Who's Standards?

READ or LISTEN to Today's Readings.....Now that you have done that, let's begin!

In today's Gospel we see an exchange between Jesus and his disciples. He first asks them who the people say He is and then wants to know who they say He is.

This question has me thinking many things. First, who am I? Am I who people think I am? Do people see who I really am, what I stand for, and what I believe? Why don't they? What prevents me from being who God created and called me to be?  Am I living out my faith? Are they looking at me through their own eyes, or through God's? How do I see and look at the people around me? Do I see them as man does or as God does? Naturally, I am not God, but can't I try to look at people more through His eyes? Don't I need to do better than I am? Do I judge and predetermine what I think other's are worth?

Peter knew who Jesus was, not on his own, but because God revealed it to him. Peter didn't determine who Jesus was based on what others around him thought and said, He listened to God!

Do we look to God for clarity and to really look at people? Do we ask him to open our hearts to what He wants us to understand and see? Do we look at people based on His standards or our own human ones?

"You are not judging by God's standards but by man's" ~ Matthew 16:23b (NABRE)

So much of what is wrong with the world today is because we have pushed God so far out of the picture that we no longer seek Him. We pushed him so far away that we stopped looking at the world, people and situations the way He does and the way He wants us to. 

We have allowed the world to dictate how we should think and feel about various topics and ideas. We have allowed the world to dictate what is right and what is wrong. 

I keep thinking over and over about 1 Corinthians 6:12. I read it not too long ago and for some reason I can't get it out of my head. God must be trying to tell me something!

"Everything is lawful for me, but not everything is beneficial. Everything is lawful for me, but I will not let myself be dominated by anything."

This scripture has been one I have clung to, as of late, when it comes to my nutrition. Just because I "can" eat something, doesn't mean I should! This is true with so many things in our life. Just because we are able to do something (the world or even our laws say it's ok), doesn't mean we should!

It is time we stop compromising and listening to what the world says is ok and what the world deems right or wrong and look back to the Life Giver! God lays right and wrong out for us very clearly throughout all of scripture. In case that wasn't enough, He sent Jesus to clarify it for us and be the perfect example! 

We need to wake up and call on God. We need to drawn near to Him and look to Him in every situation. We need to start looking at people through His eyes and see their hearts. We need to see people the way He does and not as the world wants us to. 

What standards are you judging by?

Formula for Success: Faith + Humility + Persistence

Today, be sure to READ or LISTEN to the Daily Readings found in Jeremiah and Matthew.

The gospel today is another hard one for me. When I first read it and many times since, I have not understood why Jesus is seemingly refusing to help a woman with a sick child because  she is not of the house of Israel.

I have such a hard time understanding and grasping that even Jesus had only been ministering to a select group of people. On the other hand, only two people in the Gospels were said to "have great faith" and both were Gentiles! The first was the Centurion with the sick servant, and now we see this woman with a sick child.

This woman exemplifies the qualities I wish to have! She is completely and totally humble before the Lord. She approaches him knowing that in that time, she had "no business or right" to even talk to Jesus. When she faces a small road block, she persists. She doesn't take no for an answer! She knows that Jesus can heal her daughter. She approached with humility, persistence and faith!

The exchange in Matthew 15:24-27 has always made me uncomfortable:

“I was sent only to the lost sheep of the house of Israel.”

But the woman came and did him homage, saying, “Lord, help me.”

He said in reply,

“It is not right to take the food of the children

and throw it to the dogs.”

She said, “Please, Lord, for even the dogs eat the scraps

that fall from the table of their masters.”

I just didn't like the references to dogs and table scraps. What I have learned, however, is that those words were the way the Jews spoke of Gentiles, they were "unclean dogs" because they didn't follow God's law.

Until this morning, I never related this story to my business, but it makes a lot of sense and fits. Follow me for just a moment...

When we have a strong and compelling "why" or reason to get something done, we won't let anything stop us! There are examples of people facing great fears and doing unthinkable things when they have a child in danger. Things they would never do otherwise. You would never think to run into a burning building unless there was a compelling reason, like a child or loved one in there!

This woman was probably terrified to approach Jesus, but I imagine that fear was magnified by her custom and culture. She didn't allow anything to stop her. Her daughter was a very strong and compelling reason to push past fear. 

