Thursday, March 25, 2010

My GodWhispers for today (very nice!)

Dear Kristina,

Your life is not about what happens to you. Your life is about what you do with what happens to you. You may have no control over much of your circumstances (like whether it'll rain today) but you have total control over your response to your circumstances (like whether you'll mope indoors or play in the rain).

Proud Dad,
God

P.S. Kristina, I like watching you play.

Yay! Thank you Papa God! :)

Message from God

On this day of your life, Kristina, we believe God wants you to know ... that you've been talking to God too much, and not listening enough.

Prayer is when you talk to God. Meditation is when you become quiet and listen to God. You've learned how to talk and ask well. Time to learn how to listen and hear, because God has been answering you.

Sorry Lord Jesus. :(

Tuesday, March 23, 2010

Inspiring Messages Back2Back

On this day, God wants you to know...
... that when you feel down, look at yourself through God's eyes. There are times when no matter how hard you try, you just cannot accept yourself as you are. During such times, think of how you look to God's eyes. In God's eyes, there is no judgment, there is only acceptance. God sees your light when all that you can see are your shadows. God loves you more than anyone could ever love you as you really are.

Dear Kristina,
Your body and soul are one. What happens in the body is a reflection of what's happening in your soul. Cleanse your soul and you cleanse your body. Heal your soul and you heal your body. Love your soul and you love your body.

Your Creator,
God

P.S. I love you, Kristina. Receive my healing love.


Before anything else, thank you Jesus! I wasn't expecting these messages to arrive at just about the same time. Heaven sent, I believe. And just in time too. I haven't been feeling all that great these days. I think it began on Ash Wednesday when I attended mass in no state to go into church at all. I was upset and angry. Well, let's just leave it at that.

Needless to say, I haven't been the same ever since. Even work, which I used to look forward to each morning could not lift my spirits to the same level. Sure, I still love working on my files (well, they're not mine but what the heck?) but something seems to be missing. Or, bluntly put, something seems to be disturbing me. I have no idea why this is going on. All I know is that I'm not having as much fun with my life, not as much as I used to do.

No need to go into specifics but I feel this restlessness, like I just want to fly somewhere with veeeeeery few people and just unwind. I wanna go somewhere else. Seriously! I would love to just pack up and leave. I don't hate my hometown or anything. I just don't like the judgmental looks, sneers and sometimes shouts from the people around me. My uncle says "guni-guni" mo lang yan but I think there's more to it than that.

And so, I'm thankful for one very big thing today -- God's limitless love for me, for all of us. I mean, He literally doesn't judge! Which is more than I can say for myself and some people I know or come across. What's more, He wants to heal my soul! How cool is that? Indeed, our God is an awesome God. I have only one thing more to say, a quick prayer.

Yes, Lord Jesus, I accept your healing love. Please heal me and cleanse my soul and my body of everything that is not from you. I accept your healing and I welcome Your Holy Spirit. Thank you Jesus! Amen.

Monday, March 22, 2010

Jesus, Light of the world

John 8:12-20
12 Jesus spoke to them again, saying, “I am the light of the world. Whoever follows me will not walk in darkness, but will have the light of life.” 13 So the Pharisees said to him, “You testify on your own behalf, so your testimony cannot be verified.” 14 Jesus answered and said to them, “Even if I do testify on my own behalf, my testimony can be verified, because I know where I came from and where I am going. But you do not know where I come from or where I am going. 15 You judge by appearances, but I do not judge anyone. 16 And even if I should judge, my judgment is valid, because I am not alone, but it is I and the Father who sent me. 17 Even in your law it is written that the testimony of two men can be verified. 18 I testify on my behalf and so does the Father who sent me.” 19 So they said to him, “Where is your father?” Jesus answered, “You know neither me nor my Father. If you knew me, you would know my Father also.” 20 He spoke these words while teaching in the treasury in the temple area. But no one arrested him, because his hour had not yet come.

my reflections
t h i n k : T he truth is, we are all sinners. What right have we to judge one another?

Forgive me Lord for my rash judgments


We do our neighbors injustice when we judge them. Surely we wouldn’t want to be judged ourselves.

Lord, forgive me when I am quick to judge. Help me accept everyone just as they are and see them the way You see them — through the eyes of unconditional love. Amen.

Thank you Lord for your gift of forgiveness. May I be your instrument once more. Thank you Jesus! Amen.

Sunday, March 21, 2010

How To Use Your Words To Create Your Reality

Proclaim Those Faith Words

Look, I’m not saying that speaking Faith Words is all that you need to do to succeed in life. This isn’t magic.

To succeed in life, you need love, wisdom, mentors, action…
But speaking words of faith is incredibly important too!

May I suggest something?

