Saturday, May 11, 2019

Fire Starters


            “But the souls of the righteous are in the hand of God, and no torment will ever touch them… Having been disciplined a little, they will receive great good, because God tested them and found them worthy of himself; like gold in the furnace he tried them, and like a sacrificial burnt offering he accepted them.  In the time of their visitation they will shine forth, and will run like sparks through the stubble.”  Wisdom 3:1, 5-7

            I never would have thought a year ago that God would call me to be doing what I’m doing today.  It started with some new friends that joined our parish, and who attended the Women’s ACTS (Adoration, Community, Theology, Service) retreat.  I did not attend the retreat this time, but I was blessed to get to know several of the women who experienced it.

            I was used to being involved with ministries inside our parish, like being a member of the choir, being a lector, and being a catechist for RCIA (Rite of Christian Initiation for Adults).  I was comfortable with the people I already knew, and the ways in which we ministered to one another in the Name of our Lord Jesus.  I wasn’t looking for a change, but my Lord showed me that it was time for me to step out in faith.

            One of my new friends invited me to a Catholic Charismatic Mass at the CCCR (Catholic Center for Charismatic Renewal.)  I just about jumped out of my skin!  I had not been to a Catholic Charismatic Mass for fifteen years, even though I grew up going to weekly Catholic Charismatic prayer meetings with my mom, since 8th grade, and continued to go to them in college, and after I got married.

I grew up praying out loud, singing praise and worship music, and using the gifts of the Holy Spirit.  In God’s holy wisdom, for the past fifteen years, He took me out of the Catholic Charismatic Renewal.  I missed the weekly meetings terribly, but there were many areas of my life that I needed to pay attention to, and offer up to God for healing, so that I could grow closer to Him.

  Some of the things I learned during this time were humility; growing in my relationship with Mary, my holy Mother of God; learning to pray the rosary and the Divine Mercy Chaplet; to love and adore my Lord at Eucharistic Adoration; to meditate on God’s Word through Lectio Divina; and to work hard at loving my husband, communicating better with him, and having a better relationship with him.

            This past year my Lord has brought me back into the Catholic Charismatic Renewal.  I have been so blessed and blown away!  I wanted so badly to start a prayer meeting at our parish, but the timing wasn’t right yet.  Instead, the Lord has been sending me and my new friends into people’s homes to start little prayer meetings, and spread the fire of His Love.

Jesus said to his disciples, “All power in heaven and on earth has been given to me.  Go, therefore, and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the holy Spirit, teaching them to observe all that I have commanded you.  And behold, I am with you always, until the end of the age.”  Matthew 28:18-20

At first, going into people’s homes felt out of my comfort zone, and definitely out of my shell.  I had to learn to rely completely upon Jesus and Mary, and the promptings of the Holy Spirit.  I constantly wondered what my husband would think.  I was worried that I would neglect my family if I spent too much time ministering away from home.

One night I was praying about this, and Mary spoke to my heart.  She said, “Say YES! to God, like I did.”  Later, Jesus spoke to my heart.  He said, “I make a way!”  Encouraged, I said yes to God, and I trusted in Jesus to make a way for me to do His Will.  I placed my faith in their beautiful words to me.  I stopped worrying about how I was going to get everything done.  God is in control of my life.  I will accomplish everything He has planned for me to do.

Lord, I want, “…to do what your hand and [your] will long ago planned to take place.  And now, Lord…enable your servants to speak your word with all boldness, as you stretch forth [your] hand to heal, and signs and wonders are done through the name of your holy servant Jesus.”  Acts 4:28-30

            “Come Holy Spirit, fill the hearts of Your faithful and enkindle in us the Fire of Your Love.  Send forth Your Spirit, and we shall be created.  And You shall renew the face of the earth!”  The Holy Spirit is represented by fire, and fills us with an unquenchable, burning love.

Is God calling you to be a fire starter?  Is God asking you to spread the Fire of His Love?  Jesus is our Light, and my new friends and I truly feel like sparks running through the stubble.  My prayer is that you allow Jesus to ignite you with the Fire of His Love and Light, and come run with Him!  Praise God!

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