The Best Intentions

So... I had the best of intentions when I decided to write a daily thought for each of the Jesse tree symbols. You can see that it didn't happen. I can list a dozen excuses (a baby in the house being #1), but the truth is, I became overwhelmed by the Christmas season; which was exactly what I was trying to avoid.

My plan B was to just what I could, then take a picture of the Jesse Tree to show you. This is where my husband's 'best intentions' interfered. He graciously took down all the Christmas decorations while I did the grocery shopping. It was wonderful, but the Jesse Tree was taken down before I could snap the picture.

sigh.

If this were an experiment in faith, my hypothesis was, "If I commit to the Jesse Tree, I will have a greater understanding of the meaning of Christmas."

My data collection was sketchy at best as I was unable to formulate my daily schedule to be consistent enough to even finish the Jesse Tree.

The conclusion: despite the Jesse Tree, I fell victim to the 'rush' of Christmas, the deadline of cookies, and the pressure of gift-wrapping. There was a difference, however, that didn't show until after the Christmas flurry. I found silence and peace in the Christmas Mass. The words in the readings resounded loudly in my ears, for I knew the long line of stories that lead up to the Nativity.

I pray that your Christmas preparations were more successful than mine. I will certainly try again for next year. Faith persists!

Knowing Yourself

I was taught a valuable lesson today about myself.

Last night my children spent the night at my girlfriend's house. Nothing strange or inspiring about that - until you know a bit about her. She has three children who are the absolute walking-talking definitions of 'graciousness'. My friend and her husband are also caring for his mother who suffered a stroke a few months ago. Mom came with a list of therapists and doctors appointments, and two dogs; bringing the number of dogs to 4. And she asked for my children to stay for the night.

Not impressed yet? My youngest is 6 months old.

Now I know you are impressed!

There's more. She said she wanted to do something for herself and having my children there was that something. That's amazing to me. If I think about doing something for myself, I think: time alone to write, pedicures, or extra sleep. I don't think about other children coming to my house.

Does that make me selfish?

I feel like I just met me...and I don't like me very much.

I've learned many wonderful lessons from this friend, from her example and her care for me. I've never known anyone like her. How blessed am I to know someone who truly is an example of Christianity? God put her in my life and our friendship has blossomed. I pray with every fiber of my being that I can be as considerate and gracious as she. I pray that I can find the joy in people that she does.

God Bless you, Becky!

Jessica

Sunday, First Day of the 3rd Week of Advent

Person: David
Reading:1 Sam. 17:12-51
Symbols: slingshot, 6-pointed star

Who doesn't love the story of David and Goliath? It's the ultimate nerd vs. bully story in which the nerd wins.

But David was hardly a nerd, just a young man who had been chosen by God and anointed by Samuel. In God's perfect plan, the Savior would be born of David's lineage.

Look closer at the story...David agreed to fight Goliath because Goliath had spoken ill of the armies of the Living God, our God, the Father. David had already proven brave against a lion and a bear, so really, a giant with no claws or fangs probably didn't seem all that frightening. David must have known that God's helping hand would be with him, that Goliath would be 'delivered into his hand' because 'the battle is the Lord's"(47).

Are we fighting a good fight? Do our 'Goliath's' taunt us into corners or do we fling stones of the Lord into the foreheads of giant troubles? Haven't we been anointed into our faith by our baptism and confirmation? Are we listening to the gift of the Holy Spirit so we have God's word in our heart and his spirit by our side, telling us what the good fight is?

Are we preparing for Jesus' coming or are we focusing on our shopping?

Saturday, 2nd week of Advent

Person: Jesse
Reading: 1 Sam. 16:1-13
Symbols: crimson robe, shepherd's staff

And today we meet Jesse, the father of David, the ancestor to Jesus. Another foreshadowing: What was David? A shepherd. And what do we call Jesus? The Lamb of God. The Good Shepherd. God must love symbolism!

It’s today that we hear God tell Samuel, “Do not judge from his appearance or from his lofty stature, because I have rejected him. Not as man sees does God see, because man sees the appearance but the LORD looks into the heart.”

Not by Hollywood or glamor magazine standards are we to be judged, but by the faithfulness and love in our hearts. That is what’s important. That is how God judges. Therefore, I will spend today looking past the faces I meet and try to peek into the heart of the person.

Friday, 2nd Week of Advent

Person: Samuel
Reading: 1 Sam. 3:1-18
Symbols: lamp, temple

Can you imagine what it would be like to hear God calling your name? I would probably respond just as Samuel did and assume that it was the person in the next room. How interesting that God didn’t not reveal himself to Samuel, but allowed him to wake Eli three times. It was only after Eli told Samuel that it was the LORD speaking to him that the LORD actually gave Samuel the revelation. This makes me wonder what I’ve missed. If someone had told me to listen for God, would my ears be more tuned to the heavenly frequency? Have I surrounded myself with people who will recognize when God is working on my life and tell me to say, “Speak, Lord, for your servant is listening!” A better question is, Am I the type of friend who encourages others to listen for God?

Hmm...

The second part of this reading is a real hum-dinger. Eli, who served God so well, failed to correct his sons’ behaviors. God saw that and punished them severely. Imagine this in earthly terms:

Your son robs a bank, a crime you knew he was going to do, but did nothing to stop him because you figure, “Well, he’s all grown up and he makes his own choices.”
Your son is caught by the police.
Your son is incarcerated for his crime.
As his parent, you are also fined a huge penalty; a fee you will pay every month for the rest of your days.
Nothing you do will ever be enough to rid yourself of the actions of your son.

Eli accepted the Lord’s punishment, knowing that God was just. I praise God that my crimes are not forever held against me, that the sacrifice of Jesus on the cross paid for my sins. It’s still true that nothing I do can be a full retribution for my sins, but if I believe in Jesus and follow his teachings, I have a full pardon.

Two valuable lessons in one day. Thank goodness it’s Friday!

2nd Week of Advent, Thursday

Person: Moses
Reading: Exodus. 2:1-10
Symbols: baby in basket, river and rushes

I love the story of Moses. I’ve read the story in the bible and yearned for more detail (I’m of the mind that the Bible tells amazing stories but is vastly short on details!) I’ve watched The Prince of Egypt and know that that retelling was altered for the sake of Hollywood, but I loved the music. And as a writer, I see Moses’ experience in the basket down the river as a foreshadowing of Jesus: from simple beginnings (as a slave in Egypt and a birth in a manger), to a dramatic rescue (Moses in the basket and Joseph’s obedience to flee for Egypt to protect Jesus from Herod), to their leading the people to freedom (Moses quite literally lead the Israelites out of slavery and Jesus leads us away from the enslavement of our sins).

Today’s readings are a reminder that God knows what He is doing and has shown us, through the scriptures, that His plan is a perfect plan. When all else fails, I hope that I can remember that: God’s Plan for me is perfect. I must be like Mary and Joseph and be obedient.

Wednesday, 2nd Week of Advent

Reading: Exodus 19:1-20:20
Event: Giving the Torah at Sinai
Symbol: Tablets of the Torah


Ah, rules. What would we do without them?

Picture for a moment, the world without the most common rules...

Parents would have no say in how their children were raised because respect for them would not be taught.

Oh wait. That happens.

People would place monetary objects of positions of power over the honor due to the One True God.

Um... yeah, I've seen that recently.

But who would ever forget to take one day of rest and spend that time with the Lord?
Or why would we desire things that don't belong to us and not care for the things that do?

Yikes. Those things happen too!

So what are we up to? God gave us ten simple rules to follow; ten commandments that we must follow in order to please Him, the father of all, whom we should respect above all else.

Quick bible quiz:
What happened to the Israelites when they didn't do as God commanded? (Don't forget, this is after God worked some awesome miracles on their behalf to free them from Egypt!)
The Jews called themselves "God's people", but how often did they wander away from God's laws? And how were disciplined for their "misbehavior"?

I see many things in our society and in our world that spit in the face of God. We may not participate, but are we just as guilty if we don't stand up and say something? Won't that opportunity be lost soon if we don't use our freedom of speech while we still have it?

I pray for all the people who have forgotten Your laws, Lord. Please work on their hearts, to soften them to you and harden their hearts to the distractions of this world. For only when our eyes on You, do we see the world for what it really is.

Tuesday, 2nd Week of Advent

Reading: Exodus 12:1-14:31
Event: Passover and Exodus
Symbol: Lamb

By the blood of the lamb we are saved.

If you have ever been to the Creation Museum in Kentucky, you have seen the concluding movie for the tour, the movie of Mary talking about her son, Jesus. In it, she retells of her childhood and how terrible it was to watch her father slay the lamb for Passover. She knew of the purpose behind it and she prayed for the coming of the Messiah. But when she heard her son called “The Lamb of God”, then she understood what that sacrifice meant. Her son. His death. His resurrection.

It’s amazing the faith and trust that Mary had in God. She said “yes” even though she didn’t know how she could become pregnant. She said “yes” even though to be unmarried and pregnant would mar her reputation.

What can I do today that will be a “yes” to God?

What can I do today to honor “The Lamb of God”?

