***Minding God Alone (Wise Advice)***

        Never compare yourself with anyone else nor mind what others think of you. Care only about how clean you are before God and what he thinks of you. For everything will be settled between just you and God.

***To Be Most Thankful For***

        It was Thanksgiving day, the day before yesterday. There are many things to be thankful for, but Christians must be most grateful for God's love for us. Without his love, we wouldn't have all the nice things to be thankful for. Let me add that the God of Christ is our only God, Savior, life, bright beacon, truth, and hope.

***Another Reason We Need Christ***

        Admit it, our biggest problem is dealing with others without sufficient love. The only one who can fundamentally change us to become loving is Christ our creator. For this reason alone we need him!

**Lord, Have Mecy

        Communion experience. I felt like crying as I saw how horribly the world (myself included) had been offending him. Lord, have mercy on us all! 

***Prayer Not to Forget*

        We always want things to go our way instead of God's way. "Thy will be done" would make an excellent correction prayer.

***Only One to Live For***

        Christians should focus upon Christ only from whom all power and mercy flow. Any message preached not centered on him is invariably uninspiring. Christ is the only one who can stir our hearts and fill us with the Holy Spirit. Live for him only. 

***Only Way with God***

        First thought at Mass today: Worshipping the Lord God is of central importance; everything else we do must be subject to that. Both intuition and common sense tell us that with God it has to be all or nothing. Christ came and showed that it was to be so. Otherwise, what would be the point of believing in him?

***Most Grave Matter*****

        From today's reading 1 from Revelation 20, we heard that "The dead were judged according to their deeds." This had to be the final judgment, for the Lord does not judge us while we are still alive. So the time on earth is the only time we have to make sure that our deeds will be good enough for our names to appear in the book of life. Otherwise, we'll experience the second death that's eternal, according to the reading.

*****The Christian Truth*****

 

**Opposite Outcomes*

         For those who reject Jesus, going to heaven will be most difficult. But for those who follow Jesus, the opposite is true, that is, going to hell is now completely ruled out!

*****God's Rock Solid Assurance***

        In today's Gospel reading from Luke 21, Jesus spoke of the coming persecution. He said, "You will be hated by all because of my name, but not a hair on your head will be destroyed. By your perseverance you will secure your lives." How good it is to know that the Lord will protect those who follow him so that their eternal lives will be secure!

**Prayer Advice

        Before asking for anything from the Lord, enter into as close a relationship as possible with him. 

**Basic Truth*

        To enter heaven, we need to be free from sin; and only Christ, our creator, can take away our sins. 

****Being Captured by LOVE

         Communion experience. The Lord cleansed me and peace reigned in my heart. The overwhelming crush of his love came on and seized me. How good it is to be captured by LOVE!

***God Is Forever***

         In Matthew 28:20, one of today's Communion antiphons, the resurrected Lord said to the eleven disciples, "Behold, I am with you always, even to the end of the age." Such assurance, so good to hear! God is forever, one we can always trust! 

***Today's Joy

         Christ has redeemed me from sin thru his love and mercy. Now I am free and on my way to be with him for all eternity! This is an insuppressible joy!

***Joy of Abandonment***

        Communion experience. I remain completely passive, letting the Lord take charge, and my joy is complete.

**Enslavement or Freedom**

        In today's Gospel reading from John 18, Jesus admits before Pilate that he is a king, but his kingdom does not belong to this world. If we belong to this world, we become enslaved by it. But if we belong to Christ, we dwell in his kingdom and remain free from all evil influences. It's so very clear.