Tag: patience

  • God Owns Everything—We Are Stewarts

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    God’s Gifts Are Meant for Eternity

    “Do not store up for yourselves treasures on earth… But store up for yourselves treasures in heaven.”
    — Matthew 6:19–20

    Every good thing we possess is a gift from God.

    Our health, our strength, our talents, our homes, our families, our friendships, and even the opportunities placed before us each day come from His loving hand. We often speak about what we have “earned,” but behind every accomplishment stands the God who gave us life, the ability to work, and the blessings that made success possible.

    The Book of James reminds us:

    “Every good and perfect gift is from above, coming down from the Father of lights.”
    — James 1:17

    Because everything belongs to God, we are not owners—we are stewards.

    God entrusts us with His gifts for a time. He asks us to use them wisely, to care for our families, to strengthen our communities, to help those in need, and above all, to glorify Him.

    When success comes, thank Him.

    When prosperity comes, thank Him.

    When health is strong, thank Him.

    And if one day He chooses to take those blessings back, thank Him again for allowing you to enjoy them for however long He saw fit.

    Job understood this profound truth after losing nearly everything he possessed:

    “The Lord gave, and the Lord has taken away; blessed be the name of the Lord.”
    — Job 1:21

    Those words are not easy to live, but they reveal a heart that trusted God more than possessions.

    Keep Your Eyes on Eternity

    Life moves quickly.

    The house we build will someday belong to someone else.

    The car we proudly drive will eventually wear out.

    Money comes and goes.

    Even our earthly bodies grow older.

    Everything around us is temporary.

    Only one thing lasts forever—our eternal soul.

    That is why Jesus continually reminded His followers to keep their hearts fixed on Heaven.

    Every decision we make should be measured against one simple question:

    Will this help bring me closer to God and prepare me for eternity?

    When we keep our eyes on Heaven, disappointments lose much of their sting, and successes become opportunities to praise God rather than ourselves.

    Living for the Eternal Reward

    It is interesting how faithfully we obey the rules of our employer.

    We arrive at work on time.

    We follow company policies.

    We complete assignments.

    We strive to do our best because, at the end of the week, we expect a paycheck.

    Yet that paycheck may be spent before the day is over. Bills are paid, groceries are bought, expenses arise, and the money is gone.

    How strange it is that many people work so diligently for rewards that disappear, while giving so little attention to the reward that never fades.

    God has already shown us the path to eternal life.

    He calls us to:

    • Keep His Commandments.
    • Love God with all our heart.
    • Love our neighbor as ourselves.
    • Practice humility, charity, patience, honesty, forgiveness, and purity.
    • Receive His grace through prayer and the sacraments.
    • Live lives that reflect Christ.

    Unlike an earthly employer, God does not ask us to earn His love. He freely offers it. But He does ask us to respond with faithful, obedient hearts.

    The Virtues Build the Road to Heaven

    The saints remind us that holiness is not usually found in dramatic moments but in ordinary faithfulness.

    Each act of kindness…

    Each quiet prayer…

    Each sacrifice made for another…

    Each temptation resisted…

    Each word of forgiveness…

    These become stepping stones leading toward Heaven.

    Virtue shapes our character until we begin to resemble Christ Himself.

    The more we practice love, humility, generosity, courage, patience, and faith, the more prepared our souls become for eternal life.

    Our Greatest Investment

    Wise investors look for what will produce lasting returns.

    Jesus tells us that the greatest investment we can ever make is not in the stock market, real estate, or a retirement account.

    Our greatest investment is in eternity.

    Every prayer offered with love…

    Every act of mercy…

    Every soul encouraged…

    Every sacrifice made for God…

    These are treasures that can never be lost.

    They accompany us beyond the grave.

    A Final Thought

    God has blessed each of us in different ways.

    Cherish those blessings.

    Use them for His glory.

    Love your family.

    Serve your community.

    Help those who cannot repay you.

    And if life changes tomorrow, remember to thank God for every blessing He allowed you to enjoy.

    Above all, keep your eyes, your mind, and your soul fixed on Heaven.

    Everything else will one day pass away.

    But eternal life with God will never end.

    “For what will it profit a man if he gains the whole world and forfeits his soul?”
    — Mark 8:36

    May we spend our lives not merely earning a paycheck that lasts a day, but pursuing the Kingdom that lasts forever.

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

    Rick Herring
    thmjmj@gmail.com

    P.S. Please Click Here to learn about the THM mission and join us in building a loving, carying, sharing community.

  • Living in the Light of Eternity

    “Seek first the kingdom of God and His righteousness, and all these things will be added to you.” — Matthew 6:33** —

    Looking Beyond Today Throughout the history of the Church, the saints have shared one remarkable characteristic: they learned to see everything in the light of eternity.

    Every joy, every sorrow, every success, and every trial was viewed not merely from the perspective of today, but from the perspective of Heaven.

    This eternal vision did not make them indifferent to suffering. Instead, it gave them the wisdom to place every earthly event in its proper proportion.

    Many of our fears, discouragements, resentments, and conflicts become overwhelming because we unconsciously magnify temporary events until they seem permanent.

