John 14:2
In my Father’s house there are many dwelling places. If there were not, would I have told you that I am going to prepare a place for you?
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Other Bible versions would have it phrased as “In my Father’s house, there are many mansions”. So isn’t that great?! God has prepared for us not just a nipa hut, or a studio-type condominium but a mansion in heaven.
For the real place where we should be is in Heaven, together with all the angels and saints that have come before us. And as we go and live through these days of our lives here on earth, we must strive to always think, act and set our minds on things above us.
There may be some of us that chose to change citizenship, with the way we act and behave, but isn’t it great to know that God has already forgiven us. May they all come to their senses, and start accepting again their true citizenship, but accepting our Lord Jesus Christ fully in our hearts.
Let us all hope for heaven.
Christian hope looks forward to two things from God: that his Kingdom may come in glory and that his Kingdom may begin already here on earth. And only then would they really experience the real joy of living together with the King of all nations and heavens.
How lovely is your dwelling place, Oh Lord, our King and Mighty God. May we persevere here on earth to be with you in that mansion.
Let us pray +
Almighty Father, for now, we live in this other side of heaven, knowing that sometime in the future, we would join You in that place where our loyalty should lie, where our true citizenship is rooted. Lord, give us a healthy appreciation of the beauty and wonder of this world. May we pour ourselves out, living for you. This is not our true home but our destiny is eternal life with you. Through Jesus Christ our Lord and him alone. Amen +
You are my Son; this day I have begotten you.
Friday, April 30, 2010
Thursday, April 29, 2010
KINDNESS (4-29-10)
Psalms 89:3
For you have said, “My kindness is established forever”; in heaven you have confirmed your faithfulness.
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I still remember that my class section in Grade 3 was “Kindness”. But I tell you, that section is not really kind to others. Not that we bully other kids in school, but we are really a rowdy bunch – teasing each other, running around after school, shouting on top of our voices. It was children having pure fun. And those days were really fun as we do what we really want to do.
Kindness in scripture is more often equated with love. The word for kindness in Hebrew and Greek is interchangeable with mercy, goodness, loyalty, faithfulness, but most of all steadfast love.
Kindness is the visible action of love directed toward others. Similarly, God is praised for being kind – for showing His steadfast love in so many ways. But, sadly, it is really hard for us to show the same kindness that God is showing us. Why?
This is because our culture tolerates rude, angry, unkind, and violent behavior. No one really likes this, but they have become so commonplace that we have just accepted it. Even after going to mass or service, most of us would start saying bad things about others once we get out of the church.
This has got to stop. We should not be kind in names only (like my section in grade school). We should live it everyday, as the Lord is good, whose kindness endures forever.
We hope that we, the people of our ages and the generations to come will truly be called Christians or the Kind Ones. Let us strive to live up to both names.
Let us pray +
Almighty Father, You are the source of true kindness. You are our only hope. We trust in You for all the promises of forgiveness and help and life that Your Son bought when He died. We belong freely to You forever and ever. Amen +
For ever I will sing the goodness of the Lord.
For you have said, “My kindness is established forever”; in heaven you have confirmed your faithfulness.
-----------------------------------------------------
I still remember that my class section in Grade 3 was “Kindness”. But I tell you, that section is not really kind to others. Not that we bully other kids in school, but we are really a rowdy bunch – teasing each other, running around after school, shouting on top of our voices. It was children having pure fun. And those days were really fun as we do what we really want to do.
Kindness in scripture is more often equated with love. The word for kindness in Hebrew and Greek is interchangeable with mercy, goodness, loyalty, faithfulness, but most of all steadfast love.
Kindness is the visible action of love directed toward others. Similarly, God is praised for being kind – for showing His steadfast love in so many ways. But, sadly, it is really hard for us to show the same kindness that God is showing us. Why?
This is because our culture tolerates rude, angry, unkind, and violent behavior. No one really likes this, but they have become so commonplace that we have just accepted it. Even after going to mass or service, most of us would start saying bad things about others once we get out of the church.
This has got to stop. We should not be kind in names only (like my section in grade school). We should live it everyday, as the Lord is good, whose kindness endures forever.
We hope that we, the people of our ages and the generations to come will truly be called Christians or the Kind Ones. Let us strive to live up to both names.
Let us pray +
Almighty Father, You are the source of true kindness. You are our only hope. We trust in You for all the promises of forgiveness and help and life that Your Son bought when He died. We belong freely to You forever and ever. Amen +
For ever I will sing the goodness of the Lord.
Wednesday, April 28, 2010
LIGHT FOR EVERYONE (4-28-10)
John 12:46
I came into the world as light, so that everyone who believes in me might not remain in darkness.
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During brownouts, especially at night, , me and my playmates would go out of the house and play one of our favorite games – hide and seek.
In our place, there were a lot of places where one can hide – inside a jeepney, behind or inside a trash can (yes, one of us tried hiding inside it once, that is why in the next round, we were able to identify his location by his smelly scent), garage, on top of trees, behind the fences, and yes, inside a drum filled with water.
Everyone is quietly hiding until a scream would fill the air, “Pung, taya!” (meaning “I have found you!”).
But sometimes, I would got scared of the dark that I would have myself seen by the seeker or say, “andito ako!” (“I am here”) so I could finally get out of the dark. It doesn’t matter if I would be the next seeker, for sometimes it is better to be the hunter, than the hunted.
Through our lives, we have been constantly seeking for God - in the hope that we might feel Him and find Him. But we do not have to go far and look for Him in the darkness. If we can only open our hearts, we can hear Him saying, “I am here”, yes, in our hearts. For in Him we live and move and have our being.
We try to seek Him, not because He got lost, but because we tried to hide from Him. Let us find Him now and get out of the darkness we are in. There is always this longing in our hearts for Him. We knew that we wouldn't be complete unless we are with Him and loving Him fully.
Let us all be glad and jump for joy that He allowed us to find Him.
Oh Lord, we realize that everything in the world is meaningless unless we obey Your will. We can gain money and possession, but they don't satisfy our needs. In our death, those will all fall away and mean nothing. So, we look up to the heavens as You call upon us, exclaiming, “Here I am.”
O God, let all the nations praise you!
I came into the world as light, so that everyone who believes in me might not remain in darkness.
--------------------------------------------------
During brownouts, especially at night, , me and my playmates would go out of the house and play one of our favorite games – hide and seek.
In our place, there were a lot of places where one can hide – inside a jeepney, behind or inside a trash can (yes, one of us tried hiding inside it once, that is why in the next round, we were able to identify his location by his smelly scent), garage, on top of trees, behind the fences, and yes, inside a drum filled with water.
Everyone is quietly hiding until a scream would fill the air, “Pung, taya!” (meaning “I have found you!”).
But sometimes, I would got scared of the dark that I would have myself seen by the seeker or say, “andito ako!” (“I am here”) so I could finally get out of the dark. It doesn’t matter if I would be the next seeker, for sometimes it is better to be the hunter, than the hunted.
Through our lives, we have been constantly seeking for God - in the hope that we might feel Him and find Him. But we do not have to go far and look for Him in the darkness. If we can only open our hearts, we can hear Him saying, “I am here”, yes, in our hearts. For in Him we live and move and have our being.
We try to seek Him, not because He got lost, but because we tried to hide from Him. Let us find Him now and get out of the darkness we are in. There is always this longing in our hearts for Him. We knew that we wouldn't be complete unless we are with Him and loving Him fully.
Let us all be glad and jump for joy that He allowed us to find Him.
Oh Lord, we realize that everything in the world is meaningless unless we obey Your will. We can gain money and possession, but they don't satisfy our needs. In our death, those will all fall away and mean nothing. So, we look up to the heavens as You call upon us, exclaiming, “Here I am.”
O God, let all the nations praise you!
Tuesday, April 27, 2010
CHRISTIANS (4-27-10)
Acts 11:26
…and it was in Antioch that the disciples were first called Christians.
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As the Philippine election draws near, a lot of town meetings, caucus and debates are happening. And as you get to know the candidates, you will hear the same surname, but different person. Yes, political dynasty is alive in the Philippines. Senators, congressman, mayors – all from the same clan. And they also came from families of former Presidents and Senators.
In a Filipino family, the surname is important. No one should act in such a way that you blemish the surname of your family. Or else, you risk being disowned. Your family’s surname should be a source of honor and pride.
Similarly, being called a Christian should be a source of joy and honor for us. It is not just a tag or a name. It means total obedience to the living Lord. We need to PERSEVERE in our faith, knowing that one day we will receive our reward. This perseverance also includes encouraging fellow-Christians to live that life of commitment.
We are Christians. And the world shall recognize us as the true disciples of Jesus – not just by what we say or what we believe or what we do or even the soundness of our theology, but by our love. Something has fundamentally changed within us.
Being Christians is not a walk in the park. Our Lord has shown us that being Christians means living our life for others. And as Christians, we should keep the Lord in our hearts forever.
For without “CHRIST”, what is left is “IAN” or I Am Nothing!
Let us pray +
Almighty Father, You renew Your promises in our hearts as we await the goal of our faith, even the saving of our souls eternally with you. Father, when we contemplate these things, we know that no praise is too extravagant. With hearts filled with awe and rejoicing, we thank You for his life which is given to us. Amen +
All you nations, praise the Lord.
…and it was in Antioch that the disciples were first called Christians.
--------------------------------------------------------
As the Philippine election draws near, a lot of town meetings, caucus and debates are happening. And as you get to know the candidates, you will hear the same surname, but different person. Yes, political dynasty is alive in the Philippines. Senators, congressman, mayors – all from the same clan. And they also came from families of former Presidents and Senators.
In a Filipino family, the surname is important. No one should act in such a way that you blemish the surname of your family. Or else, you risk being disowned. Your family’s surname should be a source of honor and pride.
Similarly, being called a Christian should be a source of joy and honor for us. It is not just a tag or a name. It means total obedience to the living Lord. We need to PERSEVERE in our faith, knowing that one day we will receive our reward. This perseverance also includes encouraging fellow-Christians to live that life of commitment.
We are Christians. And the world shall recognize us as the true disciples of Jesus – not just by what we say or what we believe or what we do or even the soundness of our theology, but by our love. Something has fundamentally changed within us.
Being Christians is not a walk in the park. Our Lord has shown us that being Christians means living our life for others. And as Christians, we should keep the Lord in our hearts forever.
For without “CHRIST”, what is left is “IAN” or I Am Nothing!
Let us pray +
Almighty Father, You renew Your promises in our hearts as we await the goal of our faith, even the saving of our souls eternally with you. Father, when we contemplate these things, we know that no praise is too extravagant. With hearts filled with awe and rejoicing, we thank You for his life which is given to us. Amen +
All you nations, praise the Lord.
