Prized Possession

Ave Maria:-)

 

Can't.. won't ...impossible...to go to sleep without making a fuss about tomorrow...or today if you happen to read this Sunday 

Have you a list of things, people , idea, events you held ever so valuable, so close to your heart- that for a time you'd guard with your life, probably even show some muscles and your Pacman side if anyone dared to take it from you?

Ahh yes..we've had our secret and not-so-secret list of valuables:  the ones with an actual price -tag like expensive jewelry... a to-die-for branded handbag worth $_______... an antique -rare find..the ones that fetch a hefty sum... those kind of stuff... people would not raise their eyebrows as to why someone would hold them valuable - obviously in measures set by banks , there is some material value there.

But we also come across items that no one will ever figure out Why-is-it -so-important- to-you?

Perhaps a  torn loveletter from your very first suitor.. maybe your father's watch , hat or cane.... a strange looking bonsai, that is probably older than you..and that you take with you no matter if it means lugging it to another continent, never mind the extra charge it stays with me ----

On the hardcore side..we know of those who give their life both figuratively and literally for their advocacies ---shades of "ang mamatay nang dahil sa yo"  "Sulong, sulong mga kapatiddddteka nga..ano na nga ba ..what were we fighting for?"    hehehe.

I do admire those who once they set their hearts on a cause, will not budge - not even if you take them with you to a senate hearing ala poor Chief Justice C.

The thing is we will set our hearts on something or someone because we have knowledge of "its Value" ..its worth, how it benefits us on a personal note..how it benefits others..or perhaps the power or glory attached to the "IT".

The most romantic "it" of course will have to be when we give our heart to someone. Never mind if you are the only one who sees,smells, detects anything good in your Amor - your Prince Charming, your Lady love while the rest of populace think you could chosen someone better -- or worse -- you must be losing it, becoz as they say in local linggo :"Aba'y ano ba naman ang nakita mo sa babae/lalaking iyan" (whatever did you see in him/her that makes you so in love?")

Make no mistake , whether the knowledge we get is true or false --based on falsehoods, the moment our brain and heart connive and decide the knowledge is worth filing in our Valuable Folder (as tho' we were a computer) this knowledge is so intrinsic -- it cements our attachment , our belief in the "It" . Forgive me, you'll have to bear with using "it" as it could stand for anything and anyone.

But why this reflection on things we consider of great value?

because it is what makes the world go round ..whether in a positive or detrimental way.

Wars are fought becoz one country happens to have more oil deposits -THAT is of great value, whichever part of the world you'll be, oil spells energy, energy could spell wealth power and success.

Strangely , the IT of greatest value has been overlooked for the longest time. And both you and me could have made this most tragic mistake.

Our propensity for looking outward as we search for good, glory and honour has made us forget that the greatest VALUE is inside of us.

And that is GOD. in us. Amazing grace!!!!

We go through all the trouble to try and make a name for ourself.. submit ourself to never-ending education, trainings, even sufferings in the hope that these increase our human worth, whether this be a liposuction, plastic surgery or studying for 15 yrs straight -- and babe we are talking about college and further studies    

What is the premise?

Oh my dearest... it is not a premise, it is the magnificent reality that God has decided to reside in us by virtue of the Holy Spirit , whose feast we celebrate.

Yes Pentecost Sunday is here again, and we'd do ourselves a favor to simply thank the Father and Jesus for delivering the Promise of the Holy Spirit. 

Jesus told his disciples " I will not leave you orphans ...I will ask the Father to send you the Spirit."

Twas The Blessed Mother and the apostles who first recieved the Holy Spirit , and once the Spirit descended upon them it was a whole new Ballgame..From "Can't do, ain't possible... utter failure, crazy venture , let's not even think about it ".....TO----> "Can do..all things are possible with GOD, can learn..., can repent and be converted to Christ..will heal... will be restored.. am equipped to do the job... will be transformed to be like the Savior...and more...much much more" How good the Holy Spirit is.

Greatest Value? We don't need to look so far.. after being so hard on ourselves, imagine the inner healing we'd bring by acknowledging God's intimate Presence in us.

The Holy Spirit is our Advocate..our Counselor... but this phrase is more helpful...He is the Voice of GOD in us. ..We are never therefore alone... we don't need to be clueless or frightened beyond our wits for GOD is perpetually with us.

This Pentecost let us pray to the Holy Spirit, He who purified , and delivered the apostles from all their fears, pettiness, worldliness and sinfulness and Led them to New Life in Christ.

When we remember all the trouble Jesus went through just so we would be redeemed and be able to recieve His Spirit ..we will be more grateful and joyful in life... simply because we discovered our true worth in Christ. 

