Monday, May 29, 2017
Sunday, May 28, 2017
Saturday, May 27, 2017
Friday, May 26, 2017
Thursday, May 25, 2017
Thursday, May 18, 2017
Wednesday, May 17, 2017
Tuesday, May 16, 2017
Thursday, May 11, 2017
Wednesday, May 10, 2017
SHUT UP AND PRAY... wait what?
Some days it seems like the world has pulled out all the stops to try and yank you down. There might be constant distractions trying to sway you off the path in an attempt to keep you achieving you very best. Temptation will jump up and down at all costs to lure you into pleasure that will detour you , "just a bit" but that also keeps you from attaining that true inner peace so cheaply traded for momentary pleasure. What do you do?
Me, I pray.
I pray long and hard. I pray till the temptation passes. I start the morning with prayer to focus my attention like the sharpness of a newly ground blade that slices though the obstacles with little effort. I pray continually throughout the day. In the car on my drive, when someone cuts me off, I pray for them. At work when I find work left for me unjustly, I pray for them. Nothing grand, I don't fall full prostrate on the ground at a moments notice, but in a moment that allows me to pause and attain focus.
Why?
Because if I don't I become distracted and I can fall prey to temptation. That guy that cut me off, I can start looking how to get even, and if I can't then I might just take it out on the next person I meet. The work left for me unjustly, the same. I could use that as an excuse to slack off for the rest of the day. It's fair right? They took a lazy moment so why can't I? The problem is thoughts lead to choices, and choices lead to habits and those habits will end up writing your destiny. It's easy to take the low road, but there is nothing achieved there. No great peace, joy or serenity. So maybe your thinking, this prayer thing sounds great and that it will wash away all your problems.
Sorry to say it won't.
Sometimes you will feel temptation and you will pray and after prayer it will still be there. Sometimes you will pray for someone and your pray won't be answered, so you think. Perhaps you will pray for something and it will not be given to you. It is very likely that this whole "prayer thing" will seem rather stupid and that you will consider ending such a waste of time. Please don't and know this. God is not a genie or an ATM. God wants to serve you but not like the man or woman at your favorite eating establishment. God wants to serve you as a great parent. He loves you with all his might, personally, but sometimes that means having to say no. There will be times that bad things will happen and this is not due to God's inability or lack of care for you. This is due to living in a world of sin where people have free will. However, just as others can affect you with their choice of sin, you can affect others with your choice of righteousness. When entering into time with God through prayer you open your life to the peace and clarity that only God can deliver. When entering into prayer you take the time to sit at the feet of the greatest coach of all time. Not only does He know how to get the best out of you, he made you. God knows you like no one else out there. Not only does God know what will make you happy God knows the path that will help you to become the champion that He made you to be.
So maybe you're wondering how to get started...
Keep it simple, schedule quiet time, sit in a comfortable position. Then close your eyes and clear your mind, and speak out loud whatever is at the surface of consciousness. It's not always about asking for things though that is okay. If you had a good day share that. If you had a bad day share that too. If there is something that is making you mad pray about that, but hear is the important part, then take time to listen. Yes, listen sit in silence and wait for an answer. More than likely you will not hear a big booming voice come over you, why, cause God doesn't want to scare you. God often speaks to you through you conscience, events and other people. Why, because God wants to meet you where you are in your life, through your life. As you become comfortable with this, and prayer becomes part of your daily habits it will be easier to enact silent prayer on the go, but nothing is more personal and powerful than finding a quiet place, turning off the world and speaking to God out loud in prayer. There will be a million reasons and temptations to not pray. The world doesn't want you to pray. The world wants you distracted chasing the next pleasure.
The choice in yours.
Michael Smith
Me, I pray.
I pray long and hard. I pray till the temptation passes. I start the morning with prayer to focus my attention like the sharpness of a newly ground blade that slices though the obstacles with little effort. I pray continually throughout the day. In the car on my drive, when someone cuts me off, I pray for them. At work when I find work left for me unjustly, I pray for them. Nothing grand, I don't fall full prostrate on the ground at a moments notice, but in a moment that allows me to pause and attain focus.Why?
