Closeness of Christ

          I woke up this morning at around 1:20 a.m. It was still all dark and quiet outside and I strongly sensed the closeness of Christ. I just poured out my heart to him and knew that he was taking care of everything for me. More joy of knowing the Lord!

*Biggest Problem We Face*

        What we must face is the reality of sin. We all know it, even though we don't like to think about it. Ignore our sinfulness is to face devastating consequences later. Jesus came to us precisely to show us how to free ourselves from sin so that we can make heaven. You have to be out of your mind to ignore him! 

**Appreciating God's Love

        It's Ash Wednesday today. We are to remember that we are dust and to dust we shall return. This is true, but I also know that Christ has changed me into golden dust, and I shall return to God my Father in heaven as his adopted son. What a difference the love of God can make to us! I love the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit. Glory be to them forever!

**No Repentance, No Salvation**

        With Lent starting on Ash Wednesday tomorrow, I wonder why so many people find it so hard to repent their sins. Even professed Christians do not do it as often as they should, which means that they are not always clean. To repent is such a joy, knowing that God is making you clean again. Once it becomes a habit, you'll find that you won't have peace until you repent. This is a wonderful blessing. Best of all, you please God the Father the most when you are clean. Repentance is a spiritual breakthrough, the key to salvation. Neglect repentance and you neglect your soul.

*Elementary Message

        You see, God wants you to go to heaven to be eternally happy, for he loves you. He's already cleared the way by sending his only Son Jesus to us. You know that you are a sinner and need help. And you know well that this world can never make you truly happy and that heaven would be the ideal destination. You've got all these things going for you; all you need to do is to let God the Father know that you are coming, and you'll be on your way. He will surely help you reach your goal if you follow him faithfully. I apologize if I spell things out as if you were all kindergarten kids. Just ignore me if you already know all this. But if I could reach just one person with this message, it would make at least two people very happy – that person and I. Naturally, God the Father would be overjoyed too.

**We Create Our Own Fears*

        Anyone who remains completely in the Lord becomes fearless, proving that all our fears are self-generated. How foolish we are!

Only One You Can Trust

        Since God is the only one you can entrust your soul to, he is the only one you can trust.

*Most Intimate Feeling

        Communion experience. I received the Holy Eucharist and knew that all barriers between Christ and me are gone – the Lord was completely open to me! I never felt that close to my God! Great joy filled me.

Letting God Power You or Not

        Is it hard to obey the Lord at all times? Is it easy to be holy? Of course, nothing is impossible with God, so how hard or easy would depend entirely upon how much you are open to the Lord. Submit yourself to God fully and you'll receive unlimited power. Life not powered by God is dull living at best, while life fully powered by the Holy Spirit is always exciting and uplifting.

**Be First and Remain First

        In today's Gospel reading from Mark 10, Jesus says to Peter that no one who has given up everything and followed him will not receiver a hundred times more now in this present age. He added, "But many that are first will be last, and the last will be first." I am thinking: why can't we be first at all times? The Lord makes me see that if we remain in union with him, we'll remain first always.