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By: Molly Kreikemeier “I praise you because I am fearfully and wonderfully made; your works are wonderful; I know that full well.” (Psalm 139:14) This verse has always reminded me of the unique purpose God has for each of us. Confidence, as I've learned, isn't about thinking you're better than others, but about knowing your worth without comparing yourself to anyone. As a teen girl, it's a daily challenge to maintain this mindset, especially with societal pressures and insecurities. You are constantly surrounded by adults questioning your ambitions, influencers persuading you to buy a new product to help whatever new insecurity they’ve made up, and you are set back by your own perfectionism. Being surrounded by this constant negativity can cause us to build insecurities and to lack confidence in ourselves and our abilities. However, I’ve learned that through God, I can overcome any struggle. The verse above is a constant reminder that we are made in God's image, and we are chosen by Him for a specific purpose. Isn't being God's child reason enough to have confidence? It's a reminder that our value comes from Him, not from societal standards. When it comes to looks, it’s important to remember that our lives won't suddenly improve with a "glow up." We are meant for more than meeting unrealistic beauty standards. True beauty comes from within. Be kind, compassionate, empathetic, respectful, faithful, and patient. Strive to represent Christ in all you do. Think about the women in the Bible; they are remembered for their actions, not their appearance. Don't let your looks consume you, but instead, focus on becoming a representation of Christ and grow your relationship with God. When it comes to personality, be authentic to who you are. Don't change yourself to be more likable, but use your unique traits for good. Like Catherine of Siena, who used her stubbornness to influence Pope Gregory XI to move back to Rome, we can use our flaws as strengths. Embrace who God made you to be, because He created you with a purpose. When you are authentically and unapologetically yourself, you reflect God's unique creation. If you are struggling to grow your confidence, pray for God's guidance and see yourself as He sees you. Stop comparing yourself to others, and support yourself. Practice thanking God for making you wonderfully and fearfully, because you are. Although it isn’t very biblical, Elle Woods’ story comes to mind when I think about confidence. Elle’s peers saw the fashionable pink ensembles and bubbly personality and assumed she was just a dumb blonde. Despite everyone's doubts about Elle, she proves them wrong by getting into Harvard Law School, winning the case, and graduating top of her class at Harvard. Elle’s confidence allowed her to succeed in her life. Like Elle once said, "You must always have faith in yourself." But more importantly, we must always have faith in the God who created us. Next time you struggle with confidence and insecurity, remember that God made you with a purpose. Don't waste energy trying to change who you are. Instead, talk to God, seek His guidance, and trust in His plan for you. He created you fearfully and wonderfully, and that is the greatest source of confidence you can have.

By: Molly Kreikemeier In life, failure is inevitable. Whether it's a failed test, a miscommunication, a lack of productivity, or, most often, a lack of faith, we all experience failure. These moments can be discouraging, even leading us to question our worthiness of God's love. Often, we believe that we must be perfect to earn God's favor, leading us to these overwhelming thoughts. During these times, we might avoid God, or we might even feel that God has failed us by not fulfilling our desires despite our efforts. However, we should remember that God's rewards may not always be what we expect. Maybe the reward is a closer relationship with God or protection against harm. It 's important to remember that failure is not final. God's unconditional love means exactly that, unconditional. We can turn to God when our faith fails, when we feel inadequate, or when life seems impossible. We must abandon the notion that God only seeks a relationship with only the righteous. In the Bible, Jesus proves to us that he came to call the broken. Jesus chose to sit with sinners, forgive betrayers, and love others in their darkest moments. The Bible gives us the following verses to help us overcome our failures: -"God is within her, she will not fall; God will help her at break of day." (Psalm 46:5) This verse reminds us that God is always present in our lives and through him we will not fall. Through God’s presence, we can find stability and security. - "My flesh and my heart may fail, but God is the strength of my heart and my portion forever." (Psalm 73:26) This verse reminds us that even when we fail, we have the strength of God within us forever. We can be resilient because God is there to guide us during times of trial. -"I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me." (Philippians 4:13) This verse encourages us to rely on Christ's strength to overcome any obstacle. It also serves as a reminder that no obstacle is too difficult to overcome. Recently, I went through my own series of failures; these failures, specifically the driving test, shifted my perspective of myself. Despite my hard work and practice, I left the DMV disappointed. It was hard to focus on anything else, and I felt that I had disappointed those around me. But I realized that it doesn't have to define me. While I have yet to get my license, I trust that whatever happens is in accordance with God's plan. From now on, I am not going to let this singular failure overshadow my blessings and my accomplishments, and I will continue to find strength in God to keep moving forward. It’s essential that instead of focusing on reversing failures, we focus on finding peace with them by turning to God. Remember the verses above, and remember how Moses repeatedly doubted God's call, yet God still guided him to lead the Israelites out of slavery. Also, David repeatedly sinned and God forgave him. God doesn't abandon the broken, and He doesn't define us by our failures , so we shouldn't either . We can find peace in our failures by recognizing God's constant presence, trusting in His strength, and remembering that He loves us unconditionally, even when we fail.

