**Good Enough for God

        The Lord God loves you so much that he willingly died for you so that you might have eternal life. You probably have heard this numerous times already, but it's true. If you believe, you should feel great about yourself, for you are loved by God! And you'd never want to compare yourself with anyone else anymore. For what would the point be—you are already good enough for God? Now you realize that God loves everyone and you stop judging anyone. You are on your way to being completely liberated from the world.

***Letting the Perfect Lord Perfect Us*

        The perfect Lord lets me see all my imperfections. The more I see my own imperfections, the more I am bowled over by his perfection. The good news is that we don't need to struggle to become perfect; we only need to let him make us perfect. 

***Why We Lack Peace***

        We can talk about many things with others such as favorite foods, best travel destinations, cars, sports, etc., and if our views are very different from each other, that's OK. But when the topic gets more serious, such as abortion, the division shows up quickly. Then you finally talk about Jesus and many people feel uncomfortable and practically become your enemy. Why is it so? Could it be that people subconsciously know or sense that God is real? That God can cause the greatest division among us only shows that he matters the most to us! Only by submitting ourselves completely to him can we experience peace within us. Now you should understand why you don't have inner peace if you don't experience any.

**Praying for Others Now & Later

        I looked inside my house and saw all the things I had, some of which were quite personal, such as the photos I'd taken over many years. If I leave the world now, I can just let everything go and not say one goodbye. But there is one thing I cannot forget so easily—that's the people for whom I have prayed and God hasn't answered those prayers yet. Perhaps they will be answered after I am gone, but surely it'd be nice if they were answered before I leave. Then I am relieved when I realize that I can continue pray for them from heaven and will be even more effective because I am close to God more than ever.

**God's Ways Are Simple

        I look at my house and see that it always needs some kind of maintenance or improvement, and the work that needs to be done can be extensive and expensive. The same happens to our body as we age. We continue taking medications and supplements and exercise more just to slow down its deterioration. By comparison, maintaining our spiritual health is so much easier and more pleasant. We sin, we repent, and we are forgiven. Dealing with God is simple and always a joy.

**Why Hell Is So Horrible

         It is so because offending the God of Christ who loves us so much is most horrible! 

***Keeping Jesus Company

        Jesus is suffering tremendously for the sins committed against him by so many of us—are you willing to keep him company just to make him feel better? Letting him know that you want to remain with him in all circumstances would be of great consolation to the Lord who deserves all of our love.

***Christ Our Only Lord

        As followers of Christ, we respond to him only. What I mean is that listen to him only, obey him alone and not to anyone else. In essence, we live just for him. And it's absolutely worth it! 

**Love and Attachment

         Love and attachment are two different things. To be attached to someone may not be loving that person at all. In fact, if you love someone with God's pure love, attachment can get in the way. This is not easy to explain, but God's love must prevail at the highest level. Perhaps looking at Jesus can help us understand somewhat. The Lord loved the people with the greatest love and pitied them, yet he never got himself attached to someone to impede him in carrying out God's will. 

*About Wanting to Live Longer

         Many people are interested in eating right so that they might live longer. You see articles that tell you if you follow their diet, you can live two or maybe five years longer. How would you know, as this is not something you can do experiments on to find out? And living longer may not even be a blessing if your health deteriorates. Now, believing in Christ and being assured that you'll live on forever—this to me is a lot more relevant and exciting. 

****Ready for God?*

         God is always ready for you. The question is whether you want to be ready for him. I think you know what I mean.

*Detaching Yourself from the World

        If you want to become detached from the world, start detaching yourself from yourself first. Once you achieve that, detaching yourself from everything else will be easy.

**Learning From the Lord

        When the Lord implants thoughts in my heart, I love that, for he lets me know that he is with me and nurturing me.

**Rejoicing Called For

         We have a most merciful God who loves us, understands us thoroughly, and wants to save us with all his heart. All we need to do is to believe in him and obey him. Instead of ignoring him, we should rejoice every moment with gratitude and anticipation!

***Pleading with Worldlings***

        The world is wasting a lot of its time. Many do not believe in God or love him as much as they should and many are embracing evil. It's most lamentable. God loves us and unquestionably will vanquish all evil in the end. Many will be saved, but many will be lost too. If you sin, you just have to pay a price. But the God of Christ can remove all our sins and save us if you believe in him. That's why it's called the good news. It's actually fantastic, much better than good. Ask for his mercy right now before time runs out on you. Do yourself this favor you need the most. Please!

**Disobedience, the Root of All Evil

        Since disobedience to God causes us to love money, it's even more correct to say "disobedience to God is the root of all evil" than "money is the root of all evil." To obey God alone requires that we trust in him alone and not in anyone else, ourselves included. 

***Most Beautiful Relationship with God

        If you keep the God of Christ out of your life, naturally you'll never get to know him. He already knows you, so to know him best, you only need to open up wide to him. Then he'll come and reveal himself and whatever you need to know to attain eternal joy to you. There is no relationship more rewarding and beautiful than you and the Lord freely exchanging thoughts with each other at any time. 

*Don't Miss Out on Getting into Heaven

        Today's Gospel reading from Mark 9 is on the transfiguration of Jesus. Peter, James, and John were with him on the high mountain. He was transfigured before them, and his clothes became dazzling white. Then Elijah appeared along with Moses, and they conversed with Jesus. A cloud came over them and from it came God's voice, "This is my beloved Son. Listen to him." The whole scene was just splendid and awesome! Don't you wish that you can be in heaven too? You surely can if you stick with Jesus.