Monday, April 26, 2010
FIND GREENER PASTURE (04-26-10)
John 10:7,9
So Jesus said again, “Amen, amen, I say to you, I am the gate for the sheep. Whoever enters through me will be saved, and will come in and go out and find pasture.
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I still remember the day when my father “invested” on putting up wooden fence with wooden gate around our house frontage. They decided to put it there to keep away strangers from just knocking on the front door. With the fence, they would just call-out from the outside.
It was supposed to be a protection, so no one can just barge in to the house. It was a protection, so whoever inside the house will be safe. And now, in the place where I live, we have more than a gate. We have surveillance cameras, we have perimeter walls, we have steel gates and we have security guards manning the place hours.
Similarly, Jesus is offering Himself to be the gate that would protect all His sheep from thieves and robbers – thieves who would snatch us from Him and kill us. So we should make sure that we only pass through this gate where everyone can enter so we can find and experience green pasture.
Jesus is the gate and only through Him will we enter Heaven. Jesus is the gate who gives those who pass in and out through it enough identity to feel secure and yet enough freedom to remain open to others.
Just like a shepherd who calls on his flock to finally enter the fenced sheepfold so they may be safe from harm, Jesus is also calling us to enter Him. Christ our good shepherd and we just need to listen for His voice. And the best way to hear His soft yet firm voice is by being faithful to our conscience, the divine voice within us.
Enter through Him. The Lord awaits us as He prepares a greener pasture.
Let us pray +
Almighty Father, we heard Your call and we follow Your voice for we totally trust You. Thank You for the gift of salvation as we enter Heaven through Your Son, Jesus Christ.
Athirst is my soul for the living God.
So Jesus said again, “Amen, amen, I say to you, I am the gate for the sheep. Whoever enters through me will be saved, and will come in and go out and find pasture.
---------------------------------------------------
I still remember the day when my father “invested” on putting up wooden fence with wooden gate around our house frontage. They decided to put it there to keep away strangers from just knocking on the front door. With the fence, they would just call-out from the outside.
It was supposed to be a protection, so no one can just barge in to the house. It was a protection, so whoever inside the house will be safe. And now, in the place where I live, we have more than a gate. We have surveillance cameras, we have perimeter walls, we have steel gates and we have security guards manning the place hours.
Similarly, Jesus is offering Himself to be the gate that would protect all His sheep from thieves and robbers – thieves who would snatch us from Him and kill us. So we should make sure that we only pass through this gate where everyone can enter so we can find and experience green pasture.
Jesus is the gate and only through Him will we enter Heaven. Jesus is the gate who gives those who pass in and out through it enough identity to feel secure and yet enough freedom to remain open to others.
Just like a shepherd who calls on his flock to finally enter the fenced sheepfold so they may be safe from harm, Jesus is also calling us to enter Him. Christ our good shepherd and we just need to listen for His voice. And the best way to hear His soft yet firm voice is by being faithful to our conscience, the divine voice within us.
Enter through Him. The Lord awaits us as He prepares a greener pasture.
Let us pray +
Almighty Father, we heard Your call and we follow Your voice for we totally trust You. Thank You for the gift of salvation as we enter Heaven through Your Son, Jesus Christ.
Athirst is my soul for the living God.
Sunday, April 25, 2010
HEAR MY VOICE (4-25-10)
John 10:27
“My sheep hear my voice; I know them, and they follow me…”
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When we are out playing with other kids, we would know if our father is calling us. We would hear a whistling sound… a sound so distinct that we know it is time to go home. A sound that we must follow or else, the door will be locked and we would not be able to go inside the house.
We are also hearing the voice of Jesus. And as His flock, we follow his voice. We follow fully knowing that failing to do so could mean being left out. And as such, we all are sheep and Jesus is our good shepherd. Like a good shepherd, he “lays down his life for the sheep”. He came to protect us by giving his life for us. He did this so that we might enjoy life to its fullest and have the hope of living forever.
When we got lost, He would simply call us to return back to the sheepfold. Some of us may not hear Him the first time. But He would constantly call us, knowing that one day, we would heed that call.
And to hear that call, use not our ears, but our hearts. He knocks at our hearts, so we may feel His love and know Him more. And this is precisely what He invites us to do – “That one who believingly abandons himself to me and to my care, I will take him and keep him forever”.
Jesus' claim to be the "Good Shepherd" is a well-supported one. He proved it very well. He died for His sheeps so we may be saved.
And for those of us who are trusting in Him for salvation, He continues to prove it every day with satisfying tokens of His love.
Let us pray +
Almighty Father, give me new strength from the courage of Christ, our Savior and Redeemer. He is our Good Shepherd. Let me hear the sound of His voice, lead my steps in the path He has shown, that I may receive His help and enjoy the light of Your presence forever. Amen +
We are his people, the sheep of his flock.
“My sheep hear my voice; I know them, and they follow me…”
----------------------------------------------
When we are out playing with other kids, we would know if our father is calling us. We would hear a whistling sound… a sound so distinct that we know it is time to go home. A sound that we must follow or else, the door will be locked and we would not be able to go inside the house.
We are also hearing the voice of Jesus. And as His flock, we follow his voice. We follow fully knowing that failing to do so could mean being left out. And as such, we all are sheep and Jesus is our good shepherd. Like a good shepherd, he “lays down his life for the sheep”. He came to protect us by giving his life for us. He did this so that we might enjoy life to its fullest and have the hope of living forever.
When we got lost, He would simply call us to return back to the sheepfold. Some of us may not hear Him the first time. But He would constantly call us, knowing that one day, we would heed that call.
And to hear that call, use not our ears, but our hearts. He knocks at our hearts, so we may feel His love and know Him more. And this is precisely what He invites us to do – “That one who believingly abandons himself to me and to my care, I will take him and keep him forever”.
Jesus' claim to be the "Good Shepherd" is a well-supported one. He proved it very well. He died for His sheeps so we may be saved.
And for those of us who are trusting in Him for salvation, He continues to prove it every day with satisfying tokens of His love.
Let us pray +
Almighty Father, give me new strength from the courage of Christ, our Savior and Redeemer. He is our Good Shepherd. Let me hear the sound of His voice, lead my steps in the path He has shown, that I may receive His help and enjoy the light of Your presence forever. Amen +
We are his people, the sheep of his flock.
Saturday, April 24, 2010
WORDS OF ETERNAL LIFE (4-24-10)
John 6:68
Simon Peter answered him, “Master, to whom shall we go? You have the words of eternal life…”
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As the Philippine presidential election comes near, a lot of defections are already happening among members of the political parties involved. They want to ally or position themselves already to whom they think will be the winner so they can benefit also from “the spoils of the war”.
There were also a lot of defections that happened during the time of Jesus. Most believers would leave Jesus and returned to their former way of life. But Jesus is clear. He did not come to this earth to make it a better place to live, to offer fun and recreation to mankind. He did not die upon that cruel cross in order for man to have a good time. He died to save us.
He died so we would be in heaven someday. He died so we can win heaven and be with our loved ones again in heaven.
Isn’t it sweet? Isn’t it beautiful?
“To whom shall we go?” You, and I need, someone to whom we must go. Someone who is dependable and trustworthy. Someone who can meet our every need.
Jesus is the answer. He offers what no one else can offer. He can give you hope. He can bestow upon you spiritual blessings. He can give you freedom from sins. He can bring you home to the Heavenly Father when our days on this earth are finished.
“To whom shall we go?” To the only one who is Christ.
“Are we ready?” The only answer is “Yes”.
Let us pray +
Almighty Father, only You can satisfy our needs. Only to you shall we go. For your Spirit gives life; the words You have spoken heals us. We accept Your invitation of being in Your love forever. Amen +
How shall I make a return to the Lord for all the good he has done for me?
Simon Peter answered him, “Master, to whom shall we go? You have the words of eternal life…”
--------------------------------------------------------
As the Philippine presidential election comes near, a lot of defections are already happening among members of the political parties involved. They want to ally or position themselves already to whom they think will be the winner so they can benefit also from “the spoils of the war”.
There were also a lot of defections that happened during the time of Jesus. Most believers would leave Jesus and returned to their former way of life. But Jesus is clear. He did not come to this earth to make it a better place to live, to offer fun and recreation to mankind. He did not die upon that cruel cross in order for man to have a good time. He died to save us.
He died so we would be in heaven someday. He died so we can win heaven and be with our loved ones again in heaven.
Isn’t it sweet? Isn’t it beautiful?
“To whom shall we go?” You, and I need, someone to whom we must go. Someone who is dependable and trustworthy. Someone who can meet our every need.
Jesus is the answer. He offers what no one else can offer. He can give you hope. He can bestow upon you spiritual blessings. He can give you freedom from sins. He can bring you home to the Heavenly Father when our days on this earth are finished.
“To whom shall we go?” To the only one who is Christ.
“Are we ready?” The only answer is “Yes”.
Let us pray +
Almighty Father, only You can satisfy our needs. Only to you shall we go. For your Spirit gives life; the words You have spoken heals us. We accept Your invitation of being in Your love forever. Amen +
How shall I make a return to the Lord for all the good he has done for me?
Friday, April 23, 2010
PROCLAIM JESUS (4-23-10)
Acts 9:20
He stayed some days with the disciples in Damascus, and he began at once to proclaim Jesus in the synagogues, that he is the Son of God.
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We started the week talking about Stephen, the first Christian martyr and how he was persecuted and killed. And the man who led the way in killing him was Saul.
And today, the readings talk about the conversion of Stephen’s persecutor and became better known as St. Paul.
On his way to Damascus, to capture more Christian followers and bring back to Jerusalem in chains, a light from the sky suddenly flashed around him. He could not see anything and just asked the help of his companions.
Ananias the disciple then came to see him. He was baptized and was able to see again. Saul, who was renamed Paul, was chosen by the Lord to be an instrument to carry His name before the Gentiles (non-Jews), kings and Israelites alike. He readily accepted Jesus and took the challenge of suffering, not against Him, but rather in His name.
Each of us has been called by God to go forth and proclaim the message of the Gospel of Jesus Christ to all creatures. He calls man to seek Him, to know Him, to love Him with all his strength. He calls together all men, scattered and divided by sin, into the unity of his family, the Church.
You may now be blinded by your sins so you fail to see this eternal truth. Let Him open your eyes and show you the joy of being with Him. Let Him strengthen you as together, we proclaim the good news to every creature of this world.
Let us pray +
Almighty Father, by the preaching of Your apostle Paul You have caused the light of the Gospel to shine throughout the world. Grant, we pray, that we, having his wonderful conversion in remembrance, may show ourselves thankful to You by following his holy teaching; and have the courage to proclaim to the world Your love and Your promise of salvation. Amen +
Go out to all the world and tell the Good News.
