Dear readers,
Today in Morning prayer a particular antiphon struchk out at me. It reads "If we have died with Christ, we beleive that we shall also live with Christ." -It does'nt have the citation-. That line really got me thinking. Every year, on good Friday especially, I meditate on Jesus's death. But I by no means die with him. Does this reading mean that we should all go out on good Friday and crucify ourselves? No.
But it does mean that we should try to die with christ. And if not in flesh but in heart and mind. If we really put ourselves, not at the foot of the cross, but on the cross with our Christ, then we are able to die with him. The grace of the cross surpasses time, that is why Jesus will never have to come save us again. He didn't just save those who were alive when he died but the power of the cross still applies to us today. And if we can contemplate his death and feel pained by it, knowing that he bore our sins as well, we can die with him as well. The morning prayer antiphons and readings are lenten ones, so it is no coincidence that it applies right now. So what will we do about it? God bless,
Peace and Love in Christ,
Alyse
Wednesday, March 31, 2010
Tuesday, March 30, 2010
Careful what you say
Dear readers,
Yesterday I was reminded of the power of words. I don't curse and I try my hardest to control what I say but now I feel convicted beyond that. When I get annoyed I naturally blurt out "stupid thing" so I will say "stupid dog" or "stupid book" or really just anything that annoys me. But yesterday as I was making a bed a sat up and knocked a cross off of the wall. I automatically blurted out "stupid cross." That is when it hit me. I quickly apologized to God but it doesn't matter. Of course the cross is far from stupid but that is just what I have programed myself to say. I remembered a wonderful Bible verse, one of my absolute favorites. It reads "If anyone does not fall short in speach, he is a perfect man, able to bridle his whole body also. If we put bits into the mouths of horses to make them obey us we also guide their whole bodies." James 3:2-3.
I am not thoroughly convinced tha tif I cut out everything wrong I say I will be perfect. But it definitely makes a difference speaking kindly and lovingly. I now am trying to monitor what I say even more carefully. "Let everything you say glorify God"-I am not quite sure where that is from. SO thank you all for reading! I am praying for You!
Peace and Love in Christ,
Alyse
Yesterday I was reminded of the power of words. I don't curse and I try my hardest to control what I say but now I feel convicted beyond that. When I get annoyed I naturally blurt out "stupid thing" so I will say "stupid dog" or "stupid book" or really just anything that annoys me. But yesterday as I was making a bed a sat up and knocked a cross off of the wall. I automatically blurted out "stupid cross." That is when it hit me. I quickly apologized to God but it doesn't matter. Of course the cross is far from stupid but that is just what I have programed myself to say. I remembered a wonderful Bible verse, one of my absolute favorites. It reads "If anyone does not fall short in speach, he is a perfect man, able to bridle his whole body also. If we put bits into the mouths of horses to make them obey us we also guide their whole bodies." James 3:2-3.
I am not thoroughly convinced tha tif I cut out everything wrong I say I will be perfect. But it definitely makes a difference speaking kindly and lovingly. I now am trying to monitor what I say even more carefully. "Let everything you say glorify God"-I am not quite sure where that is from. SO thank you all for reading! I am praying for You!
Peace and Love in Christ,
Alyse
Monday, March 29, 2010
Palm sunday
Dear readers,
Yesterday, palm Sunday, was a really great experience. Mass was beautiful!! And afterwards my great uncle got married in the church! I was totally blessed by being able to go to a wonderful mass and being able to really get into palm Sunday. I remember being a little kid and dreading the gospel. But now it is definitely one of my favorite parts of the day! Being in Holy week is perfect for meditation on what Jesus did for our sins. Yesterday I really reflected on the crucifixion and the agony Jesus went through. I reflected on the women who mourned him. Imagine watching Jesus die. So many times we stare at a crucifix and think of nothing but what if we were at the foot of the real cross? What if we stood there as he carried his cross and weren't able to stop it? All of these things I am trying to meditate on. I don't have much time today! Sorry! But God bless!
Peace and Love in Christ,
Alyse
Yesterday, palm Sunday, was a really great experience. Mass was beautiful!! And afterwards my great uncle got married in the church! I was totally blessed by being able to go to a wonderful mass and being able to really get into palm Sunday. I remember being a little kid and dreading the gospel. But now it is definitely one of my favorite parts of the day! Being in Holy week is perfect for meditation on what Jesus did for our sins. Yesterday I really reflected on the crucifixion and the agony Jesus went through. I reflected on the women who mourned him. Imagine watching Jesus die. So many times we stare at a crucifix and think of nothing but what if we were at the foot of the real cross? What if we stood there as he carried his cross and weren't able to stop it? All of these things I am trying to meditate on. I don't have much time today! Sorry! But God bless!
