I’M COMING HOME (01-31-13)

Mark 5:19

“Go home to your family and announce to them all that the Lord in his pity has done for you.”

You have to leave home thinking that you cannot take it anymore – maybe an abusive father, or a nagging wife, or a dishonest husband… or maybe because you just want to have your freedom or be independent.

Still, there are those who have not left home, but still are being missed by their family.  A very busy husband, a rebellious son or a gambler wife – who would rather spend most of their time with their friends or work than with their family at home.

In our life, we may have experienced either one.  We may have experienced being away for so long, that we already forgot the love and warmth that belonging to a family gives.

And then we start to question God, “why?”  But sometimes, it is too late.

The family now is in constant attack brought by wrong ideals as shown in mass media and some people who want to challenge the power of God.  Yes, Satan is alive, and breaking up the family is his main concern.

But God would not allow it to happen.  And as family and children of God, we should not allow that to happen.

Armed with faith, you can stand firm and you can create a home worthy of Heavenly Father's children.  Obedience, faithfulness, love together with prayers can help repel that evil influences coming into our lives.

Yes, it is hard to cope up… because you are trying to do it your way.  So why not do it God’s way?  Go back to your family, they are waiting.

Let us pray +

Almighty Father, let me go back to my family.  Let me go home and let them feel that I still love them.  And protect my family from the devil as we only serve You and You alone.  Amen +

Let your hearts take comfort, all who hope in the Lord.

GREATEST IN HEAVEN (01-30-13)

Matthew 5:12a

“Rejoice and be glad, for your reward will be great in heaven.”

How can they rejoice?  How can they be glad?

When the whole world is against them.  When the world seems to be living on a different tune than they are.  When the world seems to the one enjoying while they are persecuted, being put down and crushed to the ground.

And yet, yes, they are blessed – full of life, peaceful, joyful, full of hope – for in the eyes of God, they are rich beyond imagination.  For being rich in Him does not involve money, but being rich of goodness in Heaven.

They suffer now but they do not blame God for their suffering.  Instead, the pain brings them closer to God.  They are devoid of pride and full of blessings and inner peace.  This allows their heart to accept the Lord more, to repent and to allow the grace of God to accept salvation Jesus’ offers.

He knows how to forgive.  Of forgiving offenses that have been inflicted upon him, and in which he only shows mercy towards everyone who does him wrongs, regardless of the reasons and regardless of the circumstances.

And they are of the purest of the hearts.  Yes, they know that they are unclean.  They know that they are evil in nature.  But they allowed God to clean their hearts.  God has already removed their heart of stone and gave them a heart of flesh where God’s spirit shall live forever.

How can they rejoice and be glad?  Well, they are rejoicing for they have found God in their lives.  They are full of gladness because they know that they already have that mansion in heaven as their just reward.

The Beatitudes – what a privileged group.  Isn’t it great to be with them?

Let us pray +

Almighty Father, make us thirst for you.  Teach us to find true happiness only in You and not from the worldly flesh and richness around us.  Forgive us our sins so we may we finally rejoice with You in heaven .  Amen +

Blessed the poor in spirit; the kingdom of heaven is theirs!

NOT AFRAID ANYMORE (01-29-13)

Mark 4:40

Then he asked them, “Why are you terrified? Do you not yet have faith?”

Many of you may have watched the show “Fear Factor” on TV.  This is where contestants are being subjected to various situations that will test their mental preparedness to overcome their worst fears.  They will jump on buildings, eat exotic (live) insects, stay in a box with a snake or cockroaches.

Most would not be willing or be able to do what is required.  But for some, it was a test of their faith in themselves to overcome fear and come out the winner – better, stronger, a believer in himself.

Actually, we do not have to join this show to experience fear.  Every day in our lives, we experience fear simply because we do not have the way of knowing the future. 

And so when things goes out of hand, we simply freak out – thinking of how things could possibly go wrong…

…instead of thinking how you can make things right and for the better.

And so we would lock up our teenage son, when we see him drinking.  We would harm and say bad things to our spouse when we see him/her talking or texting with a friend.  Thinking that stopping them would take out the fear from your heart.

Why not try the Lord’s way?  Feel the tap on your shoulder, for the Lord God is telling you that all would be alright.  He is continually grasping your right hand in times of trouble and problems.  We can fear nothing because God is with us, He will not fail us, nor forsake us. 

