You were so blessed to have the one true faith directly from the first Pope Saint Peter! (Catholicism! Hellooo!!) So don’t shut up about it, shout about it! Okay, maybe not shout, but you know what I mean.

Luke 9:26 Whoever is ashamed of me and of my words, the Son of Man will be ashamed of when he comes in his glory and in the glory of the Father and of the holy angels.

Recently I had this opportunity and I knew I would get crap for it from a bunchhhhh of people! But I spoke up anyways because I know God would want me to. So I retweeted a tweet about dumping starbucks because they support gay marriage, (please read about the logic behind all of it before you freak out about it) anyway. So I retweeted it and got a bunch of hate messages back at me and so I posted this … which might be of interest of you to read and if you do have a twitter I encourage you as a Catholic/Christian to retweet THIS as well as the original dumb starbucks tweet which is found in my recent tweets!!

check out what I sent back!

http://www.twitlonger.com/show/gpfrvc

I can’t believe I didn’t freak out on anyone! I kept my cool the whole time, even when I read mean things messaged back to me. I know why though, because God graced me with understanding, patience, point of view, and with forgiveness. He recently has done this for me not only in this situation but in other mishaps. This past week someone I love very much, that means the world to me, falsely accused me of something and said many hurtful things about me that I knew weren’t true. But, when we are hurt, even when it is a stinging, deep, horrible pain, we MUST FORGIVE. Just as Jesus was so forgiving, we must be too. Pray for the ability to forgive easily, to love always, and to understand.

This is not heaven. There will be evil. There will be betrayal, but with the ability to forgive comes the blessing of being able to be forgiven.

Love as Jesus loved us.

Luke 19:23-27 Then he said to all, “If anyone wishes to come after me, he must deny himself and take up his cross daily and follow me. For whoever wishes to save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for my sake will save it. What profit is there for one to gain the whole world yet lose or forfeit himself? Whoever is ashamed of me and of my words, the Son of Man will be ashamed of when he comes in his glory and in the glory of the Father and of the holy angels. Truly I say to you, there are some standing here who will not taste death until they see the kingdom of God.”

Taking up your cross daily my friends is far from easy(at least at first).. but it is every bit worth it. But don’t take my word for it, or anyones for that matter, experience it for yourself. Experience it now, because Love Is Here!!! 

Song of the Blog “Love Is Here” Tenth Avenue North

My response to this past sundays Gospel according to John 12:20-33:

(Gospel can be found here http://www.catholic.org/bible/daily_reading/?select_date=2012-03-25)

This is what stood out to me this past Sunday, let me know what did to you!

“Amen, amen, I say to you, unless a grain of wheat falls to the ground and dies, it remains just a grain of wheat; but if it dies, it produces much fruit.”

This is why Jesus died for us so humbly, so he could produce fruit, the fruit of forgiveness, mercy, grace, and everything else that comes with saving us! Not only did he die physically for us, but by body and blood, soul and divinity. (Not to mention he lived a life free of sin)

But Jesus isn’t just saying this to brag about what he was going to do, he said this to us so that WE KNOW HOW TO PRODUCE “MUCH FRUIT”!

Jesus is telling us that we must deny our humanness, we must let it die. And, that in letting that die we can rise with Jesus and produce much fruit! Fruit that lasts to eternal life! Fruit for ourselves, as well as those around us! You are so important to the building of God’s kingdom!!! Let’s bear fruit to help feed others so they can help build as well!

God needs you to help him bear fruit. He thanks you for all of your work so far, but now he wants to push you further, for you to dive deeper, to fall in love farther, to let your humanness die even more so that you can produce EVEN MORE fruit.

CHECK OUT YOUR FAVORITE SAINT AND SEE THE FRUIT THAT HE/SHE HAS BORE!

Here’s one of mine: This is Fruit that St. Faustina bore AFTER she left the earth, for Digan.

