Symbols

God is Faithful:

The first part of the phrase "God Is" is to remind us all that God exists but there is still mystery behind it. God is not restricted to time and space. He knows our thoughts, potential and what we can handle. His love and mercy is infinite and for us, incredibly difficult to comprehend. Sometimes we think that our lives are so broken that God wouldn't want to help (loss cause), or that we mess up so much that He's tired of hearing our apologies and failed promises. When in actuality He wants us to admit that we are weak and broken (2Corinthians12:9) because that's when we genuinely seek him. 1Corinthians10:13 is a verse that explains his faithfulness. Faith is separate because it emphasizes that we need to have faith in Him also. Not blind faith either. We have to study and understand our faith which means doing the research, talking to fellow believers and deciding for ourselves why we place our hope in God. We need to have faith to realize that He will work within us to help us overcome all obstacles and bring us closer to a more fulfilling life. We try our best to avoid anxiety and surprises by planning and preparing as much as we can. Instead, we should just make sure what we're doing lines up with what God wants and let Him take care of the rest. Trust in His faithfulness. The crossed nails represent Jesus' sacrifice and God's faithfulness to us. That God sent down his Only Son to be born, live and die to show His mercy and for us to know Him fully. The entire phrase will let people know that we believe in God and that are not ashamed to show it.

 
Dove/Tongue of Fire:

The Dove/Tongue of Fire is found throughout the bible and in our churches as a symbol of peace, purity, the Holy Spirit and God’s faithfulness.

-Genesis 8:10-12 (Noah released a Dove and it returned to him with a plucked-off olive leaf)

-Luke 2:24 (Mary and Joseph took Jesus to be presented at the Temple and offered a sacrifice of a pair of turtledoves)

-Matthew 3:16 (After Jesus was baptized he saw the Spirit of God descending like a dove coming upon him)

-Acts 2:3 (During Pentecost, Jesus’ followers were gathered together and suddenly a noise like a strong driving wind filled the house, and what appeared to be tongues of fire rested on each of them and they were filled with the Holy Spirit  and able to speak in different tongues.)

This symbol is to help remind us of God’s faithfulness, to try our best to live pure lives and when times of doubt or when courage is needed, to call upon the Holy Spirit for guidance and strength. 

Ichthys/Jesus Fish:

The Ichthys (Greek word for fish) symbol that was used by early Christians to communicate to each other that they were amongst fellow believers in the midst when early Christians were being persecuted. Ichthys in the Greek, when you break it down is the acronym for “Iesous Christos Theos Yios Soter.” In English translates to “Jesus Christ God’s Son Savior.” We hope that this symbol carries on letting others know that we are Christian and that we are here for one another. This symbol is also to help remind us of all the sacrifices that early Christians made.

Ecclesia Militans:

This is the Latin phrase for the Church Militant.

The Catholic Church has 3 part:

1. Church Triumphant (Ecclesia Triumphans) which includes everyone in heaven

2. Church Suffering (Ecclesia Penitens) which includes all who are being purified in Purgatory

3. Church Militant (Ecclesia Militans) which includes everyone here on earth who are foot soldiers of Christ against evil.

Here on earth it’s obvious that there are constant wars between good and evil. We are called to be Jesus’ military and not in the sense of politics and physical combat, but in the sense that we are armed with truth and need to promote, protect and defend that truth with our lives. Sometimes the fight isn’t with the outside world, it’s a war within ourselves. We are called to battle with the evil daily. Romans 8:31 “If God is for us, who can be against us?” We need to keep that in mind and keep the fight going. We need to be proud that we belong to the One, Holy, Catholic and Apostolic Church and that our God is right there with us on the front line.  It’s not easy to say the least, but if we all understand that we are united under One banner, we will find that strength and support from one another and also will be armed with the knowledge that our God cannot be beaten.

Relationship + Jesus Only?

