Thursday, July 5, 2012

LESSONS FROM ST JOSEPH

As the father of a teenager with high-functioning autism, I am sometimes challenged to give my oldest child the focus and patience he needs from me.  I frequently feel inadequate when I advise and guide my 11 year old son through the minefields of today’s culture.  My loving wife should expect my best efforts as a husband, yet I often feel distracted or too worn out to give her the 100% she deserves.  With Father’s Day fast approaching, I have recognized for several weeks that I needed to make a course correction and get back on track.

Perhaps in answer to recent prayer, I was asked to contribute a short video clip about making our work more meaningful for the www.courageouscatholicresources.com website which is promoting a Saint Joseph Novena encouraging fathers to fully embrace their responsibilities and calling.

Being involved in this worthwhile project has been a true blessing.  As a Catholic dad and husband, who better for me to emulate than the patron saint of fathers?  I have long been drawn to Saint Joseph and find in his life the encouragement to be more obedient and trusting in God’s promises.  Even though I often wrestle with self-created challenges on the parenting and marriage fronts, my shortcomings are somewhat lessened when I pray for his intercession and reflect on his heroic example in caring for Jesus and Mary.
As I have reflected on his life and prayed the Novena, I have gotten back on track with my family and regained the peace that frequently leaves me when I allow work and the pressures of the world to dominate my thoughts and calendar.  Here are five important lessons I have learned from Saint Joseph as I have addressed my most recent struggles:

Five Lessons from Saint Joseph


  1. Saint Joseph was obedient.  Joseph was obedient to God’s Will throughout his life.  Joseph listened to the angel of the Lord explain the virgin birth in a dream and then took Mary as his wife (Matthew 1:20-24).  He was obedient when he led his family to Egypt to escape Herod’s infanticide in Bethlehem (Matthew 2:13-15).  Joseph obeyed the angel’s later commands to return to Israel (Matthew 2:19-20) and settle in Nazareth with Mary and Jesus (Matthew 2:22-23).  How often does our pride and willfulness get in the way of our obedience to God?
  2. Saint Joseph was selfless.  In the limited knowledge we have about Joseph, we see a man who only thought of serving Mary and Jesus, never himself.  What many may see as sacrifices on his part, were actually acts of selfless love.  His devotion to his family is a model for fathers today who may be allowing disordered attachments to the things of this world to distort their focus and hinder their vocations.
  3. Saint Joseph led by example.  None of his words are written in Scripture, but we can clearly see by his actions that he was a just, loving and faithful man.  We often think that we primarily influence others by what we say, when so often we are watched for our actions.  Every recorded decision and action made by this great saint is the standard for men to follow today.
  4. Saint Joseph was a worker.  He was a simple craftsman who served his neighbors through his handiwork.  He taught his foster son Jesus the value of hard work.  It is likely that that the humility Joseph exhibited in recorded Scripture spilled over into the simple approach he took to his work and providing for the Holy Family.  We can all learn a great lesson from Saint Joseph, who is also the patron saint of workers, on the value of our daily work and how it should exist to glorify God, support our families and contribute to society.
  5. Saint Joseph was a leader.  But, not in the way we may view leadership today.  He led as a loving husband when he improvised to find a stable for Mary to give birth to Jesus, after being turned away from the Bethlehem inn.  He led as a man of faith when he obeyed God in all things, took the pregnant Mary as his wife and later brought the Holy Family safely to Egypt.  He led as the family provider by working long hours in his workshop to make sure they had enough to eat and a roof over their heads.  He led as a teacher by teaching Jesus his trade and how to live and work as a man.
As Catholic men, we have a responsibility to be strong fathers and husbands, leaders in our parishes, good stewards in the community and humble followers of Christ.  Let’s look to the inspiring example of Saint Joseph, patron saint of fathers, workers and the Universal Church for his obedience, humility, selflessness, courage and the love he showed to Mary and Jesus.  If we can emulate St. Joseph even a little each day, we will be that much closer to becoming the men we are called to be.


Randy Hain, Senior Editor for The Integrated Catholic Life™, is the author of The Catholic Briefcase: Tools for Integrating Faith and Work which was recently released by Liguori Publications. The Catholic Briefcase is available on Amazon, Barnes & Noble online and your local Catholic bookstore. 

Thursday, March 15, 2012

Jehovah Jireh

A friend shared this with me and I’m passing it along because I found it encouraging and a great description of what I feel many of us are facing in our circumstances.

Aletha Hinthorn

God gave Abraham a startling command. “Take your promised son and offer him in sacrifice!”
During his three days’ journey to the place of sacrifice, Abram came to the conviction that, if God required him to offer Isaac, He was also able to raise him up from the dead.
So he bound Isaac with cords and laid him upon the altar. Just as Abraham raised his knife to kill his son, an authoritative voice from heaven said, “Do not lay a hand upon the boy.” Abraham looked and saw a ram caught by its horns.