Peace and Love in Christ,
Alyse
Saturday, March 27, 2010
Shoot with a Mission!
Dear readers,
Today was the annual fundraiser by FMC, shoot with a mission. It is a clay pigeon shoot where people come in teams of four and go out to the target stations to shoot the targets. Praise God we had a nice turn out with many wonderful people! I go the job of sitting at a station and pressing one of two buttons to fire the pigeons. It was a new experience for me, my ears are still ringing with gun shots and I am tense for flinching each time I heard one fired at my station. Sitting there for so long I realized I would never be ready to hear the shot. Because even though I sat there for over an hour I would still jump each time any person shot. All I could do was sit there, endure, and do my little job. And even though it was little it was the most important, without me pushing those little metal buttons they wouldn't have accomplished their mission. I feel that sometimes the same concept applies in my life. I am God's little stepping stone, and I will never be prepared for what he fires. All I can rely on is my own ability to do my job for as long as he needs me. God bless!
Peace and Love in Christ,
Alyse
Today was the annual fundraiser by FMC, shoot with a mission. It is a clay pigeon shoot where people come in teams of four and go out to the target stations to shoot the targets. Praise God we had a nice turn out with many wonderful people! I go the job of sitting at a station and pressing one of two buttons to fire the pigeons. It was a new experience for me, my ears are still ringing with gun shots and I am tense for flinching each time I heard one fired at my station. Sitting there for so long I realized I would never be ready to hear the shot. Because even though I sat there for over an hour I would still jump each time any person shot. All I could do was sit there, endure, and do my little job. And even though it was little it was the most important, without me pushing those little metal buttons they wouldn't have accomplished their mission. I feel that sometimes the same concept applies in my life. I am God's little stepping stone, and I will never be prepared for what he fires. All I can rely on is my own ability to do my job for as long as he needs me. God bless!
Peace and Love in Christ,
Alyse
Friday, March 26, 2010
Have it together
Dear readers,
Wednesday night we had mission formation like we have weekly. My grandpa started off the night with sharing something he had on his heart and it inspired me so much I want to share it with you. He said he had been thinking a lot about our missionaries in the field. Right now no one really has any idea what they are doing. We have 11 missionaries in about 5 places and no one "has it together". As in has everything planned out. He made a wonderful point. The kind of people that "have it together" do nothing but sit around at home, do very little and what they are doing is getting it together. And ultimately what? You have it together, and then? When people look at the life of a missionary I am sure that no one thinks "wow that person has it together!" But that doesn't matter. Why? Because, more importantly than us having it together God does. I am not even going to pretend I know what will happen once I graduate high school, I am not even going to say I will go to college, because I truly don't know. For all I know I won't be alive by my next birthday, and so how will I make plans for 5 or 10 years in the future if I don't even have the promise of tomorrow. Think of all of the saints who spent a lot of time in prison, did they "have it together?" No! But God did and he worked wonders through their lives. I write this partially to give life to my thoughts/words. Once I have posted this comment each one of you will know that I, Alyse 14 year old missionary, give my life and the plan that accompanies it to God.
Peace and Love in Christ!
Alyse
Wednesday night we had mission formation like we have weekly. My grandpa started off the night with sharing something he had on his heart and it inspired me so much I want to share it with you. He said he had been thinking a lot about our missionaries in the field. Right now no one really has any idea what they are doing. We have 11 missionaries in about 5 places and no one "has it together". As in has everything planned out. He made a wonderful point. The kind of people that "have it together" do nothing but sit around at home, do very little and what they are doing is getting it together. And ultimately what? You have it together, and then? When people look at the life of a missionary I am sure that no one thinks "wow that person has it together!" But that doesn't matter. Why? Because, more importantly than us having it together God does. I am not even going to pretend I know what will happen once I graduate high school, I am not even going to say I will go to college, because I truly don't know. For all I know I won't be alive by my next birthday, and so how will I make plans for 5 or 10 years in the future if I don't even have the promise of tomorrow. Think of all of the saints who spent a lot of time in prison, did they "have it together?" No! But God did and he worked wonders through their lives. I write this partially to give life to my thoughts/words. Once I have posted this comment each one of you will know that I, Alyse 14 year old missionary, give my life and the plan that accompanies it to God.