So the next time you experience storms in your life, allow Him to calm all of your fears as you place your trust in Him.  Be a better and stronger believer.

Let us pray +

Almighty Father, me overcome fear of man and of the unknown.  I know I can, because I have put my total trust in You.  Amen +

Blessed be the Lord the God of Israel; he has come to his people.

ABSOLUTE FAITH (01-28-13)

Hebrews 10:39

We are not among those who draw back and perish, but among those who have faith and will possess life.

In elementary school, we would learn about positive numbers and the different mathematical operations.  And so, adding a positive number to another positive number will result to a sum bigger than the individual ones.

Then it goes complicated.  We were introduced to a concept of negative numbers.  Such that adding a positive number and a negative number will yield something smaller – a loss.  We would not understand this concept until we are in college or already working when we learn the concept of profit and loss in a business.

But did you know that this would not apply to our spiritual lives?

As a child, we would have a lot of happy moments.  We can say that these are positive numbers.  And we are always being grateful to God as a result.  But as we go through life, negative happenings start to come in. 

Negative numbers that when added to our positive total, could reduce our faith in God.

That is what is happening to most of us.  But it should not be the case.  Adding a negative event to a positive event should yield even more greater faith in God.  For those two should work together in making us stronger and tougher in facing challenges that life can offer.

We cannot afford to lose that faith.  If that faith goes negative, then we tend to rebel against Him.  And isn’t that the reason why Satan is where he is now? 

Add your blessings with the absolute value of the problems that comes your way.  Increase your faith more and more – in best and in worst.

Let us pray +

Almighty Father, may my faith in You increase more and more.  Teach me to overcome all my problems and live a life with You.  Amen +

The salvation of the just comes from the Lord.

LIGHT UP MY LIFE (01-27-13)

Mark 4:21

“Is a lamp brought in to be placed under a bushel basket or under a bed, and not to be placed on a lampstand?”

Problems would come into our lives.  And one or two would test our will, sanity, maturity and faith in God.  One that will make or break us.

Our whole being would be covered in darkness.  We are paralyzed from the head down.  We are numbed and cannot feel anything.  We are afraid of anything that may come. 

We are lost, would not function normally.

We are dead – mind, body and spirit.

But there is always a way to overcome this.  Like when we are engulfed with darkness, all we need is a spark.  All we need is to start a tiny light within that may allow us to see life again.

And that spark would provide the needed illumination to let us go back to what, where and how we are before.  And as it radiate and glows brighter and brighter, the fear and numbness simply disappears.

Jesus is the light of the world.  He lights the way to eternal life. When one accepts Him, He fills that person with light and creates a beacon through that person to the rest of the world lost in darkness.

I got lost, but now I am found.  I simply cannot go back to that life of total abandonment before.  I shall live my life in the Light of Jesus Christ, knowing that in Him I will not walk in darkness anymore.

Let Jesus create that spark in your heart.  And then allow it to burn and burn until it glows magnificently so others may see the Lord in you.

Let us pray +

Almighty Father, let me walk in your light.  Help me keep my eyes focused on You each day of my life so that all I see and feel is You.  Amen +

Lord, this is the people that longs to see your face.

A LIFE OF MINISTRY (01-26-13)

2 Timothy 1:8

So do not be ashamed of your testimony to our Lord, nor of me, a prisoner for his sake; but bear your share of hardship for the Gospel with the strength that comes from God.

I have the sticker of “John 3:16” and “Jesus” plastered on my bike.  And someone asked me if I am with Iglesia ni Cristo (a local religious organization that started in the Philippines).

Actually, there was a case when I was carrying a bible to attend a bible study and a neighbor asked me if I already converted to being a “born-again”.

It was really funny.  Philippines is the largest Catholic nation in the country, and yet when someone sees you with a Bible at hand, then you are not anymore a Catholic (sorry, but no pun intended).

We are all called to a life of ministry.  The Lord wants all of us to share and testify about the salvation He gives and the love He offers.  And we should not be ashamed in doing that.

But a life in God will not be easy.  In his letter to Timothy, Paul is clear that there will be hardships.  We would experience trials and temptations.  Our family and the people we love will be the target of the devil.  And once you stop holding on to your principles, you will simply snap and be taken away by Satan.

