Our Choice of Trees
Live your faith so that it may encourage others
Photo by Shane Rounce on Unsplash
I always find it interesting when someone claims faith should be personal. The sheer nature of the Christian faith is public. It is a calling to live out what we profess with our tongue. It is important to understand our faith impacts others. St. Paul understood the value of fellowship and the power of faith.
“For I long to see you, that I may share with you some spiritual gift so that you may be strengthened, that is, that you and I may be mutually encouraged by one another’s faith, yours and mine.” (Romans 1:11-12)
My heart and soul are always filled when I spend an hour or two discussing faith in the presence of those who live it and build their life around their faith. I have those friends who radiate the presence of God. Their love for the Lord Jesus abounds and it flows over to those around them. It is this impact that St. Paul is speaking about when he says he and the Romans “may be mutually encouraged by one another’s faith”
Imagine if all Christians lived a life that was contagious. Our families, communities, the Church, and the world would be changed if we only lived what we believed. A large portion of Christians go to Mass on Sunday and check that box off their weekly list. Parents need to learn and understand the faith. A mother is unable to teach her daughter about Jesus if she does not understand herself. A father should be teaching the importance of Mass and the Sacraments to his son but must first understand them himself.
Living the faith is about enabling the faith to change us. If our faith in Christ does not cause a transformation in our life then our faith will never be able to encourage others. We have an enormous responsibility to be Christ to the world. This is exactly what St. Francis of Assisi was talking about when he said, “preach the Gospel at all times. Use words if necessary.” Let us join with St. Paul, St. Francis of Assisi, and all the great heroes of the faith who have gone before us and live our faith so that it may be an encouragement to others.
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About the Author
Amelia Monroe Carlson graduated from the University of North Alabama with a Bachelor’s Degree in journalism. Being raised as a Methodist during her early years, it was not until she entered college where she began to take her faith seriously. She was baptized as a Southern Baptist in Muscle Shoals, AL and began immediately serving in international missions and in the church.
During college, she became the Co-founder of an International Ministry, where she spent time traveling and speaking to church groups and in large conferences. She authored a Bible study and traveled abroad on mission work. She sat on the Mid-South Interfaith Conferences in Mississippi, where she defended the faith and discussed beliefs with leaders of various religions.
After a business trip to Washington D.C., where she was introduced to a former Baptist who converted to the Catholic Church, she was placed on a journey to enter into the Catholic Church.
Amelia is a military wife and currently residents with her husband and daughter in Tennessee. She is a nine time award winning journalist, receiving press awards for various categories including investigative journalism, best news coverage, and best single feature. It is her desire to help Catholics, particularly Cradle Catholics, see the beauty in their faith which converts see and appreciate the fullness of truth which the Church has held and guarded throughout history. It is her desire all Catholics fall as much in love with Jesus as she is, and love the Church to a greater capacity than they could imagine.
Amelia taught PRE for 4-6 grade at St. Mary Catholic Church in Bolivar, Tennessee from 2014-2016. She served as Youth Director at St. Philip the Apostle Catholic Church in Somerville, Tennessee in 2017-2018. She now teaches 7th grade (1st year Confirmation) PRE class at St. Philip. She's also a writer and frequent podcast guest on Our Warpath.
She has a strong devotion to Our Lady of Guadalupe, St. Francis de Sales, St. Padre Pio and St. Maximilian Kolbe.
To contact Amelia for speaking inquiries at conferences, retreats, or parishes contact her via social media on Facebook (Amelia Monroe Carlson), Twitter (@2_catholic ) or send a text to: (731)518-6923.
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/ameliamcarlson
Twitter: @2_catholic (Catholic ministry account)
Twitter personal account: @ameliamcarlson
