If God is Good Why Do I Suffer?

Suffering sucks!

Most of us hate to suffer. And it is understandable since we are not masochist.

But sometimes the very suffering we hate is God’s blessing to us.

Let me share with you a story I heard from Sister Briege McKenna. Sister Briege was given the gift of healing by God.

So here is the story.

A man came to sister Briege to ask to be prayed on for the healing of his cancer. So sister Briege did so. After many months sister saw the man again. The man thanked sister for her prayers. Sister asked if he got healed. The man said no. But he was grateful to God for receiving a better miracle. So sister was a little bit confused so she asked why.

The man told her that before he came to sister Briege, he and his wife was distant to each other. His kids were distant to him as well. Sometime after being prayed on by sister, he was rushed to the hospital. It was there that miracle happened. While he was in the hospital, he and his family got closer again. It was his hospitalization that healed his family. It was at that painful moment where they became a real family again.

For the man, to see his family united in love was more important than his health. For him, to feel loved is far more important than to be physically healed.

God used his cancer to unite his family.

So the man thanks God for the miracle he did in his life. He was not healed of cancer but his heart and his family was healed.

Sometimes God PERMITS suffering for the greater good. God does not cause evil, he permits it. God do make straight with crooked lines. We can only look at Jesus on the Cross. The worst thing man did in all of history, he killed God. Yet, it was that very evil that brought our salvation.

Sometimes God blessings can take form of suffering. It is like a child, who has cavities, being taken to the dentist by his father. He trusted his father only to end up in the dentist chair in pain. But the pain is necessary to take the away the cavities. The father does not enjoy seeing his son in pain, but it is a process that his son needs to take. At that moment the child feels betrayed by his father because he does not understand what is going on.

So are we. When suffering hits us we feel abandoned or betrayed by God. But like little children we do not see the whole picture, the whole movie of our lives. We see that painful moment at the whole of life itself. God looks out not only for our present but for our future as well.

Painful as it is for God to see us suffer, but if it is the only way to save us, He will endure it.

At the end of our life, when we are facing almighty God, we will see that all our sufferings made sense. And we will be even thankful for those sufferings because it brought us to where we are.

Heaven.

Blog by Daxx Bondoc
(www.inspirationalblogs.com)

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Q. How do you know if a guy loves you or wants to use you?Q. How do you know if a guy loves you or wants to use you?

A. Step one is to only commit to a guy if you've had a long friendship with him, your family likes him, and you can see yourself marrying him. Also, practice the principles of courtship, here.

Secondly, do NOT pay attention to his words. His actions are what matters. I've seen relationships where the guy cheated on the girl, and as soon as he got caught, his first words were, "Baby, it's not what you think. I love you." Thankfully, the girl wasn't convinced, and she dumped him.

I think that girls easily get swept away by a guy's flattering words because the media tends to make women feel constantly imperfect. Therefore, the "I love you baby, you're so beautiful, you're the only one for me," language really sweeps away some girls.

But this is where a girl must have wisdom. No matter what he says, don't give him sexual stuff. If a guy pressures you to give him your body, then he doesn't love you. Period.

Although this will weed out a lot of immature guys, only time will reveal a man's intentions. One man said, "If I sensed there was a moral dilemma in her mind, I would play any role necessary to reach the point where sex became inevitable."(1) There are many good guys out there but there are also plenty of predators who will tell a girl whatever she wants to hear. Therefore, a girl needs to proceed slowly, develop the skill of listening to her heart, and have the courage to follow it. Otherwise, a young woman may be left feeling as this fifteen-year-old did: "I felt strange, and in a sense, used. It was like we were both caring for the same person--him. I felt left out of it."(2)
______________________________________
1. McDowell, Why Wait?, 110.
2. Joyce L. Vedral, Boyfriends: Getting Them, Keeping Them, Living Without Them (New York: Ballantine Books, 1990). As quoted by www.lovematters.com/teenstalk.htm

from pureloveclub.com

What Do You Do When You Hit the Wall?

