Give thanks to the LORD, who is good, whose love endures forever. (1 Chronicles 16:34) A few days ago, I offered advice for thanking God when you don’t feel thankful. My post was inspired by a great list that I ran across on the Internet. After reading the list, I was extremely thankful for my many blessings! I bet you never thought to thank God for some of these things… Utilities If you have running water in your home, thank God. If... Read more
Do you struggle to pray the rosary? If so, you’re not alone. Some Catholics grit their teeth and tough it out, while others give up and conclude that it’s impossible to pray the rosary without getting bored. Believe me when I tell you that I struggled with this for years. I knew that the rosary was important, but I absolutely hated to pray it! Feeling terrible, I was determined to find something that would help. After much research, I came... Read more
Let me be totally honest with you. I know I should thank God for my blessings every day, but sometimes I don’t feel thankful. Sure, I’ve learned to go through my standard list and force myself to thank him, but I know I can do better. True thanksgiving should flow from the heart and be effortless. Rather than force myself to read through a list of blessings, I should be overflowing with thanks for all that God has done for... Read more
“Be Not Afraid!” It’s been said that this phrase appears in the Bible 365 times, once for every day of the year. While the exact number may vary depending on which translation you use, it’s safe to say that the message appears hundreds of times. Not to be a buzzkill or anything, but did you ever ask yourself, “Why?” With all of the craziness going on in the world, why shouldn’t we be afraid? God: “I Am With You and... Read more
As an anxious person by nature and someone who has spent thousands of hours worrying about anything and everything, I understand the mind of a worrier. I have suffered from panic attacks, digestive issues, heart palpitations and sleepless nights. By the grace of God, however, my worrying is under control and I have spent the past seven years helping others break free from the worry habit. Through my full time speaking and writing ministry, I have been blessed to share... Read more
For years I went to Mass on Pentecost Sunday, but one thing always bugged me. I got the part about the Holy Spirit descending on the apostles and those gathered with them. I also understood that this event was considered to be the birth of the Church. What I didn’t get was why we were praying for the Holy Spirit to show up. Didn’t this already happen two thousand years ago? Furthermore, isn’t the Holy Spirit living inside of me?... Read more
Have you noticed that there’s been a lot of Holy Spirit talk in the past few weeks? I’ve been hearing it at church, in blogs and it’s all over Catholic media. And there’s a good reason for it. Tomorrow is Pentecost Sunday and the Holy Spirit is definitely the “star of the show”. But here’s something to ponder. When the Spirit descended on the members of the early Church (Acts 2), there was a drastic change in them. They prophesied,... Read more
See if this sounds familiar. Someone asks you to pray for a special need – a doctor’s appointment, job interview, difficult encounter, etc. You agree and then totally forget about it. By the time you remember, it’s too late…or so you think. Here’s some good news. It’s never too late to pray. Because God exists outside of time, we can (and should) pray for past events! One of the remarkable things about prayer, according to blogger Mark Shea, is that... Read more
Life has its ups and downs. How’s that for an insightful revelation? I realize that you don’t need me to tell you that life is a mixture of highs and lows, but that simple reminder is the key to surviving life’s ups and downs. It’s a lesson that I first learned when my premature twin daughters were fighting for their lives and one that continues to help me today. If you can keep this in the back of your mind,... Read more
When I was working as a software developer it was easy to trust God. I had a steady job, money in the bank and a decent retirement account. Everything was fine and dandy until the day that I unexpectedly got laid off. Filled with panic because I was the sole provider for my family, I began to pray like I never prayed before. I also began to understand that I had been placing my trust in the wrong things. I... Read more
Be Not Afraid with Gary Zimak
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