I want you to take five minutes everyday declaring Faith Words.   I guarantee that it can change your life. Five minutes in the morning, declare God’s word, including your positive beliefs about your life.

Here’s why. In Mark 11:23, Jesus said something incredible. He said, I tell you the truth, if anyone says to this mountain, ‘Go, throw yourself into the sea,’ and does not doubt in his heart but believes that what he says will happen, it will be done for him.  
Friend, what is your mountain? 
It may be sickness. It may be a troublesome relationship. It may be a lack of money.
Don’t just pray about the mountain. Don’t just talk about the mountain. Instead, speak to the mountain.

That’s what I did to my failed business. I told it to resurrect.
My message again: Don’t use your words to describe your reality. Use your words to create your reality.

Below, you’ll find God’s Word combined with my own positive words. I wrote these Faith Words so that you can speak them everyday. In fact, depending on your particular “mountain”, I want you to say these Faith Words not just once, but many times during the day.
 
Talk to the mountain of sickness: 
“With long life, He satisfies me and shows me His salvation. I’m getting better and better everyday. I am getting stronger and stronger everyday. The power of healing is flowing through my body, mind, and spirit. New health, new joy, new peace, new hope is increasing within me.” 
  
Talk to the mountain of a loved one going astray: 
“My child (husband, brother, etc.) is growing closer to God. Deep inside his heart, the Holy Spirit is busy working, changing, and transforming him. He is set free from all his addictions. He will fulfill God’s purpose for his life. I declare that as for me and my household, we will serve the Lord.”

Talk to the mountain of addictions: 
“I may have had addictions in the past, but God is starting a new chapter in my life. I may feel weak now but I declare that God is making me strong. God is setting me free.” 

Talk to the mountain of relationship conflicts: 
“God is blessing my relationships. Love is increasing. Service for one another is growing. Forgiveness, humility, and understanding flow like a river in my relationships. Old wounds are being healed. Bonds between us are getting stronger and deeper.”
  
Talk to the mountain of confusion in decision-making: 
“The steps of the good person are ordered by the Lord. God directs my steps. God helps me to distinguish what is right from wrong. God shows me the paths to abundance.”
  
Talk to the mountain of financial difficulty:“I’m rich and getting richer. I’m generous and getting more generous. God’s abundance is supplying my every need. Everything I touch prospers and succeeds. New doors will open before me. The right people will walk into my life. God will prosper the work of my hands. As I use my core gifts to serve others, I will be richly rewarded.”

Friend, there’s a miracle in your mouth waiting to be released. 

Release it today.

May your dreams come true,

Bo Sanchez

PS. Do you want daily Bible Reflections to help you grow in the Lord? Five years ago, I started a virtual, international, borderless, non-physical community called KerygmaFamily. So far, 30,000+ people have already joined and are being blessed! Come and join the fun. Log on at www.KerygmaFamily.com now!

PS2. Do you want inspiring and fun GodWhispers twice a week? Not sure what it is? I promise you: You’ll love GodWhispers! It’ll make your day. Log on at www.GodWhispersClub.com now!

My weekly time with God

SABBATH PAUSE
My weekly time with God

THANK YOU LIST
Things to be grateful for from the past week


Lord, I am grateful for the gifts of life, love, my family and friends, and for your unwavering love and support for me.
No matter how far I have strayed, you are always there, guiding me, giving me comfort, sending your special instruments into my life. Even in the midst of my trials and confusion, no matter how dark things may seem, you are always there to shine your light for me. This Lenten season, I offer you my undying gratitude Lord Jesus for coming her to save us, to save me, sinner that I am. Thank you Lord Jesus for all your blessings and for guiding me every single step of the way. Thank you for giving me glimpses of heaven in the lives of saints, especially in the life of your earthly father, St. Joseph. Thank you for giving us your Blessed Mother, to become our Blessed Mother. I thank you everyday for sending Mama Mary to be our light in this big old world, where things aren't always how we want them to be. Thank you for the stars and the moon, the sun that always shines every single day, for the people around me who continue to inspire me to be better, to do better, for the birds and the bees, well, I'm glad that bee didn't sting us this morning. Thank you for being the light at the end of our dark tunnel, for changing missed chances into opportunities, for showing me that love is all around, if I only take the time to stop and see the beauty of nature, all of your creation. I praise you Jesus for always being there for me, for my family, for my friends. Thank you so much Lord Jesus!