When Jesus tells her no, she will not take that no as a final answer!

So often in my line of work people tell me "no," people that I have built up the courage to approach and talk to. When they say "no," it would be so much easier to walk away. Hey, I tried, right? But I have a compelling reason not to give up. I want to help change lives, I want those I care about to live happy, healthy and fulfilling lives! I also want to be able to retire my husband! Those reasons make persisting a little bit easier! 

I am also able to persist because I have such a strong belief and faith in what I am trying to share with others.

The woman wasn't going to stop until Jesus agreed to heal her daughter. She had such an incredible faith and belief that Jesus was the answer and that He could do anything! She also had a strong and compelling reason not to give up! When you have these things with a whole lot of humility sprinkled in, you can be unstoppable in anything!

I pray my faith will continue to grow and increase. I pray I will go boldly to God with my hurts and needs. I pray I go boldly to the throne with confidence and persistence. I want to be credited one day as having "great faith."  

Get out of that Boat!

Be sure to READ or LISTEN to today's readings from Jeremiah, Psalms and Matthew. 

I want to reflect briefly this morning on today's Gospel reading. I actually took an entire bible study on this section of scripture, there is so much that can be unpacked, but I am going to stay simple today. In Matthew we have the story of Jesus walking on water and Peter walking out to him. 

This scene follows Jesus performing the miracle of feeding over five thousand people with just a few loaves and fishes. It cracks me up every time that the disciples witness the most amazing of miracles and then in the next scene have so little faith. It cracks me up, yet, isn't that how we are? We see and know the amazing things God has done, yet then we doubt in the next breath!

The disciples first see Jesus walking out to their boat. They are very far from shore, it is the middle of the night and he appears to be a ghost. Naturally the men are afraid, but Jesus calls out "Take courage, it is I; do not be afraid." Peter wants proof (as though a man walking on water wasn't enough)! He asks Jesus to command him to walk out to Him. Jesus says "Come." 

I want to believe that I would be like Peter taking that step out of the boat, but I am not 100% sure it would have been me. I want to think that I would be the one not just saying I have faith, but demonstrating it and living it out! It pains me to admit that I would probably be in the boat watching in amazement but also being a bit envious. Aren't we all like that so often. We wish we were the ones to really be living the faith we profess to have, yet when it comes down to is, we let insecurity and fear stand in our way. 

I believe I have faith, but I guess it isn't always strong enough to be put into action. I let fear creep in and keep me from living it out. Peter had faith (at least for a moment). He had enough faith to step out of the boat onto that water. He stepped out in the night with the waves crashing and the wind swirling around them. 

He actually began walking on top of the water to Jesus! There have been so many times that my faith has been strong enough that I have followed it. There are times I have stepped out to do something scary and uncomfortable and seemed to walk on water, but it was short lived. For whatever reason I took my eyes off of Jesus and either started to get full of myself, relied on my own power and not Gods, started to doubt that I could really do what I was trying to do, or I believed the lies that I wasn't good enough, strong enough or worthy enough. 

When our eyes are so focused on Jesus, we don't let those outside distractions in and we can keep walking forward. It is when we take our eyes off him for just a moment that we can find ourselves sinking (the way Peter did). It took only a moment for Peter to lose focus and realize where he was. He became scared and started to sink!

When I do many of my workout programs that involve balance, one of the biggest keys is to keep my eyes fixed on one point. When I start to shift my gaze, I begin to lose that balance. The stronger I get, and the better balance I have, I discovered I can lose that focus and gain it back very fast and not totally fall on my face. 

I think that this happens as our relationship with Jesus grows stronger and stronger. The more time we spend with Him and the more time we are in the Word, the quicker we can regain that focus when we lose it. 

I want to live a faith that will make me step out of the boat, but I also need my faith to continue to increase so that my gaze will stay where it needs to be. I want the kind of faith that should I find myself sinking, I remember where my true strength is, in Jesus. 

As Peter began sinking, he cried out "Lord, save me!" Scripture tells us that Jesus immediately caught him. Jesus is there for us whenever we need him. We just need to remember that and call to him. Talk about the ultimate safety net!

