Abandoned?

 

Last post was an admission of going through many trials and difficulties. Throughout my life this has been the way things have been. Saint Paul often referred to the difficulties he endured in his letters to the churches. He did not hide the fact that the trials he endured also made him stronger in his faith. It is the trials that strengthen us and prepare us for our walk with our Lord. I have never lost faith that the Lord was there in the worst of times and the best of times. Scripture teaches us that those times of desert experience are a time of preparing for what comes next. The apparent absence of the Holy Spirit is not abandonment but a time of preparation, unseen by us, in the background. We need to thank the Lord for EVERYTHING. Yes, even when we feel abandoned. We are never abandoned. He is always with us. Just because we are not able to see or feel His presence is not a reason to abandon your faith. I have often heard it said that the gifts have been taken away at these times. That is not true. The gifts of the Spirit are always present when faith is present. Where faith is present the Holy Spirit is present. Where the Holy Spirit is present Jesus is present. Where Jesus is present our Father in heaven is present. There is no exception to this. When one is there all are there for they are one. 

I have seen the hard times when out of work, no money coming in, a wife and baby at home with one can of soup on the shelf. Jesus was there. Family and friends provided food for the family, a job was found soon after. Our first nine years of marriage was a slippery slope. Then the Lord provided the way of reconciling things through marriage encounter. God was there. I could go on and on but through all of these seeming desert experiences the Lord was preparing the way (in the background).

Through faith and belief the Lord is always faithful and there, even though we are not aware of His presence. He is a loving Father who is true to His promise to always be there and protect us in our times of need.

May the good Lord bless and keep you safe.

Remember to "Always Love The Details."

Chaos

Recently it has been difficult to concentrate long enough to write a post that is easy to follow. My attention is divided in half a dozen different directions at once. Taking the first step, not knowing where it will take you, is not ideal for writing this kind of post. The heat, sleep, financial concerns, family health problems, house and property expenses and upkeep have made it hard. Some of the above mentioned concerns have been temporarily addressed but much still remains. Through all of this our Father in heaven has been in charge and taking care of things as needed. He sees the whole staircase even if we do not. It is a matter of not only trust but belief that we are in His hands. 

      The story of Joseph and his life and trials from being sold into slavery, to being the head of the captain of the pharaoh's army to prison to the sole head of the pharaoh's house. Joseph always trusted God's presence in his life. The trials were severe but he always placed his trust and his live in God's hands. It was not a time frame of just a few days, weeks but years of waiting on his God. Even when his God seemed absent. If we find ourselves in situations where we are in pain or things are not going well, have heart, keep the faith and remember that our God is working in the background to provide for us when we are ready and at His appointed time. Need more encouragement? Read about Job or David. The answer may not be what we want or expect but it will be proper for us.

May the good Lord bless and keep you safe.

Remember to "Always Love The Details."

Respect

There is a difference between respect for ones self and love of ones self. It can be readily seen in the world today in the actions of people. Love of ones self means you feel entitled and often leads to horrible treatment of others.  Respect of ones self results in respect for others in most cases.

2 Tim. 1:13  “Beware that no one leads you astray. 5 For many will come in my name, saying, ‘I am the Messiah!’ and they will lead many astray. 6 And you will hear of wars and rumors of wars; see that you are not alarmed; for this must take place, but the end is not yet. 7 For nation will rise against nation, and kingdom against kingdom, and there will be famines and earthquakes in various places: 8 all this is but the beginning of the birth pangs.

“Hold the form of sound words, which thou hast heard of me in faith, and in the love which is in Christ Jesus.” 

John Gilmary Shea, Pictorial Lives of the Saints (New York; Cincinnati; Chicago: Benziger Brothers, 1887), 334.

Persecutions Foretold

(Mk 13.9–13; Lk 21.12–19)

9 “Then they will hand you over to be tortured and will put you to death, and you will be hated by all nations because of my name. 10 Then many will fall away, and they will betray one another and hate one another. 11 And many false prophets will arise and lead many astray. 12 And because of the increase of lawlessness, the love of many will grow cold. 13 But the one who endures to the end will be saved. 14 And this good news of the kingdom will be proclaimed throughout the world, as a testimony to all the nations; and then the end will come.

The Holy Bible: New Revised Standard Version, Catholic Edition (Washington, DC: National Council of Churches of Christ, 1993), Mt 24:4–14.

Respect for others should not open the door to complete trust but should be tempered and tested. This is not disrespect but wisdom. 

May the good Lord bless and keep you safe.

Remember to "Always Love The Details."