God’s Grace At Work Within Us -By Fr. Bernard Reiser

God’s Grace At Work Within Us


My family’s farm was on the edge of a small lake. The water was surrounded by woods except for our shoreline. In a north bay, closest to the farm, was an island with a cluster of trees whose roots were no doubt nourished by the water that surrounded them. This island was a favorite place of mine when I was a boy; I would go and sit in the shadow of the trees looking at water all around.


One spring the rains came in abundance and continued into the summer. Soon, the ground around the trees was covered with water until at last the trees stood immersed in the lake. Slowly but surely,the trees died, overpowered by the same water that once nourished their roots. The island eventually disappeared and the trees, lifeless,fell and soon floated away.
When I think of the lake, the lovely island and the beautiful trees,I am reminded of the spiritual life of so many. People are like the trees growing beautifully on the island and the water surrounding the island are the things of the world, namely the materialistic and secular influences of our modern society. As the number of material things and worldly interests increase, like the water, they slowly sap the individual of their spiritual life and growth.

Matters of God become less and less important as our interest in secular matters increase. When we focus on the pocketbook and material resources, which we rely upon to pay for worldly desires and various entertainments, our dependence on God is lessened.

Soon, prayer loses its value; reliance on a fat checkbook takes the place of a Providential God. The life of the spirit becomes less and less important and slowly it is drained from the person’s soul. What can be seen, touched, felt and enjoyed over powers the unseen and the realities of a future life. The glory and joy of the Kingdom, which God has promised to the faithful, are no longer taken seriously. How quickly the things of the world can wash away the storehouse of the spiritual that has been built over previous years.

We all live on the island of the spirit and we are surrounded by the worldly attractions that oftentimes seem so appealing, so delightful and so much to be sought after. But, like the water surrounding the island, they slowly gain greater hold, greater power, over the spiritual trees in our life.


I urge everyone to take inventory on how worldly things are encroaching on their spiritual life. Are we losing our grip on the great principles and teachings of Christ that we gained in our younger years? Are matters of God slowly getting watered down, rendered less and less important?

It is good to regularly take inventory of where we are in our relationship to God and the spiritual state of our soul. Is our island of the spirit growing stronger and expanding, or is the “water” of the world encroaching upon our spiritual fortifications? Youth, middle-aged or senior, it is never too early to take inventory of your spiritual life and to evaluate where you are in your journey to Heaven.


Don’t wait until your spiritual island has been washed away by the waters of a worldly existence. Jesus once said: What profit does a man show who gains the whole world and destroys himself in the process.(Mark 8:36)

These Ramblings offer considerations as you fortify yourself against the worldly influences that could otherwise engulf you.

-- Fr. Bernard Reiser -

Page 150-151 Reiser's Ramblings
http://www.reiserrelief.org/book.html

Reiser Relief Inc FEATURED INTERNATIONAL Charity on YourCause.com

June 3rd - Reiser Relief Inc is the FEATURED INTERNATIONAL Charity on YourCause.com

The mission of YourCause.com is to empower individuals to change our world—leveraging their own voices, networks, and spheres of influence to improve the lives of others. The dedicated and accomplished YourCause.com team is committed to supporting and facilitating the efforts of our caring member community and the causes they champion so passionately.

Reiser Relief delivers yearly over 4,000,000 gallons of clean water to the poor in the slum of Cité Soleil; delivering four 3,500 gallon loads of water, 6 days a week, 52 weeks per year to thousands of people. That is the equivalent of 800,000 five gallon buckets of water each year. Kevin McClellan is the director of water project. See Reiser Relief at
http://www.yourcause.com/reiserrelief

Reiser Relief pays monthly expenses for our water delivery truck that brings water to tent cities, clinics and orphanages. Without the water that Reiser Relief supplies, people cannot survive! The water truck operates six days a week reaching untold impoverished families.

Reiser Relief is now a part of the eBay Giving Works Program

Reiser Relief is now a part of the eBay Giving Works Program


http://donations.ebay.com/charity/charity.jsp?NP_ID=35858

Currently there are no items for sale to benefit our organization, but you can help! Be the first to list an item on Ebay and help our cause today.

