God doesn't want us to Compare ourselves to others

Comparison can be both good and bad. Bad in that it takes away our joy and creates envy insecurities and much more negative thoughts. Good in that it helps and encourages us to become more like the saints, Mary, Jesus, and God. When we look at other people we often think that they are better than us in some ways, or that they have it easier, or even that they are holier than we are. Some people even think that they are better than others that they are above other people. We all have these thoughts at one time in our lives, but they are all lies and do not come from God; they come from the enemy.

The Devil wants us to compare ourselves to others, so as to slow down our journey to holiness, and our service to God. Because when we compare we start to think our service isn't good enough or we think we aren't making a difference, which isn't true. God puts us on the path that best benefits us, not the path that makes us look good in the eyes of the world. If we want acceptance or reassurance of the path we are on we must look to God, for that not the world. God is who we are working for and serving.

Now when we look at someone else and compare it only brings despair, and envy; because from where we see it their path looks easier smoother, and they appear to get more rewards, but we do not see them like God sees them. We see their faith, good works laughter, and trust in God, but God sees their tears, struggles, their sadness and their times of discouragement. We have to remember we only see what others let us see; we don't know everything unless they tell us. This is also the reason we cannot judge as we hear in today's Gospel (Matthew 7:1-5):

Jesus said to his disciples:
“Stop judging, that you may not be judged.
For as you judge, so will you be judged,
and the measure with which you measure will be measured out to you.
Why do you notice the splinter in your brother’s eye,
but do not perceive the wooden beam in your own eye?
How can you say to your brother,
‘Let me remove that splinter from your eye,’
while the wooden beam is in your eye?
You hypocrite, remove the wooden beam from your eye first;
then you will see clearly
to remove the splinter from your brother’s eye.”

We all judge and compare it is part of our human condition, but God is asking us to leave the judgement to him, and to live for him not the world. Judgement and Comparison are two heavy crosses we all have to bear at one time or another, and so to counteract these thoughts God gives us the graces we need.

So, whether we are putting ourselves down, or holding ourselves too high above others God is waiting for us to abandon those ways, and come back to him humbly, and keep working for only his glory in all that we do.

Here is "HAPPINESS" by NEEDTOBREATHE

Thank You Lord for always reminding us we cannot be happy and envious at the same time. Help us to become more like you, and Mary, and the saints. Give us to grace to stop judging others and comparing ourselves to others. Shed your mercy, on all of us, and help us to abandon our previous ways.

God Bless,

Sarah

We are made perfect in weakness!

Today I want to talk about something we all have weaknesses. So let me ask you something, do you accept your weaknesses? Some of us do, and some of us have a hard time accepting them. But a weakness isn't something to be mad about or discouraged by because they make us holier, they increase humility, and they illuminate your path to transformation. In order to accept our weaknesses we need to become aware of them, and ask God for the grace to accept them. Why should we accept our struggles, sins, and weaknesses? Because the God of the universe, whom we sin against accepts us, with our imperfectness, and if we do accept weaknesses we will grow in union, and a deeper relationship with God, and become holier. Who doesn't want that? So, we have to become encouraged by the need for improvement.

Let's look at a 2 Corinthians 12:9-10:

But he said to me, “My grace is sufficient for you, for power is made perfect in weakness.”
I will rather boast most gladly of my weaknesses,
in order that the power of Christ may dwell with me.
Therefore, I am content with weaknesses, insults, hardships, persecutions, and constraints, for the sake of Christ; for when I am weak, then I am strong.

So what is Paul trying to tell us here? He is saying that since the power of Christ is in him, and for Christ's sake he is content with what life has to offer. This is the same attitude we should have towards our own imperfectness. When we become more aware of our flaws, and accept them the more we accept others for who they are. Weird right? But it's true self acceptance leads to the acceptance of others.

Today ask God to give the grace you need to accept your weaknesses, and to have the same attitude Paul had, being content with flaws, and whatever else. Because since Jesus was insulted, and nailed to a cross, for his sake we should accept our lives the way they come, and accept insults, and persecutions.

Here is "You are Loved" by Stars Go Dim

Thank You Lord for accepting us for who we are, and help us to do the same.

God Bless,

Sarah

We are the Light of The World

When I was getting ready for my first Communion, our teacher had us write a prayer to God, and in that prayer I said, "Jesus let your light shine through me." At the time I didn't know what I was actually saying, but now I know I was asking him to make me transparent so as to say let his light and the love of Christ shine through me.

