Skip to main content
I was inspired today by a song that Tenth Avenue North sings called By Your Side. It is written from God's perspective. The singer is the voice of God and asks, "Why are you still searching as if I'm not enough?" It reminded me of the constant struggle I have to look for the next best thing when God is still here and has not changed. The commercialism that we complain has taken over so many of our beloved Christian celebrations (Christmas, Easter) has also infiltrated our spiritual lives. Go to a Christian bookstore (or any bookstore, virtual or bricks and mortar) and you will be overwhelmed by the amount of self help books that are available. A large portion of them are residing on the Christian aisle or section. It causes me to pause. Why are we still searching when God has given us the grace we seek? How many different ways can we hear the message? I know that people learn through different methods but it seems that we as Christians are forgetting the central message about our God. He has told us that we need to accept Him as our savior, love Him, and love our neighbors as we love ourselves. Jesus even provided us with more detailed information when he preached the sermon on the mount. Yet we continue to search for a better way. There is no better way. As the singer says in By Your Side, "...please don't fight, these hands are holding you." Why is it in our nature to forget that God is always with us? Now I am not attacking Christian writers for putting out new books. I am guilty of perpetuating the industry by buying many of the books. I just think that we may be over saturating the market when maybe all we need to do is allow God to "lift up your face" and not "turn away." I encourage you to simplify your life. If you have found a book that is allowing you to deepen your spiritual growth, along with the Bible, then you should stick with that one. If the book is truly inspired by God, then it will speak to you just as the Bible does and it will present the message you need to hear at this point in your life. God is using other folks to help you but don't forget to talk to God yourself. Conversation with God on a daily basis is a good habit to form.

Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

Praying With The Five Wounds Of Jesus

I am just beginning to dive into the beautiful, ancient devotion to the Five Wounds of Jesus, and I wanted to share a bit of the journey with you. It can feel a little overwhelming at first to look at the Crucifix this closely, but I’ve found such a gentle guide in St. Bernard of Clairvaux . In his Jubilee Rhythm on the Passion, Bernard doesn't treat the wounds of Jesus as distant historical facts or sights to be avoided. Instead, he approaches them with the tenderness of a friend, speaking directly to the feet, hands, side, and face of our Lord. For someone like me who is just starting out, his rhythm teaches that prayer isn't just about reciting words; it’s a holy hide-and-seek. Bernard invites us to literally hide ourselves within these wounds, seeing them as clefts in the rock where we can find shelter when our own lives feel turbulent or heavy. As I start this process, I’ve been practicing what I call gazing and greeting. Following Bernard’s lead, I look at the Crucifix an...
Post a Comment
Read more

Doctrinal Clarity, Not Change: Unpacking the Note on Marian Titles

The release of the Dicastery for the Doctrine of the Faith’s note, Mater Populi Fidelis , on November 4, 2025, seems to have sparked some immediate and widespread confusion, driven largely by sensationalist headlines from secular sources. In response to requests, particularly surrounding a potential Fifth Marian Dogma of Spiritual Maternity , the DDF addressed the usage of titles like Co-redemptrix and Mediatrix. Unfortunately, this has led to a large contingent online and in the media claiming that the Church has "tossed out" centuries of doctrine, with some outside the Church even proclaiming a "victory" over Catholic teaching (This may be the saddest part of it all, that we as Christians, are "competing" with each other). It is essential to understand that this doctrinal note is fundamentally about titles and clarity, not doctrine and change according to the Vatican News. The true teachings regarding Mary's unique role in salvation remain inviolabl...
Post a Comment
Read more

Just War and the Gospel: How Christ and the Catholic Church Define Moral Conflict

The Catholic understanding of a just war begins not with violence, but with the teachings of Jesus Christ, who calls His followers to love their enemies, seek peace, and act with mercy. In passages such as the Sermon on the Mount, Christ elevates forgiveness and reconciliation as the highest ideals of Christian life. At first glance, this seems to stand in tension with the idea that war could ever be morally justified. Yet the Church, drawing from both Scripture and reason, acknowledges that in a fallen world marked by sin, evil can threaten the innocent in ways that demand a response. Rooted in Christ’s command to love one’s neighbor, the just war tradition insists that any use of force must ultimately serve the protection of human life and the restoration of peace. Over centuries, theologians such as St. Augustine of Hippo and St. Thomas Aquinas helped articulate the moral framework that guides Catholic teaching on war. Their insights, later developed in the Catechism of the Cathol...
Post a Comment
Read more