Pray daily.  Profess your love to God always, anytime – when you are sitting, standing, eating, lying on the bed.  We all need the strength that comes from God so we can overcome every bad thing that comes our way. 

And pray for our family and people we love, so they may be protected with the same mantle of protection so the devil may not again win.  Be strong in the Lord and overcome all hardships that come in your way.

Let us pray +

Almighty Father, let me be strong in Your love.  Help me endure all the pain, trials, sufferings and temptations.  You alone can protect me.  Amen +

Proclaim God’s marvelous deeds to all the nations.

WHAT SHALL I DO? (01-25-13)

Acts 22:7

“Saul, Saul, why are you persecuting me?”

From Saul to St. Paul. 

From a Christian persecutor to be one of the greatest disciples, writers and preachers of all time.

And the conversion did not really took a long time.  It was less than a week – from the time he was struck by a blinding light to the time he regained his sight back and start telling about the Good News.

And when he was asked by the Lord why he is persecuting Him, he did not say any more reasons or alibis.  He simply asked, “What shall I do, sir?”  Right there and then, he opened his heart to the Lord, accepting that He is alive and true.

I have been a Catholic Christian for 41 years now, since I was baptized.  I may have believed that I already accepted Christ fully in my heart, but sometimes, there were still doubts and fears.  I still see life as a blur, and would fall on the side and give in to temptations.

“What shall I do, sir?”

He has given us the Good News.  He has died for our sins so the devil would not harm us anymore.  But the devil is alive in this world, always stalking us like a fox, ready to devour us whole.

Believe in Him.  Do not give in.  Hang on to Him.  There would be trials but there would also be victories if we learn to put our lives in Him, totally and with hesitations.

Now why delay?

Let us pray +

Almighty Father, what shall I do?  I know what to do, but sometimes I would forget.  Teach me to rely on You always, totally.  Amen +

Go out to all the world and tell the Good News.

SING PRAISE (01-24-13)

Psalms 98:4

Sing joyfully to the LORD, all you lands; break into song; sing praise.

Not everyone is gifted with a golden voice.  Only a few were given the talent to sing.  And these people were given great accolades, got numerous awards and trophies and are known all over the world.  And they received all of these because they use their talents to make other people happy.

But not knowing how to sing is not enough reason not to sing praises to the Lord.  We hear people singing videoke songs out of tune, and they still have the gall to sing another and another and another.

But when it comes to singing worship songs during the Sunday mass, that same person may just prefer to be quiet.  And why?  Because he sings out of tune and doesn’t want to annoy the person besides him.

The Lord is not looking at how well we sing.  He is looking at our hearts and how honest are we when we praise and worship Him. 

For Him, singing with all our heart is the sweetest tune that He ever hears.

So sing joyfully to the Lord.

Sing songs of worship and praise.

Sing with your families and friends.

But most importantly, sing from your heart.

Let us pray +

Almighty Father, I can sing forever of Your love.  Hear my songs of praise.  You are my Lord and my God, and my heart would jump for joy just knowing that You are there for me.  Amen +

Sing to the Lord a new song, for he has done marvelous deeds.

FISHERS OF MEN (01-23-13)

Matthew 4:20

At once they left their nets and followed him.

From being fishermen to fishers of men.  This was how Jesus wanted His four fishermen apostles – Simon Peter, Andrew, James and John – to be.

He did not want them to change professions or deviate from things that they do well.  But He wanted them to be more than just ordinary people, but a people with a purpose, individuals who would change the world for the better.  From being fishermen to fishers of men.

The Lord is calling us in the same way.  Maybe, most of us think that leading a holy life is for priests and nuns.  And that for us, we can do anything because we are not called for the same purpose.

This is where we are wrong.  And this is basically the reason why our lives is on downward spiral, falling over and over again to the traps being setup by the devil.   And time will come when we realized that it’s too late for us to recover.

Jesus is calling us to share the Word of God to others.  And if you are a doctor, you do not have to quit being one to be a preacher.  All you need to do is to treat and cure people to the best of your abilities.  Tell them the importance of life so they would take care of their health.

If you are a policeman, show true passion and dedication to your line of work and avoid corrupting yourself to the detriment of your profession.  If you are teacher, teach your students well so they would be great leaders of this nation.

Our action and how we live our lives is the best example on how we can influence people.  Let us put His words in our hearts and share that same love to others to the best of our ability.

