17 years & Counting

Happy New Year everyone! Wow, how amazing this past year has been. Some pains, some struggles, some amazing nights, some great memories, some broken friendships, some new friendships, some trials, some blessings. I look back at 2015 like a scrapbook, even though I didn't capture everything I would have liked.

This past year was so awesome. I am going to sum up some events that have happened that were highlights for me instead of putting them in those Facebook videos. I got CONFIRMED and it was amazing!! I am now officially apart of God's family and I chose to take that vow for myself. I am saying yes to God. Yes I am your daughter. I was always his daughter but its so great that I could proclaim it. I am Catholic, I am a daughter of God.

I interviewed Jeremy and Ryan, the Catholic rock band I am always talking about. It was so cool. I always imagined interviewing famous people and Jeremy and Ryan are sure getting up there. Me and my friend Lucas did everything. I came up with the questions and the game and Lucas did all the hard work. He rented equipment, cleaned up the slides, edited the whole video, and made it the 15 minute video you can see right here: 

I went to my first Taylor Swift concert: The 1989 World Tour with two of my favorite people in the whole wide world. It was a great night and what made it even better was going with people who inspired me to be the best person I can be. It wasn't only in the arena when we had fun but we had fun in the car on the way there and on the way home blasting 1989 and singing (and screaming) every word. You can read about the whole experience right here on this blog under the August archive of the site.

I self published my very own book titled BLOGGED. It's about becoming Fearlessly Catholic in today's world knowing other people are beside you, and most of all God. He is always there for you. If you would like to purchase this (non-profit) book you can buy it here: BLOGGED

God has truly blessed me this year. He has set on my heart to be more active at both parishes I go to. Helping out with EDGE, starting a Bible Study, participating in Bible Study, singing in Choir, and going to Lifeteen more and more. I've met the most amazing EDGE kids and friends through church and if you aren't active in your parish I encourage you to do so. I was such a stubborn kid when it came to making friends at my church but when God wants to do make a change in your life, he does.

There were struggles this year. Some major struggles but I believe that not a year passes without struggle. I've learned to thank God for the battles I have fought and those I have won. I know God sometimes calms the storm but sometimes He lets the storm rage on, and calms His child. I found this quote, pray when it is hardest to pray two years ago. I always wanted to put it in to words but whenever those times came when it was difficult to pray through a situation I never would. This year I am more than happy to say that I have followed through with what the quote has said. It's such a lesson to learn but when  you do learn it, it will make you stronger.

Almost nothing can sum up this fantastic year, I've had. Thank you to all those at Sacred Heart and St. Marys for making my year truly a blessing. Thank you to my wonderful family that has encouraged me, loved me, and has done more than I can imagine for me this year. Thank you to my friends who are the most amazing bunch of people ever.

Even though I said I probably couldn't sum this year up. I found a song that I can relate to my year perfectly. God bless Fearless Catholics, lets make 2016 awesome!

You are blessed. You are loved. You are Enough.
Living Fearlessly through another year,
Sammy

Song stars at 1:43 part

How Adele's (song) When We Were Young taught me about the Year Of Mercy

Adele's newest album 25 has been on the top of billboards best selling albums for three weeks since it has come out. This has been such an anticipated album since she let out her CD 21. I am not that big of an Adele fan but she does have a fantastic voice and has such a talent to write her own music. 

I got the CD as a present to my sister for Christmas this year and to be honest I have been listening to it a lot. Adele has such raw emotion in her songs and in her voice. It's like free therapy with Adele, and who doesn't want that?

There's a particular song I want to point out, It's called When We Were Young. In the beginning the lyrics are, "Everybody loves the things you do, from the way you talk to the way you move, everybody here is watching you." When hearing this song after the twentieth time, I realized this can help me within my own Faith.

Like I've said in many blog posts before. We were put on earth to proclaim God's gospel and to help other people get to Heaven no matter who it may be. I don't know about you, but I strive to be friendly to everyone I meet, I strive to help people, I want people to look at me and see Christ. I want people to know I am Catholic by the way I speak. I won't lie maybe sometimes by the way I dress or the way I talk. I wouldn't be surprised if people who didn't know me knew I believed in Christ and tried to live it out. I don't think they would guess I wrote a book on how to become Fearlessly Catholic, they wouldn't know I choose to use my gift of singing for God, they wouldn't know I have this blog where I exclaim the gospel and God's love.

