy than that God is reasonable. 

Creating other spirits was crazy enough, but then He went on to create us: spirits that are also animals: angels that breathe and breed, organisms that think, mortal spirits, immortal animals. Like apes, we breed, sleep, and die. Yet like God we say, “I am.”

There’s much more to God’s craziness. He then went on to give these “rational animals,” free will and let them choose between Himself and Satan, Heaven and Hell, light and darkness, life and death. It is no charade: if we choose the Enemy, He lets us do it, and respects our freedom—forever. How can He act so dangerously? We wish He didn’t. We wish He had put up snake fences around Eden. So He let us make the most moronic choice in history, buying the Devil’s apple advertisement.

     

So what did God do next? The craziest thing of all, the deed no sage, no saint, no philosopher, no mystic, no man, no angel, and no devil ever even dreamed of: He became a human zygote, fetus, baby, boy, teenager, man, and then corpse. To do this, He first sent His angel to meekly wait for a girl’s consent to be His mother. 

God is such a gentlemen that He asked permission from His mother to be born! And God Almighty, infinite Spirit, the Second Person of the eternal Trinity, acquired a set of animal organs—forever. (For the Ascension was not the undoing of the Incarnation.)

         

And then He gave Himself to our mouths and our stomachs as well as to our souls. That thing that looks like a little piece of bread—that’s Him. I certainly sympathize with most Protestants, who do not believe that. It is nearly unbelievable. The priest puts God into your left hand, and you pick up God Almighty with your right thumb and forefinger and you swallow God Almighty, and He falls into your stomach. That is crazy—as crazy as the Incarnation. 

This is 99.9999999999 percent unbelievable. Like the Incarnation. This baby who can’t even speak until his parents teach him, this man who has nerve endings all over his body and gets hungry and tired and bloody and gets nailed to a cross and dies—that is the “holy God, holy strong one, holy immortal one,” the eternal Word of the eternal Creator Who spoke all time and space and matter into being.

         

How can we believe this? Only because He Himself gives us the grace to believe it.

Not only is the fact a miracle, our faith in it is also a miracle. It is a miracle that an honest and intelligent Christian believes a truth that is nearly unbelievable. 

There is no miracle in dishonest faith, fake faith; nor in unintelligent faith, stupid faith, misunderstood faith, which confuses Christianity with something easily believable, like “God exists and Jesus is nice and we ought to love one another.” 

But honest and intelligent faith in Christianity is literally a miracle. “Faith is a gift of God.” God gives us not only the truth but also the ability to believe it; not only the new thing to see but also the new eye to see it with.  

For how could we ever believe such a thing all by ourselves unless we were deranged?

How was it possible that anyone would think that God would love man; that the God who needed nothing would act as if He needed man; that the blessed God Himself, the perfect One, would care so much for man that He would become man and let Himself be murdered by man in order to save man? If God gave no sign, how could we ever suspect that? It is inconceivable, incredible, impossible, unimaginable, and crazy. 

Miracle You Believe 

Everything God does is a surprise. First, creation. There is no need for this. It is an utter superfluity. 

Creation of all being out of nothing. 

Not merely imposing new form on old matter but imposing existence on nonexistence. For in creation, the God who is everything and needs nothing acts as if He needs everything. He comes out of Himself and creates a universe that is infinitely less than Himself and yet real, beings that are not Being Itself, real things that are really other than Reality Himself. 

God is not reasonable, in any human, expected sense. It is closer to the truth to say that God is crazy than that God is reasonable. 

Creating other spirits was crazy enough, but then He went on to create us: spirits that are also animals: angels that breathe and breed, organisms that think, mortal spirits, immortal animals. Like apes, we breed, sleep, and die. Yet like God we say, “I am.”

There’s much more to God’s craziness. He then went on to give these “rational animals,” free will and let them choose between Himself and Satan, Heaven and Hell, light and darkness, life and death. It is no charade: if we choose the Enemy, He lets us do it, and respects our freedom—forever. How can He act so dangerously? We wish He didn’t. We wish He had put up snake fences around Eden. So He let us make the most moronic choice in history, buying the Devil’s apple advertisement.

