"Be perfect, just as your heavenly Father is perfect." (Matthew 5:48)

Wednesday, January 31, 2018

**Union or Rebellion

        If you are not in complete union with God yet, part of you still wants to do things just for yourself. Only when you are in complete union with God, you want to do things for God and yourself, for now the two wills are one.

Enjoying the World Freely

        After you get to know God as well as possible, you are ready to enjoy the world freely (without attachment). 

**Proof Jesus Is God

        Any of us mortals does not have a clue as to whether we can or will come back to earth again after we die. In the Gospels, Jesus repeatedly mentions his own coming again. This also proves to me that Jesus is indeed God.

**Never Lead God

       When we rush ahead of the Holy Spirit, we lose peace. Therefore, always follow God in all things patiently to let him accomplish his will in his time.

**Learning From God

        Romans 8.28: All things work for good for those who love God. I can elaborate to say that all things that happen to those who love God are lessons from the Lord to teach them to become like him.

Are You His Sheep?

        In John 10.27, Jesus said, "My sheep hear my voice; I know them, and they follow me." The sheep always hear the shepherd's voice and follow him without hesitation. If Jesus is your shepherd, you would respond the same way. If you are still reluctant to follow him, then you are not quite his sheep yet.

**Learning to Be Humble*

        Today, very few of us are willing to listen to others, for we are so used to exalting ourselves and not wanting anyone to tell us what to do. Again, the Lord made me see clearly that all the disorder and unrest of the world and in us are caused by our lack of humility. Even as we grow spiritually, we tend to think less of those who are less advanced, and we are back to the lack of humility. The cure we need must come from God. Surrender to him completely so that we can become like him, and we'll be humble like him. 

Tuesday, January 30, 2018

Anticipating Death

       When you are young, you don't think about death, even though you know well that it is inevitable. It is being farsighted and realistic to prepare for anything that's inevitable in coming. Therefore, it is wise to be ready early for facing your eventual death. 

Contagious Sin

        I shudder at the fact that when we don't believe in God, we can cause others to turn away from him too.

How Great Our God Is

       Communion experience. The moment we humbly surrender ourselves to God, he exalts us to his level.

Monday, January 29, 2018

Children of One Father

        On earth we all have our own family. But in heaven, all earthly relationships will be gone when we become all children of the Father. I hope that realizing this will help you attach yourself to God alone and love all the people on earth.

Dealing With Our Thorns

        In 2 Corinthians 12.7, Paul wrote, "That I might not become too elated, a thorn in the flesh was given to me." We don't know what that thorn was. In a way, we can see all the trials and tribulations and problems in life as thorns. Let these thorns keep us humble and help us not to get carried away by anything but to realize that only God is perfect.

Security of the Soul

        Communion experience. I hang my entire soul on Christ, for my soul shall be safe in him.

Most Precious Is . . .

the peace of Christ that surpasses all understanding.        

To Pray Obediently

        To pray the Lord's Prayer, Our Father, is to wish to follow the Lord. Therefore, to pray it meaningfully requires total obedience to the Father.

***Most Serious Offense

        Not believing that Christ can help you is equivalent to believing that Christ has died in vain! 

Understanding Unhappiness

        Not to get into the details, I had been unhappy about something I had been doing for someone, for it did restrict my freedom. So I asked the Lord about this at morning Mass and he made me see quickly that it was a case of helping someone and creating some inconvenience for myself. And I was OK with that. The lesson is that understanding what your unhappiness is all about can help you see that your unhappiness may be unjustified.  

**Gateway to Freedom*

        I know that when Jesus said to his disciples, "Whoever wishes to come after me must deny himself, take up his cross, and follow me," we can find it hard to accept. When I first heard it, I asked myself: Does that mean that I cannot do what I want to do anymore? and that I would be burdened down and perhaps even head toward martyrdom? Of course, I overreacted as a sinful human. Now that I know the Lord well, I can say that all the fear and concern were unnecessary. He has made everything easy and a joy, and made me see that this is precisely the way to spiritual freedom, leading to eternal life. Truth: Christ is the gateway to eternal freedom!