He stayed some days with the disciples in Damascus, and he began at once to proclaim Jesus in the synagogues, that he is the Son of God.
-----------------------------------------------------
We started the week talking about Stephen, the first Christian martyr and how he was persecuted and killed. And the man who led the way in killing him was Saul.
And today, the readings talk about the conversion of Stephen’s persecutor and became better known as St. Paul.
On his way to Damascus, to capture more Christian followers and bring back to Jerusalem in chains, a light from the sky suddenly flashed around him. He could not see anything and just asked the help of his companions.
Ananias the disciple then came to see him. He was baptized and was able to see again. Saul, who was renamed Paul, was chosen by the Lord to be an instrument to carry His name before the Gentiles (non-Jews), kings and Israelites alike. He readily accepted Jesus and took the challenge of suffering, not against Him, but rather in His name.
Each of us has been called by God to go forth and proclaim the message of the Gospel of Jesus Christ to all creatures. He calls man to seek Him, to know Him, to love Him with all his strength. He calls together all men, scattered and divided by sin, into the unity of his family, the Church.
You may now be blinded by your sins so you fail to see this eternal truth. Let Him open your eyes and show you the joy of being with Him. Let Him strengthen you as together, we proclaim the good news to every creature of this world.
Let us pray +
Almighty Father, by the preaching of Your apostle Paul You have caused the light of the Gospel to shine throughout the world. Grant, we pray, that we, having his wonderful conversion in remembrance, may show ourselves thankful to You by following his holy teaching; and have the courage to proclaim to the world Your love and Your promise of salvation. Amen +
Go out to all the world and tell the Good News.
Thursday, April 22, 2010
WHAT I BELIEVE (4-22-10)
John 6:47
Amen, amen, I say to you, whoever believes has eternal life.
--------------------------------------------
What are your beliefs in life? Do you live by your beliefs? Do you believe, in the first place, in your beliefs? Or do you just say it for the sake of having something to say when asked? How about believing in the Lord Jesus Christ, truly and fully knowing that He is the way, the truth and the life?
This is the truth of eternal life and salvation.
This is the truth that we believe.
The Holy Bible, which is the inspired Word of God that never has been nor ever will be changed, testifies that there is only one God. It is not possible for the finite human mind to understand the nature of the infinite God. Therefore, it was necessary that God reveal Himself to us through divinely inspired writings. This is the very reason why our heart yearns for Him, because the desire for God is written in the human heart.
God never ceases to draw us to Himself. Only in God will we find the truth and happiness we never stops searching for. Because we exist for God has created us out of love.
Our God is the only true God. This is the only truth that we need to believe so we may live eternal life. And faith in Him is our response to God, who reveals Himself and gives Himself to man.
We believe in God, the Father Almighty, Creator of Heaven and Earth. And in Jesus Christ, His only Son and our Lord. And finally, in the Holy Spirit. One God, forever and ever. He is ONE TRUE GOD, and that is the only thing that cannot be changed.
Let us pray +
You are great, O Lord, and greatly to be praised: great is Your power and Your wisdom is without measure. We praise You, we worship You, we put our faith in You, for You are the only truth that we believe. You yourself encourage us to delight in Your praise, for You have made us for Yourself, and our heart is restless until it rests in You. Amen +
Let all the earth cry out to God with joy.
Amen, amen, I say to you, whoever believes has eternal life.
--------------------------------------------
What are your beliefs in life? Do you live by your beliefs? Do you believe, in the first place, in your beliefs? Or do you just say it for the sake of having something to say when asked? How about believing in the Lord Jesus Christ, truly and fully knowing that He is the way, the truth and the life?
This is the truth of eternal life and salvation.
This is the truth that we believe.
The Holy Bible, which is the inspired Word of God that never has been nor ever will be changed, testifies that there is only one God. It is not possible for the finite human mind to understand the nature of the infinite God. Therefore, it was necessary that God reveal Himself to us through divinely inspired writings. This is the very reason why our heart yearns for Him, because the desire for God is written in the human heart.
God never ceases to draw us to Himself. Only in God will we find the truth and happiness we never stops searching for. Because we exist for God has created us out of love.
Our God is the only true God. This is the only truth that we need to believe so we may live eternal life. And faith in Him is our response to God, who reveals Himself and gives Himself to man.
We believe in God, the Father Almighty, Creator of Heaven and Earth. And in Jesus Christ, His only Son and our Lord. And finally, in the Holy Spirit. One God, forever and ever. He is ONE TRUE GOD, and that is the only thing that cannot be changed.
Let us pray +
You are great, O Lord, and greatly to be praised: great is Your power and Your wisdom is without measure. We praise You, we worship You, we put our faith in You, for You are the only truth that we believe. You yourself encourage us to delight in Your praise, for You have made us for Yourself, and our heart is restless until it rests in You. Amen +
Let all the earth cry out to God with joy.
Wednesday, April 21, 2010
NEVER HUNGER (4-21-10)
John 6:35
“…whoever comes to me will never hunger, and whoever believes in me will never thirst.”
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Upon coming back from more than a year stay in Mexico, I was amazed to learn that SM Megamall (the second biggest mall in Philippines) had become even bigger. And what is surprising is that more restaurants and beauty shops were added. This only mean that we are really keen on doing two things the most – eating and making ourselves beautiful.
And as I walk the streets, the same phenomenon can be observed – little canteens (carinderia) and fast food chains abound. And this can be due to the fact that most Filipinos eat SIX times a day. Yes, SIX times – breakfast, morning snack, lunch, afternoon snack, dinner and midnight snack.
But we must also become aware of another type of hunger – our spiritual hunger. And there is a mean that would complete us – our SEVENTH meal for the day. The meal is no other than the Lord Jesus Christ, the bread of life.
We could not live without food for very long. Food sustains us. But the life Jesus refers more than sustains us. Real life that he offers is a relationship with the living God, a relationship of faith, trust, love, obedience. Apart from Jesus no one can enter that kind of life and relationship.
First he offers Himself as spiritual food which produces the very life of God within us. Second, He promises unbroken friendship and freedom from the fear of being forsaken or cut off from God. Third, He offers us the hope of sharing in his resurrection.
Joy and Hope…He is the bread of life, include Him and make Him the most important meal in your life.
Let us pray +
Lord Jesus Christ, Your death brought life and hope where there was once only despair and defeat. Give me the unshakeable hope of everlasting life, the inexpressible joy of knowing your unfailing love, and the unquestioning faith and obedience in doing the will of our Father in heaven. Amen +
Let all the earth cry out to God with joy.
“…whoever comes to me will never hunger, and whoever believes in me will never thirst.”
------------------------------------------------
Upon coming back from more than a year stay in Mexico, I was amazed to learn that SM Megamall (the second biggest mall in Philippines) had become even bigger. And what is surprising is that more restaurants and beauty shops were added. This only mean that we are really keen on doing two things the most – eating and making ourselves beautiful.
And as I walk the streets, the same phenomenon can be observed – little canteens (carinderia) and fast food chains abound. And this can be due to the fact that most Filipinos eat SIX times a day. Yes, SIX times – breakfast, morning snack, lunch, afternoon snack, dinner and midnight snack.
But we must also become aware of another type of hunger – our spiritual hunger. And there is a mean that would complete us – our SEVENTH meal for the day. The meal is no other than the Lord Jesus Christ, the bread of life.
We could not live without food for very long. Food sustains us. But the life Jesus refers more than sustains us. Real life that he offers is a relationship with the living God, a relationship of faith, trust, love, obedience. Apart from Jesus no one can enter that kind of life and relationship.
First he offers Himself as spiritual food which produces the very life of God within us. Second, He promises unbroken friendship and freedom from the fear of being forsaken or cut off from God. Third, He offers us the hope of sharing in his resurrection.
Joy and Hope…He is the bread of life, include Him and make Him the most important meal in your life.
Let us pray +
Lord Jesus Christ, Your death brought life and hope where there was once only despair and defeat. Give me the unshakeable hope of everlasting life, the inexpressible joy of knowing your unfailing love, and the unquestioning faith and obedience in doing the will of our Father in heaven. Amen +
Let all the earth cry out to God with joy.
Tuesday, April 20, 2010
HUNGRY FOR CHRIST (4-20-10)
John 6:35
Jesus said to them, “I am the bread of life; whoever comes to me will never hunger, and whoever believes in me will never thirst.”
---------------------------------------------------
The title of the book caught my fancy. It is in Tagalog, “Pandasal” meaning loosely “to be used when praying”. It contains Bible readings, reflections, prayers. And it sounds like “pandesal” which is a Tagalog word with Spanish origin (meaning salted bread). Pinoys will have this bread for breakfast, either with fillings or just dipped in coffee.
The latter nourishes our body as we start the day. And the former nourishes our spirit to move ahead in our daily task.
As Jesus is also the Word of God and the Bread Of Life, we come to Him to nourish our soul and spirit.
Just as the Jews received manna from heaven in their long trek towards the promised land, Jesus is giving us Himself as the bread of life. As the Lord God sustained the Israelites in the wilderness for 40 years with manna from heaven, Jesus is sustaining us through Him.
It is in the wilderness of the desert as in the wilderness of our souls that we hunger. There is a continuous tension or hunger in our hearts, choosing between good and evil. And somewhere in the midst of that tension we find the bread of life: not just manna from God, not the flesh of Christ, but the Bread of Life, the Bread that brings life – Jesus.
He is the pandesal of our lives – delicious, flavorful, satisfying the emptiness of our hearts and the hunger in our soul.
Let us pray +
Almighty Father, we are in awe that Your love would reach down to save us in our sinful state. Your Son carried our guilt that You might accept us in Your holy presence. He has claimed us as members of His body which was offered. And now we eat this bread as a representation of sharing in His body. Thank you for this bread and for Christ's presence which we visualize in it. Thank you for bringing us into union with You in Him. Amen +
Into your hands, O Lord, I commend my spirit.
Jesus said to them, “I am the bread of life; whoever comes to me will never hunger, and whoever believes in me will never thirst.”
---------------------------------------------------
The title of the book caught my fancy. It is in Tagalog, “Pandasal” meaning loosely “to be used when praying”. It contains Bible readings, reflections, prayers. And it sounds like “pandesal” which is a Tagalog word with Spanish origin (meaning salted bread). Pinoys will have this bread for breakfast, either with fillings or just dipped in coffee.
The latter nourishes our body as we start the day. And the former nourishes our spirit to move ahead in our daily task.
As Jesus is also the Word of God and the Bread Of Life, we come to Him to nourish our soul and spirit.
