Curve Balls?

I've grown up spending all summer, every summer watching baseball. It's what I know and what I'm familiar with, so I like baseball analogies...so long as you stick to the basics.

Life has thrown me a curve ball. I don't know what is going on, what is going to happen in the next 5 minutes even. And it seems that when I am wanting to know what's next in my life God is like nope, not yet...you have to be patient and wait. My curve ball this time was a guy...a great, wonderful, practicing Catholic, faithful to the Lord and exactly what I look for in a guy...yet, my fears caused me to push him away. So what do I do now? I wait! I pain-stakingly, and attemp to patiently wait for God's plan to reveal itself in due time. But it's not easy, actually it's quite awful. But when we're thrown a curve ball, we take it as it comes and make the best of it. I encourage you, who may also be struggling with something Christ threw into your life, to run to Jesus and give him everything. Pour your heart out to the Lord and allow him to consume you. Trust in him and surrender to his will. Remember you are not alone in your struggle, we're fighting this fight together, so keep pressing on and giving everything to Jesus. Everything will turn out as it's supposed to.

God bless!
Keep praying!

in Jesus&Mary,
amber

Keep Your Head Up

It is so easy in this world to become discouraged when you're not dating someone because the media tells us that we need to have a boy/girl-friend, otherwise we're not cool, or we expected to be depressed and unhappy all of the time because we're supposed to be 'lonely'. I encourage you to turn away from society! Live and let whatever happens, happen. Trust Jesus! Pray, run to the Lord. Tell him your heart's desires, your wants, you joys, your pains, your frustrations! Pour them all out at the foot of the Cross of Jesus Christ! So often we are not supposed to be in a relationship, but we jump into things too quickly and end up hurt in one way or another. If we are seeking the will of the Father, he will put a stop to things, if they are wrong. Therefore, keep running to Jesus. Seek him as your comfort and your consolation and keep your head up! God has something great planned for each of us! Don't get discouraged when you feel alone or feel like maybe you don't fit in because you're not dating a guy, but ask yourself- who am I living for? and answer that you're living for Jesus, Jesus, Jesus! Jesus is supposed to be our best friend. Run to your best friend (Jesus)when you are struggling. Keep your head up and remember- "You are all beautiful, my beloved, there is no blemish within you" Song of Songs 4:7


God bless!
Keep praying!
In Jesus&Mary,
amber

Accepting God's Gifts

Lately I have been really struggling with my life. I keep being told how awesome, amazing, or wonderful I am by various people. I HATE when people say that to or about me because I've always had it stuck in my head that I don't deserve to be called those things. I always thought I was a worthless piece of crap. Then, I came to know God, and realized that I'm not worthless, but my purpose is to serve him and all that I do should bring him glory. Now, God has blessed me with a great, inspirational story to share with others, some wisdom(so I'm told), and great faith(so I'm told). I don't always believe all these things and these are probably only a few of the gifts and talents God has given me, to better serve him. He gives each of us different gifts though, because we all serve a different purpose in this world and need to different gifts to serve his purpose for us. Since God has blessed me with my "special story", I'm being told more and more frequently how great I am. Last night I was arguing with my friend that I wasn't any of these because they all come from God, I am just his instrument, I don't deserve to recieve the credit for the things I'm doing, etc. My friend conitnued to tell me that I am all these things that people say about me, yet I refused to accept this.

Now, last night I was too tired to take this to prayer, so I made sure I got to it today. God revelaed to me how he was hurt that I couldn't accept the gifts he had given me, so when I realized I had hurt my Lord, I sought his help, whole-heartedly, trying to figure out how to overcome this struggle I have been carrying with me for over a year now. The good Lord revelaed to me a way to help me be more willing to accept these truths that people tell me, by giving each praise I recieve, for what I do, to him and using the praise I recieve to glorify him! God helped me to realize that I have a special role in this world and will be an instrument for him to reach many people. I now want to remind you-  You are special! You do play an important role in this world! You have a specific, detailed plan written out for you; when you come to the Lord, he will meet you right where you are at and help you to move forward at your pace! You just have to put forth the effort and work towards giving Jesus your all!