Have you ever been stuck in a rut? That after all your efforts, you end up staring at a wall. And after looking at it for to long, you start to pound your head at it.

Most of us have hit the wall once or too many times in our lives. Others have gave up and turned back in defeat. They have walked away from their hopes and dreams because they cannot go beyond the wall.

Life is full of walls sad to say. But these walls are not supposed to hinder or stop us from getting to where we want to be.

The walls are there so we can grow bigger than them.

“Obstacles don't have to stop you. If you run into a wall, don't turn around and give up. Figure out how to climb it, go through it, or work around it.” -Michael Jordan

The walls are there to expand us.

Michael Jordan became the icon that he is because of the walls he encountered. It was those walls that made him great. If it was not for those walls he would have not pushed himself to be the basketball player ever.

So how do the walls we encounter in life helps us?

It forces us to go beyond ourselves. It forces us to think beyond our normal way of thinking. It pushes us to be creative and resourceful. And it teaches 2 important virtues all great men and women had: determination and perseverance.

So let us look on what we can learn when we end up facing a wall. So the first thing we will think about is how to climb it. Can we climb it with our bear hands or do we need a ladder? If it to high, can we go through it? Can we blast a hole through it using explosives? Or maybe we can work our way around it by looking at the wall’s sides. Maybe there is a crack on the wall that we can slip it.

Just at that exercise of thinking how to get on the other side, you got 3 new ideas how to get over a wall that you have never had before. You learned something new. And if you put your ideas into action, you will learn more.

Even if you fail to get over that wall, you are wiser walking away from it. And when the next wall comes, you are more equipped to bust your way through. You may have more muscles to climb it. You may have a better knowledge what kind of explosives to use. Or you may know how to find cracks in the wall you can use to break through.

You can view the walls that you encounter in life as an opportunity for personal growth. Remember you are the one who is alive and not the wall!

And sooner or later you will learn how to get over those walls. And then nothing can stop you from reaching your hopes and dreams.

Blog by Daxx Bondoc
(www.inspirationalblogs.com)

*If you want to repost this blog please include “ From Inspirationalblogs.com “ and the end.

In this time of Global Crisis, where do we put our hopes in?

In these uncertain and trying times we need something firm to hold on to.

So what is the source of your courage? What makes you move forward?

Answer the Poll at www.inspirationalblogs.com


Daxx Bondoc
www.inspirationalblogs.com

If an Ass Can Do It, So Can You!

Is a donkey better than you?

What is your excuse for not being a great man or woman of God? You are imperfect? You are sinful? You lack the talents?

If God wants to raise you up to be His witness, He can. With all of your weakness, God still can work miracles through you. God can speak through an ass if He wants to. And He did. That is how he spoke to Balaam the prophet at the book of Numbers (Num. 22:28-30).

And the Lord opened the mouth of the ass, and she said: What have I done to thee? Why strikest thou me, lo, now this third time? Balaam answered: Because thou hast deserved it, and hast served me ill: I would I had a sword that I might kill thee. The ass said: Am not I thy beast, on which thou hast been always accustomed to ride until this present day? tell me if I ever did the like thing to thee.

And that is encouraging!

My friend once said, “God does not call the equipped, but equips the called.” You don’t have to be a genius or to be super holy to do God’s work. The only thing God needs from you is a willing heart. From there God will give you the grace and the talents that you will need to do His work.

God is the God of the impossible. God is not limited by your limitations.

In every one of us lies the seed of greatness, waiting to spring up. He is only waiting for you to say “Yes Lord, I am here to do your will."

Your greatness lies before you.

If an ass can do it, so can you!

Blog by Daxx Bondoc
(www.inspirationalblogs.com)

*If you want to repost this blog please include “ From Inspirationalblogs.com “ and the end.

Dating is About Dumping

Like it or not, the potential for rejection is part of the package.

by Mary Beth Bonachi

I’m on a new “kick” in my talks to singles.