In today's Gospel (Matthew 5:13-16) Jesus tells us to shine our light, and let God work through us, so that others may glorify his works:

Jesus said to his disciples:
“You are the salt of the earth.
But if salt loses its taste, with what can it be seasoned?
It is no longer good for anything
but to be thrown out and trampled underfoot.
You are the light of the world.
A city set on a mountain cannot be hidden.
Nor do they light a lamp and then put it under a bushel basket;
it is set on a lamp stand,
where it gives light to all in the house.
Just so, your light must shine before others,
that they may see your good deeds
and glorify your heavenly Father.”

So let's think about this: we are called to become saints, to be transparent by allowing the love of Christ shine through us. But what blocks Jesus' light and love to shine through us? Arrogance for one, pride, selfishness and many other negative characteristics. Sometimes we get way to caught up in ourselves, and in our glory that we forget all the glory is for God. Even though our praises add nothing to him he uses our actions for our own good. Ask yourself this today: how can I remove negative characteristics from my life? So, as Jesus said we are the salt of the earth, and what he wants us to do is flavor the lives of the people we meet, because they are hungry for God and all his greatness, love, compassion, peace, and mercy. One thing we have to remember though, and be careful of is our pride and ego, which gets in the way too many times. The most important part of this Gospel I think anyways is this, "they may see your good deeds and glorify your heavenly Father." Jesus does not say glorify you, but glorify your heavenly Father. So, today let your light shine through you to others.

Here is "We are" by Kari Jobe:

Thank You Lord, for reminding us who we are, and help us to give glory only to you because you are the one guiding us.

God Bless,

Sarah

My Top 10 Favorite Christian Songs

For this post I am going to do something a little different than usual. On most of my posts I put a song at the end, so I am going to share with you my top 10 favorite Christian Songs, that encourage me:

1. Joy of the Lord, by Rend Collective  https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=x3gLeCiMJqI
2. Priceless, by for King & Country  https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wX9oWOdZccA
3. The Words I Would Say, by Sidewalk Prophets  https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8t9u-LOa3OI
4. Tell Your Heart to Beat Again, by Danny Gokey  https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PkdkiuJgqxk
5. Grace Wins, by Matthew West  https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PQqZltmA0eM
6. Lord I Need You, by Matt Maher  https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LuvfMDhTyMA
7. Someone Worth Dying For, by MIKESCHAIR  https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KSoAkJXjxiU
8. Good Morning, by Mandisa ft Toby Mac  https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AnmWwudeqfM
9. Trust in You, By Lauren Daigel  https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qv-SXz_exKE
10. If We're Honest, by Francesca Battistelli  https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ySa3Vu4FUW8

I hope you like these songs! And I will end with one of my favorite prayers:

The Peace Prayer

Lord, make me an instrument of Thy peace;
Where there is hatred, let me sow love;
Where there is injury, pardon;
Where there is error, the truth;
Where there is doubt, the faith;
Where there is despair, hope;
Where there is darkness, light;
And where there is sadness, joy.

O Divine Master,
Grant that I may not so much seek
To be consoled, as to console;
To be understood, as to understand;
To be loved as to love.

For it is in giving that we receive;
It is in pardoning that we are pardoned;
And it is in dying that we are born to eternal life. Amen.

God Bless,

Sarah

The 8 Beatitudes

So, what is a beatitude? Well, it is a special happiness or blessing of Spiritual nature, not human nature. In today's Gospel (MT 5:1-12) we hear the Sermon on the Mount, here Jesus promised the happiness of eternal life to those who live the Christian life, which he summarized in the 8 beatitudes:

“Blessed are the poor in spirit,
for theirs is the Kingdom of heaven.
Blessed are they who mourn,
for they will be comforted.
Blessed are the meek,
for they will inherit the land.
Blessed are they who hunger and thirst for righteousness,
for they will be satisfied.
Blessed are the merciful,
for they will be shown mercy.
Blessed are the clean of heart,
for they will see God.
Blessed are the peacemakers,
for they will be called children of God.
Blessed are they who are persecuted for the sake of righteousness,
for theirs is the Kingdom of heaven.
Blessed are you when they insult you and persecute you
and utter every kind of evil against you falsely because of me.
Rejoice and be glad,
for your reward will be great in heaven.
Thus they persecuted the prophets who were before you.”

The beatitudes remind us of one main thing we are blessed, and we are God's chosen people forever. But what does it mean to be blessed? Well it is an adjective, and it means to be holy or consecrated; We are consecrated and/or sacred to God. The beatitudes also remind us that we are blessed in struggles, and suffering, and that God is present in these times. One last thing our sacrifices are blessed and they are meaningful to God.

