Seeking the Lord with your WHOLE Heart

During the summer I usually want to just sleep in as late  as possible. Most of May I took advantage of that. The house was quiet, the weather was dark and gloomy and I was tired. Early this week the weather began getting nicer, forcing us to open our windows, and the sun was blaring through my window. By 7 am my room looked like Vegas all lite up and glowing. Plus with the windows open you hear the birds, garbage trucks, school buses, planes and trains beginning their day nice and early. All of this ruckus began to wake me up earlier than I planned. Tuesday I decided I was going to go to morning mass. Why not? I was up anyway.

See God is a funny man. There was a reason I was awake that early, and there was a reason I was supposed to be at mass. As the gospel was being read, and Father Anthony was preaching his homily I was pretty sure I was the only person in the room. It was as if God was sitting right next to me and having an intimate conversation with my heart. Father Anthony was such a vessel that day. A lot of what his homily talked about was this idea of serving others, and giving of our selves even when we are scared, worried, or anxious about what the ways God is going to move next in our heart.


Often times my own fear and self doubt limits me from fully giving my heart, actions, and decisions to the Lord. I will give him small sections of my life, and then hold on tightly to the other parts. But at mass, that morning the message was just the opposite. Give God my WHOLE heart. 


Wednesday I woke up early again and went back to mass. The Gospel was very similar and the homily was just as great. Again, God was using Father Anthony to really speak into the depths of my heart. 


Every morning I wake up with a simple prayer, "Today I give you my yes". As I go throughout the day I try to live out that yes. It is not the easiest task to accomplish, and I would say most days I can't successfully cross that off my to do list. As I grow as a woman and as a missionary I become more confident in God's plan for my life. Because each morning I say "yes" my plan goes right out the window with those loud birds, and fast trains. 




23 Days till Tepeyac

Radical Joy....in the simple things.

Today I found simple joy in this little gem. 


I am not promoting nor endorsing giving your child this crazy juice, or making them do pageants. But this is hilarious!


Enjoy! 


http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=l9nbhzKaqvA


30 Days till Tepeyac

All day, everyday

I've been trying to reflect on that each day as I wake up and do morning prayer. I received an email from the mission director urging us to give the first fruits of our labor to the Lord. So I downloaded the Breviary app on my iPhone and begin my morning in prayer. Before I check any text messages, twitter updates, or Facebook posts I pray. Most times I don't even get out of bed before I do this. When I get to the gospel for the day I try and find joy in the word and focus on one aspect of the reading and live it out throughout the day. We began doing that last year as a Service Crew and it helped me remain focused on the mission, and in a prayerful state to serve others. 


As I continue to get ready to start the Mission year I have tried to incorporate the theme of Radiant Joy into my prayer as well. Each day I try and find joy in the simple tasks that I'm doing or in the fun family activities we have during the week. Photography is a passion of mine and it brings me a lot of joy. These past two weekends I have given me the opportunity to find joy through that little lens. I've been able to take pictures of a Roller Derby, Horse races, my sisters Junior Prom, and my cousins soccer game. Being able to capture those tiny moments of joy are so powerful. 


Somedays it's really easy to find joy. Like when your little cousins boots the soccer ball across the field, or your sister and her best friend are making jokes in the back seat. Other day's are really hard. But the joy is there. We just have to ask God to open our hearts, and eyes to the joy that he is reveling to us. 


I pray that you can find glimpses of God's joy and love in the everyday. 




Only 33 more days till I leave for Tepeyac! 

A whole lot of LOVE

This past Sunday I went into mass a bit tired, and not overly excited to be there. Which I'd say isn't to normal. I usually get excited to go to mass. But there have been a few things that have been weighing heavy on my heart and I knew that by going to mass God was going to reveal what I needed to do to remove those things. I honestly just wasn't ready. Clearly that didn't matter because when God is going to move he's going to do it on his time, and how he wants it to be done. 

