This is a very nice reflection of ourselves. Read first the verses Job 1:6-22 in my previous post to have more insights in relation to the beautiful sharing below.
You Are the One
Let me share with you this encouraging story forwarded to me.
One day the employees of a large company returned from their lunch break and were greeted with a sign on the front door that said: “Yesterday the person who has been hindering your growth in this company passed away. We invite you to join the funeral in the room that has been prepared in the gym.”
Everyone was sad to hear that one of their colleagues had died, but after a while they started getting curious as to who this person might be.
The excitement grew as the employees arrived at the gym to pay their last respects. One by one, the employees got closer to the coffin and when they looked inside it, they suddenly became speechless. They stood over the coffin, shocked and in silence, as if someone had touched the deepest part of their soul.
There was a mirror inside the coffin: everyone who looked inside it could see himself. There was also a sign next to the mirror that said: “There is only one person who is capable to set limits to your growth: it is YOU.”
Today we read from the book of Job how he was tested by the devil. Satan dared him that if his circumstances change, surely he would no longer be the good old Job who reveres God. God allowed Satan to change his circumstances but not to touch his soul. Job’s fortunes did change. He lost everything, except himself and his faith in God. Job’s story is a powerful reminder for us that we are above our circumstances. You are the only person who can really define your life and your happiness: not your circumstances, not your fate.
Your life does not have to change when your circumstances change. They are beyond your control. But your response to these changes depends on you.
Reflection Question:
Are you just flowing or floating along the river of life? Swim against the tide. Remember, only dead things float along the river.
Lord, I thank You for the wonder of my being. Help me discover my uniqueness. Help me summon the strength I have as a child of God. Guide me as I chart my destiny to the best of my abilities, with the help of Your grace. Amen.
St. Elzear, pray for us.
Thanks to Fr. Joel O. Jason for this very inspiring story.
Showing posts with label Story. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Story. Show all posts
Friday
Wednesday
Fighting with Terminal Cancer
It can be a very very sad and tragic experience when one of your family have a terminal sickness like having cancer. My husband's co-worker' wife was diagnosed last January of this year with cancer. I don't know what really kind of cancer she has but husband said that her liver and lungs are greatly affected. Is it called a Mesothelioma cancer?
I surfed about Mesothelioma cancer and this is its little info according to Wikipedia;
"Mesothelioma is a form of cancer that is almost always caused by previous exposure to asbestos. In this disease, malignant cells develop in the mesothelium, a protective lining that covers most of the body's internal organs. Its most common site is the pleura (outer lining of the lungs and internal chest wall), but it may also occur in the peritoneum (the lining of the abdominal cavity), the heart, the pericardium (a sac that surrounds the heart) or tunica vaginalis."
My husband's co-worker's wife is working as an Accounting Clerk in one of the Building Construction Firm. I don't have any idea if she is exposed or was exposed before to asbestos which cause Mesothelioma cancer. The doctor even told her that only miracle can cure her sickness. As of now, she is still undergoing chemotherapy. I hope and pray that God will perform a miracle to her. Lastly, I want to let you know that "health is wealth". We must always be thankful if we are healthy all the time! God bless us all!
I surfed about Mesothelioma cancer and this is its little info according to Wikipedia;
"Mesothelioma is a form of cancer that is almost always caused by previous exposure to asbestos. In this disease, malignant cells develop in the mesothelium, a protective lining that covers most of the body's internal organs. Its most common site is the pleura (outer lining of the lungs and internal chest wall), but it may also occur in the peritoneum (the lining of the abdominal cavity), the heart, the pericardium (a sac that surrounds the heart) or tunica vaginalis."
My husband's co-worker's wife is working as an Accounting Clerk in one of the Building Construction Firm. I don't have any idea if she is exposed or was exposed before to asbestos which cause Mesothelioma cancer. The doctor even told her that only miracle can cure her sickness. As of now, she is still undergoing chemotherapy. I hope and pray that God will perform a miracle to her. Lastly, I want to let you know that "health is wealth". We must always be thankful if we are healthy all the time! God bless us all!
Tuesday
Happy St. Patrick's Day!
Are you familiar with St. Patrick? I read a newspaper last weekend about St. Patrick's Celebration in Munich, Germany. They will be having a parade today to commemorate this celebration. For those who are not familiar with St. Patrick, here is a little information about him.
Saint Patrick's Day (Irish: Lá ’le Pádraig or Lá Fhéile Pádraig), colloquially St. Paddy's Day or simply Paddy's Day, is an annual feast day which celebrates Saint Patrick (circa AD 385–461), one of the patron saints of Ireland, and is generally celebrated on March 17.
The day is the national holiday of Ireland. It is a bank holiday in Northern Ireland and a public holiday in the Republic of Ireland and Montserrat. In Canada, Great Britain, Australia, the United States, and New Zealand, it is widely celebrated but is not an official holiday.
St. Patrick's feast day was placed on the universal liturgical calendar in the Catholic Church due to the influence of the Waterford-born Franciscan scholar Luke Wadding[2] in the early part of the 17th century, although the feast day was celebrated in the local Irish church from a much earlier date. St. Patrick's Day is a holy day of obligation for Roman Catholics in Ireland. The feast day usually falls during Lent; if it falls on a Friday of Lent (unless it is Good Friday), the obligation to abstain from eating meat can be lifted by the local bishop. The church calendar avoids the observance of saints' feasts during certain solemnities, moving the saint's day to a time outside those periods. St. Patricks Day is very occasionally affected by this requirement. Thus when March 17 falls during Holy Week, as in 1940 when St. Patrick's Day was observed on April 3 in order to avoid it coinciding with Palm Sunday, and again in 2008, having been observed on 15 March.
source: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Saint_Patrick%27s_Day
Saint Patrick's Day (Irish: Lá ’le Pádraig or Lá Fhéile Pádraig), colloquially St. Paddy's Day or simply Paddy's Day, is an annual feast day which celebrates Saint Patrick (circa AD 385–461), one of the patron saints of Ireland, and is generally celebrated on March 17.
