My financial adviser called me the other day to check on my retirement status. She said that she had looked at my portfolio and did not like how it was performing. She was very concerned about my future and my ability to enjoy my current quality of life. Did I have the same concerns she asked? It caused me to pray about the matter. I was drawn to Psalms 39:19, which says, "In times of disaster they will not wither; in days of famine they will enjoy plenty." I know that God is not telling us to sit idly by and do nothing. I think what He is telling us in this passage is to enlarge out expectations. I understand that my financial adviser has a job to do and she is thinking in very earthly terms. But I also am afraid that she may be thinking of making sure my cup is full when God is planning to send me a river. I know that my reward in Heaven will be more than I can ever expect. I am not sure if I am really prepared for that. Our God provides more than enough. He is not bound by the same earthly limitations that we are. In fact, we cannot even imagine His abundance. So why are we worried? I know there is trouble in the economy but I am choosing to place my trust in the Lord. I am working and budgeting and spending my money wisely. I am putting aside money for later in life. At the same time, I am making sure to give the Lord His share. I am also making sure I am donating money to others in need. We cannot hide ourselves away and hope everything works out. God is calling us to be bold in our expectations and to serve Him fully. That means we must expect God to provide for us. And when He does, we should be quick to thank Him.
Kurt Hilgefort, is a Catholic father of six who publishes his thoughts on his blog Shadows of Augustine . He responded to my seven question survey with the following answers. Kurt is the first layperson to respond to the seven question survey and I think that his experience is extremely relevant to me personally and I hope that you are inspired by his thoughts as well. If you would like to respond, please send an email to fellmananthony@gmail.com with your thoughts and I will be happy to publish them as well. 1. What is the biggest challenge to your faith that you have faced so far? The biggest challenge for me has been the whole dying to self thing. On an intellectual level, there are no barriers. It comes down to a matter of accepting the authority of the Church that Christ founded upon Peter. My challenge is not in the intellect, but rather in the will. The challenge for me has always been to continually seek conversion. I want to be transformed, but I want it to be over all ...
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