The Reason I'm Here

Not, actually, the reason I am here, but why this blog is here. I was going to post a comment to a comment by Fr. Rich on Cody's blog and I ended up with this when I signed up to post. Okay, moving on.

Fr. Rich's comment:
Questions: Why is the devil screwing with a little insignificant parish that's next to nowhere? And why tormenting certain individuals in that parish?
Answer: We ain't insignificant! and the devil attacks those who are a threat. Can you believe we are a threat to the devil.

Well, my comment to that, and it won't have the same impact it would have when I pressed the button to comment 10 minutes ago, is that God allows these things to happen to us, I believe, to draw us closer to Him, so that we will lean on Him, so that we will WANT to rely on His MIGHTY POWER, instead of trying to handle it ourselves. We can't do it alone, but we don't realize that until we try. And try. And try. And finally we give up and say, Okay, God, can you handle this for me and God says, I was just waiting for you to ask. And He makes it all better.

WHY do I believe this? Well, I have been struggling with pictures that pop into my head at the MOST inopportune times. Fr. Jim prayed over me several times for this. What I was trying to do, though, was force my mind to think on something else. I have found myself focusing many times on Christ on the cross, picturing all the details in my mind, the nails in his hands, the thorns in his head, the blood and sweat, the suffering He endured...for me. It helped...but only to a degree....because what I needed to do, and I realized all of a sudden one day, is to let GOD focus my mind on something else. He was allowing this to happen so that I would ask for HIS help instead of trying to do it myself.

Rebekah, at two years old, has this incredible innocence. When she accidentally injures Jessica or me, she will kiss the spot and ask, "Better?" When I kiss her boo-boo she says, "Better!" Well, isn't that what God wants to do? Love us and make it better? Why do we not allow Him to do that? BEFORE we struggle with it, whatever "it" may be?

So, even if we scrape up the side of the car, even if the dog chews on the patio cover, even if the cereal and the milk, bowl, spoon and all get knocked onto the chair and the floor by a two year old, it's okay, because God allows these trials to occur so that we will give it to Him and He will give us peace in return. Let's not let Satan get the better of us. You are right, Cody, Christ should be seen through us...if we are doing it right.

God WILL Bless You! If you let Him!