To Jesus Sincerely

What do you know about children in the Catholic Faith?

Published on April 27, 2019May 22, 2019 by tojesussincerelyLeave a comment

We play Catholic Trivia over on Instagram each month. These are the questions and answers to this month’s #4thFridayTrivia game.

Jesus placed great importance on children, in his teaching ministry.

First, there’s the time that the children tried to get to Jesus, and the apostles waved them off, but Jesus rebuked them:

“Let the little children come to me, and do not stop them; for it is to such as these that the kingdom of heaven belongs.”
Matthew 19:14

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How to conquer the Challenge of Discernment: Pause to Pray

Published on April 15, 2019April 24, 2019 by tojesussincerelyLeave a comment

#MyMassTakeaway for Palm Sunday of the Lord’s Passion.

Today I couldn’t help but feel sorry for the poor apostles in their confusion.

First, they thought Jesus communicated very clearly to be ready for a fight. They heard him say to go out and buy swords.

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How to Plan a Mini-Retreat in 7 Simple Steps

Published on April 2, 2019 by tojesussincerelyLeave a comment

Post contains Amazon affiliate links, if you buy through the links, I make a small percentage at no extra cost to you.

Listen, I was going to give you a practical step-by-step-how-to-throw-a-mini-retreat guide, but I’m getting distracted by all the cool retreat prizes that I have to share with you before I explode from the awesomeness.

So, I’m sorry, but you’re just going to have to read the fun part first and we can get down to the how-to business later.

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I’ll Be Here – Come Back When You’re Ready

Published on March 31, 2019May 7, 2019 by tojesussincerelyLeave a comment

#MyMassTakeaway for the 4th Sunday in Lent.

As a hungry teen in my mom’s kitchen, I would often sample the pantry.

“I don’t know what I’m hungry for.”

I’d eat a cookie, a handful of chips, a few crackers, a piece of chocolate. Nothing satisfied.

And then my mom would offer me something, “Can I make you an omelet?”

Yesss pleaaaase.

My mom makes the best omelets. Stuffed with veggie and cheese and cooked just right to perfect fluffiness and deliciousness.

The real food she offered me – nutritious, healthy, and yummy – always satisfied.

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Facing Fears: Draw Near to the Burning Bush

Published on March 24, 2019March 25, 2019 by tojesussincerelyLeave a comment

#MyMassTakeaway for the 3rd Sunday in Lent.

Moses reacts to the burning bush in a way I never would.

Something uncomfortable and inexplicable happened in Moses’ life, right in front of his eyes. A bush was engulfed in flames, but it didn’t burn.

I would have been out of there so fast.

No way would I have gone and taken a closer look. But Moses didn’t run away. Moses entered into the mystery.

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What do You Know About the Liturgical Year?

Published on March 23, 2019March 22, 2019 by tojesussincerely3 Comments

We play Catholic Trivia over on Instagram each month. These are the questions and answers to this month’s #4thFridayTrivia game.

What’s more familiar to us than the year?

We live it every day, every week, every month, year-in and year-out. You’d think we would know it like the back of our hand.

The liturgical year is packed full of amazing feast days and celebrations. And those feast days and celebrations are surrounded by traditions, customs, symbolism, history, debate, and meanings you may not know they had.

Let’s see how much you know about the liturgical calendar!

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Father Ben Gets Ready for Mass

Published on March 18, 2019July 10, 2019 by tojesussincerely5 Comments

This post is sponsored by Katie Warner and Faith First Treasury and contains Amazon affiliate links. I received a free copy of Father Ben Gets Ready for Mass in exchange for an honest review.

Katie Warner has been releasing so many amazing Catholic kids books, I can hardly keep up!

I’m just the biggest fan of everything Katie, does, so when she offered me a copy of Father Ben Gets Ready for Mass, I was all over it.

As soon as it came in the mail, my kids swarmed. We tore the packaging open, and sat down to read it.

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The Gospel in Which God Tells Peter to Shut it.

Published on March 17, 2019March 17, 2019 by tojesussincerelyLeave a comment

#MyMassTakeaway for the 2nd Sunday in Lent.

I just love St. Peter. He’s the guy to turn to when we feel like we’re getting it all wrong. Chances are, he’s been there done that.

Peter denied Jesus, rebuked Jesus, lost faith in the middle of a miracle and began to drown. Even Saint Paul had to tell Peter what’s what once in a while.

Despite all Peter’s shortcomings, though, Jesus called Peter the Rock. He built the Church on Peter, and left Peter to take care of it.

If Peter, with all his faults and shortcomings, can be the Rock on which Christ’s Church is built, then there’s hope for me to be who Christ is calling me to be, too.

Let’s take a look at what Peter’s up to, today.

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Teaching Kids to Pray the Catholic Way

Published on March 13, 2019March 13, 2019 by tojesussincerelyLeave a comment

This post originally appeared as a guest blog I wrote for The Thin Place. You can find the original posts here:

Part 1: Teaching Kids to Pray: A Catholic Perspective.

Part 2: Teaching Kids to Pray: Common Catholic Prayers.

As Christian parents, we long to see our children embrace the faith we hold so dear to our hearts.

We teach them about Jesus and about the Bible. We help them learn about the virtues. We have them memorize daily prayers and, as they grow, study theology.

But most of all, we want them to have something deeper than a collection of facts and information.

We want our kids to love Jesus with all their hearts. To have a meaningful and vibrant relationship with Him.

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God: the only surgeon qualified to remove splinters (and boards) from eyes

Published on March 3, 2019March 3, 2019 by tojesussincerelyLeave a comment

#MyMassTakeaway for the 8th Sunday in Ordinary Time. This post contains amazon affiliate links. If you purchase through the links, I make a small percentage at no extra cost to you.

First of all, could these planks and splinters not be sticking out of eyes please? Cringe-city over here.

It doesn’t matter what size the wood is – if it’s in your EYE we have a major problem.

And for that matter, you shouldn’t by trying to take a sliver out of your friend’s eye, regardless of what’s in your own. Keep your tweezers away from my eye-splinters, thank you very much.

That job is for a qualified surgeon.

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