Because if I don't I become distracted and I can fall prey to temptation. That guy that cut me off, I can start looking how to get even, and if I can't then I might just take it out on the next person I meet. The work left for me unjustly, the same. I could use that as an excuse to slack off for the rest of the day. It's fair right? They took a lazy moment so why can't I? The problem is thoughts lead to choices, and choices lead to habits and those habits will end up writing your destiny. It's easy to take the low road, but there is nothing achieved there. No great peace, joy or serenity. So maybe your thinking, this prayer thing sounds great and that it will wash away all your problems.Sorry to say it won't.
Sometimes you will feel temptation and you will pray and after prayer it will still be there. Sometimes you will pray for someone and your pray won't be answered, so you think. Perhaps you will pray for something and it will not be given to you. It is very likely that this whole "prayer thing" will seem rather stupid and that you will consider ending such a waste of time. Please don't and know this. God is not a genie or an ATM. God wants to serve you but not like the man or woman at your favorite eating establishment. God wants to serve you as a great parent. He loves you with all his might, personally, but sometimes that means having to say no. There will be times that bad things will happen and this is not due to God's inability or lack of care for you. This is due to living in a world of sin where people have free will. However, just as others can affect you with their choice of sin, you can affect others with your choice of righteousness. When entering into time with God through prayer you open your life to the peace and clarity that only God can deliver. When entering into prayer you take the time to sit at the feet of the greatest coach of all time. Not only does He know how to get the best out of you, he made you. God knows you like no one else out there. Not only does God know what will make you happy God knows the path that will help you to become the champion that He made you to be.So maybe you're wondering how to get started...
Keep it simple, schedule quiet time, sit in a comfortable position. Then close your eyes and clear your mind, and speak out loud whatever is at the surface of consciousness. It's not always about asking for things though that is okay. If you had a good day share that. If you had a bad day share that too. If there is something that is making you mad pray about that, but hear is the important part, then take time to listen. Yes, listen sit in silence and wait for an answer. More than likely you will not hear a big booming voice come over you, why, cause God doesn't want to scare you. God often speaks to you through you conscience, events and other people. Why, because God wants to meet you where you are in your life, through your life. As you become comfortable with this, and prayer becomes part of your daily habits it will be easier to enact silent prayer on the go, but nothing is more personal and powerful than finding a quiet place, turning off the world and speaking to God out loud in prayer. There will be a million reasons and temptations to not pray. The world doesn't want you to pray. The world wants you distracted chasing the next pleasure.The choice in yours.
Michael Smith
Tuesday, May 9, 2017
Digging Deep and Listening Hard
I can't tell you why, but for some reason I have started running and lifting weights again. In part I believe I have been doing it because I realized one day what a gift God has given me with this life, and I want to make the most of it. I want to be as smart as I can, understanding, healthy and as spiritual sound as possible. Life is too short why waste it right? Yesterday I came home from a hard day at work and I didn't want to run. In part because I was tired and sore, and in part I was worried that I wouldn't be able to break my previous time. With that inner struggle I went out and ran and dug deep into myself refusing to get up. I looked at my stopwatch only twice. With my first glance it was obvious to me that I wasn't going to break my time. I wanted to stop right there, "what was the point?", I thought. Instead I continued to strive and when I got home and crossed "my line" I looked. I had indeed beat my previous time. I am getting older and I know that one of these days I won't make my time and if I continue I will actually get slower and slower, so what's the point right?
I'm Catholic, and if you're not you might think that some of what I am about to say is, well, odd. That's okay but know that this isn't necessarily a Catholic post. I'm not out to convert you to Catholicism, but I do encourage you to pray and search for a relationship with Jesus Christ. He's a really cool guy. On my run last night I refused to give up but my run was a cakewalk compared to what Christ endured his last day on this earth. They spit in his face, beat, whipped him and nailed him to a cross, mostly because people of power were afraid of him. What was the point right? Why go through all that? Jesus loves you so much that he took the blame for all the wrong that you and everyone else had done and would do and he let himself be sacrificed for you. He loves you personally, yes personally that much. Jesus didn't see humanity as some faceless crowd. He sees humanity for each one of its participants individually and loves you for who you are. The night before he gave us one of the greatest gifts of all. He gave himself. He gave us the sacrament of the Eucharist so that we can take Jesus into ourselves this very day to strengthen us, because he loves us and understands that this life is hard.