SPECIAL NEEDS
Things to ask God for in the coming week

 As another week begins, Lord Jesus, I pray for guidance and direction, for courage and protection, for love to reign in the hearts of all men and women, for strength to live out our faith in you, for hope to never fade, for joy and good cheer to spread all around us, for the enlightenment, discernment and wisdom so that we can make the right choices, for happiness to abound in every family, for the gifts of the Holy Spirit to work in each one of us, believers and non-believers alike, may you continue to use me to build your Kingdom here on earth. Lord Jesus, I pray that every single one of my spiritual blocks be revealed so that I may renounce them all and serve you fully in spirit, mind, body and soul, I offer everything in Your service Lord Jesus. Please show me the way to be a better servant Lord. This I ask in Jesus' name. Amen.

HIDDEN TREASURE
Most important word God told me this week


Two things come to mind -- humility and obedience. Lord, please guide my steps so that I may not falter and I may continue to live out my life in pattern with yours -- with utter humility and total obedience. Thank you Jesus! I love you Jesus! Amen.

FAMILIARITY WITH JESUS

We can’t choose our family and relatives but we can choose our friends. It is of no wonder then that though we naturally love and value our family and blood relatives, we may be more confident to bare our hearts and souls with choicest friends.

Lazarus, Martha and Mary were Jesus’ dearest friends. It was in the privacy of their home in Bethany that Jesus many times chose to rest and be simply His natural human self, away from the heat and scrutiny of His critics and from the expectant clamor of the crowd. In our particular Gospel lesson today, we also see how Jesus was very much at home with emotions in Martha’s and Mary’s presence that He wept. In like manner, Martha and Mary were also very much at home in reflecting with Jesus their sentiments on His delay in coming to visit them, a delay that caused the death of Lazarus.

Friendship with Jesus did not save Martha and Mary from the pains, the losses and the harsh realities of earthly existence. This, I believe, is what Jesus wanted Martha and Mary to realize with His intentional delay in coming to the aid of the siblings. Friendship with God does not mean exemption from bad news. Abraham who walked with God, Moses who talked with God face-to-face, and David who had a heart after God’s heart had one common human experience: they all died.

Friendship with Jesus, like our friendship with our best of friends, however brings along a wonderful benefit: it gives us the confidence to just open wide to Him our thoughts, our emotions, our sentiments just as we have them now. We do not have to always edit ourselves; we do not have to filter our expressions so that we come across always as sublime and in control. We can just let go, and let God. Now, is this not enough to make us feel relaxed and relieved?

Of course, should Jesus decide to act in our favor, that is an add-on and much appreciated grace.Fr. Domie Guzman, SSP

Reflection Question:
Are you at home praying to Jesus with what you really have deep inside you — your thoughts, your sentiments and feelings in a given moment? What effect has this experience of familiarity with Jesus brought to you?

Thank You, Lord, that You have called us friends. Thank You for accepting us as we are. Let me be a true friend to You, too.

Destination Heaven!


The story of the woman caught in adultery reminds us of the need to look to our own sins and deal with them before we get too involved in exposing the sins of others or casting judgment upon them. “Let he who is without sin cast the first stone,” says Jesus. They all walk away slowly. What does this say to us about ourselves? Are we quick to judge others for their sins? How well do we know ourselves, and how well are we dealing with our own sinful ways?

John 8:1-11

1 Jesus went to the Mount of Olives. 2 But early in the morning he arrived again in the temple area, and all the people started coming to him, and he sat down and taught them. 3 Then the scribes and the Pharisees brought a woman who had been caught in adultery and made her stand in the middle. 4 They said to him, “Teacher, this woman was caught in the very act of committing adultery. 5 Now in the law, Moses commanded us to stone such women. So what do you say?” 6 They said this to test him, so that they could have some charge to bring against him. Jesus bent down and began to write on the ground with his finger. 7 But when they continued asking him, he straightened up and said to them, “Let the one among you who is without sin be the first to throw a stone at her.” 8 Again he bent down and wrote on the ground. 9 And in response, they went away one by one, beginning with the elders. So he was left alone with the woman before him. 10 Then Jesus straightened up and said to her, “Woman, where are they? Has no one  condemned you?” 11 She replied, “No one, sir.” Then Jesus said, “Neither do I condemn you. Go, and from now on do not sin any more.”

my reflections

t h i n k : Are we quick to judge others for their sins? How well do we know ourselves, and how well are we dealing with our own sinful ways?


This is such a sensitive subject, for all of us, I think. The first question that popped into my head after reading this is "Who are we to judge?" And if you only knew how close to home this message has hit me, you would probably go, "tsk, tsk, tsk." Seriously, I know I have strayed so far from the right path that sometimes I think I deserved to be punished as well. I know most of my sins are in my mind and they stretch as far as my imagination takes me. Sounds silly, but it's true. I've been my own worst enemy since I was born, I think.