Just as the Jews received manna from heaven in their long trek towards the promised land, Jesus is giving us Himself as the bread of life. As the Lord God sustained the Israelites in the wilderness for 40 years with manna from heaven, Jesus is sustaining us through Him.
It is in the wilderness of the desert as in the wilderness of our souls that we hunger. There is a continuous tension or hunger in our hearts, choosing between good and evil. And somewhere in the midst of that tension we find the bread of life: not just manna from God, not the flesh of Christ, but the Bread of Life, the Bread that brings life – Jesus.
He is the pandesal of our lives – delicious, flavorful, satisfying the emptiness of our hearts and the hunger in our soul.
Let us pray +
Almighty Father, we are in awe that Your love would reach down to save us in our sinful state. Your Son carried our guilt that You might accept us in Your holy presence. He has claimed us as members of His body which was offered. And now we eat this bread as a representation of sharing in His body. Thank you for this bread and for Christ's presence which we visualize in it. Thank you for bringing us into union with You in Him. Amen +
Into your hands, O Lord, I commend my spirit.
Monday, April 19, 2010
FACE OF AN ANGEL (4-19-10)
Acts 6:8,15
Stephen, filled with grace and power, was working great wonders and signs among the people. All those who sat in the Sanhedrin looked intently at him and saw that his face was like the face of an angel.
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In the Acts of the Apostles, the name of St. Stephen occurs for the first time on the occasion of the appointment of the first deacons. On the day of his death, the enemies of the Church of Jesus were furious to see how successful Stephen's preaching was.
They could not answer his wise argument, so they got men to lie about him, saying that he had spoken sinfully against God.
But St. Stephen faced that great assembly of enemies without fear. In fact, the Holy Bible says that his face looked like the face of an angel.
The praying martyr was thrown down; and while the witnesses were thrusting upon him "a stone as much as two men could carry", he was heard to utter this supreme prayer: "Lord Jesus, receive my spirit".
Yes, hatred exists everywhere. It has always existed and it always will until the second coming of Messiah. That's the just the sad truth of the matter. It's a fact of life. However, hatred need not rule our lives nor must we react the same when it comes our way.
That is why we have the Holy Spirit, to help us through these trials and tribulations. We must remember Who we are, that we have the Spirit of God Himself living and breathing in us.
We are built to last. God will never put more on us than we can bear. Always remember, Christ’s suffering on our behalf is infinitely far greater than our suffering on His behalf will be.
Let us pray +
Almighty Father, receive my spirit and do not hold this sin against those who hates me. We love you because You loved us first. Amen.
Blessed are they who follow the law of the Lord!
Stephen, filled with grace and power, was working great wonders and signs among the people. All those who sat in the Sanhedrin looked intently at him and saw that his face was like the face of an angel.
--------------------------------------------------------
In the Acts of the Apostles, the name of St. Stephen occurs for the first time on the occasion of the appointment of the first deacons. On the day of his death, the enemies of the Church of Jesus were furious to see how successful Stephen's preaching was.
They could not answer his wise argument, so they got men to lie about him, saying that he had spoken sinfully against God.
But St. Stephen faced that great assembly of enemies without fear. In fact, the Holy Bible says that his face looked like the face of an angel.
The praying martyr was thrown down; and while the witnesses were thrusting upon him "a stone as much as two men could carry", he was heard to utter this supreme prayer: "Lord Jesus, receive my spirit".
Yes, hatred exists everywhere. It has always existed and it always will until the second coming of Messiah. That's the just the sad truth of the matter. It's a fact of life. However, hatred need not rule our lives nor must we react the same when it comes our way.
That is why we have the Holy Spirit, to help us through these trials and tribulations. We must remember Who we are, that we have the Spirit of God Himself living and breathing in us.
We are built to last. God will never put more on us than we can bear. Always remember, Christ’s suffering on our behalf is infinitely far greater than our suffering on His behalf will be.
Let us pray +
Almighty Father, receive my spirit and do not hold this sin against those who hates me. We love you because You loved us first. Amen.
Blessed are they who follow the law of the Lord!
Sunday, April 18, 2010
SEEING CLEARLY NOW (4-18-10)
John 21:12
And none of the disciples dared to ask him, “Who are you?” because they realized it was the Lord.
--------------------------------------------------
When feeling angry or frustrated, I would keep myself silent. I would keep myself locked in a room and spend the time doing something – cleaning my desk, re-arranging my mini-cooper collections. I don’t want to see anybody or even talk. During lunch or dinner, I would just focus on the food I eat.
My family would recognize that I’ve been through a tough day. They would start cheering me up. They know that it would be gone after some time and I would start talking again. Oh yes, it’s just a matter of time.
During the time when Jesus was crucified, died and buried, His disciples either felt sad, angry, frustrated or all. In His appearance to His disciples on the Sea of Galilee, they are caught in the world of fear, anger and depression, that they don’t bother anymore to look at others, for they cannot catch fish. They even failed to recognize Jesus who is already amidst them.
But, Jesus started sharing with them the truth. He knows that He has to take all of these emotions away first, so they would start listening to Him.
Slowly their eyes start to open. Finally, Jesus offered Himself to them again, reminiscent of the Last Supper. With that their eyes were finally opened and they recognized Him.
Jesus takes away our fear, our anger, our depression and frustration. He truly understands what we feel and only His words can cheer us up again. As we talk with Him, let us receive Him in our hearts, communing with Him so our eyes may finally be opened that He is our Lord and our God.
Let us pray +
Almighty Father, only faith helps us see our own blindness; only faith opens our eyes to the light and the truth. Open our eyes to behold Your gracious hand in all Your works; that, rejoicing in Your whole creation, we may learn to serve You with gladness; for the sake of Him through whom all things were made, your Son Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen +
I will praise you, Lord, for you have rescued me.
And none of the disciples dared to ask him, “Who are you?” because they realized it was the Lord.
--------------------------------------------------
When feeling angry or frustrated, I would keep myself silent. I would keep myself locked in a room and spend the time doing something – cleaning my desk, re-arranging my mini-cooper collections. I don’t want to see anybody or even talk. During lunch or dinner, I would just focus on the food I eat.
My family would recognize that I’ve been through a tough day. They would start cheering me up. They know that it would be gone after some time and I would start talking again. Oh yes, it’s just a matter of time.
During the time when Jesus was crucified, died and buried, His disciples either felt sad, angry, frustrated or all. In His appearance to His disciples on the Sea of Galilee, they are caught in the world of fear, anger and depression, that they don’t bother anymore to look at others, for they cannot catch fish. They even failed to recognize Jesus who is already amidst them.
But, Jesus started sharing with them the truth. He knows that He has to take all of these emotions away first, so they would start listening to Him.
Slowly their eyes start to open. Finally, Jesus offered Himself to them again, reminiscent of the Last Supper. With that their eyes were finally opened and they recognized Him.
Jesus takes away our fear, our anger, our depression and frustration. He truly understands what we feel and only His words can cheer us up again. As we talk with Him, let us receive Him in our hearts, communing with Him so our eyes may finally be opened that He is our Lord and our God.
Let us pray +
Almighty Father, only faith helps us see our own blindness; only faith opens our eyes to the light and the truth. Open our eyes to behold Your gracious hand in all Your works; that, rejoicing in Your whole creation, we may learn to serve You with gladness; for the sake of Him through whom all things were made, your Son Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen +
I will praise you, Lord, for you have rescued me.
Saturday, April 17, 2010
TAKE GOD AT HIS WORD (4-17-10)
John 6:19-20
…and they began to be afraid. But he said to them, “It is I. Do not be afraid.”
--------------------------------------------------
It was a very stressful week. We waited for the results, and it all disappointed us. We have not done our best and we have to pay for it. In effect, we have to do it faster, we have to do it right and we have to do it NOW! There are a lot of things that worry us and fill us with stress.
Life, indeed, is filled with many disappointments.
Though our minds are often fairly quickly convinced that the problem is manageable, our emotions generally continue to be troubled for some time after. Though we cannot escape troubles in this world, we should do our best to make our hearts as still as the depths of the sea.
And because of our troubled hearts, we cannot enjoy the blessings that we receive, our health is affected, and our ability to work effectively is affected too. Christians with troubled hearts cannot experience the joy of the Lord, are poor testimonies, and poor workers for Him.
We need to take God at His word.
All we need is to read it, practice it and live our lives through it. If you're discontent, worried, anxious, bewildered, perplexed, confused, agitated, or otherwise in need of comfort, the reason is that you don't trust Him like you should. If you really trust Christ, what do you have to worry about?
“It is I, do not be afraid”. If there is a single central message in Jesus' words, it is that the basis of comfort is simple, trusting faith.
Let us pray +
Almighty Father, I praise Your name and I shout out with joy for Your presence in my life. We are not helpless, we are certainly not weak, for we are Your children. Turn our hearts toward worship, praise, and thanksgiving. To You be all the honor and glory! Amen +
Lord, let your mercy be on us, as we place our trust in you.
…and they began to be afraid. But he said to them, “It is I. Do not be afraid.”
--------------------------------------------------
It was a very stressful week. We waited for the results, and it all disappointed us. We have not done our best and we have to pay for it. In effect, we have to do it faster, we have to do it right and we have to do it NOW! There are a lot of things that worry us and fill us with stress.
Life, indeed, is filled with many disappointments.
Though our minds are often fairly quickly convinced that the problem is manageable, our emotions generally continue to be troubled for some time after. Though we cannot escape troubles in this world, we should do our best to make our hearts as still as the depths of the sea.
And because of our troubled hearts, we cannot enjoy the blessings that we receive, our health is affected, and our ability to work effectively is affected too. Christians with troubled hearts cannot experience the joy of the Lord, are poor testimonies, and poor workers for Him.
We need to take God at His word.
All we need is to read it, practice it and live our lives through it. If you're discontent, worried, anxious, bewildered, perplexed, confused, agitated, or otherwise in need of comfort, the reason is that you don't trust Him like you should. If you really trust Christ, what do you have to worry about?
“It is I, do not be afraid”. If there is a single central message in Jesus' words, it is that the basis of comfort is simple, trusting faith.
Let us pray +
Almighty Father, I praise Your name and I shout out with joy for Your presence in my life. We are not helpless, we are certainly not weak, for we are Your children. Turn our hearts toward worship, praise, and thanksgiving. To You be all the honor and glory! Amen +
Lord, let your mercy be on us, as we place our trust in you.
Friday, April 16, 2010
LOVE OF MY LIFE (4-16-10)
Psalms 27:4
To dwell in the house of the LORD all the days of my life, that I may gaze on the loveliness of the LORD and contemplate his temple.
