***Hallmarks of the True God***

         To me, these are the hallmarks of the God of Christ as our true God. He declares the truth to us. He lets us respond to him with our free will, showing only love and not coercing us in any way. Once we have accepted him, we are completely free to reject him. The fact is that I am so happy and satisfied with him as my Lord and God that I voluntarily want to submit myself to him even more. All this can only happen when you are dealing with the true God.

***Bread from Heaven

         Communion experience. This bread which had come directly from heaven healed my heart, my soul, and my spirit.

**Direct Opposites

        Christ is the light that makes us see the truth, while Satan's darkness makes us "blind" to the truth.    

*****Most Urgent Prayer

        After Jesus was crucified, he prayed from the cross: "Father, forgive them, they know not what they do." Today, our world is in no better shape, so saying this prayer is relevant and apt. It all comes down to us being saved or damned! I ask that you beg for God's mercy on all souls fervently as often as possible, for the matter is most urgent. 

*Only Thing God & Satan Have in Common

        God is awesome, while Satan is awful. 

****An Important Reminder to All****

         Being a nice kind person to all is nice, but it doesn't guarantee that you will enter heaven. What can guarantee that you will is that all your sins have been forgiven by God. (Hint: Christ is our only answer.)

*****How to Feel Christ's Presence*****

         Many decades ago before I accepted Christ, I sensed God's existence briefly a few times, each time lasting for just a split second. This helped me come to accept him as my Savior. Now I feel that he is ever-present within me. Feeling his presence can really help you grow spiritually, for you realize that he is absolutely real! The best way to make this happen is to let him see that you are completely open to him, then he will reciprocate by presenting himself to you the way you have presented yourself to him.

**Pathway to Inner Peace*

        If you do not experience inner peace, it's because you and the Lord are not quite together yet. Attaining union with him through the Holy Eucharist is the best way to acquire that peace.

**Prerequisite for Loving God**

        We cannot love God if we are unaware of and not doing anything about our own sins and imperfections. Always start with becoming holy for the Lord's sake first.

**Formula for Greatness

         In today's Gospel reading from Mark 9, Jesus said to the Twelve, "If anyone wishes to be first, he shall be the last of all and the servant of all." Now we know how to be great before the Lord. Serve all others on earth to build up our treasures in heaven. 

***Why We Need to Follow Christ

         (1) We are sinners. (2) On our own, we don't always know what's truly good or bad (evil) for us. (3) Christ's teachings show clearly what we should do and should not do in order to gain eternal life.

***Today's Epiphany

         The Lord God is infinite, so I, a finite creature, can only comprehend as much as he "allows" me to. Therefore, being totally dependent upon him, I should surrender myself to him.

***Great Consolation***

         I know many people in this life, but one day I'll be leaving all of them, not sure if I'll ever see them again. So I'm going to love them now, not getting myself attached to them in any way though. As far as Christ is concerned, he's already with me and will always be forever—what a great consolation!

**Key to Salvation**

         Having the humility to listen to the Lord God

**Heavenly Relationship

         For us who follow the Lord wholeheartedly, he remains in union with us as we glorify and serve him with joy, securing our salvation.

**Ever-Present Willingness*

         Today is the Feast of St. Matthew, Apostle and evangelist, who was martyred in Ethiopia. We may not get martyred, but we must be willing to accept martyrdom, should it happen to us. Again, we may not be called to give all we have away to the poor, but we must be willing to do so, should we are so called. The point is that we must be willing to do whatever the Lord wants for us. 

***How to Become Free***

         Let Christ overwhelm you completely, then you are set free! This should be an epiphany moment for all of us.

**Letting God Overwhelm Me*

         Communion experience. The Lord completely overwhelmed me, setting me free. Submission to God leads to freedom.