    A harsh word, an unexpected disappointment, financial concerns, illness, or the opinions of others can grow so large in our minds that they eclipse everything else.

    Yet Scripture reminds us that these things are passing. Eternity alone lasts forever.

    Seek First the Kingdom Jesus gives us the foundation for living with peace: >

    **”Seek first the kingdom of God and His righteousness, and all these things will be added to you.”** > *(Matthew 6:33)*

    Notice that Jesus does not tell us to ignore our responsibilities or pretend that difficulties do not exist. Rather, He teaches us to place first things first.

    When God’s Kingdom becomes our highest priority, everything else begins to fall into its proper place. Our worries lose much of their power.

    Success becomes an opportunity for gratitude rather than pride. Failure becomes an opportunity for growth rather than despair. Even suffering takes on new meaning because we know it is not the end of the story.

    Present Suffering and Eternal Glory No one understood suffering better than the Apostle Paul. He endured imprisonment, persecution, beatings, shipwrecks, rejection, hunger, and constant danger. Yet in the midst of these hardships, he wrote: >

    **”For I consider that the sufferings of this present time are not worth comparing with the glory that is to be revealed to us.”** > *(Romans 8:18)* He also wrote: > **”For this light momentary affliction is preparing for us an eternal weight of glory beyond all comparison.”** > *(2 Corinthians 4:17)*

    Paul was not dismissing suffering. His own life proves otherwise. Rather, he was magnifying eternity. Compared with everlasting joy in the presence of God, even life’s greatest trials become temporary.

    The Wisdom of the Saints The saints became holy not because they escaped suffering, but because they learned to keep their eyes fixed on Christ. Their perspective shaped every virtue they practiced.

    Humility replaced pride because they remembered that only God is great. Patience overcame frustration because they trusted God’s timing.

    Charity overcame resentment because they knew mercy lasts forever. Hope conquered discouragement because Heaven was always before their eyes.

    Peace grew because they knew this world is not our final home. Whenever difficulties arose, they returned their hearts to eternity.

    When Small Things Become Too Big Many of life’s emotional burdens grow because we give temporary problems eternal importance.

    An argument lasting only minutes can disturb us for days. One criticism can overshadow years of faithful work. A disappointment can convince us that our future is ruined. Financial setbacks can make us forget God’s faithful providence.

    We begin to believe that today’s circumstances define our lives. But they do not. When we remember eternity, our perspective changes. The problem may still exist, but it no longer occupies the center of our hearts. We realize that what feels overwhelming today may one day be only a small step on our journey toward God.

    An Eternal Perspective Changes Everything Living with eternity in mind does not eliminate pain. Christ Himself suffered. The apostles suffered.

    The saints suffered. We will also experience sorrow, disappointment, and loss. Yet an eternal perspective transforms how we carry these burdens.

    It gives us courage to persevere. It teaches us to forgive more readily. It helps us let go of unnecessary worries. It reminds us that faithfulness is more important than comfort.

    Most importantly, it fills our hearts with hope because God’s promises are greater than today’s troubles. —

    Conclusion

    Scripture tells us that life is like a mist that appears for a little while and then vanishes. Eternity, however, never ends. The saints understood this truth so deeply that it shaped every decision they made.

    Their eyes were fixed not merely on the circumstances around them, but on the Kingdom of God. May we learn to do the same.

    When we seek first God’s Kingdom, our fears begin to shrink, our hope begins to grow, and our hearts discover the peace that comes from knowing that every act of faith, every sacrifice, every prayer, and every moment of perseverance echoes into eternity.

    For in the end, it is not today’s troubles that define our lives—it is the everlasting glory that God has promised to those who love Him.

    Focusing on Eternity With God In Heaven as what I want more than anything has greatly enhanced my peace, love, and joy. I hope and pray it does the same for you.

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  • God is the Potter. We are the Clay

    Living with Passion Through God’s Transforming Love

    Throughout Sacred Scripture, God often compares Himself to a potter and His people to clay. The image is both beautiful and humbling. A lump of clay cannot shape itself. It cannot determine its final form. It must place itself completely in the hands of the potter.

    The prophet Isaiah reminds us:

    “Yet, O Lord, You are our Father. We are the clay, and You are our potter; we are all the work of Your hand.”

    God is continually shaping each one of us into the person He created us to be. Every joy, every challenge, every success, every disappointment, and every trial has a purpose in His loving plan.

    The Blessing Hidden in Suffering

    The world teaches us to avoid suffering at all costs. Yet Christianity reveals a deeper truth.

    Suffering, when united with Jesus Christ, becomes a blessing.

    This does not mean we should seek pain or enjoy hardship. Rather, it means that God can use every difficulty to strengthen our faith, purify our hearts, build our character, and draw us closer to Him.

    Just as a potter presses, molds, and reshapes clay, God sometimes allows difficulties to form virtues within us that could not be developed any other way.

    Patience is formed through waiting.

    Courage is formed through fear.

    Compassion is formed through suffering.

    Faith is strengthened through trials.

    What appears to be a burden today may become the very means by which God prepares us for His greater purpose tomorrow.