In March 1981 Digan reported a healing, while praying at the tomb of Faustina. Digan had suffered from Lymphedema (a disease which causes significant swelling due to fluid retention) for decades, and had undergone 10 operations, including a leg amputation. Digan reported that while praying at Faustina’s tomb, she heard a voice saying “ask for my help and I will help you” and her constant pain stopped. After 2 days Digan reported that her shoe became too large for her because her body stopped undue liquid retention. Upon her return to the United States, five Boston area physicians stated that she was healed (with no explanation), and the case was declared miraculous by the Vatican in 1992 based on the additional testimony of over twenty witnesses about her prior condition.

someone: MIRACLES AT HER TOMB? But Cristina she is dead!

me: her spirit is with us and praying for us. ask her for help in your suffering, that you may produce fruit just as she did and continues to do although she is in heaven.

someone: wow, St. Faustina is amazing! I wanna be a saint!

me: you can be. you are called to be. let yourself be. <3

For more on Saint Faustina visit http://www.catholic.org/saints/saint.php?saint_id=510

THANKS FOR READING! COMMENT AND RESPOND!

God Bless,

Cristina Ballestero

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The very first commandment God gave Moses for us is..

[box] Exodus 20:2-6 “I, the Lord, am your God, who brought you out of the land of Egypt, that place of slavery. You shall not have other gods besides me. You shall not carve idols for yourselves in the shape of anything in the sky above or on the earth below or in the waters beneath the earth; you shall not bow down before them or worship them. For I the Lord, your God, am a jealous God, inflicting punishment for their fathers’ wickedness on the children of those who hate me, down to the third and fourth generation; but bestowing mercy down to the thousandth generation, on the children of those who love me and keep my commandments.[/box]

THESE ARE WRITTEN DIRECTLY FROM GOD, GIVEN TO MOSES AT THE TOP OF MOUNT SINAI.

This commandment is extremely stressed in the whole Bible, in all of God’s sacred word and, but also when God is speaking directly to Moses around this time of his recieving of the commandments.

3 DAYS BEFORE HE WAS GIVE THE COMMANDMENTS, listen to what God told moses on the mountain!

[box] Exodus 19:3-6 Moses went up to the mountain of God. Then the Lord called to him and said,”Thus shall you say to the house of Jacob; tell the Israelites: You have seen for yourselves how I treated the Egyptians and how I bore you up on eagles wings and brought you here to myself. Therefore, if you hearken to my voice and keep my covenant, you shall be my special possesion, dearer to me than all other people, though all the earth is mine.You shall be to me a kingdom of priests, a holy nation. That is what you must tell the Isrealites.”[/box] 

AND AFTER!!!!

[box] Exodus 20:22-26 Thus you speak to the Israelites: “You have seen for yourselves that I have spoken to you from heaven. Do not make anything to rank with me; neither gods of silver nor gods of gold shall you make for yourselves. “An altar of earth you shall make for me, and upon it you shall sacrifice your holocausts and peace offerings, your sheep and your oxen. In whatever place I choose for the remembrance of my name I come to you and bless you. If you make an altar of stone for me, do not build it of cut stone, for by putting a tool to it you desecrate it. You shall not go up by steps to my altar, on which you must not be indecently uncovered.” [/box]

God tells us OVER and OVER and OVER not to have anyone before him. To keep HIS commands, to worship HIM, and that he will bless us if we do so. We are so blessed to have catholocism as our faith as it is the complete truth of God without any missing pieces. Existing since the first century, faithfully teaching the doctrines given by Christ to the apostles, omitting nothing. But we must meditate and read God’s word. We have to know it completely and constantly pray for his strength to live it. What I’m saying is that we must listen to God, and GOD ALONE NO ONE OR ANYTHING ELSE! Not our favorite singer or rapper, nor basketball player, baseball, football, soccer, nor our friends, ourselves (what we want), and even our own parents or family sometimes! God, and God alone. When we listen to God, everything falls into place and happen as it should. Everything is beautiful. And we must listen always. Never making acceptions at any time or place! Start now, and keep it up. Its God’s promise to us that the more we listen the more he will bless us.

