Archive for July, 2009

Life In The Fast Lane

// July 27th, 2009 // 1 Comment » // Did You Know

The big question for many of us is “Is life in the fast lane where God wants me to be?” At the end of the twentieth century, people seemed to be worn out, tired, and over committed. The question is “Do I find it hard to keep up with all of my responsibilities?” Everyone has some priority that competes with putting God first. Which is yours? When we are running in the fast lane, precious little time is left for God and the family. The family usually pays the price. “Am I in the fast lane? Do I need to get out of it?” God will bless your decision and help you find an exit. He will continue to bless you with all the power you need to make the adjustment.

-Fr. Duane Stenzel

You’re Not What You Do

// July 20th, 2009 // 1 Comment » // Did You Know

People who achieve important positions of responsibility and authority run one of the greatest risks. The risk is for people to identify you as the person with the important position. The heartache comes when you no longer have the position and you realize that people weren’t really interested in you because you were you, but because of what people could get from you.

-Fr. Duane Stenzel

God Sees Us As Valuable

// July 13th, 2009 // 3 Comments » // Did You Know

A well-known speaker started off his seminar by holding up a $20 bill. In the room of 200, he asked, “Who would like this $20 bill?” Hands stared going up. He said, “I am going to give this $20 to one of you but first, let me do this.” He proceeded to crumple the money. He the asked, “Who stills wants it?” Still the hands were up in the air. “Well” he replied, “what if I do this?” and he dropped it on the ground and started to grind it into the floor with his shoe. He picked it up, now crumpled and dirty. “Now who still wants it?” Still the hands went into the air. “My friends, you have all learned a very valuable lesson. No matter what I did to the money, you still wanted it because it did not decrease in value. It was worth $20. Many times in our lives, we are dropped, crumpled, and ground into the dirt by the decisions we make and the circumstances that come our way. We feel as though we are worthless, but no matter what has happened or what will happen, you will never lose your value in God’s eyes. Dirty or clean, crumpled or finely creased, you are still priceless to Him. The worth of our lives comes not in what we do or whom we know, but by WHO WE ARE! You are special . . . don’t ever forget it. Count your blessings, not your problems.

-Fr. Duane Stenzel

Intimacy With God

// July 6th, 2009 // 2 Comments » // Did You Know

Intimacy is the desire of every heart. God made us that way. God is love. How intimacy is experienced varies from person to person. A short definition of intimacy is “into-me-see.” Shame causes us to hide our hearts from others out of fear of rejection or further hurt. However, prayer can start us on the path of intimacy. We become intimate with the one for whom we pray, with whom we pray, and to whom we pray.

-Fr. Duane Stenzel