Note: The Creation Museum is amazing. I thoroughly enjoyed all the displays and was impressed by the depth of details in each. It is based on a ‘sola scriptura’ philosophy. While the Catholic church does not follow only scripture but traditions as well, the Creation Museum isn’t a perfect fit, but it’s still impressive and well worth the trip.

Monday, Week 2 of Advent

Reading: Exodus 2:1-4:20
Symbol: burning bush
Person: Moses
Theme: God's Leadership

I could really use a burning bush right now. Not only would it warm my house a bit, but it would be a clear message from God as to what I'm supposed to be doing. While I have a To-Do list (which includes far too much cleaning) is this really what I should be focusing on? Does God really care if my floors are clean?

We live is society in which success can be defined by how much we accomplish. I have a To-Do list with six or seven things that I need to do today. But I now realize that there are many things that I will do that are not on my list: Read the bible; pray; homeschool; care for the baby; return a few phone calls... Those are simply things I do to keep me grounded, to show love to the people in my life.

But what would God's To-Do list for me look like? Looking at scripture, God's plans for people are not things they can accomplish in a single day. Moses' mission from God took years and he didn't even really finish it because it was Joshua who led the Israelites into the Promised Land. But Moses listened and followed God's plan.

I find great comfort in that as well as a sense of urgency to make every day count. Everything I do today will determine how the next day will begin. And everything I do tomorrow will determine the outcome of the people with whom I interact. My purpose in life may seem very clear on some days: be a good mother; a good wife; write words that glorify God and bring Him to those who want more of Him; honor my family by living with a happy heart. But what does God have planned for my actions? How will what I do today bring me closer to Him tomorrow? Can what I say in this blog influence others in a positive way? That is my intent, but is my intent clear?

Once again, there are no clear answers to these questions. But we have the image of the burning bush today - the tool through which God sent Moses back to Egypt to free His people. What might your burning bush be?

The madness begins this weekend - we are going to our first extended family Christmas celebration. Yes, the first. There will be two more. It's this time of year that seems the greatest contradiction to me - Even while we try to remain focused on the reason for the season I feel inundated with tasks: shopping, traveling, donating, preparing meals & cookies, decorating - and continuing with all the things I'm supposed to do - teaching, exercising, keeping the house somewhat clutter-free (which I am currently failing miserably). There's also the looming threat of the flu bug which has destroyed Christmas's in the past.

And today, as we pack for leaving to go to my parents' house, we are even rushing a bit through our Jesse Tree readings. Because I'll be gone until Sunday, I'm putting the next three days symbols and readings together. I hesitated doing this, but I'd rather read ahead and put the symbols on the tree than coming home on Sunday and catch up.

The first reading today really struck me - in Genesis 22:1 reads "God put Abraham to the test."

Oh my!

I think too many people forget that God really does test us - forgotten because many deny the fact that God is greater than we are. We are here to praise Him, to bring Him glory through our words and actions. He needs Christians in this failing world to bring about His plans. And yes, He will use our lives to do that. To someone not grounded in their faith, being used by God sounds horrible. But think about it in a different way...

You are the owner of a very successful business and there are people in the mail room who are coming to work late, using the office supplies for their personal use, not caring for their work space, and suffering under the cruelty of gossip and anger. You want your company to succeed and without a properly run mail room, the entire company is suffering. In order to find a solution, you need an ally in 'the inside' and find that person by testing the employees to find the most trustworthy. Once you know who you can depend on, you put greater responsibilities on that person, give them a leadership position, a higher salary.

Testing is necessary. In school, we prepare for tests by studying. In life, we can prepare for tests by steeping our minds and hearts in God's Word and the writings of Saints and other Christians who have passed their tests.

Our tests may be nothing like Abraham's, but we will be tested. Never doubt that! God will put great obstacles in our paths and see how we manage. Do we turn to him? or do we try to leap over the hindrance alone? It's anyone's guess what our tests will be. There is evil in the world, but I truly believe that God will use these evils to make us more holy. Think back to times when the entire world came crashing in on you...while those moments are exhausting and bring a sense of desperate loneliness as we are in them, can you now find a gift from that time?

If you can't find a slice of joy from those difficulties, I encourage you to spend more time in prayer and in scripture. Perhaps the gift is still on its way. What better time to receive a gift from God than during the Christmas season?

Enjoy the readings; they will delight the soul.


Friday
Reading: Gen 22:1-19
Symbol: Ram
Event: Offering of Isaac

Saturday
Reading: Gen 27:41-28:22
Symbol: Ladder
Event: Assurance of the Promise

Sunday
Reading: Gen 37, 39:1-50:21
Symbol: Sack of Grain or Coat
Event: God's Providence

Thursday, Week 1 of Advent

Reading: Gen 12:1-7, 15:1-6
Symbol: Field of Stars
Person: Abraham
Theme: The Promise

Oh, Abram. Isn't he a character? I love the relationship between he and God. It's amazing how God had such great plans for Abram but He didn't pour them out on Abram in a timely manner. God waited until Abram was really too old to have children before he granted him the gift of fatherhood. And this is the part I love: God told Abram to 'Fear not. I am your shield; I will make your reward great!" And Abram's response (I'm going to paraphrase) was: "What reward? I have no children." Abram knew he wanted children, and talked back to God in a somewhat challenging way.

What was God waiting for? Did Abram have some leadership lessons to learn? Was there something Abram was lacking that would be cured by spending decades without children? Abram is credited with righteousness - he did everything the Lord asked of him. Why did God make him wait so long for what he wanted: an heir.

I find it interesting that God's reward to Abram was the gift children; parenthood. What other gift could be more precious than the gift of a child? Whether the child is from your womb or from your heart, a child brings something to a parent that can never be duplicated. (I know...along with parenthood comes the joy of discipline, potty training, and those teen years. Yes, God has a sense of humor! I think those struggles are there as an opportunity for us to see how we act toward God at times. I'm just saying...)

This lesson of waiting for God's gifts goes very nicely with my life, as I'm sure there are things in your life you have waited for. I've teased that I never do things right the first time. I'm a habitual failure at most things: I never made the team in high school the first time, I failed tests, didn't get that job, almost married the wrong person... the list goes on. The most difficult waiting period for me was waiting to be chosen as adoptive parents. The trend for adoption is Open Adoptions, in which the birthmother chooses the family she wants to raise her child. We waited for just over 2 years. It seemed forever, but compared to Abram, a blink. We are thrilled that we now have a healthy, beautiful son who came to us this past June.

But God's plan isn't my plan...thankfully. This used to frustrate me; if God truly loved me and wanted me to be happy, why did He make me wait so long? (Sounds like the rantings of a spoiled child, doesn't it?) I'm still learning this lesson: God's timing is perfect. My timing is driven by my own selfish desires.

God's promise to Abram was revealed in the stars. How many of us deserve a reward like that? What can we do today that will be an act that God has planned for us? What can we do that will please God? First, we must know what He wants of us, which can only be accomplished when we take the time to pray and listen.

Today I'm going to think of stars and count my blessings. Today I will spend quiet time in prayer and listen to God instead of dumping all my requests on Him. Today is a day to think of Abram, who became Abraham, who always did what the Lord asked of him. How can we do the same?

Genesis 12
Abram Journeys to Egypt
1Now the LORD said to Abram,
"Go forth from your country,
And from your relatives
And from your father's house,
To the land which I will show you;
2And I will make you a great nation,
And I will bless you,
And make your name great;
And so you shall be a blessing;
3And I will bless those who bless you,
And the one who curses you I will curse
And in you all the families of the earth will be blessed."

4So Abram went forth as the LORD had spoken to him; and Lot went with him. Now Abram was seventy-five years old when he departed from Haran.

5Abram took Sarai his wife and Lot his nephew, and all their possessions which they had accumulated, and the persons which they had acquired in Haran, and they set out for the land of Canaan; thus they came to the land of Canaan.

6Abram passed through the land as far as the site of Shechem, to the oak of Moreh. Now the Canaanite was then in the land.

7The LORD appeared to Abram and said, "(M)To your descendants I will give this land " So he built (an altar there to the LORD who had appeared to him.

Genesis 15
Abram Promised a Son
1After these things the word of the LORD came to Abram in a vision, saying,
"Do not fear, Abram,
I am a shield to you;
Your reward shall be very great."

2Abram said, "O Lord GOD, what will You give me, since I am childless, and the heir of my house is Eliezer of Damascus?"

3And Abram said, "Since You have given no offspring to me, one born in my house is my heir."

4Then behold, the word of the LORD came to him, saying, "This man will not be your heir; but one who will come forth from your own body, he shall be your heir."

5And He took him outside and said, "Now look toward the heavens, and count the stars, if you are able to count them " And He said to him, "So shall your descendants be."

6 Then he believed in the LORD; and He reckoned it to him as righteousness.

Wednesday, Week 1 of Advent

I need to remind myself why I'm doing a Jesse Tree because my cat seems bent on the idea of destroying it. While trying to focus on the Old Testament's sequence of events leading to Jesus, I've run the vacuum three times cleaning up the spilled dirt and re-planting the branches. It's difficult to preserve the faith building purpose of this exercise when all I really want to do is sell the cat!

But I think I have kitty-proofed the tree - It's now in a much larger pot with over 40 pounds of rocks.