     

So what did God do next? The craziest thing of all, the deed no sage, no saint, no philosopher, no mystic, no man, no angel, and no devil ever even dreamed of: He became a human zygote, fetus, baby, boy, teenager, man, and then corpse. To do this, He first sent His angel to meekly wait for a girl’s consent to be His mother. 

God is such a gentlemen that He asked permission from His mother to be born! And God Almighty, infinite Spirit, the Second Person of the eternal Trinity, acquired a set of animal organs—forever. (For the Ascension was not the undoing of the Incarnation.)

         

And then He gave Himself to our mouths and our stomachs as well as to our souls. That thing that looks like a little piece of bread—that’s Him. I certainly sympathize with most Protestants, who do not believe that. It is nearly unbelievable. The priest puts God into your left hand, and you pick up God Almighty with your right thumb and forefinger and you swallow God Almighty, and He falls into your stomach. That is crazy—as crazy as the Incarnation. 

This is 99.9999999999 percent unbelievable. Like the Incarnation. This baby who can’t even speak until his parents teach him, this man who has nerve endings all over his body and gets hungry and tired and bloody and gets nailed to a cross and dies—that is the “holy God, holy strong one, holy immortal one,” the eternal Word of the eternal Creator Who spoke all time and space and matter into being.

         

How can we believe this? Only because He Himself gives us the grace to believe it.

Not only is the fact a miracle, our faith in it is also a miracle. It is a miracle that an honest and intelligent Christian believes a truth that is nearly unbelievable. 

There is no miracle in dishonest faith, fake faith; nor in unintelligent faith, stupid faith, misunderstood faith, which confuses Christianity with something easily believable, like “God exists and Jesus is nice and we ought to love one another.” 

But honest and intelligent faith in Christianity is literally a miracle. “Faith is a gift of God.” God gives us not only the truth but also the ability to believe it; not only the new thing to see but also the new eye to see it with.  

For how could we ever believe such a thing all by ourselves unless we were deranged?

How was it possible that anyone would think that God would love man; that the God who needed nothing would act as if He needed man; that the blessed God Himself, the perfect One, would care so much for man that He would become man and let Himself be murdered by man in order to save man? If God gave no sign, how could we ever suspect that? It is inconceivable, incredible, impossible, unimaginable, and crazy. 

How I know I’m saved

Romans 5:1–2 (NKJV): 

Therefore, having been justified by faith, 

we have peace with God 

through our Lord Jesus Christ, 

through whom also we have access 

by faith into this grace 

in which we stand, 

and rejoice in hope of the glory of God. 

Ephesians 2:8–9 (NKJV): 

For by grace you have been saved 

through faith, 

and that not of yourselves; 

it is the gift of God, 

not of works, lest anyone should boast.

Romans 3:21–22, 24 (NKJV): 

But now the righteousness of God apart from the law is revealed, being witnessed by the Law and the Prophets, 22 even the righteousness of God, through faith in Jesus Christ, to all and on all who believe. Being justified freely by His grace through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus

I am righteous not by obedience but by faith. 

Faith and Grace is a gift from God. 

God justifies me through Jesus Christ. 

How I know I’m saved

Romans 5:1–2 (NKJV): 

Therefore, having been justified by faith, 

we have peace with God 

through our Lord Jesus Christ, 

through whom also we have access 

by faith into this grace 

in which we stand, 

and rejoice in hope of the glory of God. 

Ephesians 2:8–9 (NKJV): 

For by grace you have been saved 

through faith, 

and that not of yourselves; 

it is the gift of God, 

not of works, lest anyone should boast.

Romans 3:21–22, 24 (NKJV): 

But now the righteousness of God apart from the law is revealed, being witnessed by the Law and the Prophets, 22 even the righteousness of God, through faith in Jesus Christ, to all and on all who believe. Being justified freely by His grace through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus

I am righteous not by obedience but by faith. 

Faith and Grace is a gift from God. 

God justifies me through Jesus Christ. 

Saint Anselm, bishop
Desire for the vision of God

Insignificant man, escape from your everyday business for a short while, hide for a moment from your restless thoughts. Break off from your cares and troubles and be less concerned about your tasks and labors. Make a little time for God and rest a while in him.

Enter into your mind’s inner chamber. Shut out everything but God and whatever helps you to seek him; and when you have shut the door, look for him. Speak now to God and say with your whole heart: I seek your face; your face, Lord, I desire.

