It's not time

Can you believe that it is the last day of March already? This year is flying by too fast. Take time to pause, slow down your heart and mind and allow God's Word to wash over you. READ our mass readings and spend some time reflecting on them today!

Our Gospel (John 71:1-2, 10, 25-30) is taking place at the feast of the tabernacles. Jesus knew that the people did not like his preaching and wanted Him dead, but He continued to proclaim that He is from God and that God sent Him.

Jesus doesn't back down even though He knows it is going to eventually lead to His painful death. Scripture shows that God has a plan that will not be thwarted. God kept anyone from laying a hand on Jesus during this time because "his hour had not yet come."

What keeps us from being obedient to God?

I think the first, we aren't listening to God. We aren't allowing ourselves to get quiet and get into a place where we can really hear from Him and know what He wants from us.

I believe the biggest reason, however, is that we are scared! I reality, this makes no sense at all. The safest place for us to be is in line with God's will, carrying out his plan and purpose for us, yet we balk at it!

We are fearful of how we will look to others. We are fearful of failing. Sometimes we are fearful of the time and effort His plans may take and that we will have to "miss out" on other things. Sometimes we will even fear for our safety!

Jesus met all of these things head on! He faced rejection, He was called to go places and leave His family and friends, and he was constantly being threatened physically and with prison.

He knew that God's plans were bigger and better and that His Will must be done! He put His personal fear and comfort aside.

Jesus knew full well that He was going to have to suffer an excruciatingly painful death, but He knew it was God's will and obeyed anyway. He willingly could have said no, but he didn't. He took all that pain and suffering on for you and for me!

Who do you believe?

Good morning! Let's cut the chit chat and dive into The Word. Get to it and READ our mass readings for today.

Let's unpack our Gospel (John 5:31-47).

The people would not accept Jesus Words or His truth. They put their trust in man and not the one God sent. They just wouldn't believe, instead they wanted to imprison and kill Jesus for claiming to be of God.

Jesus was demonstrating the love He has for His Father by remaining obedient and doing His will. He wasn't looking to please anyone but God. He wasn't concerned with all the man made rules, but only those that God laid out.

The Jews were so quick to believe John's testimony, yet Jesus's has a greater one! Jesus doesn't need human testimony, He has God's! They were willing to follow Moses, but ignore who he wrote about!

Read and study all the scripture you want, if you don't believe in Jesus and put your faith and hope in Him, you will have missed the entire point. You will have missed who scripture was pointing to the entire time and you will have missed God's way to salvation.

The life isn't in the scripture itself, it is in the One who inspired it and His Son who was sent to fulfill it!

Why is it so hard to trust?

Don't just look to "get over the hump" today! Look to thrive through the day strong. Begin by READING God's Word.

Our Gospel today is John 5:17-30. It is a little longer than some, however, it is very clear. Jesus is the son of God. He is here on earth doing the will of God. Apart from God he can't do anything. Everything He does it what He sees His Father do!

God has given Jesus the power and authority to do ALL things in His name. He has the power and authority to raise the dead and give life as well as the power to exercise judgement.

In order to know God we must know Jesus. In order to honor God, we must honor Jesus. In order to truly live we must believe the Word of Jesus because it is from God.

Jesus was sent to earth in human form to bring us back to God. He came to restore what was broken in the garden. He is here as our perfect example. We don't just have God's Word, but we have Jesus, in the flesh to learn from! He is a bridge between us and God. He loves God so totally and completely that He is 100% obedient and submissive. He follows God's will out of total trust.

When was the last time you trusted God so strongly that you submitted completely to His will and were totally obedient?

I throw these words around a lot, but I know I am struggling with this during this season of my life. I know in my head that that the only way to true peace and true life is to be in total submission and obedience, but I still struggle trusting. It makes no sense since God has never lied and I can see his promises every day around me.

It's time to buck up or shut up, right? It's time to take that leap (even though it's not really a leap, right), submit, obey and live in God's will.

Do you want to be well?

Can you believe it's already Tuesday in the 4th week of Lent? Crazy, huh? If you haven't been getting into The Word daily, don't beat yourself up, just start with today! If you have been, continue on strong and READ our readings for today.

In our Gospel (John 5:1-16) we see a man who has been ill for 38 years! He is waiting by one of the large pools that it was believed could heal those who enter when it gets stirred up. When Jesus encounters the man he asks "Do you want to be well?"