-------------------------------------------------
Sixteen years ago, I committed the biggest mistake in my life… I got married! But of course, my wife would not believe that for she knows that loving her is the best thing that happened in my life (God is love, right?).
Today is our wedding anniversary. Our marriage started like many other marriages. We experienced a romantic courtship and thoroughly enjoyed being together. We laughed, played, and prayed together.
At times, we experience disagreements that will at times force us to realize that the person you married seems to have disappeared. And 16 years after, we still have problems. We still disagree. There are even times when we don't like each other.
However, this is not enough reason for her to condemn me forever and go out of our marriage. Through the years, we have faced problems and challenges and see them not only as obstacles to our survival but, in God's hands, as opportunities for increased satisfaction.
May the Lord continue to bless our marriage. And now we are wiser about our frailties and limitations. We are now more aware of our complete dependence upon God. Each one of us may have committed mistakes in the past but we now know that it should not be enough reason to condemn the other. Jesus did not condemn us for our sins.
Most of all, we are grateful for God's unconditional love, and the chance to begin anew.
Let us pray +
Almighty Father, I thank you today for the marriage that you have blessed me with, and the gift that you gave me in my wife, Tonet. I thank you for the 2 wonderful children – Mark and Shiela, you have blessed us with. I pray for all the marriages, that they would be strengthened daily, and blessed as well. I pray all this in Jesus Holy Name. Amen +
One thing I seek: to dwell in the house of the Lord.
To dwell in the house of the LORD all the days of my life, that I may gaze on the loveliness of the LORD and contemplate his temple.
-------------------------------------------------
Sixteen years ago, I committed the biggest mistake in my life… I got married! But of course, my wife would not believe that for she knows that loving her is the best thing that happened in my life (God is love, right?).
Today is our wedding anniversary. Our marriage started like many other marriages. We experienced a romantic courtship and thoroughly enjoyed being together. We laughed, played, and prayed together.
At times, we experience disagreements that will at times force us to realize that the person you married seems to have disappeared. And 16 years after, we still have problems. We still disagree. There are even times when we don't like each other.
However, this is not enough reason for her to condemn me forever and go out of our marriage. Through the years, we have faced problems and challenges and see them not only as obstacles to our survival but, in God's hands, as opportunities for increased satisfaction.
May the Lord continue to bless our marriage. And now we are wiser about our frailties and limitations. We are now more aware of our complete dependence upon God. Each one of us may have committed mistakes in the past but we now know that it should not be enough reason to condemn the other. Jesus did not condemn us for our sins.
Most of all, we are grateful for God's unconditional love, and the chance to begin anew.
Let us pray +
Almighty Father, I thank you today for the marriage that you have blessed me with, and the gift that you gave me in my wife, Tonet. I thank you for the 2 wonderful children – Mark and Shiela, you have blessed us with. I pray for all the marriages, that they would be strengthened daily, and blessed as well. I pray all this in Jesus Holy Name. Amen +
One thing I seek: to dwell in the house of the Lord.
Thursday, April 15, 2010
PROCLAIM THE MESSAGE (4-15-10)
Acts 5:32
We are witnesses of these things, as is the Holy Spirit whom God has given to those who obey him.
-----------------------------------------------------
The early Christians, especially the 12 apostles have seen and heard Jesus. They are witnesses of all the great things He has done. And this is already more than two people, telling the word about Jesus and the love of God. It is a pity that up to now, a lot of people still would not believe in Jesus.
Even before coming to the world, Jesus knows His purpose – proclaiming the Kingdom of God. His kind of power may not be what the world expected but it is enough to claim us and make us sons and daughters of the most high God.
To call us to share in God's mission as the very body of Christ. For when all is said, we are called to proclaim with our lives that the power and truth of God is at work setting us free and the whole world free from death and destruction.
We are all called to proclaim the message of Christ's reign. We are all called to proclaim to those around us that there is a way which can cast out the demons that deceive us and create chaos in the lives of humanity.
More than ever we need to listen and follow Jesus. For we have been called to follow Jesus and be a witness to God's loving power at work in the world. And to be asked to share in the divine power and mission of Jesus love is the greatest news of all!
How about you, have you come to know your purpose in life? Ask Him.
Let us pray +
Almighty Father, You can see me struggling to find my way. I'm coming before You because You are the God of the Universe and worthy of my every praise. I want to discover Your purpose for my life. I know there's more for me out there, and I know You have an awesome plan for me. Thank You Lord, for being here to help me. Thank You for caring enough about me to show me what to do next. I ask all things in Jesus' name.
I will bless the LORD at all times…
We are witnesses of these things, as is the Holy Spirit whom God has given to those who obey him.
-----------------------------------------------------
The early Christians, especially the 12 apostles have seen and heard Jesus. They are witnesses of all the great things He has done. And this is already more than two people, telling the word about Jesus and the love of God. It is a pity that up to now, a lot of people still would not believe in Jesus.
Even before coming to the world, Jesus knows His purpose – proclaiming the Kingdom of God. His kind of power may not be what the world expected but it is enough to claim us and make us sons and daughters of the most high God.
To call us to share in God's mission as the very body of Christ. For when all is said, we are called to proclaim with our lives that the power and truth of God is at work setting us free and the whole world free from death and destruction.
We are all called to proclaim the message of Christ's reign. We are all called to proclaim to those around us that there is a way which can cast out the demons that deceive us and create chaos in the lives of humanity.
More than ever we need to listen and follow Jesus. For we have been called to follow Jesus and be a witness to God's loving power at work in the world. And to be asked to share in the divine power and mission of Jesus love is the greatest news of all!
How about you, have you come to know your purpose in life? Ask Him.
Let us pray +
Almighty Father, You can see me struggling to find my way. I'm coming before You because You are the God of the Universe and worthy of my every praise. I want to discover Your purpose for my life. I know there's more for me out there, and I know You have an awesome plan for me. Thank You Lord, for being here to help me. Thank You for caring enough about me to show me what to do next. I ask all things in Jesus' name.
I will bless the LORD at all times…
Wednesday, April 14, 2010
COME TO THE TRUTH (4-14-10)
John 3:21
But whoever lives the truth comes to the light, so that his works may be clearly seen as done in God.
--------------------------------------------
In total, an average man would be attending school for about 15 years. He would be enriching his mind with things he does not know before.
No doubt there are many truths which an unconverted man does know. He may know the truths of the sciences, mathematics and arithmetic - he may know many of the common everyday truths…
…but still it cannot be said that an unconverted man knows the truth, for Christ is the truth.
Jesus is the way, the truth and the life. Throughout His holy life, He preached about the truth and lived by the truth. The whole Bible, and the whole of experience, bear witness that by nature we are ignorant of the truth. His works is clearly seen as done in the grace and for the glory of God.
Jesus is the light of the world. No matter how tough the times are, no matter what indignities we must suffer in this life, someday the indignities will end and Jesus’ triumph will be revealed.
He is calling each one of us to live our lives in total obedience to God. Let our lives be a living example for others so they, themselves, may experience the joy and happiness of being with God through us.
Let His light shine through our lives. He is the truth, believe in Him
Let us pray +
Lord Jesus, our Way, our Truth and our Life, we respond to your holy will and reach the heavenly glory to which you call us and to carry out our daily tasks in love and fidelity to our Christian vocation. We trust that you will give us the spirit, grace and knowledge as means for doing good so others may see what we are doing is clearly done in and for the glory of God. Amen +
The Lord hears the cry of the poor.
But whoever lives the truth comes to the light, so that his works may be clearly seen as done in God.
--------------------------------------------
In total, an average man would be attending school for about 15 years. He would be enriching his mind with things he does not know before.
No doubt there are many truths which an unconverted man does know. He may know the truths of the sciences, mathematics and arithmetic - he may know many of the common everyday truths…
…but still it cannot be said that an unconverted man knows the truth, for Christ is the truth.
Jesus is the way, the truth and the life. Throughout His holy life, He preached about the truth and lived by the truth. The whole Bible, and the whole of experience, bear witness that by nature we are ignorant of the truth. His works is clearly seen as done in the grace and for the glory of God.
Jesus is the light of the world. No matter how tough the times are, no matter what indignities we must suffer in this life, someday the indignities will end and Jesus’ triumph will be revealed.
He is calling each one of us to live our lives in total obedience to God. Let our lives be a living example for others so they, themselves, may experience the joy and happiness of being with God through us.
Let His light shine through our lives. He is the truth, believe in Him
Let us pray +
Lord Jesus, our Way, our Truth and our Life, we respond to your holy will and reach the heavenly glory to which you call us and to carry out our daily tasks in love and fidelity to our Christian vocation. We trust that you will give us the spirit, grace and knowledge as means for doing good so others may see what we are doing is clearly done in and for the glory of God. Amen +
The Lord hears the cry of the poor.
Tuesday, April 13, 2010
ONE HEART AND MIND (4-13-10)
Acts 4:32
The community of believers was of one heart and mind, and no one claimed that any of his possessions was his own…
-------------------------------------------------
During our one year stay in Mexico, although we are away from our family, we have become a part of another “family”. They are the Filipino community in Tijuana. And once a week, we would gather as a family and listen to the Words of God. After consuming God’s words, we would then share dinner and share stories and clean fun.
During that gathering, there were many moments when I was overwhelmed with emotion, not just because of the beauty of sharing but because of the power of God's presence.
I began to see and feel that the act of our family worshipping together in that capacity was pleasing to God in so many ways.
What a powerful image – God being overjoyed by the joint worship of a family. A family tied together not by blood nor by marriage, but by love and affection that binds us together.
And that same love and feeling, I want to share with my family back home, allowing God to be center of our lives and the healer of everything.
Let us not forget how powerful the family is. Let us not forget the importance of coming together and raising one voice to God- worshipping Him with a oneness of heart, mind, and spirit.
Let us pray +
Almighty and ever-living Lord, Thank you for allowing me to experience your presence and the overwhelming joy that I believe it brings to you to see your family- your creation- coming together and worshipping you. Come into our hearts Lord and prepare us to receive the healing. Because it is good and all things that you have created are worth being healed and restored. Amen +
The Lord is king; he is robed in majesty.
The community of believers was of one heart and mind, and no one claimed that any of his possessions was his own…
-------------------------------------------------
During our one year stay in Mexico, although we are away from our family, we have become a part of another “family”. They are the Filipino community in Tijuana. And once a week, we would gather as a family and listen to the Words of God. After consuming God’s words, we would then share dinner and share stories and clean fun.
During that gathering, there were many moments when I was overwhelmed with emotion, not just because of the beauty of sharing but because of the power of God's presence.
I began to see and feel that the act of our family worshipping together in that capacity was pleasing to God in so many ways.
