I'm Back

From the looks of things, it's been a while since I've blogged here, and I'm happy to say that I'm back! I have had so many things going through my mind in the last few months, and no time to get here and write it out. I had baby number four in January, my husband and I renewed our vows in July, and I am homeschooling. So we have some really exciting things happening in our family.

I just wanted to pop in and say hello to my online friends from long ago. ;) I'm happy to be back and can't wait to share my thoughts and faith with you all.

Feminist Revelation

I had a revelation yesterday. I have been blogging quite a bit on Work It! Mom about Ann Coulter and single moms. At times, I regret it, but then I change my mind because it's important that we all remain open to each other and really try to listen so we can learn. And boy have I learned something!

I responded to a comment and referred to myself as a feminist. I have always thought of myself as a feminist, but a liberal one. I had different thoughts of feminism. I thought that feminism was always fighting men for a position of power. I have come to my senses and realized that feminism is not, or should not, be about that.

I have been reading the Bible quite a bit and doing my own devotionals (yay!) and things have really changed for me. I took God's Word into my heart and began believing, truly believing in my role as a wife and mother. Yesterday, I saw my role with another twist.

As a feminist, it's important for us to empower women, young and old. Empower them in a way that encourages the things about them that make them special. Knowledge, making decisions, and exhibiting self-control leads to empowerment. It leads our little women down a path that will create success, whether they choose a career, or the vocation of motherhood. Either way, each one is important and our girls need to know that the whole world is open to them.

So I have been wrestling with Girl Scouts. I haven't finished any of my training and it always seems like I don't have time for it. Well, I came to the realization today that Girl Scouts empower girls. I know, you may have already known that and I already knew that, but now I know it. I had a meeting yesterday with the other leader of our troop and for the first time since October, I was excited about planning activities for the girls. I could really see the long-term effects this program has on their self-esteem and ambitions.

So anyway, I just wanted to share my revelation with you. It's just another testament to God and His ability to show us what He wants us to know. Through that blog and going back and forth with the other women there, I learned something. Isn't His love wonderful?

Silence for God

This is something that is a little hard for me to explain. At first, I thought Mother Angelica wanted me to turn off my t.v., my radio, quiet my kids, maybe go to a quiet room, so I could concentrate on God in silence. But I don't think that's what she means.

She says that our "...powers of concentration are so diverted that [we] cannot concentrate on God." So what I'm thinking is that we should be in a sort of meditative state. We should erase our worries from our minds. Take away thoughts that divert our thinking from God. "[We] have to feel that silent place in the depths of [our] soul, in that place where [we]can always concentrate on God."

This meditative state keeps out influences that are not God's. She tells us that this place we go is somewhere we have control of. No one can come in unless they are invited. So if we don't invite the devil, he cannot come in. So I'm thinking this silent place must be a place of peace where we are always in tune with God and what He wants so that we can stay on the right path.

If this sounds right, let me know!! If you have something else to share, please do that too! This was a tough one!

PRAY!

The next section of Mother Angelica's book deals in prayer. I think this is something that we significantly lack as a whole as Christians. Some of us are afraid to pray because we're not sure if we're doing it right. Others of us pray for something to go our way, and then get upset when it doesn't come out the way we want it to.

Well, I'm just going to share a couple of quotes from the beginning of the chapter today, and continue to share thoughts and quotes throughout the week.

Prayer creates a disposition of assurance- not that you're going to get every answer that you want- but assurance of God's presence and His love.

God is always here. If you want to be able to count on someone all the time, God is your man. Have you ever had something that you want to talk about so badly that you feel like you're going to explode? And you call your best friend, wife, husband, sister, brother, mother, father, daughter, son and they weren't there? I have! So who do you talk to? GOD! "A lot of people today pray, but they never talk to God." Mother tells us that we don't have to wait for that magnificent thing to happen, but "talk to Him about everyday things right now."

The closer that I become to Him, the more I find myself talking to Him. In my van, making breakfast, doing chores around the house.... He's becoming more like a best friend. I can talk to God about ANYTHING. And why not? He knows everything anyway! I ask Him questions, I ask for help, I give Him thanks. I do that many times throughout the day. It keeps Him in my mind and in my heart. And the more I do it, the more I don't even realize I do it because it's such a big part of my life.

Catechism

OK, I know some of you that read this aren't Catholic, and that's cool with me. And it's nice even because we can be here together and still enjoy talking about God and His love for us and our love for Him from different perspectives.