The day is the national holiday of Ireland. It is a bank holiday in Northern Ireland and a public holiday in the Republic of Ireland and Montserrat. In Canada, Great Britain, Australia, the United States, and New Zealand, it is widely celebrated but is not an official holiday.
St. Patrick's feast day was placed on the universal liturgical calendar in the Catholic Church due to the influence of the Waterford-born Franciscan scholar Luke Wadding[2] in the early part of the 17th century, although the feast day was celebrated in the local Irish church from a much earlier date. St. Patrick's Day is a holy day of obligation for Roman Catholics in Ireland. The feast day usually falls during Lent; if it falls on a Friday of Lent (unless it is Good Friday), the obligation to abstain from eating meat can be lifted by the local bishop. The church calendar avoids the observance of saints' feasts during certain solemnities, moving the saint's day to a time outside those periods. St. Patricks Day is very occasionally affected by this requirement. Thus when March 17 falls during Holy Week, as in 1940 when St. Patrick's Day was observed on April 3 in order to avoid it coinciding with Palm Sunday, and again in 2008, having been observed on 15 March.
source: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Saint_Patrick%27s_Day
Saturday
I Am not Happy Today
I am just a bit upset today. I believed it is normal for a person to feel like that especially if there are some things or someone that makes you upset or unhappy. I'm already starting to drive my car and the postlady stopped me to hand a box and a small parcel. As I see the name on top of the box, I was feeling very bad. The rest is secret. Sorry I can't write here very personal stuffs. But anyway, I am just hoping that things will get better soon for the good of all and maybe all people around the world. I am just waiting till the end of the month to travel again in United Kingdom for almost three weeks and might fly also to other countries and cities in Europe with a friend... I just need to enjoy life..I want some adventure and challenges now and today might be a challenge too!! I believed I can handle that!!!cool!! enjoy your weekend my friends!!
An Incredible Love Story
A very touching story forwarded by my sister in my email..I believed it is worthy of sharing this.. I hope you get some insights with my story....very beautiful story..We can be so lucky if we have such a very good husband. I believed I have one too!! keep reading and enjoy your weekend!!
Subject: An incredible love story
An incredible love story has come out of China recently and managed to touch the world.
It is a story of a man and an older woman who ran off to live and love each other in peace for over half a century.
The 70-year-old Chinese man who hand-carved over 6,000 stairs up a mountain for his 80-year-old wife has passed away in the cave which has been the couple's home for the last 50 years. Over 50 years ago, Liu Guojiang a 19 year-old boy, fell in love with a 29 year-old widowed mother named Xu Chaoqin..
In a twist worthy of Shakespeare's Romeo and Juliet, friends and relatives criticized the relationship because of the age difference and the fact that Xu already had children. At that time, it was unacceptable and immoral for a young man to love an older woman.. To avoid the market gossip and the scorn of their communities, the couple decided to elope and lived in a cave in Jiangjin County in Southern ChongQing Municipality.
In the beginning, life was harsh as hey had nothing, no electricity or even food. They had to eat grass and roots they found in the mountain, and Liu made a kerosene lamp that they used to light up their lives.
Xu felt that she had tied Liu down and repeatedly asked him, 'Are you regretful? Liu always replied, 'As long as we are industrious, life will improve.' In the second year of living in the mountain, Liu began and continued for over 50 years, to hand-carve the steps so that his wife could get down the mountain easily.
Half a century later in 2001, a group of adventurers were exploring the forest and were surprised to find the elderly couple and the over 6,000 hand-carved steps. Liu MingSheng, one of their seven children said, 'My parents loved each other so much, they have lived in seclusion for over 50 years and never been apart a single day. He hand carved more than 6,000 steps over the years for my mother's convenience, although she doesn't go down the mountain that much.'
The couple had lived in peace for over 50 years until last week. Liu, now 72 years, returned from his daily farm work and collapsed. Xu sat and prayed with her husband as he passed away in her arms. So in love with Xu, was Liu, that no one was able to release the grip he had on his wife's hand even after he had passed away.
'You promised me you'll take care of me, you'll always be with me until the day I died, now you left before me, how am I going to live without you?' Xu spent days softly repeating this sentence and touching her husband's black coffin with tears rolling down her cheeks.
In 2006, their story became one of the top 10 love stories from China, collected by the Chinese Women Weekly. The local government has decided to preserve the love ladder and the place they lived as a museum, so this love story can live forever.
An incredible love story has come out of China recently and managed to touch the world.
It is a story of a man and an older woman who ran off to live and love each other in peace for over half a century.
The 70-year-old Chinese man who hand-carved over 6,000 stairs up a mountain for his 80-year-old wife has passed away in the cave which has been the couple's home for the last 50 years. Over 50 years ago, Liu Guojiang a 19 year-old boy, fell in love with a 29 year-old widowed mother named Xu Chaoqin..
In a twist worthy of Shakespeare's Romeo and Juliet, friends and relatives criticized the relationship because of the age difference and the fact that Xu already had children. At that time, it was unacceptable and immoral for a young man to love an older woman.. To avoid the market gossip and the scorn of their communities, the couple decided to elope and lived in a cave in Jiangjin County in Southern ChongQing Municipality.
In the beginning, life was harsh as hey had nothing, no electricity or even food. They had to eat grass and roots they found in the mountain, and Liu made a kerosene lamp that they used to light up their lives.
Xu felt that she had tied Liu down and repeatedly asked him, 'Are you regretful? Liu always replied, 'As long as we are industrious, life will improve.' In the second year of living in the mountain, Liu began and continued for over 50 years, to hand-carve the steps so that his wife could get down the mountain easily.
Half a century later in 2001, a group of adventurers were exploring the forest and were surprised to find the elderly couple and the over 6,000 hand-carved steps. Liu MingSheng, one of their seven children said, 'My parents loved each other so much, they have lived in seclusion for over 50 years and never been apart a single day. He hand carved more than 6,000 steps over the years for my mother's convenience, although she doesn't go down the mountain that much.'
The couple had lived in peace for over 50 years until last week. Liu, now 72 years, returned from his daily farm work and collapsed. Xu sat and prayed with her husband as he passed away in her arms. So in love with Xu, was Liu, that no one was able to release the grip he had on his wife's hand even after he had passed away.