What a powerful image – God being overjoyed by the joint worship of a family. A family tied together not by blood nor by marriage, but by love and affection that binds us together.
And that same love and feeling, I want to share with my family back home, allowing God to be center of our lives and the healer of everything.
Let us not forget how powerful the family is. Let us not forget the importance of coming together and raising one voice to God- worshipping Him with a oneness of heart, mind, and spirit.
Let us pray +
Almighty and ever-living Lord, Thank you for allowing me to experience your presence and the overwhelming joy that I believe it brings to you to see your family- your creation- coming together and worshipping you. Come into our hearts Lord and prepare us to receive the healing. Because it is good and all things that you have created are worth being healed and restored. Amen +
The Lord is king; he is robed in majesty.
Monday, April 12, 2010
BORN OF WATER & SPIRIT (4-12-10)
John 3:5
“Amen, amen, I say to you, unless one is born of water and Spirit, he cannot enter the Kingdom of God…”
---------------------------------------------
The Philippines is surrounded by water. The earth is 70% water and so our body. Water cleanses; water drowns; water refreshes. Water surrounds us in the womb; water is the main ingredient of the human body, and especially in the blood which carries the stuff our cells need for life.
Water makes plant and animal life grow. Yet, without God's powerful, creative Word, water can do nothing to your spirit.
At baptism, we accept Christ as our Savior, gained his friendship, the guidance of the Spirit, and the protection of the Father, acknowledging God’s presence in our life. We have Jesus who loved us so much to die for us, we have the Father who encloses us with his arms of mercy and safety, and we have the Spirit who lives inside of us.
So, when you are baptized, the Spirit acts through that Word and the water to cleanse you and drown the “old you”, surround and cushion you as your faith gestates, and carry Christ's presence into you.
Baptism is a promise with a sign; a covenant of grace given to us in a way that we can see, hear, feel, and grasp. It is the promise of God's forgiveness, applied personally. It is also the gift of the Spirit's presence.
When you're baptized, you're putting your life down a different road, getting off of the road of surrender to evil's power, and onto the road of the faith journey of surrender to the Spirit.
Let us pray +
Almighty Father, by whose providence your servant John the Baptist was wonderfully born, and sent to prepare the way of your Son our Savior by preaching repentance: Make us so to follow his teaching and holy life, that we may truly repent according to his preaching. Amen +
This is the day the Lord has made; let us rejoice and be glad.
“Amen, amen, I say to you, unless one is born of water and Spirit, he cannot enter the Kingdom of God…”
---------------------------------------------
The Philippines is surrounded by water. The earth is 70% water and so our body. Water cleanses; water drowns; water refreshes. Water surrounds us in the womb; water is the main ingredient of the human body, and especially in the blood which carries the stuff our cells need for life.
Water makes plant and animal life grow. Yet, without God's powerful, creative Word, water can do nothing to your spirit.
At baptism, we accept Christ as our Savior, gained his friendship, the guidance of the Spirit, and the protection of the Father, acknowledging God’s presence in our life. We have Jesus who loved us so much to die for us, we have the Father who encloses us with his arms of mercy and safety, and we have the Spirit who lives inside of us.
So, when you are baptized, the Spirit acts through that Word and the water to cleanse you and drown the “old you”, surround and cushion you as your faith gestates, and carry Christ's presence into you.
Baptism is a promise with a sign; a covenant of grace given to us in a way that we can see, hear, feel, and grasp. It is the promise of God's forgiveness, applied personally. It is also the gift of the Spirit's presence.
When you're baptized, you're putting your life down a different road, getting off of the road of surrender to evil's power, and onto the road of the faith journey of surrender to the Spirit.
Let us pray +
Almighty Father, by whose providence your servant John the Baptist was wonderfully born, and sent to prepare the way of your Son our Savior by preaching repentance: Make us so to follow his teaching and holy life, that we may truly repent according to his preaching. Amen +
This is the day the Lord has made; let us rejoice and be glad.
Sunday, April 11, 2010
BELIEVE AND SEE (4-11-10)
John 20:31
But these are written that you may come to believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God, and that through this belief you may have life in his name.
-----------------------------------------------
If we do not believe because we have not seen it, we are called a doubting Thomas. We only tend to believe if we see it first-hand. Christians we are all called, but still, most of us still have that skepticism in our hearts.
Sometimes, we would question God why things are happening not on our own liking. We would just forget Him for a moment and go on our own separate ways.
Thomas, as pictured in the scripture, is a pessimist. All of these pessimisms simply vanished in the air, as soon as He saw Jesus. Thomas slips to his knees and says in awe, “My Lord and my God!” He uttered the greatest confession of faith recorded anywhere in the Bible.
Doubting Thomas does not stay a doubter. When he sees the risen Jesus, all that Jesus has taught over the years now sinks in, and up to his death Thomas is an outspoken advocate for his Lord.
He is speaking to us, doubters today, to those of us who have seen our hopes and dreams destroyed. He is telling us his story of his fears and doubts and how Jesus' life had changed everything.
Let us exclaim our faith together with him, as we recount his joy at seeing and knowing the risen Jesus himself – “My Lord and my God!”
Let us pray +
Lord Jesus, Saint Thomas doubted Your resurrection until he touched Your wounds. Once he was cured of his doubt, You freed him and he began the work You had called him to do. I ask him to pray for me when I question the direction in which You are leading me. Forgive me for mistrusting You, Lord, and help me to grow from the experience. Amen +
Give thanks to the Lord for he is good, his love is everlasting.
But these are written that you may come to believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God, and that through this belief you may have life in his name.
-----------------------------------------------
If we do not believe because we have not seen it, we are called a doubting Thomas. We only tend to believe if we see it first-hand. Christians we are all called, but still, most of us still have that skepticism in our hearts.
Sometimes, we would question God why things are happening not on our own liking. We would just forget Him for a moment and go on our own separate ways.
Thomas, as pictured in the scripture, is a pessimist. All of these pessimisms simply vanished in the air, as soon as He saw Jesus. Thomas slips to his knees and says in awe, “My Lord and my God!” He uttered the greatest confession of faith recorded anywhere in the Bible.
Doubting Thomas does not stay a doubter. When he sees the risen Jesus, all that Jesus has taught over the years now sinks in, and up to his death Thomas is an outspoken advocate for his Lord.
He is speaking to us, doubters today, to those of us who have seen our hopes and dreams destroyed. He is telling us his story of his fears and doubts and how Jesus' life had changed everything.
Let us exclaim our faith together with him, as we recount his joy at seeing and knowing the risen Jesus himself – “My Lord and my God!”
Let us pray +
Lord Jesus, Saint Thomas doubted Your resurrection until he touched Your wounds. Once he was cured of his doubt, You freed him and he began the work You had called him to do. I ask him to pray for me when I question the direction in which You are leading me. Forgive me for mistrusting You, Lord, and help me to grow from the experience. Amen +
Give thanks to the Lord for he is good, his love is everlasting.
Saturday, April 10, 2010
SEEN AND HEARD (4-10-10)
Acts 4:20
“It is impossible for us not to speak about what we have seen and heard.”
--------------------------------------------
The disciples of Jesus, after receiving the Holy Spirit, have started sharing the good news. Many tried to disprove their pronouncements about the risen Lord, but those disbelievers only tried in vain.
The disciples are first-hand witnesses and have seen, touched and heard Jesus after rising again from the dead. As material witnesses, no one can dispute their integrity and so the Christian faith spread faster than one can ever imagine. They witnessed for Him and were even willing to die for Him so His Words can be shared to all.
We are not first-hand witnesses to the Lord’s resurrection, that is true. But this should not stop us from witnessing for the Lord. We live today because of Him and shall die for Him and things that He stands for: love and peace.
So, we must ask ourselves again, who are we?
And, for whom do we witness?
I hope and pray each one of us is a good witness for the Lord Jesus Christ. But if we're not completely there, then I pray that each of us would receive the Holy Spirit, even to overflowing.
And in this overflowing joy that we feel, we would lead others to Christ, and not just to His name, but also to His peace, and His love, and His compassion.
Let us pray +
Almighty Father, Jesus is calling me to a new beginning; to a fresh call to discipleship. You are asking me to deny myself, take up my cross and follow you. I surrender my will, my desires and my life to you, O God. I commit myself to your call to discipleship: to pray, study your Word, worship you, invite other people to a life of discipleship. Amen +
I will give thanks to you, for you have answered me.
“It is impossible for us not to speak about what we have seen and heard.”
--------------------------------------------
The disciples of Jesus, after receiving the Holy Spirit, have started sharing the good news. Many tried to disprove their pronouncements about the risen Lord, but those disbelievers only tried in vain.
The disciples are first-hand witnesses and have seen, touched and heard Jesus after rising again from the dead. As material witnesses, no one can dispute their integrity and so the Christian faith spread faster than one can ever imagine. They witnessed for Him and were even willing to die for Him so His Words can be shared to all.
We are not first-hand witnesses to the Lord’s resurrection, that is true. But this should not stop us from witnessing for the Lord. We live today because of Him and shall die for Him and things that He stands for: love and peace.
So, we must ask ourselves again, who are we?
And, for whom do we witness?
I hope and pray each one of us is a good witness for the Lord Jesus Christ. But if we're not completely there, then I pray that each of us would receive the Holy Spirit, even to overflowing.
And in this overflowing joy that we feel, we would lead others to Christ, and not just to His name, but also to His peace, and His love, and His compassion.
Let us pray +
Almighty Father, Jesus is calling me to a new beginning; to a fresh call to discipleship. You are asking me to deny myself, take up my cross and follow you. I surrender my will, my desires and my life to you, O God. I commit myself to your call to discipleship: to pray, study your Word, worship you, invite other people to a life of discipleship. Amen +
I will give thanks to you, for you have answered me.
Friday, April 9, 2010
NO OTHER NAME (4-09-10)
Acts 4:12
“There is no salvation through anyone else, nor is there any other name under heaven given to the human race by which we are to be saved.”
--------------------------------------------
I suddenly heard my name being called. When I looked at the direction where the shout is coming from, I saw my mother on the pool nearly drowning as she waved on me profusely.
I did not know what to do. I still remember that I may have called the attention of the lifeguard and she was saved. My mother may have called on to me, but I have no way of saving her. All I can do is to ask for help.
But calling on the Lord Jesus is different. His name is salvation. His name is mercy. His name is love.
You do this through a simple prayer reflecting your desire for Christ to change your life. You don't need fancy words - only an honest heart.
Accepting Christ is just the beginning of a wonderful adventure with God! Get to know Him better in a number of ways:
Follow Christ's example in baptism
Attend Sunday masses and worship God and grow in your faith
Get involved in Church activities and Bible study
Begin a daily personal worship experience with God where you study the Bible and pray
There is no other name like Jesus. The name that would make our hearts leap for joy. The name by which we are to be saved.