Let us pray +

Almighty Father, let me be what you want me to be.  Teach me to share your love to others, and do it well and to the best of my ability.   Amen +

The Lord is my light and my salvation.

ISN’T THAT WEIRD? (01-22-13)

Mark 3:21

“He is out of his mind.”

If we go with the norm, we are normal people for we tend to do what normal people tend to do.

But if our actions start to deviate from what men define as “normal”, then we would be called “abnormal”, “weird”, “out of his mind”.  And so when we start talking about and sharing the life of Jesus to others and the salvation He brings, our friends would start to frown and call us weird.

And for Jesus, this was made worse by the fact that even his relatives called him that way, and even tried to seize Him, maybe to lock him up or bring him to a mental institution.

And what drove them to charge him that way?  Because His teaching, for the Jewish leaders, were unconventional.  Because his actions deviate from the norm.  Because His principle is simply not doable.  But Jesus knows that if we want to be perfect like the Father, we need to up the standard, not only one notch, but a hundred-fold.

So merely looking at a woman with lust is already adultery.  You do not just love those who loves you, but you also love your enemies.  Sabbath is not anymore a day of rest, but the opportunity to experience God’s presence through companionship through sharing.  And the demons should not be feared, but rather should be faced head on and be casted out of our hearts.

And even at death, He transformed the symbol of tyranny, sin and death into a symbol of hope, faith and unending love.  The cross becomes the symbol of life and salvation of mankind.

How can we say that believing is Jesus is being out of our mind when all He teaches is love?  That’s weird, isn’t it?

Let us pray +

Almighty Father, I am abnormal without You.  Let me accept the love and salvation You offer and be normal in Your eyes.  Amen +

Shout to God with cries of gladness…

LIVE, LOVE, LET GO (01-21-13)

Mark 3:13-14

Jesus went up the mountain and summoned those whom he wanted and they came to him.  He appointed Twelve, whom he also named Apostles, that they might be with him…

The phone rings.  It is the boss… and so we readily take the call, though sometimes, we are reluctant to do so.

The celphone rings.  It is the wife… and so we readily take the call, so there would be no more discussions later when you failed to do so.

The Lord calls on you.  You turned a deaf ear.  He called again, but you are very busy.  Then, He called again, “nahh, maybe next time”.

But when you fell into a pit or suffered a big blow in your life, you would like Him to respond as soon as possible… immediately… at an instant!  And when you feel He is not responding, you would rebel against Him more.

My friend, He is calling on you today.  In fact, He has been calling on You since You were born.  And what does he want?  He simply wants you to live a life of total commitment to His Word and the principles He stands for – love, life and letting go.

All you have to do is drop everything and respond that call.  But be ready, for that will not be a walk in the park.

For true discipleship is found where people are hurting, where people are hungry, where people are oppressed, where people are denied justice, where people are dying. 

Answer His call, His Word is life.  Talk to Him, He is offering His love.  Follow Him, and be ready to let go of all the hurts and sufferings.

Let us pray +

Almighty Father, let me respond to your call.  I do know that it would be a very difficult life, but I can always look at it with happiness in my heart.  For serving you is the sweetest thing there is.  Amen +

Kindness and truth shall meet.

STOP THE BLEEDING (01-20-13)

Hebrews 7:25

Jesus is always able to save those who approach God through him, since he lives forever to make intercession for them.

Being a Tondo boy (the village where I grew up), I also consider myself as a Quiapo boy (another district in Manila), since we have a store in this area.  On weekends, my father would bring me in our store where I would just sit there all day long.  But in the afternoon, my father would bring me to an ice cream parlor and eat a hamburger.

In Quiapo also did I saw the annual Feast of the Black Nazarene where the holy image of Jesus carrying the cross is being pulled by rope through the streets of Manila by devotees, mostly men.

And as young-minded as I was, I would ask my father why they have to do that.  Why do they need to walk barefooted and brave the heat of the sun just to have an opportunity to pull the rope.  The response I got was nothing special – it is to ask for forgiveness and favor from Him.

I am not to judge them, for I am not God.  They may have reasons – different ones.  And I may not be able to know all these reasons.

But I know there is a better alternative… oh yes, the best alternative.