Where do you see your faith lacking? You can not go through life living with one foot in the boat and one foot out, that isn't truly living! It is time to step out of that boat, put your faith, hope and trust in God and see what it is like to truly walk on water! 

Who are you kidding?

Today's Readings come from Jeremiah 28:1-17; Psalm 119:29, 43, 79, 80, 95, 102; and Matthew 14:13-21. READ or LISTEN to them today.

It feels extra fitting for me that today's Gospel talks about Jesus multiplying the loaves and fishes to serve over 5,000 people. 

Today I am beginning a new group that includes a fitness program and workout plan along with the book Made to Crave. I am someone who has spent too much time running away from emotions and instead of dealing with them and going to Jesus, I have run to food or alcohol. 

Instead of turning to God to heal my broken places and to satisfy all my needs and desires, I look to things that leave me feeling empty. Instead of going to God to fill the me completely I fall into the trap of lies and deceit of the world.

There were over 5,000 tired and hungry people in a deserted place where there were no provisions for the night. The story only shares that this was a concern of the disciples, not of the people and not of Jesus. The people hungered for Jesus and what he had to share with them. 

It pains me to admit that there have been far too many times that I have found myself looking to temporary gratification than waiting on the good God has for me.

He is all we need! When we look to him and rely on him, he will provide and take care of us. 

These next 28 days I am following a strict nutrition plan and working to eliminate some bad nutritional habits as well as alcohol. When I am tempted by food that is not on plan, or when my emotions try to get the better of me, I need to remember to lean in on Jesus. I need to remember that He is all I need. He is the only thing that can fill the empty spaces in my heart. No amount of food or alcohol could ever do that! 

In our first reading we see Hananiah and Jeremiah handle things very differently. Hananiah instills false confidence in the people by making up a false prophesy. It is one thing to try to build people up, but it is another to make up lies and say they are from God. Jeremiah on the other hand, speaks truth and the Word of God. Jeremiah was honest with the people and therefore, the people were able to prepare and be ready for the challenges to come. 

When I am weak and struggling, food and alcohol have given me very false confidence. I allow myself to think they will make things better, but they don't. The truth is that life is challenging and difficult, but I am not ever alone! If I prepare myself and know the truth going into any difficulty, and if I lean on and rely on God, He WILL sustain me and provide for all of my needs. Please note that I say needs and not wants!

As you go forward today, are there lies you are believing that are giving you false confidence and leading you farther away from God? Is it time to face the truth in a situation or even just with yourself so that you can face the struggle head on? 

As we begin a new week and a new month, look to the God of Truth! Seek His face in all things and rely on His strength, not your own.

Where you are going matters more than where you have been!

Today I will share thoughts from the Mass Readings from 28 July 2016. Be sure you Take a LISTEN or READ them today.

Today we end a section of Scripture where Jesus shared many parables about the kingdom and the final judgment. We see over and over again that God will call his people home and He will separate the "good" from the "bad."

Until the time we are called home, we will all remain together. Is not for us to judge who is going to the kingdom and who is not. What is up to us, are the choices we make, we can choose to cry out to Jesus as our Lord and Savior. We can choose to not get dragged down in the weeds and with the bad fish. We can choose to remain steadfast and strong in God's mighty Power. We can stand firm on God's truths, His Word, and His Light. 

We don't know when that final judgment will be, and we don't know who will be called to the Kingdom. We must live our lives as children of light reflecting Christ wherever we go and to whomever we can. We have the ability to share and show Christ to others so that at that judgment they may be called up to the kingdom and not thrown into the fires of hell.

When we look back to the first reading from Jeremiah we see that we are like clay that can be molded in the hands of the potter. God takes us and molds us if we allow him to change and “fix” the parts of us that aren’t so good.

I think back to that Bill Cosby Line “I brought you into this world and I can take you out of it.” Clearly he was being funny, but God literally did bring us into this world. He created us for good, but gave us free will. When His creation starts to crack or turn into something other than what he created, He can transform it into something even better and more beautiful if the clay stays malleable. If we allow, God can totally and completely transform us!

So what can we make of this last bit of the Gospel?

“Then every scribe who has been instructed in the Kingdom of heaven

is like the head of a household who brings from his storeroom

both the new and the old.” Matthew 13:52 (NABRE)

There are a bunch of scholars who will share all sorts of brilliant thoughts on this with some solid theology behind it. I am going to take my own stab based on some of the various readings I looked at and the thoughts running through my brain while I meditated on this. 