'You promised me you'll take care of me, you'll always be with me until the day I died, now you left before me, how am I going to live without you?' Xu spent days softly repeating this sentence and touching her husband's black coffin with tears rolling down her cheeks.
In 2006, their story became one of the top 10 love stories from China, collected by the Chinese Women Weekly. The local government has decided to preserve the love ladder and the place they lived as a museum, so this love story can live forever.
Thursday
The Richest Man In The Valley
I just thought of sharing this story from one of my friends in friendster..I believed there are lessons we get from here..I do agree also that "Being rich has nothing to do with money or possessions"...Read more to get some insights!! hope you had a great day today!!
The Richest Man In The Valley
A rich landowner named Carl often rode around his vast estate so he could congratulate himself on his great wealth.
One day while riding around his estate on his favorite horse, he saw Hans, an old tenant farmer. Hans was sitting under a tree when Carl rode by.
Hans said, 'I was just thanking God for my food.'
Carl protested, 'If that is all I had to eat, I wouldn't feel like giving thanks.'
Hans replied, 'God has given me everything I need, and I am thankful for it.'
The old farmer added, 'It is strange you should come by today because I had a dream last night. In my dream a voice told me, 'The richest man in the valley will die tonight.' I don't know what it means, but I thought I ought to tell you.'
Carl snorted, 'Dreams are nonsense,' and galloped away, but he could not forget Hans' words: 'The richest man in the valley will die tonight.'
He was obviously the richest man in the valley, so he invited his doctor to his house that evening.
Carl told the doctor what Hans had said. After a thorough examination, the doctor told the wealthy landowner, 'Carl, you are as strong and healthy as a horse. There is no way you are going to die tonight.'
Nevertheless, for assurance, the doctor stayed with Carl, and they played cards through the night.
The doctor left the next morning and Carl apologized for becoming so upset over the old man's dream.
At about nine o'clock, a messenger arrived at Carl's door.
'What is it?' Carl demanded.
The messenger explained, 'It's about old Hans. He died last night in his sleep.'
*******
Being rich has nothing to do with money or possessions. But it has everything to do with having a relationship with God.
The Richest Man In The Valley
A rich landowner named Carl often rode around his vast estate so he could congratulate himself on his great wealth.
One day while riding around his estate on his favorite horse, he saw Hans, an old tenant farmer. Hans was sitting under a tree when Carl rode by.
Hans said, 'I was just thanking God for my food.'
Carl protested, 'If that is all I had to eat, I wouldn't feel like giving thanks.'
Hans replied, 'God has given me everything I need, and I am thankful for it.'
The old farmer added, 'It is strange you should come by today because I had a dream last night. In my dream a voice told me, 'The richest man in the valley will die tonight.' I don't know what it means, but I thought I ought to tell you.'
Carl snorted, 'Dreams are nonsense,' and galloped away, but he could not forget Hans' words: 'The richest man in the valley will die tonight.'
He was obviously the richest man in the valley, so he invited his doctor to his house that evening.
Carl told the doctor what Hans had said. After a thorough examination, the doctor told the wealthy landowner, 'Carl, you are as strong and healthy as a horse. There is no way you are going to die tonight.'
Nevertheless, for assurance, the doctor stayed with Carl, and they played cards through the night.
The doctor left the next morning and Carl apologized for becoming so upset over the old man's dream.
At about nine o'clock, a messenger arrived at Carl's door.
'What is it?' Carl demanded.
The messenger explained, 'It's about old Hans. He died last night in his sleep.'
*******
Being rich has nothing to do with money or possessions. But it has everything to do with having a relationship with God.
Sunday
...and no-laptop
I believed this story is worthwhile sharing...post it here before I delete it and better share some good thoughts and opinions.. .got this from my subscribed email from mountainwings.com...please take time to read...it is worthy to read!!!
I hope you enjoy your Sunday!!
...and no-laptop
================
This issue covers so well one of the biggest ills of our country.
The human body NEEDS time to stop, hold still, and recover from
all the activity that it's been up to!
It's the greed factor that drives us; not only us Americans as
consumers, but as a government as well. It's time to sit down
and shut up (as my Mother used to so eloquently put it) and take
a priority re-evaluation!
Killing ourselves for that "almighty dollar" just ain't cutting
it anymore, 'cause all we're doing is letting it slip back out
of our grubby little fingers into some psycho-analysts' hands.
Sounds pretty stupid, if ya ask me.
It's a lose-lose situation. That money would be much better
spent if we'd make less of it and use it instead on taking the
family out on a no-phones, no-TV, no-video game, no-laptop
camping/fishing trip instead.
I hope you enjoy your Sunday!!
...and no-laptop
================
This issue covers so well one of the biggest ills of our country.
The human body NEEDS time to stop, hold still, and recover from
all the activity that it's been up to!
It's the greed factor that drives us; not only us Americans as
consumers, but as a government as well. It's time to sit down
and shut up (as my Mother used to so eloquently put it) and take
a priority re-evaluation!
Killing ourselves for that "almighty dollar" just ain't cutting
it anymore, 'cause all we're doing is letting it slip back out
of our grubby little fingers into some psycho-analysts' hands.
Sounds pretty stupid, if ya ask me.
It's a lose-lose situation. That money would be much better
spent if we'd make less of it and use it instead on taking the
family out on a no-phones, no-TV, no-video game, no-laptop
camping/fishing trip instead.
Monday
Moments of Truth
Let me just ask you with a few questions before I start. I might be writing here taglish for sometime..so please bear with me..How would you feel if one of your friend betrayed you?? How would you react if your friend divulge a secret which you had entrusted him/her?? What are you going to do after knowing that the secret he/she divulge to other persons are not really the truth but all lies?? Does he/she just want you to be bad in the eyes of other persons to make himself/herself be the good one?? or he/she is only insecure for some reasons??...
How I just wish, I am a saint or martyr who have always the patience, forgiveness and understanding all the time. But I'm not..I'm just an ordinary person who have a simple life,can lost my patience and understanding too..... and just want to have especially my honor and dignity being preserved and protected...Yes I have to admit, I don't have the wealth and fame in this world, but as far as I know myself, honor and dignity are all what I have. And I am proud of it.
