Know - Grow - Go

Every single one of us, as disciples of Jesus, are called to die to self; to take up our cross; and to live our lives fully and deeply, honoring God, because God is the one who has given us that life. Everything in each of our lives is entrusted to us and belongs to God; it came from God and is to be used in a way that honors God. Sit quietly with that word entrust and ponder how that fits with ev...

The world thinks of wealth as ours; something we’ve earned; something we possess. But in God’s eyes, money is ultimately not a possession, but a trust. A trust is something given to me for a purpose; something for which I’m accountable. God entrusts us with wealth, but He then expects us to use it for His glory and for the welfare of His children - for our neighbor and those most in need. Revisit...

Ask God for the grace to see the world as He sees it, to give you the vision to deal with the world as He would want you to do.

Genuine faith doesn’t allow us to run and hide from what’s uncomfortable or painful. This week, pay attention to anything that might be troubling, worrying, or frustrating you - especially if it’s something you’re trying to avoid, minimize, or put a wall between you and it. Ask yourself: "What might God be calling me to in this? What might He be asking me to do?" And then pray for courage and wisd...

If we are going to listen clearly to the Word of God and let it shape our lives, that's going to dramatically affect the way we relate to the people around us and the way we accept our own foibles and weaknesses. Identify a person in your life that annoys you. Pray for their well-being, and pray for a softening in your heart, to have greater compassion and patience with yourself and those around y...

Spend time with any small piece of scripture (e.g., the Lord's Prayer, since so many of us know it by heart anyway). Read it and pray with it slowly, intentionally, allowing it to sink in and become part of you. Actively listen to the Word of God, allowing yourself to be shaped by what you hear and letting that guide your present and future actions.

There is a decision point for each of us in our faith, but we much consciously and deliberately choose to make that decision again and again, each and every day. This week, pray the Morning Offering (below) slowly and deliberately each day, pausing to specifically consider your prayers, your work, your joys, and your suffering, and be really intentional about offering all of that to God as a way o...

Mary paves the way to her Son, and knowing her better leads to a deeper love of Jesus.

We need our faith to be strong, and to do that we have to be anchored in the very food that Jesus gives us: His very self.

When God loves, He gives - and He gives us Himself. We in turn are to give ourselves to our brothers and sisters. We become what we eat, and in that way we take the Bread of Life to the world.

Consider the following quote, attributed to Rev. Hugh L. Hollowell: "Every time we use religion to draw a line that keeps people out, Jesus is with the people on the other side of that line." Jesus chose to associate with those who were marginalized; those who were broken and wounded; those who were unpopular and scorned. It's so important for us, it we're to be faithful to Jesus, to be really ale...

To argue in good faith, with conviction, but also with respect - this is a gift that we as Christians can offer the world right now, when we're so divided and at one another's throats. Remember that you are one in 700 trillion, chosen very particularly by God, and so when you run into one of those differences that seem so threatening and insurmountable, remember that God is with you. Create the sp...

Just as God sent Amos and Jesus sent his 12 disciples, so too are we sent out on the same mission: to preach repentance and the truth with courage, to banish evil with prayer, and to help the sick with our presence and healing love.

It is in our weakness and discomfort that we can more fully rely upon and experience God's strength.

Fr. Dave asks three questions: Why are we here? Where are we going? How do we get there? The answer to each question evokes the same response: wow.

The backdrop to accepting change with grace, and to being filled with Grace through the process of change, is recognizing and relying on a God who doesn't change - a God who is more powerful than the storm, and who cares for each of us, and who we can trust.

Memento mori – remember that you must die. Remember that your life here is passing. That, ultimately, you’re accountable only to God. That you have a destiny beyond this world.

We have a community around us, we have sacraments, we have the Word of God, we have the Holy Spirit - all of these equip us so that we are ready for whatever comes our way. We don't need to fold over or give in or give up. Instead, we hold true to Jesus Christ - a faithful presence in a less-faithful world.

The Father is my loving Father. I am His beloved child. You are his beloved child. And he is indeed well pleased with each of us, not because of anything we’ve done, but because of who He is.

Continue to pray the words from Fr. Hans last week: "Come, Holy Spirit. Come, Holy Spirit." We need a renewal of the Holy Spirit in each of our lives in order to be everything that God needs us to be.

As we prepare for the celebration of Pentecost next Sunday, here are three simple words to say over and over again: "Come, Holy Spirit!" When I am comfortable: "Come, Holy Spirit!" When I am afraid: "Come, Holy Spirit!" When I don’t know what to say: "Come, Holy Spirit!" This is how we will be a Faithful Presence and Influencers for Jesus: through the courage and wisdom of the Holy Spirit. I encou...

We often think of faith as a comfort and a refuge, and it is. But that’s not the goal of faith. It’s more the by-product. Faith, first and foremost, calls us not to comfort, but to courage. To dare. Sometimes even to risk. And in all of that to trust. God’s love doesn’t protect us from difficulties or shield us from suffering. What it does do is encourage us – literally put the courage into us – t...

Even though we know absolutely that Jesus loves and knows each of us by name, we also know that he loves everyone throughout the world. Communion is not just about each of us individually and Jesus - it is about Jesus and every person, all of God's people. Communion reminds us that life isn't just about "me" - we see life from God's perspective, as all of creation is connected together in God's gr...

Say the following out loud: "God has a special place in His heart for me." It’s true. God also has a special place in His heart for each of our family members and friends and so on, but let’s not lose sight of how He loves each of us individually, because He’s able to love all of us that way. Each of us is the most important thing in the world to God, and that’s possible because He’s God. For toda...

All world religions speak in some way about mindfulness, about living lives that are looking beneath the surface and asking, "What's happening on a deeper level? How might God be involved in what's going on?". Take the time to do that in the simple, daily things - like prayer before meals, morning prayer, giving thanks to God in the evening - and don't just do them mechanically. Be really wide ope...