Lord, my God, teach my heart where and how to seek you, where and how to find you. Lord, if you are not here where shall I look for you in your absence? Yet if you are everywhere, why do I not see you when you are present? But surely you dwell in “light inaccessible.” And where is light inaccessible? How shall I approach light inaccessible? Or who will lead me and bring me into it that I may see you there? And then, by what signs and under what forms shall I seek you? I have never seen you, Lord my God; I do not know your face.

Lord most high, what shall this exile do, so far from you? What shall your servant do, tormented by love of you and cast so far from your face? He yearns to see you, and your face is too far from him. He desires to approach you, and your dwelling is unapproachable. he longs to find you, and does not know your dwelling place. He strives to look for you, and does not know your face.

Lord, you are my God and you are my Lord, and I have never seen you. You have made me and remade me, and you have given me all the good things I possess and still I do not know you. I was made in order to see you, and I have not yet done that for which I was made.

Lord, how long will it be? How long, Lord, will you forget us? How long will you turn your face away from us? When will you look upon us and hear us? When will you enlighten our eyes and show us your face? When will you give yourself back to us?

Look upon us, Lord, hear us and enlighten us, show us your very self. Restore yourself to us that it may go well with us whose life is so evil without you. Take pity on our efforts and our striving toward you, for we have no strength apart form you.

Teach me to seek you, and when I seek you show yourself to me, for I cannot seek you unless you teach me, nor can I find you unless you show yourself to me. Let me seek you in desiring you and desire you in seeking you, find you in loving you and love you in finding you.

Saint Anselm, bishop
Desire for the vision of God

Insignificant man, escape from your everyday business for a short while, hide for a moment from your restless thoughts. Break off from your cares and troubles and be less concerned about your tasks and labors. Make a little time for God and rest a while in him.

Enter into your mind’s inner chamber. Shut out everything but God and whatever helps you to seek him; and when you have shut the door, look for him. Speak now to God and say with your whole heart: I seek your face; your face, Lord, I desire.

Lord, my God, teach my heart where and how to seek you, where and how to find you. Lord, if you are not here where shall I look for you in your absence? Yet if you are everywhere, why do I not see you when you are present? But surely you dwell in “light inaccessible.” And where is light inaccessible? How shall I approach light inaccessible? Or who will lead me and bring me into it that I may see you there? And then, by what signs and under what forms shall I seek you? I have never seen you, Lord my God; I do not know your face.

Lord most high, what shall this exile do, so far from you? What shall your servant do, tormented by love of you and cast so far from your face? He yearns to see you, and your face is too far from him. He desires to approach you, and your dwelling is unapproachable. he longs to find you, and does not know your dwelling place. He strives to look for you, and does not know your face.

Lord, you are my God and you are my Lord, and I have never seen you. You have made me and remade me, and you have given me all the good things I possess and still I do not know you. I was made in order to see you, and I have not yet done that for which I was made.

Lord, how long will it be? How long, Lord, will you forget us? How long will you turn your face away from us? When will you look upon us and hear us? When will you enlighten our eyes and show us your face? When will you give yourself back to us?

Look upon us, Lord, hear us and enlighten us, show us your very self. Restore yourself to us that it may go well with us whose life is so evil without you. Take pity on our efforts and our striving toward you, for we have no strength apart form you.

Teach me to seek you, and when I seek you show yourself to me, for I cannot seek you unless you teach me, nor can I find you unless you show yourself to me. Let me seek you in desiring you and desire you in seeking you, find you in loving you and love you in finding you.

The Mass

The Catholic faith is the one True Faith. 

The temple worship was always a sacrifice to God. It has not ever changed. Just instead of bulls and goats, we now have the one and only, once for all perfect sacrifice. (Hebrews 10:14)

The Mass is the re presentation of the only sacrificial offering that God accepts as perfect-Jesus Christ! (Not reenactment but a remembrance) (1 Corinthians 11:24–25)

Then we put our offerings of a contrite spirit and humbled heart (Psalm 51:19) joined with his perfect sacrificial offering on the altar and ask for pardon of our sins for His name sake. 

Then we eat his body and blood which is the true food and the true drink (John 6:55)-to be one and nourished with him. Like a child being fed through the mother’s milk (her body). 