Let us pray +
Lord Jesus, I know I am a sinner and have displeased You in many ways. I believe You died for my sin, and only through faith in Your death and resurrection can I be forgiven. I want to turn from my sin and ask You to come into my life as my Savior and Lord. From this day on, I will follow You. Thank you, Lord Jesus, for saving me. Amen +
The stone rejected by the builders has become the cornerstone.
“There is no salvation through anyone else, nor is there any other name under heaven given to the human race by which we are to be saved.”
--------------------------------------------
I suddenly heard my name being called. When I looked at the direction where the shout is coming from, I saw my mother on the pool nearly drowning as she waved on me profusely.
I did not know what to do. I still remember that I may have called the attention of the lifeguard and she was saved. My mother may have called on to me, but I have no way of saving her. All I can do is to ask for help.
But calling on the Lord Jesus is different. His name is salvation. His name is mercy. His name is love.
You do this through a simple prayer reflecting your desire for Christ to change your life. You don't need fancy words - only an honest heart.
Accepting Christ is just the beginning of a wonderful adventure with God! Get to know Him better in a number of ways:
Follow Christ's example in baptism
Attend Sunday masses and worship God and grow in your faith
Get involved in Church activities and Bible study
Begin a daily personal worship experience with God where you study the Bible and pray
There is no other name like Jesus. The name that would make our hearts leap for joy. The name by which we are to be saved.
Let us pray +
Lord Jesus, I know I am a sinner and have displeased You in many ways. I believe You died for my sin, and only through faith in Your death and resurrection can I be forgiven. I want to turn from my sin and ask You to come into my life as my Savior and Lord. From this day on, I will follow You. Thank you, Lord Jesus, for saving me. Amen +
The stone rejected by the builders has become the cornerstone.
Thursday, April 8, 2010
BY FAITH IN HIS NAME (4-08-10)
Acts 3:12
“You children of Israel, why are you amazed at this, and why do you look so intently at us as if we had made him walk by our own power or piety?”
---------------------------------------------
Achievements in life… having finished college as a scholar; having completed projects that may have benefitted the company in one way or the other; continually raising my kids to be God-fearing individuals.
But have I also succeeded in making myself better that I was yesterday? Have I made myself closer to God as I come closer to my grave?
I tried, I am trying and I will continually try… for being with Him is the only perfect thing to do – the only reason why we persevere to live our life in total obedience to His Words and His will.
We may have achieved a lot already in life, but let us not forget that we made it this far not because of our own power or piety. We accomplished them because we are doing it for the glory of God and so to Him, we bring back all the glory.
Stop trusting in earthly things, earthly relationships, our own powers or talents or beauty, or the goodness we see in others.
Find the source of all beauty in God alone, celebrate daily in His presence.
To God be the glory, great things He has done;
So loved He the world that He gave us His Son,
Who yielded His life an atonement for sin,
And opened the life gate that all may go in.
Praise the Lord, praise the Lord, Let the earth hear His voice!
Praise the Lord, praise the Lord, Let the people rejoice!
O come to the Father, through Jesus the Son,
And give Him the glory, great things He has done.
Amen +
O Lord, our God, how wonderful your name in all the earth!
“You children of Israel, why are you amazed at this, and why do you look so intently at us as if we had made him walk by our own power or piety?”
---------------------------------------------
Achievements in life… having finished college as a scholar; having completed projects that may have benefitted the company in one way or the other; continually raising my kids to be God-fearing individuals.
But have I also succeeded in making myself better that I was yesterday? Have I made myself closer to God as I come closer to my grave?
I tried, I am trying and I will continually try… for being with Him is the only perfect thing to do – the only reason why we persevere to live our life in total obedience to His Words and His will.
We may have achieved a lot already in life, but let us not forget that we made it this far not because of our own power or piety. We accomplished them because we are doing it for the glory of God and so to Him, we bring back all the glory.
Stop trusting in earthly things, earthly relationships, our own powers or talents or beauty, or the goodness we see in others.
Find the source of all beauty in God alone, celebrate daily in His presence.
To God be the glory, great things He has done;
So loved He the world that He gave us His Son,
Who yielded His life an atonement for sin,
And opened the life gate that all may go in.
Praise the Lord, praise the Lord, Let the earth hear His voice!
Praise the Lord, praise the Lord, Let the people rejoice!
O come to the Father, through Jesus the Son,
And give Him the glory, great things He has done.
Amen +
O Lord, our God, how wonderful your name in all the earth!
Wednesday, April 7, 2010
OUR HEARTS REJOICE (4-07-10)
Luke 24:32
“Were not our hearts burning (within us) while He spoke to us on the way and opened the scriptures to us?”
------------------------------------------
A glorious body… Jesus appeared in this state after His resurrection. This is the same state where He was in during the Transfiguration. His glorious appearance signifies that He did not only risen from the dead, but also possesses the new properties of a glorious body.
For this reason too the risen Jesus enjoys the sovereign freedom of appearing as He wishes: in the guise of a gardener or in other forms familiar to his disciples, precisely to awaken their faith.
Christ's Resurrection was not a return to earthly life, as was the case with the raisings from the dead that He had performed before Easter: Jairus' daughter, the young man of Naim, Lazarus. These actions were miraculous events. However, the persons miraculously raised by Jesus returned to ordinary earthly life and at some particular moment they would die again.
Christ's Resurrection is essentially different. In His risen body, He passes from the state of death to another life beyond time and space.
Our hearts yearn for and burns in His presence.
Let us acknowledge the life-giving power and evangelizing dynamic of encountering Jesus today - just as the two disciples felt their hearts burn within them and returned in haste to Jerusalem to tell their story of meeting Jesus. And someday, we will assume that same glorious body in Heaven as we are resurrected to join our Lord in Heaven.
Let us pray +
Lord Jesus Christ, Son of the Living God, we praise You for the love that You have revealed through your Sacred Heart, which was pierced for us and which has become the fountain of our joy, the source of our eternal life. May all we say and do give glory and praise to you and to the Father and the Holy Spirit, one God living and reigning for ever and ever. Amen +
Rejoice, O hearts that seek the Lord.
“Were not our hearts burning (within us) while He spoke to us on the way and opened the scriptures to us?”
------------------------------------------
A glorious body… Jesus appeared in this state after His resurrection. This is the same state where He was in during the Transfiguration. His glorious appearance signifies that He did not only risen from the dead, but also possesses the new properties of a glorious body.
For this reason too the risen Jesus enjoys the sovereign freedom of appearing as He wishes: in the guise of a gardener or in other forms familiar to his disciples, precisely to awaken their faith.
Christ's Resurrection was not a return to earthly life, as was the case with the raisings from the dead that He had performed before Easter: Jairus' daughter, the young man of Naim, Lazarus. These actions were miraculous events. However, the persons miraculously raised by Jesus returned to ordinary earthly life and at some particular moment they would die again.
Christ's Resurrection is essentially different. In His risen body, He passes from the state of death to another life beyond time and space.
Our hearts yearn for and burns in His presence.
Let us acknowledge the life-giving power and evangelizing dynamic of encountering Jesus today - just as the two disciples felt their hearts burn within them and returned in haste to Jerusalem to tell their story of meeting Jesus. And someday, we will assume that same glorious body in Heaven as we are resurrected to join our Lord in Heaven.
Let us pray +
Lord Jesus Christ, Son of the Living God, we praise You for the love that You have revealed through your Sacred Heart, which was pierced for us and which has become the fountain of our joy, the source of our eternal life. May all we say and do give glory and praise to you and to the Father and the Holy Spirit, one God living and reigning for ever and ever. Amen +
Rejoice, O hearts that seek the Lord.
Tuesday, April 6, 2010
IN THE NAME OF JESUS (4-06-10)
Acts 2:38
“Repent and be baptized, every one of you, in the name of Jesus Christ, for the forgiveness of your sins; and you will receive the gift of the Holy Spirit."
----------------------------------------
When I am just starting to play badminton, I would browse the internet to learn more about this game. I would check on the rules, I would learn about the terminologies used in the game, I would watch videos of great badminton players and marvel at their footstep and smash.
And I tell myself that I would be a good badminton player. But something is missing – I don’t even have my own racquet to play with!
It is not enough that we learn about something, but we have to do it. We have to go to a badminton court and hit shuttlecocks, practice the footwork and play some games. We have to immerse ourselves in playing the game.
The same goes with us being the follower of Christ. Christianity is not just reading the Bible as reading the Bible is not Christianity.
Our faith is a free, unmerited gift of God; but it’s not magic.
We must learn to accept God’s will and grace, obey them and let it work in us. It’s not enough to say we believe in Jesus. We must accept him as our Lord and Savior and Master. That means committing our lives to him.
We have to immerse ourselves in His love as we love others.
Almighty Father, let Your Spirit works in me. Take me into Your court, and teach me the right footwork in following You. Let Your love flow around me until my faith in You becomes a living faith. Change me, O Lord, and as I work towards perfection, may Your mercy be received by my new heart.
Let us pray +
Oh Lord, we know that faith is more than believing in you; it’s committing to you. We’re ready to do that now. We’re tired of being courtside Christians. We want to go in and play the game. Thank you for immersing us in Your love. We will never be the same again! Amen +
The earth is full of the goodness of the Lord.
“Repent and be baptized, every one of you, in the name of Jesus Christ, for the forgiveness of your sins; and you will receive the gift of the Holy Spirit."
----------------------------------------
When I am just starting to play badminton, I would browse the internet to learn more about this game. I would check on the rules, I would learn about the terminologies used in the game, I would watch videos of great badminton players and marvel at their footstep and smash.
And I tell myself that I would be a good badminton player. But something is missing – I don’t even have my own racquet to play with!
It is not enough that we learn about something, but we have to do it. We have to go to a badminton court and hit shuttlecocks, practice the footwork and play some games. We have to immerse ourselves in playing the game.
The same goes with us being the follower of Christ. Christianity is not just reading the Bible as reading the Bible is not Christianity.
Our faith is a free, unmerited gift of God; but it’s not magic.
We must learn to accept God’s will and grace, obey them and let it work in us. It’s not enough to say we believe in Jesus. We must accept him as our Lord and Savior and Master. That means committing our lives to him.
We have to immerse ourselves in His love as we love others.
Almighty Father, let Your Spirit works in me. Take me into Your court, and teach me the right footwork in following You. Let Your love flow around me until my faith in You becomes a living faith. Change me, O Lord, and as I work towards perfection, may Your mercy be received by my new heart.
