Summer! Slow Down...where are you going?
Have you had a chance to slow down a little this summer and stop to smell the flowers? Have you noticed the beautiful gifts that God has given you? Have you felt His presence with you this summer?
Where have you seen God this summer?
I have seen God in the faces of my grown children and grandchildren - all playing together and enjoying each other (we don't get to see each other very often...so there's a greater appreciation of just being together now).
I have seen God in the people I pass on the roads and freeways on my way to and from work as I pray the rosary - realizing we are all children of God - brothers and sisters in Christ. I wonder what their story of God is? We all have one. What is your story of God?
I have seen God in my husband, as I gaze at him snoozing in his chair or futzing in the garage or fixing dinner or just sitting next to him on our way to church. How blessed I am to have him by my side. His strength and his unconditional love for others really reflect God's presence.
I have seen God in the children at Vacation bible camp this summer...their faces with full smiles - singing about our Amazing God!!! Full of JOY! Living life to the FULL!!!
I have seen God in my friends and co-workers. How blessed I am to work here with others who love Jesus so much. We can pray together and share our journey's together. They totally inspire me - I see God in them by the way they love and give so generously their time and gifts!
I admit, I have also had moments of sadness, fear and frustration (even anger at God!) - people I love have died, had strokes, suffered illness, been laid off - I struggle to see an all-present and all-loving God in those moments - mostly, I wonder "what are you thinking, God????" -
Yet I am convinced that HE IS HERE - NOW - walking beside us! Loving Us! No matter what the circumstance. Good or bad.
He is with us always:
It is beautifully promised to us in many places in Holy Scripture, but I love how it is promised to us in this Sunday's 2nd Reading from Romans 8:35-39:
Who shall separate us from the love of Christ? Shall trouble or hardship or persecution or famine or nakedness or danger or sword? No, in all these things we are more than conquerors through him who loved us. For I am convinced that neither death nor life, neither angels nor demons neither the present nor the future,nor any powers, neither height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God that is in Christ Jesus our Lord. How blessed are we to be created and loved by the Father!
He had us designed for this day and this time and this particular journey (each individually picked out for us)! He chose the family we are in! He gave us the gifts we have - so that we could use them to make the world a better place! It is our vocation to help those around us to Heaven! To make others Holy! For us to be Holy! Do you see Him now? Let us look up from the craziness around us and seek Him! Let us begin to look for Him in everything and in everyone!
Just because we don't look for Him or see Him, doesn't mean He isn't there.
Where do you see God right now?
Be filled with God's awesome love, peace and JOY! See you on-line!!
Nancy Longo | 
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Young Adult Day Retreat - August 23 - American Martyrs $10