Like in Adele's song I want people to love the way I speak because I speak of kindness, care, love, and joy. Not profanity, hatred, or nastiness. I don't want people to know of me as someone who would rather put on a Taylor Swift shirt than wear a scapular. If you have ever thought of me this way, I am trying to change. If you maybe even have some things you would like to change of your outer appearance please join me in doing this.

Not only should we take care and respect of our outer appearance but we have something indescribable inside of us that we should be taking care of. We have the Holy Spirit living in us. Do we ever care about whats going inside of our bodies? Our minds, our mouths, our eyes. We, as Catholics have to watch what see, look at, and read. We have to pay attention and ask ourselves would Jesus look at this? Would Jesus turn his head and look the other way?  I know, I know I am using the old  WWJD but as maybe silly as it is, it does help. We have to cleanse our mouths of the language we might use. Instead of cussing when we stub our toe or get cut off while driving, how about saying a Hail Mary? We need not to only take care of our eyes and mouths but our minds. Its almost impossible not to see some nasty things in our world. It's all over T.V., in the music industry, on magazines when we're checking out at the grocery store, and on billboards. I mean I would really rather be looking at a McDonalds ad than a trashy promotion for a wine or perfume.

Pope Francis said this is the Year Of Mercy. We are supposed to be showing compassion to others, love to others, mercy to others. The best way to do that sometimes is using our tongues to teach about God's teachings. We weren't put here to roll our eyes at those inappropriate things, we were put here to change those things. Instead of saying oh yeah it's the year of Mercy I am going to totally change myself and surprise others but I'll do it tomorrow because today I am going to probably watch this show I know is kind of trashy but it's ok because compared to the other stuff it's not that bad. Especially when it comes to our faith I hear a lot of people, including myself say I am going to read the Summa, learn more about my Faith, show compassion to the person who hurt me, show forgiveness. We don't do it and then it's already next year and slowly if we stop going to Confession, don't forgive, push people out of our lives, stop going to mass, or stop being nice and smiling we could become bitter and another person that has strayed away from God.

How hard is a smile? It's not hard. Be nice to one another and slowly but surley we can change our world and be the light of God. (Oh and listen to Adele, not only does she have a rockin voice but her messages are good too.)

Fearlessly Living Catholic and Merciful,
Sammy

P.S. YOU ARE LOVED. YOU ARE BLESSED. YOU ARE ENOUGH. praying for you my fearless Catholics.

"There is a terrible hunger for love. We all experience that in our lives - the pain, the loneliness. We must have the courage to recognize it. The poor you may have right in your own family. Find them. Love them."
-Blessed Teresa of Calcutta

Limitless

Happy Friday Everybody! 

In our lives we will deal with anger, sadness, failed relationships, doubt, and anxiety. We deal with these horrible, but beautiful emotions. As humans, we are as fragile as glass and sometimes the world is very harsh to us. We wonder why our creator God would let these disappointments come to our hearts and why he would let us battle with depression and unhappiness?

Sometimes, we tend to get mad at God for these things. We yell, shake our firsts in the air, and turn our backs on Him. If God is goodness why would he let us feel like a mess? Why would he let terrible thing after terrible thing knock us down? I go to mass on Sundays, I go to Lifeteen, I pray, I try and follow him, and day after day he never once lets things let up. Why would I want to serve a God like that? Why would anyone?

 

 I’ve been where you are before. I sometimes do feel these feelings time again too because I’m still a teen and a human, but I’ve learned something. I’ve learned that God doesn’t give us these things. My explanation goes all the way back to Genesis in the bible, the beginning of this world. When God created Adam and Eve he told them they could eat from every bush, plant, and tree in the garden except one. And I know, you know, what they did. They ate from that one tree because they were tempted and that’s when our parents brought sin into the world.