   Happy Pentecost to All!...................................................................te mye

Prayer for the Seven Gifts of the Holy Spirit

O Lord Jesus Christ, Who, before ascending into heaven, didst promise to send the Holy Spirit to finish Thy work in the souls of Thy Apostles and Disciples, deign to grant the same Holy Spirit to me, that He may perfect in my soul the work of Thy grace and Thy love. Grant me the Spirit of Wisdom that I may despise the perishable things of this world and aspire only after the things that are eternal, the Spirit of Understanding to enlighten my mind with the light of Thy divine truth, the Spirit of Counsel that I may ever choose the surest way of pleasing God and gaining Heaven, the Spirit of Fortitude that I may bear my cross with Thee, and that I may overcome with courage all the obstacles that oppose my salvation, the Spirit of Knowledge that I may know God and know myself and grow perfect in the science of the Saints, the Spirit of Piety that I may find the service of God sweet and amiable, the Spirit of Fear that I may be filled with a loving reverence towards God, and may dread in any way to displease Him. Mark me, dear Lord, with the sign of Thy true disciples and animate me in all things with Thy Spirit. Amen. 

Video Presentation

http://youtu.be/RGajlv7qkKo

 

Money Makes the World Go Round?

Ave Maria:-)

There is a Broadway song with a lilting tune: " Money MAKES THE WORLD GO AROUND...THE WORLD GO AROUND..the world go around...... it makes the world go 'roundddd." I think from a Liza Minelli movie??

and then ABBA also came out with their own money song: "Money ...money..money..it's a rich man's world..... !" also very cute and upbeat as only ABBA can deliver it....  Well but does money make the world go round?

ABBA - Money Money Money (Abba-dabba-doo)

Money Money Money

Oh my this is the age-old question...something that must have started right after Adam and Eve got their marching orders to vacate Paradise..... The Garden of Eden...the most perfect place on earth where Adam and Eve had everything without having to pay or suffer for it  ..... maybe Eden or Paradise was not so much a place ... or perhaps what the Lord wanted man to understand more was how their sin destroyed the perfect friendship/fellowship with GOD the FATHER. 

To be so connected to God..in joyous friendship with Him, to be pure of heart like God!!!...with easy access to the Lord, enjoying peace, perfect health -- to have dominion over the beautiful earth as yet untouched by greedy, evil, irresponsible descendants of the couple... 

There was also the directive for Adam and Eve " To go and multiply...."  that in itself is Full of Promise and Abundance . I tell you our first parents miscalculated and how! And we have inherited their blindness and inability to appreciate God's gift of life and grace to us. Up to now we think the juicy apple is a better deal.

Oh what could have Adam and Eve ..what else did they desire and want? You and I can make a guess ..and we will probably come up with several similar answers. The brats that men are hayayay.

For one... the devil used a lot of psy-war : " Eve... c'mon... you don't want to be lorded over do you? So He 

created you guys.....that doesn't  mean He  has to own you.. that doesn't mean you need to obey GOD All the Time?How boring can that get? Evie babe ...think!  Why...you and Adam can Be the Ones to Call the shots..anything God can do ..you can do better, I assure you... you will reap fame, glory ,riches..success.....  Now , git on and eat this apple

Hahaha... Eve succumbs and what's worse spreads the disobedient virus to Adam.

that my dear brothers and sisters started the ball rolling for all of us... only this was no ordinary ball.... It was a Ball of Fire.

Sin entered man ... it's either we understand and accept this ...and bravely accept the deeper repercussions of sin.

Yes the younger ones will wail...."Uhhh Tita...can we skip this part..this is so draining.... sin and its consequences are not a fun topic.....  "

Wag kayong OA Na-tuh-ral.....  sin looks like...sounds like...seems like..even feels like fun ... but for our souls and over-all well-being IT'S A KILLER.

 It just spoils everything of true value --- and that is : our  salvation which leads to eternal life with GOD and Everything...EVeRy Single wonderful, beautiful, holy, blameless, perfect gift/gifts God would want to bestow upon us as bonuses --- Incidentally we didn't even deserve it , any of it...so how lucky can we get...??and how foolish can we be to throw it all away.?? 

" Money..money ..money ...makes the world go round..."

God is a God of justice and order... He knows we will need businesses...money and currency...trading and measurements...  but these and all other gifts whether material or spiritual  we enjoy in our earthly lifetime we must wisely use to glorify GOD.... to serve His purposes not ours.