He gives us this gift and calls us to follow him. He calls us to become a part of his Church so that we don't have to be alone. He invites us to light up
this world with love, because he loves this world and wants us all to find our way home. Our home is Heaven. We were made to share in God's divinity. God loves us that much that he wishes to share all with us, but we have to choose. God will not force anything upon us. God is not some sort of benevolent tyrant that will make us do his will and keep all harm from us. He gives us free will and unfortunately we all too often choose sin. God became man and sent his son Jesus to this earth. He walked, taught and loved. He cured and forgave sins. Most of all he shone as an example of how He wanted us to live. How He wanted us to love. How He wanted us to serve each other. Do I love each day the way Jesus would want me to? No, sadly I do not. Why, mostly because I fear the world or what people would think. It's sad it really is. I am better than I once was but I still have a long way to go, but that's okay. I am still on the path and I have the amazing gifts that Jesus left for me. I have his Church, the Sacraments and his words and actions in the Bible to follow. What I cherish most of all though is my personal time with him. Those moments in which I sit with him and peace and quiet and converse with Jesus in prayer. Whether I have had a good or bad day Jesus is there waiting to hear whatever I choose to share. I will admit though, that there are times when I don't say a word. It's not default in our world today, but I sit in silence and just experience his presence and listen. Do I hear a big booming voice which tells me which way to go? No most of the time I will hear the whisper of my conscience pulling me in an odd direction, many times not one that I would choose for myself, but when I do follow I find peace. The world is loud for a reason. Distractions are in every corner. I make no bones about the fact that I realize that I have been born into a spiritual war. My soul is up for grabs. Jesus wants to save me but the devil wants to damn me. It's my choice thought who I choose to listen to.
Monday, May 8, 2017
Slave, Servant or Self?
You know as a Christian I used to think that I was walking a tightrope at times. I didn't want to be shouted down from my faith. It's easy for this to happen. You try to share and move through the world as a Christian but the world says that you should keep your faith at home. That your faith has no place at school or work. That you should even keep your faith for Sunday where it belongs. Don't even worry about praying at the dinner table because there are so many other things to discuss anyway. Focus on what's important, keep the "God stuff" for Sunday between 9am - 10am where it belongs. Problem with that is my faith then became sort of a charm of many on a bracelet, something pretty and nice but nothing of too much concern. Convexly, I didn't want to dive into my faith so hard that it was all just posturing and the actual point to my faith was lost. I didn't want to attend Mass on Sunday, just to be seen. I didn't want to pray "greatly" with beautiful words that were just for show and had no real meaning behind them. I have learned (for now) that it isn't a tightrope that I am walking. It's merely walking though life honestly and true. My focus is God, my love for him, my study of him and my best attempts to live the humble life that Jesus Christ laid out for me.
Okay, well that's a great idea you may think, but what exactly does that look like. How does that play out on an average day. I'll be honest, I'm not going to tell you what to do. God calls us all to different lives and vocations. We are each a puzzle piece beautiful and unique but when locked together we become a great picture that is something so much bigger than ourselves. Often we don't even see what many of the other pieces look like, let alone have the ability to see the "big picture". For me and many others I know though we try our best to focus on service. We put ourselves in the service of God with the talents we have and we put ourselves in service of others whether those people or Christian or not. We love as Jesus called us to. We become a slave to Jesus, not to sell our lives off as we believe we are nothing, but as slaves that we surrender in totality and keep nothing of ourselves for ourselves. You maybe thinking, "Uh, okay... why?" It is because when we are successful and we surrender as Jesus calls us to we find love, true unbridled love. We find peace and joy that sustains us through any hardship. It's a matter of surrendering to that puzzles so that by being a part of something greater our role in this world can truly manifest 100% as we can shine as the beautiful creation of God that we are.
As I sit here I imagine Jesus, the Son of God. Mighty in more ways than I could ever even imagine. God could create with mere thought and word yet he humbled himself to come to this earth as a fragile baby. He could have chosen to have his son born to the finest house with the most respect, but instead he was born to a family that couldn't even get a room at an in and was born in a stable. Jesus could have attained power and sat on a seat of judgement and ruled over all, but instead he chose to walk the county-side and serve. He served the blind and helped them see. He served the lame and helped them walk. He served the dead and their loved ones and brought them back to life. Jesus on the eve of his horrible death even knelt and washed the feet of his Apostles. Jesus loved and served completely and so I try as I may each day as well.
