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GOD'S CHAMPION

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  Have you ever experienced doing something that you have not planned or intended to do and just happened before you know it or without you knowing it as if you had no other choice so to speak. This was what happened to Amos, the prophet whom today’s 1 st reading is taken from. Our bible study teacher, Bro. Willy Santa Maria was so on fire in his presentation of the Book of Amos since he said that Amos is his favorite prophet. He even tackled about who Amos really was and gave us a broad and clear picture of what it was like when God called Amos to prophesy. Which is also why it remained clearly etched in my mind and was always reminded of it whenever encountering a reading from the book of Amos. Amos apart from what is written in today's reading is not just a shepherd and dresser of sycamores. He is a herdsman, rancher and a wealthy person. He lives in the garrison city a place dominated by people of power who live in luxury. He lived in affluence and belonged to the clan system ...
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GOODNESS, BEAUTY & TRUTH

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  There is a certain sense of satisfaction that comes in contributing not only to our future but to the future of others. Today's 1st reading speaks of this basic principle of moral life that Amos prophesies today, "Seek good and not evil...Hate evil and love good, and let justice prevail..."    It will always be easier said than done. Though, we can always keep in mind what Brother Bo said in his preaching on how to eat an elephant, by taking one bite at a time, without you knowing it you've finished the whole elephant or just like traveling a long road, take one step at a time and we'll get where we're going no matter how long the journey is. Before we know it we've come a long way and reached our goals no matter how long and difficult it may seem. Just think of people who need to exercise but always end up quitting, a fitness expert said that if we can commit to doing exercise for 21 consecutive days then it will become a way of life. We can apply the s...
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WHAT'S YOUR WEATHER CONDITION?

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   Weather forecasts and disaster and calamity preparedness efforts have always been helpful. The Japanese are very well known for these. When I was there in 2000 my sensei (professor) told me to bring my umbrella when we go on a trip because he saw on the weather forecast that it will rain on the day we'll go sightseeing in Kyoto . He even told me what color of the maple tree leaves to expect on specific days while we're there. And he was right, it did rain on that day that he predicted it to rain and the maple tree leaves really turned into the color he said it would become. Very impressing considering that it was a week in advance when he said this. The same is true with our Christian life. We should always be ready to listen and discern God's warnings and advice. Nothing could be more precise and without fail than God's word. Amos 3: 1-8; 4: 11-12 ...7Indeed, the Lord GOD does nothing without revealing his plan to his servants, the prophets. 8 The lion roars — who w...
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ANGEL & SAINTS TO THE RESCUE

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      I was reminded of the time when I suddenly felt like I am going to pass out. I could not breathe and was having cold perspiration since I did not eat breakfast and missed dinner too. I was still in Church and almost in a panic when I found myself unable to recite the remaining 2 decades of the Divine Mercy prayer although I was still able to stay until the end of the prayers I barely managed to get myself up to walk to the door. And just right on time and what I needed, a sudden gush of strong wind blew my way as if fanning my whole body. It totally refreshed me and felt better. A lady whom I don’t even know offered to bring me home. Though, I declined and told her I’d be fine since I was already feeling better, I was overwhelmed by her gesture of kindness. Whenever I look at the circumstances that surround it, I must say that God wants to show me how He keeps us safe and sound and never runs out of angels whether in disguise or real people. This is why I am re...
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LOOK BACK & RECALL

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  God is reminding me once again of some special events in my life. Today' s 1st reading made me look back and recall once again the miraculous events I experienced through the intercession of Sister Gloria Dar. I was just new in the Catholic Charismatic Renewal then and I must admit that she was one person that God has used tremendously in my life. I could never forget when I was still pregnant with my son Jude most especially because it was Sis Gloria Dar who envisioned Jesus carrying a baby standing in the middle of our prayer circle and specifically described Him wearing the Sacred Heart attire and said these words, "I have a message for my daughter, consecrate the baby in your womb."  This happened in a prayer meeting I attended during that time which happened to be on the 9th day of my Sacred Heart novena, and Sis Gloria, the prayer leader whom I just met, did not know of my novena neither of my pregnancy nor would even suspect of it. Looking back at my life back th...
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NEVER DOUBT JUST BELIEVE

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    We have a serious matter in our hands. What's at stake here is not just a lifetime but eternity. If we still do not realize it by now then we ought to start thinking about it. It's like putting too much sugar coating and icing on the cake that we tend to mask the real thing. Today's 1st reading speaks of the tragic fate met by the Israelites, the chosen people of God, due to their leniency and corruption. If we continue to live like good times believers and treat our faith like a buffet table wherein we can just pick out the things suited to our taste and leave out what is not then we are heading for real disaster. We can also liken ourselves to good Sunday Catholics but the rest of the week is a different story. We are being reminded by God to follow Him not half way, nor halfheartedly but all the way. Meditating on the Sorrowful mysteries of the Holy Rosary make us think of how Jesus went through the agony in the garden praying with much fear knowing what awaits Him s...
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THE WALLS

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   Today's 1st reading reminds me of a game that my 2 sons and I used to play when they were still kids. We used to run around the house and pretend that an enemy was chasing us. When I got really tired I usually end up lying down in bed and tell my sons to do the same. I would assure them that even if the enemy catches up with us, we won't be hurt or captured because we have a wall that surrounds us. Somehow, this made me realize that God has indeed surrounded us with a protective wall that shelters and secures us. But there are times too when we allow our circumstances to breach these walls just like what happened to the Israelites. We, too are confronted with challenges in life that could sometimes break our defenses and yield. Let us always stand firm in our faith in God and never allow our situations to break us down. We should never doubt the truth that God has each one of us in the palm of His hand. Amen. Hallelujah! 2 Kings 25:1-12 ...when famine had gripped the city, ...
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