Know Him. Fear Him. Pray to Him. Love Him. He who is the one true God, who has redeemed us all. Give him everything, and he will give you so much more.

<3 Cristina

Thanks for reading. Don’t forget to subscribe so you can read more and talk with me! God Bless You.[subscribe2]

Hey!!! How are you? I hope your doing well! And that God is blessing you always!

Soooo I kinda went a little App crazy yesterday on my phone haha. I downloaded 18 Catholic Apps!! Hahaha, they are all great so far! Did you ever think of download an app on your smartphone?! If you have, GOOD JOB you ahead of me! If not, go check it out!! There are rosary, devotinal, saints, dating, prayer, new missal, bible, catholic history, divine mercy, sermons, catholic radio, and soo much more!

I love reading up on the saints, there is a new saint everyday to read about on the DailySaint app. It shows how God has worked in people’s lives and how God can work in yours if you let him!

Go download some apps! So you can read up on your faith while your waiting for your food at In-N-Out, or at the 7th inning stretch of a baseball game, or you just wanna start your day off inspired! 

Some things happening in my life!

I’m learning how to play guitar and piano, I’m getting pretty good at playing chords and reading tabs but I want know guitar and the music for it inside and out (as well as for piano) so I’m working on that! I’m excited cause this next sunday I’m leading worship at adoration for the Young Adult Group at my Church San Antonio De Padua <3 Praise God!! Please pray for our group we are still a new ministry and are praying for growth!

[box] Psalms 9 AI 2-3 I will praise you, Lord, with all my heart; I will declare all your wondrous deeds. I will delight and rejoice in you; I will sing hymns to your name, Most High.[/box]

……just a reminder, have you been to confession lately?! … Go cleanse your soul and recieve amazing graces from this beautiful sacrament! <3 Look on your Church’s website for confession times!

After confession go blast this song in your car You Are Everything -Matthew West

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[subscribe2]Today at Mass this morning Deacon Doug talked about a lot of really great things during the Homily but the part that spoke to me the most today was when he talked about Jesus. When Jesus went to fast and pray for 40 days and 40 nights, he was tempted by the devil. “God never said there wouldn’t be trials, that there wouldn’t be tempations. He never said it was going to be easy. He just said it would be worth it.” (take a second and think about that)

….That really hit me because last night the devil was after me again. I could feel it. He was tempting me, creeping in through my thoughts, just as he was on Friday (but friday was wayyy worse). But it gets so hard and you almost don’t know what to do. We must pray, and praise God in those times so he can bring us out of the lowness more quickly! My young adult leader when I talked to her on Friday (cause I felt an evil presence on me that got worse throughout the day and night!) told me to blast my worship music and just praise God!! (cause thats my thinggg:) ) So I did! Which I don’t know why i didn’t think of that lol.. but I got out of it! I am thankful for that time because it is through those times is we are STRENGTHENED. And something that was amazing to hear as well was, that we go through these tough times and temptations and low points so that we are ready for our ministry for God!!! JUST AS JESUS had to go into the desert for the 40 days and nights! He had to prepare himself for the suffering he was to bear and the promise he had to fullfill!

So any suffering, any temptation, any low points, it is all preparing you for your Ministry for God! For your continuous living of His word. Showing people it is POSSIBLE! And it is WORTH IT.

The more temptation we overcome, the more we are strengthened, the more we are strengthened by the Lord the more the devil wants to take us from him, but we MUST remember it will be worth the fight.

Don’t let the devil take you away, or scare you from faith. Keep digging deeper.

Dear Lord,

I right now resign my own ways Lord, and give myself to you. I ask that you give me the strength and the courage to be a minister for you in everything I do, so that others may see your beauty. I know you alone are God and it is because of You that I am able to be good. I surrender to you Lord. Help me to use my talents for your praise only. Now and Forever.

