One day I decided to quit...

I quit my job, my relationship, my spirituality. .. I wanted to quit my life.

I went to the woods to have one last talk with God.

"God", I said. "Can you give me one good reason not to quit?"

His answer surprised me...

"Look around", He said. "Do you see the fern and the bamboo?"

"Yes", I replied.

“When I planted the fern and the bamboo seeds, I took very good care of them. I gave them light. I gave them water. The fern quickly grew from the earth. Its brilliant green covered the floor. Yet nothing came from the bamboo seed. But I did not quit on the bamboo…”

“In the second year the Fern grew more vibrant and plentiful. And again, nothing came from the bamboo seed. But I did not quit on the bamboo.” He said.

"In the third year, there was still nothing from the bamboo seed. But I would not quit. In the fourth year, again, there was nothing from the bamboo seed…”

"I would not quit." He said.

"Then in the fifth year a tiny sprout emerged from the earth. Compared to the fern it was seemingly small and insignificant. .. But just 6 months later the bamboo rose to over 100 feet tall. It had spent the five years growing roots. Those roots made it strong and gave it what it needed to survive. I would not give any of my creations a challenge it could not handle."

He said to me. "Did you know, my child, that all this time you have been struggling, you have actually been growing roots."

"I would not quit on the bamboo. I will never quit on you.“

“Don't compare yourself to others..." He said. “The bamboo had a different purpose than the fern... Yet, they both make the forest beautiful." “Your time will come,“ God said to me."You will rise high!"

“How high should I rise?" I asked. “How high will the bamboo rise?" He asked in return. "As high as it can?” I questioned. "Yes." He said.

"Give me glory by rising as high as you can."

I left the forest and bring back this story.

I hope these words can help you see that God will never give up on you.

He will never give up on you.

Never regret a day in your life.

Good days give you happiness. Bad days give you experiences; both are essential to life.

A happy and meaningful life requires our continuous input and creativity. It does not happen by chance. It happens because of our choices and actions. And each day we are given new opportunities to choose and act and, in doing so, we create our own unique journey.

Keep going... Happiness keeps you Sweet, Trials keep you Strong, Sorrows keep you Human, Failures keep you humble , Success keeps You Glowing, but Only God keeps You Going!

Finding GOD

There are also sorts of experiences in life that we can't really put a name to --- the birth of a child, for one or the death of a parent. Falling in love and falling apart.

Words are like net. We hope they'll cover what we mean, but we know they can't possibly hold that much joy, or grief, or wonder.

Finding God is like that too.

If it's happened to you, you know what it feels like. But try to describe it to someone else - and language only takes you so far.

Let me tell you about my GOD...

Let me tell you about Jesus... My Jesus.

I’m not talking about 2000 years ago. I’m talking about today. Right now.

He loves me.

He loves me... Even when I’d like to escape, even when I’d like to leave this life, just for a moment, He’s there. And He’s there when I go down, when I fall, when I want to do things that would hurt me, when I feel sick to my stomach (or is it my heart?) and depressed because I don’t understand myself, or anything for that matter.

He is there...

He’s there when I’m crying and I think no one is listening. And He’s there when I feel lonely because everyone seems to be busy dealing with something else, and no one seems to have the time to just talk for one minute about anything besides work.

He’s there when I make mistakes.

And He’s there when I doubt... When I wonder how all these things can be happening in my life.
And then, there’s those times --- the times when my heart races because I just know that something is about to happen... The times when I open my mouth to speak, and the words that come out are not my own... The times when I wake up in the middle of the night and just pray, with more honesty than I could muster up during daylight...

The times when I feel an overwhelming presence that could be nothing less than that of the all powerful God... The times when I’m so filled with love and joy that I see everyone around in a different way...

The times when I’ve been so overcome with passion that it’s borderline scary... The times when I hear the voice of God, and have to act upon it...

The times when I jump up and down, just because I’m so happy to be alive, and to be living (there is, as I’ve found, a difference between the two.)

The times when I know I’m accepted by Him, regardless of the way I act.

Freedom.

Love.

Peace.

Serenity.

So go ahead --- ask me about Jesus.

My Jesus.

God's Answers

In restless dreams

I walked alone

Narrow streets of cobblestone,

neath the halo of a street lamp,

I turned my collar to the cold and damp

When my eyes were stabbed by the flash of

A neon light

That split the night

And touched the sound of silence.

And in the naked light I saw

Ten thousand people, maybe more.

People talking without speaking,

People hearing without listening,

People writing songs that voices never share

And no one deared

Disturb the sound of silence.