I use to read this and look at the story as the man not willing to do what it takes to get well, that maybe he didn't really want to be healed. I have actually heard this used as a message to take action and step out in faith, but today I read a reflection on it that got me thinking in a whole new way, one that lines up more accurately with the scripture here. The man was paralyzed. It's not like he wasn't trying. The man had no one there to help him, yet he didn't lose hope! He remained there year after year believing he would get well.

When Jesus asked the man "Do you want to be well?" the man explained why he couldn't get into the water. Jesus then tells him "Rise up, take your mat, and walk." Dude, got right up and walked. He believed he was well right away!

Jesus spoke healing into the man and he was immediately healed!

Do you want to change? Do you truly want to be healed? Do you believe in Jesus power to heal you wholly and completely? Don't be content in your circumstances and don't lose hope, be willing to allow Christ to transform you!

Do you have an expectant hope?

Happy Monday to you! Start your week off right by READING our Mass Readings today.

Our Gospel (John 4:43-54) begins with Jesus returning to Cana in Galilee. This is where His public ministry began when he turned water into wine!

A royal official heard Jesus was there and put his pride aside and went and asked Jesus to come heal his dying son. Jesus challenged the man suggesting that unless the people see signs they will not believe, but the official remained persistent. He asked Jesus to come before his child died.

Jesus saw right into this mans heart. He knew that he had real and genuine faith. He told him to "go; your son will live."

The man didn't argue or question, he just left confident and hopeful. He was greeted by some of his slaves part way home and learned his son became well the same moment Jesus said he would!

This man approached Jesus with a humble and expectant faith. How often do you do that? I know I don't do it nearly enough. Sometimes I sincerely come to him, but not with great expectation, and not with real faith.

The royal official took Jesus word that his son would be healed. He didn't question Jesus or want more, he simply had faith and went on his way home.

I know in my head that Jesus is always there for me. I know in my head that He keeps His promises. I know in my head that nothing is impossible for Him, yet my heart fails me sometimes. I don't go to Him with the Big (or even the little) things consistently. I don't give Him the chance to prove who He is enough in my life. I don't fully and completely humble myself with the expectant hope of the royal official.

It is time to get what's in my head into my heart. It's time to fully and totally saturate myself in God's Word. It is time to bring all my stress, anxiety and fear to His feet and allow Him to work miracles in and through me!

Let's Break it Down

I can't believe it's another Friday already! Let's dig deep and dive into The Word by READING our Mass readings.

I love when Jesus lays it out for me. Parables are great, but I like when he totally cuts to the chase and tells it like it is.

In our Gospel (Mark 12:28-34), he breaks the commandments down for us. Seriously, 10 rules to live by doesn't seem so bad, but He breaks it down even further!

He is asked what the first and greatest commandment is and His answer is:

"The Lord our God is Lord alone! You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, with all your soul, and with all your mind, and with all your strength. The second is this: You shall love your neighbor as yourself. There is no other commandment greater than these."

If we truly place God first and we truly love Him, we will obey him, making all the other commandments a moot point. If He has the first place in our heart and everything we are and do is for Him, we will be living right and naturally obeying the commandments.

Keep it simple. Scripture and God's law is not complicated, He is very clear on this. Truly and totally love God.

Don't be divided

Alright friends, it's time to get into The Word and READ our mass readings for today!

Our Gospel (Luke 11:14-23) has a lot to unpack.

Jesus was doing his thing, casting out demons and performing crazy miracles, yet the people tried to claim he was from Beelzebul or wanted him to prove who he was with a sign.

It would seem to me that plenty of signs were happening, but the people refused to see them. Their hearts were not truly open to what they were witnessing and hearing about.

It was almost easier for them to believe He was of Beelzebul than of God. If he was from God, than the Kingdom of Heaven made it's way to earth and they would never be the same again.

We have a choice to make!

Scripture is very clear, we are either with Jesus or against, we can't have it both ways.

Division leads to destruction. A kingdom divided is useless and a house divided will fall. We see this ever day! Shoot, look at our government. When we are divided, things don't get done!

I want to be on the side of Good, Right and Truth. I want to stand on the side of faith, hope, love, compassion, mercy and grace. I want to be swept up in the love, peace and protection of Christ.