It started because of a trend I was seeing. In talk after talk very nice, well-intentioned single people were coming up to me with the same problem. “I know my relationship isn’t working out. But I’m having a hard time breaking it off. I know that if I end it, she (or he) will be really hurt. And hurting someone like that just doesn’t seem like the right thing to do.”

What’s a nice Catholic to do?

It seems like quite the dilemma. We’re always supposed to want what’s best for the other person. We care about their feelings. And yet, here we are in a situation where we’re literally supposed to hurt their feelings and make them miserable.

Yup. Like I keep telling you, dating isn’t all fun and games.

Here’s where the problem comes in. Dating is supposed to be about figuring out if you want to get married, and if so, to whom. That’s all. The whole idea is to spend time with someone, figuring out if this person has the kind of traits you’re looking for in a spouse. If they do, you keep spending time together. If they don’t, you move on. That’s what you’re supposed to do. It’s like interviewing for a job, really -- the job of spouse.

But a lot of people lose sight of that goal. They begin to believe that dating is a way for them to achieve status, or alleviate loneliness, or fill a need for love in their lives. They think “If only I had a boyfriend (or girlfriend). Then I’d always have someone around who would love me and care for me and be there for me to wipe away my tears when I’m sad.”

Bad plan. Love is a need. It’s extremely important that we have people in our lives who care about us, who want what’s best for us, and who are committed to being there for us no matter what. Everyone needs someone like that. But who do you want that person to be? Do you want it to be someone who has an obligation to drop you if you don’t turn out to be the best candidate for the job of lifetime partner? I’d say that’s a case of putting all of your eggs in a very unstable basket. You’re setting yourself up for a pretty serious fall.

Yeah, it’s important to care about the people that you date. It’s important to want what is best for them. It’s important to always look out for their feelings, and not to cause them unnecessary pain. But implant this firmly on your brain: DATING IS ABOUT REJECTION. It’s a part of the package. It goes with the territory. No matter how nice or wonderful someone may be -- if that person isn’t right for you, then your obligation is to let that person go. That’s what’s best for him or her. Anything else would be a lie -- making this person believe that you could have a future together when in fact you know you don’t.

The best indication of whether you care about someone you’re dating isn’t whether or not you break up -- it’s how you break up. If you do it as soon as you’re certain, if you do it kindly and clearly (instead of just disappearing from sight), you really are looking out for what is best for the other person. You’re freeing him or her to find Mr. or Ms. Right instead of being bound to you when it’s not going to work.

Yeah, rejection hurts. Dating hurts sometimes -- that’s the way it is.

It’s not a game for the weak or the queasy. It’s grown-up stuff. And if someone isn’t strong enough or mature enough to handle rejection, that person isn’t strong enough or mature enough to date. Period.

Yes, you need real love in your life. But if you’re single, don’t fool yourself into believing that you can rely on a boyfriend or a girlfriend to give you that kind of unconditional love. Find that love by cultivating loving relationships with your family and with your good friends. They’re the ones who are going to be around for the long run.

Inventory of normality

by Paolo Coelho

I decided to conduct a survey among my friends about what society considers to be normal behavior. What follows is a list I have made of some of the absurd situations we face in day-to-day life, just because society sees them as normal:

1] Anything that makes us forget our true identity and our dreams and makes us only work to produce and reproduce.

2] Making rules for a war (the Geneva Convention).

3] Spending years at university and then not being able to find a job.

4] Working from nine in the morning to five in the afternoon at something that does not give us the least pleasure, so that we can retire after 30 years.

5] Retiring only to discover that we have no more energy to enjoy life, and then dying of boredom after a few years.

6] Using Botox.

7] Trying to be financially successful instead of seeking happiness.

8] Ridiculing those who seek happiness instead of money by calling them “people with no ambition”.

9] Comparing objects like cars, houses and clothes, and defining life according to these comparisons instead of really trying to find out the true reason for being alive.

