Today I want to share my journey with God and things that I use to keep me connected.
I grew up in a Catholic household, both sides of my family. I went to Catholic (Sunday) school from when I was a toddler until 8th grade when I got my confirmation. I learned a lot but I still had more growing to do and I always will.
As years went on I noticed my relationship with God was not what I wanted it to be. I was finding myself as every teenager does but I forgot about God at times. I didn’t pray or go to church consistently.
I came to Malone which is a Christian school. There are SFO’s at Malone, spiritual formation opportunities in which we have to go to 15 a semester. I had no idea what to expect. They worship differently than Catholics do, but I fell in love with it. The speakers share relatable stories in their lives, add in scripture, and allow us to volunteer. Now as these formations were mandatory they didn’t feel like it to me. I was privileged to be able to hear people around my age share their experiences with God.
I didn’t realize it at the time but I needed someone to guide me in the right direction. I needed to become closer to God and I didn’t know how. Many of my friends at Malone have opened up to me and we have had deep conversations about religion. I even made a friend where we both were stressed about a performance and other things that kept piling on top. She prayed with me over the phone for ten minutes. I’ve never met someone like that. That’s when I noticed just how blessed I truly am and that I’m at the right place.
My journey is not over and neither is yours. Every day try to reach out to the Lord, even if it’s to say, “ Hi I’m here and I acknowledge you.” We need God in our lives every step of the way, he is here to guide us and comfort us daily. So I want to share with you now some things I use to broaden my knowledge and gain a better relationship. There are pictures and brief descriptions to help you below.
If you’re looking for something to start or improve your journey with Christ I highly recommend choosing any one of these to start with. If you have any questions please feel free to contact me at dcroshong1@malone.edu.
Apps: I provided a picture of what these apps look like in the app store. They are both free and super easy to understand.
The first app here is called Bible. You can either read or listen to the audio version of the Gospel’s and Acts depending on your preference. I find this helpful as I play this in my car while I’m on a drive. You also have the choice to receive a verse of the day, which I recommend because it’s a quick/uplifting to look if you don’t find the time to do more with God that day. Lastly, you can add prayers and things you want to get off of your chest. In this way, your prayers and thoughts are all in one place where you can easily access them.
The next app is called Pocket Rosary. I have found this to be the easiest rosary app out there. You click in the settings to pick the mystery for that day. Then all you do is swipe left for words to pray on each bead. In the past, it was hard to find a free app that was as simple as this so if you pray the rosary or want to start download this app!
Books: Pictures are provided below of both my Devotional and DayBrightener which are quick and easy reads for our busy lives. I got both of these at P. Graham Dunn. P. Graham Dunn is a family run Christian store that just opened by my house. This store is one of my favorites and here is the website if you’re interested: P. Graham Dunn.
In my Devotional, there is a new topic every day. There are two pages, one for morning and one for the night. Quotes are provided, the verse is broken down, and advice is given. This devotional is a simple read and helps me make the best out of my days.
The next thing I use is called a DayBrightener. This is a small book that provides a quote a day. These quotes keep me motivated and inspired to make a difference.
Thanks for reading and I hope there is something in here to help grow in your faith!
To end, here is one of my favorite quotes:
But those who hope in the Lord will renew their strength. They will soar on wings like eagles; they will run and not grow weary, they will walk and not be faint.
ISAIAH 40:31
Nothing's wrong with change. 