Let us pray +
Oh Lord, we know that faith is more than believing in you; it’s committing to you. We’re ready to do that now. We’re tired of being courtside Christians. We want to go in and play the game. Thank you for immersing us in Your love. We will never be the same again! Amen +
The earth is full of the goodness of the Lord.
Monday, April 5, 2010
PROJECT COMPLETED (4-05-10)
Acts 2:24
But God raised him up, releasing him from the throes of death, because it was impossible for him to be held by it.
------------------------------------------------------
Through the years, I have worked on various projects – for my company, for my family and for myself. And upon completion of each, I would feel a certain joy inside me after having been a part of something that would benefit people, friends, relatives and my own family.
Another year, another project. I look forward to that day when I would work on a project that is important to my God.
And imagine how much more did the Lord Jesus achieved and felt when He completed His God’s “project” for our salvation. Humility, love and sacrifice beyond anything else. Doing something not to exalt Himself, but to raise us up beyond life that we have now.
Jesus conquered death and darkness so we may see the light and live in the light. Let us raise our lives to Him so we may continue to live in His love. He is the salvation and eternal life.
Our entire observance of Lent was for this day - to honor the Risen King! Come, let us worship Him! And as we celebrate Easter, may we never forget His sacrifice so we may join Him and the Father eternally.
Come then, my brothers and sisters, let us offer our Lord the great and all-embracing sacrifice of our love, pouring out our treasury of hymns and prayers before him who offered his cross in sacrifice to God for the enrichment of us all.
Let us pray +
Lord Jesus, all power in heaven and on earth has been given to You. May we go, therefore, and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit as we put our trust and faith in You until the end of the age. Amen +
Keep me safe, O God; you are my hope.
But God raised him up, releasing him from the throes of death, because it was impossible for him to be held by it.
------------------------------------------------------
Through the years, I have worked on various projects – for my company, for my family and for myself. And upon completion of each, I would feel a certain joy inside me after having been a part of something that would benefit people, friends, relatives and my own family.
Another year, another project. I look forward to that day when I would work on a project that is important to my God.
And imagine how much more did the Lord Jesus achieved and felt when He completed His God’s “project” for our salvation. Humility, love and sacrifice beyond anything else. Doing something not to exalt Himself, but to raise us up beyond life that we have now.
Jesus conquered death and darkness so we may see the light and live in the light. Let us raise our lives to Him so we may continue to live in His love. He is the salvation and eternal life.
Our entire observance of Lent was for this day - to honor the Risen King! Come, let us worship Him! And as we celebrate Easter, may we never forget His sacrifice so we may join Him and the Father eternally.
Come then, my brothers and sisters, let us offer our Lord the great and all-embracing sacrifice of our love, pouring out our treasury of hymns and prayers before him who offered his cross in sacrifice to God for the enrichment of us all.
Let us pray +
Lord Jesus, all power in heaven and on earth has been given to You. May we go, therefore, and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit as we put our trust and faith in You until the end of the age. Amen +
Keep me safe, O God; you are my hope.
Sunday, April 4, 2010
LET US REJOICE (4-04-10)
The Resurrection of the Lord
John 20:7-8
When Simon Peter arrived after him, he went into the tomb and saw the burial cloths there, and the cloth that had covered his head, not with the burial cloths but rolled up in a separate place.
--------------------------------------------
After weeks of abstinence and fasting, my mother would buy 100 grams of lechon (roasted pork) for our Easter Sunday lunch. That would be the only day in a year that we would be eating lechon. She would explain that this is our way of celebrating the resurrection of the Lord.
Our Lord has offered more than a lechon on that first Paschal Triduum. He offered Himself, body and blood during the last supper, died on the cross on the first Good Friday and fulfilled His promise of eternal salvation on Easter Sunday.
Thus, the whole Christian world celebrates. It doesn’t matter whether we eat lechon, do easter egg hunts, eat chocolate bunnies.
Let us Rejoice! Christ died and has risen.
Let us offer our life in this truth for we are saved because of one man who followed that will of His Father. Lechon, anyone?
Let us pray +
Lord Jesus, the celebration of Your Resurrection over death is a celebration of life. Resurrection is a daily celebration over fear; man's greatest and most powerful enemy. Fear of tomorrow, fear of our yesterdays, fear of what shall become of our young our old our unborn.
You sacrificed Your life, leaving those who had been comfort, and follower; You left them behind, to conquer fear.
Almighty and ever-living Lord, you restored us to life by raising Christ from death. Strengthen us by this Easter sacrament. God our Savior, hear us, and through this holy mystery give us hope that the glory you have given Christ for he is Lord for ever and ever. Amen +
This is the day the Lord has made; let us rejoice and be glad.
John 20:7-8
When Simon Peter arrived after him, he went into the tomb and saw the burial cloths there, and the cloth that had covered his head, not with the burial cloths but rolled up in a separate place.
--------------------------------------------
After weeks of abstinence and fasting, my mother would buy 100 grams of lechon (roasted pork) for our Easter Sunday lunch. That would be the only day in a year that we would be eating lechon. She would explain that this is our way of celebrating the resurrection of the Lord.
Our Lord has offered more than a lechon on that first Paschal Triduum. He offered Himself, body and blood during the last supper, died on the cross on the first Good Friday and fulfilled His promise of eternal salvation on Easter Sunday.
Thus, the whole Christian world celebrates. It doesn’t matter whether we eat lechon, do easter egg hunts, eat chocolate bunnies.
Let us Rejoice! Christ died and has risen.
Let us offer our life in this truth for we are saved because of one man who followed that will of His Father. Lechon, anyone?
Let us pray +
Lord Jesus, the celebration of Your Resurrection over death is a celebration of life. Resurrection is a daily celebration over fear; man's greatest and most powerful enemy. Fear of tomorrow, fear of our yesterdays, fear of what shall become of our young our old our unborn.
You sacrificed Your life, leaving those who had been comfort, and follower; You left them behind, to conquer fear.
Almighty and ever-living Lord, you restored us to life by raising Christ from death. Strengthen us by this Easter sacrament. God our Savior, hear us, and through this holy mystery give us hope that the glory you have given Christ for he is Lord for ever and ever. Amen +
This is the day the Lord has made; let us rejoice and be glad.
REST IN PEACE (4-03-10)
Black Saturday
John 19:40-42
They took the body of Jesus and bound it with burial cloths along with the spices, according to the Jewish burial custom. Now in the place where he had been crucified there was a garden, and in the garden a new tomb, in which no one had yet been buried. So they laid Jesus there because of the Jewish preparation day; for the tomb was close by.
---------------------------------------------------
Let us pray +
Almighty Father, you sent your Son to carry out your mission of redeeming the world. Let the light of your Gospel of love so shine in the world that it may be transformed into a worthy home for all your children of every race and country.
Holy Spirit, help me to surrender my life to the gift of salvation offered by Jesus on the cross. I pray that I will always be faithful to living the victory over sin He offers me through my commitment to Him.
All these in Jesus name.
Amen +
You will draw water joyfully from the springs of salvation.
John 19:40-42
They took the body of Jesus and bound it with burial cloths along with the spices, according to the Jewish burial custom. Now in the place where he had been crucified there was a garden, and in the garden a new tomb, in which no one had yet been buried. So they laid Jesus there because of the Jewish preparation day; for the tomb was close by.
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Let us pray +
Almighty Father, you sent your Son to carry out your mission of redeeming the world. Let the light of your Gospel of love so shine in the world that it may be transformed into a worthy home for all your children of every race and country.
Holy Spirit, help me to surrender my life to the gift of salvation offered by Jesus on the cross. I pray that I will always be faithful to living the victory over sin He offers me through my commitment to Him.
All these in Jesus name.
Amen +
You will draw water joyfully from the springs of salvation.
Friday, April 2, 2010
LIVE FOREVER (4-02-10)
Good Friday
John 19:30
“It is finished.”
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Let us pray +
Merciful and everlasting God, behold your family spread before You. We don't know why but, for us, Jesus was willing to be obedient to You, to go to the Cross prepared for Him and to die there.
He bore our sins in His own body and they were nailed with Him to the Cross. You spared Him not, Lord. Help us to deeply know within us what it is that Jesus has done for us – dying for our sins, so we will live forever in Your love and glory.
Help us remember it always and to make His Passion a part of us that we will live the redemption we are given and the salvation You have promised. We ask this through Jesus Christ, Your Son.
Amen +
Father, into your hands I commend my spirit.
John 19:30
“It is finished.”
-----------------------------------------------------
Let us pray +
Merciful and everlasting God, behold your family spread before You. We don't know why but, for us, Jesus was willing to be obedient to You, to go to the Cross prepared for Him and to die there.
He bore our sins in His own body and they were nailed with Him to the Cross. You spared Him not, Lord. Help us to deeply know within us what it is that Jesus has done for us – dying for our sins, so we will live forever in Your love and glory.
Help us remember it always and to make His Passion a part of us that we will live the redemption we are given and the salvation You have promised. We ask this through Jesus Christ, Your Son.
Amen +
Father, into your hands I commend my spirit.
Thursday, April 1, 2010
LAST SUPPER (4-01-10)
Maundy Thursday
John 13:1
Before the feast of Passover, Jesus knew that his hour had come to pass from this world to the Father. He loved his own in the world and he loved them to the end.
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Let us pray +
O Lord God, this night Your Son instituted for us the great sacrament of His Body and Blood in the Eucharistic meal. In this way, on the night before He was to die, He chose to reveal His deep love for us and to provide for us communion in Him.
We remember that He said, “This is my body... eat indeed. This is my blood... drink indeed... He that eats my flesh and drinks my blood dwells in Me and I in him.”
May we who celebrate this eucharist find fulness of love and continue to show the fruits of redemption in our lives. We ask through Jesus Christ our Lord who lives and reigns with You and the Holy Spirit, one God, world without end.
Amen +
Our blessing-cup is a communion with the Blood of Christ.
John 13:1
Before the feast of Passover, Jesus knew that his hour had come to pass from this world to the Father. He loved his own in the world and he loved them to the end.
------------------------------------------------
Let us pray +
O Lord God, this night Your Son instituted for us the great sacrament of His Body and Blood in the Eucharistic meal. In this way, on the night before He was to die, He chose to reveal His deep love for us and to provide for us communion in Him.
We remember that He said, “This is my body... eat indeed. This is my blood... drink indeed... He that eats my flesh and drinks my blood dwells in Me and I in him.”
May we who celebrate this eucharist find fulness of love and continue to show the fruits of redemption in our lives. We ask through Jesus Christ our Lord who lives and reigns with You and the Holy Spirit, one God, world without end.
Amen +
Our blessing-cup is a communion with the Blood of Christ.
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