What do Catholic author and
blogger, Tony Agnesi, and St. Claude de la Colombiere, the 17th century
spiritual director and author of Trustful
Surrender to Divine Providence, share in common? - a steadfast and unswerving trust in God.
St. Claude used the following words to describe that level of
trust:
“It is one of the most firmly
established and most consoling of truths that have been revealed to us that
(apart from sin) nothing happens to us in life unless God wills it so.”
and
“Be convinced that in all He
allows and in all that happens to you God has no other end in view but your
real advantage and your eternal happiness…”
These truths are consoling but oh how so difficult to live!
In his latest book, A Storyteller’s Guide to Joyful Service –
Turning Your Misery into Ministry, Tony Agnesi shares stirring examples
of individuals (including himself) who stepped out in faith, trusted God’s
promptings and allowed themselves to be used as instruments of healing and
hope.
Tony doesn’t deal in ambiguities; he provides clear directions
and suggestions as to how we can be God’s earthly assistants. Here is an example:
“I have always been impressed,” writes
Tony, “with the power in the number one. It only takes one person, one kind
word, one thought, or one good deed to change the world… Do you know that you
can be that one person for someone? You never forget the person that was there
for you when no one else stepped up. You can be the one person they will always
remember.”
God gives different gifts to
different people. God gave Tony Agnesi the gift to see Him in the people and
events he meets and experiences on a daily basis. The power of Tony’s writing
and his ministry is that he makes Christ’s Presence among us real, palpable and
unmistakable.
We would all be well-served by beginning our day in prayer as
Tony does his: “Lord make me an instrument; put someone in front
of me today that you can help through me.”
While we are at it, why not follow Rena, who “every day at
three…would drop everything she was doing and make a telephone call to someone
in need. It might be someone in the hospital, or someone who was at home, sick.
It could be someone that had just been diagnosed with an illness, or a person
that had lost a spouse, or someone who was going through a divorce or rough
patch."
A
Storyteller’s Guide to Joyful Service – Turning Your Misery into Ministry is a
book you will want to read and re-read. It will challenge you to step out in
faith and be a warrior for the salvation of souls.
I must admit it is difficult for
me to remain objective about this author. He is a friend and mentor. I admire
the authenticity of his life. I was privileged to read and review his earlier book,
A Storytellers Guide to a Grace-Filled
Life. If you are interested, you can read that review here.
In his letter to the Ephesians (4:7-13),
St. Paul tells us that, among others, God gave us …”teachers to equip the holy
ones for work of ministry, for building up the body of Christ”. Tony Agnesi is
such a teacher. Through these stories of simple and sometimes troubled souls, many
will come to meet and love the Lord Tony Agnesi seeks to serve.
Be sure to visit Tony regularly. You can get a copy of A Storyteller’s Guide
to Joyful Service there as well.
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