All other religious denominations deny the sacraments because they deny they give real power. (2 Timothy 3:5)

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Hebrews 10:14 

For by one offering he has made perfect forever those who are being consecrated.

1 Corinthians 11:24–25 

24 This is my body that is for you. Do this in remembrance of me.” 25 In the same way also the cup, after supper, saying, “This cup is the new covenant in my blood. Do this, as often as you drink it, in remembrance of me.” 

Psalm 51:19

My sacrifice, O God, is a contrite spirit; 

a contrite, humbled heart, O God, you will not scorn. 

John 6:55–57 

55 For my flesh is true food, and my blood is true drink. 56 Whoever eats my flesh and drinks my blood remains in me and I in him. 57 Just as the living Father sent me and I have life because of the Father, so also the one who feeds on me will have life because of me.

2 Timothy 3:5 

As they make a pretense of religion but deny its power.

Praise You Jesus Christ for the TRUTH.

The Mass

The Catholic faith is the one True Faith. 

The temple worship was always a sacrifice to God. It has not ever changed. Just instead of bulls and goats, we now have the one and only, once for all perfect sacrifice. (Hebrews 10:14)

The Mass is the re presentation of the only sacrificial offering that God accepts as perfect-Jesus Christ! (Not reenactment but a remembrance) (1 Corinthians 11:24–25)

Then we put our offerings of a contrite spirit and humbled heart (Psalm 51:19) joined with his perfect sacrificial offering on the altar and ask for pardon of our sins for His name sake. 

Then we eat his body and blood which is the true food and the true drink (John 6:55)-to be one and nourished with him. Like a child being fed through the mother’s milk (her body). 

All other religious denominations deny the sacraments because they deny they give real power. (2 Timothy 3:5)

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Hebrews 10:14 

For by one offering he has made perfect forever those who are being consecrated.

1 Corinthians 11:24–25 

24 This is my body that is for you. Do this in remembrance of me.” 25 In the same way also the cup, after supper, saying, “This cup is the new covenant in my blood. Do this, as often as you drink it, in remembrance of me.” 

Psalm 51:19

My sacrifice, O God, is a contrite spirit; 

a contrite, humbled heart, O God, you will not scorn. 

John 6:55–57 

55 For my flesh is true food, and my blood is true drink. 56 Whoever eats my flesh and drinks my blood remains in me and I in him. 57 Just as the living Father sent me and I have life because of the Father, so also the one who feeds on me will have life because of me.

2 Timothy 3:5 

As they make a pretense of religion but deny its power.

Praise You Jesus Christ for the TRUTH.

Many things happen that God does not will. But he still permits them, in his wisdom, and they remain a stumbling block or scandal to our minds. God asks us to do all we can to eliminate evil. But despite our efforts, there is always a whole set of circumstances which we can do nothing about, which are not necessarily willed by God but nevertheless are permitted by him, and which God invites us to consent to trustingly and peacefully, even if they make us suffer and cause us problems. We are not being asked to consent to evil, but to consent to the mysterious wisdom of God who permits evil. Our consent is not a compromise with evil but the expression of our trust that God is stronger than evil. This is a form of obedience that is painful but very fruitful.

Many things happen that God does not will. But he still permits them, in his wisdom, and they remain a stumbling block or scandal to our minds. God asks us to do all we can to eliminate evil. But despite our efforts, there is always a whole set of circumstances which we can do nothing about, which are not necessarily willed by God but nevertheless are permitted by him, and which God invites us to consent to trustingly and peacefully, even if they make us suffer and cause us problems. We are not being asked to consent to evil, but to consent to the mysterious wisdom of God who permits evil. Our consent is not a compromise with evil but the expression of our trust that God is stronger than evil. This is a form of obedience that is painful but very fruitful.

Imagine for a moment that a big, admired multinational corporation, one selling a beloved product, was employing large numbers of male pedophiles and rapists, operating in rings all over the world, and that their crimes had been uncovered in Australia, Ireland, Canada, the Philippines, Belgium, France, Austria, New Zealand, Argentina, Chile, Britain, Germany and the United States, and, further, that senior executives had systematically covered up and suppressed evidence, transferring and enabling hundreds of predators, betraying thousands of victims.

 

What would happen to the company is not terribly difficult to imagine.

