Busyness, Distraction, and Restlessness, Oh My!

Busyness, Distraction, and Restlessness, Oh My!

“Today, a number of historical circumstances are blindly flowing together and accidentally conspiring to produce a climate within which it is difficult not just to think about God or to pray, but simply to have any interior depth whatsoever ….

We, for every kind of reason, good and bad, are distracting ourselves into spiritual oblivion.

It is not that we have anything against God, depth, and spirit, we would like these, it is just that we are habitually too preoccupied to have any of these show up on our radar screens.  We are more busy than bad, more distracted than nonspiritual, and more interested in the movie theater, the sports stadium, and the shopping mall and the fantasy life they produce in us than we are in church.  Pathological busyness, distraction, and restlessness are major blocks today within our spiritual lives.”  (Ronald Rolheiser, The Holy Longing: The Search for a Christian Spirituality)

During Lent wouldn’t it be a blessing if you could put your spiritual life back on the heavenly track?  You can.  Stop by a chapel or church and ask Him to help.  He will.

www.adorationpro.org/ihmmi

Lord, I Will Be There.

Lord, I Will Be There.

As Lent begins this week it’s a good time to ask: Is Jesus important enough to me to spend one hour each week to be with Him?  Just one hour once a week is all that He is asking.  Realize that that is only 1/168th of the time He gives you every week.  For us to be with Him that small amount of time every week is simply a matter of putting first things first.  “In everything you do, put God first, and He will direct you and crown your efforts with success.” (Prov 3:60)  We all waste much more time than that sitting in front of the TV or texting.  Why not make a real difference this Lent and spend time in the Chapel in His Eucharistic Presence.

www.adorationpro.org/ihmmi

click on “Weekly Commitment”

God's Hug

 Are You In Need Of A God Hug?

Yes you are … we all are but many just don’t know it.  God knows life is tough and we’re all in need of some relief from something.  It makes Him sad when he sees us looking for that relief in the wrong places.  Jesus said “I am the way, and the truth, and the life.  No one comes to the Father except through Me?” (John 14:6)  Why don't we put more belief and trust in His words?

God is giving out free hugs in the chapel … no kidding.  Maybe you have never been in the Chapel, or maybe it’s just been a long time since your last visit.  Whatever, Jesus will be so happy to see you that you will have His undivided attention.  It’s time to tell Him you love Him, and then just feel His presence in your heart.  It feels so good, you will want more!

www.adorationpro.org/ihmmi

click on “Weekly Commitment”

I'm Busy Jesus - Not Now!

 Jesus - Not Now!

Oh Jesus I just don’t have time to believe You today because I’m too busy with work, with family and pickleball; Jesus I do Love You and I hope I will get around to showing that Love tomorrow but right now I’m in a hurry; I know Jesus that I am supposed to believe that You are present in the Eucharist, it’s not that I don’t, it’s that I’m not able to give it the thought it needs to improve our relationship but I will try harder next week.  How does Jesus reply to that?

Maybe He doesn’t … 

Maybe He knows it’s not the right time to try to give you an answer because you’re not receptive?  Maybe He simply, as the saying goes, gives you more rope.  Regardless of how much rope you have God knows you are holding onto the other end.  As long as you don’t let go He knows your mind and heart can be changed.  Through His Love and by His Grace that change will work from the inside-out, and you will feel His presence.  You can start moving in that direction by simply stopping by the Adoration Chapel and ask Him for His help.

www.adorationpro.org/ihmmi

click on “Weekly Commitment”

An Abundant Amount of Time

An opportunity to improve your spiritual life by doing nothing … that’s right nothing.
If you would sit quietly in the true presence of our Lord Jesus Christ by visiting Him in the Adoration Chapel, He will do all the work and you will notice an improvement in your relationship with Him.  God knows how important ‘time’ is to us, so if we are willing to give Him one hour a week He returns ‘time’ to us abundantly.  Give it a try.

www.adorationpro.org/ihmmi

click on “Weekly Commitment”

What If …

 What If …

What would have happened if Noah said, ‘Don’t worry, it’s just a passing shower’?  (Gen 6:17)

Or if Joshua didn’t believe God and said to the people of Israel, ‘Let’s go - we all know you can’t knock a wall down by shouting’? (Jos 6:1-5)

When Jesus asked his Apostles “Are you going to leave me too?”; what would have happened if Peter said ‘Yes, I’m leaving I’d rather be fishing’ (Jn 6:66-71)

We all know what happened in those stories, and we all know in each one God’s Word wasn’t only listened to, but believed.  So now I ask; Why are there so many of us who simply don’t believe Jesus when he says “This is my body”, “This is my blood” (Mark 14:22-23) and “Amen, amen, I say to you, unless you eat the flesh of the Son of Man and drink his blood you do not have life within you.  Whoever feeds upon my flesh and drinks my blood has eternal life, and I will raise him up on the last day?” (John 6:53-54)

Do we not believe him when he references “eternal life”?  Do we not know that God cannot make a false statement?

We are all somewhere on our spiritual journey; some of us may be just beginning, others may be getting towards the end.  Regardless, NOW is the time to do something to improve your relationship with Jesus so that when you meet him face-to-face he will want to present you to the Father as his beloved and as an adopted son/daughter of God claiming their inheritance.

I hope you realize when you receive the Eucharist in Communion, you are closer to Jesus than you would have been sitting at the table during the last supper?

That same Jesus is waiting for you at this very moment in the Adoration Chapel.  Go to him; sit quietly in his presence and experience the change in your heart.

www.adorationpro.org/ihmmi

click on “Weekly Commitment”

A Worthwhile Change In The New Year

 Looking For A Change?

Every moment spent in the Eucharistic Presence of Jesus Christ increases His divine life within you and deepens your personal relationship and friendship with Him.  “I have come that you may have life, and have it more abundantly.”  “I am the Vine and you are the branches.  Whoever remains in union with Me shall bear much fruit for without Me, you can do nothing.” (Jn 10:10; 15:5)  We’ve all heard those words many times, but for many it’s like water off a duck, they simply don’t sink in.  This new year why not make a concerted effort to sincerely try to grow your relationship with God?  If you ask Him; He would love to help you.

There is no 11th Commandment that says if you visit Jesus in His Eucharistic Presence you have to spend this amount of time.  Nor is there a recommendation as to the proper way to pray.  Jesus is happy when you simply stop by for a visit and let Him do the work.  You can start with just a few minutes; but if you start with that, it won’t be long before your heart will be rewarded and you will want to spend more time with Him.

Starting this new year may be your ‘right time’ to step up and show God you want to better your relationship and will make the effort to visit him often in the chapel.  Chapel time is not the only way to show God how much you love Him, but it is a way near and dear to His Sacred Heart.  The harder it is for you to find time to visit, the greater the benefit.  God knows how precious our ‘time’ is, and when we offer a portion to Him its repaid a hundred times.  Give it a try and see for yourself.

www.adorationpro.org/ihmmi

click on “Weekly Commitment”