This morning I had a dream a short while after 5 a.m. I was at a restaurant that served all kinds of fancy dishes. They used fancy cooking utensils, all kinds of ingenious food processing apparatus, and exquisite dinnerware. For some reason, all items were discarded after use. So I started to save as many of them as possible, thinking that I'd surely have an amazing one-of-a-kind collection. I found a large table outside already with some of the used items placed on it. I temporarily placed my items in a separate pile on it and went inside the restaurant to tell my wife who I knew was eating there to tell her about my exciting undertaking. I then quickly went back out to continue looking for more things. Then I saw the table and all the things on it were gone—they'd been taken to the trash! I couldn't believed it and actually cried, mourning my loss. I thought I'd already become detached from the things of the world, but apparently I wasn't quite there yet. I believe that the Lord God sent me this dream to help me attach myself to him alone even more.
The sharing of my spiritual thoughts and experiences
Friday, December 27, 2024
Thursday, December 26, 2024
***Great Joy**
Communion experience—I feel great joy, knowing that Christ is my Lord and my God forever.
**Stark Contrast**
A day in union with Christ is like a day in heaven! It's not a stretch to say that a day without Christ is like a day in hell.
**Becoming Fearless
When a Christian is willing to do all things for Christ's sake, he loses all fears, including the fear of death, for he now has eternal life!
**Christian Readiness
Today is the Feast of St. Stephen, first martyr. As he was being stoned to death, he called out "Lord Jesus, receive my spirit," echoing today's Psalm 31 response, "Into your hands, O Lord, I commend my spirit," which was what Jesus said just before he breathed his last on the cross, with the exception that he addressed God as Father, not Lord. All Christians should be ready to commend their spirits to God at any time.
Wednesday, December 25, 2024
***One More Scene Change***
Communion experience. Being in union with God is practically being in heaven already; it needs only one more scene change.
***Inseparable Acts***
Jesus' coming to us is inseparable from his dying on the cross for us. For he came to die in our place so that we might be saved from sin. These two acts constitute the greatest single act of love by God.
***Christmas Wishes***
Merry Christmas to all of you whom the Lord God loves dearly! Our heavenly Father is ever ready to embrace us with his everlasting love. May our hearts open wide to him so that we may be made aware of his holy presence at all times.
Tuesday, December 24, 2024
***Easier than You Think***
Communion experience. The Lord cleanses and sweetens our souls. To keep them clean and endearing to him, we need to continue dwelling in him. This state is easier to maintain than you think, for the deeper is your union with him, the more effortless your part becomes. In essence, when you let the Lord take over, he completely carries you!
***Huge Deal to Us
We celebrate the birth of Christ now at Christmas time, but we really should rejoice at all times for the fact that he has already come and died for us, thus making our path to heaven straight and a joy to follow. Otherwise, many of us as sinners would've been doomed. And this is a huge deal, not something to be disregarded!
Monday, December 23, 2024
***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.
Sunday, December 22, 2024
***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.
Saturday, December 21, 2024
**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.