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!
Showing posts with label Bible. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Bible. Show all posts
Friday, January 9, 2009
Monday, December 29, 2008
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?
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?
Friday, December 26, 2008
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?
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?
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