 

At a minimum, the U.S. government would likely use its Racketeer Influenced and Corrupt Organizations (RICO) law to go after not only the rapists and molesters, but also the company's executives, up to and including its CEO if possible, seizing the company's assets and seeking the harshest possible prison terms. That's the sort of thing RICO was invented for. The company would almost certainly collapse.

 

But of course no company's warranty guarantees everlasting life, and no company maintains that its CEO is chosen by God.

Imagine for a moment that a big, admired multinational corporation, one selling a beloved product, was employing large numbers of male pedophiles and rapists, operating in rings all over the world, and that their crimes had been uncovered in Australia, Ireland, Canada, the Philippines, Belgium, France, Austria, New Zealand, Argentina, Chile, Britain, Germany and the United States, and, further, that senior executives had systematically covered up and suppressed evidence, transferring and enabling hundreds of predators, betraying thousands of victims.

 

What would happen to the company is not terribly difficult to imagine.

 

At a minimum, the U.S. government would likely use its Racketeer Influenced and Corrupt Organizations (RICO) law to go after not only the rapists and molesters, but also the company's executives, up to and including its CEO if possible, seizing the company's assets and seeking the harshest possible prison terms. That's the sort of thing RICO was invented for. The company would almost certainly collapse.

 

But of course no company's warranty guarantees everlasting life, and no company maintains that its CEO is chosen by God.

I either believe your church or I don’t for me there is no middle ground.  Either 2+2 = 4 and Catholicism = the faith of God‘s people - or it doesn’t, and if I’m not all in - I am lost

So because I believe you my God.  And I believe you are the one guiding the church, you have decided what the statutes,  rules, seasons, liturgies, customs and Bible versions are for this time in your history.  Some things do change through the ages so I know this is not abnormal many customs liturgies and even statutes of when and how to take the Eucharist has developed over time. 

Because of my faith in YOU and your ability to guide all minds and hearts so your will can’t be thwarted;  I believe all that you have given the Catholic Church to guide us to your truth.  

I know evil people are also in the church but just because Judas was in the church hierarchy does not negate what you have given us as the faith.  And maybe you chose Judas for just this reason - so we don’t disbelieve your church. 

All man is evil and just because some fathers do obscene harm to their kids does not mean we stop having families.  It means we hold tighter to the truth of what families and fatherhood should be - preaching the truth.  Same with the church we should hold tighter to what the church should be and hold the leadership accountable. 

I believe you can do all things!  I know Your will is being done. I believe your church. Help me to be one who does my part to become holy through your grace, to make it what you made it to be 

AMEN 

I either believe your church or I don’t for me there is no middle ground.  Either 2+2 = 4 and Catholicism = the faith of God‘s people - or it doesn’t, and if I’m not all in - I am lost

So because I believe you my God.  And I believe you are the one guiding the church, you have decided what the statutes,  rules, seasons, liturgies, customs and Bible versions are for this time in your history.  Some things do change through the ages so I know this is not abnormal many customs liturgies and even statutes of when and how to take the Eucharist has developed over time. 

Because of my faith in YOU and your ability to guide all minds and hearts so your will can’t be thwarted;  I believe all that you have given the Catholic Church to guide us to your truth.  

I know evil people are also in the church but just because Judas was in the church hierarchy does not negate what you have given us as the faith.  And maybe you chose Judas for just this reason - so we don’t disbelieve your church. 

All man is evil and just because some fathers do obscene harm to their kids does not mean we stop having families.  It means we hold tighter to the truth of what families and fatherhood should be - preaching the truth.  Same with the church we should hold tighter to what the church should be and hold the leadership accountable. 

I believe you can do all things!  I know Your will is being done. I believe your church. Help me to be one who does my part to become holy through your grace, to make it what you made it to be 

AMEN 

Humility and Obedience 

Come to the Catholic Church!

If you are willing to submit 

and follow the laws of your

Neighborhood 

Community 

City

County

State

Federal

For the sake of yourself and others....

Surely you should be willing to 

submit and follow the laws of the

Church of the Body of JESUS CHRIST 

YOUR LORD and GOD!

The Master of your Soul. 

Come to the Catholic Church!

Humility and obedience 

are the only way to God. 

He knows best-not yourself. 

Judge your life not on what you think

But on what God says is truth. 

What you think is irrelevant 

Only TRUTH matters.