    Participating in the Passion of Christ

    One of the greatest mysteries of our faith is that Jesus allows us to participate in His Passion.

    Our Lord suffered for the salvation of the world. Through His Cross, He redeemed humanity and opened the gates of Heaven.

    When we unite our suffering to His, our pain is no longer wasted. It becomes prayer.

    A lonely day can become a prayer.

    An illness can become a prayer.

    Financial struggles can become a prayer.

    The loss of a loved one can become a prayer.

    Every cross we carry can be joined to the Cross of Christ for the salvation of souls.

    What a remarkable gift! God allows us to cooperate in His work of redemption.

    Offer It Up

    Many Catholics were taught a simple but powerful spiritual practice:

    Offer it up.

    When suffering comes, instead of asking only, “Why is this happening?” we can ask, “Lord, for whom shall I offer this?”

    Offer your suffering to the Sacred Heart of Jesus.

    Offer it for those who are struggling.

    Offer it for family members who have drifted from God.

    Offer it for the Church.

    Offer it for the conversion of sinners.

    Offer it for the Holy Souls in Purgatory.

    No suffering united to Christ is ever wasted.

    Every sacrifice offered in love becomes part of God’s work in the world.

    Don’t Just Live — Live with Passion

    Too many people merely exist.

    They wake up, go through the motions, and wait for tomorrow.

    God calls us to something far greater.

    He calls us to live with passion.

    To love deeply.

    To serve generously.

    To forgive completely.

    To trust courageously.

    To allow His grace to flow through us into the lives of others.

    Every person was created for a unique purpose. God did not create anyone by accident. He has given each of us gifts, talents, opportunities, and even crosses that can be transformed into blessings.

    When we surrender ourselves to the Divine Potter, we become vessels of His love, mercy, and grace.

    A Prayer

    Sacred Heart of Jesus,

    I place my life in Your hands.

    Shape me as the potter shapes the clay.

    Help me accept both joys and sufferings as gifts that draw me closer to You.

    Teach me to offer my struggles for Your Sacred Heart and for the Holy Souls in Purgatory.

    Let Your love live within me and work through me.

    May I become the person You created me to be.

    Amen.

    Final Thought

    God is still working on each of us.

    The wheel is still turning.

    The Potter’s hands are still shaping the clay.

    Trust Him.

    Offer your sufferings to Him.

    Live with passion.

    Allow God to work through you so that your life becomes a masterpiece of His grace.

    “For we are His workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand, that we should walk in them.” — Ephesians 2:10

    If this reflection touched your heart, please share it with someone who may be carrying a heavy cross today. Together, let us trust the Divine Potter and allow Him to shape us into saints.

    Rick Herring
    “Jesus Christ is my Lord, and I belong to Him.”

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  • The Third Sorrowful Mystery: The Crowning with Thorns

    Humiliation

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    A Mystery of Silent Strength

    The Third Sorrowful Mystery of the Rosary invites us into one of the most painful and humiliating moments of Christ’s Passion: the Crowning with Thorns. After being scourged, Jesus is mocked by Roman soldiers who twist together a crown of sharp thorns and press it into His head. They drape Him in a purple cloak, place a reed in His hand, and jeer, “Hail, King of the Jews.”

    This mystery is not only about physical suffering—it reveals the depth of human cruelty and the profound humility of Christ.


    The Scene of Mockery and Pain

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    Imagine the scene: exhausted, wounded, and bleeding, Jesus stands surrounded by soldiers who ridicule Him. The crown, meant as a cruel parody of kingship, digs into His scalp. Each thorn pierces His skin, causing intense pain. Yet He does not resist.

    In this moment, Christ embodies a kingship unlike any other—one not of power, but of sacrificial love.


    A Lesson in Humility

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    The Crowning with Thorns teaches us about humility in the face of humiliation. Jesus, though truly King, accepts mockery without retaliation. He shows us that true greatness is not found in domination or pride, but in love, patience, and self-giving.

    This mystery challenges us to reflect:

    • How do we respond when we are misunderstood or ridiculed?
    • Do we seek recognition, or do we quietly serve?
    • Can we remain gentle when faced with injustice?

    The Fruit of the Mystery: Moral Courage

    Meditating on this mystery helps cultivate moral courage—the strength to stand firm in truth and goodness even when it is difficult. Jesus does not abandon His mission, even under extreme suffering. His silence is not weakness; it is purposeful and redemptive.

    We are invited to imitate this courage in our daily lives:

    • To stand for what is right, even when unpopular
    • To endure hardship with faith
    • To resist the temptation of pride and ego

    A Prayerful Reflection

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    As we pray this mystery, we might say:

    Lord Jesus, crowned with thorns, teach me to be humble.
    Help me to endure trials with patience and to trust in Your love.
    Give me the courage to follow You, even when the path is difficult.


    Conclusion

    The Crowning with Thorns is a powerful reminder that Christ’s The Third Sorrowful Mystery: The Crowning with Thorn

    The Humility of Jesus is beyond comperhension

    Rick Herring
    thmjmj@gmail.com