On to today...
Reading: Genesis 6:11-22, 7:17-8:12, 20-9:17
Symbol: Ark or a rainbow
Person: Noah
Event: The Flood

The flood story has recently become a much richer idea for me. We all know it - God asked Noah to build an ark; something that surely cause his neighbors to ridicule him, for who in their right mind would build a boat in the middle of the desert?

Do you sometimes feel that way too? That following God's plan for your life, living by the Ten Commandments, the beatitudes, following the lessons of Jesus' parables leaves you marked as an oddball? I recently received an email from a fellow homeschooling family asking for support. Their 13-year old son had called them 'the worst parents in the world' because he doesn't have his own cell phone, lap top computer or any video game device. His parents are Noah-like: building an environment for their children that will carry them on God's waves over the desert of this world.

(Here's another question...If Noah's neighbors teased him because he built an ark, are there ever moments that we have ridiculed others because we don't understand why they do what they do? Just some food for thought...)

Some people question if the Flood story really happened. Was it just as it's written in the bible or is this simply a parable to show us God's unrelenting promise to never destroy the world? In my opinion, focusing on the truth of the story is missing the point. Look at the times in our lives when we are flooded: extreme debt, losing a job, troubles in marriage, illness, teenagers - all these times in our lives threaten to sweep us away. But if we turn to God in our moments of trouble, we will find that our souls will be lifted on his love. His promise to protect us from all evil doesn't mean that our lives will be preserved from harm, but that our souls will.

If there is any doubt of this, imagine Noah and his family during their time on the ark. Hundreds of animals, thousands of pounds of food...which leads to thousands of pounds of clean-up duty. (This will be particularly applicable if you have teenagers!) It was a messy job. They were cramped and tired and completely frustrated by the living conditions. But they did it because God asked it of them. And they were rewarded with both their lives and land.

And I'm complaining about 1 curious cat! I think I need to change my attitude :)

Today, as I wash dishes, homeschool my children, change diapers and perform the duties of a mother, I will lift my heart to God. To be who God wants me to be requires me to do all things with a happy heart. Yes, it will be a challenge, but I have plenty of role-models in the bible to show me how.

Tuesday, Week 1 of Advent

Tuesday, Week 1
Reading: Genesis 2:4 – 3:24
Symbol: Tree with fruit or an apple

I remember now...last year an entire box of ornaments found it's way into the trash and among them were several apple ornaments. My efforts to de-clutter usually bites me back. This forced a creative effort on my part, which turned out fun. We used one of the glass bulbs from Hobby Lobby, a sponge applicator, tissue paper and a bit of Mod Podge.

The reading for this lead to a great conversation with my daughters; how they lamented the fact that Adam and Eve sinned, taking away their opportunity to walk through the Garden of Eden with God.

I found this really interesting. If Adam and Eve had never sinned, the world would be so different, we could only guess at the possibilities (and we came up with some whopper ideas!) I reminded them that God knew that Adam and Eve would sin - it doesn't say that in the Bible, but I believe with a little common sense, everyone will agree that because God is all-knowing He therefore knew what the future held for His two human creations. God wants us to love Him, not be forced to love him, because the forcing of love isn't love at all. That's slavery.

Once again, my children with their amazing line of questions, took this reading to an entirely different level than I expected. I thought we would talk about sin, but we ended up confirming that God loves us so much He gives us the opportunity to not love Him. That's true love, unconditional love and only God has it.

Monday, Week 1 of Advent

Monday, Week 1
Reading: Genesis 1:1-2:3
Symbol: Dove

We happened to have a white bird ornament - I'm not sure if it's a dove or not, but if we say it's a dove, it will be a dove. Right? :)

For tomorrow, the symbol an apple or a fruit tree. Can you guess what the readings might be?

Reading for today:

2The earth was formless and void, and darkness was over the surface of the deep, and the Spirit of God was moving over the surface of the waters.
3Then God said, "Let there be light"; and there was light.
4God saw that the light was good; and God separated the light from the darkness.
5God called the light day, and the darkness He called night And there was evening and there was morning, one day.
6Then God said, "Let there be an expanse in the midst of the waters, and let it separate the waters from the waters."
7God made the expanse, and separated the waters which were below the expanse from the waters which were above the expanse; and it was so.
8God called the expanse heaven. And there was evening and there was morning, a second day.
9Then God said, "Let the waters below the heavens be gathered into one place, and let the dry land appear"; and it was so.
10God called the dry land earth, and the gathering of the waters He called seas; and God saw that it was good.
11Then God said, "Let the earth sprout vegetation, plants yielding seed, and fruit trees on the earth bearing fruit after their kind with seed in them"; and it was so.
12The earth brought forth vegetation, plants yielding seed after their kind, and trees bearing fruit with seed in them, after their kind; and God saw that it was good.
13There was evening and there was morning, a third day.
14Then God said, "Let there be lights in the expanse of the heavens to separate the day from the night, and let them be for signs and for seasons and for days and years;
15and let them be for lights in the expanse of the heavens to give light on the earth"; and it was so.
16God made the two great lights, the greater light to govern the day, and the lesser light to govern the night; He made the stars also.
17God placed them in the expanse of the heavens to give light on the earth,
18and to govern the day and the night, and to separate the light from the darkness; and God saw that it was good.
19There was evening and there was morning, a fourth day.
20Then God said, "Let the waters teem with swarms of living creatures, and let birds fly above the earth in the open expanse of the heavens."
21God created the great sea monsters and every living creature that moves, with which the waters swarmed after their kind, and every winged bird after its kind; and God saw that it was good.
22God blessed them, saying, "Be fruitful and multiply, and fill the waters in the seas, and let birds multiply on the earth."
23There was evening and there was morning, a fifth day.
24Then God said, "Let the earth bring forth living creatures after their kind: cattle and creeping things and beasts of the earth after their kind"; and it was so.
25God made the beasts of the earth after their kind, and the cattle after their kind, and everything that creeps on the ground after its kind; and God saw that it was good.
26Then God said, "Let Us make man in Our image, according to Our likeness; and let them rule over the fish of the sea and over the birds of the sky and over the cattle and over all the earth, and over every creeping thing that creeps on the earth."
27God created man in His own image, in the image of God He created him; male and female He created them.
28God blessed them; and God said to them, "Be fruitful and multiply, and fill the earth, and subdue it; and rule over the fish of the sea and over the birds of the sky and over every living thing that moves on the earth."
29Then God said, "Behold, I have given you every plant yielding seed that is on the surface of all the earth, and every tree which has fruit yielding seed; it shall be food for you;
30and to every beast of the earth and to every bird of the sky and to every thing that moves on the earth which has life, I have given every green plant for food"; and it was so.
31God saw all that He had made, and behold, it was very good. And there was evening and there was morning, the sixth day.
Genesis 2
The Creation of Man and Woman
1Thus the heavens and the earth were completed, and all their hosts.
2By the seventh day God completed His work which He had done, and He rested on the seventh day from all His work which He had done.
3Then God blessed the seventh day and sanctified it, because in it He rested from all His work which God had created and made.

The Jesse Tree

Every year I try to make the Season of Christmas more about Christ. With our society steeped in the secular symbolism of the Season of Giving, it’s much like wading through mud to find the celebration of Jesus’ coming as an infant. I could say, All I want for Christmas is my baby Jesus.

So this year, our family is doing a Jesse Tree. The purpose of a Jesse Tree is to tell the story of God in the Old Testament and His covenant with his people to send the Savior. It’s also a great way to review the stories of mankind’s greatest failures and how our God’s love, patience and grace has always saved us.

Using a small table-top Christmas Tree, bare branches planted in a pot, or even a space on the wall to tape the ornaments, a Jesse Tree can become part of the daily routine this Advent.

As I studied different blogs and websites that explained the Jesse Tree, I saw that many of the symbols needed for the tree was already had in our abundant collection of Christmas Ornaments: star, white dove, apple, lamb, trumpets, etc. I set those aside for the Jesse Tree. On top of building the Jesse Tree and collecting or making ornaments, my other goal is to do this without spending extra money. I need to be careful with my budget, so there will be no extra fluff for us – unless it can be found in the basement or among the kids toys. For the symbols we don’t already have, I am going to get a little creative . Last year at Hobby Lobby, I purchased a box of 12 clear, glass ornaments for us to decorate. Using those and several white, glass ornaments, we are going to paint the symbols onto the glass. Other ornaments will be made from last year’s Christmas cards we received – many of them have Christian paintings of the Nativity, the wise men or the Star of Bethlehem. A little snip here, a hole punch there, a ribbon to top it off and ta-da! An ornament is made!

We will also be bending the guidelines a little. There are many ornaments that we already have that I think will fit just fine as symbols to go along with the scripture readings. For example, an ornament of the world seems an appropriate ornament for the Creation reading. Or a photograph of one of the children’s baptism would be a very appropriate ornament for the reading about John the Baptist.

Day 1:
Sunday, First Day of Advent
Reading: 1 Samuel 16:1-13; Isaiah 11:1-10
Symbol – The Tree

Together, figure out what your tree will be. Will it be a small Christmas tree? A pot of branches? Will you spray paint the branches silver to make them extra pretty? Will it be a construction paper tree tapped to your dining room wall? What about using the dining room chandelier? Prepare your tree and let me know what you did.

