Coffee & Then Some

Standing in line to buy a cup a coffee, the customer in front of me at the counter inquired about buying a gift card. 'Do you have envelopes for the gift cards' asked the customer.

The person at the register was new and had no idea. Another employee said they did and politely responded to the customer accordingly.

An interesting comment was made during the exchange between the two employees. The more experienced coffee Barista said, 'Be the Customer, look through their eyes, what do you see?'

I got my coffle as expected, but left with more than I went in for.

Can we use our eyes to see what Jesus sees, to be what He is, make the world a better place by utilizing His love through our arms?

Enjoy your coffee today. Leave your worries at the foot of the Cross. His plan will work through you today.

Grace & Peace

Tim

I Saw What I Saw

Please folow this link to view a video which has music by Sara Groves. The name of the song is 'I Saw What I Saw'.

Where did Courage take Jesus? Where will it take you today, and tomorrow?

http://www.godtube.com/view_video.php?viewkey=7397332bc60e839d7897&msg=Your%20email%20has%20been%20successfully%20sent%20to%20your%20friend.

Grace & Peace

Tim

Love First - Win Second

Whatever you do, do your work heartily, knowing that from the Lord you will receive the reward of the inheritance. It is the Lord Christ whom you serve. Colossians 3:23-24

As we serve Christ, let us keep our eyes and ears open for His voice. He is constantly calling. Are we always listening?

Saturday night, bed time on Lincolnwood Drive. Katie pulls a book out of the drawer that is similar to Where's Waldo. Find the pictures hidden on the page. This particular book was Winnie the Pooh. She had me beat on every page. One page in particular, she was off her game and didn't not find as many as her Dad.

I told her 'I won'. I keep thinking about her response. 'Daddy, it's not about winning, it's about loving'.

If we can love eachother as Christ loves us, we all win.


Tim

Work the Plan

If you can’t ask God to make you a success at what you’re doing, you should be doing something else. God doesn't want you to waste your life.

We come from many backgrounds and families, we all do what we do to make a living and support our families.

We must also support our Spiritual life through prayer, communication, and action with God and our families.

Keep Planning the Work, and Work the Plan

Peace

Tim

The Son & The Water

"Ask, and it will be given to you; seek, and you will find; knock, and it will be opened to you." Matthew 7:7

For some reason, all the children in 4th, 3rd, and 2nd Grade in our Parish received the Sacrament of Reconciliation this year. I did not bother asking why it was so early, I just went along with it. There comes a point in the ceremony when the child and the parents walk back to the Baptismal Waters and recite a prayer. We presented Joey with a cross on a chain and we blessed it. While Sue and I read the prayer together, I got caught off guard when reading some of the words. "At Baptism, you were blessed with water. Today, we bless this cross that Jesus may keep you safe, until you return to Him in eternal salvation.'

It has been 9 months since my father passed away. He looked forward to eternal salvation. I know he is happy. But I just was not ready to read it to our son, but I did because I knew it was the right thing to do.

I woke early today as a trip to the grocery store was in order. Yes, little Katie got the stomach flu last night. Every hour on the hour, my wife, a Saint at times like these, got up to comfort her. Driving East on Central Street towards Dominick's, the sun rise over the lake today was beautiful. The sun reflected off the small puffy clouds that seemed endless. The sun never ended.

Driving to work today, I put the two scenes together. Our relationship with Jesus is endless. He wants us near Him. The Sacrament, although earlier than usual, brings us closer to Christ, which is always a good thing.

The Son is also endless. We don't have to be near a lake to see Him. He is in every day, wherever we are.


Grace & Peace

Tim

JOY

JOY comes by putting Jesus first, Others second, and Yourself last.

We all have certain responsibilities in life that must be accomplished everyday. Work, School, Travel, Sports, Family, and Church.

The common thread through all of them is JOY. Think about it, and let yourself wonder in the possibilities what can happen when you let go, and let Jesus take your burden and control in your life.


Grace & Peace

Tim

Filling Up Your Tank

“Don’t worry about anything. Instead pray about everything” (Philippians 4:6)

Life is not easy for anyone. In these uncertain economic times, stress can certainly increase beyond our ability to handle it.

It is easy to say 'Don't worry about anything', but we are human and it's in our nature to worry.

However, the more we fill our mind with prayer and thought with a Christ centered life, the less room there is for other things. When you talk to God today, ask Him to fill your tank up. It won't cost a dime. Refills are free too.


Stay Warm

Tim

Marley & Jesus

Many people enjoy their pets, and this year we joined the list of those who have a Dog in the house. We found Rufus in a shelter on Irving Park Road in Chicago in the Fall of 2008.

While watching late night television this week, a commercial came on for the movie, Marley & Me. We have not taken the kids to see the movie yet, but it's on our list of things to do. During the TV advertisement, someone says, 'A Dog does not care if you are rich or poor. If you give your heart, he'll give one back in return.'

While we love our Rufus, and as Christian's, we also love Jesus. The same rules apply with Him as well.

Give your heart to Jesus, and He will give you His heart in return.


Grace & Peace

Tim

God at Work

I truly beleive that God works through all of us. We don't know the all the reasons why, or how the entire portrait of our lives is put together, but we are all together for a reason. We are the Body of Christ. Each of us has a unique ability and gift to make this life and this world a better place.

