Do Not Be Conformed

 Many problems that face the average teen today don’t really seem like true problems to me. Problems such as;  cell phone cords not being long enough, no Wi-Fi connection, and maybe even having to drive a minivan to high school like I do. Aren't there so many more problems we should be concerned about it in our lives? My answer is yes.

Hello to all of you reading this post to the Gentle Wisdom page for the Salina Diocesan Youth Council. My name is Macie Frakes and I proudly represent the East Vicariate.  I am seventeen years old and currently a junior at Rock Creek High School. I technically live in the Kansas City Diocese, but I mean the Salina Diocese is so much better so I can’t help but going to Seven Dolores a parish located in Manhattan, the farthest city east for the Salina Diocese. Also, home to the greatest college football team. EMAW!

From Kindergarten till 8^th grade I attended Manhattan Catholic Schools and then started attending the public high school I am at now. The transformation from a tiny private school to a huge public school was very difficult. Meeting new people and trying to find out what “group” you’re in, is quite possibly one of the hardest things to do for a freshman. So hang in there all you who are freshman, everything will play out.

In playing three sports, working, participating in school clubs, and of course CYO events, can result in a very busy schedule for someone. I’m sure this would describe mostly everyone, always doing something to keep you busy and not giving you enough time to just relax. Maybe even more importantly not giving the one who gives you life enough of your time. Wait? Did she just say that we needed to add God into all of those things in our lives? That’s right, I sure did.

I struggle with it as well, spending too much of my time on Twitter or Instagram instead of simply reflecting on my day and giving time to just talk to God. Sure I pray to God, I even pray to God often, but usually it’s over something that I want instead of telling him thank you for something he has given me.

Lord, please help me get an A+ on this test. God, I really would like to get that cute guy’s number. Can I just have those clothes, if only that then I would look fabulous? The only one of these that might be okay is the one about a test; God wants you to do well on a test. The other two are not very good ones.

Granted teenagers,we are faced with many challenges today, it's hard being a teen! Having to dress a certain way, having to be in a relationship, and one of my new favorites is having to have an iPhone. I mean, what has the world come if you’re only cool by having a certain type of cell phone? Pretty disappointing if you ask me. 

God tells us in Romans 12:2, “Do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your minds, so that you may discern what is the will of God—what is good and acceptable and perfect.” God is telling us to think outside of the box, in a new and holy way that nobody else is thinking of! He continues in Romans 12:9 by saying, “Let love be genuine; hate what is evil, hold fast to what is good; love one another with mutual affection; outdo one another in showing honor. Do not lag in zeal, be ardent in spirit, serve the Lord. Rejoice in hope, be patient in suffering, persevere in prayer. Contribute to the needs of the saints; extend hospitality to strangers.”

Through these Bible verses God is telling us how we should be living out our mission as Christians. In everything we do it should be good and acceptable and perfect. By loving our neighbors and not putting them down, by suffering as humans should, by being genuine, by hating what is evil and turning away from what is bad, and above all in everything we do let it be for Him.

One of my favorite songs Words by Hawk Nelson relates well to our culture today. Below will be a link that you can listen to the song and enjoy!

I’ll be anxiously waiting to meet you at the CYO Convention in Salina in March, until then, I encourage all of you to spend more time thinking about the things in your life that truly matter rather than spending it on silly things here on Earth.

God bless,

-Macie

Words ~ Hawk Nelson
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=D5V8_k70KnI

ASAP - Always Say A Prayer

Have no anxiety at all, but in everything, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, make your requests known to God. then the peace of God that surpasses all understanding will guard your hearts and minds in Christ Jesus. -Philippians 4:6-7

I guess I am the lucky contestant to go first. My name is Alex Stenberg and I represent the East Vicariate. You will probably hear me say that in a few months at our Diocesan CYO Convention!!! We have an amazing council this year, filled with great ideas and the Holy Spirit, and we hope to bring you one of the best conventions this spring! but I think I am supposed to talk about myself. Just to let you know, I am not very good at that. so here goes nothing.

I grew up in beautiful Clyde, KS with my brother Jacob, who is a freshman now, and my sister Erin who is in 8th grade.  In middle school we moved to the city. ( okay maybe not a big of city as you are thinking, but from a town of 700; 45,000 seemed like a lot) I now live in Manhattan, Ks ( manhappenin) am a Senior Manhattan High School. I go to St. Thomas More Parish and am an active member in our Youth Group. I am involved in everything that goes on in the church it seems like. From youth group meetings, to youth choir, to cantering at mass, and doing service projects,  my schedule seems to be centered around the church. I am also involved a lot in school. I am in a small group show choir called POPS as well as the large group choir called chamber. I am and FCA officer, and help lead a bible study at school with my friends, as well as a bible study outside of school. I  like to think of myself as athletic. I don't do the usual high school sports, I stick to gymnastics and Pole vault. I love my sports, and thank God everyday I have the ability and the opportunity to compete and be apart of them. If you talk to anyone other than myself, they would say I am "accident prone". I disagree. They say I am always hurt or on crutches, and really I'm not.  its just these last 2 years I have had a broken bone, a torn ACL, 2 surgeries, and a total of 15 weeks on crutches. But I am NOT accident prone. It has just been a rough 2 years. God has put these last years in my life to remind me that I can't rely on just myself, no matter how much I want to.

