**Picture of Reality**

         Christ is the brightest light shining before us, but many are afraid of looking at it because it's too dazzling and would expose all their hidden sins. They look around and see innumerable things that are attractive, so they head straight for them, not knowing that they can lead them away from God the truth forever. This is the clear but sad picture I see today.

*****Not to Be Neglected!***

         I was at the emergency department of a hospital this morning and saw the numerous patients suffering from various illnesses there seeking help, with many clearly in pretty bad shape. We naturally seek help when we are not well physically—but we often neglect seeking help when our soul is unwell. Just know that an unclean and sick soul cannot enter heaven and must be cleansed and healed in this life before we die!

*****God's Great Mercy***

         Here's a wise message that can save you from hell.

***We Cannot Fail!***

         Communion time thought: The almighty God loves us to death, so we cannot possibly fail to become victorious in the end if we love and trust in him. 

****Hard Choice****

         Today is the Memorial of Saint Maximilian Kolbe, Priest and Martyr. The saint showed his greatest love by volunteering to die in place of another prisoner at Auschwitz. When we are in love with Christ, it's easy to feel that we'd be happy to die for him or the Holy Mother, but to die for another sinner seems to be another matter, especially if the person happens to be a great evil one. Then the Lord showed me that he died for all of us and we're not to select whom to die for or not, for to love him is to love all others.    

**A "Secret" to Realize**

         As sinners, we are easily enslaved by sin. Then we turn to Christ and he easily sets us free. It follows that the more we abandon ourselves to the Lord, the more we are set free by him.

***Ultimate Personal Relationship**

         The Lord Christ exists. How we relate ourselves to him is of paramount importance. When we get this relationship right, we get our relationships with all others right. If we get along with the Lord, we'll know how to get along with all others. So everything . . . our entire wellbeing now, our salvation, our eternal destination . . . all hinge upon our personal relationship with Christ. Love and follow him, and we can't possibly go wrong!

*****What's Exciting About Christ:***

         There's no limit to how much you can let him love you and fill you with joy!

***Unavoidable Reality***

         One day we'll appear before Christ the Lord to give an account of ourselves.

**Becoming like Children*

        In today's Gospel reading from Matthew 18, Jesus said to his disciples, "Amen, I say to you, unless you turn and become like children, you will not enter the Kingdom of heaven." All of us have been children once. I still remember the days when I was one, I was carefree, playing and having fun most of the time, knowing that my parents were taking full care of me. I believe that this is the way the Lord wants us to feel about him, as he is our heavenly Father who can take full care of us, making us carefree.

**First Joy of the Day*

        I woke up this morning and felt the joy that I was now consciously aware of the presence of Christ, my Lord and my God.

***God Must Exist***

        On July 29, I posted "Awesome Universe (God)" featuring the largest telescope in the world. The image of the billions of galaxies up to billions of light years away it has captured are truly mind-boggling. Now imagine that in this unbelievably vast universe there exists a tiny little planet known as Earth which has just the right environment to support billions of inhabitants know as human beings. If that were true, you'd definitely believe that there had to be an infinite super being like God who made all this a reality.

***Sin Is Serious***

         We must learn not to sin. It's possible that you commit a serious sin in an instant and lose your soul for all eternity! Sin can sink us like quicksand; once you fall into one, if you struggle, you sink even deeper. To fight sin head-on is never wise. To run away from it is being smart! Train yourself to turn away from sin decisively at the first moment you sense the temptation. Our best guard is to remain in union with Christ to develop a super sharp conscience. Anyway, know that to sin is to reject God and and not care about your own soul!

**Only God Can Set Us Free**

         When you are able to forgive someone, you feel free instantly. This is how the Lord has made us, for he is our great liberator. At any rate, anytime you do his will, you feel free. Basically, we are good at enslaving ourselves and need the Lord to set us free.

**Weak Christians**

        Although Christians comprise only about 30% of the world's population, they must bear the blame for the world being in such a godless state, for the number of Christians who have surrendered completely to the Lord is relatively small. If they were all hot on fire, they should be able to convert the entire world in their lifetime. 

***Most Beautiful and Powerful***

        Communion experience. Love is the most beautiful and powerful force there is and our God happens to be love—this is no coincidence! Today I was invited to receive the most beautiful and powerful Lord into me! 

***Loving Mother Mary*

       At church this morning during Mass, I noticed the large bronze statue of Mary holding tightly her infant son Jesus in her arms to the right of the altar, and I thought of the intense unbearable pain she must have suffered when she saw him being crucified on the cross, for he was not only her Lord and God, but also her own son! For this, we should love our Holy Mother even more!

**The Lord's Warning*

         In today's Gospel reading from Luke 12, Jesus asked his disciples to remain vigilant, for at an hour they did not expect, he would come. Being vigilant and prepared is a clear sign that you follow him and expect his coming. But for all those unprepared, they'll get the shock of life.