By: Lila Lowery “22 Then he said to his disciples, “Therefore I tell you, don’t worry about your life, what you will eat; or about the body, what you will wear. 23 For life is more than food and the body more than clothing. 24 Consider the ravens: They don’t sow or reap; they don’t have a storeroom or a barn; yet God feeds them. Aren’t you worth much more than the birds? 25 Can any of you add one moment to his life span[ a ] by worrying? 26 If then you’re not able to do even a little thing, why worry about the rest? 27 “Consider how the wildflowers grow: They don’t labor or spin thread. Yet I tell you, not even Solomon in all his splendor was adorned like one of these. 28 If that’s how God clothes the grass, which is in the field today and is thrown into the furnace tomorrow, how much more will he do for you—you of little faith? 29 Don’t strive for what you should eat and what you should drink, and don’t be anxious. 30 For the Gentile world eagerly seeks all these things, and your Father knows that you need them. 31 “But seek his kingdom, and these things will be provided for you. 32 Don’t be afraid, little flock, because your Father delights to give you the kingdom. 33 Sell your possessions and give to the poor. Make money-bags for yourselves that won’t grow old, an inexhaustible treasure in heaven, where no thief comes near and no moth destroys. 34 For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also.” (Luke 12:22-34) Sometimes, reading the Bible can feel impersonal to me. Like I am just reading about Jesus, not experiencing Him through it. But this was not one of those times. The day I read this in my Bible, my jaw dropped. When I read this, I was in a season of major anxiety, and social and academic nerves were eating me up inside. This passage was the exact thing I needed to read at that moment, and I just knew that Jesus was right next to me, speaking directly to me through His Word. I got through this time of anxiousness through leaning on Jesus. In April, I fainted during Palm Sunday Mass. Although I was completely fine, I was still a bit shaken up and anxious after the ordeal. But, I opened the app Pinterest like I usually do, and the first thing I saw was a quote from Jesus speaking to St. Faustina. He said, “Lean on me as you struggle, fearing nothing.” Since I literally had needed something to lean on earlier that day, I could feel in my heart it was a sign from our Lord. That He was with me in that moment, and is with me in every moment as well, even the nervous ones. Anxiety is something that a lot of people struggle with, including myself. It can be a vicious cycle, with my mind raking through things to worry about. Worries about school, friendships, family, or anything else are sometimes unavoidable. When things are uncertain or new, it is easy for our brains to obsess over everything that could go wrong. What will people think of me if I do this? What if I’m the only one not doing that? What if I fail my test? Whatever it is, I’m sure you’ve had scary questions like these pop into your head. And while anxiety is easy to be overtaken by, it is not what we should be focusing on. We should be focusing on Jesus Christ. When Jesus rose from the dead, He didn’t just conquer our sins. He conquered all evil, anxiety included! We don’t have to be servants to anxiety, letting it control our lives. We should be servants to the God of goodness, the Prince of Peace. As Christians, we need to rely on Christ and zero in on His kingdom, especially in times of struggle. In the passage, Jesus says not to worry about what we will eat or what we will wear, because there is so much more to life than that. Obviously, food and clothing are necessities in our lives, but I don’t think that is what Jesus meant. I interpreted this as thinking more about what truly impacts our souls, like our spiritual lives and the love inside each of us. When we put in effort to spread the Kingdom of God and to be like Christ ourselves, all of the little things we are worried about will also come in time. When your foundation in life is your relationship with Christ, everything else has a way of getting better. Trust me, when I try to handle big stressors in my life on my own, it does not go very well. But when I pray and lay these things before Christ’s feet, the work begins to get done. And that’s not saying don’t work hard or don’t study. I’m saying to offer it up to God first thing, and then keep trying for God.  Another reason not to be anxious is because the Lord has so much in store for each one of us, and we will not get through trials any easier by worrying about them. One of my best friends reminded me once that I have already gotten through everything I have been worried about. This really impacted my mindset because it helped me to see all that God has done for me and all that He will do in the future. Jesus said to consider the flowers and their astounding beauty. We are human beings. How much beauty do you think God holds for you, if that is what He has for mere flowers? Although nerve-racking experiences are inevitable, how we go through them is up to our own decision. Will you go through it alone, suffering your emotions behind closed doors? Or will you lean on Jesus, trust in His plan, and share it with the people He has placed in your life? Because, as well as utilizing prayer and communication with God directly, there is also power in relying on friends and family during times of anxiety, since He put them in your life for a reason. I can confidently say that when I open up to my loved ones about my struggles, they become easier to bear.  The last line of this passage is my personal favorite. “Where your treasure is, there your heart will be also.” In the verses prior, Jesus describes how we should seek and put our trust in His kingdom, something that will never be stolen or taken away. And when we cherish and treasure the Lord and His kingdom, our hearts will be there, with Him. But when we focus on anxiety, that is where our hearts are, in a world of hurt and sadness. So, although anxiety is something I still struggle with, I know that I can lessen the load through treasuring and pointing my heart towards Jesus. Because when the world can weigh me down with sadness, the Kingdom provides me with joy!