Treasure and things of value were discussed in several of the parables leading up to today. We heard specifically about treasure buried in a field and of a valuable pearl. 

To me this is taking everything we have learned, everything we have studied, everything we have accumulated in the way of “things” and knowledge. We are to bring all of the old stuff as well add the new and lay it at Jesus feet. We must look at the old in light of the new and the new in light of the old. We must not forget the past but take what is important from it, learn from and grow from it! We must continually be learning new knowledge and growing. 

Most importantly, however, I think it is a reminder that it is not enough to accumulate knowledge and understanding without real application. It is not enough to know history if we don’t learn and change when it is called for. It is not enough to know the old laws if we don’t see how they fit in with the new law. 

We will be judged. We will be judged on our whole body of work! We will be laying EVERYTHING at the feet of God at the final judgement. We will be bringing our old self along with our new self. We must show up to the judgement having been molded by the potter! We must show up transformed into a new creature in order to enter the Kingdom. 

Would you give up everything?

My thoughts come from today's (July 27) readings. Be sure to READ or LISTEN to the scripture for today!

Have you ever collected anything? Maybe it was/is baseball cards, stamps, coins, polish pottery, or something else. Just imagine you found that rare item that would be perfect for your collection, but it is just out of reach. You can't afford it, at least not right now. Picture sacrificing and saving until you have enough for it. Was it worth the wait, work and sacrifice? If you are a real collector, it probably was worth it!

In the two short parables today, Jesus is comparing the Kingdom of heaven to treasure found and buried in a field that you can't afford, or to a pearl that you can't afford. In both stories, the person sold everything they had to buy the field or pearl. They did it without though or hesitation. That's what the kingdom of heaven is going to be like, it will be worth more to us than anything we could possibly own. We won't bothering sacrificing and saving up for it, we will just flat out sell everything we have and go get it!

When we fully understand and grasp what God has put before us, it won't even feel like a choice and sacrifice! We will have so much joy that we will gladly give up everything for the Kingdom! What each of us has to give up to inherit the kingdom may vary! Some will have to give up unforgiving hearts, others will have to give up a love of money and things, others will have to give up cursing, jealousy, coveting, etc. Some of us have to give up several things!

Granted, we are human and will struggle at times and even feel like Jeremiah at times, in the first reading. "Woe to me, my mother, that you gave me birth! A man of strife and contention to all the land! I neither borrow nor lend yet everyone curses me." Jeremiah 16:10 (NABRE)

Are you ready to sacrifice everything for the greatest treasure in history? If not, what's holding you back? what do you need to lay at Jesus feet so you can move closer to what God so desperatly wants for you?

Weed or Wheat? What Seed Are You?

Today I will share my thoughts on the Readings from July 26th. Be sure to READ or LISTEN to them!

In today's Gospel reading the disciples specifically ask Jesus to explain to them the parable of the wheat in the field from Matthew 13:24-30.

How often do we not understand something, yet we don't ask for an explanation or clarification? Jesus teachings are not always easy to understand, and parables can be confusing. When you find yourself struggling to understand, are you stopping and getting quiet and asking God to reveal the meaning to you? Are you looking up additional resources or asking others for help? When we don't understand, it is not a sign of weakness to get help, it is a sign of wisdom and strength.

In this parable we are learning more about the final Judgement. There will be a time when we will be separated and not everyone will inherit the Kingdom of God. The children of God are the good seed (wheat) that is being sown into the world, but right along side the good seed are the weeds that are planted by Satan.

At "the end of the age", God will send out his angels to collect up His people (the wheat), and the weeds will be bundled together and throw into Hell.

God is allowing the weeds to grow right alongside the good seed, why? We must not be strangled out! We must continue to grow until God calls us home. God is very careful to tell the disciples that the bad seed must not be uprooted too soon because they may take some of the wheat with it.

We are not the ones to judge between the weeds and the wheat, the final Judgement is Gods and Gods alone! We cannot be hasty and pre judge someone. We don't know their heart, we don't know their soul, and it is not our place!

I am not much of a gardener, but I know that I always mistake the weeds from the plants.