Do You Worry About Money? In the Sermon on the Mount, Jesus made it clear that we shouldn’t worry about food, drink or clothing. That shouldn’t come as a surprise to anyone who goes to church or reads the Bible. What often gets missed, however, is the reason that he launched into this message in the first place. He had something specific in mind. And, while it may surprise you, it’s something you need to know. When we worry (especially... Read more
Today is the Solemnity of the Most Holy Body and Blood of Christ, sometimes referred to as Corpus Christi. As a cradle Catholic and a bit of a control freak, however, I sometimes manage to take the Lord’s Real Presence for granted and fall into the trap of depending more on myself than on Jesus. Something clicked for me at Mass today. Listening to the gospel (Luke 9:11-17) reminded me of something I should have never forgotten. The Feeding Of... Read more
I have a confession to make. When I wake up in the morning, I’m not usually filled with joy and thanksgiving. Not even close! Fortunately, I learned a little trick that really helps me. When I start my day by opening the Bible and praying one of the Psalms, it helps me feel grateful and my joy level increases. One of my favorites is Psalm 100. It takes about two minutes to pray it slowly and thoughtfully. Try this when... Read more
Why Doesn’t God Answer Me? Sooner or later, every person who prays will ask this question. I have asked it many times and will do so in the future. The important thing to keep in mind, however, is that there is a right way and a wrong way to pose this question. If you ask properly, it will bring you great peace and draw you closer to the Lord. If you ask it incorrectly, it’s just going to make you... Read more
When seeking relief from suffering, many people will open up the Bible. That’s hardly a surprise. I do it all the time and it helps. How would you react if I told you that the Book of Job is one of my favorite “go to” resources for dealing with suffering? I know it sounds crazy, but it’s true. Taken from my recent article 10 Lessons on Suffering From the Book of Job, here are some ways the Book of Job can... Read more
Did you ever feel that God was calling you to do something, but were too frightened to act? Most of us can relate to the transformation of a “great idea” into something that will “never work”. While on the surface the culprit is generally a barrage of “what ifs”, the underlying root cause is almost always fear. What begins as a powerful inspiration is ultimately cast aside because it “might not work”. The number one reason we say “no” to... Read more
Let’s face it, we live in a stressful fast-paced world. With a million things to get done and only so many hours in the day, it’s no wonder that we get stressed out. As someone who tends to be anxious and likes to be in control, I have some advice for you. It’s going to sound crazy, but it will bring you peace if you give it a chance. It will also help you to get more done. Oh, and... Read more
God loves you! I’ve heard that message for many years and never had a problem believing it. It wasn’t too long ago, however, that I realized that I didn’t really feel it. After all, there’s a big difference between knowing it in your head and feeling it in your heart. When trials and tribulations arise, a textbook knowledge of God’s love or a Bible verse doesn’t cut it. Frustrated that I kept falling apart when things didn’t go my way,... Read more
A personal relationship with Jesus is not enough. There, I said it! Even though it feels wrong to write those words, it is a true statement. Let me clarify. I have a personal relationship with Jesus and you should have one too, but it’s not enough. In addition to knowing and loving Jesus, we should also have a relationship with our Heavenly Father and the Holy Spirit. How do I know? Because Jesus said so! The Holy Spirit leads us... Read more
Sometimes I wonder why God would trust a weak and imperfect knucklehead like me with the awesome privilege of being a father. My Dad had all this “father stuff” down pat, but my daughters are young adults and I’m still trying to figure out what I’m doing! As a man, it drives me crazy is when my kids have a problem that I can’t fix. I was recently asked to write an article on fatherhood for Catholic Digest. As I... Read more
Be Not Afraid with Gary Zimak
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