I was inspired to write this this morning because of a conversation I had yesterday. It was a great eye opener to see another Catholic's point of you view about our faith. Some Catholics like to say (myself included before I really started doing the research and finding my own answers) that...I believe that there is a God, but I don't believe everything the Church tells us to do. Do I really have to follow everything the Church says? The thing is, is that we Catholics have forgotten our own story. If you have that mentality of having the personal ability to pick and choose what to believe about your faith, then you're no different than the other 30,000+ Protestant denominations who all claim to really know what God wants. Why are you Catholic instead of being a part of another Christian Denomination? Out of the 30,000+ who knows the Truth? If you really looked into our History you'd find, how Matthew Kelly would put it "Genius in Catholicism."Unless you know our story, someone is going to force their story on you. Don't just be a cradle Catholic like I was. Do the research before you start denying what you choose to be apart of. The only way you're going to fully appreciate and understand your faith is if you starting questioning it. The more questions you ask, the more answers you'll find, the stronger your faith will become.

Matthew Kelly (Rediscover Catholicism), "But perhaps the biggest danger with the direct-to-God approach is that it becomes all too easy to deceive ourselves, and then we begin to create God in our own image. When it is "just me and God" it is all too easy to project my own qualities and biases upon God. Then rather than being created in the image of God, we begin to create God in our own image."

"The dictatorship of Relativism is confronting the world.  It does not recognize anything as absolute and leaves as the ultimate measure only the measure of each one and his desires.  

"'Adult' is not a faith that follows the waves in fashion and the latest novelty.....Adult and mature is a faith that gives us the measure to discern between what is true and what is false, between deceit and truth." - Joseph Cardinal Ratzinger, Excerpts from his homily at the Conclave that elected him Pope.

Recommended Reading:

 

They use this in my church's RCIA program so don't trip about the title lol :)

 The Protestant View...which is unfortunately a view some Catholics embrace. 

The Catholic View

 

Give props where props are do. Know our History.

Lent

Lent. Time to switch it up and figure out what God’s purpose is for you/us. I know a lot of people are giving up things like TV, Fast Food, turning it down with the language, Social Media, trying to make it on time for Church, Chocolate, Smoking, Drinking, going out etc. These are all good things to help us realize that we’re intended for something far more greater and to help us realize that we shouldn't be mastered by anything that the world has to offer (Colossians 2:8). Temptation is war that I’m coming to realize is pretty intense. If it’s a habit that has been going on for years, it’s going to be a daily struggle. If you fail, don’t get discouraged and throw your goals in the trash. Start it up again. 40 days of making a genuine effort. Remember after Easter it doesn’t mean it’s cool to go back in doing the same stuff. This time is to help us commit and focus on a lifestyle change. (Read Matthew 16:24)

-->FREE COPY!!!! http://cart.dynamiccatholic.com/SearchResults.asp?Cat=1844 <--


Fighting Temptation:

I’ve been reading Matthew Kelly’s book “Rediscover Catholicism.” If I could I would get everyone a copy. Everyone needs to read this. This book was a total life changer and a complete eye opener. I really recommend it. What was really cool was that our church passed it out for free on Christmas Eve. He’s articulates how ‘God wants you to become “the-best-version-of-yourself” and in turn He sends you out into the world to help others do the same.’ Here are some other quotes from the book.

-“We confuse pleasure for happiness”

-“You may even taste happiness for a moment living a life contrary to the philosophy of Christ, but these are stolen moments”

-“Discipline is the key to freedom”

-“Living the gospel is difficult; it always has been and it always will be”

-“In the absence of discipline, man must be content himself with superficialities and mediocrity”

-“Leave the world a better place than you found it”

-“God had given us legitimate needs, dreams and desires, and talents and abilities to help us understand how we might best make a unique contribution”

-“Good habits create good character”

-“It is better to be alone than be with the wrong person”

-“You cannot journey to a new place and at the same time stay where you are”

-“In the silence things start to make sense”

-“It is equally impossible to experience God and not want others to experience him as a result”

-Win a war: 1.You need to know you are at war.