Here is "Your Love Never Fails" by Newsboys

Thank You Lord for blessing us in every moment of our lives. Thank you especially for blessing us in our sacrifices, sufferings, and struggles.

God Bless,

Sarah

Pity

Have you ever felt compassion, and sorrow for someone in their time of suffering? Well, that is how Jesus felt in today;s Gospel (Luke 7:11-17) because he loved this woman and had pity for her:

Jesus journeyed to a city called Nain,
and his disciples and a large crowd accompanied him.
As he drew near to the gate of the city,
a man who had died was being carried out,
the only son of his mother, and she was a widow.
A large crowd from the city was with her.
When the Lord saw her,
he was moved with pity for her and said to her,
“Do not weep.”
He stepped forward and touched the coffin;
at this the bearers halted,
and he said, “Young man, I tell you, arise!”
The dead man sat up and began to speak,
and Jesus gave him to his mother.
Fear seized them all, and they glorified God, crying out
“A great prophet has arisen in our midst, “
and “God has visited his people.”
This report about him spread through the whole of Judea
and in all the surrounding region.

So, what did Jesus do here, and how does it affect our lives? First of all, Jesus showed his love for others,  he showed his power as God, and probably the most important thing was he restored the mother's relationship with the son. In the same way he also visits us, and embraces our human relationships healing, and restoring them to new life. By doing this he brings us into the basic and most fundamental relationship, which gives life, the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit; inviting us into the greatest circle of love.

Now lets look at our relationship with Jesus. This is something, which can never be repeated. What I mean by this is Jesus' love for us individually, his plan for our lives, and our relationship with him are all unique, and can never be repeated. So, because his plan is unique to our lives, and will never be repeated he asks us to rejoice in his plan, even if it includes suffering, and even if life doesn't go the way we want it to. Be at peace with God's will, and know that everyone in heaven loves you, and is interceding for you. Nothing is impossible with God.

Here is "Every Giant Will Fall" by Rend Collective

Thank You Lord, for having so much pity on us, that you would die on the cross! Give us the willingness to be open to your will, and remind us nothing is impossible.

God Bless, 

Sarah

Friendships

Humans are built on friendship, and relationships, which is why in Genesis God said it isn't good for man to be alone. Now we don't have to have tons and tons of friends because when you have a one good friend who you know cares about you, well you are on top of the world. When we hear someone loves us we feel better about ourselves we hang out with that person, and overall we love them and talk to others about how good of a friend they are. Am I right? So, think about this the God of all the universe loves you, and wants a relationship with you. Some people they are shocked, others they say  yes yes I know that already. So if we know this if we know how good God is and how much he loves each one of us why are we not shouting this from the mountain top, and telling everyone we meet how good God is? The answer to that may vary for each one of us, but it is the fact that we are constantly in a hurry, our thoughts are clouded with things we need to get done, and some of us don't want to stand out. Is that how a child of God should live? No, it isn't but all of this is part of our human nature. God doesn't want perfect children; although what he does want is us trying our best every single day to tell everyone about him because when they see or hear about the love God has for us they want what we have. Which brings me to Matthew 25:1-13 the parable of the ten virgins:

“Then the kingdom of heaven will be like ten virgins who took their lamps and went out to meet the bridegroom. Five of them were foolish and five were wise. The foolish ones, when taking their lamps, brought no oil with them, but the wise brought flasks of oil with their lamps. Since the bridegroom was long delayed, they all became drowsy and fell asleep. At midnight, there was a cry, ‘Behold, the bridegroom! Come out to meet him!’ Then all those virgins got up and trimmed their lamps. The foolish ones said to the wise, ‘Give us some of your oil, for our lamps are going out.’ But the wise ones replied, ‘No, for there may not be enough for us and you. Go instead to the merchants and buy some for yourselves.’While they went off to buy it, the bridegroom came and those who were ready went into the wedding feast with him. Then the door was locked. Afterwards the other virgins came and said, ‘Lord, Lord, open the door for us!’ But he said in reply, ‘Amen, I say to you, I do not know you.’  Therefore, stay awake, for you know neither the day nor the hour.

The oil in the parable represents our friendship with Jesus, which is something we cannot give away to others. So Jesus is the bridegroom here, and we do not know when he will come again in his glory. Through this parable Jesus is telling us to stay awake in a spiritual sense to nurture a relationship with him, to pray daily to him, and to spread his word to those of the world.  So today show others the love of God whether its actions or words. Show that Christ is in you.

Here is Christ in me by Jeremy Camp:

Thank You Lord for the grace to get through our worse days. Give us the courage the martyrs had so that we can serve you the best we can every day. Give us the grace to show that we have you in us.

God Bless,

Sarah