And God Said...

Kudos to my Aunt for this! ^_^
(and here's a brief look at our summer!)


I asked God to take away my habit.
God said:
No.
It is not for Me to take away,
but for you to give it up.





I asked God to make my handicap whole.
God said:
No.
Your spirit is whole,
your body is only temporary.





I asked God to grant me patience.
God said:
No.
Patience is a byproduct of tribulations;
it isn't granted, it is learned.





I asked God to give me happiness.
God said:
No.
I give you blessings;
Happiness is up to you.





I asked God to spare me pain.
God said, No.
Suffering draws you apart from worldly cares,
and brings you closer to Me.





I asked God to make my spirit grow.
God said:
No.
You must grow on your own,
but I will prune you to make you fruitful.





I asked God for all things
that I might enjoy life.
God said:
No.
I will give you life,
so that you may enjoy all things.





I asked God to help me LOVE others, as much as He loves me.
God said:
...Ahhhh,
finally you have the idea.

Changes

...and I don't just mean that the leaves are going to turn brown and red (even though it doesn't really happen here.)

"To create fundamental change, we, the members of society, have to transform ourselves. If we want real peace, we have to demonstrate our love and understanding so that those responsible for making decisions can learn from us."- Thich Nhat Hanh

Our family has been going through a lot of changes. We kids are growing up and trying to find out who we are and who we'd like to be, and it's not always a smooth ride out. Not only do we have to adjust to certain "little" brother heights, but to the way we act and react to the environment around us, and if we don't adapt or correct each other when needed...well, let's just say that some of us end up going off into our rooms or gardens to blow off steam. =) In the end, though, at least one of us makes that effort (or at least tries to) to "kiss and make up" and remembers to do better. Soon, the whole house is back to its original cheer.
The one thing that we have to keep in mind is that we cannot wait around for a better change to happen. It has to begin with each of us. We're the change that has to happen, and it doesn't necessarily mean standing on a stage shouting encouragements to the crowds. It could be a smile or a simple uplifting greeting. It could be a quiet yet meaningful word of encouragement. If you could make a big change, then do it! Help in a soup kitchen. Donate to a cause. Whatever you do, let the Light of Christ shine in this world that needs Him so much! Be that hope that so many need. Be that change in the dark.

Random thought #928

I like random thoughts. ^_^
Well, I was out raking the leaves from under our mango tree today. One section was finally done so I went around the tree to the next. Two minutes later I turned around. Uhhh...leaves there again?? Where'd they come from?
It kind of reminded me how unfaithful the Israelites were...and how were are sometimes. *pauses in reflection...* God had hardly finished sweeping up the mess they had been in and there was another one! But He didn't abandon them. Of course He wasn't altogether happy (major understatement...), but like a loving Father He picked them up again.

Random thoughts...or are they?

“What is the best lesson a music teacher can give to a student? It is not teaching him to read notes, nor how to play well. Rather, the best lesson is that which gives the student a love for music.” ~Anon.

“I know some say, let us have good laws, and no matter for the men that execute them: but let them consider, that though good laws do well, good men do better.” ~William Penn

“If I speak in human and angelic tongues but do not have love, I am a resounding gong or a clashing cymbal. And if I have the gift of prophecy and comprehend all mysteries and all knowledge; if I have all faith so as to move mountains but do not have love, I am nothing. If I give away everything I own, and if I hand my body over so that I may boast but do not have love, I gain nothing.”
~Saint Paul (1 Cor 13:1-3)


Sometimes, we get so focused on the superficial shell of what we were doing that we forget the heart of why we were doing that thing in the first place. It’s like a birthday cake. Sure, outside it can be the fanciest cake the world has seen; but if it tastes like sand, your little birthday boy isn’t going to care about how cool it looks.
Let's not forget the Heart of the entire matter: God.

Meet one of my friends!

Gasp! Can it be?? There’s actually a new post?! It is, and it’s about Father Alberione!

Here's a bit of an introduction:



Now watch the EPIC trailer!! XD




I’ve gotten to know Father Alberione a little more this past year, and one of the things that amazes me is how fiery and passionate he was about bringing the Good News. He reminds me of Saint Paul - his patron; he wasn’t just content with hearing it, he had to share it! It couldn’t be contained! It was something far too great to keep to himself. Father Alberione is called one of the pioneers of Catholic media because his dream was to proclaim the Gospel through it. Of course, back in Father Alberione’s time, the world of media as we know today was only beginning and people didn’t quite see eye to eye with his visions. (Many thought it was absurd.) Well, when you’re working with God, it doesn’t matter what time it is ‘cause His time is His own. And Father Alberione did work in God’s time. Because of Father Alberione, much of the Catholic media is what it is today.

…and no, I’m not just saying this ‘cause I recently spent a week in Boston with the Daughters of St. Paul. (But it had a lot to do with it! Plus I'm sort of reading a book about him. ^_^) Father Alberione really is amazing, and he makes a great friend.

If you'd like to get to know Father Alberione a little more, visit this link!

"One love, Jesus Christ. One burning desire, to give Him to others." ~Blessed James Alberione

Happy Fathers' Day!

Follow your heart...?

So says the Disney saying. There's nothing wrong with the saying itself (even I remember those adventures playing out the Disney princesses and whatnot XD). The problem just happens when your heart is not exactly in the right place. Sooo...where exactly is your heart?




I found it interesting that last Friday and yesterday were the feasts of the Sacred Hearts.