Hence, even if we go about our careers... even if we labour at being fathers and mothers.... leaders or servants in society.. it is all to build up to our Over-All Goal of returning to our Heavenly Father... safe and sound

God won't prohibit us from being rich, successful and famous   so long as we don't forget Him along the way..and don't get too big for our breeches.

Case in point.... think of King David's glories as a mighty king and warrior..He was graced to unite Israel...God didn't just  give him an amazing faith and intense prayer life, He was also given strength, courage and good leadership powers.... plus yes..he had a way with women. But his faith/love for God and prayer life were the foundation of it all. King Solomon was incredibly rich.... and his wisdom so well-known... Israel prospered under his reign.. yet both men in their greatness bowed down to the Lord of Lords and the King of Kings... both men were single-hearted for GOD. And when they sinned... they acknowledged their sins and repented of it with such sorrow.. a resolve never to do it again...this only served to obtain for them more of God's favor.

When our riches, fame and glory rule over us..that is the beginning of the end.

No sirree.. money will never make the world go round .. but it could and has made many men and women go agaga ..  a mad love for fame and riches has caused so many wars and conflicts ... and one whose God is money will never have enough of it. Laging kulang.... laging stressed to make more millions..and then even more stressed how not to be robbed of those millions... 

On the other hand we will see many... who live simple lives... some even materially poor ... yet who enjoy peace, love and joy ... a joy that comes from knowing, loving serving God ... knowing and experiencing God's Divine Providence and Fatherly care...and sharing these with others generously. Now that makes the world go round.

I leave you with this gospel passage...so achingly beautiful..... have a happy week! God bless you all ...te mye

John 15:9-17

Jesus said to his disciples:

"As the Father loves me, so I also love you.
Remain in my love.
If you keep my commandments, you will remain in my love,
just as I have kept my Father's commandments
and remain in his love.

"I have told you this so that my joy might be in you
and your joy might be complete.
This is my commandment: love one another as I love you.
No one has greater love than this,
to lay down one's life for one's friends.
You are my friends if you do what I command you.
I no longer call you slaves,
because a slave does not know what his master is doing.
I have called you friends,
because I have told you everything I have heard from my Father.
It was not you who chose me, but I who chose you
and appointed you to go and bear fruit that will remain,
so that whatever you ask the Father in my name he may give you.

This I command you: love one another."  

Liza's video

"Money" - Liza Minnelli, Joel Grey

Who's Gonna Clean the Toilet?

Ave Maria:-)

Shalom  God is so wise... if we can't figure out a way to rest our spirit, mind and body..if we don't know how to slow down our pace..give up certain activities that donot add an eensy-weensy bit to our life...instead, the dumbos we are... 

without knowing it.. these very things/habits/concerns/even people or friendships we are so enamoured with actually EGADS...!  Deplete us...nang Sobra.

Talk about not knowing what's good or bad for us. Thank God for the times we are committed to personal or communal prayer..because when we make the tiniest effort to ask God to help us be more focused on Him..He will do it for us..He waits for our prayer . there's this joyful song that goes: He who began a good work in you... will be faithful to complete 2x..He who started the work will be faithful to complete it in you...Do listen to it later     

He who began a good work in you - Steve http://youtu.be/6eurtH6yjDE

So how was your week? or has it been 2 weeks since we connected through the internet? Here in Manila.. time literally stopped.

I know you'll roll your eyes..but I can't help blurting out it's the 3rd death in our bible couple cell group of 22 years, glory to GOD -twas Bro. Rox who pointed out the no. of yrs.... So from Dec to May first Bro. Jing Carreon, then Sis. Mary Abelita and last week Bro. Peping Gonzalez passed away. At our Yahoo e-mail croup of highschool classmates STC.. also recieved sad news of classmate Kate's death.

On the joyful side ..kept praising and thanking God that the 3 deaths in the community  were beautiful in the sense that they were prepared to meet our Lord. Sometimes illness works in our favor..it gives us time to reflect..to give up everything and anything that will hinder our union with Jesus..it allows us the precious time and chance to ask for forgiveness (essential) , perhaps bestow forgiveness (crucial) upon those who have hurt us... reconciliation can happen .and oh how sweet this is for a soul...  both for the one soon departing this world..and the ones who must continue and finish their journey... this spiritual healing benefits all!

 An aunt would love to explain how the Lord afforded my father time to fix his house.. for the two brothers and sisters in our community who died..it is a similar case.

there is time ..a golden opportunity to "fix the house" not so much in the material sense ... but more in leaving God's peace...God's forgiveness and love for the family left behind...this sets the direction for the family left behind... It is always wonderful to hear members of the family share during the necrological service or burial mass of what they learned from the deceased in terms of faith and values.. it is inspiring how even in the midst of their grief, they solemnly make a promise to also try their best to know, love and serve Christ... to imitate the good that a parent or loved one has done in his/her lifetime.