As a result of these events, Abraham called the name of that place Jehovah Jireh “the Lord will provide” (Genesis 22:14). Jehovah Jireh is not a personal name of God, but rather, the name of a place where God appeared. Still, it is a name that we ascribe to God. The name means God sees to everything beforehand. We never have a need that is not already met.
The key to discovering God to be our Jehovah Jireh is to give up our Isaac, the thing that is dearest to us. It’s praying, “Lord, You know what I want, and You love me better than I love myself. I choose Your provision over my own.”

When we willingly give up our deepest desire, then, and only then, can we discover that God’s provisions are always better than we could imagine.
For instance, God’s provisions always look ahead much further than we can see. If we were allowed to design our blessings, we would ask for blessings prematurely or for blessings too small. God often withholds what we ask because He has higher plans for us that we can imagine.
He may lead us through what would seem to be unkind, unfair, and totally unnecessary paths. Suddenly He brings us to a turn in the road, where we’re allowed to see His beautiful plan and we glimpse a whole cluster of answered prayers. We then can see that the long and perhaps lonely way God led us was necessary so that He could provide far more blessings than we would have thought to pray for.
I praise You Jehovah Jireh that all Your purposes toward every single You do for us, are the result infinite, eternal love.
“They that know thy name will put their trust in thee” (Psalm 9:10 KJV).

Seeking God Regardless of Your Feelings



Psalm 111:10 The fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom; A good understanding have all those who do His commandments. His praise endures forever.

Feelings can be VERY misleading. Our feelings are based on what we believe and know at the moment. One area they can be incredibly misleading is in regards to our connection with God; especially for those who haven’t diligently sought God in truth and spirit. Feelings like God doesn’t care, He is distant, seeking Him doesn’t matter, and reading the Bible doesn’t matter. We have to fight and disregard these type of feelings when it comes to seeking God, which can be difficult.  However, for those who fight through those emotions and continue to seek, they find a relationship with God far beyond their expectations, thus a life beyond their imaginations for He is life.

As in the verse above, those who do God’s commandments from their core are those who have pushed through contrary emotions and have discovered a deeper wisdom and knowledge. They’ve learned that the paths to abundant eternal life are walking in God’s ways and not their own. They’ve learned that all else is lies and deception that lead you further from what you desire instead of closer. Thus, they willing and desire to walk in God’s ways and truth and are driven to keep pushing deeper into Him.
We start out in this life following our own will, which is formulated by the world’s (culture, society, traditions, etc) concepts. From birth, we’re consumed by this world and its philosophies therefore that is what we own as truth and live by. But as we seek God in spirit and truth, we gain an altogether different understanding. We see not only the truth of God, but also the truth of our own lives and what we are truly manifesting by following our will. We start to see that when we are in “control” we manifest depravity and not the life we desire. We begin to see when God is in control of us He brings about every perfect gift and blessing.
It’s hard for people to seek God, to truly devote to seeking Him as He calls us to. We’ve been misled to believe that His paths aren’t really full of life, but hardship, depravity and loss when in reality it’s our ways that bring these afflictions. It’s all backwards. Further, we look at others who are supposedly following God and judge God and a life with Him by their lives, a HUGE mistake most of the time. Many people aren’t truly seeking and walking in God’s truth. They are following a man-made religion, not God. They don’t truly seek and therefore in lack of truth and knowing cling to their self-will of depravity.
Only when the God is truly YOUR God, meaning He is in charge and you are at rest, do you journey His paths of truth leading to abundant life, in the deepest and fullest sense. When you do, the life you live far exceeds your expectations. Eph 3:20
While most never traverse this path, because the lies they hold about God that keep them at bay, some do. Matt 22:14 For those who come to the point to dare to seek God as they feel a stirring that there is much more, they seek and continue to seek despite what they initially feel. They seek in spite of the fear of losing their lives, of losing control, and what their lives might become once they step into God’s domain. They seek regardless of not wanting to at times because they are buried in lies that a life with God is anything less than magnificent.

Those who actually do His commands, (not the religious commands governed by mere humans Matthew 15:8-9), are those who have sought and understand the Truth of God. They understand that God’s way is the only desirous way, yes desirous. And it’s actually not their own will, but God’s light and truth pouring through them as they’ve become united to God’s will by laying down their own.
I’ve traversed this journey, I fought against what I felt many times and continued to seek God. I have the before and after pictures of my life and the afters blow my mind. I know His ways are better, my life is a testimony to me.
This newness of life fuels my passion to encourage you to seek and persist in seeking. God’s gifts are like a consuming ocean, more than we could ever want. The more others have of this true life blesses my spirit all the more. There is nothing more important than seeking first God’s kingdom and His righteousness. Matthew 6:33