God bless!
Keep praying!

In Jesus&Mary,
amber

What are you living for?

Today's reading really got me thinking! It points out how we are born into freedom, and Christ Jesus gave us that freedom! How awesome is that! Many people don't know of Christ, nor do they know of his great love for them! Continuing on, Jesus died on the cross to set us free. He also gave us the option of free will. We can choose to follow him or we can choose to be stuck in the world. I have learned, through my life experience that when you surround yourself with worldly things you constantly feel empty and move from one thing to another seeking fulfillment and recieving emptiness. We're always searching, wanting, desiring something more.

We all want a reason to live, what are you living for?

I live for Jesus Christ! I live in order to know, love and serve him as best I can! Jesus Christ is my King and Savior. My life would be empty without him! He completely cares for my every need and I would be nothing without him! He died on the cross to set me free; therefore, I owe my life to him. You choose, what way of life do you want? One of empty, endless searching or one where you always have someone to run to for comfort and who loves you unceasingly?

Galatians 5:1-

For freedom Christ set us free; so stand firm

and do not submit again to the yoke of slavery.

Keep praying!
God bless!

In Jesus&Mary,
amber

Food for Thought

During mass today the priest got me thinking, how often do we really give thanks? Once a year, maybe twice...at thanksgiving? That's not nearly enough when we look at how much Christ gives us each and every day! It's truly amazing. He gives us air to breathe, water to drink, food to eat, in the mass he gives us his own body and blood to rely on for strength, he gives us the roof over our head, the job we may have, he comforts us in sorrow and rejoices with us in times. He is constantly with us and constantly giving us exactly what we need at each and every moment of each and every day. I encourage you now to reflect on your life and offer thanksgiving to Christ for the many blessings he has given you. Recognize that we are nothing without Christ. We survive on Christ, and Christ alone!

Philippians 4:13 - I can do all things through him who strengthens me.


Some food for thought:
 "The thoughts of those moved by natural human love are almost completely fastened on the beloved, their hearts are filled with passion for it, and their mouths full of its praises. When it is gone they express their feelings in letters, and can't pass by a tree without carving the name of their beloved in its bark. Thus too those who love God can never stop thinking about him, longing for him, aspiring to him, and speaking about him. If they could, they would engrave the name of Jesus on the hearts of all humankind." ~St. Francis de Sales

Keep praying!
God bless!

In Jesus&Mary,
amber

Reality

How often are we 'real' with ourselves? For me, it's often never. Who wants to sit down and look into what's going on with their life? Why do we want to think or talk about our pain, our suffering, when it's seemingly so much easier to pretend everything is okay?

When we are realistic with our lives it makes us stronger in Christ because Christ is strongest in our weakness. He builds us up. Therefore, do not be afraid to be real with your life, with pain, with suffering, heartache and more. Reognize it, talk about it with someone. You do not have to tell every person you meet your life story and the pains you suffer, but you should find those people who you can come to with your problems. In reality, it is not healthy to hold in those emotions either. We need to continue to recognize our weakness and let Christ be our strength in them. We, as Christians and followers of Christ, need to be able to unite our pain and our suffering to Christ our King so He can be our strength, our rock on which we stand firm.

Who are you?
What's your story?
Where do you struggle?

Keep praying.
God bless!

In Jesus&Mary,
amber

Charitable Love

So often in this world we struggle to love. We are so self-absorbed that we become only concerned with what will benefit us best. I know I often struggle to love an acquaintance of mine. However, when we struggle to love we just need to remember who we are living for, what we are living for, what our goal in this life is: to know, love and serve Christ Jesus. Next time you struggle to love someone ask Mary for help. Say: Mary, help to love as you love; Jesus give me a heart of love. Ask the Lord and our Mother for strength and grace to love each person we meet and reach out to them as their needs require. Give everything to the Lord. Everything you do should be a gift to Jesus. Offer it to Jesus; give it him. One day you will be greatly rewarded. Remember we are living for Jesus, to love him, to serve him, to know him and to be united with him one day in heaven!

God bless!
Keep praying!

In Jesus&Mary,
amber