                   2. You need to know who or what your enemy is

                   3. You need to know what weapons and strategies can defeat your enemy “Virtue must be sought out and can be acquired only by continual practice”
"Freedom without discipline is impossible"

“Jesus didn’t promise an easy way. He promised that we would be ridicules, persecuted, unappreciated as himself was, but that we would nonetheless experience joy and fullness of life.”

Those are only a few quotes. Imagine what reading the book was like LOL.

God will never give you anything you can’t handle. Like the scripture verse on the back of the shirts, He’ll provide a way out. We/You got this!!! Let’s change from our old ways and not just for 40 days. Let’s switch up our lifestyles. God is good! (Jeremiah 29:11-13)

How to defend your FAITH!

The core reason why we don't know how to defend our faith is because we don't know our faith. Has anyone asked you a question about your faith and you couldn't answer it? When you got home did you even feel compelled to do a little research? Here's some resources to help you out :)

 
"Sean Mcveigh (Apologetics)"
http://www.youtube.com/user/seanwithjesus

"CatholicAnswers (Apologetics)"
http://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PL13FC02CEA0DB274C&feature=plcp

"The Catholic Church - Builder of Civilization"
http://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PL57857981F3CC5D78&feature=plcp

"RealCatholicTV"
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BAOX-nW7SJ8&list=UUsUgCCaaOfESPA4REUfZ33g&index=15&feature=plcp

"Word On Fire (Fr. Barron)"
http://www.youtube.com/user/wordonfirevideo

"Jason Evert (Theology of the Body)"
http://www.youtube.com/watch?NR=1&v=sRTcod83PYI&feature=endscreen

"OneTrueFaithTV (Michael Voris)"
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=caEoAItV3V8

Mission Statement

The Mission of Be The Living Verse is to first remind individuals about the presence of God, second to use biblical verses/artwork to educate, inspire, heal, and/or initiate dialogue, third to physically remind Catholics that we need to know, live, spread, defend and take pride in our faith and lastly to bring about unity. We are the One, Holy, Catholic and Apostolic Church.

It often seems nowadays that individuals who claim to be Catholic seem to hold back in letting others know about our faith. Why is that? We don’t want to be judged, ridiculed, make anyone feel uncomfortable or don’t feel we have enough knowledge to defend our faith? Our present world doesn’t make it easy to live a Christ-like life. It’s hard, but that shouldn’t be our excuse to surrender. We are all called to live a life that is pleasing to God. This brand is governed by the bible verse 1Peter3:15-16 that states, “but sanctify Christ as Lord in your hearts. Always be ready to give an explanation to anyone who asks you for a reason for your hope, but do it with gentleness and reverence…” God shouldn’t be our own personal secret. With God’s help we can ignite change and courage. But before you wear the brand; be conscious about what you represent in public. Think about our history. Wear it with respect for your faith and be prepared to defend it.  At church people know you are Catholic, but what about when you step outside the doors? How will people be inspired to follow God if your lifestyle isn’t different from theirs? Think about it. What sets us Catholics apart? God calls us in 2Corinthians6:17 to “…come out from them and be separate...” We have to change our lifestyles in order to sustain and gain believers. That was Jesus’ mission was, to change hearts.  Now let’s continue what he started. Wearing the shirt says, “I’m a sinner too. I mess up a lot and am willing to admit my weaknesses. I’m no better than anyone else, but I’m still trying my best to lead the life I know God wants me to live and if you want to know about my hope and why I keep trying just ask.” BE THE LIVING VERSE. –God Bless

What's the point of these shirts???

