AAAAAAAAARRRRGGGGHHHHHHHHHH!!!!

Oh I'm so frustrated this morning!!!

I was typing my Devotional for today and had on Fox and Friends (my most favorite morning show). Octo-Mom came up. Now first and foremost, she must be the most frustrating creature. She actually has a website up to get donations from all of us Americans to help her take care of here babies. I'm just absolutely speechless....

But that was just the tip of the iceberg here. Brian, one of the hosts, was talking about the process of in-vitro. He said that he notices that women have these "embryos" and feel this need to use them because we think they are babies and they're not!! WHAT?!!?

I'm sorry, I don't typically do this, but what an IDIOT!!! Embryos ARE babies!!!! That's what people don't get, and he just goes and spouts it on television. That "embryo" is the beginning of a human being. The cells that make up that "embryo" is defining that baby's features. Brown or blue eyes, blonde or brown hair, fat or skinny, chunky cheeks or not.... He is a BABY!!

Society has become so numb to human life because we, as humans, have decided to play God and create life outside of the womb and then implant it in a woman in "hopes" that that baby will continue to live. CONTINUE TO LIVE!! If the baby doesn't implant, then it dies. IT DIES!! Dying suggests it was living, does it not?!?!?

Take embryonic stem cell research for instance. If the "embryo" wasn't living, what good would he be to us?? He wouldn't!! That's why we create that LIFE. So we can study him!! How sick.

God is the ONLY one who should be creating life. We as humans are going to have a lot of explaining to do!!

Aaaaarrrrggghhhh... just a little frustrated this morning. People can be so STUPID sometimes!!!!

I apologize ahead of time for using harsh words, but I feel they are necessary this morning to get my point across... FRUSTRATION!!!

Detach Yourself

Detachment is an overwhelming attachment to God.
- Mother Angelica

Detachment from what? Well, I think what Mother is saying here is that when we detach ourselves from the "things" of this world, we become more attached for God. When we pay less attention to the "things" we want, the "things" we think we might need, the more we can focus on God and the "things" He wants!

Does that make sense to you? It makes sense to me. When we can let go of ourselves and our stuff, we can grab ahold of Him and His holiness. We can become more tuned in to our Lord and His wants and His desires for us as Christians following Him.

So what could you let go of in your life today that will bring you closer to God's holiness?

Third Degree of Prayer

The Third Degree of Prayer is the Mind. This is where we start to examine ourselves and we start to feel far away from God. I think this is because we realize with our minds that we are imperfect and maybe we start to feel that we are not worthy of His love.

This is when we have to rise above that state of mind and increase our spirituality. Sounds easy right? Or maybe it doesn't sound so easy to you. Either way, it's not easy. I find myself doing this all the time. I'll be reading Scripture and read something that just doesn't make sense in my mind because sensibly, or in our human world, is not possible. That's when I have to mentally rise above that and look to my heart for my spirituality. For my belief in our Father and all of His good and faithful works that He makes apparent to me daily.

First Degree of Prayer

Good Monday Morning!

Today I'm going to talk a little bit about the First Degree of Prayer: Strength. Mother says, "It comes when you begin to realize that God is your Father and you've got this vacuum in your heart."

We take all of our sins, frustrations, fears, and bring them to Him. We realize that we don't have as much control over our lives as we thought we did. It takes strength to "give in" to Him and His will. It's hard for us to feel like we don't have any control. So that takes a certain degree of strength. And when we pray, our prayers turn into what He wants, instead of what we want.

I was just explaining this to my daughter today. Have you ever said, "I had such a good idea!!" Of course we have! Well, was that your idea or God's? It's God's. Everything is God's. God works through us and plants seeds and thoughts in us. Whether we choose to follow that or not is a different story.

Let me give you an example of what I mean. This week, I was blogging with women who didn't agree with me (which was wonderful because I learned something). We were blogging about sex and feminism, and of course we disagreed with how we got to where we are in society today. I get up very early to take a shower and sit down on the computer to get my thinking, praying, reading, or blogging in. When I sat down with my computer here and turned on the television, I was going to turn on the news. But then I thought, let's see what's on EWTN today. I turned the station and guess what? It was a program about... drum roll please... sex and kids!! Coincidence? I think not. My idea? I think not. God talks to us all the time. He whispers and if we listen, we will learn His ways and He will be able to live through us.

See, we are His. He does His works through us if we let Him. I guess I decided to let Him that day. I could have turned on the news because that's what I wanted to do, but I didn't. I realize a little more each day that my life is not mine. It belongs to our Lord. That takes strength, but it also brings comfort.

Once we come to terms with our sins and feel repentance, it turns into the Second Degree of Prayer: Heart.

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!

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.

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.

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.

God's Will

How do you determine God's Will for you? Tough one huh? I know I have always struggled with that. For instance, when I was looking for a way to work from home, a way to make some extra money for us, I felt frustrated, irritated, and a little angry. I used to ask God to tell me what He wanted me to do. Was I supposed to be working this business? Was I supposed to be home? Should I look for a job? And each time I thought I got an answer, I used to wonder if it was His answer or the devil's. I had a hard time differentiating. It was because the work I was doing was good work and the money was going to help my family. So I couldn't figure out why trying to do the work I was doing would be such a bad thing.

Now I realize that I was putting money ahead of God. I wasn't truly listening to Him and was misreading the signs. When I was irritated and frustrated was when I was trying to make money. I felt like I needed that paycheck to feel important. I was wrong. It has taken a long time for me to realize that it's OK to be a mom and a wife and take care of my family. I realize now that my job IS important, even though I don't get a paycheck.

So the next time we are wondering about God's Will, Mother Angelica tells us to look at 3 things:

1. Does it violate any of the Commandments? Is it against the precepts of the Church?
2. Will it give God honor and glory?
3. Will it benefit my family and my spiritual life?

Now, making the choice to go get a job as a teacher would have followed all of these guidelines for me. The only problem is that it only would have benefited my family monetarily. I look back at when I was working and how miserable I was. Not because I was working, but because I just couldn't do it all. My husband works very long hours, so the majority of the work around here was on my shoulders and I had 2 very young children. It was a mess, and I never stopped looking to work or make money until a few months ago. Since I have come to terms with God's Will for me to stay home, take care of my husband, take care of our children, and take care of our home, my irritability is almost non-existent.

When we know what God's Will is, we will find that peace. It will feel right. This can go for anything. A friend of mine once told me that if it doesn't feel right, then it probably isn't. So look for God's Will using those guidelines. Trust Him. God eventually has His way anyway....