Approach Jesus in prayer and accept Him as your King and Savior.  Through His mighty intercession, we are given God’s favor, forgiveness and mercy which we do not deserve in the first place.  We do not need to whip ourselves, we do not need to nail ourselves to the cross. 

For the Lord has already done that for us – His blood and not ours.

All we have to do is believe that He is our Lord.  All we have to do is to keep His Word in our hearts and live by it.  Then, we are saved.

Let us pray +

Almighty Father, you saved me.  Let me keep you in my heart forever.  Let Your Word be the light unto my path, forever and ever.  Amen +

Here am I, Lord; I come to do your will.

GIVE ME REST (01-19-13)

Mark 3:4

“Is it lawful to do good on the sabbath rather than to do evil, to save life rather than to destroy it?”

What is Sunday for us?  Rest day, laundry day, drinking time, malling time, strolling at the park, family day…

All of these are correct… and more.  At least once in a week, we should give ourselves some time for ourselves or share that precious time with our family – people who have stuck with us through thick and thin, the the best time and worse.

But Sunday has taken an important meaning when Jesus instituted it not just a day of rest, but a day of worship and praise.  And as Christians, we are all enjoined to share that day with our God.  We have been busy minding our business during the rest of the week, and it is just fitting that we spend a day with Him… that is all He ask of us.

And with Jesus as the Lord of the Sabbath, he broke the previous notion that nothing – totally nothing – should be done during the Sabbath – including making miracles and healing people.  Still, the importance of life and doing good takes equal importance.

How can we say that we worship and praise god, and still allow a child to die of hunger?  How can we say that we are good Christians, when we know that someone is in need of our help?

Love God and love others… both are equally important.  And on Sundays, have the opportunity to experience God’s presence through companionship in a special way.  No laws is broken for caring for the needy is obeying the will of the Lord, who Himself, is the “Lord of the Sabbath”. 

Let us pray +

Almighty Father, give me rest.  May Sunday recharge me and prepare me for the challenges of the coming week.  You are my Lord and in You alone do I depend – rest or no rest.  Amen +

The Lord hears the cry of the poor.

A THANKFUL HEART (01-18-13)

Psalms 111:1

I will give thanks to the LORD with all my heart in the company and assembly of the just.

I have learned to say it at an early age.  When somebody gives you something good, say “thank you”. 

And so when I receive gifts, money, toys and things that make me feel good, expect the words “thank you” in return.

And as we grow, this has become a habit.  A simple token of appreciation, “thank you”.  Someone would give us a seat, “thank you”.  A person would allow us to go first, “thank you”.  Thank you because it made us feel good inside.  Thank you because it feels good to receive something good.

But how about when someone hurts us?  When someone becomes the reason for our suffering or depression or pain?  Do we still have the gall to say “thank you”.  Human logic would dictate “of course not”.  Human logic would say “that is insane”.

But isn’t it the best time to say “thank you” to God?  For it means that we do not live in this world just to receive goodies and be happy.  We are also in this world to experience pain and suffering, for that way, we would become stronger, better and closer to God.

Jesus have shown miracles –good stuffs – but only a few believed in Him.  He was even called one with the devil.  But when people saw how he suffered from the cross and died – all for our sins – then people believed.

Do not look at life on a short term basis.  Look at it overall as series of good things and bad things.  But out of it will come something better – a life that is worth thanking for.  A life of blessings rather than emptiness.  A life full of joy rather than pain.  And for that, we say “thank you”.

Let us pray +

Almighty Father, thank You.  Joy and pain…But I know that at the end of it all, a joyful heart and peaceful spirit will be mine forever.  Amen +

The Lord will remember his covenant for ever.

A RENEWED LIFE (01-17-13)

Mark 2:22

“Likewise, no one pours new wine into old wineskins.  Otherwise, the wine will burst the skins, and both the wine and the skins are ruined.  Rather, new wine is poured into fresh wineskins.”

When we were born, we are called “a little bundle of joy”.  Our parents would be very proud of us and would dream big things.  And when we are baptized, we would receive the Spirit of the Lord and begin the first step in a lifelong journey of commitment and discipleship.

But as we grow up, our bubbly and innocence is being eroded… slowly.  Because of temptations and sins, our spirit would rot and our body would feel the pain and sufferings that would go with it.

A once “new and strong wineskin” turns into an “old, rotten one”.  And as it rots and rots more, the spirit within dies and dies more.  Until it cannot take it anymore, and it burst into anger… anger against men, anger against our parents, anger against God.