Renewing the Budget – ways to keep the spending under control and fun

Part of living according to God’s Word, is using what He gives us wisely.

My husband started his own business a few years ago when our children were just toddlers. It was a very scary move for us – he is a Personal Trainer, a very good one! I knew that if the people came to him, we would have a comfortable life. It’s that whole, ‘If you build it, they will come’ idea. Luckily, I’m not the only person who knows my husband’s strengths as a Personal Trainer. He’s much more than that to people – a mentor, spiritual counselor, a reliable source of good information. As such, his business is doing well despite the economy. We are often asked how we manage to survive off the income of a Personal Trainer who also owns his business. Here it is!

We have redefined several areas in our life to fit with our income. The guidelines for those changes have come from Scripture, from Catholic-Christian principles, and from good ‘ol common sense. In doing so, we have paid off all debt, with the exception of the mortgage, and are working on building up a suitable savings account that will carry us should something happen in the future.

1. Trim the fluff.
Our first task was to look around the house and decide what was really necessary and what was fluff.
Necessary:
Phones – there is a measure of safety in being able to call for help. We dropped the land line and have two cell phones. Our service does not include texting (fluff).

Food – While food is necessary, we follow a strict plan. Most weeks I plan out a meal plan and stick to it. Other weeks, when the duties of being a mom deny me time to plan the menu, I refer to a list of meals I created and just pull ideas from there. I clip coupons. I shop sales. If it’s not on sale, I don’t buy it.

Fluff:
Cable TV
Land Line Phone
New clothes
Newer Cars
Extended Vacations

2. Treasure Hunting.
This is my favorite part about our budget plan. It’s fun, the kids love it, and it keeps me motivated. Each week, I scan the grocery ads for foods that are on sale and plan the week’s meals according to that. I also watch for items that I know we use often and stock up.

Not only for food, but clothing and household items are also Treasure Hunting booty. A few months ago, my hand-held mixer stopped mixing. To buy a new one was right around $20. I found a classic Betty Crocker mixer at Goodwill for $3.00. It’s works beautifully. Amount saved: at least $17.00

We do the same for clothes, checking Goodwill, Salvation Army and consignment shops first. This year I found two beautiful winter coats for just under $7.00 each. Amount saved: over $100. I found new dress shoes for my daughter for $3.00. Saved: $10.00. Jeans at resale stores are as little as $4.99. Amount saved: between $30 - $120.

I have also traded clothing with my sister and girlfriends. If we are close to the same size, we each bring a few items that are still in good shape, but we are tired of. For each thing we bring, we can take home something that someone else brings. It freshens up my wardrobe and doesn't cost me a thing.

3. List Shopping
This tip is what requires the most self-control for me. Self-control is a gift of the Holy Spirit and must be called upon prior to walking into any store. Keep a shopping list on the refrigerator. This is not a new concept, I’m sure, but write things on the list as you run out or are close to running out. When the grocery ads are delivered to your door (or when you buy the Sunday paper) add to the list things that are on sale that you know you will use. When you go to the store, take the list and buy only what is written down.

Keep a second list on the refrigerator for clothing, appliances, and gifts that you need. As you shop, look for these items on sale. Check garage sales, second hand stores, Craigslist – other places than stores that sell them at full price.

4. Bulk
For items we use often, we buy them in bulk at club stores like Sam’s Club or Cost co. The savings adds up over time. Things like diapers, oatmeal, fruit, printer paper, ink, prescriptions, tires for the cars, photo printing, cleaning supplies – all these can be purchased in large quantities because I know we will eventually use it all up. This works for us because we have a place to store the bulk items. If space is an issue, reconsider this option. But if you have a large pantry, a basement or a closet that you can use to hold the excess – do it. Despite the cost of the membership for club stores, the savings will really add up.

A warning: Club Stores have very fun things – flat screen TV’s, computers, movies, books, chocolate… Say a prayer for strength to only buy what is on your list. Say a prayer to the Holy Spirit for that gift of Self-Control and stick to it. And remember, no one ever perished from not having the latest and greatest.

5. Cash Cache
The Cash Cache has been my greatest success in the battle of the budget. Years ago, I purchased a nice canvas sided coupon file – a size in which dollar bills fit without having to fold them. I labeled each file as such:
Grocery $
Clothing $
Gift $
Receipts
Coupons
Lists

When we shop, we take that file and use cash. Only Cash. The debit card and the credit card do not join us at the store. If we don’t have enough money for something, we don’t buy it.

When we started the Cash Cache, we didn’t have enough to put money in each section. It took almost three months before the clothing section had enough to buy anything substantial, but we somehow managed. 

6. One bill at a time
In the kitchen I keep a can for loose change. After each shopping trip, any $1.00 bills go into the can. This is our savings plan – our retirement account. I average $4 - $9.00 each trip into the can each shopping trip. Over the course of a year, we can save several hundred dollars. It’s a little thing to do, but it is really the only way we can save any money – living as tight as we do on this budget. It’s important to put money away for that imminent rainy day; even if it is, literally, one dollar at a time.

Twice a year, I take that can to the bank and deposit half of it into our retirement account and the other half into the girls’ college savings.

Other little things we do:
• Turn down the heat and wear a sweaters and wool socks during the winter.
• Weather-seal the doors and windows.
• Take short vacations near home, for example, going camping or looking for hotel specials.
• Use the library for books, movies and music rental instead of Video Rental stores. Most often it’s free or only $1.00 for a movie rental.
• Just Say ‘No’ is more than just to avoid drugs. Say ‘No’ to frivolous purchases, pushy sales-people, and friends who have quarterly home-based shopping parties.
• Keep is Simple. Christmas and Birthdays are dangerous times for going overboard on gifts and parties. By simplifying and focusing on the true meaning of these special days, the cost can be managed very well. Instead of many gifts at Christmas, play many games, watch many movies, read many stories – do it all together as a family. On birthday’s, have the birthday child choose what will be for dinner and make it together. Gifts that are activities done together make greater memories than any wii game (or whatever kids like now).

The View from the Cry Room

At our church, the cry room is in the back. Because the baby makes noise and is so darn cute , we stay in the cry room during mass so we don’t interrupt the prayerful intent of others.

This is what I have seen from my window view of the cry room:

1. Beautiful faces. The faces of the children that come into the cry room are precious. And then they are put down to play. How will they learn to be still if they are never required to? Is this difficult for parents? Absolutely. But unruly older children are worse.

2. People leaving mass after Communion. Come on! Mass isn’t over until the Choir sings the last song. God didn’t call it quits on the fifth day, he pushed through one more day and then rested. Would these same people leave a movie theater five minutes before the end? Would they like it if the server at a restaurant removed their plate before they had take the last five bites? There is a sense of purpose in hearing the last prayer of Mass; the “go forth and do God’s will” assignment we receive.

3. Toddlers who rule the world. Parents, repeat after me. “NO.” It’s that simple.

4. Baggies of Food for school-age children. Yikes! The Catholic Church is the only church that recognizes the true food of the Eucharist and requests that out of honor for Jesus, who gave us his body and blood as true food and true drink, we not eat or drink for at least an hour before Mass. It used to be a fast from the previous day was required – we have it so easy now! And parents are bringing Cheerios and raisins to church to satisfy their children. Well, the crunching, the spills, and that pee smell that Cheerios have is not helping me focus on Jesus’ gifts. It’s an hour. Leave the food at home and start from the beginning to teach your children the sanctity and beauty of the Mass. I guarantee you will learn more too.

5. Kleenex. I’ll keep this simple. If you need a Kleenex, go get a Kleenex. ‘Nuf said.

6. Talkers. People in the back of the church whisper to each other all during Mass. Focus! Jesus in watching. Do we need a “Please, No Talking” video before each Mass like they do at a movie theater? How sad is it that people are more respectful at a theater than in Church?

Well, I have been a little negative in this post, but honestly. We can do better than this!

Deep Water Faith

Jesus told Peter to “put out into deep water and lower your nets for a catch” (Luke 5).

Hmmm…..deep water? Sounds like missionary work. Not just missionaries who travel to remote islands with a New Testament in hand, but missionaries within ten miles of where we live; those folks who man the Soup Kitchens, distribute food and compassion, the Meals-on-Wheels deliveries, those who are filled with the Holy Spirit and act accordingly.

Deep Waters.

With Jesus as our guide, we can walk on those waters and not be sucked under by gravity or the undertow. Our faith can protect us from slipping under the consuming waves while we cast a life line out to those just under the surface.

On our dining room wall, we have a topographical mural map of the world. It’s wonderful for homeschooling, not to mention a great conversation center piece with guests. As my children and I sit around the table, gazing longingly at the world, we wonder where we will visit in the future. My daughters want to become missionaries and travel and share God’s love and message. We’ve read stories about people who have made the journey to South America and lived among the tribes in the Amazon forest; a woman who traveled through a war to arrive in China where she shared God’s Word; another woman who went to the Philippines and lived among a tribe and became their daughter and sister. The stories are wonderful on paper when years of weather, illness, struggles and deprivation are condensed into neat paragraphs.