It can seem like a heavy weight to bare at times. It's no surprise that many don't choose this path or rather don't understand it. When do you know that you are right? When do you realize that you have gone to far? Is that even possible? How do you even think of trying to live this lifestyle, let alone execute it? It's really quite simple. It's a matter of letting
go and letting God in. It's a matter of spending time in prayer listening to God, but also then spending time in prayer in complete silence so that you can hear God talking to you. It's about letting go of "yourself" so that you can be present in the moment and to be truly aware of God's desires for you. But know this, giving up yourself doesn't mean that you will give "you" up. It is a matter of giving up the old broken down you that barely makes it around the block without backfiring or breaking down for the you that runs at peak performance, but don't forget to still get yourself in for a tune-up on a regular basis.
Some of this may sound odd or even obscure. Don't worry about it. Go with it. God is calling and no matter what your age, the best days are still to come when they are with God.
Michael Smith
Okay, well that's a great idea you may think, but what exactly does that look like. How does that play out on an average day. I'll be honest, I'm not going to tell you what to do. God calls us all to different lives and vocations. We are each a puzzle piece beautiful and unique but when locked together we become a great picture that is something so much bigger than ourselves. Often we don't even see what many of the other pieces look like, let alone have the ability to see the "big picture". For me and many others I know though we try our best to focus on service. We put ourselves in the service of God with the talents we have and we put ourselves in service of others whether those people or Christian or not. We love as Jesus called us to. We become a slave to Jesus, not to sell our lives off as we believe we are nothing, but as slaves that we surrender in totality and keep nothing of ourselves for ourselves. You maybe thinking, "Uh, okay... why?" It is because when we are successful and we surrender as Jesus calls us to we find love, true unbridled love. We find peace and joy that sustains us through any hardship. It's a matter of surrendering to that puzzles so that by being a part of something greater our role in this world can truly manifest 100% as we can shine as the beautiful creation of God that we are.
As I sit here I imagine Jesus, the Son of God. Mighty in more ways than I could ever even imagine. God could create with mere thought and word yet he humbled himself to come to this earth as a fragile baby. He could have chosen to have his son born to the finest house with the most respect, but instead he was born to a family that couldn't even get a room at an in and was born in a stable. Jesus could have attained power and sat on a seat of judgement and ruled over all, but instead he chose to walk the county-side and serve. He served the blind and helped them see. He served the lame and helped them walk. He served the dead and their loved ones and brought them back to life. Jesus on the eve of his horrible death even knelt and washed the feet of his Apostles. Jesus loved and served completely and so I try as I may each day as well.It can seem like a heavy weight to bare at times. It's no surprise that many don't choose this path or rather don't understand it. When do you know that you are right? When do you realize that you have gone to far? Is that even possible? How do you even think of trying to live this lifestyle, let alone execute it? It's really quite simple. It's a matter of letting
go and letting God in. It's a matter of spending time in prayer listening to God, but also then spending time in prayer in complete silence so that you can hear God talking to you. It's about letting go of "yourself" so that you can be present in the moment and to be truly aware of God's desires for you. But know this, giving up yourself doesn't mean that you will give "you" up. It is a matter of giving up the old broken down you that barely makes it around the block without backfiring or breaking down for the you that runs at peak performance, but don't forget to still get yourself in for a tune-up on a regular basis.Some of this may sound odd or even obscure. Don't worry about it. Go with it. God is calling and no matter what your age, the best days are still to come when they are with God.
Michael Smith
Friday, May 5, 2017
Are You Willing to Answer the Call>
I'll be honest, many times I feel like I let Jesus down. I mean the Man was spit in the face, beat up, the whipped Him till His skin was ripped off His body, then they mocked Him, then they made Him carry His own cross across town, then nailed Him to it, mocked Him some more and then stabbed Him in the side to make sure He was dead.
He did that all out of love. Because He loves each and everyone of us personally so much that He wants to help us stay out of hell and enjoy the everlasting greatness of Heaven.
And what have I done today?