Simon And Garfunkel

It's impossible = All things are possible (Luke, 18;27)

I'm too tired = I will give you rest (Matt, 11:28-30)

Nobody really loves me = I love you (John, 3:16)

I can't go on = My grace is sufficient (II Cor, 12:19)

I can't figure things out = I will direct your steps (Prov, 20:24)

I can't do it = You can do all things (Phil, 4:13)

I'm not able = I am able (II Cor, 9:8)

It's not worth it = It will be worth it (Rom, 8:1)

I can't forgive myself = I forgive you (IJn, 1:9 & Rom, 8:1)

I can't manage = I will supply all your needs (Phil, 4:19)

I'm afraid = I have not given you a spirit of fear (IITim, 1:7)

I'm always worried and frustrated = Cast all your cares on Me (IPet, 5:7)

I don't have enough faith = I've given everyone a measure of faith (Rom, 12:8)

I'm not smart enough = I give you wisdom (ICor, 1:30)

I feel all alone = I will never leave you or forsake you (Heb, 13:5)

Questioning Christianity

Question: If God created everything, then didn’t he create hell, too? If he created hell, then is hell good, since everything God created was good?

Answer: Hell is primarily an eternal state of separation between God and those creatures (angels and humans) who have permanently chosen to reject him. God created free will, which is good, but hell is the result of the abuse of free will. God did not create hell; he only allowed for its possibility. Thus it cannot be said that hell is good.

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Question: Can God do literally anything? Make square circles? Make 1 + 1 = 72? If he can't do these things, is it safe to say that he cannot do literally "anything"?

Answer: God can do all things that are possible (Matt. 19:26). He cannot do what is, for him, impossible, including to sin or to create logical impossibilities (e.g., square circles, mathematical errors, rocks too heavy for him to lift). While God can do things that are impossible for man (Luke 18:27), he cannot do what is impossible for himself.
This does not mean that God is not omnipotent; it means only that his power does not negate itself.

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Question: Is it necessary to confess how many times one has sinned?

Answer: To the best of your ability you should confess how many times you committed each grave sin. The Code of Canon Law is clear on this point:

A member of the Christian faithful is obliged to confess in kind and number all grave sins committed after baptism and not yet remitted directly through the keys of the Church nor acknowledged in individual confession, of which the person has knowledge after diligent examination of conscience. (CIC 988)

If you don’t know an exact number, you can give a best estimate or provide an approximation (e.g., "several times"). If you forget to do this or later remember additional occurrences of grave sins, your sins are still forgiven, but you should remember to acknowledge those sins at your next confession.

God's gift of grief

Why do You torture me so? When will You ever let my hardships end? When will my endless suffering abate? Why am I so tortured?

"But, my child, I have given you everything you want. Why are you tortured so?"

Because, God... Oh wait, God, while you are here I want to thank you for my parents. My parents are such beautiful blessings. Thank you, God, for these wonderful gifts. Thank you for their wit and their charm. Thank you for their health. I will cherish them with every breath I take, and forever be grateful and indebted to You.

"You are most welcome, my child. But, please tell me - why are you still tortured so?"

Because, God... Oh, and God? I wanted to thank you, again! Thank you for the food on my table, and the roof over my head, and these many precious moments of my life. My life has never been better!

"You are welcome, my child. But, please, please, tell me - why are you tortured so?"

Because, God... My dear God? Are You still there? Good. I thought You might have left me. I want to thank You for this most latest blessing. This wonderful new man You have placed in my life. How did You know, God, that we would be so perfect for each other? How did you know that the time was finally perfect in both of our lives...that the time was right for us to meet?

"I know everything, my child. And you are most welcome. Thank you for your patience. But, please, please, tell me why you are still tortured so."

Because, God. I am tortured so because...because now that I have no worries, no griefs, no more battles to fight, and no more strife, I am tortured by the 'peace'. It is unnerving, baffling, and uncomfortable. Tell me God, how can I stop this endless torture and relax in my joy and the gifts You have bestowed upon me? Tell me, my dear God. When will my torture end?

"My dear child, don't you know that I send you 'grief' as my biggest gift to you? So that you may have sight to appreciate my other gifts to you? So that you may rejoice in the glory and not be blinded to your blessings. So that you may feel these gifts that I give you?"

Oh, thank You, God! I understand fully now! Of all my blessings, my torture is truly my biggest blessing from You, for without it I would not know of all my many other blessings!

Thank You, God!

Thank You for the gift of grief!

Don't Rely on Religion

I am not saying religion is bad.

When it turns men and women inward and helps them realize that they are great... that there is an ocean of love and silence deep within the heart, then it is useful.

But where it divides people against one another, where one person is led to believe that he is saved and another is damned, or where it leads a person to believe that true happiness will be found only in an afterlife, then it is harmful.

Each life on Earth is very precious.

It is a wonderful thing to be alive.