**A Delightful Thought!

         With spring in full swing, I look out the window and see fresh green leaves and blossoms on many plants. I realize that I won't be outlived by any creation in heaven or on earth, for I will live on forever with my God! The thought greatly delights me!

***Good Friday Thoughts

          This is Good Friday. It is good because God showed his greatest love for us on this day. Jesus followed the will of God the Father perfectly. He came to us to save us from sin by dying on the cross in our place. He knew what he had to go through, yet during his some 33 years on earth, he continued to perform good deeds and spread the gospel. A normal person in his place wouldn't have been able to sleep well every single night. He never complained again those who persecuted him. A normal good person in his place would have tried hard to justify and defend himself. The example of Jesus leaves me with no doubt that he is the divine Savior! For that, I accept him as my Lord and Savior. I am reaping abundantly now and that's only the beginning. Let us thank, worship, and glorify him today and always! 

*Living the Temporary Life

        People just get their priorities all wyong. They live in this world as if it's the only life they have, so they concentrate on living comfortably in this life, not considering what might happen after they die. Death might be their best blessing, for when they are near death, they may finally turn to God. The wise would settle their eternity first. When you do that, you'll see life in a new light and start living in freedom. It takes courage to buck the trend, but nothing is impossible for God and you'll be richly rewarded.

*Leaving This World

        This morning I also thought about ourselves besides God. We are merely passing through this world. Each of us was born through a family, but our association with our family is only temporary. Before God the Father, we are equally his children. When I leave this world, I'll leave freely, detached to all things left behind. As for the people I leave behind, I hope I'll seen them again. Anyway, I can continue praying for all souls from heaven. It's doing God's will alone we must heed. Things turn out best when we do that. Let's leave the world the way we came with our Father in full charge.

**The Lord God, What We Need

        As I was walking outside this morning, I thought about God's love for us. Things of the world are enticing because they gratify our senses and our desires. The Lord God operates on an entirely different level. I've fallen deeply in love with the Lord because his love, mercy, and holiness have touched me to the core, capturing my heart, my spirit, and my soul completely. Living without the God of Christ is living in emptiness. Believe and desire him, and you are fulfilled.  

***Church in Crisis

          After posting Fr. Mark Goring's video a while earlier and commenting on the sad state of the Church, I came across this John-Henry Weston video and feel that I must post it right here and now. 

Beyond World's Judgment

         I was struck by Isaiah 50-9a, the last verse of today's first reading: See, the Lord GOD is my help; who will declare me guilty? Indeed, if you are already in union with God or belong to him completely, no one can possibly judge you or touch your soul.

***Sad State of the Church!

       When evil has infiltrated much of the Catholic Church, the church Jesus had built upon Peter, it's a sign that we are in end times. All the more we need to safeguard our souls and pray hard to prepare for Jesus' Second Coming. Watch today's Fr. Mark Goring video. The Church's teaching is always correct. Unfortunately, many of today's clergy are only lukewarm or have become corrupt. They have totally failed the Lord in shepherding his sheep.

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***Obedience over Perfection***

        After returning home yesterday, I resumed my morning walk today. The Lord gave me these thoughts. We are imperfect. We can submit ourselves completely to the Lord and still fall short. For example, as I was walking, I thought of a friend who was recovering from an ailment when I went on my trip 12 days ago—I hoped that he's completely well now. I must drop him an email to find out. At the same time, the thought that he would probably appreciate my concern upon receiving my email popped up briefly in the back of my head. I knew that if I were truly concerned about someone, I would not be concerned about whether I was appreciated or not. Here's the ego making an ugly appearance. But the Lord knows; he continues to remain gracious to me as long as my intention is good. This is how things go: we try to serve the Lord perfectly, we fall short, and the Lord continues forgiving and assisting us . . . till we die, go to him, and become truly perfect. For the time being, how perfect we are matters less than how obedient we are to the Lord.

***Way of Becoming a Better Christian***

         I finally got home and finished unpacking. It's been a long drive. During one part of the trip, I turned on the the car radio and heard a priest speaking on a Catholic radio program. He talked about how a married couple must remain faithful to each other, we must be trustworthy in small matters, we must pray often, etc. Theses are all good rules to know and follow. Then I could easily add a hundred more such rules. If we can remember and follow them all, we'll definitely be better Christians. The problem is that it's not likely we'll remember all of them. I recommend that we surrender ourselves to the Lord to seek union with him. Once we attain that union, we'll be faithful to our spouse, trustworthy in all matters, pray often, etc., following all the rules effortlessly without even thinking about them. What an excellent, superb, and smart way to become a better Christian.