*SPRING *

It is a fabulous  time of the year, it is Spring! A time of celebration and new growth. A time when the earth rejuvenates  itself with new life all around. Spring, when the plant come up from the ground after being dormant for the long winter months. It is a time of new birth, when we watch the plant poke through the ground, new leaves budding on the trees. Plants, flowers and all that nature holds becomes new once again. It is in the spring that the birds return to the tress and one is able to awaken in the am to their  lovely songs of new life. Spring a time when we begin again and look towards warmer days of summer. It is a time that most people look forward too, a time when all is fresh and new again in the world around them. Time to play outside without all the heavy coats, mittens, warm winter hats.  It is a time that happens once a year, when all things start to bloom, and you see the true beauty of where you live.

Spring is a time of renewal, not only for the earth but for Christians as well. It is in the Spring that we celebrate Easter, and receive all that God has truly provided for us sinners. A total forgiveness of sin and wrong doing. We look at his pain and suffering and how much he truly cares and loves us during this time of the year. It is not that we take it for granted the other 364 days during the year, but it is in the spring that we look at Jesus' humility and see his human side and realize what he did so that we are able to be with him in His kingdom for eternity.

Spring is a time that allow us to look forward to better days, a time that when we look towards the warmer summer that is just a couple of months away. Spring is also a time when we look forward to growing in God. We have heard and seen his pain, suffering and love for us, and as we walk in Him, with Him, we begin to grow in God. Our relationship with God and others begin to blossom. With the blooms the deeper relationships, and we begin to look at the world and the things in our world in another light. We begin to see Jesus in all that we do and how we can influence the world by our actions and words that we use to communicate with one another. We are able to show other our love for Christ, by the way we love others in our family and our community.


It is during this time of renewal in the world and Christ that we are able to grow as a people of God. We are able to get out and help others, show them the love of Christ, a time to share our selves with others in the community, make new friends. It is a time when we get involved in more activities out of the house, we involve our children in clubs and sports, and camps to encourage them in their daily lives. We have the opportunity to share ourselves with others and reach out to them when they are hurting and show them the love of Jesus. It is then that we are able to share our faith, victories with others and time to grow in all aspects of our life. It is a time that we are able to reach out to other easily because we are able to get out more because it is nice outside.

Spring is a time of new birth of the earth and nature, and a time when we tend to reflect upon our new lives as Christians. A time when we look to the cross and all that Jesus did for us because He loves us and truly cares for us.

Stumble..

Its is funny to think that in our Christian life and walk that we all stumble and fall at times. We are not alone when we fall from grace and wonder into sin or separate ourselves from the loving Father that is in heaven. We all walk and try to live in the Christian way of life, but then we fall. When we fall it is hard at times to find our way home, to pick ourselves up and start anew with God. It may seem like the sky is falling in around us, and that we have lost all hope. Yet, the Father is still there in our time of trouble reaching out to us with loving, forgiving hands. All we need to do is take that offer from the Father and walk with him again.

If we find that strength to stand up, bush off the dirt and dust from ourselves and make a new start in the Christian walk. We all feel the pain and shame that we have done wrong. That we have wondered away, sinned or just been the true Christian that we all were called to be in this life.  It seems that we have lost all hope, and want to give up on God and all that we have, we question why this happens, why now? We have a hard time when we try to understand why God does the things He does, why now Lord? Why do we we have to go through all of this? Why us? Then we walk away with our heads hung down, thinking that God isn't listening to you, or even care for you anymore. 

It is then that we have to look to the Father and realize that this too will pass, and we will come out stronger on the other side. We are stronger then what we give ourselves credit. We are able to hang onto our faith, and start again. Soon the rainbow will appear on the other side on the clouds. They will part and their on the other side is a silver lining waiting there for you. That faith that we have to hang onto in those trying times, and moments that we want to give up all hope, that we come to realize that our faith is still there and God has never left our side. He is there waiting to answer our prayers. Our hope in the Father never ends, and His love is always there, our faith in the loving, almighty God is still there, and then we will find the strenght to pull through and be a stronger person on the other side. Faith can move the mountains, and heal the wounded hearts that we hide deep within our souls.

Where are you ?

Have you seen the commercials for the Catholic Church lately, it is telling the Catholics to come home, come back to your roots and finds that connection with God once again.  So it made me wonder, how often and why people may leave their first faith and pursue another "religion". Why do we move from our roots of faith? Is it a move that is acted upon because we are no longer being fed in the church that we attend; a mishap in the church that leads to a church split; do we follow in another way because of a spouse or boyfriend; or are we just questioning how and why we believe. What stirs in us at one point that we start looking for God in a new manner?

One interesting post online read, I came back to my Catholic faith because it is where the origins of Christianity lie, and other religions seems to put their pastors on a pedestal. That when one is in the Catholic church the priest are to live a holy life, and life as a papal has allowed them to be seem in a different manner then other pastors and members of the church.  Yet, growing up in a religion that was not Catholic, I am not sure that I saw them as all holy, and worthy of placement on a pedestal to be worshiped.  I would look to the pastor of my church as man of God that I could trust with inner struggles of the spiritual nature. Someone that I could turn to in time of trouble or needed Godly counsel and care. They were men of God that were there in the church to help you grow in your faith and walk with God. They never wanted to be worshiped from afar because they were they head of the church.

Yet, I know others who are in religions that just attend church for the kids, for the spouse, family reasons, not becasue they are there to connect with the Holy Father that cares for them, and loves them dearly. They are there for other reasons. It is sad to hear them talk at times, " we went to church, and I was bored to tears, I am not sure why I even bother anymore."  Wow, what a powerful and sad statement! That they are not seeking God in his house, not paying attention to His word while in Pastor or Priest talks. God, could have laid something in the heart of these men who give the mass or preach on Sunday morning to reach out to you, but by closing the door before you walk though it, doesn't give God a whole lot to work with on Sunday Morning.

At what point does Church become another thing that we have to do during the week? When do we make the time for God? How do we know where God wants us, if we are questioning our faith if we do not allow him to talk to us on Sunday, or any other day of the week. Do we seek Godly counsel, talk to other pastors and priest and find were we fit in the religious sector, or do you wonder aimlessly?  Do we start with one religion, and walk with God, the move to another because we question the church and what we believe, or are we all running from God and His love?

As we walk in the Christian Faith, the spirit of discernment will tell you if you need to be in a church or not. Listen to God, ask him for guidance, learn about the other faiths, and find God where you are comfortable in the church and the people of the church. Find where your heart leads you to God, where you can grow in the Faith and in Jesus, and that is where you will find all that you are seeking. If you seek God out he will find you where you are and guide you where you need to be, and help you as you walk with him.

We all need to find that place in the religious sector where we all fit. It could be Catholic, Lutheran or any other sector, but if we find that place, we need to sit, and listen to God, and then grow in him.