Run to The Cross
I am a catholic college student trying to share my faith and inspire others with His grace.
Friday, September 22, 2017
Is It The End Of The World?
Monday, June 6, 2016
Pray for Trump.
Donald,
You say you want to build a wall. And you want Mexico to pay for it. Could that be because you have spent years building a wall surrounding your heart and have made everyone that you disagree with pay for your loneliness, your unhappiness? And you want to physically display how you've been feeling?
You are making Mexicans pay already. You are making the disabled, women, journalists, and Muslims pay, to say the least. I understand that illegal immigration is a problem, but is it necessary to degrade a whole country, a whole culture, based on preconcieved notions, stereotypes, and generalizations? Yes, there are Mexicans that have crossed the border that are rapists and murderers, but guess what? There are also beautiful, amazing, and hardworking people crossing who have a beating heart--just like you do. They suffer, they enjoy things, they want to provide for their family, they have a dream. I'm not saying that crossing illegally is okay, but there is no need to offend everyone who is Mexican. I am Mexican and I will defend my people no matter what. I am a US citizen as well and I love America and would fight for it's people in a second, but when you make fun of 'some Mexicans' you are making fun of me. You are making US citizens like myself who come from a Mexican background very angry and hurt. You are therefore making fun of Americans because all Americans were once immigrants, who became citizens. That means you don't actually want to "Make America Great Again" for if you really meant that, you would respect its people.
I'm sorry you're not happy. I'm sorry all the money in the world has not been able to satisfy you. Sorry you don't love yourself and therefore cannot accept love from others. Building a wall around your heart might protect you from getting hurt, but it prevents love from ever going in. You are blocking all the kindness and charity anyone could ever offer you. If you are not able to accept love from others, then you will therefore never be able to accept yourself.
I'm going to pray for you and I invite all my Christian brothers and sisters to pray for you so you might be able to tear down that wall and be able to experience love, satisfaction, healing, and forgiveness. Once you feel that love, you will be able to share it. You don't belong in the white house. You have to work on yourself before you can try to 'help' anybody else.
Tear down the wall around your heart before you start to build another.
In Christ,
Steph
Thursday, November 26, 2015
What if I am not thankful this Thanksgiving?
Thank you, God for the times You have said "no." They have helped us depend on You so much more.
Thank you, God, for unanswered prayer. It reminds us that You know what's best for us, even when our opinion differs.
Thank You for the things you have withheld. You have protected us from what we may never realize.
Thank You, God, for the doors You have closed. They have prevented us from going where You would rather not have us go.
Thank you, Lord, for the physical pain You've allowed in our lives. It has helped us more closely relate to Your sufferings on our behalf.
Thank you, Lord, for the alone times in our lives. Those times have forced us to lean in closer to You.
Thank you, God, for the uncertainties we've experienced. They have deepened our trust in You.
Thank You, Lord, for the losses we have experienced. They have been a reminder that You are our greatest gain.
Thank You, God, for the tears we have shed. They have kept our hearts soft and moldable.
Thank You, God, for the times we haven't been able to control our circumstances. They have reminded us that You are sovereign and on the throne.
Thank You, God, for Your ability to take what we consider 'tragedy' and turn it into a treasure.Thank You, God, for those You have called home to be with You. Their absence from this earth reminds us to keep our eyes fixed on heaven.
Thank You, God, that we have an inheritance in the heavenly places...something that this world can never steal from us and we could never selfishly squander.
Thank You, God, for the greatest gift You could ever give us: forgiveness through Your perfect Son's death on the cross on our behalf.
Thank you, God, for the righteousness You credited toward us, through the death and resurrection of Jesus. It's a righteousness we could never attain to on our own.
And thank You not only for our eternal salvation, but for the salvation You afford us every day of our lives as You save us from ourselves, our foolishness, our own limited insights, and our frailties in light of Your power and strength.
Thank You, God, for all that You have allowed and not allowed in our lives this past year. For we commit our lives anew to You this day and ask that You would continue to remind us, throughout this next year, that You are God, You are on the throne, and You are eternally good.
Thursday, July 16, 2015
Letter to my future husband
I love you,
Steph (2015)
Friday, March 13, 2015
Be a Star
"The darker the night, the brighter the stars, the deeper the grief, the closer is God."
-Fyodor Dostoevsky.
Everyone wants to be a star. A movie star, a music star, any kind of star. Why are famous actors called stars? They have an ability to supersede acting and brighten up a scene with their mere presence. Every person can be an actor but it is very difficult to be a star. Everybody wants to be a star because they want to be loved by others. They want to be successful and shine bright. It's hard to become a superstar. You have to stand out in the midst of so many actors and singers, having to train hard, work hard, be patient, and determined to win. But there is something even harder than becoming a superstar. Becoming a real star.
God is calling each one of us to become stars.
He wants us to become the best version of ourselves. He wants us to reach our highest potential and to be happy. The only way we can experience true happiness is by experiencing pain first, and through that pain help Jesus carry His cross, and on the way, help others carry their cross as well.
Be bright where there is darkness.
There is so much pain and grief in this world. Many ask: How can a God of love permit such things in His world as war, sickness, pain, and death? God allows us to suffer to turn closer to him. The holy spirit leads us to realize our needs of salvation and then turn to Christ in repentance and faith. Our suffering helps us develop a more Christ-like character. Jesus came to the world not to deliver us from suffering but to teach us how to bear suffering, for he knew that there was no world without suffering.