Come to the Catholic Church!

Humility and Obedience 

Come to the Catholic Church!

If you are willing to submit 

and follow the laws of your

Neighborhood 

Community 

City

County

State

Federal

For the sake of yourself and others....

Surely you should be willing to 

submit and follow the laws of the

Church of the Body of JESUS CHRIST 

YOUR LORD and GOD!

The Master of your Soul. 

Come to the Catholic Church!

Humility and obedience 

are the only way to God. 

He knows best-not yourself. 

Judge your life not on what you think

But on what God says is truth. 

What you think is irrelevant 

Only TRUTH matters.

Come to the Catholic Church!

One common temptation that many face is that of living either in the past or in the future, and failing to live in the present moment.  You live in the past when you remain controlled by past events, sins, hurts, etc.  The past must be healed and your sins of the past must be forgiven.  Once that is done, you must let go of the past and not allow it to affect you in a negative way.  The past can affect you for good when 1) you learn from the mistakes you have made, 2) you are strengthened by the healing of past hurts, 3) you continue to rejoice in all that God has done for you.  You are affected negatively by the past when you dwell on your past sins and hurts, failing to seek forgiveness and healing.  You live in the future when your mind is constantly obsessed with that which is out of your control.  It’s easy to fear the future or to be anxious about it, but you must remember that the future is not yet here and you ought not allow fears or worries about it to cause undue stress.  All we have is the present moment.  Therefore, it must be your constant goal to live each moment, day by day, hour by hour and minute by minute.  Be present to the present moment.  Embrace it, live it and encounter the love and Mercy of God as He is present to you here and now (See Diary #1400).

Do you struggle letting go of the past or trying to control the future?  Seek to embrace this present moment and all will be well.  Reflect upon this tendency and especially look at what God wants of you today.  Keep your focus upon this present moment and seek to meet our Lord in it.  His Mercy awaits you here and now.

Lord, I offer to You all the events of my past and entrust to Your care all that will happen in the future.  Free me from past hurts and sins, and alleviate my worries about the future.  Help me to meet You and Your abundant Mercy in this present moment alone.  Jesus, I trust in You.

One common temptation that many face is that of living either in the past or in the future, and failing to live in the present moment.  You live in the past when you remain controlled by past events, sins, hurts, etc.  The past must be healed and your sins of the past must be forgiven.  Once that is done, you must let go of the past and not allow it to affect you in a negative way.  The past can affect you for good when 1) you learn from the mistakes you have made, 2) you are strengthened by the healing of past hurts, 3) you continue to rejoice in all that God has done for you.  You are affected negatively by the past when you dwell on your past sins and hurts, failing to seek forgiveness and healing.  You live in the future when your mind is constantly obsessed with that which is out of your control.  It’s easy to fear the future or to be anxious about it, but you must remember that the future is not yet here and you ought not allow fears or worries about it to cause undue stress.  All we have is the present moment.  Therefore, it must be your constant goal to live each moment, day by day, hour by hour and minute by minute.  Be present to the present moment.  Embrace it, live it and encounter the love and Mercy of God as He is present to you here and now (See Diary #1400).

Do you struggle letting go of the past or trying to control the future?  Seek to embrace this present moment and all will be well.  Reflect upon this tendency and especially look at what God wants of you today.  Keep your focus upon this present moment and seek to meet our Lord in it.  His Mercy awaits you here and now.

Lord, I offer to You all the events of my past and entrust to Your care all that will happen in the future.  Free me from past hurts and sins, and alleviate my worries about the future.  Help me to meet You and Your abundant Mercy in this present moment alone.  Jesus, I trust in You.

To bear bad things, evil things, well 

is a mark of humility, 

a mark of Christian maturity. 

It is a difficult notion for the modern Christian to accept. 

The goal of the twentieth century

 is to cure all diseases, 

order all inefficiency, 

topple all obstacles, 

end all stress, 

and prescribe immediate panaceas. 

We wait for nothing 

and put up with little 

and abide less 

and react with fury at irritations. 

We are a people without patience. 

We do not tolerate process. 

We cannot stomach delay. 

Persist. Persevere. Endure. 

It is good for the soul to temper it. 

God is in the dregs of our lives. 

That's why it takes humility to find God 

where God is not expected to be.