10] Not talking to strangers. Saying nasty things about our neighbors.

11] Thinking that parents are always right.

12] Getting married, having children and staying together even though the love has gone, claiming that it’s for the sake of the children (who do not seem to be listening to the constant arguments).

12ª] Criticizing everybody who tries to be different.

14] Waking up with a hysterical alarm-clock at the bedside.

15] Believing absolutely everything that is printed.

16] Wearing a piece of colored cloth wrapped around the neck for no apparent reason and known by the pompous name “necktie”.

17] Never asking direct questions, even though the other person understands what you want to know.

18] Keeping a smile on your face when you really want to cry. And feeling sorry for those who show their own feelings.

19] Thinking that art is worth a fortune, or else that it is worth absolutely nothing.

20] Always despising what was easily gained, because the “necessary sacrifice” – and therefore also the required qualities – are missing.

21] Following fashion, even though it all looks ridiculous and uncomfortable.

22] Being convinced that all the famous people have tons of money saved up.

23] Investing a lot in exterior beauty and paying little attention to interior beauty.

24] Using all possible means to show that even though you are a normal person, you are infinitely superior to other human beings.

25] In any kind of public transport, never looking straight into the eyes of the other passengers, as this may be taken for attempting to seduce them.

26] When you enter an elevator, looking straight at the door and pretending you are the only person inside, however crowded it may be.

27] Never laughing out loud in a restaurant, no matter how funny the story is.

28] In the Northern hemisphere, always wearing the clothes that match the season of the year: short sleeves in springtime (however cold it may be) and a woolen jacket in the fall (no matter how warm it is).

29] In the Southern hemisphere, decorating the Christmas tree with cotton wool, even though winter has nothing to do with the birth of Christ.

30] As you grow older, thinking you are the wisest man in the world, even though not always do you have enough life experience to know what is wrong.

31] Going to a charity event and thinking that in this way you have collaborated enough to put an end to all the social inequalities in the world.

32] Eating three times a day, even if you’re not hungry.

33] Believing that the others are always better at everything: they are better-looking, more resourceful, richer and more intelligent. Since it’s very risky to venture beyond your own limits, it’s better to do nothing.

34] Using the car as a way to feel powerful and in control of the world.

35] Using foul language in traffic.

36] Thinking that everything your child does wrong is the fault of the company he or she is keeping.

37] Marrying the first person who offers you a position in society. Love can wait.

38] Always saying “I tried”, even though you haven’t tried at all.

39] Putting off doing the most interesting things in life until you no longer have the strength to do them.

40] Avoiding depression with massive daily doses of television programs.

41] Believing that it is possible to be sure of everything you have won.

42] Thinking that women don’t like football and that men don’t like interior decoration.

43] Blaming the government for everything bad that happens.

44] Being convinced that being a good, decent and respectful person means that the others will find you weak, vulnerable and easy to manipulate.

45] Being convinced that aggressiveness and discourtesy in treating others are signs of a powerful personality.

46] Being afraid of fibroscopy (men) and childbirth (women).

47] And finally, thinking that your religion is the sole proprietor of the absolute truth, the most important, the best, and that the other human beings in this immense planet who believe in any other manifestation of God are condemned to the fires of hell.

From http://www.warriorofthelight.com

Pope Underlines Need for Reflection on God's Love

Encourages Lenten Prayer Time, Retreat for Spiritual Growth

VATICAN CITY, MARCH 8, 2009 (Zenit.org).- Benedict XVI is emphasizing the need for prayer as a means of spiritual growth, to unite one's will with God and immerse oneself in his love.

The Pope affirmed this today in an address to those gathered in St. Peter's Square for the Angelus.

He spoke about his retreat last week, noting that "it was a week of silence and prayer: the mind and heart were able to dedicate themselves entirely to God, to listening to his Word, to meditation on the mysteries of Christ."