Mostly I try to not think that I am letting Jesus down, but that I have further to go in my journey and an admiral goal to shoot for in my day to day life. I reflect each day, "Have I loved the way Jesus wants me to?" Sometimes in the same day that I do, I will also fail. That's okay though because I sit in prayer with Jesus and learn. I read my Bible everyday and realize that I'm not alone. Even Moses and King David fell, and fell hard, and God was there patiently waiting to mend them just like he is waiting to forgive and mend you.
Why, because he loves you.
Why do I, or anyone for that matter fall? Why do we sometimes make the most stupid of mistakes? Well for starters we are weak. We are flawed and we have been marked with original sin. Baptism wipes that away but the effects still linger. We live in a fallen world. Especially these times, there seems to be a focus on "Just getting what you deserve/want". The shortest distance between two points is a straight light so, if you are here and what you want is over there, then just go get it and never mind the consequences, at least that's how the world sees so much today. Never forget either that you have been born in the midst of a Spiritual War. The war has been won. Jesus conquered death for you but there are still battles going on. There are still plenty of souls that Satan would love to try and drag down to Hell. That's why it's important to be on your guard and focus on Jesus and the faith that He calls you to everyday.
It can all seem a bit daunting. I mean that's a lot to fight against, especially on your own. I don't recommend it. Jesus wants to be there for you. You CAN'T get to heaven without going through him anyway. Why would you want to live each day without his guidance? I can tell you that I have foolishly tried this and failed miserably. I thought I was smart and could see temptation from a mile away. I laugh now when I think of my foolish attempts now, "Yeah Jesus thanks for that salvation. I'll see you in Heaven. I gotta lot work to do know. Catch ya later."
Wow, stupid with a capital "S" I was. Don't do this to yourself. God didn't only give you his Son either. He gave us each other. We are to come together in his Church. We are to love each other and be there for each other. The plan is so simple and beautiful at the same time, yet if you dive deep God's plan is so vast as well, but do yourself a favor and love. You won't regret it. Love your God with all your mind, heart and strength and love your neighbor as yourself. I have never truly loved someone and regretted it. Wether it be the person next to me in church on Sunday, the guy at work that swears constantly, or the homeless person asking for that extra dollar you got in your pocket.
I will not lie. It's not always easy to love. You may feel that pull in your heart to love someone that you even fear, but know that pull comes from God. If you are scared that's okay. Pray about it. God wants to hear from you. He wants to help you. Pray, you are not the first and will not be the last that God calls to do wonderful, scary, but beautiful things.
Sometimes the things that Jesus says to us even seem crazy, but trust him. Jesus didn't go through all that he did to toy with you. Sometimes you may even feel like Daniel in the "Karate Kid", for those not familiar in the movie and old man helps a young man named Daniel learn karate cause he is getting bullied, but when Daniel shows up to learn he finds himself doing a bunch of ordinary work which the old man is very specific in which he is to do. After sometime Daniel has had enough because he has come to learn karate, not be some sort of odd jobs free laborer. Late one night Daniel snaps and the old man has him review his work and how he was to do it. To Daniel's surprise all along we was learning specific karate moves which helped him to not only overcome his bullies but become a man. Jesus will do the same as well if you let him, but he won't force ANYTHING on you. Jesus let's you choose. Your most amazing gift that you have ever received is free will. You are not a slave to Jesus. You get to choose to love him.
He did that all out of love. Because He loves each and everyone of us personally so much that He wants to help us stay out of hell and enjoy the everlasting greatness of Heaven.
And what have I done today?
Mostly I try to not think that I am letting Jesus down, but that I have further to go in my journey and an admiral goal to shoot for in my day to day life. I reflect each day, "Have I loved the way Jesus wants me to?" Sometimes in the same day that I do, I will also fail. That's okay though because I sit in prayer with Jesus and learn. I read my Bible everyday and realize that I'm not alone. Even Moses and King David fell, and fell hard, and God was there patiently waiting to mend them just like he is waiting to forgive and mend you.
Why, because he loves you.
Why do I, or anyone for that matter fall? Why do we sometimes make the most stupid of mistakes? Well for starters we are weak. We are flawed and we have been marked with original sin. Baptism wipes that away but the effects still linger. We live in a fallen world. Especially these times, there seems to be a focus on "Just getting what you deserve/want". The shortest distance between two points is a straight light so, if you are here and what you want is over there, then just go get it and never mind the consequences, at least that's how the world sees so much today. Never forget either that you have been born in the midst of a Spiritual War. The war has been won. Jesus conquered death for you but there are still battles going on. There are still plenty of souls that Satan would love to try and drag down to Hell. That's why it's important to be on your guard and focus on Jesus and the faith that He calls you to everyday.