By: The MSP Writers Life is full of ups and downs, and sometimes those negative emotions can feel overwhelming. When those tough feelings hit hard and make it difficult to get through the day, remember that the Bible can offer guidance and support. I asked my fellow MSP writers for their go-to "emergency Bible verses," and I had them anonymously answer why they find them helpful. If you're struggling, try writing down verses that resonate with you on a sticky note and placing it where you'll see it often: your mirror, desk, or planner, as a reminder of God's message and presence in your life. Here are the numbers you should "call" when you need God's guidance... When you are struggling to trust God… “ 5  Trust in the Lord with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding; 6 in all your ways submit to him, and he will make your paths straight.” (Proverbs 3:5-6) When I am struggling to trust God, I often turn back to this verse because it reminds me to “lean not on my own understanding.” Oftentimes, I find myself setting expectations for how certain events will go in my life, and when they don’t ultimately meet my expectations, I become angry at God and I struggle to trust Him. However, from previous experience, I have learned to trust in the Lord and his plan because what he is planning for me is bigger than my expectations. Although it takes time for things “to work out”, things always have a way of working out for the best and benefiting us later in life. Things do come together. We just have to have patience, faith, and trust in God’s plan to unfold. Think about it like this: your plan might be a single rose, but God’s plan is a whole bouquet, abundant and beautiful.  When you need confidence…“ 5 God is in the midst of her; she shall not be moved; God will help her when morning dawns.” (Psalm 46:5) I remember this verse when I need a confidence boost. If I am about to take a difficult test or something that is nerve-racking, I remind myself who my God is and that I’m His daughter. With this verse, the Lord tells us He is on our side, and that we should be confident because we are women of God. When you’re worried about the future…“ 34  So do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will bring worries of its own. Today’s trouble is enough for today. (Matthew 6:34) Often, I find myself caught up in worrying about the future, whether it be an upcoming test, an event I’m nervous about, or just my future in general. But during these times when I feel off balance or uncertain about what’s to come, I remember this verse to give me perspective. God calls us to stay in the present moment and have faith, simply trusting in Him. We just have to remember: God is so much bigger than what you are worrying about! When you feel stressed…“ 22  A cheerful heart is a good medicine, but a downcast spirit dries up the bones.” (Proverbs 17:22) I can so easily get caught up in being stressed out or weighed down by all the negatives in my life, but this verse really helps me remember that what I turn my focus on reflects how I will feel. I sometimes get so anxious that I have a hard time breathing, but then I focus on why I am feeling this way. Why am I getting so anxious or discouraged? It’s usually because I’m narrowing in so much on what is going wrong. I feel quite literally like I am drying up. However, when I take the time to be positive, optimistic, and try to look for God through things, I feel happier and more motivated to take on life.  When you need motivation…“ 14  I press on toward the goal to win the prize for which God has called me heavenward in Christ Jesus.” (Philippians 3:14) My grandfather loved this Bible quote, and now my dad does too. Ever since I first heard it, I call it when I am having trouble living up to the best version of myself, and am failing to “press on towards the goal,” which is heaven. I call it to mind when I want to give up on a large pile of homework, or when I’m in a bad situation and have to be the bigger person, even when it’s hard. It’s a simple yet powerful reminder that although we face many challenges in life, if we can persevere, the reward will be great in heaven. The next time life meets you with trials and tribulations, just remember why you keep going, for Christ! When you need hope and guidance…. “ 7  Ask, and it will be given to you; seek, and you will find; knock, and the door will be opened to you.” (Matthew 7:7)  When life gets challenging and I am confused about what to do next, I always find myself coming back to this verse. This quote gives me reassurance and reminds me that the Lord is always providing love and care for me. This is because God is always there, waiting. Even when there is chaos and craziness within our daily lives, God is always by our side and willing to give us exactly what we need. All you need to do is ask for his guidance. “Knock, and the door will be opened to you.”