I just don't understand why there are just some people out there who cannot close and hold their tongue and talk bad about other people. And yes, it happened to me.The person whom I considered to be my family and close friend had betrayed me. I trusted her a secret but she divulged it to other persons she just met for I guess some weeks or even a month only. Probably I could accept when she divulge the true story of my secret but she didn't. She twisted the story, add some details and minus some too..That was a total false and lie story about me...
I knew her for quite some years already. I always tried to understand her, listen to her problems, even helping her with financial matters sometimes and helping her in other ways too... Well, it doesn't mean that I am trying to count what I had done to her but I just don't understand that with all the help, understanding and true friendship I gave her, she had betrayed me....Why?????
Is it because that something bad happened to her that day, she will also gossip other people. And yes, according to the person whom she divulged my secret, she also gossiped about other friends regarding their personal experiences that really don't need to be told to.
Days gone by..weeks gone by, I tried to realize, at least I learned from my experience...I learned some lessons!!... I learned that I should never trust somebody unless I already know that person for a long long time!! I tried to forget and even forgive!! I even prayed for her sometimes that I hope she will also learn from what had happened to us. I just keep on hoping that she will learn to hold her tongue especially for matters that are not really good to say... I never lost a friend anyway because I believed it is her lost... and now I guess she lost already lot of friends.
How I just wish I can still advise her..But I already did it before many many times but she never listen...or she just doesn't want to accept the truth...It is not only me who advised her even the other friend whom she also lost last January..I even warned her last January of this year telling her that """If that is how you are going to handle friendship, you will surely lose your friends in the future"""...slowly by slowly it is happening!! if she just listen to me and keep it in her mind she might kept her friends..
Now I am trying to forgive and forget just for the sake of our "pinagsamahan" or friendship before. I even want to thank her for all the favors she had done for me..But I guess me and my husband had also done a lot for them..we never expect for a return anyway...help is help for the sake of friendship especially if you considered them as part of the family!!! but she destroyed it....she ruined everything!!
It is over now!!! I was hurt and wounded but at least I learned some lessons..I even want to thank her for the lessons she brought!!! The next time I will be careful already of whom and to whom I will make friends....I also hope that next time she will just be careful of her attitude about what really friendship is.....and I hope she will learn to understand what really friends are, not only to have friends so she can use them or take advantage of!! Honestly speaking, this is the first time in my whole life that I met such kind of person like her. ..at least I knew who she is already and how she handled friendship!!! It is not my lost anyway but hers!!
Lastly I just want to share these nice quotes...i hope that you also get some insights about it!!!
How I just wish, I am a saint or martyr who have always the patience, forgiveness and understanding all the time. But I'm not..I'm just an ordinary person who have a simple life,can lost my patience and understanding too..... and just want to have especially my honor and dignity being preserved and protected...Yes I have to admit, I don't have the wealth and fame in this world, but as far as I know myself, honor and dignity are all what I have. And I am proud of it.
I just don't understand why there are just some people out there who cannot close and hold their tongue and talk bad about other people. And yes, it happened to me.The person whom I considered to be my family and close friend had betrayed me. I trusted her a secret but she divulged it to other persons she just met for I guess some weeks or even a month only. Probably I could accept when she divulge the true story of my secret but she didn't. She twisted the story, add some details and minus some too..That was a total false and lie story about me...
I knew her for quite some years already. I always tried to understand her, listen to her problems, even helping her with financial matters sometimes and helping her in other ways too... Well, it doesn't mean that I am trying to count what I had done to her but I just don't understand that with all the help, understanding and true friendship I gave her, she had betrayed me....Why?????
Is it because that something bad happened to her that day, she will also gossip other people. And yes, according to the person whom she divulged my secret, she also gossiped about other friends regarding their personal experiences that really don't need to be told to.
Days gone by..weeks gone by, I tried to realize, at least I learned from my experience...I learned some lessons!!... I learned that I should never trust somebody unless I already know that person for a long long time!! I tried to forget and even forgive!! I even prayed for her sometimes that I hope she will also learn from what had happened to us. I just keep on hoping that she will learn to hold her tongue especially for matters that are not really good to say... I never lost a friend anyway because I believed it is her lost... and now I guess she lost already lot of friends.
How I just wish I can still advise her..But I already did it before many many times but she never listen...or she just doesn't want to accept the truth...It is not only me who advised her even the other friend whom she also lost last January..I even warned her last January of this year telling her that """If that is how you are going to handle friendship, you will surely lose your friends in the future"""...slowly by slowly it is happening!! if she just listen to me and keep it in her mind she might kept her friends..
Now I am trying to forgive and forget just for the sake of our "pinagsamahan" or friendship before. I even want to thank her for all the favors she had done for me..But I guess me and my husband had also done a lot for them..we never expect for a return anyway...help is help for the sake of friendship especially if you considered them as part of the family!!! but she destroyed it....she ruined everything!!
It is over now!!! I was hurt and wounded but at least I learned some lessons..I even want to thank her for the lessons she brought!!! The next time I will be careful already of whom and to whom I will make friends....I also hope that next time she will just be careful of her attitude about what really friendship is.....and I hope she will learn to understand what really friends are, not only to have friends so she can use them or take advantage of!! Honestly speaking, this is the first time in my whole life that I met such kind of person like her. ..at least I knew who she is already and how she handled friendship!!! It is not my lost anyway but hers!!
Lastly I just want to share these nice quotes...i hope that you also get some insights about it!!!
"People who are for you today,
maybe against you tomorrow.
Those who please you now,
may displease you later on.
Do not be so foolish as to rely too much
on these changeful creatures."
maybe against you tomorrow.
Those who please you now,
may displease you later on.
Do not be so foolish as to rely too much
on these changeful creatures."
adapted: anonymous
"Choose your friends carefully
you never know who is on your side,
and remember the truth shall prevail. "
-LINK
Please visit my other sites in a few days...I will be sharing more personal updates there!!!
Thanks to all friends I met who had become my true friends..
I know I have some good and true friends out there...
even they are far away from me but at least we still keep our friendships!!!