Likewise, the Deep Water we are called to navigate in order to share God’s Word looks pleasantly coordinated on our wall map. The rivers are neat blue lines, the oceans more interesting because we can see the ridges which lie hidden under miles of water. Missing is the understanding of what a jungle holds, how deep hunger can eat, and just how far of a walk it is to the other side of the mountain.

And I realize that my Deep Waters are nothing but a wading pool for infants. I may complain when splashed and perhaps I have even fallen in and soaked my clothes, but I have never truly slipped under the water and watched the sky recede from view. Hunger only lasts as long as it takes for me to walk to the cupboard. I can go to a church which I choose and not fear persecution. My family is alive and well and living close enough that I can drive to them in a few hours. My children are healthy, we have a house, we drive two cars – we are living a good, easy life.

Am I following Christ? Do I have to leave everything behind and follow him? Is that what Deep Water Faith is?

Hum "I Will Survive" as you read this post

There are days that I feel like I’m a character in a Frank Peretti novel. His descriptions of demons clinging onto people, steering them using their weaknesses are exactly what I’ve been feeling. The demon I’m dealing with is all a tangle of fangs and claws and deceit. He whispers doubts in my ears and opens doors to anger. He finds satisfaction in my anguish.

Prayer is my only defense. I utter pleas of release between washing dishes and changing diapers. I succumb to the viciousness of the demonic attacks in my laziness and complacency. I beg God and pray to Jesus to remove this unseemly character from my shoulders. And yet, I find that he is still there, lurking in my darkness, seeking each tiny opportunity to blow open any small crack to create gaping holes in the walls of my faith.

But listen here, demon. I’m not giving up. Your teeth might sink down to my bone and I might cry out in pain, but I will not give up. I will win this war; the battles may seem to go in your favor, but I have God on my side. Who do you have?

You have doubts? I have ambition.

You try to feed me despair; I drink in the saving blood of Jesus.

You serve up anger; and I will wipe it clean with forgiveness.

If you try again to defeat me with fear, I will come back with a sword of relentless faith.

For I know that with every step I take towards God, you will fight harder to win me back. But you are losing, demon. You will lose!

Lord, I know that You will answer all the prayers of those who truly believe in you and yet I’m still struggling with this demon, these character flaws, these weakness. If I’m to carry this burden, Lord, then I pray for the strength to do so with dignity. If I’m to always feel these shortcomings and fears, then I ask that these things make me stronger. All things are possible through You. Amen!!!

The Assumption of Mary

Today should be Mother's Day. In the Catholic Faith, today is the day we celebrate Mary,the virgin mother of our Lord, Jesus Christ.

It has always been the belief of the Catholic Faith that when Mary died, God took her body and soul into Heaven. After all, why would the Creator of all things want the mother of his son to be left on earth? He protected her body from decay by bringing her up to heaven. This belief was confirmed into the Catholic Dogma in the 1950's. As such, many Christians believe it to be a new belief. It's not. From the moment her Son was lifted into heaven, Mary prayed for her Son's church. Her prayers strengthened the Apostles and their Disciples. (CCC 965)

"Finally the Immaculate Virgin, preserved free from all stain of original sin, when the course of her earthly life was finished, was taken up body and soul into heavenly glory, and exalted by the Lord as Queen over all things, so that she might be the more fully conformed to her Son, the Lord of lords and conqueror of sin and death." (CCC 966)

Think, for just a moment, what the world would be like without her fiat to God. There would have been no virgin birth, no shining star, and no three wise men. Our world would be without parables or Prodigal Sons and treasures buried in fields. The 12 Apostles would never have left their fishing nets and families to take on a radical life with Jesus. The blood spilled on the cross would never have happened, our sins would still bring only death. Hell's door would not have been blown apart by Jesus' resurrection. We would not have the churches we have. The New Testament? Nope.

One woman changed the world with a simple "yes".

"In giving birth you kept your virginity; in your Dormition you did not leave the world, O Mother of God, but were joined to the source of Life. You conceived the living God and, by your prayers, will deliver our souls from death." Byzantine Liturgy, Troparion, Feast of the Dormition, August 15th.

A prayer for all Mothers:
Lord, you carefully selected Mary to be the mother of your Son. Each of us here on this earth has a mother, someone whom You selected for us. Many of us know and love our mothers, but many do not; whether through adoption, death, or some other separation. Lord, I ask that you bless all mothers today in a special way. Comfort them and their children in the way only You can. In Your name we pray, Amen.

(dormition means to fall asleep, or figuratively, death. Also, celebration in the Eastern Orthodox Church of the Virgin Mary's being taken up into heaven when her earthly life ended; corresponds to the Assumption in the Roman Catholic Church and is also celebrated on August 15th. Definitions taken from http://dictionary.reference.com/browse/dormition)

Adopting a New Plan

Two years ago, my husband and I finally took God's advice. We filled out papers for adoption, contacted a bank for the loan, held a garage sale to raise money, invited case workers to our house to approve us, and prayed all the while.

Then we waited. For two years, birthmothers looked at our profile and turned us down. Each birthmother came to the table with an idea in their hearts about the family that would raise their child. We didn't fit. We have three children. And according to our case worker, we are very white - blonde hair, blue eyes, and burn-red-in-the-sun skin.

What I find funny now is that I actually went into this adoption thing thinking, "I'm a good person. I'm a great mom. I homeschool because I have a great love for learning. We won't have to wait long. The birthmoms will see how great we are."

I know. Pride. It will get you every time. Perhaps God saw my pride and shook his head. "Oh, Jessica," He said. "We will use this adoption to work on this."

And work it did. After two years of waiting for a child, I began to think that adoption wasn't for us. Maybe we misunderstood God's plans for us. Maybe we should have supported others in their adoption plans because this certainly wasn't working for us. What I should have learned is that my opinion of how I think I am doesn't matter. It took two years for that to sink in.

Again, I know...God's timing is not my timing. Along with my pride, God was also working on my patience.

Then, on a Monday in June we recieved a phone call from our case worker that a birthmother had selected us. We met her on Tuesday and a baby boy was born that Friday. We visited mom and baby on Sunday and brought him home on Monday. Phew! When God decides it's time...it's time!

And guess what she liked about us. Yep! We are white and we have three daughters. Is God amazing or what!?!

There are so many lessons here my head is spinning, but the most prominent lesson is this: Trust in the Lord. I know there is a fancier way to say this...God knows what He's doing. Listen, pray, then act. He'll get you back on track if you goof it up. But trust in Him above all else.

Amen?

Yeah :)

How and Why I Read “Banned” Books

I have often heard, “Keep your friends close, and your enemies closer.” Good advice. In order to understand the things that might (or designed to) take me away from God, I want to understand what’s out there – both good and bad. That means that sometimes, I need to read books that many Christians have deemed “demon material”. Many people don’t understand my reason for doing this, in fact, in just the last three years I’ve been scolded by a fellow homeschooling mom because of Harry Potter and told by another that I should burn them.

Are we really there? Burning books? Won’t that just add fuel to Satan’s plan? If we don’t read the books that might be risky, how can we teach our children to identify evil in real life?

I don’t believe that Harry Potter is evil. I don’t believe that J.K. Rowling wrote this series with any intent to expose the world to a level of magic that would cause people to turn away from the Christian faith and embrace witchcraft. I believe her intent was to share a great story with some serious Christian themes. If you’ve read the series, you know what I’m talking about: good vs. evil, resurrection, prodigal son, good Samaritan, evil snakes, dark spirits, and possession. All these elements are found in the bible too.

It all comes down to the intent in which the books are read. If children are allowed to read this series, or Philip Pullman’s Dark Materials trilogy, then a parent should read it along with them and discuss the implications. (Unlike the Harry Potter series, Philip Pullman wrote his books to pull teens away from Christianity.) These characters and their plots have become engrained in our society. As such, I want my children aware of the books, the characters and how they fit (or don’t fit) within the Catholic teachings.

I was teaching Junior High when Philip Pullman’s books were released. One of my students gave me the first book. I loved it. From a writer’s point of view, it was candy. My students read it too, and many of their parents joined us in the discussions after school. It wasn’t until after I read the third book that I realized the problem. In the book, God dies. Ridiculous, I know, but so is Philip Pullman. Shortly after the last book was released, I read an article in which the author declared himself an atheist and confirmed the rumors that the books were written to destroy young adults belief in God.

Yikes!

After a discussion with my students and their parents, the students came to their own conclusion: while the story is fantastic, there was a serious flaw in Pullman’s plot…if God truly is the creator of all, then to destroy Him is to destroy all living things.

Look at that! While given a book with evil intent, students who were encouraged to think for themselves didn’t turn away from God. They defeated the intent of the book and strengthened their own faith.

I do allow my children to read Harry Potter – but they do it with me. We discuss why magic is evil and why the author would use it as a focal point for the series. We discuss the strengths and the weaknesses of the characters. We go back to the bible and to the Catechism to see what the Church has to say about evil, magic, and leadership. We made charts that show comparisons between bible stories and the books.

The benefit? My children will know what the books reveal and know what the church has to say about it. They won’t fall victim to another person’s faulty interpretation because they will already have formed their own conclusions based on the Church’s teachings.

The enemy might lurk among banned books, but in reading them with the Church’s eye, we can acknowledge the good, reveal the bad, and protect ourselves from the intent of the Evil One.

