Did Moses get the Shaft????

I was at a retreat yesterday, and the retreat director said a lot of wonderful things that struck me.  But one thing that really stuck with me was about Moses.

Moses; gotta love that guy.  He went from riches to rags, and then back to a whole different kind of riches.  He was the instrument God used to save HIS people, and change the course of Human History.  He was the Jesus before Jesus, and the one guy given the task of getting the Israelite people to the promised land.

And yet, he never got to go himself.

Poor Moses.  Poor Poor Moses.  I always felt a little bad for him for that reason.

Until Yesterday.

You see, it was pointed out to me that Moses was totally cool with the whole deal.  That he stood on Mount Nebo in the presence of God.  He watched the Israelites stand before the promise land, and completely didn't mind that he didn't get to go.    Why?  Or should I ask, How was he okay with that?

Because... he was STANDING IN THE PRECENCE OF GOD!!!!

I mean who the heck cares about Milk and Honey, when you have the PRESENCE OF GOD!?!??!   Deep, Personal, relationship with GOD, the CREATOR of the UNIVERSE, the Dude who knit us together, and knows how many hairs we have.  SINCERE, REAL, RELATIONSHIP.

Poof.  Mind Blowing.  Right?!?!

I can have that sort of relationship too.  SO can you.

SO when I am whining that I don't get to go to the Promised Land, which for me, can be all sorts of things; a bigger house, a perfect marriage, a ski vacation, a cruise around the world, a new louis viutton bag, whatever.   I need to remind myself, that God is allowing me something WAAAAAAAYYYYYYYYY BETTER.  HIM. 

If I really invested myself in relationship with him. Then I would probably stop asking for the other less amazing things. 

And while we are talking about Relationship, I had a somewhat sad conversation with a friend yesterday.  She left the Catholic Church and is now going to my Husbands Baptist church.  Growing up one of her parents was a Director of Religious Education at our Church, and I was surprised that somehow this individual did not understand the truths or recognize the gifts the Church offers it people.  (That is my assumption based on the fact that she couldn't possibly have chosen to leave if she did understand.  Big assumption, I know.)

I asked her why?  (Probably a little gutsy of me, but I really didn't understand, and it just sort of came out.)  She said she was NEVER taught the idea of a personal relationship with God.  In all her days of attending a SALESIAN Catholic School and being the daughter of the religious education director of a Catholic church, she was NEVER reminded that GOD wants a RELATIONSHIP with her.

Come On?   Really?????   Maybe, she just wasn't listening.

Anyway, I just want to remind us all to encourage one another to grow in relationship.  And to understand that ALL the sacraments, and the Mass, specifically the Eucharist, are tools/gifts to help foster that relationship.  THE whole point is RELATIONSHIP.   And how can you get more personal than TOUCHING, SEEING, EATING Jesus himself??!?!?!?

So today, I am going to AIM for NEBO.  I am hoping to be like a MOSES, where I don't care about my promised land, I only care about HIS Promised land.  

Let's Build and EMPIRE!!! (Not for us though...)

I have written before that my husband is a Baptist.  He loves Jesus and we have many things in common that relate to our faith, but living these differences every day is a major struggle.

For one thing, I love love love my Catholic faith.  I get super excited about something cool I read about the Catholic Church, or an event, or a retreat that I just returned from and my poor husband doesn't get it.  He doesn't share my joy with me and many times we end up arguing.  

He loves loves loves his Baptist faith, and listening to pod casts from his favorite pastors.  He wants to share his excitement with me.  Sometimes during the podcast it will mention something about "papists" or bring up some issue they have with the council of trent and I get totally defensive and we end up arguing again.  (And then i have to go google the council of trent to see what happened!)

Our children are being raised in both faiths, which I know is going to get confusing, and it's probably only going to get more difficult.  I know with God all things are possible, but I am not sure if God had created my husband at the time that phrase was written, and I seriously wonder sometimes if we will ever be united in faith.  

But the good news is I have an amazing solution!!!  Really, I know that if this one little thing happened everything would be much easier and we could finally worship our Lord from a unified place.  

Ready...?

Here it comes....

ALL Christians unite!!!  O my goodness that would be a dream come true.  I am certain God never intended for all the arguing and division.  (It's like when my own children argue about stupid things, and I say, "I don't care who is right and who is wrong, just quit fighting!!!!)  And I honestly think God's plan might be to unite the world, and then my husband will be FORCED to join the team.  Because there will be only ONE team!!!

So what can we do??? Well I know this sounds rediculously simple but I think it will totally work.

WE LOVE!!!

