JAPAN
As I ponder this disaster in the world’s third largest economy, I ask GOD why? The answer came to me as clearly as the sun shines in the morning. “It is I who makes the world go round. I alone make these decisions. For those who think they don’t need GOD, I can crush the third largest economy in a day. Not a week, a month, a year, but in a day. For terrorists around the world, I AM –the ONE, the ONLY, maker of Heaven and Earth. It is I who rules the universe.” I sat back and I got it. You can have all the money in the world, but if you do not give GOD control of it and your life it can be worthless in a matter of seconds. He is in charge forever and always and if we don’t realize it, He will make us realize it. I am truly saddened by the reality of what is going on in JAPAN. But each day the words that GOD gave me continue to ring true. The Japanese government continues to tell us half-truths about what is going on there with the nuclear reactors. They continue to put their pride above saving their own people. They have been offered help world wide, yet the government wants to handle it for themselves with their people hungry, in danger, and helpless. My heart goes out to the people of Japan and those here who have families there. It is a horrible tragedy and I think the most tragic part is the pride of the government. Humble yourselves and let the world help your people. We do not think you are inadequate if you need help. We want in a humanitarian way to help your people. Our country is about loving each other and the world in good times and bad times. This is a bad time. Let us work with you to get you back into a position to be the third largest economy in the world. We have many ties in America to Japan. Although our past together was horrific, today we depend on one another financially and we have seen each other as allies for many years. We want to reach out and help a friend. Please let us help you, not just with prayers, but with hands on help. We are not always the best in government decisions, but when it comes to humanitarian help, we thrive.
Tuesday, March 29, 2011
Mary The Mother of GOD
MARY the Mother of God
Being a Catholic Convert it has always been hard for me to explain the “Mary Issue” as I like to call it to my non-Catholic friends. There never seems to be a reasonable explanation to why the Church puts so much emphasis on Mary. Well, that was the case until today. I went to weekly Mass this past Friday. Our new priest finally explained in his homily the connection of Mary with the Church in a way that I could explain it to my friends and family that just don't understand it.
I personally have always had a real connection to Mary. She and I have something uniquely in common. We have both lost a son. Her loss was more brutal than most, but I think the pain felt by Mary was probably very similar to the pain I felt. It is almost an aching pain. It is not like anything I have ever felt in my life and I hope to never ever be scarred that way again. It never truly heals. For Mary, however, the healing came once she saw her son after the resurrection. I too hope to be healed completely in Heaven when I see my son again.
I don’t think I have really ever had an issue with the relationship the Church has with Mary. My personal issue was always explaining it to my extended family. Today I finally got it. The priest explained it like this. The very first sin that took place was with Adam and Eve, the first family. GOD was deeply hurt by this sin. It was a game changer. No longer was the world without sin, no longer was it without death. Everything changed in that one instant. This newly formed family changed the world forever. So for the world to be changed once more, for the forgiveness of sins to happen a family had to be involved. Once again GOD looked to a family for His plan. He brought Mary and Joseph together as husband and wife to work out His most Heavenly plan. Mary and Joseph were the game changer for all of us. Not only were they chosen, but they freely accepted the plan as GOD’s will. They took on all of the responsibilities of this plan without really knowing what the long-term consequences would be. They both accepted GOD’s will for them freely, without question. They are held up in our Catholic faith as the Holiest of Holies because they changed the world forever. They said yes to GOD’s call and brought into this world Jesus. God would have brought Jesus to us one way or another, but these two mortal souls said we will do this GOD. We will listen. We will do this because of our faith in you. The angel of the LORD came to each of them and told them what GOD was asking them to do. They said we will follow you LORD. We put all of our faith in you. You can’t get anymore real than that. It sums it all up. We seek intercession from them because they know our LORD better than anyone else. They are also the greatest examples of faith living human beings that have ever lived on earth. They had true faith in GOD. Against all odds and all evil they raised a son that would literally save the world. How I missed this after 17 years of being a part of the Catholic faith I will never know? GOD always amazes me and He always puts people in my path that lead me to wisdom.
Luke 1:38
“I am the LORD’s servant, “ said Mary; “may it happen to me as you have said.” And the angel left her.
THE WORD OF THE LORD!
Being a Catholic Convert it has always been hard for me to explain the “Mary Issue” as I like to call it to my non-Catholic friends. There never seems to be a reasonable explanation to why the Church puts so much emphasis on Mary. Well, that was the case until today. I went to weekly Mass this past Friday. Our new priest finally explained in his homily the connection of Mary with the Church in a way that I could explain it to my friends and family that just don't understand it.
I personally have always had a real connection to Mary. She and I have something uniquely in common. We have both lost a son. Her loss was more brutal than most, but I think the pain felt by Mary was probably very similar to the pain I felt. It is almost an aching pain. It is not like anything I have ever felt in my life and I hope to never ever be scarred that way again. It never truly heals. For Mary, however, the healing came once she saw her son after the resurrection. I too hope to be healed completely in Heaven when I see my son again.
I don’t think I have really ever had an issue with the relationship the Church has with Mary. My personal issue was always explaining it to my extended family. Today I finally got it. The priest explained it like this. The very first sin that took place was with Adam and Eve, the first family. GOD was deeply hurt by this sin. It was a game changer. No longer was the world without sin, no longer was it without death. Everything changed in that one instant. This newly formed family changed the world forever. So for the world to be changed once more, for the forgiveness of sins to happen a family had to be involved. Once again GOD looked to a family for His plan. He brought Mary and Joseph together as husband and wife to work out His most Heavenly plan. Mary and Joseph were the game changer for all of us. Not only were they chosen, but they freely accepted the plan as GOD’s will. They took on all of the responsibilities of this plan without really knowing what the long-term consequences would be. They both accepted GOD’s will for them freely, without question. They are held up in our Catholic faith as the Holiest of Holies because they changed the world forever. They said yes to GOD’s call and brought into this world Jesus. God would have brought Jesus to us one way or another, but these two mortal souls said we will do this GOD. We will listen. We will do this because of our faith in you. The angel of the LORD came to each of them and told them what GOD was asking them to do. They said we will follow you LORD. We put all of our faith in you. You can’t get anymore real than that. It sums it all up. We seek intercession from them because they know our LORD better than anyone else. They are also the greatest examples of faith living human beings that have ever lived on earth. They had true faith in GOD. Against all odds and all evil they raised a son that would literally save the world. How I missed this after 17 years of being a part of the Catholic faith I will never know? GOD always amazes me and He always puts people in my path that lead me to wisdom.
Luke 1:38
“I am the LORD’s servant, “ said Mary; “may it happen to me as you have said.” And the angel left her.
THE WORD OF THE LORD!
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