I still remember the time when I was attending college in Michigan. One afternoon six of us drove to a nearby lake to enjoy our leisure time. We rented two rowboats and took off on the lake. All of a sudden the weather changed dramatically with the sky turning grey and heavy rain pouring right down on us. The wind was so violent that our two boats started spinning in circles. We couldn't go back to where we came from, for that would be going directly against the wind. So we had no choice but to row toward the opposite shore which was invisible. The lake wasn't a big lake, but it's not a small one either. So we were forced to row ahead, virtually heading into the unknown. Since our lives were in danger, I rowed as hard as I could. Eventually, the shore appeared. We were greatly relieved, but I was totally exhausted. I mention this because we all automatically do our utmost to make sure that we don't lose our lives here on earth, yet we hardly do enough to make sure that we'll have happy eternal lives later. Isn't this rather ironic? Maybe we all suffer from short-sightedness!
Friday, March 28, 2025
***Most Important Question***
In today's Gospel reading from Mark 12, A scribes came to Jesus and asked him, "Which is the first of all the commandments?" Jesus answered him and saw that he responded with understanding. And he said to him, "You are not far from the Kingdom of God." My question for all of us is "How far are we from the Kingdom of God?" This is such an important question that we must ask ourselves if we care about our eternal future at all!
*****Deeply Satisfying State*****
The Lord does speak to our hearts! The more you are in tune with him, the more you receive his thoughts and insights for you. This communion is deeply satisfying when you realize that you and the Lord God of the whole universe are on such intimate terms! BTW, to be in tune with the Lord God is to be in a state of grace and complete abandonment to him.
Thursday, March 27, 2025
*****God's Ingenious Way***
Communion time thought: What an ingenious way the Lord has come up to draw us into union with him! It's heavenly and most endearing—it's just awesome!
**Our Sad Mindset**
In today's Gospel reading from Luke 11, Jesus drove out a demon that was mute, and the mute man started to speak. Some of the witnesses said, "By the power of Beelzebul, the prince of demons, he drives out demons." These people didn't have an open mind; they already wanted to take the Lord down. Today we have the same situation. Most people don't like anyone to tell them what to do, so when they hear about Jesus, they feel threatened and are ready to ignore him. Pride is the enemy here. When you have a lot of it, you become oblivious to its existence.
***Proper Prayer Attitude*
The burden of praying for this godless world is heavy. We can pray in gloom or pray with hope. In Mark 11:40, Jesus said to his disciples, "I tell you, all that you ask for in prayer, believe that you will receive it and it shall be yours." Therefore, no matter how heavy our burden is, pray joyfully with confidence, for faith makes all the difference. Doubts or worries cannot come from the Lord.
***Our Great Divider***
Jesus said to his disciples in Mark 9:40, "Whoever is not against us is for us." And in Luke 11:23, he said, "Whoever is not with me is against me." It's clear that you are either for (with) him or against him. There is no middle ground, for he is our God and final judge.
Wednesday, March 26, 2025
***God's Divine Beauty
Communion experience. I was overcome by the extraordinary beauty of Christ who is all holy and full of love.
***Secret to Following God***
Have an open and willing heart ready to absorb every single word that comes from the Lord. From Matthew 4:4, "One does not live by bread alone, but by every word that comes forth from the mouth of God."
**To Be Spiritually Intelligent*
If we follow Christ, everything will work out well in the end—this is a given. I feel sorry for all those who still remain in darkness or try to find some way out of their quandary. Pursuing anything besides the God of Christ will only lead you to a dead end, also a given.
***Only God Can Transform Us***
Only God can fundamentally change us. I am talking about changing to become holy, for any other change doesn't mean much. We can try to be holy, but we still can't remove our sins on our own, for only God has the power to do that. So if we want to become holy, turn to the God of Christ. Otherwise, we remain unholy!
Tuesday, March 25, 2025
**Awesome Experience
At Communion time, it was receiving the most holy food in the presence of the most holy God.
***Our Source of Freedom and Peace***
Once you surrender yourself completely to God, you immediately experience freedom and peace— that's because you don't need to struggle to be somebody or to fight your own ego anymore. God is now your ally; it was you who mistreated him as your enemy before. The Lord God can "groom" you so much better than you. There's no greater joy than returning to the loving Father after you've wandered away!
***IT HAS TO WORK!***
The Lord God even sent his only Son to die on the cross in our place so that we might have eternal life—we'd better believe that he wants to and can save us!
**Ready to Go to the Lord?
If you hesitate and have to think about it even a little bit, you are not ready yet.
Monday, March 24, 2025
**Only One Thing Matters
Communion experience. Your are now Christ's; relatively speaking, everything else doesn't matter much anymore.
**Great Comfort**
God becomes our security guard when we acknowledge him as our Lord and loving Father. He now makes sure that our souls remain safe with him. This is indeed a great comfort.