Renewal in Christ – An Inventory of My Life

It’s not easy to maintain that ‘post-retreat’ high. Any time spent away from home, in the company of fellow Catholics, and devoted to prayer and renewal leaves a soul craving more and wanting to find ways to include that level of prayer on a daily basis. After my first retreat, I wondered how I had survived my life thus far. I realized the degree to which I had avoided God and run from His love. My greatest desire since my first retreat has been to know God better, to have an intimate relationship with Him.

And then I came home. There were children and dishes and places to go. The grocery shopping and meal planning devoured my time. I had sentenced myself to the life of a volunteer, hoping that in giving to others I would please God. As a homeschooling parent, I’m responsible for the education of my children in both an academic sense and in their spiritual growth as well. I’m a writer and need that solitary time to craft stories and write for this blog. I’m diabetic and must eat right and exercise to maintain healthy blood-sugar levels. All these things were necessary and good, but I knew I needed to streamline my life. If I truly wanted a closer relationship with God, I needed to spend more time with him.

After venting my frustrations to my husband, he helped me realize that I have bitten off way more than I can chew. It was time to simplify.

Together, we made a “Life Inventory”. It was a list of everything I was involved in and everything I need to do as a mother. And as every mother knows, there is no end to your task list. Motherhood begins the moment the blue line appears on the test and continues on non-stop until God calls you home.

My list was long:
 Faith Growth
 Homeschooling – planning and implementing lessons
 Volunteering with Junior League
 Bible Studies (3 of them)
 Activities at church
 Exercise (30-45 minutes a day)
 Writing (ideally an hour a day, but more is better )
 Time with the family
 Meal planning, shopping, meal preparation
 Household duties
 Communication – phone calls, online time

All of these things felt necessary to me, but at the rate I was going one of two things would happen: 1) I would have to hire a secretary (which is obviously ridiculous) or 2) I would prayerfully ask God’s invention to cut things that were keeping me from him.

In the end (by that I mean more than two years later), I’m still working to keep my life simple. There are several bible studies I can do each season, so I try to pick just one at a time. Sometimes that means that my friends go on without me, and that’s emotionally difficult for me. I resigned from the Junior League – another link to friends lost, I thought, but my good friends understood why I had to do this and have continued to keep in contact with me. I divided the household chores among my older children and they have blossomed! They now understand how long it takes to do the dishes or vacuum the house and are more aware of how the little things they do can contribute to help.

Something that wasn’t on my list that I quickly realized was sucking up a great deal of time was T.V. I’ll write more on this in another post, but when I decided that I would no longer watch any T.V. programming, my schedule opened right up and I found an additional hour a day to write. Bonus!

No matter what I did with my schedule, however, I was not able to grow in my faith unless I started the day in prayer. Nothing else mattered. While I’m forever grateful for my simplified schedule and truly believe that doing less allows me to do more, a morning without prayer is a day without purpose.

Prayer is my mini-retreat, that jazzy, caffeine-like habit that pumps me up to charge through my day with my heart filled with God's love.

Punched in the Gut by Truth

You’ve had that feeling, I’m sure, that realization of an error you’ve made and how it’s affected those around you; that emotional, gut-gripping reaction that happens within our minds and becomes so strong that our reaction can be very physical.

This happened to me and my husband this weekend at a Michigan Catholic Homeschoolers conference. The first speaker on Friday night shared the truth behind what is going on in our very own White House. To sum up, it’s no longer OUR White House. The management of this country take their offices very seriously and are working toward an agenda that does not include God, nor the Constitution.

Probably not a surprise to you, is it? Our government is trying to take away our rights under the guise of “protecting us from ourselves”. I say NO THANK YOU! I know that human governments are faulty because the humans are sinful. I know and accept that. I also accept that my life may be more difficult (sometimes downright impossible) than others who are more affluent or educated. That is not something new, beloved. Since the beginning of time, there have been the rich, the poor, and those who live in reasonable comfort. It’s true that we would all prefer to be comfortable, but that doesn’t lessen the value of poverty. Those in poverty can still have an intensely spiritual life. Those who are comfortable can experience that same intensity in our charitable giving and prayer for the poor. The only law we need to follow is God’s law; it’s right there in the bible – those who follow God’s Law will be rewarded. Perhaps the reward is not a check, a new car, or the cure for cancer, but it is a promise for eternal life with Him. That’s more than anything we can ask for in this lifetime.

The real kicker at the conference was the fact that the Treaty for Child Protection, which has been fully accepted in the UN, and which the United States has signed (Clinton’s deed) but has not yet ratified, does indeed protect children from crimes of trafficking and physical abuse. It also opens the door for our government to determine what a child should learn and when they should learn it. That means that private schools and homeschoolers will be under the thumb of the federal government, unable to teach our children what we know is true and good. That means that our Judicial Branch will enforce parents to do what they believe is right; and they believe in public education, a place where God is not allowed. The scariest part of all this is that Christian Values will not be considered as guidelines to how they rule in such cases. For more on this, go to www.parentalright.org – the Treaty is there for you to read, as well as dozens of essays and articles on this topic.

The final clincher was the speaker that shared a comparison between pre-WWII Germany and our countries current political actions. My dear, they are identical! We are heading down that same path: Socialistic ideals, health care reform, a public overly concerned with animal rights (euthanizing animals) instead of human rights (abortion), gun control (losing the freedom to defend ourselves), a lack of teaching history of our ancestors (I’m sorry, but Black American History month is not enough!) and a government who blatantly ignores the constitution in their governing (big brother?).

I don’t know what to do about these things, how to become involved, where to go to hold up a picket sign and peacefully protest. But I can pray. And I encourage you to do the same. Prayer is more powerful than any picket sign – it’s conversation with God – and who can be greater than He? Instead of allowing the truth of where our country seems to be heading to punch me in the gut, I'm turning to God, who doesn't just punch, but lays waste to entire empires. Who can stand against Him?

Lord, I pray for this country and the giant vacuum of sin into which we have fallen. With the movies glorifying sin, storefronts advertising sex through the sale of clothing, and school systems that teach sex education (the 'how-to' and not abstinence) and not Your Laws, we are on a slide to doom. Lord, I ask you to instill in Your people a new fire, a new understanding of all Your teachings. Protect those who love you, guide us to do what you will. And I ask all the angels and saints to pray for us, to You, Lord. I pray all this in the name of Your Son, Jesus Christ. Amen.

Snail Shells and Sandy Paths

This weekend, we camped for five days – our first trip of the season. It was without a doubt, our best camping trip. The girls are older and able to do many things for themselves. We stayed longer than we usually do, allowing ourselves more time to relax and appreciate the campground and all it had to offer. We spent time together and gave each other permission to go off and find some solitary moments.

One moment in particular struck me as profound. It occurred along the beach as Emma and I wandered along, looking for shells. We camped in Michigan at Higgins Lake State Park, so we were not looking for exotic sea shells, just little, abandoned snail shells and tiny clams. To our left was the lawn that leads to the water. With our bare feet, we couldn’t easily walk there; the pokey grassy and sharp pebbles were too much for our tender feet. To the right was the water; incredibly cold after a storm the day before. This left us with the narrow strip of beach where the sand was slightly warm from the sun and soft under our tender soles.

I glanced at the sand and saw the path of footprints Emma left. Her feet were bigger than I realized and walking away from me. Her steps were shallow from her light frame and wandering as she searched for the little hidden treasures.
I began to think that perhaps God looks at my foot prints in a much more profound way. He knows where I will go in my life and most likely shakes his head and laughs (or sighs in exasperation) at my wanderings. He notices that my steps are light some days, and on days that I try to carry more than my share of troubles, my impressions in the sand are deeper. He smiles at us as we walk that narrow path, staying out of the prickly lawns of sin and the cold waters of temptation.

In a nut shell (or should I say snail shell?) I believe that I notice more of God’s grace and understanding after having spent some much more time in His Word and at Mass over the past year. And who wouldn’t?

Lessons from my Children

There have been many surprises in my life - misconceptions about what I thought my adult life would be compared to how I've actually turned out. I always thought I would marry a wealthy man, but I married a man I love instead. I thought I would be a wordly travler, taking my children to see England and Italy, and be a regular at some resort on a little island. Instead, I am a Michigan guard; we are never very far from home. There has been one aspect of my life that is a complete surprise and every time it happens, I'm astounded: I'm actually learning from my children.

I've taught them how to make their beds, to write thank you notes, to read and write. Some things they've just naturally learned on their own: how to walk, talk, love, smile, and listen.

While I'm sharing little tid bits of information with them (using nice words, making good use of their time, always flushing the toilet) they listen. And when I'm talking to someone else about weekend plans, or sharing concerns with my sister about a reoccuring cough, they listen. They've seen my reactions to bad news and how I smile when they do a job well. When I'm feeling overwhelmed, they know to stay out of my way and pick up their toys. During afternoons we each retreat to our own corners and have some quiet time to read, draw, or write. I praise them for these wonderful behaviors.

And they are starting to praise me.

Last week when the house broke out with a severe case of clutter-itis, I switched into my mad-hatter cleaning mode. On a dry-erase board I wrote down everything that needed to be done and put names next to each item. When we had each finished our assigned chores, we would celebrate with a visit to the playground.