Well, as many of you may know, I'm new, sort of, to the Catholic faith. I was baptized Catholic and received my First Holy Communion on time, but then that was it for a while. In fact, my family stopped going to Church shortly after that. Anyway, I got married in the Catholic Church and moved here to Maryland where my kids go to Catholic School. A friend of mine through a business I used to do from my home, worked through the Holy Spirit and got me back interested in my faith. So I took some RCIA courses and got confirmed last May with the 8th grade class. That was fun. One of the kids told me that the sponsors sat in the row behind. I politely told her that I was getting confirmed. She said, "Oh, sorry!" I thought that was kind of comical.

Anyway, after my Confirmation, I was on the path of faith, then off, then on, then off... you know what I mean. Just recently, well, the time of the election, I began really digging in to my faith. And it is one of the most important things to me right now.

I read Scripture just about daily and write Daily Devotionals in a blog here on Blogger, and even send them out in emails. I really enjoy it. I like to read about God and I like to write about Him and talk with others about what it means to have faith, regardless of their religion.

So I'm in search of information. Lots and lots of information. I want to read so much that I'm not sure if I will have enough life time to do it all. But that's OK. Anyway. I picked up a book that our pastor created for a Bible Study he's doing. I made it to 2 meetings, but haven't made it back since. I have the book and picked it up this morning and read the Introduction. And what do you know, I have something to share.

I know that Catholics aren't always seen as "pick up the Bible and read it" people, but a lot of us are. I actually enjoy reading it. I learn a lot. I learn through that and obviously going to Church. So Father put a quote in there from the Catechism of the Catholic Church, 158: "it is intrinsic to faith that a believer desires to know better the One in whom he has put his faith and to understand better what He has revealed; a more penetrating knowledge will in turn call forth a greater faith, increasingly set afire by love." I just love that quote!

It's a quote that others may be surprised about with the Catholic faith. Like what is this talk about love?? Catholics love God?? We do!! We love Him very much. We love Him so much that we want to follow His Word, in every way. But I think just recently, the Church has come back and is encouraging us to go to the Bible and read Scripture and I think it's wonderful. I mean, we read Scripture in Church every Sunday, but it's not the same as picking up your Bible and reading it.

I had a few friends who were interested in my devotionals and I began sending them in email form, then I started a blog so we could discuss online. And now I send the email each morning, and I do the devotional myself. Visit my site to read the Bible with me and discuss. I'm still learning, so if something doesn't sound right, have a question, or a comment, please let me know in the Comments section of the post! If you want the devotional sent to your email, send an email to karenscatholiclife@live.com and I will add you to my list.

Anyway, keep reading, keep learning, keep discussing, and love a lot!

Luck

There is no such thing as luck. God is the author.
-Mother Angelica

Isn't that neat?! I knew when I read that, I just HAD to post it! I have been correcting myself lately when I want to say "lucky" or "luck." Because I firmly believe there is no such thing!

Instead of saying lucky now, I say that I'm "blessed." Or I tell someone they were "blessed" instead of lucky. Because that's what it is. God Blesses us with His love! It may be a tough love sometimes, but it is love nonetheless. And it is an unceasing love that we can always count on!

Words of Wisdom from Logan

I have heard this clip before, and then got an email today from my sister-in-law with the video from God Tube. It is about a 13-year-old boy who calls into his local Christian station with a story. Get ready, and get out the Kleenex, you're gonna need it:

God knows... just run to Him.

Starting the Day

OK, I'm ready to start today. I usually get up early, like 5:15am, but I haven't been doing that latey. I think the Christmas vacation has really thrown us off and I'm having a hard time getting to bed early enough to drag myself out of bed. So I haven't showered yet, which usually makes me feel better. So I'm going to be challenged this morning, and I'm ready! I'm ready for the kids. I'm ready to get them ready and off for school!

My son isn't up yet, which is a treat. I think he's ready to give up his naps during the day. He seems to sleep better at night when he doesn't have one. And that just means that they will be going to bed earlier, which is fine with me. Then I can go to bed earlier!

So, no one is up yet, well, I can hear the baby now, which is fine because it's time for me to get off this computer and get them up. I'm ready! I'm mentally prepared to get things done this morning with my organized self! Once I'm done reading Mother Angelica, I'm going to read another mom's book from my sister-in-law (that I bought her last year!!) that will hopefully help me organize even more. I got another suggestion for that book from Therese.

So pray for me this morning! I'm leaving now... have a Blessed Day!