Turn your eBay listings into a force for good with eBay Giving Works. With each listing you can pledge to donate from 10% to 100%* of an item's final sale price to your favorite nonprofit and get a pro-rated fee credit on your Insertion fee and Final Value fees when your listing sells.

https://www.missionfish.org/about-us/us_about-us.html

Father Bernard Reiser's NEW BOOK

Father Bernard Reiser's NEW BOOK


Pre-orders being accepted now.
$20 per book, includes shipping.

All profits from book sales will go to help the children of Haiti through Reiser’s Relief Inc.

http://reiserrelief.org/book.html

Reiser’s Ramblings is a collection of Fr. Bernard Reiser’s best columns written over the past three decades. Be inspired all over again as you read Father’s take on everyday topics such as family, kindness, gratitude, prayer, helping others, and staying focused on what’s important in life.

Haiti Relief Event April 27 2010 Program by Reiser Relief

See Our Haiti Relief Event April 27 2010 Program by Reiser Relief

April 2010 Haiti Relief Event by Reiser Relief Inc.

F R E E A D M I S S I O N

Tuesday, April 27, 2010 6:30 pm - 9:30 pm

Musical Entertainment
Sherwin Linton and Pam

The Totino-Grace Jazz Band - Tim Hoffman, Director

Courtyards of Andover
13545 Martin Street Northwest
Andover, MN 55304
(763) 767-3336


To all who have or may support Reiser Relief, Incorporated,

I extend my most sincere gratitude to you for helping God’s neediest people. We are fulfilling one of our Lord’s greatest admonitions to us because every human person is created in the image and likeness of God. It is an awesome privilege for us to extend a helping hand to people in need.

In my many travels over the years, the poor of Haiti have touched me most intimately, and thus I have extended most of my resources there.

On Tuesday, April 27, 2010 at the Courtyards of Andover, we are having a gala event to bring a greater awareness to our relief efforts and to highlight the devastation and extreme needs of the Haitian people since January 12, 2010 tumultuous earthquake. It will provide greater opportunities to assist them in our gifts of water, food, shelter and education. Please invite your relatives, friends and neighbors to share in this evening of reaching out to people we have never seen.

I hope to see you on the 27th of April; If you are unable to attend the Haiti fundraiser event, but would like to donate, please see the Donation Page for online donation options or Mail-In donation form, so that you can share in this great endeavor.

With Blessings, Prayers and Love,

Father Bernard Reiser
President, Reiser Relief Board

http://www.reiserrelief.org/haiti-relief-event.html

Benefit concert to help Reiser Relief in Haiti at St. Cloud State Minnesota

SCSU Percussion Collective and Stearns County Pachanga Society
present A Benefit Concert for Haiti & Chile

TUESDAY, MARCH 30TH, 2010 7:30 PM

KIMBERLY RITSCHE AUDITORIUM, STEWART HALL
ST. CLOUD STATE UNIVERSITY

ADMISSION*
Adults-$5; Seniors & Students-$3; Free w/SCSU ID
Tickets available at the door

The Collective is excited to collaborate with the Stearns County Pachanga Society, a local band committed to the performance of popular and traditional music of the Latin Americas. The SCSU Percussion Ensemble and the World Drumming Group will share the stage with the vibrant and popular Stearns County Pachanga Society sharing the rich musical traditions of Cuba and Haiti.

A major portion of the admission proceeds will be donated to Haitian and Chilean relief organizations in an effort to help those devastated by recent events. Bring your friends and family for what will be an exciting musical benefit for the peoples of Haiti and Latin America and help us support the rebuilding of those regions devastated by the recent earthquakes.

*Concert proceeds to benefit recovery efforts in Haiti and Chile;
Contributions will be accepted in the lobby following the concert.


Haiti Relief
Reiser Relief Inc.
c/o Father Bernard Reiser
1800 - 111th Avenue NW #320
Coon Rapids, MN 55433 USA
http://www.reiserrelief.org


SCSU Music Office: (320) 308-3223
Check us out online! http://www.stcloudstate.edu/music