True North Missionaries Journal

I once heard from a session that while Waiting is an integral part of living, it sometimes becomes an act the robs us from the joy of Him in our lives.

In a season of waiting for answers and prayers, He has always led me to introspect on life: To whom do my allegiances lie? To whom does my heart belong? Ultimately, the long journey of questioning and prayer leads me back to the realization God wants me all to Himself.

The desire for God is written in our hearts (CCC27). It might be disguised as other desires. In time, however, the Holy Spirit peels aways the layers and exposes what we are really waiting on: the Lord.

Holy Spirit, I give you permission to work in my life that way that You want. 

Often times we believe we can do everything ourselves. We rely on our own strength, time, energy and patience in our everyday lives whether it’s work, school or in service. However, there will always be times when our own strength is simply not enough. This can especially be true in service. Even after pouring hours into organizing/coordinating documents, planning and logistics you’ll always be asked to do more and give more of yourself, time and efforts. It’s at these moments that we can grumble in our service or throw in the towel. However, our other option is understanding that we need Him and the only way to carry-on is through His grace. The toughest part of serving can be when you are exhausted, have a full plate of responsibilities and things don’t go according to plan. It can feel overwhelming, but it’s by God’s grace that we can instead say thank you for the opportunity to praise Him and ask for further strength. These are the chances we have to trust Him and His plans. It is not always what we do in service, but the attitude we carry that God cares about. It is an opportunity to reflect God in ourselves to others.

Purity of heart demands prayer and practice. We keep our communication to the Lord open through our prayer and we practice to be pure. This is our defense against the world… to have a pure heart. The battle lies within the human heart and it demands practice….. If we want the intention to be pure, we practice it. Above all, submit to the Holy Spirit, do not resist.

When we desire to become pure, we teach ourselves to be attuned to the demands of God’s holiness. It enables us to see God and be like Him. When we desire to serve, it demands time on our part. Our desires are accompanied with demands but when the heart is pure the demands that accompany in serving our neighbours and the community, no matter how hard, become love.

Pentecost. Upon reflecting and just visualizing what happened during Pentecost I couldn’t help but grasp how much more intensely that the Lord has loved me and is continuing to love me.

We often focus on the gifts of the Holy Spirit but maybe we can look at THE gift of the Holy Spirit that lives in us today.

This gift is that God calls our hearts His home. 

Let’s never forget that. Pentecost reminds us that no matter how unworthy we are, how much we’ve done to turn our backs from the Lord, He continues to knock on our hearts because He wants to live in us and unpack the love He has prepared for our lives. 

Sometimes we don’t hear Him knock. So let our prayer time, service, and simply the way we live like Jesus allow us to silence the worldly noise that prevents the Lord from entering.

Simple as that. You are loved. God lives in everyone. He is proud to call YOU His home. 

Desiderio Domini 

Jesus’ great desire is a concern of love – for us to be united in love in all that we do. 

Two days ago, I attended the recollection for all the service team for the upcoming Eastern CFC Conference… And spotted the following group of YFCs in attendance. It was then that I had a realization turned worry that sank into my heart – that this year, Ontario and its Areas were hosting at 4 Conferences. In all 4, no matter who the host Area is or ministry we repped, YFCs would be asked to serve. On top of regular activities and YFC priorities (God, Family, School, Needed Work, then service – in that order), this is a lot to do!

The Gospels for the past few days have been revealing to me, especially in this morning’s Gospel (John 17_20-26). The revelation that Jesus, has great desires for us. A revelation of the “whys” and “how” behind all the “whats” we are being asked to do. For one, that in all things, we are to be in communion with Him and with one another. This is what he ardently prays to the Father that, second, in his desire for the world, in seeing us, may believe in Him (John 17).

We are never alone, we are One in Christ and with one another. This is how Jesus looks toward the future – A hope, that we all may remain in love which unifies. Because anything done without love and without unity is not deserving credibility, for everything and absolutely everything, must be done in charitable and selfless love (1 Corinthians 16). Am I in love, and loving in all that I do? Out of this love, am I growing in virtue (and is really worry for me, really) – in patience with others, compassion, sensitivity to the Holy Spirit, etc. – in my service, mission?

Jesus’ great desires is the right kind of worry. Beyond tasks that need to be done, His worry, which is a concern of love for us, is priority above all things. Do I take the time to really listen to the desires and worries of Christ? 

Christ blesses me with the following understanding in my prayer time with a peace that is beyond understanding (Philippians 4). We can continue to give of ourselves, go out of ourselves and give our lives fully despite our limitations (#ChristUnlimited) in service and in mission if we remain “in Him” (John 17), in love in all we do.

 

Although evangelization is a key to our mission as a global community, we also need to be present when social activities requires it. If we don’t show up in public for our core beliefs, then we will not be heard. We need to show that we are not only a community but we also support the stances of the church. Today I witnessed and took part with 20 thousand others marching for life. We took a stand in front of our nation’s capital, the country and the world that we do not agree with the current laws being imposed. We must seek to do more and must do better. That our mission is not just to evangelize, but to protect life at its core.

It is not always enough to like a post, or share a photo on social media. We need to be present in social activities, especially in public. Although prayers as essential, it is the physical presence and peaceful demonstration that puts our faith into action.

As FTPWs, we have a consistent coordination meeting every Monday morning. This meeting consists of a teaching (where FTPWs are assigned to give in rotation) and/or updates, announcements, prayer intentions, etc. Wherever we are, we connect through the gift of technology (usually using the handy dandy GOTO meeting app), which is such a blessing… and … we blessed to sometimes have special guest speakers who join us and give the teaching.

During the past teaching on Monday, I was hit and inspired with something the guest speaker had said, which was, “If we think that whatever we are doing is ONLY a sacrifice, then we need to think again…” Then, he further went on to say, “Instead of thinking about our service to the Lord as only a sacrifice, but to think more so of it as acts of THANKSGIVING TO HIM“.

BOOM. I was humbled. WHY?

I sometimes get tempted to think that the service, the meetings, being away from home … etc. etc. etc…are sacrifices that I am offering to God for His greater glory which is not bad in itself but I forget that whatever we do… GOD does not technically need. He could have called someone else ‘better’ but I believe He would rather have us offer our acts/sacrifices as praise and thanksgiving.

Why?

He blesses so much each and everyday …loves us and pursues us relentlessly, sometimes without us knowing and being oblivious to our surroundings. Each and every day, sacrifices for the greater good is part of what we do as Christians, leaders, family members, students, people in society, and what we celebrate each and every time we attend Mass… but… the ultimate sacrifice has been done… Jesus dying on the cross… so …God is happy with our sacrifices each day but I am now more inspired to offer each act, deed, prayer etc… as THANKSGIVING… because our God deserves our praises each and every second of our lives.

Let’s offer each guitar strum, late night practices/meetings, dollar, and many other things we posses as not just sacrifices but more so, THANKSGIVING to GOD.

 

AMEN.