A Trusting Soul

A soul that trusts God is invincible.
- Mother Angelica

Isn't that so true? From our trust comes love and faith. When we have those things, we have belief! And that belief gives us our eternal life with Our Father.

BEAUTIFUL!

What a Day

Whew! Today has proven to be quite the challenge. I feel like the closer I get to God, and the more people that I meet, whether online or in person, that are also close with God, the devil just tries to make his way in there!

The morning started off good (the checklists worked nicely actually), and it continued to be good until I started helping my son clean his room. The one thing about Christmas that makes me grumpy is the tons of toys that I have to try to organize! It drives me crazy! I just want to throw out every single old toy and replace them all with all the new stuff they got. It just doesn't feel like Christmas when I have to feel that way. It's like the message about Christmas is lost in lots of gift-giving. Which is OK, but I just don't know what to do with it all.

So this story actually ends good, so hang in there! I called my husband, and told him that I needed some help with the kids so that I could get up to the bedrooms and try to organize everything. See, we like to keep a few toys for the kids to keep for when they have kids of their own, so those are in storage too. ANYWAY! He was in a meeting, so I left that message for him. I started making lunch and thinking about what I needed to DO to make this better. Like buy a nice shelf for my son's room and also make sure we get rid of some toys, seriously. I thought maybe we could go to the store where we bought his bedroom furniture and take a look at what they have.

My husband sends me back a text with the same idea!! Isn't that funny?! I couldn't believe that we were thinking of the same thing at the same time. Kind of eerie isn't it? Or is it God working His magic?? I love Him (and my hubby too!!).

Does He PERMIT Evil?

So the next question we may ask ourselves is "Why does God permit evil?" And Mother Angelica has an answer. "His providence protects the freedom of His creatures by permitting evil. If you reject God and turn against Him with your free will, God will still draw good out of it--- for your good or for the good of another."

The free will He gives us enables us to make our own choices and to learn from them. Ever heard the expression "Learn from your mistakes?" Of course you have. How are we going to make mistakes if we don't have that free will to do so? I know that the most I have learned, and the best that I remember, is through mistakes. And that could be my own, or someone else's. So remember. You may not learn, or maybe you don't get something positive out of the evil in your life, but maybe someone else did, or will. It's not for us to know, nor for us to dwell upon. It will only make us miserable and draw us further from God with distrust. Trust in Him. There is a reason.

Some words of comfort from Mother:

God knows your every need and desire. He listens to your every sigh and sees every tear. He surrounds you completely. Even though you do not see the end of the road, you need not fear.

Note: I just read a great post from Faith and Family Live! with a little info on this very subject.

God's Love

So do you believe that God loves you? Do you believe that He loves you ALL the time? Even in those trying times in your life where you can't believe He would let that happen to you? Your parents get divorced. A loved one dies unexpectedly. Your child commits a mortal sin.

These are all things where we could say, where are you God? How could you let this happen? Well, Mother Angelica says, "God loves me so much that He provides for my every need. God's providence disposes and directs everything for His honor and glory, and for the good of my soul." It's so hard when we live in the Present Moment to see His good intentions right away. I can tell you that when my parents were going through their divorce, it didn't seem like He was there. How could He let them throw away 38 years of marriage and rip apart our family? What sense does that make?

Well, it pays to ask questions. Through their divorce, I found myself getting closer and closer to Him because I needed guidance from somewhere, and I didn't feel that I could get it from my parents at that point and time. As most married couples do, my husband and I fought quite a bit. I mean, we have 3 kids... who doesn't??!! And I can't tell you that divorce didn't cross my mind. After all, wasn't it better for them to see their parents happy than together and fighting all the time? Well, it's good for them to see us happy, but together and happy. And I guess it took my parents getting their divorce for me to see how important it is to stay together. The closer I came to God, the more I realized how much I love and adore my husband. The closer I came to God, the more I realized what I needed to do to make our life better together.

I think we all know that good can come out of the bad, but sometimes it takes a while for that insight to happen. And that's OK. It's God' Will and Providence. Mother also tells us that if it's meant to be, then the Lord will clear the path. If it's not, then He will make it difficult to get there. "Nothing happens to you without the stamp of His providence placed upon it before it happens. That's faith."

So have faith. Things may seem bad, but they wouldn't be happening if He didn't let it.

