February 20, 2019 A.D.
In Our Lady’s latest message through Marija, January 25, 2019, Our Lady said:
We need to witness our encounter with God. But, an encounter with God is not always pleasant, even if it is still a good encounter.
One of the many paths on the mountain in Medjugorje. Many of these paths were barely sheep trails when the apparitions began in 1981. With the passage of 37 years and millions of pilgrims, the paths are easier to follow. So too with conversion. Following in the footsteps of those who come before, makes it easier to navigate what otherwise would have been an impossible passage.
A Friend of Medjugorje had an incredible encouter with God in 1988. Praying behind St. James Church in Medjugorje, he tells of his experience, which was not necessarily pleasant:
“…I didn’t have to begin prayer as I felt as if I was already in prayer.” Immediately a question was posed to him and he understood it was from God. “Will you give up everything?” While the question was not specific, he interiorly knew exactly what God was asking: “Will you give up everything?” Though the word was “everything,” he distinctively knew that the most difficult thing for him to give up would be his business…”1
In this “showdown with God” he tells what the hardest part of God asking him to give up his business was:
“…I loved my business. My wife and I built it from the ground up. It was what we intended to give to our kids. I was funding Caritas through my business, so I reasoned with God that I should keep it for that reason. The hardest part of God asking me to give up my business is that I knew that I could say no. I knew that God still loved me, even if I chose not to walk away from it…”2
After 2 and a half hours of agonizing prayer, a Friend of Medjugorje gave God his 100% yes, and in doing so, set himself on a course, whereby he would go through intense suffering, many times not having a path to follow, but having to make a path in the jungle.
Today, tens of thousands across the world follow in his witness, on a path made easier for them by having been walked and cleared through much sacrifice. There would be no “Caritas” without this sacrifice. But, though a Friend of Medjugorje’s encounter with God was not pleasant, it has been a witness, a source of conversion for many, through God’s grace. A witness is not free, it costs. Make a choice in your life to follow the hard path, knowing that in doing so, you encounter God.
Medjugorje.com
Caritas of Birmingham
Operated by the Community of Caritas
1. Showdown with God, a Friend of Medjugorje Biography
2. ibid.
3 thoughts on “Encountering God is Not Always Pleasant”
Greetings Caritas, Perfect Timing. We just had to make this same decision for our family business. It was formed 5 years ago after leaving a corporate career of 26 years. Our home remodeling business final project was to replace 12 interior doors. My wife quickly referenced “door closing”, however, twelve? As prayerful discernment continued, the biblical meaning of twelve means “Completeness”, however, it also means “Appointment”. As your testimony states, giving 100% of your dreams and desires into God’s plan is most essential. The day following our decision to close our business, I was resting on the sofa, confused and heart broken. I was awakened by an audible voice saying “Um-kay”. It startled me, and I answered, “What”, thinking to myself, what kind of prophetic word is this ? I prayed and researched the meaning. The definition is “to acknowledged but confused”. in closure, we are praying the St Joseph, 54 Day Novena. Your writing timing was perfect. Keep us in prayer. God Bless
Greetings Caritas, Perfect Timing. We just had to make this same decision for our family business. It was formed 5 years ago after leaving a corporate career of 26 years. Our home remodeling business final project was to replace 12 interior doors. My wife quickly referenced “door closing”, however, twelve? As prayerful discernment continued, the biblical meaning of twelve means “Completeness”, however, it also means “Appointment”. As your testimony states, giving 100% of your dreams and desires into God’s plan is most essential. The day following our decision to close our business, I was resting on the sofa, confused and heart broken. I was awakened by an audible voice saying “Um-kay”. It startled me, and I answered, “What”, thinking to myself, what kind of prophetic word is this ? I prayed and researched the meaning. The definition is “to acknowledged but confused”. in closure, we are praying the St Joseph, 54 Day Novena. Your writing timing was perfect. Keep us in prayer. God Bless
Thank you Friend of Medjugorje for being a martyr in this time of grace. Alleluia. There are many of us out here that have very little to begin with or actually in a major negative because of debt. I thank God I was able to get out of the banks house I was mortgaging. So here I am sitting nearly at neutral. Not much physical wealth, a minor amount of debt, supporting a 3 year old son as a co-parent, looking to the heavens every opportunity I make and in a land that the temperatures don’t favor the growth of many things. We fight the cold here, spiritually and physically. The socialism is strong here and hunting is for the man that is equipped. Should people be open to a call to move from thier home? To leave thier families? To even leave thier children? Do we open ourselves to that concept that maybe we have to give up what is our current home and make a new one for the future that is coming ever so quickly?