The Pontiff likened his retreat experience to that of the apostles who saw Jesus transfigured on the mountain. He explained, "Jesus wanted his disciples, especially those who would have the responsibility of leading the newborn Church, to directly experience his divine glory, to be able to face the scandal of the cross."

They needed this prayer to help them in the difficult moments, he said, like in Gethsemane when they realized that they needed "the grace of Christ" to "sustain them and help them to believe in the resurrection."

The Holy Father emphasized, "Jesus' transfiguration was essentially an experience of prayer."

Union with God

He continued: "Prayer, in fact, reaches its culmination -- and thus becomes the source of interior light -- when the spirit of man adheres to that of God and their wills join almost to form a single will.

"When Jesus ascends the mountain he immerses himself in the contemplation of the Father's plan of love, who sent him into the world to save humanity."

Benedict XVI affirmed that in the moment "Jesus sees the cross outlined before him, the extreme sacrifice necessary to liberate us from the reign of sin and death, [...] in his heart he once again repeats his 'Amen.'"

"He says yes, here I am, let your will of love be done, Father," the Pope noted.

He said, "Together with fasting and works of mercy, prayer forms the essential structure of our spiritual life."

The Pontiff exhorted his listeners to "find in this time of Lent moments of prolonged silence, perhaps a retreat, to reflect again on your life in the light of heavenly Father's plan of love."

He continued: "Let the Virgin Mary, teacher and model of prayer, be your guide in this more intense listening to God."

--- --- ---

On ZENIT's Web page:

Full text of address: http://www.zenit.org/article-25301?l=english

Pope Gives Pastoral Tips Faced to Economic Crisis

Encourages Priests to Teach Justice and Charity

VATICAN CITY, MARCH 6, 2009 (Zenit.org).- Benedict XVI is urging priests to face the economic crisis by speaking out against avarice on a large scale, and forming justice in the hearts of all people.

The Pope affirmed this in a meeting Feb. 26 with parish priests of the Diocese of Rome, a Lenten tradition, in which he answered their questions and concerns.

He addressed a pastor's question about how to help people deal with the present economic crisis. On the level of macroeconomics, he said, it "is a duty of the Church" to "denounce" the "underlying errors."

"We must do so with courage," he asserted, "but also by being specific." He explained that "great morality is not helpful if it is not based on knowledge of the reality, which also helps to understand what can be done concretely to change the situation gradually."

The Pontiff noted the central point of the existence of original sin. "If it did not exist," he said, "we could appeal to lucid reason, with arguments that are irrefutable and accessible to all, and to the good will that is in everyone."

However, he said, reason is "confused by false premises" and thus "one goes forward with great intelligence and makes great strides on an erroneous path."

As well, the Holy Father said, the will is marked by original sin and thus "it does not simply try to do good, but above all seeks itself or seeks the good of its own group."

Faith and reason

He continued, "Without the light of faith, which penetrates the darkness of original sin, reason cannot go forward."

Faith "then runs into the resistance of our will," he said. "It does not want to see the way, which would be a path of self-denial and of correction of one's own will in favor of the other, not of oneself," he added.

Benedict XVI stated that the "Church always has the duty to remain vigilant," to enter the reasoning of the economic world, "and to illumine this reasoning with the faith that frees us from the egoism of original sin."

He added, "It is a task of the Church, to enter into this discernment, into this reasoning, to make itself heard, including at the various national and international levels, to help and to correct."

While there is original sin, he said, there will never be total perfection, but "we must do everything possible to implement corrections that are at least provisional, sufficient to enable humanity to live and to put obstacles to the dominance of egoism, which presents itself under pretexts of science and of national and international economy."

Personal conversion

The Pope affirmed that this work must be complemented by efforts for the "conversion of hearts." He added, "If there are no just men, there is no justice either."

He continued: "Justice cannot be created in the world only with good economic models, even if these are necessary.

"Justice is only brought about if there are just men. And there are no just men without the humble, daily endeavor of converting hearts, and of creating justice in hearts. Only in this way is corrective justice extended.

