Tag: faithful

  • Helping Families Save Money, Build a Better Future, and Create Additional Income—One Person at a Time

    “Commit your work to the Lord, and your plans will be established.” — Proverbs 16:3

    One of the greatest blessings God gives us is the opportunity to help other people.

    Sometimes that help comes through a kind word. Sometimes it comes through prayer. Sometimes it comes through lending a helping hand.

    And sometimes it comes by introducing someone to an opportunity that can improve their financial situation while blessing their family.

    Throughout Scripture, we see that God often works through ordinary people to accomplish extraordinary things. He opens doors where we least expect them and provides opportunities that allow us to serve others while being good stewards of the gifts He has entrusted to us.

    Recently I came across a program that caught my attention because it combines practical everyday value with powerful business-building tools.

    Among the benefits are: –

    1,000 email leads from someone who genuinely wants to help you succeed.

    A Giant Discount Savings Portal with discounts on airfare, cruises, hotels, shopping, home products, and much more. –

    An expanding library of more than 96 e-books filled with valuable information. –

    A professional email autoresponder that works with your lead capture pages and even allows you to import up to 5,000 contacts. –

    Your own custom lead capture page with an integrated lead database. –

    A business opportunity that offers the possibility of creating meaningful monthly income for people who are willing to learn, work consistently, and serve others.

    Notice I used the word possibility. No honest business can promise success. Just as a farmer cannot guarantee a harvest without planting, watering, and caring for the crop, no opportunity guarantees income without effort, learning, perseverance, and patience.

    Success comes from faithfully doing the work day after day. For many families, retirees, and people living on fixed incomes, even a modest additional income can relieve financial pressure, provide peace of mind, and create opportunities to bless others.

    That is what appeals to me most. My desire has never simply been to help people make more money. My desire is to help people become better stewards of what God has entrusted to them, strengthen their families, assist their churches and communities, and have greater freedom to help those in need.

    Imagine what could happen if thousands of Christians had additional resources to support their churches, missionaries, food banks, pregnancy centers, homeless shelters, and families facing difficult times.

    Money itself is neither good nor evil. The Bible reminds us that the love of money is the root of all kinds of evil—not money itself. When placed in the hands of faithful people with servant hearts, financial resources can become powerful tools for doing God’s work.

    Jesus taught us: > “Seek first the kingdom of God and His righteousness, and all these things shall be added unto you.” > — Matthew 6:33

    That verse has guided my life for many years. Whenever I consider a new opportunity, I ask one simple question: Can this help people while bringing glory to God? If the answer is yes, then it deserves thoughtful consideration.

    Whether you decide this particular opportunity is right for you or not, I encourage you to pray about every financial decision. Ask the Lord for wisdom, seek good counsel, and never stop looking for ways to use your talents and resources to serve others.

    When we place God first, become faithful stewards, and use our blessings to bless others, amazing things can happen.

    May God bless you, your family, and every good work He has prepared for you. “Whatever you do, work at it with all your heart, as working for the Lord, not for human masters.” — Colossians 3:23

    Results are not guaranteed. Success in any business depends on individual effort, consistency, skill, and the willingness to learn and serve others. Always evaluate any opportunity carefully before participating. :::

    Click Here to learn more and join.

  • The Universal Call to Sainthood

    Learning from Saint Josemaría Escrivá and the Saints

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    Many Christians frequently ask one another, “Please pray for me.” We understand the power of prayer and the importance of bringing our needs before God. In the same spirit, Catholics often ask the saints in Heaven to pray for them as well.

    This practice is rooted in the belief that those who have faithfully followed Christ and now dwell in Heaven remain part of the Body of Christ. Just as we ask friends and family on earth to pray for us, we ask the saints to intercede for us before God.

    Before someone is officially declared a saint by the Catholic Church, their life is carefully examined. Their virtues, writings, actions, and devotion to God are scrutinized. In most cases, miracles attributed to their intercession are also investigated. This thorough process gives Catholics confidence that these holy men and women are indeed with God in Heaven and can present our petitions before Him.

    Yet the saints are much more than heavenly intercessors.

    They are role models.

    They show us what a life fully devoted to God looks like. Their lives provide a blueprint for holiness that we can follow in our own circumstances.

    One saint who strongly emphasized this truth was Saint Josemaría Escrivá, the founder of Opus Dei.

    Saint Josemaría taught a revolutionary yet deeply biblical message: every person is called to be a saint.

    Not just priests.

    Not just religious sisters and brothers.

    Not just missionaries.

    Every Christian.

    Whether we are parents, teachers, business owners, students, retirees, or laborers, God calls each of us to holiness through our ordinary daily lives.

    Saint Josemaría often spoke about finding God in everyday work and ordinary duties. He believed that our daily tasks, when offered to God with love, become opportunities for sanctification.

    Changing a diaper.

    Preparing a meal.

    Working in an office.

    Driving a truck.

    Teaching a classroom.

    Caring for an aging parent.

    All of these can become pathways to holiness when done with love for God and neighbor.

    This message is especially encouraging because it reminds us that sainthood is not reserved for a select few extraordinary individuals. Rather, holiness is available to every person who seeks to follow Christ faithfully in the circumstances of their own life.

    I once heard a priest say, “Only saints get to Heaven.”

    At first, that statement may sound surprising. Yet it contains a profound truth.

    Heaven is the home of the saints.