The house was cleaned in record time, I didn't yell at anyone, and the girls actually sang songs while they cleaned. There were a few things out of place and the bathroom wasn't cleaned quite how I do it, but my second daughter spent time organizing the linen closet. On the way to the playground, my oldest daughter (who is now tall enough to sit in the front seat) patted my arm and gave me a wink. "This was a good idea, Mom. Everybody learned something today."

I was flustered. What had I learned? Why did my daughter know more than I?

"What did you learn?" I asked.

"I learned that I do best when I know exactly what you need me to do to help you."

Wow.

That means in the past I've expected my children to just read my mind and know what I needed done. (My husband has confirmed that this is true).

What did I learn that day? Communication is key - whether in the form of a to-do list, a smile, or a pat on the arm, we all need to know what is going on in the mind's of those we love. I also learned that working together as a family doesn't mean that everything is done according to my expectations, but that everyone has a role to play and feels a part of the team.

And I learned all that (again) from my daughter. That and playgrounds can be better than any trip to Europe.

Go team Schaub!

Novena to the Holy Spirit

Nine days until Pentecost. I encourage you to find the Novena to the Holy Spirit and join the Catholic world in praying this divine prayer.

Why?

The Holy Spirit is the third person of the trinity and the gift Jesus delivered to his Apostles after his ascension. The Holy Spirit is our earthly guide, our inspiration to follow God's plan and to accept Jesus' sacrifice toward salvation. The Holy Spirit brings us the gifts of Wisdom, Understanding, Counsel, Fortitude, Knowledge, Piety, and Fear of the Lord. In meditating on these gifts, in prayfully approaching the Holy Spirit and welcoming Him into our lives, we gain these graces and in turn begin (or continue) to live our lives in alighnment with God's Holy plan.

I pray for you today to open your heart in preparation for the celebration of Pentecost, the day our Lord sent us His Spirit to guide us home to Him.

Shame turns to Salvation

I was plagued with shame. Like flies on dung, shame hovered above and around me, flying in my face and ringing in my ears. It was the sound of demons whispering terrors, the feel of Hell's flames licking my heels, the darkness of eternal life away from God that chills my bones.

So many people don't understand what abortion means to those of us who chose it. It doesn't mean that we support it and it certainly doesn't mean that we are OK with our choice. It means we have committed a mortal sin and must now bear that scar on our hearts for the rest of our days.

Talk of the horrors of abortion are true - it's a horrible thing, a despicable choice, a criminal act - but the women who have had abortions are not those things. We were under the control of fear and shame. We were sold lies - untruths about what an embryo is, lies about the long-term effects, fiction about the sanctity of life. Because of fear, we sought a way out - just like everyone does in times of trouble. Unfortunately for us, we were missing Jesus in our lives and so Satan strode in, consoled us and sold us.

But he's done something else too - he's made me angry! Satan hid the truth in his darkness until it was too late. Satan has an enemy in me.

I wasn't sure at first if anyone - man or God - would still love me, could still love me. Then I met Peter, Jesus' closest disciple who denied even knowing Jesus not once, but three times. I met Mary Magdalene who was a sinner and yet was rescued by Jesus. I met Saul, whom after meeting the Resurrected Jesus, received much a transformation that everything about him changed - his heart, his vision, his mission and even his name. Saul the Persecuter became Paul the Saint and author of a good portion of the New Testament.The salvation that Jesus promised? That freedom from sin He purchased with His blood on the cross - He did that for me. Jesus knew I would sin. He knew fear would grip me so tightly I would crumble under the pressure. Even though He knew that I would spit in the face of Creation by not understanding what gift He had given me, He still went to the cross. He still loved me.

I am not alone in my sin. I'm not alone in my salvation either. Jesus purchased my soul for me. I have the reciept - it's the tug at my heart when I confess. It's the passion I feel when I'm at Mass and Fr. Mike breaks the bread. It's the deep understanding I have that those who believe in Jesus will not perish, but find everlasting life. (Jn. 3:16)

I know I have been forgiven. Jesus told me so. So I renounce you Shame! Go back to Hell and take Fear with you!

Word and Traditions

One of my favorite memories from my childhood are the ice cream sundaes on New Year's Eve, the way my mother set the table for Thanksgiving, the smell of my parent's coffee and toast every morning. Every Sunday we would drive to the next town and visit my grandmother. My sister and I would hide under her dining room table and Grandma would slip us windmill cookies. If we sat there long enough and quiet enough, our aunts and uncles would start to share stories about their youth using some very colorful language.

These are the traditions of my family, the actions of our culture. Even if someone knows us, can name us, can pick us from a crowd, they don't fully understand our family unless they participate in our traditions. Only my family knows the memory of the phrase "Grandma in the window". Only family will picture my grandmother standing in her dining room window waving to us as we drive away.

It's the same with the Catholic Faith. Catholics cherish the traditions of Jesus' actions and words that he shared with his Apostles. The Eucharist being one of the traditions, Catholics do as he said and know that it isn't just bread and wine, but the true presence of Jesus. Is that hard to grasp? You bet! Even as he spoke those words two millenia ago, people walked out. His gift of the Eucharist was profound. Only those who truly believe that everything Jesus said is really what he said and meant can accept that gift of his flesh and blood.

No one - Catholic, Protestant, Baptist or another Christian denomination - will argue that the Bible is anything else than the inspired Word of God. It's divine text is the core to all goodness. Talk about Life's Instruction Manual! It's all there. The difference between the denominations of the Christian Faith is our familiarity with the Scriptures and the idea that the Bible is the only thing that God as given us as a means of teaching His love.

It's not.

God didn't send His Son to become man just to lengthen the Scriptures. God sent Jesus here to teach us how to live, how to trust God the Father, how to be patient in prayer, to do God's will despite the threat (or reality) of death. All these things were taught to us through Jesus' actions.

Jesus wasn't just a source of words and parables and commandments. He was God made man. He walked and talked and loved his disciples and his family. He had quirks and personality. He gave us direction in how to remember his sacrifice. "DO this in memory of me." "This IS my body and blood that will be poured out for many so sins may be forgiven." We are to act. We are to accept that every word is true. He didn't say, this bread and wine represent my body and blood. He said this IS my body and blood.

I love my Catholic faith! I also love my Protestant and Baptist and Methodist brothers and sisters! In some ways, their passion for the Lord Jesus is much more profound than my own. I love what I learn from my fellow Christian siblings. Lord God! Bless us all!

Easter

He is Risen!

Does that send chills up your spine?

Does it fill you with a sense of wonder? Expectation? Fear? Joy? Thankfulness?

The emotion I feel when I hear "He is Risen" has changed over the years. As a child, Easter was more about the Easter bunny and the candy he brought. In highschool, Easter was synonomous with Spring Break, a mini vacation from the trudgery of school. But now it rings of salvation. Miracles. It's the cornerstone of our faith.

The path of Lent has ended and the burdens of our sacrifices are lifted. The strength we've gained from them is rewarded in the enhanced wisdom of God's gift of love.

For God so loved the world that he sent is only Son, that who ever believes in Him shall not perish but have everlasting life. John 3:16

Happy Easter!!!

Stations of the Cross, A prayer

First Station: Jesus is condemned to death
Lord, as you stood before Pilate, accused of false crimes, you said nothing. You trusted in your Father to conduct His will through you.
“But I say to you, offer no resistance to one who is evil. When someone strikes you on [your] right cheek, turn the other one to him as well.” Matthew 5:39
In that trust, you saved the world. How many times have I made situations worse by trying to defend myself? How many times have I accused people of wrongdoings and have been incorrect? And does it matter if I’m right or wrong? Why do I think that my judgment would mean anything? I beg for forgiveness for the times I have been in the crowd ready to throw a stone. I beg for strength to stand tall in my virtues despite what is being whispered about me. Lord, I want to be like you.

Second Station: Jesus carries His cross
Your burden, your cross was more than just the wood you carried up the hill; it was the sins of an entire world, the sins of the very people for whom you died. The soldiers pierced your skin with thorns, with nails, with a sword. Our sins pierced your very heart. When will we learn our lesson? When will we stop sinning against you whom we should love above all others? My sins pierce your heart. Please forgive me for my weaknesses, for my crimes. If I keep you in my heart and mind at all times, I will sin less. My heart is filled with gratitude for your sacrifice. Bless all of the martyrs who have suffered the same fate and have been born into a life with you in heaven. Lord, bless my actions, bless my words, and bless me when I sin. Lord, I want to be like you.

Third Station: Jesus falls the first time
You stumbled from exhaustion and fell, the weight of the cross hurting you more. I imagine that those watching you struggle cringed at the sight. Lord, so many people are struggling under the weight of their own crosses. Help me to help them; fill my mind with your words of encouragement. And when I stumble, I will turn to you for my strength. When I suffer, I will suffer for you. I give you all my burdens Lord, that they may help me to appreciate and understand the cross you carried. Lord, I want to be like you.

