Self-Worth

Many of us spend a lot of time questioning our self worth.  We may not look in the mirror and talk to ourselves about it.  We may not actually even know we're thinking about it.  But we are.

Where do we find our self worth?  I will first give you the world's answers.

Work: We are a hard working people.  We get up early to get to our jobs.  We stay late at our jobs even if we work at home.  We work on Saturday and sometimes Sunday.  So much to do!

Money:  We need money, lots of money.  Our "have to have" lists are long.  After all, there are Joneses to keep up with!

Clothing: This goes along with money (although, most of these do).  What designer or brand do we need to advertise to feel like we fit in?

 Cosmetics: Is our makeup looking good today?  How many bags of makeup are necessary to make us feel beautiful? How about our hair?

Vehicle: Is it new? Is it shiny?  Is it popular?  Is it fast?

Home:  How many square feet do we need to tell the world "we've made it!" ? Is is in the right neighborhood?

Things:  Cell phone (newest and best?), computer (newest and best?), tablet, e-reader, blender bottle (we own 5-really?), shoes (how many pair?),  etc.

If you haven't already guessed, I don't buy it.

Here is where we find our self-worth:

Genesis 1:27 "God created man in His image: in the Divine image He created him: male and female He created them."

And here:  Romans 5:8 "It is precisely in this that God proves His love for us: that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us."

Not one thing that can be purchased will get us to heaven.  Not our good looks, not our vehicles, not how hard we work at our jobs.

The next time you feel like you just have to work one more hour, or go buy something new and shiny, or whatever, decide to do this instead;  STOP and say a prayer.  Ask the Lord what He wants from you. Ask the Lord to show you your worth in Him.  Give up what the world says will make you happy.  Take on Christ and live life to the fullest.  Still get up early, but use the time to pray or go to Mass (the ultimate prayer). Go sit with Jesus at an Adoration chapel. Waste time with Him. In this way, you will learn all you need to know about your self-worth.

Gearing up for Lent

Lent is right around the corner!

Ash Wednesday is February 18, 2015.

So, what are you doing to get ready and what will you do during this season to prepare your heart for the greatest day on the calendar, Easter Sunday?

Here are some options:

Dominican Sisters of Mary, Mother of the Eucharist has available a Lenten Journal.  It is part of their Disciple of Christ-Education in Virtue program.  I used it last year and it is excellent. Find it here:  https://www.sistersofmary.org/our-news/news/347-a-lenten-journal.html

For those who live in the greater Detroit area:

Holy Trinity Apostolate is having their annual Lenten Symposium on Saturday March 14, 2015 at Sts. Cyril and Methodius Slovak Catholic Church at 41233 Ryan Road in Sterling Heights .  Many great speakers are on tap for the day (including Archbishop Allen Vigneron). Lunch is included in your registration fee of $55. Register at: www.holytrinityapostolate.com     I have attended this several times and have never been disappointed. This year, my Dear One and I are making a weekend of it.

Church of the Divine Child 1055 N. Silvery Lane Dearborn, MI 48128 is hosting an event titled Discovering Christ. This is a free event but registration is required.  Meetings will take place each Friday, February 13-March 27 from 7-9 p.m. in the High School All-Purpose Room. Contact Karen at ChristLifeDC@gmail.com by February 6, 2015.

Many churches have fish fries on Friday evenings along with Stations of the Cross.

For those homebodies among us, try dynamiccatholic.com.  Matthew Kelly wants you to have your "Best Lent Ever" and it will come right to your inbox.  How easy can it get?

Confession of course!!  Check out times in your area at: masstimes.org  Click on confessions and it will only show those times, which makes things a lot easier to find.

Anyone know of anything else going on in your area?  Be sure to leave a comment so others can know too!

Growing in Sanctity

Sanctity = Holiness

Can you feel yourself growing in sanctity every day?

Are you working at it with the patience of a Saint?

Sanctity is hard work and something we absolutely cannot do on our own.

We must take God, in all three persons, along for the ride.

Pray to God the Father for wisdom to see the places in your life that need to be sanctified.  Trust me, He will show you.  Thankfully, with me, He is very gentle in His approach, although sometimes, I admit, that a 2 x 4 may be more effective!

Pray to Jesus to lead you to the Father.  "No one comes to the Father except through Me", Jesus tells us.

Read the Gospels.  Embrace the words of Jesus. Come to KNOW Him and His love for you!!

Especially pray to the Holy Spirit.  He has all those gifts He longs to pour out on you:
Wisdom, Understanding, Right Judgement, Fortitude, Knowledge, Piety and Fear of the Lord.

These are gifts, freely given to those who who have been baptized and who ask for them.  You have to want them. You have to embrace them.

When you embrace them, you will give off good fruit. Those good fruits are:
charity, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, long suffering, mildness, faith, modesty, constancy and chastity.

Granted we cannot work on all of these at once. We are a work in progress.  But, if we truly wish to change and to grow in sanctity these are steps in the right direction.

Mary and St. Joseph are key helpers in growing in sanctity.  Don't forget to ask for their intercession as well.


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