I've always found it really helpful during times of struggle to go the Bible and find a verse that would reassure me that God was still there. That everything was going to work itself out and be okay. That there was a reason why I was facing this obstacle at this specific point in time. There is just so much peace you get knowing that your not alone in whatever you're going through. Growing up, a lot of the time I would try to attain peace/happiness via other activities aside from God. Through my faith journey I'm realizing that God is actually present in my life. There are no coincidences, there's just a far greater plan that we might not understand yet. We just have to place our trust and hope in something greater than us [God] in order to achieve that peace and understanding. 

What these shirts are supposed to do is:

1. Announce to the public, wherever you're at (mall, gym, grocery store, theater, or McDonald's etc.) that I believe in and put my trust in God, I'm Catholic, I'm not ashamed and am prepared to defend my faith because He's worth it and calls us to do it. I'm not perfect but when I fail (not "if" I fail, "when" I fail) that's who I place my faith in.

2. To help people know the Truth. That God will be there for you when no one else is. That God is real and is constantly wanting you to come to Him, no matter how broken or unworthy you might feel, He wants you to place your complete trust in Him. Hopefully when someone walks behind you who is having a bad day, confused or anxious about something, they'll read the verse and find hope.

3. To put you in check. If you wearing these shirts you're sort of putting on Christ. Kind of like how a priest would wear his collar in public. You need to understand what you represent in public. And I hope if you aren't acting accordingly, that someone would approach you and remind you what your shirt promotes. It'll help make you more conscious to live a righteous life.

4. To bring about unity.

Founder: My Story

My name is Brian John Villamor and I'm the founder of Be The Living Verse. Here's a little background of why I started this in the first place. I'm 24 years old and I was brought up in a Filipino Catholic household. I attended Catholic school from first grade all the way up to my senior year of high school. I went to church every Sunday and sometimes during the week. I thought I was a "good" Catholic who really believed in God. But was I a real believer or was I just going through the motions somewhat blindly? It was more evident in my college years that I was living a double-life. During the week I was sinning by: going out, clubbing, bar-hopping and doing things that I am too embarrassed to admit in this blog and then on Sunday I would go to church, sit in the pews and act like nothing was wrong. I thought doing all that stuff was going to make me happy and it's what the world said was the norm so I didn't think twice about some of my actions. I thought at this age that I was supposed to make tons of mistakes and eventually when I get older I'd learn and be done with those habits. But then after awhile I started feeling this emptiness. I would have a ton of fun those nights, but came home late still feeling like there was something missing. Then I just started owning up to my insecurities and started to question why I did the things I did? Was I doing it to fit in with my peers? Was it for attention? Was it so I would be looked at as socially relevant? It was toward the end of my last semester in college, where everything was going great, that I realized that I could not deny God's presence in my life. There was just no way all of these events could have just fit together by chance. I also started realizing that if I say believe in Jesus, why was I doing things that put him on the cross to begin with?

I decided that I didn’t want to be another one of those “cradle Catholics.” You know the kind that was born into the faith and just goes along with what family does without truly challenging or questioning any of the practices. "Good" on Sundays, and promoting sin Monday-Saturday. I was sick of being a hypocrite and not being able to defend my faith. I did some research and asked myself a lot of questions: Why do I believe in God? Why do I go to Church? Where did the Church and its teachings come from? Where does it say that ….. in the bible? Who wrote and put together the bible? Why do we have sacraments? Why do we honor Mary and the Saints? Why am I Catholic and not another kind of Christian? Aren't we all the same, we all believe in God? What is Heaven, Hell, Purgatory? I learned little bits and pieces from my earlier education at school and at home, and I never really questioned anything, but now I'm understanding that there is so much more to it. The more knowledge I gained, the more I started to develop a greater appreciation for the Church, her history and traditions. I felt like I found something and wanted everyone to know about it. What that something was was the TRUTH and the peace that I got from knowing that TRUTH. I'm not saying that everyday is so peaceful. I constantly have to remind myself of God's presence and that each obstacle is meant for me to learn something about myself or of God's will. But when I do try to line up my wants with God's wants, everything makes sense and that's when I feel that peace.