With that in mind, we should realize that every single person in the world suffers. Everyone suffers in a different way- one may be suffering sickness or a death in the family, while someone else may be experiencing unemployment, or worry over a friend or child. Many others experience things such as mental disorders, or just a hard day at work that we might not be aware of.
Guide people to The Light
2. Talk about what you are grateful for and encourage others to do the same.
If you love someone, tell them. You have no idea how long you have them on earth for, or you have no idea if something will change. Let people know they are important. We all need to hear that once in a while. Not all of us have our purpose in life set out and clear. If you think someone is cute, pretty or nice, tell them. Tell them everything good about themselves. Why keep it in? Some of my friends will make fun of me sometimes because I fall in love with people way too fast (Their personality, way of doing things, their smile) and I am not afraid to tell them what I love about them. I will stop them and tell them: Your curls are so cute, they match your personality! Or, you have been a great help to me, I love you! Sometimes I worry that I will come off as weird or stalkerish even, but I have never had a bad encounter my whole life by doing this. I remember so well all the genuine compliments I have received in my life. I remember being told my hair was pretty by a girl in my class, that my purple converse were cool by a stranger in the street, that I was pretty by a lady from my church. These compliments have never left me, they have a special place in my heart.
There are many stars right now. We can follow their example to become like them:
*Kylie Meyers (Check out smileyforkylie on facebook) - She is what greatly inspired me to write this whole blog post. She spreads kindness and love every day amidst her great suffering. She's really young, and has captured so many people's lives.
*Malala
*Parents, role-models
*Priests everywhere
*Volunteers, doctors, nurses,teachers, school counselors, kind hearted people
*Taylor Swift. (Seriously, check out what she does to help people!)
*You??????
Lets all try to be stars to others this Lent. Help others carry their cross, sanctify yourself in order to reach God. Lets all be bright in the darkness. It is not easy, but it is not impossible.
Love always and be loved,
Steph
Monday, August 18, 2014
The Anchor as a Symbol of Hope
Tuesday, May 6, 2014
The Weekly Saint- Catherine
I also decided to start a new thing on the blog. Every week or so, I will be posting about someone that I think is doing an extremely good job at life. Someone that is well on their way to sainthood. I am calling it "The Weekly Saint".
This week, I want to talk about my friend Catherine. Fist of all, she is probably the best person I have ever met. She has made me grow so much closer to Christ and she makes me feel like I am extremely important every single second I am with her. The thing about her, is that she is always thinking of others and what others want 24/7, and she never thinks about herself (which gets to be extremely overwhelming for her) but she will always notice is there is something wrong going on with you or if anyone is feeling sick or sad, she will be the first one to notice and take care of it. She always has a smile or a kind word to offer. She is just an all-around incredible and talented person and I really really hope she can see that, because that's all other people see in her, an outstanding person.I truly believe that God sent her into my life to teach me a handful of lessons. He is definitely using her for big things in life!
Secondly, she is extremely close to God. She has such a special connection with him that you can literally see Jesus acting through her with her acts of kindness and love. I had the pleasure of being her roommate for one semester and she would basically remind me to pray every night and invite me to mass or prayer groups all the time, even when I was feeling discouraged she would make sure I attended. She would visit the Eucharistic chapel several times a day, and after mass, she would go and pray in there for a while. Even though I never told her, I was always a little bit jealous of her super-strong connection to God. She would pray to him in the chapel for long periods of time when all I could do was pray for 5 minutes...
Thirdly, Catherine has been sick for three years. She has "been struggling with severe symptoms since [her] senior year of high school. From extreme fatigue, bad headaches and brain fog to vision problems and dizziness every time [she] stands up. Much of the past two years have felt more like surviving than living. Not only has it been hard living a life that is anything but "normal," but [her] symptoms have been and continue to be diagnosed, re-diagnosed, misdiagnosed, claimed to be curable by some doctors while incurable by others, constantly resulting in further frustration and fear. “Is it ever going to end?” is sometimes a heavier cross to carry than the physical suffering. Where is God? Why is He allowing this? These are the questions I have been asking since day one. I thought He wanted me to be happy…But through much prayer, grace, and encouragement, I have been able to see that He has been by me the whole time, waiting for my permission to help me carry my cross. When I finally gave Him permission, I thought He would take the whole thing. “Here’s my cross, Jesus! Take my suffering and my pain, take it all! If I knew you were here all of this time, I would have handed it over sooner!" (Catherine's website). Even though she has been sick for so long, she is an incredible source of hope, guidance, and happiness to others. She continues to love every single person ans treat them like true children of God.
Catherine recently stated a website of encouragement for anyone that feels like they are running out of hope. Her reflections are some of the best things I have ever read. Each one made me cry like a baby. I invite you guys to go check it out.
http://iamwithyoualways.wix.com/hope
I have seen Catherine make so many people smile, feel loved, feel wanted, bring them closer to God, that I am sure she is a little saint on earth. She is extremely special to me and I cannot wait to re-unite with her soon!
Dear God,
Please help us all strive to be your good and faithful servants. Help us love you with all out hearts, with all out might, with all our soul. Help us be holier every day, to raise our heads and hearts up high and to rejoice in your love. Help us be saints. Everyday. Help us be holy, pure, and more loving.
Amen.