YOLO

Lots of people use “YOLO” as an excuse to party, get drunk, and hook up.  Those aren’t good reasons to use YOLO.  Think about it; we do only live once, but after that you will get judged by our Creator on how we lived.  We got put on this earth to glorify God, being made in His image.  God doesn’t get drunk, lie, steal, cheat, backstab, or hook up.  So why does our culture say it’s okay?  Fact is, that stuff isn’t okay.  If you died today, where would you go?  2 choices—Heaven or Hell.  You choose your destination.  Don’t believe me? Read the Bible.  Say you’re a hung over 17 year old who gets shot and killed.  When you go to talk to the Big Man Upstairs, what’re you going to say to Him?  “Come on, God. I was just having some fun. YOLO?” And give Him your best smile and wink.  Not gonna fly.

                Just because you accept Him as your Savior doesn’t mean you can screw off and not be a good person for the rest of your life.  You gotta live for Him.  Everything you do, say, and think.  Nobody’s perfect; I sin, you sin, we all sin, but you still have to try to live for Him, give it your all.  Your ALL.  Not your “after school” all or your “when I’m sober” all. Your whole life all.

                Oh, but your friends don’t think it’s cool to be the “good girl” or the “good boy”. SO WHAT!  I’d rather be the odd one out now and go to Heaven than be the popular kid because I’m bad.  It’s worth it in the end.

I’m not judging, because who am I to judge?  I have neither the power nor the authority.  However, it is my responsibility and yours to get to Heaven and help others get there, too.  To feed the hungry, give drink to the thirsty, clothe the naked, shelter the homeless, visit the sick and imprisoned, and bury the dead.  To counsel the doubtful, bear wrongs patiently, forgive offenses willingly, comfort the afflicted, instruct the ignorant, admonish the sinner, and pray for the living and the dead.     **Corporal and Spiritual Works of Mercy**

THAT’S YOLO.

The Gift

    The gift of womanhood is often unrecognized. We don't realize the beauty of our bodies goes beyond what's on the outside. Our ability to carry children is incredible; to have someone else depend solely on you is something men cannot ever experience. Though this gift is painful physically, we embrace it. Every month God reminds us of it. Our mood swings are a sign that we feel more deeply and more totally than men, and we understand emotions more clearly.
     On the outside, we are also amazing. Our heart beats right below the place where our children receive something to keep them living. Life and life; coincidence? I don't think so.
 Why do you think that guys look at us differently than they do their friends? Because we, obviously, are more beautiful than they are. In creation, women were made last, and we save the best for last, so it only makes sense.
     That said, our bodies are undeniably a gift, which is why we must dress modestly. Just as you wrap a present so it is not seen or revealed, so must we also do with our bodies. A gift for one person; our husband. If that gift is opened too early, it loses some of its shine; its power. It's not as special. Women are treasures to be protected, taken extra special care of, and loved gently. So respect our gift of many parts, and embrace all that you are, because womanhood is amazing. :)

Drenched in His Mercy

     Christ's boundless mercy is certainly evident all around me. We all know the story of the sinful woman who washes Jesus' feet with her hair, anoints them with oil, and is forgiven. (It's so beautiful if you don't know it, Luke 7:36-50!) But recently, upon reading and reflecting with this scripture, I was moved to go to Reconciliation. After Reconciliation, I read it again and placed myself in the role of the sinful woman. What courage she had to go to a pharisee's house where she knew she would be judged, all to see Jesus and seek his forgiveness and healing. The beauty of the feeling of forgiveness. There are so many parallels that can be drawn here to the Sacrament of Reconciliation. It takes so much courage to walk into the confessional just so see the priest in persona christi (aka JESUS) all to receive His forgiveness and healing and feel joy of being forgiven!
     This mercy always reminds me of the pouring rain. I attend a Catholic high school and when I was a freshman, my favorite theology teacher shared this with me. It is an image that will never leave my mind.  One day she was talking to her mom and sitting on their front porch while looking out at the pouring rain. As the rain was crashing down all around them, her mother commented, "It's like God's mercy."
     The point is that Jesus is freely giving us his mercy, all we have to do is go out into it and get DRENCHED! Dance in the rain spreading the joy that comes from receiving it. And like the rain, God's mercy removes every stain, tear, and bruise that the devil inflicts on us. In His mercy, we are truly free to live!