By: Madi Dunning "9 Let us not become weary in doing good, for at the proper time we will reap a harvest if we do not give up. 10 Therefore, as we have opportunity, let us do good to all people, especially to those who belong to the family of believers."(Galatians 6:9-10) We are to preserve in a journey of goodness, and this will lead us to God’s heavenly kingdom. Patience to me was always a boring wait. It was standing in line for a roller coaster or checking to see if a grade had been updated; times of waiting that weren’t necessarily difficult but more anxious or exciting. Nothing challenging and nothing fun. I knew patience could be waiting for Christmas to come or for Jesus to rise again, but I never thought about it in terms of my faith journey . I just thought patience meant a person’s ability to “wait”, and I was never really excited about waiting.  However, my mindset on patience began to shift when I stuck it next to another word: perseverance. “Persistence in doing something despite difficulty or delay in achieving success.” Motivation is something I’ve personally struggled with in school and in faith by procrastinating projects or putting off prayers, and this lack of motivation often kills my persevering spirit to keep going.  It’s hard for me to step up to the bat despite "difficulty or delay”. I think part of this is my past mindset in faith to “Go big or go home.” While constant prayer and daily mass are amazing, these things are not always achievable. Combined with personal struggles and guilt, I find myself turning away from God instead of running to Him in times when I can’t “go big” and feel like I fall short in spirituality. I need things to be done, changed, or fixed now , and when they aren’t, it’s hard for me to show up, trust the Lord, and keep going in times of vulnerability.  However, the Lord gives us this amazing gift of patience, and that’s exactly what we’re called to do. Here’s how it ties in: “Let us not become weary”. Persist and be patient while doing so. Easier said than done, but showing up to praise the Lord even in difficult times  isn’t just good for the soul, it's our ticket to heaven. And patience doesn’t just mean “waiting it out”. We are not called to sit around and simply not sin, we are called to stand up and do good!  How can we do this in our daily lives? How can we persevere with patience in His journey? How can we stand up and do good? Building our relationship with God through prayer and through others . Prayer is so vital because all relationships require communication, and ours with God is no different. Having a rigid prayer schedule is difficult for me, so I try to communicate through praise and worship and conversation with Jesus. You can practice patience in an easy, valuable way by communicating with God and then listening to what He has to say. Searching for his message can be difficult, but we should be patient in trusting that He will provide. It’s important for us to see God in others, too! Spiritual friendships can help along the journey. Be patient and open to seeing God in everyone, and you will be blessed with exactly who God meant you to be with. Keep persevering. If you’re struggling and need some advice, I’m always willing to listen to anyone… and so is God! Be patient in your faith, because He changes lives and moves mountains. What does that look like for you? Embark on His journey and you will see !

By: Lila Lowery The Parable of the Good Samaritan " 25 And behold, a lawyer stood up to put him to the test, saying, “Teacher, what shall I do to inherit eternal life?” 26 He said to him, “What is written in the Law? How do you read it?” 27 And he answered, “You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your strength and with all your mind, and your neighbor as yourself.” 28 And he said to him, “You have answered correctly; do this, and you will live.” 29 But he, desiring to justify himself, said to Jesus, “And who is my neighbor?” 30 Jesus replied, “A man was going down from Jerusalem to Jericho, and he fell among robbers, who stripped him and beat him and departed, leaving him half dead. 31 Now by chance a priest was going down that road, and when he saw him he passed by on the other side. 32 So likewise a Levite, when he came to the place and saw him, passed by on the other side. 33 But a Samaritan, as he journeyed, came to where he was, and when he saw him, he had compassion. 34 He went to him and bound up his wounds, pouring on oil and wine. Then he set him on his own animal and brought him to an inn and took care of him. 35 And the next day he took out two denarii[ a ] and gave them to the innkeeper, saying, ‘Take care of him, and whatever more you spend, I will repay you when I come back.’ 36 Which of these three, do you think, proved to be a neighbor to the man who fell among the robbers?” 37 He said, “The one who showed him mercy.” And Jesus said to him, “You go, and do likewise.” (Luke 10: 25-37) As popular as this parable is today, it must have been a surprise to those who heard Jesus say it. Samaritans and Jews were enemies for a long time, so the thought of one helping another could seem unbelievable. But, Jesus calls us to break standards. Most Samaritans would probably have never helped a Jew, and now, most people would never love their adversaries. But as Christians, we are called to be different. God’s love is radical, and breaks our expectations of what we think it should be. But that is what makes it so great. It was not logical that the Son of God would die for humankind, but He did anyway. We might not think it makes sense to love someone who has hurt us, but it is what we are called to do. The lawyer in this passage knew what God expected from Him, to love God and love his neighbors. But, he didn’t know what the word ‘neighbor’ entailed. Surely, neighbors are just my friends, people I am close to? Nope, it is everyone. A neighbor is a person living with or near you, maybe in the same apartment building or street. But, we all live on earth. And we all have the choice of eternal life. If you think about it like this, all of us are in this life together. We face different things, live through different moments, but we are interconnected by the fact that all of us are loved by one God. As Christians, we should try our best to make heaven crowded. God revealed to each of us His life changing love, and we are called to let other people know it as well. Really think about that. God, Creator of the universe, gave us the opportunity to spread His precious love. The love that gave us salvation, the love that saved the world. We should jump at the chance to spread His love! And we can do this by showing our neighbors mercy.   This can be extremely difficult, and is something I struggle with. How can I forgive everything this person did, and all of the hurt they have put me through? But we have to take ourselves out of the equation. It doesn’t matter what I think of someone. What does Jesus think of them? Jesus loves them and wants a relationship with them. As Christians, we are representations of Christ. And obviously, we will never be perfect, and we will mess up, we are humans. But, we are also called to do better than we have before and try our hardest. To represent Christ to people, we have to love them as He does. The radical, groundbreaking kind of love. The love that is persistent and doesn’t keep score. If someone is negative and hateful towards you, respond with compassion and mercy. We don’t have the authority to pick and choose who should receive God’s love. All we are called to do is show it. To help those whom we don’t want to help. To forgive those whom we don’t want to forgive. And to love those whom we don’t want to love. We have to set aside our own emotions and thoughts and take on the role of being a light. Shining Christ’s love towards someone, and hoping they do the same.  But even if those around us do not show this radical love to us, we are called to be merciful. Think of your enemies, people who you have been betrayed, insulted, and ignored by. To you, this is all they are. But to God, they are beloved children who have gone astray. Pray for them. That they find God’s love and start spreading it, because that is how you inherit eternal life. As said in the passage, we are to love God and our neighbors. This might seem like two different things, but they are truly one. We can love God through loving our neighbors. By loving those who are loved by Christ, we are loving Christ Himself. So, next time you are angered and annoyed by your enemies, remember how much Jesus loves them and how Jesus entrusted us to share His love.