Seek and persist regardless of what or how you feel. It’s the path of life that’s met with much resistance in this world. Realize this conflict as you embark upon this journey. Don’t trust your feelings. Trust if you seek you will find. Meditate on God’s truth and promises. You have nothing to lose; and everything to gain. For those who persist in seeking God in His truth, there awaits in this life, unspeakable joy, purpose and blessing.
Matthew 7:13-14, 2 Peter 3:16-18
The Path Found by Few
Shrouded in a cloak of lies
Hoping in what only binds
Trusting in what won’t deliver
The deepest desires cast to a sliver
An existence governed by strife
Hoping, yet never bringing true life
It’s a faulty assumption of hope
That self-will brings what you grope
There’s a way out
Clouded by doubt
That looks like depravity
Yet holds true vitality
To walk God’s paths leaving your own
Is the only way to be full grown
To be the budding vine
Is to be enraptured with His wine
To drink from the heavenly fountain
To rise to His Holy mountain
It’s narrow and disguised
This path out of the lies
But for those who dare to walk
Enter into His sacred flock
The home of all they hold dear
A place without pain, angst or fear
Flowing streams of life abound
Watering the soul to be unbound
Now covered now garments of light
Transformed and entering endless heights
~ Rachel DiPaolo
September 7, 2011

Tuesday, March 13, 2012

Domestic Cleaning Services:

With more and more people opting to make a career and working outside the house, domestic cleaning has give way to yet another industry. Domestic cleaning services have become an industry giving way to many various career options.

Carpet Steam Cleaning are availed by people who want to keep their houses neat but do not have time to do that. These services may be availed as a onetime option or on a regular basis.
There are a number of service providers in this sector. As people prefer to take service from local providers there are a large number of establishments willing to provide this service. Domestic cleaning services and bond cleaning services are availed by most of the people who are shifting or relocating. This service is required at both the ends. While vacating people get the premises cleaned and while entering the premises, cleaning is preferred in a professional way.

Cleaning involves exhaustive cleaning of all the parts of the house and all the places of the house like floor, walls, grills, basements, roof and equipments fitted if any. This also includes cleaning of bathrooms and giving a fresh touch to every corner of the house. This requires a professional touch and involves elaborate work using specified equipments.

There are many companies providing this service and Kingsmaid Domestic Cleaning is one such establishment. They provide services like exit and entry cleaning, bond cleaning carpet cleaning. This may be one time service or a regular contract. There are also takers for a regular cleaning service like once in a month or fortnight. Such people can get into maintenance contract so that the cleaning is carried out at regular intervals without the hassles of booking for the same.
Domestic cleaning services and bond cleaning have gained importance with more people taking career and finding little time to attend household chores and frequent shifting of living and commercial places.

Car Insurance For An Antique Car: Route To Get Antique Car Insurance


Besides their needs, certain people reinstate antiques car as a leisure Pursuit. These antiques car also require insurance cover on them. Your work is to find out the insurance company which provides Car Insurance for an Antique Car. There are a number of reasons such owners can provide to support their neglect for acquiring proper car insurance for an antique car, but to be so neglectful is borderline irresponsible. If one is going to invest a great deal of money in purchasing an Antique car, then a proper Car Insurance for an Antique Car policy will properly compliment the investment of the antique car.


Insurance Companies Providing Car Insurance for an Antique Car:

Not all insurance providers insure all types of cars. There are a multitude of different antique cars and the totality of antique cars includes exotic cars, military vehicles, motorcycles, tractors and trucks. As such, different antique car insurance policies will be needed to cover the various different makes and models of cars that are out there on the market. Keep in mind Car Insurance for an Antique Car policy take into consideration the equity value of the cars and vehicles.

A person looking for insurance for their vehicle has Car Insurance for an Antique Car from which to choose, and sometimes information can be conflicting and difficult to understand. Contractual language in most insurance policies is difficult to understand without an interpreter and even then, the meanings of some language may seem to be contradicted in other areas of the contract.

Self Governing Car Insurance for an Antique Car:

There are many self-determining assurance companies available to buy car insurance for an antique car. While the basic premise of obtaining Car Insurance for an Antique Car is the same for all car insurance companies, how they sell the policies, price the coverage and react to customer claims is what separates them. Car Insurance for an Antique Car must be licensed to sell insurance in the state in which they do business and not all will be available in every state. Depending on an area’s history of claims due to theft, weather-related losses and driving reputation a company may decide not to do business in a particular part of a state. Although there is some regulation concerning a company’s ability to only service certain areas. These companies lean to focus in antique car insurance and will not cover any other types of cars.
There are also many insurance companies presented to purchase car insurance for a classic car. These companies tend to specialize in Classic Car Insurance and will not insure any other types of cars. Some of these independent insurance companies will only insure a particular type of classic car, so if the car you are attempting to insure is a rare one, if may be difficult to find an insurance provider that will insure it. When choosing an independent insurance company to provide car insurance for a classic car, be sure that the company is a reputable one. You do not want to find that after months of paying the insurance premiums that the company will not or is unable to pay your insurance claim.