Penance God's Way

Penance doesn't mean a thing if it's not God's will. - Mother Angelica

Mother uses an example of St. Teresa of Avila who thought she would do all of these penance activities during Lent. And then she got so sick she had to be in bed and everyone had to wait on her. When she complained to the Lord about it, He told her that she did her penance, now it was time for His.

Isn't that neat? We are nothing. It doesn't matter who we are and what we do, He has the final say! We can do what makes us feel better for our sins. Blog, pray, fast, help the poor, but all that matters is God's penance for us. The penance that we think may be appropriate for our sins, may not be what He had in mind. And He always has His way, doesn't He?

Avoiding God's Will

I spent a long time avoiding God's Will for me. I always, ALWAYS, saw myself as a working mom. I can remember telling a friend of mine (who wanted to date me) that I would NEVER stay home with the kids. I was going to college to get an education so I could be a teacher. And there wasn't anyone that was going to stop me from having my own life and my own career, not even my kids.

I fought Him tooth and nail through this transition. It took me 3 1/2 years for goodness sake!! Once I became closer to Him through love and prayer and Bible study, I realized that the turmoil in my life came from trying to be that independent person from my children. For me, working didn't work. Once I came to terms with being a homemaker, I became a happier person and my home became a home that my husband was happier coming home to, and a home my kids were happier being in. What a blessing.

Please don't get me wrong, I'm not saying the women shouldn't work. I'm just writing about a big turning point in my life. Working wasn't making me happy, and it wasn't creating a happy home for my family. That is just my personal story, and it doesn't go for everyone.

So here's what Mother Angelica says about avoiding God's Will:

What is it in your life that makes you run once you begin to feel that God is after you? I'll tell you why you run, because you're afraid He's going to take everything away from you that's dear. There's a beautiful line in a poem by Frances Thompson and it says, "What I took from thee, I took not for thy harm, but only that you would seek it in My arms." Remember that! Don't ever be afraid to follow Jesus, to be a real Christian on fire with what you believe.

Don't ever be afraid to follow Jesus, to be a real Christian on fire with what you believe. LOVE THAT!! I'm becoming less and less fearful. Since I made the choice to give in to Him, follow Jesus, and accept my vocation as a wife and mother, things seem to make more sense. I look at our bank account and realize that we are doing fine without an income from me! We aren't big spenders, so we do just fine!! We have not made bad decisions, and my husband made a very wise decision to buy the house he did, and so we are in a good place financially. So the pressure I was putting on myself to work, was not needed right now. If the time comes, then I'm sure He will show me the way. I must make sure that I listen though, be open to His Will, and not be afraid.

Satisfaction

So what is holiness? Well, in my last post, Mother Angelica told us that it's not perfection. So what IS it?

WHOLLY SATISFIED

Our Lord said, "Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for holiness, they shall be satisfied" (Matt. 5:6). Today what is holiness? Holiness is that image of Jesus in your heart that shines on your face and tells your neighbor that there is more to come, and it's better than this life. It makes you so free that you can laugh at the world and what it has to offer. Others look at you and ask, "What do you have? I want it."

-Mother Angelica, LITTLE BOOK of LIFE LESSONS and EVERYDAY SPIRITUALITY

"Holiness is that image of Jesus in your heart that shines on your face and tells your neighbor that there is more to come, and it's better than this life." I highlighted that in my book. I love that and I read it over and over. It all comes back to the love that we have for Jesus and allowing that love we have for Him to shine through in our lives. How do we do that? By living like He lived, by letting Him do His work through us. If you think of it this way, it really makes me feel free because I really don't have as much control over my life as I thought. And if it's God that has control, then I'm OK with that!

The Heart and the Mind

As I have embarked on my journey back to Catholicism, I have learned lots of "things." I have learned facts about Jesus and the Holy Family, some "things" about Saints, and some "things" about God. But another "thing" that I learned was that I don't have to know a lot of "things" to know how to love God and live like Jesus.

Brilliance Is Not Required

Every time Jesus taught the multitudes, the apostles would get Him alone afterward and say, "Master, would you explain the parable to us?" Every child in that audience knew exactly what He was talking about, except his apostles.

Now some of you look at Scripture and you don't understand it. Then someone comes along with an insight that makes you feel teeny-tiny. Well don't! You aren't alone. Holiness doesn't consist of knowing much, or doing much, but of loving much.