I really miss my friends back in the Philippines
and some few ones here in Germany but they are also some distance away!!!
hope to see you soon!!
may the Good Lord will Keep Our true friendship till the end!!
"Choose your friends carefully
you never know who is on your side,
and remember the truth shall prevail. "
-LINK
Please visit my other sites in a few days...I will be sharing more personal updates there!!!
Thanks to all friends I met who had become my true friends..
I know I have some good and true friends out there...
even they are far away from me but at least we still keep our friendships!!!
I really miss my friends back in the Philippines
and some few ones here in Germany but they are also some distance away!!!
hope to see you soon!!
may the Good Lord will Keep Our true friendship till the end!!
Saturday
AN UNEMPLOYED GRADUATE
I am just sharing to you this very beautiful story forwarded by a friend..I hope that we can get some insights from this...have a nice day to all..
here is the story...
An unemployed graduate woke up one morning and checked his pocket. All he had left was $10. He decided to use it to buy food and then wait for death as he was too proud to go begging. He was frustrated as he could find no job, and nobody was ready to help him.
With the last bit of compassion he had, he gave them the food. The old man and children prayed that God would bless and prosper him and then gave him a very old coin.
The young graduate said to them "you need the prayer more than I do".
He decided to go there with the old coin the old man gave him. On getting to the place, he gave the proprietor the coin. The proprietor screamed, brought out a big book and showed the young graduate a photograph. This same old coin was worth 3 million dollars. The young graduate was overjoyed as the proprietor gave him a bank draft for 3 million dollars within an hour. He collected the Bank Draft and went in search of the old man and little children.
By the time he got to where he left them eating, they had gone. He asked the owner of the canteen if he knew them. He said no but they left a note for you. He quickly opened the note thinking it would lead him to find them.
This is what the note said: "You gave us your all and we have rewarded you back with the coin" Signed God the Father, The Son and The Holy Ghost. 1 Kings 17:10-16; Matthew 11:28-30
Have you given all to Jesus Christ? If you haven't, do so today and he will surprise you.
> PRAYER:
here is the story...
An unemployed graduate woke up one morning and checked his pocket. All he had left was $10. He decided to use it to buy food and then wait for death as he was too proud to go begging. He was frustrated as he could find no job, and nobody was ready to help him.
He bought food and as he sat down to eat, an old man and two little children came along and asked him to help them with food as they had not eaten for almost a week. He looked at them. They were so lean that he could see their bones coming out. Their eyes had gone into the socket.
With the last bit of compassion he had, he gave them the food. The old man and children prayed that God would bless and prosper him and then gave him a very old coin.
The young graduate said to them "you need the prayer more than I do".
With no money, no job, no food, the young graduate went under the bridge to rest and wait for death. As he was about to sleep, he saw an old newspaper on the ground. He picked it up, and suddenly he saw an ad vertisement for people with old coins to come to a certain address.
He decided to go there with the old coin the old man gave him. On getting to the place, he gave the proprietor the coin. The proprietor screamed, brought out a big book and showed the young graduate a photograph. This same old coin was worth 3 million dollars. The young graduate was overjoyed as the proprietor gave him a bank draft for 3 million dollars within an hour. He collected the Bank Draft and went in search of the old man and little children.
By the time he got to where he left them eating, they had gone. He asked the owner of the canteen if he knew them. He said no but they left a note for you. He quickly opened the note thinking it would lead him to find them.
This is what the note said: "You gave us your all and we have rewarded you back with the coin" Signed God the Father, The Son and The Holy Ghost. 1 Kings 17:10-16; Matthew 11:28-30
Have you given all to Jesus Christ? If you haven't, do so today and he will surprise you.
> PRAYER:
>
> Here is your financial blessing! It's a simple prayer, you've got 30 seconds.
>
> If you need a financial blessing, continue reading this e-mail.
>
> Heavenly Father, most Gracious and Loving God,
>
> I pray to you that you abundantly Bless my family and me. I know that you recognize, that a family is more than just a mother, father, sister, brother, husband and wife, but all Who believe and trust in you.
>
> Father, I send up a prayer request for financial blessing for not only the person who sent this to me, but for Me and all that I have forwarded this message on to. And that the power of joined prayer by those who believe and trust in you is more powerful than anything.
>
> I thank you in advance for your blessings.
>
> Father God, deliver the person reading this right now and those who will read it in the near future from debt and debt burdens. Release your Godly wisdom that I may be a good steward over all that You have given me Father, for I know how wonderful and mighty You are and how if we just obey You and walk in Your word and have the faith of a Mustard seed that You will pour out blessings.
>
> I thank You now Lord for the recent blessings I have received and for the blessings yet to come Because I know You are not done with me yet.
>
> In Jesus name, I pray,
>
> Amen
Monday
Just Because
Just because someone doesn't love you the way you want them to
doesn't mean they don't love you with all they have.
Jim and Edna were patients in a mental hospital. One day while
they were walking past the hospital swimming pool, Jim
suddenly jumped into the deep end, sank to the bottom, and
stayed there.
Edna promptly jumped in, swam to the bottom, and pulled Jim
out.
When the hospital director learned of Edna's heroic act, he
ordered her to be discharged from the hospital, as he now
considered her to be mentally stable.
When the director went to tell Edna, he said, "Edna, I have
good news and bad news. The good news is you're being
discharged. Since you were able to rationally respond to a
crisis by jumping in and saving the life of another patient, I
have concluded that you are of sound mind. The bad news is
that Jim, the patient you saved, hung himself in the bathroom
with his bathrobe belt right after you saved him. I am so
sorry, but he's dead."
Edna replied, "He didn't hang himself, I put him there to dry.
How soon can I go home?"
I wanted to send the above joke because of the introductory
line, which is how I received it. It really points out the
dangers of making assumptions on very little evidence.
~Submitted by Marjorie Chuppa, Canada~
www.mountainwings.com
doesn't mean they don't love you with all they have.
Jim and Edna were patients in a mental hospital. One day while
they were walking past the hospital swimming pool, Jim
suddenly jumped into the deep end, sank to the bottom, and
stayed there.
Edna promptly jumped in, swam to the bottom, and pulled Jim
out.
