Relationship with God

Category Archives: Relationship with God

LifeTeen.com Blog

Through Good Times and Bad

By | May 15, 2013

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There’s a very popular saying: “God loves us just the way we are, but He loves us far too much to let us stay that way.” To move us, and to draw us to Him, sometimes God must withdraw so that we can grow. God wants us to enter the Kingdom of Heaven, and to do that we have to choose the path of Christ. Sometimes we are consoled and we feel so close to Jesus. Other times, maybe not so much. Just remember . . . when God feels far away, He is simply calling us to Him and He wants you to come along.

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The One Word That Will Make You Strong

By | May 14, 2013

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If I could get a ripped, NBA body by sitting in front of the TV an hour a day watching Mythbusters, you bet I’d never miss an episode. In fact, if getting in shape was that easy we’d all be walking around looking like Tony Horton and Jillian Michaels (fitness gurus to the uninitiated). But it’s not that easy. And there are so many things I’d rather do than exercise for an hour a day — like watch reruns of Mythbusters. Things that are good for my body are rarely ever Read more [...]

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LifeTeen.com Blog

You Are Wanted

By | May 9, 2013

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Let’s take a little trip down the country road with Hunter Hayes. I was recently listening to “Wanted.” I know . . . so last year . . . but you know what never fades with time, our desire to be “wanted” . . . so HA! As I listened to this song I often picture myself dramatically belting the chorus into a microphone as a country singer star. While, in all actuality, I am just sitting at my desk bobbing my head and swaying to the music (desks are rather inhibiting to any other type Read more [...]

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LifeTeen.com Blog

Six-Pack Jesus Loves You

By | May 7, 2013

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As a high schooler, I was a scrawny, ghost-white toothpick with very little strength but a lot of stamina. (Oh, wait . . . I’m still like that.) I loved to play sports and I certainly had the genes for it. Unfortunately, my build made it easy for the opposing team to crack me in half before the referee had any time to notice what happened. Good thing I was fast.

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LifeTeen.com Blog

Recalculating… Life

By | May 2, 2013

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It’s fair to say that my driving is always an adventure full of surprises, disappointments, and apologies to my passengers.

Whether you’re directionally challenged like me or not, life is pretty tough to navigate. Everyone has moments where we are unsure of who we are, where we’re headed, and if there is a voice that we can trust to get us there. Even prayer can be frustrating as we go through different periods where God may seem close or distant, loud or silent.

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LifeTeen.com Blog

Understanding Paul: An Introduction to the Writings of St. Paul

By | May 1, 2013

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Use the summaries as an introduction for private study. Use them in a group study as you begin to discuss the various overarching themes of each work. The point is this: use them. There is no reason to avoid St. Paul’s writings. They are a beautiful gift from God and are meant to be explored. Prayerfully read through these sections in conjunction with the letters of St. Paul themselves, and watch how the second reading at Sunday Mass — and, most importantly, your soul — comes to life.

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“We Must Go Out”: A Podcast About Confirmation

By | April 25, 2013

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“When you get confirmed, what happened to the Apostles is the exact same thing that will happen to you . . . maybe minus the visible tongues of fire . . . I don’t know, I’m not making any guarantees. But the presence and the power of the Holy Spirit will actually be upon you. This is what happens in the Sacrament of Confirmation, that we receive these gifts. And these gifts are what? St. Paul writes about them in the book of Galatians – the fruits of the Spirit are: love, and joy, peace, patience, kindness, generosity, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control. You receive the power to live a new life, not just for yourself but for other people.”

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LifeTeen.com Blog

The Indiana Leap

By | April 23, 2013

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Our faith, however, is not based on hollow rituals or oppressive rules. It’s based on an encounter with the person of Jesus, who changes everything. Our relationship with Christ connects us with the origin of our life and the meaning of where we are going. He desires us not to be weighed down but rather to live life to its fullest potential (John 10:10).

When He calls us to live a holy life, it’s because he knows what we are capable of and is drawing our potential out of us like any good sports coach does.

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LifeTeen.com Blog

Modern Martyrdom

By | April 18, 2013

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This is how we can grow in holiness in everyday life. Every day gives us new opportunities for our selfish, superior part to die and for us to grow in love. Maybe we do the dishes without grumbling about it, help someone with school work even if we’d rather be doing something else, or take time to hang out with our siblings.

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LifeTeen.com Blog

Carry On

By | April 15, 2013

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I’d probably be on my way home, too. Because, in a way, I have felt like they felt. Maybe you have, too.

We’ve been on the great retreats, attended the amazing youth conferences, heard the killer homilies, felt the graces of Confession, gotten into the power of the Triduum. We’ve heard His voice and felt His presence. Everything is working according to plan.