-Mother Angelica

This passage really hit me too. In the past I felt like I didn't know a lot about Jesus and therefore I didn't know how to pray, go to Church right, or talk to and about God right. It is comforting to hear Mother Angelica talk like this. We don't have to know everything, just love God with all our hearts and follow Him. Yes, there are certain things that we need to know, like how Jesus lived so that we can live like Him, but it is not essential to get a degree in theology to be able to live a faithful life. I think that's what Mother Angelica is saying.

God knows what is in our hearts. If He can see our goodness and our intentions, and the way we live, then we are showing our faith to Him. Now granted, I would LOVE to to know EVERYTHING there is about God and the life of Jesus. That's why I'm going to continue to read my little heart out. But I can't let that get before my love for Him. My love for Him, OUR love for Him drives our faith. Our minds only serve that love.

That's what that means to me. What does this mean to you? Do you feel overwhelmed with so much to learn? Do you feel like, or have you ever felt like, you can't pray because you don't know how? Have you ever felt like you need to "know" in order to love?

Believing and the Truth

I hope everyone had a Blessed Christmas. I know I did! Everyone was together and healthy and we were able to share our gifts with each other. My Christmas will be continuing tomorrow as I take a long trip to see my side of the family and spend time with them. So keep us in your prayers for a safe and happy trip. Thank you!

Now, for my latest reading!! I sat down for a few while the kids were in bed, and there were many, many bits of information I wanted to share with you. Then I came across one that really touched me and how I have come to believe so strongly in my Catholic faith. The more I read, and the more I think, and the more I BELIEVE with my whole heart, the more I appreciate the Church and the rules that have been set forth. I used to get caught up in the mindset of the rest of society that thinks Catholics are too strict and kept asking why it was so important to do the things we do. Well, God must have heard my questions, and He certainly answered them.

I was one of those Catholics that took some stuff and believed it, and left the rest because it must have been nonsense. After all, my friends didn't believe that and they got to sing and seemed to have a good time in Church. I can remember talking about that to a friend of mine when I was only in elementary school. So I guess I didn't have that STRONG belief in my faith from the beginning.

So I have been researching a lot, and reading a lot about God, our Lord, and our Mother. And in this latest book I have been reading by Mother Angelica, I came across a nugget titled "Tranquility and the Lord." Here is what she had to say:

Scripture says, "If your lips confess that Jesus is Lord and if you believe in your heart that God raised Him from the dead, then you will be saved" (Rom. 10:9). Some have cut it short and say, "Whoever believes in Jesus is saved." No. The devil believes in Jesus, but he is not saved. It's "Jesus is Lord" that makes you saved. He must be the Lord of your life.

Powerful isn't it?? Doesn't she make you THINK?! I love the part about the devil. It just blew my mind. I never thought about my belief that way before. Just because we believe doesn't mean we are saved. Many of us have rejected parts of the Bible because it requires work from us. We are sinful, erroneous human beings. But He sent us His only Son so that we may still be with Him when we die. He didn't send His Son to cover all of our sins so we could live free and without guilt though. Just because we believe and want to see Jesus as our way to the light, the way to our Father, doesn't mean we earn the right to be there just because we are alive. We must also live like He lived. We must take EVERY part of the Bible and LIVE it!! It's not easy, but it's important that we try hard. God knows the love that we have for Him in our hearts. He knows our intentions. If we love Him and EVERYTHING that He teaches us, and live according to Him, according to the Truth, then we have earned that eternal life in Heaven with our Father.

So, "He must be the Lord of your life." What does that mean to you?

Living in the Present Moment

I finished reading Chapter 3! And boy was this a good one! Mother Angelica discusses living in the Present Moment and how important it is to deal with the here and now. The whole chapter was dedicated to this particular aspect of our Christianity, so I will probably write about this over several days. For today, I want to share an excerpt with you from the beginning of the chapter:

You see people today doing unreasonable things, and they do them because they are living in their memories and imaginations- they exist on an animal level. The intellect never comes into play. Self-control is one of the fruits of the Holy Spirit, which requires us to decide what enters our memory and what remains there. I must look upon every resentment, every bitterness, every hurt and conquer it, or it will conquer me.

Isn’t that AWESOME?! How many time have you let your past control your here and now? MANY times for me! I know I have done it just in the past WEEK!! It’s so easy to get caught up in how someone else has hurt us and how badly it hurt. But it’s important to move on. Now I’m not saying to ignore what happened, because from personal experience, it can come up and bite you later on. So it’s important to deal with it in the here and now. My last post mentioned telling the truth. So, tell the truth, tell your feelings, and let that other person take it or leave it. Leave the rest to God. Just because we move on, does not mean everything is OK, it just means we have to move on.