When the hospital director learned of Edna's heroic act, he
ordered her to be discharged from the hospital, as he now
considered her to be mentally stable.
When the director went to tell Edna, he said, "Edna, I have
good news and bad news. The good news is you're being
discharged. Since you were able to rationally respond to a
crisis by jumping in and saving the life of another patient, I
have concluded that you are of sound mind. The bad news is
that Jim, the patient you saved, hung himself in the bathroom
with his bathrobe belt right after you saved him. I am so
sorry, but he's dead."
Edna replied, "He didn't hang himself, I put him there to dry.
How soon can I go home?"
I wanted to send the above joke because of the introductory
line, which is how I received it. It really points out the
dangers of making assumptions on very little evidence.
~Submitted by Marjorie Chuppa, Canada~
www.mountainwings.com
Sunday
Cherokee Legend
Do you know the legend of the Cherokee Indian youth's rite of
passage?
His father takes him into the forest, blindfolds him and
leaves him alone.
He is required to sit on a stump the whole night and not
remove the blindfold until the rays of the morning sun shine
through it.
He cannot cry out for help to anyone. Once he survives the
night, he is a MAN.
He cannot tell the other boys of this experience because each
lad must come into manhood on his own.
The boy is naturally terrified. He can hear all kinds of
noises. Wild beasts must surely be all around him. Maybe even
some human might do him harm. The wind blew the grass and
earth and shook his stump, but he sat stoically, never
removing the blindfold. It would be the only way he could
become a man!
Finally, after a horrific night the sun appeared and he
removed his blindfold. It was then that he discovered his
father sitting on the stump next to him. He had been at watch
the entire night, protecting his son from harm.
We, too, are never alone. Even when we don't know it, our
Heavenly Father is watching over us, sitting on the stump
beside us. When trouble comes, all we have to do is reach out
to Him.
~Author Unknown~
passage?
His father takes him into the forest, blindfolds him and
leaves him alone.
He is required to sit on a stump the whole night and not
remove the blindfold until the rays of the morning sun shine
through it.
He cannot cry out for help to anyone. Once he survives the
night, he is a MAN.
He cannot tell the other boys of this experience because each
lad must come into manhood on his own.
The boy is naturally terrified. He can hear all kinds of
noises. Wild beasts must surely be all around him. Maybe even
some human might do him harm. The wind blew the grass and
earth and shook his stump, but he sat stoically, never
removing the blindfold. It would be the only way he could
become a man!
Finally, after a horrific night the sun appeared and he
removed his blindfold. It was then that he discovered his
father sitting on the stump next to him. He had been at watch
the entire night, protecting his son from harm.
We, too, are never alone. Even when we don't know it, our
Heavenly Father is watching over us, sitting on the stump
beside us. When trouble comes, all we have to do is reach out
to Him.
~Author Unknown~
Thursday
Mom Did You See It?
This is forwarded email and I don't want to delete it without sharing to you!!! very interesting story!!
Mom Did You See It?
===================
Barbara was driving her six-year-old son, Benjamin, to his piano
lesson. They were late, and Barbara was beginning to think she
should have cancelled it. There was always so much to do, and
Barbara, a night-duty nurse at the local hospital, had recently
worked extra shifts. She was tired. The sleet storm and icy
roads added to her tension. Maybe she should turn the car around.
"Mom!" Ben cried, "Look!"
Just ahead a car had lost control on a patch of ice.
As Barbara tapped the brakes, the other car spun wildly,
rolled over, then crashed sideways into a telephone pole.
Barbara pulled over, skidded to a stop and threw open her door.
Thank goodness she was a nurse, she might be able to help these
unfortunate passengers.
Then she paused. What about Ben? She couldn't take him with
her; little boys shouldn't see scenes like the one she anticipated.
But was it safe to leave him alone? What if their car was hit
from behind? For a brief moment Barbara considered going on her
way. Someone else was sure to come along. No!
"Ben, honey, promise me you'll stay in the car!"
"I will, Mommy," he said as she ran, slipping and sliding,
toward the crash site.
It was worse than she'd feared. Two girls of high school age
were in the car. One, the blonde on the passenger side, was
dead, killed on impact. The driver, however was still breathing.
She was unconscious and pinned in the wreckage.
Barbara quickly applied pressure to the wound in the teenager's
head while her practiced eye catalogued the other injuries.
A broken leg, maybe two, along with probable internal bleeding.
But if help came soon, the girl would live.
A trucker had pulled up and was calling for help on his cellular
phone. Soon Barbara heard the ambulance sirens. A few moments
later she surrendered her lonely post to rescue workers.
"Good job," one said as he examined the driver's wounds,
"You probably saved her life, ma'am." Perhaps. But as Barbara
walked back to her car a feeling of sadness overwhelmed her,
especially for the family of the girl who had died.
Their lives would never be the same. Oh God, why do such things
have to happen? Slowly Barbara opened her car door.
What should she tell Benjamin?
He was staring at the crash site, his blue eyes huge.
"Mom," he whispered, "did you see it?"
"See what, Honey?" she asked.
"The angel, Mom! He came down from the sky while you were
running to the car. And he opened the door, and he took that
girl out."
Barbara's eyes filled with tears. "Which door, Ben?"
"The passenger side. He took the girl's hand, and they floated
up to heaven together."
"What about the driver?"
Ben shrugged. "I didn't see anyone else."
Later Barbara was able to meet the families of the victims.
They expressed their gratitude for the help she had provided.
Barbara was able to give them something more — Ben's vision.
There was no way he could have known by ordinary means who was
in the car or what had happened to either of the passengers.
Nor could the passenger door have been opened. Barbara had seen
it's tangle of immovable steel herself. Yet Ben's account
brought consolation to a grieving family. Their daughter was
safe in heaven, and they would see her again.
~Author Unknown~
www.mountainwings.com
Mom Did You See It?
===================
Barbara was driving her six-year-old son, Benjamin, to his piano
lesson. They were late, and Barbara was beginning to think she
should have cancelled it. There was always so much to do, and
Barbara, a night-duty nurse at the local hospital, had recently
worked extra shifts. She was tired. The sleet storm and icy
roads added to her tension. Maybe she should turn the car around.