By: Molly Kreikemeier “ 8 I know your deeds. See, I have placed before you an open door that no one can shut. I know that you have little strength, yet you have kept my word and have not denied my name.” (Revelation 3:8) In our lives, we receive many types of invitations, some are formal, like weddings, birthday parties, and baby showers, and others more casual, like a friend asking us to grab ice cream or study together at the library. These invitations, whether written in elegant cursive on a card or sent through a quick text, all share a common theme: someone is asking us to join them, to share time, and to be part of something. And yet, with each invitation, there’s a sense of uncertainty. We often wonder if we should go, if we’ll know anyone, or if we’ll be out of place. But despite those questions, we are left with the choice of accepting or declining the invitation. I remember my very first hangout with my friend Poppy in seventh grade. I had just moved to a new school, and I barely knew anyone. One day, Poppy invited me to a pre-party before a big field hockey game against our rival school. I almost said no. We had only known each other for a few weeks, and I didn’t recognize any of the names of the other people going. But something in my gut told me to say yes. The night before, I lay in bed researching conversation starters while I was filled with nerves. The next day, she picked me up, and we went to the pre-party and then to the game. It wasn’t perfect, there were plenty of awkward silences, but the simple yes marked the beginning of our friendship. We grew closer, started hanging out more often, and now she is one of my best friends. I’m so thankful I accepted her invitation, even though it meant stepping out of my comfort zone. In our spiritual lives, God also places invitations before us. These are “open doors” that no one else can shut. Sometimes they’re obvious, like being asked to join a retreat or lead a youth group session. Other times, they’re quieter, like a feeling in your heart to spend time in prayer or to open your Bible after a long day. Revelation 3:8 reminds us that even when we feel like we have little strength, God sees our efforts to stay faithful. The doors He opens for us may lead into the unfamiliar, but they are always opportunities to grow closer to Him. No one else can close the doors He’s placed in front of you, and He will keep holding them open until you walk through. All He asks is for us to take the first step, even when it’s uncomfortable. Think about the disciples. When Jesus called them, they left behind everything they knew—their jobs, their homes, even their families. They stepped away from the familiar and embraced a life of uncertainty because they believed in the invitation Jesus offered them. That one decision to follow changed the course of their lives and the lives of countless others. Their courage to say yes to something unknown became the foundation of the Church itself. Sometimes, following God means leaving behind comfort to fulfill a greater purpose. St. Catherine of Siena once said, “Be who God meant you to be and you will set the world on fire.” That fire starts with one decision which is to say yes to God’s invitation. When we walk through the open doors He made for us, we begin to live the life He created for each of us.  I would like to end off with a prayer: "God, help us to recognize the open doors You place in our lives. Give us the courage to say yes, even when it’s hard, and the faith to believe that You walk with us every step of the way and help us 'set the world on fire.' Amen."