I do have to say that saying my peace helped, regardless of what the other person said. I’m more restless and irritated when I have something on my mind.

But we cannot let the circumstances of the past RUN our lives. I’m no expert on conquering anything, but I feel like I’m getting the hang of it. Acting like a mature, intellectual human being is very peaceful. Communicating and expressing ourselves through words is what puts us above the other creatures of the earth. When we take to verbal slander and violent actions, it saddens our Lord, and it hurts the people we love and care about.

It takes a lot of self-control not to bring ourselves down to the level of those animal-like human beings walking the earth that may offend us and treat us badly. But it sure does feel good to be the better person. Because really, the only One that needs to know what happens is God. He knows the truth. He IS the truth and it is HIS judgment that we need to worry about.

Sometimes we focus so much on the negative, and how much other people may have hurt us, that we can’t see our own selves. We are not able to examine ourselves and our actions to become better Christians. We are not able to see the every day blessings that are right in front of our faces, each and every day.

Lord, help me to see you in every moment of my present life. Open my eyes to the blessings that I have right here in front of me, right here, and right now.

Absolute Freedom

The thing that confuses us so much is that we are constantly thinking about ourselves. What am I going to do for the world? What am I going to do for my neighbor? You’ve got the wrong question.

The question is: What is God going to do through you? That’s the question: How much are you going to let Him do? When you begin to ask the right questions you will get the right answers. You are nothing; and until you come to that realization, you will stumble and crawl through all of life. There is absolute freedom in the thought that you are nothing. only then are you free to be used by God for His ends, the ends for which you have been created.

-Mother Angelica

Oh my goodness!! I had never thought about it that way before. I’m NOTHING!! It’s true and it IS kind of freeing to think of myself that way. Boy does it take the pressure off!

We are very self-centered people and it’s very difficult to change that and look beyond ourselves to God and figure out how He wants to use us. Now I don’t know about you, but I have been asking myself the WRONG question. After I read this little passage, I kept reading (it’s so addicting), but I kept thinking about this one particular passage. What DOES He want to do through me?

Well, I was on the phone last night with, well, I will call her a friend of mine, and we were talking a lot about our faith and not being afraid to “come out of the closet.” It’s so hard. Religion is seen so differently these days. Anyway, we discussed doing a book club. And I have been contemplating it for a long time, and throwing the idea out. So I didn’t think much more about it, just that maybe I will do it some day…. THEN I opened up my email this morning and saw Melanie’s comment about being interested in a Book Club and I thought, “OK, is this what he wants to work through me? A Book Club?” Maybe, I don’t know. But it can’t hurt to do it and see what comes out of it, right? He speaks to us, but we just have to listen very carefully!!

Lord, keep my ears and heart open to Your Word, so that you can work your goodness through me.

Stepping Out In Mystery

I finished my first chapter in Mother Angelica’s book!! It’s amazing what you can do when you turn off the computer…. There are so many things that I can talk about, but I picked my favorite (which was VERY hard to do).

Here is the passage:
STEPPING OUT IN MYSTERY

We don’t want to step out in faith and say, “God, the only hand I have is Yours, even though I don’t know where You’re going.” I think that’s the most thrilling experience: not to know what God is doing- but going out and doing it anyway.

It’s very difficult for a real Christian to mess this up. If you try something and you fail, you’re been humbled. You’re a little smarteer the next time; you learn to depend upon God and not yourself. You can learn much in failure. If you succeed: you are aware of God’s spirit, aware of His using you in extraordinary ways. So from a spiritual perspective, you can’t fail no matter what happens.

HOW AWESOME IS THAT!?!? I can’t even tell you how many times I’ve failed at something and felt like a failure. Here recently, I have failed at many things, like relating and communicating with other people. But I have learned that in all of that miscommunication and anger, I have learned a great deal about other people, life, and myself. I thank God for those horrible moments of anger, yelling, and arguments because I learned from it. And then when I take that and apply my new knowledge elsewhere and succeed, I know that was God’s intervention in my life and my heart just fills with such joy and love for Him.

He really does love us!! He helps us go from Negative Nellies to Positive Pollies!! (A little joke I have with a good friend of mine.) There IS a reason for bad things happening in our lives. Take them, pray on them, listen to what He has to say, and make yourself into a Positive Polly!! It’s AWESOME!!

Lord, open my heart and my mind today to Your good works so that I can become closer to You and Your love.