Fourth Station: Jesus meets his mother
Oh, the sorrows of a mother watching her Son suffer.
“Blessed are those who mourn, for they shall be comforted.” Matthew 5:44
When my own children cry, I want to cry too. When they fall, my skin burns with pain too. Mary, how did you manage to watch your Son die for all our sins? How did you keep quiet and allow your Son to do the will of the Father. How did you walk among those who were killing him and not lash out? Oh, that I would have that same strength; to give my children the space they need to fulfill God’s will for them. Mary, you always followed God’s plan for you and then for your Son. Your reward was heaven. Mary, pray for me in my own struggles. Bring my pain to God. Mary, I want to be like you; holy and compassionate; obedient and prayerful.

Fifth Station: Simon of Cyrene helps Jesus to carry his cross
Finally, some help for you, Lord Jesus. Finally, the soldiers give you a little rest. But was it out of kindness?
No.
It was their eagerness to reach the top of that hill that caused them to have someone else to carry your cross.
Why didn’t one of the soldiers do it for you?
They wouldn’t lower themselves to you.
But what a mistake! To think that helping you – or anyone – would be a bend in our back, a lowering of our station. Lord, take away my pride that my acts of kindness are compassion filled. More so, when I am in need of help, of charity, take away my pride that I might accept the help from others who do so in your name. Lord, charity and compassion were lessons from you. Lord, I want to be like you.

Sixth Station: Veronica wipes the face of Jesus
Veronica is such a brave woman! She saw your suffering, she saw your need. Despite the soldiers, she came to you and offered you comfort and wiped your face dry of sweat and blood.
“Blessed are the merciful, for they will be shown mercy.” Matthew 5:7
Lord, give me courage to do the same with those people in my life who are in need. Help my eyes see when people are in pain and give my prayers the words to wipe their brows dry of the pain of suffering. I want to be brave for you, Jesus. Take away my fears of other people’s criticisms and replace that with courage – courage to do the right thing, courage to comfort you and those you love. Lord, I want to be like Veronica.

Seventh Station: Jesus falls the second time
How many times have I fallen under the same sin? How many times will I trip over my pride…my sorrow…my weakness? Thanks to you, Lord Jesus, I can get up each time and ask forgiveness. For you paved our lives in the blood of your sacrifice and marked a narrow path to salvation. That I may balance on that path and reach for your steady hand when I fall; then I too may find my eternal soul in your presence when my earthly pilgrimage is complete.
Lord, I know I will fall, I know I have fallen short of your glory. But in those falls, I pray that I will renew my resolve to follow you. You told us that Your forgiveness knows no bounds; I trust you in that. Lord, let me have strength to go on even in the face of death.

Eighth Station: Jesus meets the women of Jerusalem
The women came to you in grief for what was being done to you. In your everlasting compassion, you asked them to not weep for you, but for their children. How selfless! How loving that you would set aside your own extreme pains and direct these women to pray for their children.
Lord, guide me on this path to prayer for others and not just for myself. Help me to see the needs of other people and give me the courage and the strength to follow through in that help. Lord, let not my afflictions hinder my prayer for others; like you, I want to have perfect prayers.

Ninth Station: Jesus falls a third time
My goodness! How many times must I sin before I understand what this does to you? My sins hurt you like the thorns on your head. My sins erase the goodness of your sacrifice. Lord, I’m so sorry for my sins. I pray that I will keep you in my heart and mind at all times, for when you are with me Lord, I don’t sin. When you are with me – and I see you – I don’t sin. It is my own distractions, my own busy-ness, that pushes you out of my mind. Lord, I pray that I can keep my eyes, my heart, my mind, my soul focused on you.

Tenth Station: Jesus clothes are taken away
This act, the soldiers tearing away your clothing makes me so angry!
“Do not give what is holy to dogs, or throw your pearls before the swine, lest they trample them underfoot, and turn and tear you to pieces.” Matthew 7:6
But that is exactly what they did – You, our heavenly pearl, was ripped to shreds. Your skin had been cut with the flogging and your blood had dried to your clothes. When they took away your clothing, they opened all those wounds again. Your blood flowed freely once more. How many times must they cause you pain?
But I do it too, don’t I, Lord? I re-open things that have been forgiven. I use words that scar your skin. I tear off other people’s “clothing” and get right down to the bloody issues that make them bleed. Lord, I don’t want to be that person. Keep my curiosity away so my questions don’t make others bleed. Help me to keep my expressions pure and holy so no one may misunderstand my face – or worse, see my face and know that I am judging them!
Maybe my prayer should be to be stripped of the clothes that bind me to the earth. The possessions I have, should they be taken away from me, would that make me bleed? I have nothing in this world so important to me as my soul and Your love. Even my children, the beautiful blessings that they are, are nothing in this world. It is the next world for which I am trying to live. Strip me of my earthly possessions and see if I bleed. If I do, then I am not worthy of this life. Lord, I want to be like Job, in love with You no matter what this life deals me.
“Whoever finds his life will lose it, and whoever loses his life for my sake will find it.” Matthew 10:37

Eleventh Station: Jesus is nailed to the cross
The pain! The stabbing pain and the fear! When will the pounding end? When will these people understand that every drop of blood comes at a great price? Lord, Your suffering is beyond my comprehension! Even my worst pain, my worst headache, the labor of giving birth was nothing compared to Your sufferings; for all my suffering has ended with a peace, a freedom of pain, a child. Your suffering ended with death and hell.
Lord, I offer you all my suffering for Your glory. May my pain bring me closer to you.

Twelfth Station: Jesus dies on the cross
Blackness covered the earth the moment you died. Your followers believed that everything was at an end. You had told them that you would die and be raised, but they didn’t understand. Oh, the sorrow of that moment. The earth shook. The temple veil was torn. All these things happened, but no one understood them until later.
How many times has my life seemed to end with a tragedy? I can see all the pieces of sorrow, but I am unable to link them together into a tapestry of joy until much later. Lord, help me to focus on finding the joy. And in that, allow me to welcome the pain of sorrow, so that the joy may feel more complete. Lord, when all seems lost, let me remember You and Your promise to make all things good in God.

Thirteenth Station: The body of Jesus is taken down from the cross
With such tenderness they brought you down, the empty shell of your body. Your mother, Mary, how she must have held you and wept! Was there anything to console her? Did she try to hide her anguish?
Lord, in our day, we have many ways to cover up sad feelings. Our society is afraid to feel anything but happiness and contentment. What are we missing? Why do we feel that feeling discomfort and grief are bad?
Lord, I want to rid my life of all the drugs, the band-aids, the pain-relievers that keep me from feeling every emotion God has given mankind. I ask for bravery, that I may endure these emotions and understand what it means to feel, to be alive, to suffer and then to resurrect the feelings of joy, peace, and happiness.

Fourteenth Station: Jesus is laid in the tomb
All things must come to an end; so true for good and evil. Your ministry ended when they killed you. All who loved you thought their mission was a failure. I have felt this way too. All the good things I can do must someday come to an end. And what can I leave behind? Change can be a good thing, but right now, in this country, change is very frightening.
Lord, give us endurance when the boulder of the tomb traps us inside. Turn our hearts to You, to prayer, to fasting and almsgiving. This season of Lent is our annual desert that ends – temporarily in a tomb. Your followers didn’t know that the tomb would be wrenched open, just as we don’t understand that God the Father can make all “ends” into new beginnings. Lord, as we grieve our losses, I pray that you will stand next to us, pointing the way to the angels who declare the goodness of the Lord, the way to everlasting life. Every life must have a desert. But every life can end in the radiance of Your light, if we follow you.


“Blessed are your eyes, because they see, and your ears, because they hear. Amen, I say to you, many prophets and righteous people longed to see what you see but did not see it, and to hear what you hear but did not hear it.” Matthew 13:16-17

Another Retreat

Today marks the end of another retreat weekend. It's such an honor to be a part of this program, to be a friend with these women, to have an active role in renewing the spiritual lives of other women.

I'm always amazed at the women who come to the retreats - they have come for a specific reason, whether to strengthed their faith, to meet new women in the church, or just to escape their home for a day and a half! Whatever the reason, God puts them together and feeds them in His Word by encouraging the team members to share their lives. The women that look so plain at the beginning of the retreat shine with extraordinary light by the end.

My note to the retreatants:

Ladies, I am so thankful that God brought you to the retreat. Whatever you expected from this weekend, I'm sure you are overwhelmed by the results. I'd like to encourage you - whether you feel filled with the Holy Spirit or completely overwhelmed and in need of a nap (or both!) please go to the next meeting - the reunion, the Evening of Discernment - and share your thoughts. That evening will help you sort through your experience. It will give you time to talk with any of the witness-ers and seek their help and prayer. Prayerfully consider joining the team to help other women have a similarly wonderful experience in the fall. This weekend, as powerful as it was, is nothing compared to the formation process available to you over the next 5-6 months. Trust in God! He never disappoints!

Lord, I lift these ladies up to You. Encourage them with joyful hearts and thankful spirits to continue on this path. You have so much to offer, so much to share with them. Let them see that this first step can lead to a life they never thought possible. Lord, bless them with peaceful sleep tonight and protect them as they re-enter the reality of every day life. Keep this feeling alive in them for days and weeks to come. Bless them, Lord, in all the ways You can. I pray this in the divine name of Your Son, Jesus Christ. Amen.