By: Lila Lowery 10 Each of you should use whatever gift you have received to serve others, as faithful stewards of God’s grace in its various forms. 11 If anyone speaks, they should do so as one who speaks the very words of God. If anyone serves, they should do so with the strength God provides, so that in all things God may be praised through Jesus Christ. To him be the glory and the power for ever and ever. Amen." (1 Peter 4:10-11) Everyone has talents. Sometimes it is obvious, if you are a star on the lacrosse field or ace every math test. But sometimes, your talents aren’t a certain skill. They are your characteristics. Your kindness, humour, outgoingness, et cetera. Whatever your gifts and talents may be, you can use them to serve God.  Personally, I have had a clear talent since I was a child: singing. My mom likes to say that I’ve been singing since the day I was born, but I never really thought I was talented until third grade, when I got the lead in the school musical about St. Rose Philippine Duchesne. Ever since, I have pursued music by taking voice lessons, being in choir, and signing up for all of the school musicals. Singing is a big part of who I am as a person, my identity. I believe it’s my passion, and I feel the happiest when I sing. This is how I know it is a gift from God. The feeling of pure joy and purpose I get when I sing is just so good, it has to come from God. It is no coincidence that I got that part in third grade. I believe it was the Lord opening a door to an integral part of my life, and an important way to serve Him.  To be honest, I do love to be complimented and acknowledged for my voice. I love to hear the applause after the song ends, but, I have to remind myself not all of that is for me. Who gave me the talent to sing, the courage to get on a stage? God did. I would be nowhere without Him, so every piece of praise I get, all goes to the Lord in my eyes. Our talents are not supposed to be for us alone. God gave them to us, so we should use them to honor and praise Him. As Peter says, “Use whatever gift you have received to serve others, as faithful stewards of God’s grace”.  How I do this is singing at Mass, leading the congregation in worship. But there are so many other ways to glorify God as well, including serving God’s children around you. Treating others with the kindness that God put in your heart. Helping someone with their homework in a subject you are gifted in. And even if no one else knows, you can glorify God within your own heart. If you played your best field hockey game yet, acknowledge that your strength came from God. If you created a beautiful painting, remind yourself who gave you your creativity. And then thank Him. God loves each of His children incredibly much. He loves to see us carry out our own unique gifts and talents, and He especially loves it when we use them to bring Him glory.  God also calls us to show God’s grace with our talents. So we give thanks to Him ourselves, and then we show others what God has done for us and what He can do for them. When we contribute our talents as praise and use them to portray the grace of God, we join in the universal praise of Christ. One of my favorite Christian songs is “So Will I” by Hillsong United, and the lyrics, “For if everything exists to lift You high, so will I”. All of nature and space is praising the Lord, so we should too. It is what we are meant to do. And we can do it through our God given gifts.  So what are you passionate about? What brings you total happiness and makes you feel purposeful? It could be anything in life, but whatever it is, Christ wants to multiply it and make it more meaningful. You might think that your talent isn’t worth all of that, and it isn’t that important But trust me. Jesus can do unimaginable things with just a seed of faith. So, have faith in Him, and have faith that your gifts are from God and that you can use them for a greater purpose.

By: Margaux Harris “ 15  Through Jesus, therefore, let us continually offer to God a sacrifice of praise—the fruit of lips that openly profess his name. 16  And do not forget to do good and to share with others, for with such sacrifices God is pleased." (Hebrews 13:15-16) During Lent, we are called to make various sacrifices. Some people give something up, like social media or chocolate, while others do something extra, like saying a rosary each day or volunteering on a more regular basis. On top of that, we all give up eating meat on Fridays, and we fast on Ash Wednesday and Good Friday. However, it can be too easy during the long season to get sidetracked from the deeper meaning of our sacrifices. Sometimes we choose something to fast from that we know will be easy and settle with our minimal discomfort, or we decide to do something but slowly find ourselves forgetting to do it. When we become lukewarm like this, it’s hard to snap out of it.  St. Thérèse of Lisieux, one of my favorite saints, wrote about the “little way” of holiness. In essence, she recognized that we cannot all be giants of sainthood like St. Joan of Arc or St. Teresa of Avila. She saw herself, in fact, as a weak, little soul. Despite that, though, she wanted to reach the heights of holiness and become not just any saint, but a great saint. St. Thérèse’s little way is simple. She wrote, “I wanted to find an elevator which would raise me to Jesus, for I am too small to climb the rough stairway of perfection. I searched, then, in the Scriptures for some sign of this elevator, the object of my desires, and I read these words coming from the mouth of Eternal Wisdom: ‘Whoever is a little one, let him come to me.’ And so I succeeded. I felt I had found what I was looking for… The elevator which must raise me to heaven is Your arms, O Jesus!” St. Thérèse goes on to reason that, since God is all powerful and has an infinite amount of love for us, He can do anything, even making the weakest, quietest, and most sinful of us into great saints.  In my life, I’ve struggled to be like the great saints. I catch myself zoning out in Mass, I forget to pray throughout my day, and I quickly lose patience with people around me. That’s why, when I read 33 Days to Merciful Love  by Fr. Michael Gaitley about St. Thérèse’s little way, I adopted her approach to my spiritual life. When I find myself growing lukewarm, I ask God to bring me back to Him. I’m not strong like the great saints; I can’t do any great things like fasting for a full day, or give everything I have to the poor, or lead an army in God’s name. But I’ve learned that, when I ask God to bring me back, He pulls out the splinters of forgetfulness and apathy so gently that I don’t even realize until I look back and see how different I am thanks to Him.  Don’t settle this Lent. We’re already past the halfway point, but that doesn’t mean it’s too late; rather, it’s the perfect time to look at ourselves and see what we can still do to grow closer to God. Sacrificing even small things can be really, really hard, but when we pray to God and give Him everything that is difficult for us, He makes carrying our crosses so light. Make the sacrifices that feel small, because God will transform you through them, and, before you know it, you will be ready to give Him anything out of love, and He will make you a great saint.