But just recently, well a year or so ago, I realized that I've become such a cynic too. I don't know when it began. Probably after I left the movement; I won't elaborate on that but needless to say, it's like I've lost my faith in humanity. I'm not kidding! I know I should be more positive, since change is up to each one of us anyway, but I guess I need to get this out of my system so that I can finally let go of everything that's blocking my way and make that first bold step towards redemption.

Yes, it's been a long time coming but all this pent up emotions have been my undoing. I'm no expert but if I were to sum things up, I'd say that rash judgments against yourself and against others eat you up inside. Literally! It leaves you wounded and bare with nowhere else to turn to but God. Seriously, my faith has always been there but I am the first one to admit that my faith has had some beating as well. No, I won't blame those who have hurt me anymore. I'm moving on, after all, right. I guess the only thing left for me now is to forgive myself, accept my mistakes, forget my past sins, deny myself (including materialism, so hard!), pick up my cross, thank Jesus (and my family) for helping me carry it and walk with the Lord once more.

Simple but true. That's my goal and my eye is on the prize now. St. Paul, thank you for opening my eyes. Our prize is salvation and our goal is heaven. So please pray for me and I'll say a little prayer too.

Lord, as I pick up my cross and journey with you, may I never lose sight of our final destination, which is Heaven, and may you always be with me as I move forward. Jesus, I place all my trust in you. Everything I do from now on will be in your service. Please guide me Lord, and be my strength and provider. This I ask, in Jesus' name. Thank you Jesus! Amen.

A Lesson in Humility and Obedience


God has demonstrated the wonder of His power in the past and He will do so again in our days. All He is looking for to do this is a people who are obedient to His word and humble of heart. He does not want us to take the glory for His work as He knows this will lead to our — not His — destruction. Humility and obedience often go together and are essential components of any work of God. Let us seek to develop them so that we will see God work His will in and through our lives and our community of faith.

Psalm 126:1-2, 2-3, 4-5, 6 (3)

R: The Lord has done great things for us; we are filled with joy.
1 When the LORD brought back the captives of Zion, we were like men dreaming. 2 Then our mouth was filled with laughter, and our tongue with rejoicing. (R) Then they said among the nations, “The LORD has done great things for them.” 3 The LORD has done great things for us; we are glad indeed. (R) 4 Restore our fortunes, O LORD, like the torrents in the southern desert. 5 Those that sow in tears shall reap rejoicing. (R) 6 Although they go forth weeping, carrying the seed to be sown, they shall come back rejoicing, carrying their sheaves. (R)

My weekly time with God

SABBATH PAUSE

My weekly time with God

THANK YOU LIST

Things to be grateful for from the past week

Lord, I am grateful for the gifts of life, love, my family and friends, and for your unwavering love and support for me.

No matter how far I have strayed, you are always there, guiding me, giving me comfort, sending your special instruments into my life. Even in the midst of my trials and confusion, no matter how dark things may seem, you are always there to shine your light for me. This Lenten season, I offer you my undying gratitude Lord Jesus for coming her to save us, to save me, sinner that I am. Thank you Lord Jesus for all your blessings and for guiding me every single step of the way. Thank you for giving me glimpses of heaven in the lives of saints, especially in the life of your earthly father, St. Joseph. Thank you for giving us your Blessed Mother, to become our Blessed Mother. I thank you everyday for sending Mama Mary to be our light in this big old world, where things aren't always how we want them to be. Thank you for the stars and the moon, the sun that always shines every single day, for the people around me who continue to inspire me to be better, to do better, for the birds and the bees, well, I'm glad that bee didn't sting us this morning. Thank you for being the light at the end of our dark tunnel, for changing missed chances into opportunities, for showing me that love is all around, if I only take the time to stop and see the beauty of nature, all of your creation. I praise you Jesus for always being there for me, for my family, for my friends. Thank you so much Lord Jesus!


SPECIAL NEEDS

Things to ask God for in the coming week

As another week begins, Lord Jesus, I pray for guidance and direction, for courage and protection, for love to reign in the hearts of all men and women, for strength to live out our faith in you, for hope to never fade, for joy and good cheer to spread all around us, for the enlightenment, discernment and wisdom so that we can make the right choices, for happiness to abound in every family, for the gifts of the Holy Spirit to work in each one of us, believers and non-believers alike, may you continue to use me to build your Kingdom here on earth. Lord Jesus, I pray that every single one of my spiritual blocks be revealed so that I may renounce them all and serve you fully in spirit, mind, body and soul, I offer everything in Your service Lord Jesus. Please show me the way to be a better servant Lord. This I ask in Jesus' name. Amen.


HIDDEN TREASURE

Most important word God told me this week

Two things come to mind -- humility and obedience. Lord, please guide my steps so that I may not falter and I may continue to live out my life in pattern with yours -- with utter humility and total obedience. Thank you Jesus! I love you Jesus! Amen.

Chitika