"Mom!" Ben cried, "Look!"
Just ahead a car had lost control on a patch of ice.
As Barbara tapped the brakes, the other car spun wildly,
rolled over, then crashed sideways into a telephone pole.
Barbara pulled over, skidded to a stop and threw open her door.
Thank goodness she was a nurse, she might be able to help these
unfortunate passengers.
Then she paused. What about Ben? She couldn't take him with
her; little boys shouldn't see scenes like the one she anticipated.
But was it safe to leave him alone? What if their car was hit
from behind? For a brief moment Barbara considered going on her
way. Someone else was sure to come along. No!
"Ben, honey, promise me you'll stay in the car!"
"I will, Mommy," he said as she ran, slipping and sliding,
toward the crash site.
It was worse than she'd feared. Two girls of high school age
were in the car. One, the blonde on the passenger side, was
dead, killed on impact. The driver, however was still breathing.
She was unconscious and pinned in the wreckage.
Barbara quickly applied pressure to the wound in the teenager's
head while her practiced eye catalogued the other injuries.
A broken leg, maybe two, along with probable internal bleeding.
But if help came soon, the girl would live.
A trucker had pulled up and was calling for help on his cellular
phone. Soon Barbara heard the ambulance sirens. A few moments
later she surrendered her lonely post to rescue workers.
"Good job," one said as he examined the driver's wounds,
"You probably saved her life, ma'am." Perhaps. But as Barbara
walked back to her car a feeling of sadness overwhelmed her,
especially for the family of the girl who had died.
Their lives would never be the same. Oh God, why do such things
have to happen? Slowly Barbara opened her car door.
What should she tell Benjamin?
He was staring at the crash site, his blue eyes huge.
"Mom," he whispered, "did you see it?"
"See what, Honey?" she asked.
"The angel, Mom! He came down from the sky while you were
running to the car. And he opened the door, and he took that
girl out."
Barbara's eyes filled with tears. "Which door, Ben?"
"The passenger side. He took the girl's hand, and they floated
up to heaven together."
"What about the driver?"
Ben shrugged. "I didn't see anyone else."
Later Barbara was able to meet the families of the victims.
They expressed their gratitude for the help she had provided.
Barbara was able to give them something more — Ben's vision.
There was no way he could have known by ordinary means who was
in the car or what had happened to either of the passengers.
Nor could the passenger door have been opened. Barbara had seen
it's tangle of immovable steel herself. Yet Ben's account
brought consolation to a grieving family. Their daughter was
safe in heaven, and they would see her again.
~Author Unknown~
www.mountainwings.com
The Nursing Home
very nice story worth sharing for!!! it made me cry...just a story but it is full of lesson!!! a very good insight for our daily lives!!! have a nice day everyone!!
The Nursing Home
=================
The 92-year-old petite, well-poised and proud lady,
who is fully dressed each morning by eight o'clock,
with her hair fashionably fixed and makeup perfectly applied
even though she is legally blind, moved to a nursing home today.
Her husband of 70 years recently passed away, making the move
necessary.
After many hours of waiting patiently in the lobby of the
nursing home, she smiled sweetly when told her room was ready.
As she maneuvered her walker to the elevator,
I provided a visual description of her tiny room,
including the eyelet sheets that had been hung on her window.
"I love it," she stated with the enthusiasm of an eight-year-old
having just been presented with a new puppy.
"Mrs. Jones, you haven't seen the room... just wait."
"That doesn't have anything to do with it," she replied.
"Happiness is something you decide on ahead of time.
Whether I like my room or not doesn't depend on how the
furniture is arranged... it's how I arrange my mind."
"I've already decided to love it.
It's a decision I make every morning when I wake up.
I have a choice; I can spend the day in bed
recounting the difficulty I have with the parts of my body that
no longer work, or get out of bed and be thankful for the ones
that do.
Each day is a gift and as long as my eyes open,
I'll focus on the new day
and all the happy memories I've stored away
just for this time in my life."
"Old age is like a bank account.
You withdraw from what you've put in.
So, my advice to you would be to deposit a lot of happiness
in the bank account of memories."
"Thank you for your part in filling my Memory bank.
I am still depositing."
Remember the five simple rules to be happy:
1. Free your heart from hatred.
2. Free your mind from worries.
3. Live simply.
4. Give more.
5. Expect less.
~Author Unknown~
www.mountainwings.com
The Nursing Home
=================
The 92-year-old petite, well-poised and proud lady,
who is fully dressed each morning by eight o'clock,
with her hair fashionably fixed and makeup perfectly applied
even though she is legally blind, moved to a nursing home today.
Her husband of 70 years recently passed away, making the move
necessary.
After many hours of waiting patiently in the lobby of the
nursing home, she smiled sweetly when told her room was ready.
As she maneuvered her walker to the elevator,
I provided a visual description of her tiny room,
including the eyelet sheets that had been hung on her window.
"I love it," she stated with the enthusiasm of an eight-year-old
having just been presented with a new puppy.
"Mrs. Jones, you haven't seen the room... just wait."
"That doesn't have anything to do with it," she replied.
"Happiness is something you decide on ahead of time.
Whether I like my room or not doesn't depend on how the
furniture is arranged... it's how I arrange my mind."
"I've already decided to love it.
It's a decision I make every morning when I wake up.
I have a choice; I can spend the day in bed
recounting the difficulty I have with the parts of my body that
no longer work, or get out of bed and be thankful for the ones
that do.
Each day is a gift and as long as my eyes open,
I'll focus on the new day
and all the happy memories I've stored away
just for this time in my life."
"Old age is like a bank account.
You withdraw from what you've put in.
So, my advice to you would be to deposit a lot of happiness
in the bank account of memories."
"Thank you for your part in filling my Memory bank.
I am still depositing."
Remember the five simple rules to be happy:
1. Free your heart from hatred.
2. Free your mind from worries.
3. Live simply.
4. Give more.
5. Expect less.
~Author Unknown~
www.mountainwings.com
Saturday
The Black Death
In the book Killing Giants, Pulling Thorns,Charles R. Swindoll writes about the Black Death and the superstitions that resulted from it.
