**What Does the World Have to Offer?*

        I've been away from home the last eight days, so I haven't been able to blog as much. Yesterday I got back home after a long ten-hour drive. On the way I saw the many billboards and signs along the highways and roads, luring travelers to stop for good food, rest, fun, and entertainment. I asked myself, "Is this all the world has to offer—temporary gratification?" Then I saw that what God can offer us is so such more superior and satisfying—eternal contentment. 

***Secret of Remaining in Peace***

        Do everything for God, then if you run into difficulties, it becomes his problem and he'll solve it with and for you, and you'll have nothing to complain about and remain in peace. 

***The Shock to Avoid (a Warning)*

        We need to be vigilant and prepared at all times. Otherwise, when the Lord strikes, for you it will always be at an unexpected time—this is the shock you must avoid at all costs if you are wise.  

***Warning from the LORD

        Today's first reading from Malachi 3 is most appropriate for us to hear in these trying times: "Lo, the day is coming, blazing like an oven, when all the proud and all evildoers will be stubble, and the day that is coming will set them on fire, leaving them neither root nor branch, says the LORD of hosts. But for you who fear my name, there will arise the sun of justice with its healing rays."

***God Our Ultimate Divider

        God being our Lord and God is our supreme model, our standard, and our judge. Therefore, it comes down to whether we are with him or against him, obedient or disobedient to him. Fortunately for us, his great mercy has also provided us with a way of being saved in the end if we listen to him. Meanwhile, we are simply divided along the line that separates those who accept his love and those who rejects his love. 

**Be Worthy to Be Chosen

        In today's Gospel reading from Luke 18, Jesus told the parable of the persistent widow and asked, "Will not God secure the rights of his chosen ones who call out to him day and night? Will he be slow to answer them? I tell you, he will see to it that justice is done for them speedily." I see that God calls us, and how he answer us will depend upon how we respond to him. If we call out to him day and night, then he will do justice for us speedily. In short, pray to the Lord unceasingly to receive the best response from him always.

** Learning from God

        God is always teaching us, so there is a lesson in everything that happens to us. But if we don't tune in to him, we learn nothing from him. 

**Sign We Are Not with God

        We are always with our thoughts. If we don't think about God, we are not with God. 

**Sign You Belong to God

        You have no hesitation leaving all things behind and going to God.

**Wise Thing to Do

        Live for the Lord right now, for your next hour may be your last on earth. 

***Christ My Consoler

        I was breast-fed by a woman after I was born for many months. I don't remember much about my earliest years except for the moment I realized that she's going to leave me, and I cried. That was the first big sorrow of my life. Now that I am already an old man, My soul bears great sorrows for the world only my most beloved Christ can alleviate. This draws me ever closer to him and I rejoice in that. 

***Sad Reality to Awaken To

        This is the day after midterm election with votes still being counted. At this point the leftists still seem to remain firmly leftist and the conservatives have made only small gains. Here in liberal California, sadly over 60% voted to modify the state constitution to allow for abortion. The grip Satan has on this nation is strong. Not until people realize that there is a war going on between God and Satan and start praying, things will only get worse. A polarization such as the one we have now could lead to a civil war one day All of us need to wake up to this reality or many will perish. We cannot escape the judgment of God.

**Falling Short of Loving God!

        Communion experience. I am out of town now and attended morning Mass at a new church. After receiving the Lord, I shed tears, as I realized how far we had fallen short of loving him.

***For Our Payer to Be Effective

        (1) God-centered Prayer: We acknowledge God's mercy and power and ask him to help us in all things. (2) Self-centered Prayer: We acknowledge our rebellious nature and submit ourselves to him. Both are essential. The reality is that we often forget 2. As a result, 1 becomes ineffective. We need to meet God all the way for us to receive his full power. 

***No Longer Questioning God***

        When you trust in God completely, you are no longer concerned about anything else but his will.        

*No Vacuous Imagination

        I used to look at the distant mountains in beautiful colors or the azure sky thru an opening of a group of clouds and imagine that I could fly straight toward them and arrive at a fantastic world beyond or on the other side. But now I know for sure that by following Christ, I'll end up in a real paradise upon leaving this world.

**Worldly Pleasure vs. Heavenly Joy

        Any mundane pleasure you derive from giving in to temptation is alway short-lived and will cause you to regret later, but the joy you receive from God penetrates your heart and soul and will last forever.

*Fanfare or No Fanfare*

        We came into the world without much fanfare, let's leave the world that way too. Once we arrive at our permanent home in heaven, it'd be appropriate to have all the fanfare you want. Then again, we'll leave it to the Father.