November 2015 - Page 6 of 9 - Shepherd of Faith

I have been using an app on my phone for the past year which I think many people could benefit from – it’s called 3 Minute Retreat and it’s awesome. Each day focuses on a new topic – like “Living in Hope” (today’s topic). There’s serene music playing in the background and beautiful landscape pictures to admire while reading a bible verse and short reflection. It then gives you a question to ponder and of course, ends with a prayer. It’s really beautiful and although it’s run by Catholic Jesuits, I think any Christian denomination would find it moving and beneficial. One cool feature of the app is that the language can be switched to Spanish. If you feel like you’re too busy to fit anything else in, please at least try this – It literally takes only three minutes!

If you can’t get the app for whatever reason, click here to log on to their website. You can do it on your computer at home or at work and apparently on the site you’re not limited to their daily topic. You can choose from a number of different retreats. You can also subscribe for daily email reminders to take that break! The site’s tag line is 3 minutes a day can give you 24 hours of peace! What do you have to lose? Just do it!

He sat down opposite the treasury and observed how the crowd put money into the treasury. Many rich people put in large sums. A poor widow also came and put in two small coins worth a few cents. Calling his disciples to himself, he said to them, “Amen, I say to you, this poor widow put in more than all the other contributors to the treasury. For they have all contributed from their surplus wealth, but she, from her poverty, has contributed all she had, her whole livelihood.” (Mark 12:21-44 New American Bible translation)

I read this scripture passage in preparation for mass today. As I contemplated its meaning, I realized it was not simply about tithing or giving of our money. It was more than that – it was about giving of ourselves for the greater glory of God! Wow! As I continued to give it more thought, I was reminded of the words T.V. evangelist, Joel Osteen, uses as he ends his sermons. He says: “Keep God first place, and He will take you places you’ve never dreamed of.” How true that is in my own life. When we put God first in our lives, with intentions that are pure, He rewards us in ways you wouldn’t believe. If you have a hard time believing it, think of how you feel when your own children follow your rules and instructions. Do you not want to show them how much you appreciate their obedience – by taking them to their favorite place, buying them something they’ve wanted for a long time, basically just giving them whatever their little hearts desire? Then how much more will God do for you in appreciation of your obedience – He’s creator of the universe for goodness sake!

How do I relate? Eleven years ago I moved to a new neighborhood and became a member of the parish there. For the first year or so, I was what I considered an “observer.” I showed up on Sunday and THAT’S IT! I was working full time and convinced myself that I didn’t have much “extra-time.” For some reason, the more I went to church, the more I was prompted to get involved – soooo…make a long story short, I volunteered for one ministry and that snow balled into my eventually volunteering for 8 different ministries – 1 of which I spear-headed.

Month: November 2015 (Page 6 of 9)

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