Father, Son, Holy Spirit, AMEN.

Keep FIGHTING for GOD and most importantly, keep SURRENDERING to him.

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Thanks for reading! God Bless! <3 Cristina

In the name of the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit. Heavenly Father, day by day, oh dear Lord, three things I pray, to see Thee more clearly, Love Thee more dearly, follow thee more nearly, day… by day. <3 Father, Son, Holy Spirit, Amen.

“Why do you call me ‘Lord, Lord,’ but do not do the things I command? Luke 6:46, Matt. 7:21-23, 19:16-21).

Anyone can say “I love God, he is my Lord and Savior”.. but to truly love the Lord we MUST listen to Him and OBEY His word, His commandments. By living out our faith through acts of love is how we express our true compassion for the Lord. This nasty world can easily cloud our judgement, through the music we listen to, tv shows we watch, social “norms” we are exposed to and continue to expose ourselves to and many other ways,  which is why it is SOOOO IMPORTANT to keep God as a part of EVERYTHING you do. There is a song I know that’s called “Slow Fade” by casting crowns that comes to mind, the chorus says…..

“It’s a slow fade when you give yourself away
It’s a slow fade when black and white have turned to gray 
Thoughts invade, choices are made, a price will be paid
When you give yourself away
People never crumble in a day
It’s a slow fade, it’s a slow fade”

Which is COMPLETELY true. Giving yourself away to wickedness completely isn’t something that happens overnight. It creeps in slowly. It can start out with venial sin that will become repedative, or numerous different venial sins will be commited, then from that seed grows a nasty weed of more and more sin, eventually leading to mortal sin. SOO ATTACK YOUR THOUGHTS! Fill your thoughts with prayer, constantly seeking good. Read about God, sing about God, and talk about God, find ways to fill your life with Him who brings peace and is the source of all goodness. Join your church young adult group (or one that applies to your age)! Enter into ministry! Ask the Holy Spirit to show you the way and to give you the courage to follow Him.

John said, “the way we may be sure that we know him is to keep his commandments. Whoever says, ‘I know him,’ but does not keep his commandments is a liar, and the truth is not in him” (1 John 2:3-4, 3:19-24, 5:3-4)

By filling your life with God, (good works, prayer, ministry, using your talents for God), God will strengthen you and build you armor that will keep you from sin that leads to death. When you are tempted, stop what you are doing and pray. PRAY PRAY PRAY PRAY. Ask God for help, for the strength to say no to sin!!

Dear Lord, help us to remember that although, many are our needs, INFINITE IS YOUR POWER. 

Let’s give thanks to the Lord who has Blessed us with so much by giving back to him our gifts of grace!! In which he has given to us through the Holy Spirit, that we are able to recieve by his life, death, and ressurection. Whatever you do in your life, whether its making a meal for your family, putting on your shoes, brushing your teeth, watering your plants, taking a test, playing a sport, or hanging with family/friends, give thanks and praise to God for it.

Dear Lord, please help us to listen to your word, to obey your commands, and to walk more closely to you everyday. Help us to always be faithful to you even in times of great despair. Thank you for the graces you have given us. Help us to show you we love you by living out true love daily. Amen.

LOVING GOD IS A WAY OF LIFE. THE WAY OF LIFE IS LIVING THE WORD. GOD’S WORD.

We all long to be filled with God’s love, joy, happiness, peace, and everything He has to give us right?! First we must EMPTY OURSELVES. We gotta make room for God!! He can’t fill us up when we have a bunch of anger, hate, selfishness, jealousy, lust, and everything else that’s bad going on in there!

Why should we empty ourselves? BECAUSE ITS SOOO WORTH IT! God has SOOO MUCH to give us and he is ACHING to!

Corinthians 6:19-20

Do you not know that your body is a temple of the holy Spirit within you, whom you have from God, and that you are not your own? For you have been purchased at a price. Therefore glorify God in your body.

