Morality - Jesus Guides Us Through Life

The first paragraph of Chapter Fourteen of “We Believe, A Survey of the Catholic Church” by Oscar Luke, speaks directly to my God-given spirit in regard to the time I have spent here in Washington since I was brought to Microsoft on April 17, 2006, just two days after I was baptized and my wife Jill Feyerherm confirmed into the Catholic Church on the evening of Saturday, April 15, 2006 at St. Cecilia Parish, Beaverton, OR:

“Actions speak louder than words,” Study of our faith is meaningful only if it motivates us to act in a manner consistent with the teaching of Jesus. “What good is it, my brothers and sisters in Christ, if someone says they have faith but do not have works? Can that faith save them? If a brother or sister has nothing to wear, and has no food for the day, and one of you says to them, ‘Go in peace, keep warm, and eat well,’ but you do not give them the necessities of the body, what good is it? So also faith of itself, if it does not have works, is dead” (The Gospel according to Saint James, Chapter 2: Verses 14 through 17)

Since we moved, most probably the simplest (and at the same time) the most difficult thing we have really needed to do was to find our local Saint Louise Parish of Bellevue, Washington and get involved over our heads with sharing, ministry, friends, and faith in God through Jesus Christ. One of our works is known by the Archdiocese of Seattle, presided over by his grace – Archbishop Alex J. Brunett, as an offering and a tithe of One Percent of everything we receive as income as a bare minimum to further the cause of the Archdiocese ministries and seminarian training. Another good work was handled last Sunday by my beautiful wife Jill when St. Louise Parish was promoting back-to-school supply stock up for all the children of the Parish not able to receive their own supplies. We helped out that day by giving away rulers, pencils, and calculators for the other children of the parish to use as they need them. Even so, I really find a much greater sense of peace if I can secretly and personally help someone for however the best way I can give to help that person out the most. This is critical, because is means I can perform the good work and be praying to God at the same time, and really know that he is listening.

The greatest benefit this is as a result of striving to continually give better works is it makes me feel very humble and greatful to be around such wonderful catholic friends that believe as I do, and especially more pleasing to God even though sometimes he understands that sometimes I slip-up and knock my hallow sideways. What is most important is that no matter what may happen, no matter what life may through at us, we always return to back to God with our needs. One of biggest mistakes we as a people of God could make is thinking that we can rely on our own strength to physically and emotionally handle any problem that life here on Earth will give to us. It is my understanding that my strength alone is absolutely finite, a grain of sand on the rolling beach, and God’s strength is the infinite number of other grains of sand combined. By this fact, especially Jesus Christ including and all the hosts of heaven, all the martyrs, all the saints, especially St. Albertus Magnus, St. John of God, St. Peter, St.Mary our most blessed virgin mother of God, St. Francsis of Asissi, St. Clair, St. James, St. Joseph, St. Cecilia, St. Louise, and also for the love of all our departed loved ones is why I choose to put God’s strength first before any ounce of my own for all time.

So I ask you, if you also believe, or would like to know more about what it is like to put God’s strength first, I implore you to please place a comment or email me at matthew@klump-pdx.com about your need, and I will be able to help you get started with some great resources that can help you to understand what it is like to place God’s strength first in our lives through Jesus Christ. I cannot begin summarise how everyone’s walk with God will be by putting his strength first before our own through faith and good works for other people, but I can say that the magnitude of the problems you may be feeling right now will seem insignificant in comparison to what God has in store for you and for all of us.

I thank you for reading about my thoughts this day, and God Bless You both Now and Forever, Ah men.

-Matthew