SIGNS, WONDERS AND MIRACLES

   Today’s 1 st reading tells us that we have been called by name. God knows each one of us by name. This is why in the midst of our highs and lows, ups and downs in life, and the rising and setting of our hopes we should never fear for the Lord relates with us personally and knows exactly what we are going through. We are called by name and we need to be snapped back to reality that in the midst of our highs and lows, ups and downs in life, and the rising and setting of our hopes there is really no other like our God. The rabbis of Jerusalem have collected scriptures into Torah and are considered statements inspired by God. It is like a message from heaven not just for the time of the prophet himself but for all time.    It applied in the ancient times even a couple of centuries later and into the time of Jesus. We should seek God correctly not for selfish gain but for the good of all people. God has not changed and human nature has not changed. He cares about the...

     We have to be constantly aware of the Holy Spirit dwelling in us. It is like we need to nurture and cherish this truth so that our inclinations and tendencies will be greatly influenced by it. When we get into something without really knowing where we are headed then we become susceptible to dread and fear. Today's 1st reading tells us the importance of having the gift of discernment. Let us pray to God and constantly desire that the Holy Spirit will endow us with this gift. For it is written in Mt. 7:7-11, "Ask and it will be given to you; seek and you will find; knock and the door will be opened to you. For everyone who asks, receives; and the one who seeks, finds; and to the one who knocks, the door will be opened. Which one of you would hand his son a stone when he asks for a loaf of bread, or a snake when he asks for a fish? If you then, who are wicked, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your heavenly Father give good things to thos...

   Do you believe in destiny? We all should, because we are all destined to be under the will of God. If this is the case then why do we still end up in misery at times? Let us not be misled anymore and answer with perfect honesty with our whole heart, mind and soul the question, have we always decided for a life destined to give glory and praise to God. In the midst of all the commotion going on around us, where we are no longer sure who can be trusted or not, we can be assured that Jesus Christ is on our side. Today's 1st reading tells us that He accomplishes all things according to the intention of his will. It is a relief and consolation that it is not our will or someone else but God's perfect will. Thus we always pray, Thy will be done. We can completely trust His perfect will to work for our good. Amen. Hallelujah! Ephesians 1:11-14 Brothers and sisters: In Christ we were also chosen, destined in accord with the purpose of the one who accomplishes all things according t...

    What Jesus did for us is unsurpassed and unequalled. No one could ever love us more than He could. He has done everything for our sake and has not left anything unfulfilled. We could either respond in accordance to what He has done for us or not. It is just one or the other. God did not love us reservedly but went out all the way when He gave His only Son, Jesus for our redemption and the forgiveness of our sins. It is only right and fitting that we do the same without reservation. We should always have an attitude of confidence and trust in God's perfect will in our lives. But how are we to know the will of God? In everything we do let us take after the example of the life of Jesus, full of total surrender and obedience. As we diligently examine ourselves and always strive to do what is pleasing to God then time will come when He will make known to us things we never thought imaginable or possible. Amen. Hallelujah! Ephesians 1:1-10 ...In him we have redemption by his blo...

     If there are bible passages that should be known by heart and mind by a Christian then one of them is from today's 1st reading. It is about the fruits of the Holy Spirit. During my first Life in the Spirit Seminar (LSS) this bible passage was one of the things discussed intensively in the LSS. It was something that never left me and always served as a reminder and guideline. I am very grateful for that and feel that it should always be included in similar activities. In this way we could always refer to it like a checklist so that we can immediately dismiss or exchange whatever it is we bear in our heart, mind and soul that is not a fruit of the Holy Spirit. . We have to submit ourselves to the Potter and imagine ourselves as the clay. We smile whenever we have trials because it is meant to transform us. We have to work on our character flaws. Let us consult today's 1st reading at all times since it tells us, the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kin...