(Now) this is how we shall know that we belong to the truth and reassure our hearts before him in whatever our hearts condemn, for God is greater than our hearts and knows everything.
Beloved, if (our) hearts do not condemn us, we have confidence in God and receive from him whatever we ask, because we keep his commandments and do what pleases him.
And his commandment is this: we should believe in the name of his Son, Jesus Christ, and love one another just as he commanded us.
Those who keep his commandments remain in him, and he in them, and the way we know that he remains in us is from the Spirit that he gave us.
~ 1 John 3:6-24

Beloved, let us love one another, because love is of God; everyone who loves is begotten by God and knows God.
Whoever is without love does not know God, for God is love.
In this way the love of God was revealed to us: God sent his only Son into the world so that we might have life through him.
In this is love: not that we have loved God, but that he loved us and sent his Son as expiation for our sins.
Beloved, if God so loved us, we also must love one another.
No one has ever seen God. Yet, if we love one another, God remains in us, and his love is brought to perfection in us.
~ 1 John 4:7-12

As the old saying goes: Home is where the heart is.
Where else can Home be but with His Heart?

Alternative, Positive, Awesum!

Found this over on the Air1 blog! Air1, by the way, is a great Christian radio station that we listen to. Not only do they play the latest Christian hits, but it's a good station to listen to for daily pick-me-ups if you're down. Second to Mass, of course. ^_^
Anyway, I can relate to this artist:

Here is a letter from Adam of Owl City about his faith in Jesus Christ and how it leads his life:


My name is Adam and music is something that is fused to who I am. It allows me to breathe deeply, it lets me feel, imagine, aspire and dream in the most beautiful ways imaginable. Music is something that I can't imagine living without, and though it means more to me than the world itself, there is something that weighs significantly heavier on the scale of all things valuable and important in my life, that being my relationship with Jesus Christ.

I am an artist, that's what I do. Creating art has been my dream since elementary school, it's the only thing I'm good at and looking back on the years, I am left breathless, completely and utterly bereft of speech at how the Lord has chosen to use music in my life and what I do as Owl City to plant seeds, spread light like fire in an age where darkness feels more oppressive than ever, and ultimately, to glorify Him. I am endlessly honored and humbled that He should use me -- a completely average, ordinary shy boy from the middle of nowhere, to do great things in order to further His kingdom.

I'll be the first to say I have a timid personality and I'm not a great conversationalist, nor very confident in social situations, but one thing I've never wanted to be shy about is the reason behind why I do what I do, why I create art, why I dream and imagine. That reason is my faith in a God more powerful and omnipotent and full of love for us than words can even begin to describe.

...and no, I can't resist putting up one of my current favorite songs!!


So, invisible friend, do you live in Hawaii? You can find the Air1 station at 103.5! Or you can listen online...or you could download the app...

Check, check, reality check...

*sigh* Just one of those times when you suddenly jolt out of a 'fairytale' mode. You know, the kind of mode you get into when everything 'seems' perfect, when you're really not seeing the entire picture. If you choose to hide in some fairy book mindset away in a corner, singing away and hoping that what's going on behind you doesn't exist, you're only going to make things worse. You're avoiding the question, and putting off answering it until tomorrow. Well...it's still going to be there, and if you're homeschooled like me, you're going to end up with double the work - double the questions to answer on a paper. After all, tomorrow is really today, if that makes any sense.
Suffering, pain, the kinds of things that twist your heart until it sinks...they're real, and no amount of wishing is going to wish them away. And unless it's what God says is the right way of it, a few fervent Hail Marys aren't going to whisk these realities away either. God doesn't take them away like that. There's a short prayer that I found today. It goes something like: "Dear God, I know that nothing will happen to me today that You won't help me overcome." It's the short version of one of my favorite prayers: "My God, I do not know what will happen to me todayI only know that nothing will happen to me That was not forseen by You And directed to my greater good for all eternity. This is enough for me. I adore Your eternal and unfathomable designs. I submit to them with all my heart for love of You. I offer the sacrifice of my whole being to You, And join my sacrifice to that of Jesus, my divine Savior. In His name and by His infinite merits, ask you for patience in my sufferings and perfect submission, So that everything You want or permit to happen Will result in Your greater glory And my sanctification. Amen."

There's something about a God not making problems vanish. It makes seem God far away and...not exactly someone to confide in. There's something about God taking our hand and walking through our problems WITH us. It means God's closer than we think.


One of the beautiful things about the mysterious thing called life...one moment it can be a gale with a powerful force enough to knock rip trees from the earth, then next it's a delicate rose petal...fading away into the ground to nurture the sapling that would grow beside it.
Blah, Cy-Cy is probably babbling at this point. Goodnight, invisible internet friends! Until next time when Cy is crazy enough to stay up and actually post something. :) She doesn't exactly know why she's even posting it.

Damien Day in Hawaii

Mahalo to CT who took the picture! ^_^ We were blessed to come to Mass today and find out that they were showing Father Damien's relic! This picture shows the relic of Father Damien's right heel.
The one thing that I really admire about the gruff, short-tempered, but honest and compassionate farmer from Belgium, is that he dared to go to a place that hardly anyone had dared to even think about. He did what people should have done, but didn't. He cared when everyone else turned away. Father Damien brought hope to a place where hope was a dream. And he didn't do it for himself.
There's something about having heroes who kind of belong to your hometown. Somehow, it gives you hope that there's still such a thing as a hero, and that maybe...just possibly...you could be one too.