“2 My brothers and sisters,[ a ] whenever you face trials of any kind, consider it nothing but joy, 3 because you know that the testing of your faith produces endurance; 4 and let endurance have its full effect, so that you may be mature and complete, lacking in nothing.” (James 1:2-4)  Endurance is a word typically defined as the fact or power of enduring an unpleasant  or difficult process or situation without giving way. Usually, we use the word in the context of running, biking, or other physical activities. In those times, endurance means the physical stamina needed to complete your run, bike ride, or workout. An example of physical endurance is on Good Friday, when Jesus carries the cross on his back to His own crucifixion. Jesus endured immense physical suffering during the events leading up to and including His crucifixion. He was subjected to much pain, including being hit multiple times with a whip, carrying His heavy cross, and then He was nailed to the cross where He hung for hours. Regardless, Jesus remained devoted to His mission, demonstrating extraordinary physical endurance as well as his commitment to His purpose.  On the other hand, mental endurance is defined as the ability to stay strong and resilient in the face of challenges. It typically involves having confidence, trusting in our faith, and having the ability to keep pushing forward.  In our everyday lives this might look like resisting temptation, having faith in yourself, and overcoming fears. A great Biblical example of mental endurance is Job. He faced immense suffering and loss-losing his wealth, health, and family, despite this, Job remained faithful and patient throughout his trial. Even when he questioned his situation, he never lost his faith in God. Job’s story teaches us about perseverance and maintaining hope, even in the toughest times. In our own lives, we need to have mental endurance.  The key to both physical and mental endurance is perseverance. Perseverance requires determination to keep pushing forward even when faced with obstacles. A good suggestion for this perseverance is to seek strength from God. Ask for help and you shall receive. Maintaining faith is crucial for developing both physical and mental endurance and the strength provided from God helps us to overcome challenges and to maintain hope.  By maintaining our faith in God, we can draw the inner strength needed to endure and overcome challenges, just as Jesus and Job did. This faith not only helps us to persevere but also provides hope and a sense of purpose, guiding us through even the toughest times. The verse above encourages us to view challenges as opportunities for growth. It emphasizes that trials test and strengthen faith, leading to perseverance and endurance. As perseverance develops, it brings maturity and completeness, suggesting that enduring hardships with faith ultimately leads to a more profound and fulfilled spiritual life.  In my own life, I have learned the importance of endurance. Recently, I have faced one of my fears, going to confession. I am not quite sure what terrifies me about confession, but before a few weeks ago, the thought of going made me feel nauseous. I often tell my sins to God, but the last time I had gone to confession at that point was two years ago. I was telling one of the youth leaders about my fear of confession and how I really wanted to go and I thought it was important for me to go, but I was afraid. She told me that when she does difficult or scary things, she acts like she is holding Mother Mary’s hand. After a long time sitting in adoration deciding whether or not I was going to go to confession, I finally got up, and waited near my friends. When it came time for my turn, I acted like I was walking in holding the hand of Mary and the more strength I needed, the tighter I squeezed. Suddenly, it was over and I felt a weight lifted off my chest. I was able to persevere through my fear. Think of all the times you have been afraid, tempted, or feeling any flurry of emotion. Imagine tears filling your eyes and your body shaking aggressively with fear. Now, imagine a figure beside you with a smile on their face, wiping your tears and holding your hand. This figure could be anyone, it could be Mary, Jesus, God the Father, ect. You feel your body fill up with the strength, peace, and comfort needed to endure your trials. Next time you feel afraid, tempted, or any other flurry of emotion, grab Mary's hand and allow her to give you strength to endure. I want to end off with a quick daily prayer for endurance: “Lord God, I seek Your strength daily as I face the trials and tasks before me. Grant me endurance to overcome adversity, the courage to walk fearlessly, and the faith to embrace Your plans. Let Your love be my foundation and Your wisdom my guide as I navigate each moment. Strengthen me from within, and help me to carry Your light wherever I go. Amen."

