***Bright Side of Serving the Lord***

         No matter how hard we serve the Lord, we'll alway fall short of what he deserves from us, for he is infinitely greater than us. The good news is that if we truly feel it that way, surely he's going to exalt us way high!

**To Die ___ Jesus

        Communion experience. We can die in Jesus, die for Jesus, or die with Jesus. The last description seemed to fit how I wished to die this morning best. 

***Trusting in the Lord in All Things

        When you abandon yourself totally to God, you trust in him fully, so you even welcome his judgment of you, no matter how it's going to turns out.

**Livening Up the Faith

        The unbelievers are asleep and even many believers are barely awake. To liven up the faith, an encounter with Christ is needed. Of course, you need to  open up to the Lord and ask the Holy Spirit to fill you. Some see faith as a gift, but to receive it, you just have to open up and desire it. I don't see how the Lord can possibly refuse you if you truly ask for it from your heart.  

*****The Lord Most Endearing***

        Revelation 3:20, today's Communion antiphon: Behold, I stand at the door and knock: if anyone hears my voice and opens the door to me, I will enter his house and dine with him, and he with me. How gentle, loving, and endearing the Lord is!

***Dealing with Family Estrangement*

        Our society has been so influenced by the Evil One that even many Christian families have fallen apart. In talking to some of the older fellow parishioners, I have learned that their children or some other family member no longer communicate with them. In one case, the grandparents are not even allowed to see their grandchildren. Satan has certainly done a good job of destroying the family. If you face such a situation, pray for the other side and make sure that you forgive them and will try your best to make peace. For taking care of your own soul should always be one of your top priorities.

***Best Way to Love God***

         Follow his will. So it comes down to knowing God's will. This means that we need to seek to attain the closest possible union with God in order to know his ways and thoughts. 

**Empty Wishing Without Christ**

        At this time of Christmas (holiday season to many), people wish each other joy and peace. Such good will will be just empty talk and not produce good results if we do not have Christ in our hearts. It is from Christ that we can truly receive peace and joy. So pray that all will come to know and receive him as our Savior before wishing anyone joy and peace.  

***Best Way to Exist***

        Never dwell on the past, for it's gone forever, nor dream about the future, for that's being self-centered and unrealistic. Instead, remain in Christ only and always, then you'll be safe and secure, set for all eternity!

**A Sane View of Life*

        We get stressed out in this world so easily whenever things don't turn out our way, for we are self-serving and have no faith in God. Meanwhile we ruin our own health and shorten our lives on earth. Know that these damages we do to ourselves are irreversible. So we are being both foolish and sinful. Fortunately, God can restore our insanity by freeing us from all our sins so that we can become selfless and carefree. With our soul healed, our physical health now matters a lot less.