And then, a little time goes by . . . a couple hours, a couple days, a couple weeks. And the feelings are gone. And it feels like Jesus is gone, too.

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LifeTeen.com Blog

A Great Day to Die

By | April 11, 2013

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If I want to live, there are things in me that need to die. My selfishness, my lust, my greed, my grudges, and my sin have got to go.

Each day we’re faced with this choice: will I live for myself or will I lay my life down? Is my life focused on success or sacrifice?

When we walk into a church, we are confronted with the radical call to die. When we see the baptismal font, we are reminded that it’s only through death that we can rise with Christ. And when we dip our fingers into the Holy Water, we trace the sign of the cross to say, “God, drown whatever needs to be drowned in my heart. I want to live with you, so I’m willing to die like you.”

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LifeTeen.com Blog

Saying “I Do” When You Feel Like “I Don’t”

By | April 4, 2013

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There’s no room for that kind of wishy-washy-ness when it comes down to deciding where you want to spend eternity. Saying “I do” during those baptismal promises was a powerful moment for me. It meant I was recommitting to giving my life over to my bridegoom, Jesus Christ, and His Church (Ephesians 5).

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LifeTeen.com Blog

I Give Up.

By | April 3, 2013

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It was annoying. It was irritating. It was frustrating.

These are not major things. They are tiny, annoying things that piled up one after another. There are greater tragedies in the world, for sure, but that doesn’t mean that I still didn’t feel like throwing my hands up and wallowing in my own misery.

But then I remembered something.

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LifeTeen.com Blog

Weakness Exposed

By | March 27, 2013

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Sometimes light reveals things that we don’t want to see. Lent has a way of doing that. It causes a little bit of pressure and stress, and shows us just how weak we can be sometimes. In my case, sitting in the sun revealed some things in me that I needed to work on. Had I gone and escaped into the shade, I may have missed out on the chance to improve myself.

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LifeTeen.com Blog

Why Have You Forsaken Me?

By | March 27, 2013

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Sometimes God seems far from us. Sometimes it seems as if He’s forsaken us completely.

When I was sixteen, my dad died from lung cancer. Both during his illness and after his death, I felt very alone, both in a worldly sense – none of my friends had lost a parent—and in a spiritual sense. Part of me believed that God let my dad die, and that he’d left me alone to suffer and grieve.

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LifeTeen.com Blog

Father, Forgive Them

By | March 24, 2013

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It’s true! For a long time, even though I knew that Christ offered me forgiveness, I got tired of asking to be forgiven because I knew that no matter how hard I tried, I kept falling into the same sins. Even for sins that I committed once, I had a hard time receiving His forgiveness because I didn’t feel worthy of being forgiven. Even after going to confession, I still felt guilty and ashamed for what I had done because I didn’t believe enough in His mercy.

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LifeTeen.com Blog

Living Forgiveness

By | March 21, 2013

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Perhaps the toughest part of forgiveness is forgiving ourselves. This Lent, I’ve made specific efforts to forgive myself for past wrongdoings. I’ve reflected on what lead me to those sins or mistakes. I’ve confessed them and have felt Jesus take them off of my shoulders. The freedom that comes with Jesus’ forgiveness is life-changing. But we have to let it change our lives. We have to accept that He forgives us. He doesn’t hold a grudge, so who are we to hold one?

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LifeTeen.com Blog

Confessions of a TV Addict

By | March 18, 2013

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“I don’t even know how she got on this show if she can’t harmonize,” I said as I leaned back in my chair and looked at the TV.

“Megan!” my roommate snapped. “You’re not supposed to be watching TV! Get back to work!”

“I’m not watching, I’m just . . . ” I trailed off, unable to come up with an excuse. I sat back up in my chair and started in on my schoolwork again.

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LifeTeen.com Blog

Where Have You Been?

By | March 13, 2013

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We, like the Samaritan woman, continually ask God, “Where have you been?” or “Where were you?” when relationships or life don’t go the way we planned.

The thing is God never asks us, “Where have you been” because He knows where we’ve been. He knows the websites, the parties, the rooms we have entered, and the bottles we have opened to satisfy our thirst. He knows the relationships we have been in and the lines we have crossed emotionally, physically, and sexually. And yet, He sits at the wall of the well waiting for us to discover Him and accept His mercy and love.

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LifeTeen.com Blog

Give Me More

By | March 8, 2013

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So often I grasp for more and more. Things are good but I want them to be better. I have so much . . . why do I always want more?

This week has taught me to slow down and receive what God is giving me, and not complain that I want more or less. He knows what I can and can’t handle today. And He won’t give me more than I can handle – with His grace.

You see, more isn’t always better. I used to always focus on achieving, but now I want to focus on receiving. Our Lord is the Giver of all good gifts.

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