By: Poppy Varley " 18 I consider that the sufferings of this present time are not worth comparing with the glory about to be revealed to us." (Romans 8:18) Everyone in life has to deal with struggles, challenges, pain, and suffering. It’s simply a fact, one that comes with being human. Sometimes, it’s easy to be brought down by these struggles in our lives. To become hopeless and defeated in the face of a challenge. And when you accept God into your life as a Christian, it’s not as if your suffering is going to magically go away. But, it can be given a purpose instead.  Any time you are dealing with suffering, instead of getting drawn into it and making it the sole focus of your life, you can choose to offer it up to Jesus. Jesus suffered through one of the most painful things imaginable, both physically and mentally. Dying on the cross while being ridiculed and shamed, knowing that the people he had come down to save were betraying Him. Through this experience of humanity, Jesus knew what it was to suffer. But he didn’t let that consume Him, instead He used His suffering to reach through to others, to show us that we are not alone . While he was dying, he chose to forgive, to love, to think above His own pain.   God allows us to experience suffering on this Earth so that we can experience the complete totality of goodness in Heaven. Every moment spent in pain is rewarded a thousand times over the second you enter into God’s presence. One thing I have realized as I’ve grown in my faith is the importance of perspective. It can be easy to get wrapped up in the suffering you might see daily throughout the news, TV, or even daily conversation. When the only thing you are focusing on is the bad, that is what your life will become. By only giving attention to pain, sadness, or suffering, you allow it to fester and grow within your heart and mind. This mindset makes it so much harder to move on from what is holding you back. However, the same is true for the opposite. Focusing on the good in your life and having gratitude will make your life so much more joyful. I challenge you to find just one thing every day to thank God for. It could be your friends making you laugh, a pretty sunset, your dog, reading your Bible, or whatever you want! Just finding this one simple act of thankfulness and appreciation for the world around you will truly change your whole perspective. Turning your eyes to the glory that God provides in your life every day will make it so much easier to keep turning to Him when you’re suffering. And though suffering is inevitable in our lives, it doesn’t mean you have to go through it alone. God will always be there with you, reminding you of the good.

By: Dorothea Weingart " 24 He called the crowd with his disciples, and said to them, 'If any want to become my followers, let them deny themselves and take up their cross and follow me.'" (Matthew 16:24) One of the most overarching themes in this verse truly is selflessness. If you are ever too busy looking down at yourself, you will never be able to listen or look towards Jesus. Being a Christian means letting go of what you want and looking up each day, away from yourself, to walk towards Christ, trusting that you don’t know everything, and that He has a broader and more intelligent understanding of this world.  As Jesus was carrying that cross, He had millions of complaints He could have protested, yet He humbly accepted His situation and bore the cross He was given . We are all so unique with all different situations, personalities, and pet peeves. However, we constantly like to turn towards others in comparison, to wish our lives were more like theirs. “Well maybe if I had their lifestyle I wouldn’t be so annoyed about x, y, and x.” You see, you will find so much more peace when simply accepting life for what it is. It has its joys and it has its sorrows. Trying to change those so you can live a more selfish and lazy lifestyle isn’t what Christ calls us to do. When we choose to humbly accept as Christ did, not necessarily understanding what is or will happen, HE WILL PROVIDE. Your small acts of faith and selfless yes’s means more to Him than anything. In putting in the efforts of doing these things, they help rebuild and strengthen our soul for the better. Bad things (crosses) can be brutal and they don’t come from God for He does not want to see us suffer. However, He does make good out of them and teaches us lessons through them. When we bear and surrender to the people and things in our lives, we grow closer to God and farther away from ourselves. Your journey with Christ won’t always be glamorous but every high or every low will have meaning and will have the capacity to strengthen you for the better. Stop complaining, your situation isn’t going to change. Instead of trying to remove it or make it all you talk about, quietly trust and let the radical Spirit transform your soul.  Imaginative Prayer:  Imagine this scenario from your perspective   I am looking down  at the ground. I’m barefoot and dirty carrying the weight of the world on my shoulders (aka my cross), uphill. I feel down and hopeless about my cross and all I want is to drop it to find physical comfort. I didn’t choose this cross and don’t find it fair that it is in my life. Suddenly, light shines in my peripheral vision. I look next to me and there Jesus is, holding a cross and bearing it to the best of His human abilities. The whole time He is looking up, not down in pity, and turning His head back and forth; to me and to the path ahead of us. The whole time He is struggling to hold up His own cross, He is speaking to me “(your name), keep going!” “I love you and am doing this for you, (your name)” “We are almost to the end {the light} (your name), keep near to me and all will be well when we make it up there!” “We will get through this together” Not once does Jesus look down at Himself, like I am doing. There is a difference in mood between Jesus and I. The Father grants gifts of forgiveness  and empathy  to Jesus when He is looking forward, to others, and not to Himself.  I believe that life is all about how you look at it. Of course things in life are hard and sometimes too hard to bear. I believe though, that your hardships can feel a lot lighter when looking towards the light, encouraging the people around you, and to the Father for strength. I always thought that if I followed Jesus, somehow everything in life would become easier and perfect. Or so my response to things would. Though Jesus is always there to help us bear hardships well, that doesn’t always mean we  can remain faithful to Him in those times. As imperfect humans we cannot ever set standards that we will remain perfect or faithful to God in all times of our life. Simply remember though, that following Christ means helping others no matter who they are, when you too  might be bearing your own cross. When looking towards Christ, He teaches you how to forget  about yourself, and find the true lesson in the bearing of the cross. It truly is in giving that you receive. Give joy, receive joy. Give wisdom, receive wisdom. Give strength, receive strength. Give away Jesus’ love, receive Jesus’ love. You will only ever know until you try. Stand up, pick up the cross, and bear it well so maybe the person next to you will hurt a little less, just as Jesus lessened your pain + encouraged you when you were carrying your cross.