Today marks a shift in Advent. We see the rose colored candle lit at Mass, reminding of that it is Gaudete Sunday! Gaudete comes from a Latin phrase found in Philippians 4:4-5 meaning, "REJOICE IN THE LORD ALWAYS!" So, my friends, rejoice this day. As we shift our focus from reflecting on Christ's second coming to the Joy of a newborn, our Saviour made flesh--let your hearts dance and sing with joy. Remember that joy is a hope that cannot be shaken by circumstances. So in all moments, no matter how difficult, our joy remains and we are sustained by the grace and love of our God and the Holy Spirit that dwells within us. 

"Rejoice in the Lord always. I shall say it again: rejoice! Your kindness should be known to all. The Lord is near." Philippians 4:4-5

Facing Your Lion

Just over a year ago, I was struggling with my weight and health issues, particularly my back and joints. I woke up one morning and could not move. I could not roll to the other side and could hardly breathe, let alone pick up my 5 month old son. It was pain beyond description. My husband was home, gratefully. We waited. It got worse. We ended up having to call an ambulance because when he tried to lift me…well, let’s just say that wasn’t going to happen. It turned out that I had a chipped vertebra and five slipped disks on top of the problems I already had. Long story short: when you mixed all this together, my entire abdomen spasmed and torqued itself for quite some time.

Following this experience I had some humbling months where I had to rely on others to care for my son, home, and self. I was just coming out of post-partum depression and this just kicked it right back into full gear. I am truly glad that chapter of my life is closed now. However, I cannot help but sing praise for this lion in the middle of my path I had to fight fearlessly to move on and continue my journey with God.

On this day, July 17, in 2009 I made a list of resolutions for myself (yes, you can made those outside of the month of January). I feel like I'm finally starting to live this one, almost four years later: "Love yourself! In that, you love God! What power self-esteem holds! Embrace it, love it, spread, and share it! This includes taking care of the beautiful mind, body, and soul The Lord has blessed you with! Rejoice!" You can tell I wrote this for myself--lots of exclamation points. That’s how I remember things! With! Lots! Of! Exclamation!

Holding me back from becoming the woman God was calling me to, was my health. I disregarded its importance and looked upon my body as something to be used for the purposes I desired. I respected it in many ways, but as far as maintenance and upkeep, I had to idea of its value. There is a reason that God created our bodies with a need for sleep, proper nutrition, and exercise. There is a reason we do not feel well not just physically, but mentally and spiritually,  when we neglect these things. We can pray all we want, we can reach for God. He will reach back. He will care for us. But, He also expects us to care for ourselves. This enriches our relationship with him in so many ways.

I began my journey to a new and healthy me: a new creation that serves His kingdom more joyfully, efficiently, and gratefully. If health is holding you back, I ask you: why? Are gluttony and sloth the anchors tied around your neck? If not, what is written on the anchors that are tying you down? What is holding you back?

Fear not the Lion in your path. Face it fearlessly.

Need more support and encouragement? Look no further than the Living Word. Read about Daniel in the Lion’s Den here.

The Thought


Hide and Seek—a pastime that most of us find trailing through our childhood memories. Everyone has that funny story about when they found someone hiding in the middle of the room, when they outsmarted everyone (including Mom and Dad!) and remained in hiding for what seemed like eternity, or being tickled to death when they were finally found! Although the stories differ (and feel free to share one of your hide and seek stories with me in the “comments” section!!), we all have them.


I like to think of our relationship with God like a game of Hide and Seek. First of all, God has “hidden” little treasures all over the world and sprinkled them through our days and our lives, and He desires so badly for us to seek out these treasures! They are each a little gift laid out just for us to find!


Secondly, God has given us the ability to “hide.” Although God’s omniscience affords Him the ability to know everything, He allows us the gift of free will, to do with as we like.  We have each heard that God has a plan for us, but how often are we willing to be patient enough for Him to reveal that plan? Or to jump off a ledge He’s calling us to, when we really just want to sit tight, because we like and are comfortable with the view from where we’re at? Or to simply trust that His plan far outweighs the one our minds are capable of conjuring up—forgetting that He made the mind that is doing this conjuring? God allows us to hide from His will, His grace, His peace, His beauty. We can choose to see these things as Holy and from Him, or we can hide in our meager intelligence and think that we’re capable of creating peace, grace, a divine plan, or true beauty.


The Challenge


When we think about hiding from God’s will or love in our lives and relying on our own strength, what are we really doing? Like Adam and Eve, are we hiding from something we know is still present, even in our hiding spot? Do we recognize that no matter how “good” our hiding spot may be, God still knows us? He knows our deepest desires, our longings, our weaknesses and strengths, He knows our entire hearts. Let Him know you and learn to know Him. As with any healthy relationship, we need to allow love to enter our hearts while also allowing love to pour out from our own hearts into the one we are in relationship with.

As a start to allowing God into your heart more, accept God’s Hide and Seek challenge! Today, find just 5 things that God has “hidden” for you! It could be an unexpected visit, call, or letter from a loved one, it could be an extra hour freed up that you did not anticipate having, it could be a beautiful sunset or a pretty flower that popped up in your front yard, it could be an extra hug, kiss, or I love you from a dear one. Whatever it is, when you lie in bed tonight, think of 5. By no means do you have to stop at 5, but make that a minimum for the day. Tomorrow, challenge yourself to find 6, then 7…keep going up until it becomes such a habit for you to recognize and thank God for His treasures, that you do not even need to count anymore! I’ve heard it takes 40 days to make a habit—why not go for that goal? Keep it up for 40 days and nights and allow yourself to love God by recognizing His tremendous love for you.


The Scripture
 

“The LORD God then called to the man and asked him: Where are you? He answered, ‘I heard you in the garden; but I was afraid, because I was naked, so I hid.’” –Genesis 3: 9-10

Read on here: http://www.usccb.org/bible/genesis/3

“Trust in the LORD with all your heart, on your own intelligence do not rely; In all your ways be mindful of him, and he will make straight your paths.” -Proverbs 3: 5-6

Read on here: http://www.usccb.org/bible/scripture.cfm?bk=Proverbs&ch=3