And yet, God has given has a new hope.  Through the sacrament of penance and reconciliation, we are given a second chance in life.  Our spirit accepts again God’s spirit through our hearts and recharge us, so our body would regain the strength it once have to fight further temptations and sins.  In it we find God's unconditional forgiveness, and as a result we are called to forgive others.

But, yes you are right… we would sin again and then ask for forgiveness again.  Until it becomes a cycle.

Therefore, we need to constantly change ourselves and mend our ways, by praying and being obedient to God and His commandments.  As such, we would be able to contain the joy, mercy and glory of the Spirit in our hearts without the possibility of bursting and losing it.

Let us pray +

Almighty Father, forgive us our sins.  Make our body the temple of your Spirit – strong and clean, so we may accept you fully and joyfully.  Amen +

Rule in the midst of your enemies.

BELIEVE AND SEE (01-16-13)

John 1:34

“Now I have seen and testified that he is the Son of God.”

To see is to believe.  Most of us have this principle.  Unless we see it, actually, in front of our eyes, we would always have doubt or worse, we would not believe anything.

This is the reason why some of us still cannot accept the existence of God.  We are breathing the air He provides and so we are alive today.  Our heart is beating even without batteries or electricity and so we are alive today.  We have people who love and cares for us and so we are alive today.

And still we have the guts to say that “we are doing it our way.”  That we are alive because of me and only me.

Yes, people during Jesus’ time is blessed because they were able to see and interact with Him, God who has become flesh.  But a very few has really believed He is the Lord and Savior.  Even though they see it with their very own eyes – the miracles, the parables, the humility even at death – they would not accept that in their hearts as real.

And so we are more blessed for we believe even though we did not see him in flesh.  For we believe because we feel His love all around us.  We believe because we fully understand His teachings.  We believe because our heart would beat faster and faster with the mere mention of His name.  We believe Him because we love and are being loved.

My friend, are you still denying that you have Jesus as your Savior and Lord.  Can’t you still accept the Lord in your heart?  I cannot blame you.  Once in my life, that was how I also felt.  But I felt that because I don’t want to believe, because I am afraid of the consequences.

But I am not anymore afraid.  For I know the Lord loves me and that love will help me to see life at a different light.

Almighty Father, let my heart see You.  You are my Lord and my Savior and you will be forever.  Bless our lives as we testify fully that You are the Son of God – my friend, my King and my Lord.  Amen +

Here am I, Lord; I come to do your will.

TUMOR (01-15-13)

Mark 2:17

“Those who are well do not need a physician, but the sick do.  I did not come to call the righteous but sinners.”

I recently had a cyst sticking out of my head.  It was only the size of a pin head but grew up to about a half inch in diameter after about 3 months.  And how did it happen?  Simply because I thought I can “cure” it.  I thought it would just heal by itself and be cut-off.

But such was not the case.  And so I sought a doctor’s diagnosis and the decision was made.  It had to be removed by surgical operation.  And so I readied myself and subject myself to a professional’s help.

And only after an hour, my problem of 3 months was gone.  I really hated myself for letting I drag for so long when all I have to do is to see a doctor who is far more knowledgeable about the issue than me.

Our spirit, like our body, undergoes the same problem.  It gets sick also, because of all the sins we committed.  We may not see it, but we constantly feel it because of the heaviness of our heart.  But instead of seeking a physician’s help, we just ignore the pain and go on with our lives, thinking it would heal by itself.

Until it is too late.  We suddenly see ourselves drowning in fear for we do not know what to do anymore.  The devil has totally controlled our heart and our life.

Seek the help of the greatest physician, who is the Lord Jesus Christ.  Let Him operate on you to take away those fears, those pain, those sins.  The salvation that Jesus offered is for all.  But he gave it first to those who are poor in spirits – for He “did not come to call the righteous, but sinners”. 

May we, too, live by faith, and not by assumption.  We are sinners - spend more time with Him, let us follow Him and earn the promise of Heaven.

Almighty Father, Your Word is life to me and health to my spirit.  Jesus Christ is my Lord and I'm a product of His love.  I have joy, I have peace.  Knowing that I am a sinner, so I seek His love more.  Amen +

Your words, Lord, are Spirit and life.