"That is why the work of the parish priest is so essential, not only for the parish, but for humanity."

The Pontiff concluded, "To open hearts to justice and charity is to educate in the faith, to lead to God."

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On ZENIT's Web page:

Full text of question and answer: http://www.zenit.org/article-25283?l=english

Wondering How to Deepen Your Life?

Most of us like to live in our lives in shallow waters, where it is safe and easy. You ain't gonna drown on shallow waters right? For the most of us, our days become a daily routine of monotonous activities. So we live our life with certain boredom and even some kind of jadedness.

Yet, there are those who live life in deep waters. They are not contented with mediocrity. They long to live life to the full. They desire to live a life that is meaningful and significant.

When Jesus first saw Peter, he was cleaning his boat on the shore. Jesus just suddenly jumped on Peter’s boat and asked him to go to deep waters.
Peter obliges.

When they reached deep waters Jesus asked Peter to throw the nets.

Peter replied, “Master we have worked all night and caught nothing. But at your word I will let down the nets”

Suddenly their nets caught great numbers of fish that it was almost tearing!
Like Peter, many of us have labored and labored but “have caught nothing.” It seems like are hard work are going nowhere.

But when we let Jesus invade our lives, He lifts up our actions, our lives, our being. We suddenly find ourselves in a higher pitch of life. We become suddenly more productive than we ever had when Jesus is in our boats.

But before we experience this lifting up of our lives and being we must first follow what Peter did.

He obeyed Jesus.

Peter let Jesus take him to deep waters and to a deeper way of life. It is in the deep with Jesus that Peter found something more than he expected.

So are you still living in the shallow waters?

Let Jesus in your boat and take you to the deep. And there you will find your greatness.

Blog by Daxx Bondoc
(www.inspirationalblogs.com)

*If you want to repost this blog please include “ From Inspirationalblogs.com “ and the end.

Do You Have the Courage to Live Life?

Who do you think has more courage facing an enemy with a machine gun, Superman or a normal soldier? Superman doesn’t need courage to defeat the enemy because he is immune to bullets. He knows he won’t get hurt. On the other hand, a normal soldier needs a lot of courage to take the enemy down. He knows he can lose his life going against this enemy. Courage is when the soldier decides to fight the enemy even if he is shaking in his boots. You don’t need courage in front of a tree. You need courage in front of a bully. Courage can only be practiced under fire. Courage is not the absence of fear. It is overcoming your fear in front of danger. It is also taking a risk for the sake of the good. You can never pursue your dreams without courage. Only courage can silence our fears. A lot of people have been crippled because of their fear of failure and getting hurt. Fear continually robs them of their dreams. Fear has made them mediocre, helpless and worst, hopeless. Only courageous people can go against the river, cowards are swept away. Courage can make the difference between your mediocrity and greatness. You can never be great sitting on your butt waiting for the perfectly safe moment or opportunity before you act. It will never happen. You need to have the courage to take risks if you want to go anywhere in life. “If you don’t take risks for God, you won’t give anything worthwhile.” - St Louis de Montfort Mountain climbers risk their own safety to see the beautiful view at the peak. It is the same for us. If we want to go beyond mediocrity and experience the peak of life, we must be courageous. We must risk. Will you have the courage to live life to the full?

Blog by Daxx Bondoc
(www.inspirationalblogs.com)

*If you want to repost this blog please include “ From Inspirationalblogs.com “ and the end.

7 REASONS NOT TO MARRY

by Susan Stith
Family Life Director – Diocese of Altoona-Johnstown

The decision to marry is the biggest decision that most people make in a lifetime. Following is a list of danger signs. If any of these are present in your relationship now, it is best to postpone the marriage until the issue is resolved. Marriage itself will not make these problems disappear. In fact, these problems almost always get worse after marriage.

1. Marrying to get out of the house.
This is simply trading one set of problems for another. Other options exist to get away from a troubled home. A counselor