Like it or not we too are reminded "to fix our house".... to share about Jesus , Who He is and what He has done for us.

We can't say that enough can we? But tis'  the truth.Our primary purpose is to give glory to GOD, however and whatever it takes.  And everything else flows from here..whether you sail the seven seas as an OFW .. or be a Divisoria trader... a stock market analyst..a caregiver.. manicurista...   if our Firm Foundation is Christ .. it will naturally affect , be seen and felt in  every aspect of our life.

Society and worldly gurus have succeeded in planting SELF-SUFFICIENCY in our consciousness. Instead of a reliance on God, humbly seeking His Will and asking for the grace to do good... we often strut about town ... " Well ...geez... guess what I did... all by my lonesome self.! Kayang-kaya!" 

(  But sweetie... please reflect muna..... Even if we be able to send our sons and daughters to the best schools,

 make sure they get

"established" ( it has a queer "ring " to it really.... established?? talaga?) ... find the right partner, raise a family - some go as far as to say they plan when to have the babies... susmio!!! ...so we go through the whole gamut of life nurturing this crazy idea that whatever it is we're doing and achieving is solely by our own powers and resources. Kakakilabot di ba? (shivers down the spine)

Many times we get weary... and we complain to the Lord.... it is not fair...here we are trying our best to obey You ... gargantuan efforts and all ... (in Tagalog, we joke around and say...lumalabas na ang matris sa hirap..) but Lord  how is it....The Other Party ... or plural ba? the Other Parties are Blissfully Unaware of the pain and evil they inflict.... some other parties are not as evil...but just the same Lord..they stand in the middle... neither doing good nor bad... ahhhh... nakaka-inis sila God.

We think it is grossly Unfair.. we study our life ... how things are at home...with the family.... how we are treated at work... how we are not paid well... we go to church...thinking aha...it'll be better there... but the same thing can happen too of how it's possible you'll end up doing more, giving more...hurting more...forgiving ....loving more... if we're not careful ...we can throw the white towel and say...what a thankless ministry... in Bisaya , it's the virtual : "Ano ba ini? " 

Patience ...patience dear brother and sister...nothing is ever wasted.

If they are asking you to do it for the nth time....... if you are the only family member who bothers to clean/disinfect the toilets and scrub floors....  if your loved one is driving you crazy ... and you really honestly donot know if you can still muster one more iota of understanding and bearing with their weaknesses , just call out to Jesus -- He will immediately come to your aid, supply the grace , strength and love you need.... before you now it..you did it again , and you did it well because you did it for the LORD.Hallelujah, amen.

In closing...try cleaning toilets, bathrooms.. it is not the jolliest chore of all... never mind if you are the only one using it... but to do this for others.... is an Olympian feat It is the best exercise for our soul..because it reminds us of our vulnerability --- how we are absolutely nothing without Jesus... how our soul is easily stained  by the dirt of sin... how evil really makes us ugly...the same way dirt and feces and stinking urine will make anyone puke inside the toilet.... It is a close analogy to how sin destroys us, robbing us our of inner beauty , purity, holiness ...and then think  how while you are scrubbing this toilet with Lysol..and if needed muriatic acid ..of how Jesus Himself ..so very thoughtful of Him cleanses us from sin with His Own Blood ...Best Disinfectant Ever.

Do we get tired of doing good or of obeying God? I think it is not so much the tiredness as the temptation to think it is futile... that people will remain horrid and unchanged just the same. RESIST THAT THOUGHT BECAUSE GOD RECIEVES EVERY SINGLE GOOD DEED, THOUGHT, WORD  PRAYER AND SACRIFICE WE MAKE.. we must always offer and unite it with Jesus and then the Father in His Wisdom  determines how this humble offering obtains our conversion and the conversion of sinners.      

As you are preparing for another day's work..or to help out with the children's homework, while cooking at the same time...listen to this song.... let us thank the Lord that each day we are being molded more and more unto His image and likeness............................................................have a good week..............te mye

 He who began a good work in you - Steve http://youtu.be/6eurtH6yjDE

He who began a good work in you

He who began a good work in you
Will be faithful to complete it
He'll be faithful to complete it
He who started the work
Will be faithful to complete it in you

If the struggle you're facing
Is slowly replacing
Your hope with despair
Or the process is long
And you're losing your song
In the night you can be sure
That the Lord has His hand on you
Safe and secure
He will never abandon you
You are His treasure
And He finds His pleasure in you