On Saying Prayers

        There is a difference between begging God for favors and offering to do something for God. We hear too many prayers said asking the Lord for this or that, which is fine and proper; but they should be balanced by prayers offering ourselves up to God in some way, as giving is always considered better than begging. Granted, the latter type is better said in private. Nevertheless, whatever prayer we say, the goal must be clearly to glorify God.

**Sign You Are Not Ready for God

        God already knows everything about you – are you happy about that? There is a difference between knowing that he knows everything about you and and being happy that he knows everything about you. If you are not happy about it, you are not ready for him yet. 

*God's Joy

        Communion experience. Today I experienced the joy of total submission to Christ. Like all other joys that come from the Lord, it was so overwhelming and sweet as to make me want to cry. That was truly weeping for joy.

Time for Surrendering to God

        When you can proclaim "My Lord and my God" to Christ truly from your heart as Thomas did, you are ready for surrendering yourself to him. 

**Power of Truth

        Jesus is demanding in the sense that he sets the highest standards for us, yet amazingly he makes us fall deeply in love with him. Such is the power of love and truth!        

You Reap What You Sow

        Make God #1 in your life and you'll be richly rewarded. This not only makes sense and is logical, it is also true as I can amply testify.

**The Discipline of Love*

        To love someone or God is to please the one you love. Therefore, you must will to do what pleases that person or God, not letting your personal feelings get in the way.    

Foolish Living

        When you live as if you know more than God, you risk losing your soul.       

Power Experience

        Communion experience. The Lord transformed the bread and wine into his body and blood, and we were transformed through healing of the soul by receiving him into union with us. 

Ultimate Trust

        Yesterday was the Feast of Saint Bartholomew, Apostle. Communion thoughts. To give our soul to God goes beyond giving our heart to God. For while we use the heart to communicate with the Lord, the soul is the very essence of our existence. To entrust our soul to God's care is to trust in him ultimately. 

**Start With Yourself

        We must trust God in all things. And it's important to know that all things include yourself! In fact, you should start with yourself. After all, if you cannot put yourself entirely in God's hands, how can you say that you trust him in all things?

**No Limit to Loving God!*

        When it comes to loving God, you cannot remain content, for you can never love him enough. Another reason for seeking to attain union with him.

***Secret to Loving God

        Jesus tells us to love our enemies. How is this possible? When Jesus went on the cross to die for us, it's not exactly a pleasant experience. How was that possible? We see that to love others is to do God's will.  And to accomplish that, we must exercise our own will. Therefore, to love our enemies, we must will to do that, even if it's going to go against the grain. Christ willed to do the Father's will, even if he had to undergo the Passion. So, following God becomes sheer obedience – you sweep aside your natural feelings. This is the secret of success to loving God.         

Tragedy in the Making

        It is lamentable to see someone who does not take God seriously, living as if God doesn't care about him nor will there be any final judgment. This is risking losing the soul, the most precious part of our existence!  

Christ Our Perfect Lord

        Among all the human beings who have ever lived or are still living on this earth, there is only one who lived the most selfless life for love alone. And he happens to be our God and Savior – rejoice!

Being Thorough With God

        To think that it's OK to commit a minor sin as long a you do not commit a serious sin is only fooling yourself. To get to heaven, we must be sorry for every sin we have committed against God, no omission allowed. 

God Is Our Liberator

        The more firmly you hold onto yourself, the more surely you are continuing to sink. For only God can free you from the grip of the world and this life to uplift your spirit heavenward.

All Came From God

        It was August 15, the Feast of the Assumption of the Blessed Virgin Mary. Communion experience. I offered to God the love he'd given me to love him.