Sin is evil and evil leads to sin. Since there is evil in the world that’s when we have these heart wrenching doubts. Where are you God? Why aren’t you here for me? Some Father you are letting this happen to me? God doesn’t let this happen to you. God absolutely does not let bad things happen to you. He does not create these things to happen to you. Our world is broken. You see all these shootings on the news, all the suicides taking place within your hometown or globally like when Robin Williams took his life. 

When the horrible shootings happened in Paris leaving people dead and injured, where was God? He was there. When the terrifying shooting happened in San Bernadino on Wednesday leaving 14 dead and some injured, where was God? He was there. Where is God who took our place on the cross so we wouldn’t have to deal with the pain when people are being martyred for believing in him? He is there. He is with them. Being nailed and nailed to that cross again and again. 

Our country is not perfect. Our president is not perfect and does not have Catholic morals. But us as Catholics, can change that. But why would we help others when I can’t help myself? I am praying for all these things. Peace, Comfort, Health, Protection, and none of these prayers are being answered.

Those nights when you can’t sleep. There is always a reason for everything and those sleepless nights, even though they are irritating and hated, they are something much bigger. Maybe that’s when God wants to talk to us but we push him away because we’d rather sleep and I won’t lie. Yes, I want to sleep because I’m tired and I can’t go to bed. But maybe the blessings we have been asking for us come to us in disguise. Maybe our hearts breaking our something much bigger, because God is here. He is here and we can’t believe it sometimes. It’s hard and God knows that, we’re human and he made us. He knows our doubts  in this life when we’re suffering but we need to remember God is here and the only thing he wants is to heal us. When we cry maybe that’s God. When we feel empty maybe that’s when God says He will make us full. Everything that happens in this life, God promises he will use it for His goodness.

Our world is broken, torn, and dark and God knew all this would happen. He knew we wouldn't know where to go, who to go to, what to do but behold our life instructions...... The Bible. Matthew 5:14-16 says, "You are the light of the world. A city on a hill cannot be hidden. Neither do people light a lamp and put it under a bowl. Instead they put it on its stand, and it gives light to everyone in the house. In the same way, let your light shine before men, that they may see your good deeds and praise your Father in heaven. I don't know about you but sometimes it can be terrifying and scary to be a light of God. We see on the news people being killed for saying they believe in the one true God. Jesus never said it would be easy to follow Him, but He said it would be worth it. 

I don't really have reasons or answers for the cause of the terrorist attack in Paris or the one that happened in San Bernadino taking lives of 14 people. The only answer and reason I have is God. Not everyone will take this answer but it is truth. God is doing something so much bigger right now. It's hard to understand when a father of 6 was killed, the principal's husband of Sacred Heart school getting killed, and loved ones getting shot on a day when we thought it was a regular day and we didn't tell them how much we loved them or appreciated them. 

We need to pray, do charity, do good works, go to mass, appreciate people, and be nice to everyone we meet, go to confession often, and participate in the gift of the mass. This glorious Advent season we learn about the second coming of our Lord and we prepare our hearts for when He comes. I don't know about you but when He comes, don't you want to be ready and don't you want to know you did everything you could on earth to get to Heaven? I do. 

We're human and we're not perfect. We are far from perfect and sometimes we are far from great. I just feel like I am blessed to be surrounded by people whose goal is to get to heaven. My family, my church family, and my friends. Tell those who you love, you love them. It is absolutely heart wrenching when shootings aren't a big deal anymore on the news, let us be the light of God so we can stop these shootings and make this world a better place until Christ comes again to bring us home.

Don't limit God because he is Limitless. 

Live Fearlessly and Be God's light.

Sammy

The confirmation minister at my church whom is a shining light of God posted this song on Facebook today and it inspired me to right this post. Please take a listen. 

Even when my strength is lost, I'll praise You Even when I have no song, I'll praise You, Even when it's hard to find the words, Louder then I'll sing Your praise Even when the fight seems lost I'll praise You
Even when it hurts like hell I'll praise You Even when it makes no sense to sing Louder then I'll sing Your praise- Hillsong United