If you ask any one about me, they would probably say that I am not shy. I don't think I have a “comfort zone”, and when people say to step out of it I am like well this is easy. I love meeting new people! And if you are shy, well I'm sorry, I will help you step out of your comfort zone whether you like it or not! I know Lots of people from the diocese.... so I probably know someone you know. I have participated in Prayer in Action, Jr. CYO camp ( 4yrs camper, 1 year counselor), NCYC, and of course CYO convention! I was on Diocesan Youth Council lasts year, so some of you may remember me from that... But If you don't know me, I would love to meet you! If you ever see me just come up and introduce yourself, I love meeting new people!!

My faith is so important to me. I cant say I've had some amazing story, or a specific moment that I came to Christ. I grew up Catholic, my parents where the CYO sponsors in Clyde, we went to church every Sunday, and to me it was never boring to go to Church. I loved learning prayers and I knew my Hail Mary, Our Father ,and Angle of God by age 2 and I knew my Hail Holy Queen by age 4. I don't say this to brag, I just want you to understand that my faith has always been something that comes easy to me.  Now I'm not saying I haven't had struggles in my faith, because I have. Its not my struggles though that I want to share with you. Its the fact that even through my struggles I look to God, and that is how I make it through. My favorite Bible verse is Philippians 4:6-7, its the verse at the top of the page. It says to pray to God about EVERYTHING. Pray in bad times, in good, in thanksgiving, in despair; pray about anything and everything. The more you pray, the more you know God, and the more He knows you. The more you pray, the easier it gets, and the more you recognize times to pray. The more you pray, the more you want to pray, and the more you have to pray about. Prayer is an amazing gift, and there is no right or wrong way to do it. God is all knowing, He knows when you need help, when you are struggling, when you are stressed. But He wants you to want Him, He doesn't want to push His way into your life, He wants you let him in. And when you let Him in, wow, its truly extraordinary. Like it says above in Philippians, peace will guard your hearts, and minds. There is no need to stress. Give it to God and not only will he help you get through it, but he will give you peace, that will help you not get stressed next time. What I have learned is that Prayer is a never ending. You can pray all the time! Now, it doesn't have to be deep prayer, where you are on your knees, or a rosary, it just needs to let God know you are thinking about him. “ God, I have a test next hour, help me retain the information I know, and do my best. Help me get a grade that shows how hard I work, and the effort I put in.” or you see someone in the hallway on crutches ( usually I am that kid in school on crutches) “ God, help that person heal quickly.” or driving to school you see the sun rising ( we start school so early...) and its beautiful do a *RUB, SNAP,CLAP and a “GOD is GREAT!” simple prayers that are just a second. It doesn't distract from taking notes, or a conversation with your friend on the way to class, but it keeps God in your mind. You still need deep prayer, and you know what is great? Adoration.

Medjugorje- Youth Festival

 Last summer I went to Medjugorje, and it was during the youth festival. There were 80,000 youth there representing 60 countries. The first thing I did when I got there, was go to adoration. Never had I been to adoration where I couldn't find a seat. There were so many people praising God, and I could feel His presence ( there were definitely more than 2 or 3 gathered in His name). It was outside and everyone was kneeling. You think its hard kneeling for 30min on the hard gym floor? These people were there for an hour kneeling on cement and gravel. And while you were kneeling, you didn't focus on your knees, because you were praising Jesus next to someone that didn't speak your language, but had the same faith as you. Guys, our Faith is UNIVERSAL! That's something other religions, and denominations can't say. It was beautiful to see so many people adoring Christ, truly beautiful. The different countries flags were blowing in the breeze, and you could hear a pen drop it was so silent. And when the hour was done, and the host was taken out of the monstrance, nuns came out and started singing and dancing! Everyone started singing along in their own language! We were all dancing and praising God... because you know what? Having the opportunity to praise God in Adoration is something to sing about!!

Now I'm not sure if I did this “BLOG” thing right.... But I hope you learned something about me, and didn't find my Blog completely boring! Good Luck out there my fellow Saints in Training! LETS BE SAINTS!