It can all seem a bit daunting. I mean that's a lot to fight against, especially on your own. I don't recommend it. Jesus wants to be there for you. You CAN'T get to heaven without going through him anyway. Why would you want to live each day without his guidance? I can tell you that I have foolishly tried this and failed miserably. I thought I was smart and could see temptation from a mile away. I laugh now when I think of my foolish attempts now, "Yeah Jesus thanks for that salvation. I'll see you in Heaven. I gotta lot work to do know. Catch ya later."
Wow, stupid with a capital "S" I was. Don't do this to yourself. God didn't only give you his Son either. He gave us each other. We are to come together in his Church. We are to love each other and be there for each other. The plan is so simple and beautiful at the same time, yet if you dive deep God's plan is so vast as well, but do yourself a favor and love. You won't regret it. Love your God with all your mind, heart and strength and love your neighbor as yourself. I have never truly loved someone and regretted it. Wether it be the person next to me in church on Sunday, the guy at work that swears constantly, or the homeless person asking for that extra dollar you got in your pocket.
I will not lie. It's not always easy to love. You may feel that pull in your heart to love someone that you even fear, but know that pull comes from God. If you are scared that's okay. Pray about it. God wants to hear from you. He wants to help you. Pray, you are not the first and will not be the last that God calls to do wonderful, scary, but beautiful things.
Sometimes the things that Jesus says to us even seem crazy, but trust him. Jesus didn't go through all that he did to toy with you. Sometimes you may even feel like Daniel in the "Karate Kid", for those not familiar in the movie and old man helps a young man named Daniel learn karate cause he is getting bullied, but when Daniel shows up to learn he finds himself doing a bunch of ordinary work which the old man is very specific in which he is to do. After sometime Daniel has had enough because he has come to learn karate, not be some sort of odd jobs free laborer. Late one night Daniel snaps and the old man has him review his work and how he was to do it. To Daniel's surprise all along we was learning specific karate moves which helped him to not only overcome his bullies but become a man. Jesus will do the same as well if you let him, but he won't force ANYTHING on you. Jesus let's you choose. Your most amazing gift that you have ever received is free will. You are not a slave to Jesus. You get to choose to love him.
Thursday, May 4, 2017
Do You Feel That Presence?
God, in your presence and sharing your words brings such peace and joy. Help me to stay in the moment today with you helping others in need.
People may wonder, "why do you care about being so connected to God? Life is fun and God just slows you down."
To be honest I chased the "dream" for a long time. I had a good job, made good money, but I was in the position where I was still feeling empty. Despite my friends and relationships I just couldn't find what would fulfill me and make me happy. I wanted that deep peaceful serenity. I found that though my faith.
Through my faith I have learned to love and through that I feel a love, compassion, joy and serenity that I have never felt with anything else. There are no hangovers, or crashes after a typical synthetic high. With Jesus as my savior and in constantly in my life even my worst days are better than my best days on my own chasing pleasure after pleasure.
I highly recommend it. God is waiting for you right now if he's not already in your life. He won't force himself on you because that is not how true love works. All you have to do is ask him and he will provide, maybe not the way that you want, but the way that you need.
People may wonder, "why do you care about being so connected to God? Life is fun and God just slows you down."
To be honest I chased the "dream" for a long time. I had a good job, made good money, but I was in the position where I was still feeling empty. Despite my friends and relationships I just couldn't find what would fulfill me and make me happy. I wanted that deep peaceful serenity. I found that though my faith.
Through my faith I have learned to love and through that I feel a love, compassion, joy and serenity that I have never felt with anything else. There are no hangovers, or crashes after a typical synthetic high. With Jesus as my savior and in constantly in my life even my worst days are better than my best days on my own chasing pleasure after pleasure.
I highly recommend it. God is waiting for you right now if he's not already in your life. He won't force himself on you because that is not how true love works. All you have to do is ask him and he will provide, maybe not the way that you want, but the way that you need.
Subscribe to:
Comments (Atom)