Peace and Love in Christ!
Alyse
Thursday, March 25, 2010
Walking
Dear readers,
Two days ago I decided to "run" with my mom. She runs a mile and then walks a mile back. I threw on some excersise clothes and went with her. I discovered two things. The first, I will never ever run in the olympics and second I live in a beautiful place. I basically live in the middle of no where. But it is so pretty. I have gone on hat road at least 20 times before and I never noticed how beautiful it is. Foot and a half high flowers line the side of the road, the way the sun hits the trees looks like it came from a picture book and all of the houses are so cute and quaint looking. But when you are in a car going 60 miles an hour you don't notice these things. It goes by in a blur of color and you are probably so distracted by being in the car you might not notice the beautiful scenery.
So many times we get acustommed with our comfortable lives. We dont realize the value of having a bed or getting up and fiding our pantries full to the brim. We go to and from work or school and dont recognize the wonder that it is to have automobiles. And it is sad that sometimes it takes going out of your way, in my case being phisically out of shape, and slowing things down 1000 notches to get a grasp of reality again. Since then I have been trying to open my eyes to the beauty of nature and of company and I have been pleasantly surprised. You should try it too!
Peace and Love in Christ!
Alyse
Two days ago I decided to "run" with my mom. She runs a mile and then walks a mile back. I threw on some excersise clothes and went with her. I discovered two things. The first, I will never ever run in the olympics and second I live in a beautiful place. I basically live in the middle of no where. But it is so pretty. I have gone on hat road at least 20 times before and I never noticed how beautiful it is. Foot and a half high flowers line the side of the road, the way the sun hits the trees looks like it came from a picture book and all of the houses are so cute and quaint looking. But when you are in a car going 60 miles an hour you don't notice these things. It goes by in a blur of color and you are probably so distracted by being in the car you might not notice the beautiful scenery.
So many times we get acustommed with our comfortable lives. We dont realize the value of having a bed or getting up and fiding our pantries full to the brim. We go to and from work or school and dont recognize the wonder that it is to have automobiles. And it is sad that sometimes it takes going out of your way, in my case being phisically out of shape, and slowing things down 1000 notches to get a grasp of reality again. Since then I have been trying to open my eyes to the beauty of nature and of company and I have been pleasantly surprised. You should try it too!
Peace and Love in Christ!
Alyse
Wednesday, March 24, 2010
Speaking
Dear readers,
Yesterday we went to talk with a 6th grade catechism class about missions. It was so blessed! There is nothing that pumps me up like missions does! It was so great to see their faces light up when we talked to them about everything that we do. It is so nice to be able to spread the mission of the church with those around you, especially if they want to hear it! It was a super blessed experience, they gathered a bunch of rosaries and prayer cards for people in General Cepeda. I pray that we lit the burning in their hearts for missions!
It was funny because I thought about planning what to say but then remembered the scripture that said let the spirit speak through you. So I basically stood up and gave my testimony. It was so blessed and I know that the spirit worked through that more than if I had ever planned anything on my own. I also ask yall to pray becuase public speaking really scares me. I have had the grace to get better with the past groups I have led, translating and encouraging testimonies. But still it is frightning. I pray that one day I will hav ehte courage to lead a teaching in one of the ranchos. Please pray that we get some more groups together this year! Well God Bless!
Peace and Love in Christ,
Alyse
Thank you all for reading! I am praying for you!
Yesterday we went to talk with a 6th grade catechism class about missions. It was so blessed! There is nothing that pumps me up like missions does! It was so great to see their faces light up when we talked to them about everything that we do. It is so nice to be able to spread the mission of the church with those around you, especially if they want to hear it! It was a super blessed experience, they gathered a bunch of rosaries and prayer cards for people in General Cepeda. I pray that we lit the burning in their hearts for missions!
It was funny because I thought about planning what to say but then remembered the scripture that said let the spirit speak through you. So I basically stood up and gave my testimony. It was so blessed and I know that the spirit worked through that more than if I had ever planned anything on my own. I also ask yall to pray becuase public speaking really scares me. I have had the grace to get better with the past groups I have led, translating and encouraging testimonies. But still it is frightning. I pray that one day I will hav ehte courage to lead a teaching in one of the ranchos. Please pray that we get some more groups together this year! Well God Bless!
Peace and Love in Christ,
Alyse
Thank you all for reading! I am praying for you!
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