The following link shows the life of a man which is extremely inspirational, motivational, and real. I encourage you to copy and paste the link into your web browser, watch the 5 minute video, and then ask yourself again - how bad is today? Can you get up and face the challenge in front of you? Can you make a difference today?

www.4marks.com/videos/details.html?video_id=723

God is calling all of us. Allow Him to Work through you.

Grace & Peace

Tim

The Sending Place

The church shouldn't just be a meeting for Christians; it ought to be a sending place for Christians.

Every time we enter into mass, we are called to the hear Christ's Word. We are invited to celebrate the sacrament of Holy Communion and we are filled with the Spirit. Every time we leave mass, we are given a blessing as we return to start a new day or week.

We and not just walking out of church, but we are sent forth to do His work in our families, in our neighborhoods, with the homeless, and with the person checking our groceries as Dominick's.

We are blessed. Make joyful noise to the Lord. Whatever you give Him, will be replenished in full.


Grace & Peace

Tim

The Birthday Table

“Let us consider how we may spur one another on toward love and good deeds." Hebrews 10:24-25

There is excitement in the Patton House again as Joey celebrates his 8th Birthday. Leaving for work this morning, I walked into his room to slip in a kiss, he was sleeping. His big brother Timmy decorated the room with Red and Blue streamers. It was not something I expected to see. It had to take some time. Streamers over the door, the bed rail, the window, and the ceiling of the room. But Timmy is like that, he goes the extra mile to help people feel good about themselves. The love between the kids is fun to watch (when you can see it) as it continues to develop.

Walking downstairs to make lunches for the kids, I could see that Sue had decorated the Birthday Table with wrapped gifts, pictures, and a special table cloth that her Grandmother had sewn many years ago. It will be a fun day for all.

Take moments in your life to celebrate the love that God has given to your family.

It makes the snow go away!

Grace & Peace

Tim

Linus Said.....

It feels like Christmas outside today. Christmas is special because of all the traditions we have embedded into our lives. Over the Holidays, we were watching Charlie Brown Christmas for the umpteenth time, and Linus quotes the Gospel...

Today in the town of David a Savior has been born to you; he is Christ the Lord. This will be a sign to you: You will find a baby wrapped in cloths and lying in a manger. Luke 2:11-12

How many times have we heard this Gospel? The Savior has been born for you.

Jesus was born for all of us. My relationship with Him must be one and one, but it must also be shared with the world.
When you internalize His love for you, all you can do is smile and return the love to others.

Grace & Peace

Tim

The Servant

Whoever wants to be great must become a servant. Mark 10:43


The world defines greatness in terms of power, obsessions, prestige, and position. If you can demand service from others, you’ve arrived. In our self-serving culture with its me-first mentality, acting like a servant is not a popular concept.

Jesus, however, measured greatness in terms of service, not status.


God determines your greatness by how many people you serve, not how many people serve you.


Whatever we do and wherever we are, the opportunity will present itself today. Housewives, Mothers, Bus Drivers, Lawyers, Nurses, Doctors, Office Workers, Teachers, Fathers, and Children.

Let us serve one another in His name. One moment at a time.



Grace & Peace



Tim

You Don't Always Get What You Want

Now I really rejoice when something does not go as I wish - because I see that He wants our trust - that is why we should praise God as if we have got everything.

Things don't always work out the want them to. We never get want completely. Are we disappointed? It is easy to be dissapointed when we fail. The above quote from Mother Theresa puts things in perspective quite a bit. Give your failures to God, He can work miracles with them.

Grace & Peace

Tim

20 + C + M + B + 09

Take down the tree. Wrap up the decorations. Clean the needles from the floor. Send the kids back to school. We are all in the Post Holiday reality today that means we grind through the next few months and pray for no sickness in the house and fair weather. Can Spring Break get here fast enough?

I was not looking forward to getting up today. At 4 AM, I heard Katie stir in her bed, and talking in her sleep, she said, 'Good Morning God'. She was dreaming, and went back to sleep.

As I lay silent, and thoughts entered my consciousness, I recalled the Feast Day of the Three Kings. At St. Athanasius, the Pastor uses a stick of chalk and writes 20 + C + M + B + 09.

on the stone archway near the entrance to the church. It reminds us that we, like the three kings, are on a pilgrimage to spread the good news of Jesus through the world. Wherever we are, the Love of Christ remains in our hearts and lives.

We are called to continue the Good News of Christmas.


Grace & Peace

Tim

Ready or Not - Here He Comes

Growing up as kids, we spent a lot of time outside and one of the games that would come at as the street lights turned on was hide and go seek. Count to ten and scream - 'Ready or not , here I come'. There was always spot on the block that was a 'free' zone. If you reached that particular location before being tagged, you were safe.

Another year has passed and 2009 is welcomed by all of us.

God wants us in the game.

God is not necessarily looking for ability, He is looking for availability.

All things are possible with Christ. Be available to Him, and let His spirit and love guide you through each day.


Grace & Peace

Tim

(Please subscribe to http://wwwfaithworkscom.blogspot.com/ to follow the daily postings)