    Some saints have been formally canonized and recognized by the Church. Their names are known throughout the world.

    Others lived quiet lives of faith that may never be recognized publicly. They may have been loving parents, faithful spouses, devoted workers, or humble servants whose names never appeared in history books.

    These are the uncanonized saints.

    Their holiness may have been known only to God and those closest to them.

    Yet they, too, share in the glory of Heaven.

    This should encourage all of us.

    God is not asking us to become famous.

    He is asking us to become faithful.

    The lives of the saints remind us that holiness is possible. Saint Josemaría Escrivá reminds us that holiness is practical. It can be lived out in our homes, workplaces, churches, and communities every day.

    As we ask the saints for their prayers, let us also imitate their virtues.

    May their example inspire us to pursue holiness with renewed determination.

    And may we never forget the beautiful truth that God calls every one of us to become saints.

    For that is ultimately our destination: to know God, love God, serve God in this life, and be with Him forever in Heaven.

    Suggested Closing Prayer

    “Saint Josemaría Escrivá, pray for us. Help us discover God in our daily work and ordinary duties. Inspire us to seek holiness in all things and to follow Christ faithfully each day. Ame

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  • Are You Exhausted? Perhaps You Are Resisting God

    “Come to Me, all who labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest.” — Matthew 11:28

    Have you ever felt completely worn out—not just physically, but deep in your soul? You may sleep, take a break, or even escape for a few hours, yet the weariness remains.

    Sometimes our deepest exhaustion does not come from how much we are doing. It comes from how hard we are trying to control what was never ours to carry.

    There is a quiet but painful truth many of us resist:

    Resisting God is exhausting.


    The Weight of Refusing to Surrender

    We often believe that if we can just try harder, think smarter, plan better, or worry more, we can fix our lives. We cling tightly to our plans, our fears, our schedules, our dreams, and even our disappointments.

    We say things like:

    • “I have to make this work.”
    • “I cannot let go.”
    • “What if everything falls apart?”
    • “I need to know what will happen next.”

    But the harder we grip, the more tired we become.

    When we refuse to surrender to God, we live as though everything depends on us. We carry burdens that were never meant for our shoulders. We fight battles in our own strength. We attempt to force open doors God may have closed, or we stand trembling before doors He has not yet opened.

    No wonder we are exhausted.

    The soul was not created to live apart from trust in God.


    What Does It Mean to Surrender to God?

    To completely surrender to God is to place our entire being—our hopes, fears, plans, relationships, and future—into His hands.

    Surrender is not giving up. It is giving over.

    It is not weakness. It is trust.

    It is not a one-time act, but a daily decision to yield our control, and even our desires, to the One who knows us better than we know ourselves.

    At the heart of surrender is this truth:

    “I trust that God’s plans for my life are good, even when I do not understand my current circumstances.”

    That sentence captures the heart of surrender.

    To surrender is to say:

    • “Lord, I do not understand this, but I trust You.”
    • “I cannot carry this any longer, so I place it in Your hands.”
    • “Your will is wiser than mine.”
    • “Your timing is better than my own.”

    This kind of trust is not natural for most of us. We want answers. We want certainty. We want control.

    But God asks for something deeper than control. He asks for faith.


    Why Surrender Brings Peace

    The moment we stop fighting God and begin trusting Him, something changes inside us.

    Our circumstances may not change immediately. The problem may still be there. The diagnosis may remain. The relationship may still be broken. The future may still seem uncertain.

    But our hearts become lighter.

    Why?

    Because peace does not come from knowing everything.

    Peace comes from knowing God.

    When we surrender, we stop demanding that God explain Himself before we trust Him. Instead, we remember who He is:

    • He is good.
    • He is faithful.
    • He is loving.
    • He is present.
    • He is working, even when we cannot see it.

    Scripture reminds us:

    “Trust in the Lord with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding.” — Proverbs 3:5

    God never asked us to understand everything. He asked us to trust Him.


    The Daily Practice of Surrender

    Surrender is rarely dramatic. Usually, it happens quietly, one day at a time.

    Sometimes surrender means:

    • Releasing a fear you have carried for years.
    • Letting go of resentment.
    • Trusting God with your children or grandchildren.
    • Accepting that you cannot change another person.
    • Waiting patiently when God seems silent.
    • Saying, “Not my will, but Yours be done.”

    Every morning we have a choice:

    Will we cling tightly to our own way and become more exhausted?

    Or will we open our hands and trust God with what we cannot control?

    The more we surrender, the more we discover that God is trustworthy.

    And the more we trust Him, the less exhausted we become.


    A Prayer of Surrender

    Lord,

    I am tired.

    I have been carrying burdens You never asked me to carry. I have tried to control what only You can hold.

    Today I surrender my fears, my plans, my worries, my future, and my need to understand everything.

    Teach me to trust You.

    Help me believe that Your plans for my life are good, even when I cannot see where You are leading me.

    Give me the courage to open my hands and rest in Your love.

    Amen.


    Final Thought

    If you are exhausted today, perhaps the answer is not to strive harder.

    Perhaps the answer is to surrender.

    The God who created you never intended for you to carry life alone. He invites you to lay down your burdens, trust His heart, and find the rest your soul has been longing for.

    Because resisting God is exhausting.

    But surrendering to Him brings peace.

    Thank you for reading this article. Please share with others.

    Rick Herring
    thmjmj@gmail.com