The Wisdom of Our Youth

I got an email today from our local pro-life group and it featured this video. The wisdom of this little girl is absolutely amazing. Click here to get the story behind the video. This is very inspiring!!

More on Abortion

I was reading my email this morning and got an inspiring email from a pro-life friend from Church. It has inspired me to blog more of "the truth" about what abortion really is. For instance, it's murder. I think it's important we begin to use that word more because that's what it really is.

We have pro-choicers who say it's the woman's right to choose. Choose what? Murder? Murder of her own baby? It seems pretty animalistic to me. It's animalistic to give into our sexual desires with full knowledge that we could create a human life, only to have the "choice" to kill it. Because that's what it is isn't it? Killing your own baby?

Then we have women in the feminist movement that say, "I don't want the government to tell me what to do!" Huh? Does the government not tell you that you can't shoot your mother in the head? Does the government not tell you that you have to send your kids to school? Does the government not tell you that you have to pay taxes? Does the government not tell you that you can't force sex on another human being? The government tells us a lot of things we can't morally do without being punished. So why can't they tell us it's not OK to kill our unborn children?

How horrible that the sexual freedom we feel has brought us to this animalistic behavior. And the saddest part is that most of us don't even realize what it's doing to our culture.

March for Life

I can't believe that I haven't posted about the March for Life today. What a dork. I guess I was distracted. Anyway, it's funny how these things happen, or as a friend of mine says "Christidental" (get it?). I picked up my book by Father Pavone with a quick free second I had before the kiddoes went to bed. I had marked a bunch of pages to post about and lo and behold, I marked the March for Life.

The March for Life, as I'm sure many of you already know, takes place in D.C. It is actually taking place right now, as we speak. Faith and Family Live! is showing EWTN today on their site, where of course, they are viewing the march. It is a time of a peaceful presentation of our First Amendment rights to our freedom of speech. Friends meet, prayers are said, hymns are sung.... The day ends with the Rose Dinner which is meant to honor those who participate in the Pro-Life Movement.

So, Father Frank gives us four insights into what this important event accomplishes:

1. It gives voice to the children. Obviously the unborn do not have a voice. They cannot speak up loud enough to cry out for its life. It's important that we become more heard all the time, not silent.

I would like to reference the old Horton Hears a Who movie. It amazes me the pro-life message that is prevalent in that movie. I haven't seen the new one so I don't know how close it is. But in the old video, the "Who's" to me are the unborn babies that are screaming, but no one can hear. And throughout this video, Horton continuously says "A person's a person, no matter how small." So true. So true.

2. It gives encouragement to our friends in government. Can you imagine what it must be like to be a pro-life Senator right now? I bet they might feel a little alone, a little beat in this arena. This march gives them hope. It tells them that their efforts and voice in Congress does not go unheard. They need to continue to do their job, and we should continue to do ours.

3. It encourages us. Just like those in Congress, I'm sure there are those regular folks on the ground that get discouraged. We always run into ignorance. We run into those that are unwilling to listen to the truth, or just choose not to. It can be very frustrating. This march gives them hope too. They see that there are many others who are supporting their ever-important, life-saving efforts.

4. It trains young leaders. Father Frank says that he got his inspiration from this march when he was in high school. Imagine seeing these people, so devoted to their beliefs and so motivated to save human life. How inspiring that must be to others. To others who are open to hear it anyway. If God has opened one's heart to hearing the truth, this march could change their life forever. And maybe other lives too.

So, tune in to EWTN. Try to watch a little bit of this march. It obviously plays several different roles in the pro-life movement. Maybe it will move you to do something differently too. Become a Warrior Soul.

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?

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!

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.

The Guilt of an Abortion

I got this link from a pro-life friend of mine. He works very closely with a local pregnancy center in my area. Anyway, this is a story of a woman who had an abortion after finding out her baby was going to be disabled. You can read about her guilt that she feels daily, and has been for nine years.

The pro-life movement isn't just about saving our unborn children, it's about saving the lives of women too.

Click here for the article.

Mixed Signals

From the desk of Father Frank Pavone:

The next section of the book, Father talks about how we can change the way we talk about the unborn in order to create a greater sense of "personhood." (my word) If we can come out of thinking about the child as "coming," as "expected" and start thinking of that child as "already here," then we can change the language we use about a pregnant woman.

If I haven't confused you already, let me explain. Father Pavone wants our message to be that the unborn child is already here. So instead of saying that a couple has "one on the way," say things like "she is carrying a child."

He also says that as soon as a woman knows she is pregnant, the couple should choose a name. Obviously pick one boy and one girl name, but a name should be chosen right away because that baby is a person. I think about my son being born and we didn't name him for HOURS after he was born. We just couldn't agree on a boy's name, so we didn't pick one. I guess we were in that mindset of not a baby worth naming until he was "here," when in fact, he was already "here."

Just doing these small things can help us as pro-lifers to cultivate a culture of life. To cultivate a culture of accepting life when life actually begins. To cultivate a culture of respect for the baby and for the mother. Changing the way we have been taught is not easy, but it can be done.

If anyone has any other suggestions for how we can change our verbage so we don't give "mixed signals" please do so in your comments. Thanks so much!!

Why I'm Here

To touch on Mother and Father, the two books are meshing quite nicely together. As I continued reading Mother Angelica's book, I came across a nugget titled "Why I'm Here." In order to become a warrior soul, this is how we can approach this for God:

I'm not here to win friends and influence people. I'm here to do God's Will. Now, if the accomplishment of that will bugs a lot of people, well, that's their problem. I can't help that.

Cool huh? How many times have you held back saying something that you know to be true, to be God's truth, but you hold back saying it because it may hurt or offend the other person? I'm not saying to go out there and say things on purpose to hurt other people. What I'm saying is not to be afraid to stand up for God.

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!

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.