Yes, you read that right.  Let's just love everyone!!! Love the Baptists! Love the Methodists! Love the Lutherans and Presbyterians!  Invite them to stuff, and don't worry for a second they are not Catholic.  Then if they invite you to their things, (which I'll bet you a million bucks they will) Go!!! Go and enjoy it and worship your heart out! And show them that Catholics are the real deal!!! And then keep inviting them to your stuff.  If they have questions, find out answers!  Share with them!  

I think it would totally work!!! Got any other ideas???

HOT Saint of the Day...

Look at that Face!!

First let me begin by saying that ALL saints are good looking.  Whenever any one has that glow of the Holy Spirit they totally radiate good looking vibes.  I have often joked that the Holy Spirit could be considered the best facial cream ever!  Give me some of that, and my skin glows better than any cream from Nordstroms! 

But, I have to say, this guy, my new best friend up in heaven,  (Yes, I am that shallow, that I rate my intercessors on their good looks.) is a Hottie!!!!

Blessed Pier Giorgio Frassati!    (AKA: Hottie Frassati!!!)

Click this link to check him out:   http://www.frassatiusa.org/frassati-biography

He was all about the poor, and LOVED Jesus, died at 24 and his body is in corrupt!  He is the real deal, and was super good looking at the same time!

Thank you JESUS for all the BEAUTIFUL people you have put on this earth!!!

Love a Saint who knows how to laugh!!!

Did I mention that my husband and I are not the same denominations?

So I realize for most people different denominations is not a big deal. Usually one spouse converts or just starts going to the other spouses church, or else together they pick a new religion and raise their kids in that tradition.

Yeah well, that's not us.  I am a totally fired up Catholic.  I love my faith, and I totally get it.  I believe it.  I UNDERSTAND it.  (I realize this alone might be unusual!). My husband is a true to his roots Southern Baptist.  He loves his faith, the methods of worship at his church, the children's programs (they are amazing!) and doesn't get my catholic faith at all.  He doesn't understand it, and he doesn't like it.  

We are totally stuck.  I could never Imagine abandoning by beliefs, and he feels equally unimpressed with the Catholic faith. 

So what have we been doing these past eleven years and five kids later???  I'm so glad you asked.  

We go to two churches.  Yes, every Sunday we wake up and go to a totally spirit filled Baptist church.  The kids go to Sunday school,  and we enjoy worship or help out in the nursery.  Then, either Sunday afternoon or evening I take the older kids to mass.  Sometimes he joins us, but not always.  

This is definitely NOT recommended!   But it has been working for us.  And although not easy, it is probably more in line with what sabbath is about than we realize.   We are spending two hours on Sunday worshiping God, instead of one.  (Still not great, but better.  Right?!?!?)

Please pray for my family!  Pray that we are united in faith one day.  (Which is the real reason for this post.)  Pray that someday ALL Christians are united in faith.    And if you have similar stories of interfaith/interdenominational marriage; Share!!!  I would love to know how other couples with interdenominational marriages make it work.


Update: (12/18/16)
This is getting more and more difficult as our kids get older.  It is so confusing to the kids, and I tend to take it personally when my husband doesn't attend Mass with the rest of us.  I tend to paint rosey pictures of some very UN ROSEY situations.   Keep on praying.  AND for all those well intentioned wonderful mixed denomination couples out there considering marriage....well just know this is A LOT harder than we make it sound.

God moment number 342

So last year the day after our school carnival, after we had just spent hundreds of dollars on rides, cotton candy, snow cones, drinks, more rides, and countless hours walking around searching for friends to enjoy all this fun with, my kids start crying because I won't take them to get frozen yogurt.  

What?!?!   After everything we had just given them, they still aren't satisfied?  They still are not APPRECIATIVE for all that we have just given them?!?! They still want more??? They still find something to complain about??? 

And then I heard Gods voice in my ear say, "exactly."   

Wow God!  I am so sorry!!!!  Thank you for opening my eyes to how rediculous I act sometimes!!!

Hot for Jesus!

Just came home from an amazing retreat experience!  It was totally a weekend of totally relaxing with Jesus! Love that man!!!

First of all Jesus is totally HOT. (I mean he is God! I can't imagine him ugly.) Secondly he is totally super smart, caring, loving, wise, etc etc.  I mean all those things we look for in a man.  He has them ALL.  And here is the best part.  

Wait for it.....

 

He totally crushes me!!!

 I mean is there anything better than totally having the man of your dreams, loving you back!?!?

Okay so this almost seems like I am having an affair with Jesus.  And I totally am.  But here is the best part.  I AM ALLOWED!!!!   So are you, actually.