Tools to empty yourself!

• Confession ~ (a HUGE one) Go to a priest and talk to him about what’s been going on. Have your sins completely cleaned out! Restart!
• Sacrifice ~ Give up the worldly pleasures used to comfort you and fill you up. Anywhere from drinking, smoking,  facebooking and watching t.v.
• Serve ~ Be nice to someone for no reason; do a kind act that is completely unexpected, expecting nothing in return. Do an extra chore at your house, cook your family breakfast etc. Get creative!
• Pray ~ Humble yourself and come to the Lord. Bring him your hopes and fears, your joy and tears! Ask him for help, tell him how your feeling, offer up your troubles and trials, give it all to God!!

(Help me out comment with more tools to empty yourself!!)

Offer up all of these things as a prayer to be virtuous!!

Emptying ourselves is a daily thing. Not once a month, not once a year, but EVERYDAY! Be aware and fight. Anything is possible with God on your side!

A virtue is an habitual and firm disposition to do the good. It allows the person not only to perform good acts, but to give the best of himself. The virtuous person tends toward the good with all his sensory and spiritual powers; he pursues the good and chooses it in concrete actions. (http://www.vatican.va/archive/ccc_css/archive/catechism/p3s1c1a7.htm)

 Song of the Day “Fill Me Up” United Pursuit Band

LET HIM FILL YOU UP!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! <3 God Bless You.

Staying focused on God is hard sometimes. Especially for us Young Adults! It seems there’s always a party, or a club we can go to, but not so much a fun healthy hang out spot. I’m 20 years old and have been desperately searching for ways that I can stay in love with God and away from sin, especially mortal sin! Mortal sin is soooo common for us young adults. (God IS NOT happy about this!) Four big social norms I’ve witnessed in my surroundings is to drink to get drunk(mortal sin), to have premarital sex (mortal sin), to miss mass on Sunday (because we are “busy”), and to receive the Eucharist IN mortal sin.

The best way for me to stay FOCUSED and to stay FAITHFUL to God is going to mass DAILY.  Daily mass at my church (San Antonio de Padua) at 8:30a or one 10 minutes away at 12p at (Holy Family Cathedral). It always starts my day off RIGHT, and it becomes impossible to be nonproductive after I go!

Stop, don’t just blow it off! Give daily mass a shot! Go be with God!

God presents us with such amazing graces at mass, and we have the opportunity to receive Jesus as His divine self in the Holy Eucharist! If we just humble ourselves and come to the Lord in GOOD TIMES and BAD, he will continue to bless us abundantly.

So, try it this week! Check out Catholic Churches near you’s schedule and go to a daily mass! Seriously, it has changed my life. Find a buddy you can go to daily mass with and get breakfast after! Encourage other young adults to go with you. God wants to live within you. What better way then to go be with him everyday!!

I try go to mass almost everyday. Granted I do sleep in sometimes. But it is SO IMPORTANT to have PERSONAL time with God EVERY SINGLE DAY. God will strengthen you the more you pray. Of course I don’t have school during the day, I’m at a community college right now taking a few night classes so I have the luxury to be able to go everyday in the morning. But finding ways to stay focused and stay strong in the Lord needs to be CONSTANT. You’re not the only one who needs it we all do!

Stay Strong:

Pray Rosary while driving

Talk to God while driving, tell him what your thankful for, what you need help with.

Read up on a Saint that can intercede for you and give you inspiration from their story. (Blessed Virgin Mary is AMAZING)

Pray before meals.

Go visit God in the chapel of your Catholic Church during the day and talk to Him.

Read the Bible (have it out so you can pick it up and read it whenever)

Be aware of sin, if you know its there and you’ll be tempted stay away!

COMMENT WITH MORE WAYS TO STAY FAITHFUL!

also look out for more blogs with MORE ways to stay faithful, overcoming temptation, and more blogs!