As the first reading is being read I keep hearing this underlying theme of love, then in the psalm, then the second reading followed by the big bang in the Gospel."As the Father loves me, so I also love you." It makes sense. When people ask my why I want to give the Lord the next two years of my life and love other people it's because of this line. The Lord has shown me so much love and it is now my time to show that love to others.

One of the opportunities we had as Summer Missionaries to show God's love was through "Walmart Ministry". Basically we would go into the local Walmart with the intention of not buying much, but loving strong. I've taken what I've learn and applied that to every store I go to. Simply asking a cashier how they are doing and really standing there and listening matters. Or helping someone who can't find the spice they are looking for, or picking up something the stock clerk dropped matters. It's simple to show the love that the Father has for us, we just have to try. You don't need some sort of superpowers to love! 

Ironically the theme for Life Teen this  year is Radiant Joy. While I've been praying about these things that are weighing heavy on my heart I'm trying to find joy in the situation. As Father Chris continued to read I was hit with this verse. ""I have told you this so that my joy may be in you and your joy might be complete". His joy is already in me, and in the situations. I have to lean on Christ more to find HIS joy. I need to stop looking for that joy in the wrong places. 

After I left mass I knew what I had to do to take the weight off my heart. I needed to find that joy. We were blessed to have beautiful weather and a day at the races that afternoon to celebrate Mother's Day. The joy that was surrounding me was so easy to find in my cousins face when we played catch. Or in my mom's face when my sister and I  sang her a silly rap. Especially in my dad's face when he hit big on a horse bet. Since that day I've found joy in the simplicity of life and it's beautiful. 

I pray that you find joy in the boring day in and day out tasks that you have to do. 

Being in the Right Place at God's Time

I've been home for a little over a week with not very much to do. So I jump at any opportunity to leave the house even if it's to run to the post office, or to pick up my sister from school. My mom has been working her butt off as a teacher and needed me to help her out. The Confirmation Mass was being held at or church on Wednesday and she said she would be the Eucharistic Minister unfortunately she had to tutor. So I willingly said I'd cover for her. 


I'm pretty sure God had this plan in his pocket the whole time. I've had a lot of time to pray about the up coming mission year, and the opportunity I've been given to go to Arizona as well. When Dan began reading the first reading my mouth almost hit the floor. It was Isaiah 61. I've heard this reading over and over again during the past two summers at Covecrest. This chapter is named Exaltation of the Afflicted. It is beautiful and if you have time I suggest reading the entire chapter. The first two verses are amazing and hit my heart in such a way that it is almost hard to describe. 

The Spirit of the Lord God is upon me, Because the Lord has anointed me

To bring good news to the afflicted; He has sent me to bind up the brokenhearted, To proclaim liberty to captives And freedom to prisoners;

² To proclaim the favorable year of the Lord And the day of vengeance of our God; To comfort all who mourn Isaiah 61 1-2

As Dan was reading this verse I could do nothing but smile. Just when I thought I didn't have a purpose, and just when I was doubting what Christ was doing in my life he placed this right in front of me. This describes so perfectly how I feel about the mission program. I'm incredibly excited to start the formation year, but nervous as well. I'm not sure what God is going to do in my life and that is a little scary. But he has a plan. I wasn't supposed to be at that mass, my mom was. But I'm so glad that God placed me there.  

You never know how God is going to work until you are open to his plan. When you are open, you begin to realize how he is working in your life and it is a beautiful thing. 

I'm praying for you. 

Holy Cow Batman

I'm a Life Teen Missionary!


I've graduated from college and have spent the last week catching up on sleep, unpacking my room and getting ready to embark on the next journey.

I leave for Arizona on June 24th to be the camp photographer at Life Teen Tepeyac. I'm beyond excited, a little nervous and a little scared. Photography is a gift God has given me that I don't use often and it makes me a bit nervous.

I've been gathering information to send out to mission partners which has proved to be a HUGE blessing. If you are interested in receiving information about the Mission program just send me an email at acassar316@gmail.com


Praying for your YES