"Someone came up with the foolish idea that polluted air
brought on the plague. So, people began to carry flower petals
in their pockets, superstitiously thinking the fragrance would
ward off the disease. Groups of victims, if they were able to
walk, were taken outside the hospitals.
Holding hands, they walked in circles around rose gardens,
breathing in deeply the aroma of the blooming plants. In some
cases, the patient couldn't get out of bed, so the attending
physicians filled their pockets with bright-colored petals
from English posy plants. While visiting the patient they walked
around the bed sprinkling the posy petals on and around the
victim.
As death came closer, another superstitious act was employed
with sincerity. Many felt if the lungs could be freed from
pollution, life could be sustained. So, ashes were placed in
a spoon and brought up near the nose, causing a hefty sneeze
or two. But neither flowers nor sneezes retarded the raging
death rate. Not until the real cause was discovered, the bite
of fleas from diseased rats, was the plague brought in check.
The awful experience gave birth to a little song which innocent
children still sing at play. It was first heard from the lips of
a soiled, old man pushing a cart in London, picking up bodies
along an alley:
Ring around the roses,
A pocket full of posies;
Ashes, ashes, We all fall down."
~Submitted by Maria Pupillo, Broadview Heights, OH
www.mountainwings.com
"Someone came up with the foolish idea that polluted air
brought on the plague. So, people began to carry flower petals
in their pockets, superstitiously thinking the fragrance would
ward off the disease. Groups of victims, if they were able to
walk, were taken outside the hospitals.
Holding hands, they walked in circles around rose gardens,
breathing in deeply the aroma of the blooming plants. In some
cases, the patient couldn't get out of bed, so the attending
physicians filled their pockets with bright-colored petals
from English posy plants. While visiting the patient they walked
around the bed sprinkling the posy petals on and around the
victim.
As death came closer, another superstitious act was employed
with sincerity. Many felt if the lungs could be freed from
pollution, life could be sustained. So, ashes were placed in
a spoon and brought up near the nose, causing a hefty sneeze
or two. But neither flowers nor sneezes retarded the raging
death rate. Not until the real cause was discovered, the bite
of fleas from diseased rats, was the plague brought in check.
The awful experience gave birth to a little song which innocent
children still sing at play. It was first heard from the lips of
a soiled, old man pushing a cart in London, picking up bodies
along an alley:
Ring around the roses,
A pocket full of posies;
Ashes, ashes, We all fall down."
~Submitted by Maria Pupillo, Broadview Heights, OH
www.mountainwings.com
Bible Reflections from Kyregma
FULL ATTENTION
When our son Jac was only two, he had his own version of 911 and it was spelled Y-A-Y-A. When he needed milk, when his diapers were wet, when he wanted anything, he would shout, “Yaya!” even if my wife was right beside him. Of course, it made my wife jealous.
One day Jac got had the terrible trio of cough, colds and fever. It lasted for days. During those times, his mother stood by his side. She took care of him, monitored his temperature, made sure he took his medicines on time and brought him to the doctor regularly. She lost sleep and was exhausted but she still took care of him.
After six grueling days, Jac got better. A day after his full recovery, while he and his mom where watching TV, he blurted out the sweetest words from a child’s lips. “I love you, Mama,” he said.
I was not there but I could imagine how my wife smiled at that moment.
God also acts just as a mother does during our difficult times. You can be sure that He is right by your side taking care of you. Even when the night is long, He stays and pays you full attention. Alvin Fabella
REFLECTION:
How many times have you doubted the presence of the Lord? Did you ever feel that your prayers were being ignored?
Lord, forgive me for the times I doubted Your presence. I know that You are always with me no matter what trial I may be facing. “Do not be worried and upset,” Jesus told them. “Believe in God and believe also in me.” – John 14:1
CAN YOU SHOW ME THE WAY?
My first assignment as parish priest was in a church located in a far-flung area in Caloocan City. The road that led to the heart of the parish was dusty and rough. Coconut trees and corn fields abounded in the area. Right next to one of the boundaries of the parish was already the province of Bulacan. It was my first time to be there and I could hardly figure out where the parish church was, so I requested my driver to pull over so that I can ask for directions from a group of children playing along the road.
“Son,” I talked to one of the children, “could you kindly tell me where the parish church is?” The boy stared at me blankly, so I tried to break the ice by saying, “If you tell me where the parish church is, I will show you the way to heaven!” But the boy gave me a puzzled look and said, “Sir, you do not even know how to get to the parish church, how can you show me the way to heaven?”
Jesus is the Way, the Truth, and the Life. There is no other. When we are lost in the labyrinth of life, in Jesus alone can we find the right direction. When we are confused about the various and conflicting teachings about our belief, in Jesus alone can we know the truth. When we find ourselves facing a dead end or death itself, in Jesus alone can we receive life. Jesus does not only show us the way or teach us the truth or gives us life. He Himself is the Way, the Truth, and the Life. Therefore, it is a matter of survival to keep ourselves attuned to Jesus, united with Him, and rooted in Him. Without Jesus, we are lost, confused, and dead.
The boy I inquired from (after a loud childish laughter) eventually pointed the way to my first parish assignment. Quite often, we need other people to put us on the right track. In the same manner, we need one another to lead us closer, if not lead us back, to our common destination: heaven. We do so by striving to become more and more like Jesus to one another. For there is only one Way, one Truth, and one Life — Jesus. Fr. Bobby Titco
Reflection Question:
I know how to get to so many places. But do I know how to get to heaven?
Lord Jesus, You are the Way, lead me. You are the Truth, teach me. You are the life, heal me. Amen.
St. Apollonius the Apologist, martyr, pray for us.
1st READING
Paul had a heart for the Jews in his preaching. He always began a new mission by seeking out the local Jewish community and offering them the Gospel first. Only when they rejected the Gospel would he take it to the Gentiles. It was a good strategy assuming the Jews would have a greater predisposition to accept the Gospel than the Gentiles. However, it seems that the opposite was the case as Paul continued to agonize over the Jews’ rejection of the Gospel. Nevertheless, this would not distract him from giving his all in preaching to others.
Acts13: 26-33
26 “My brothers, children of the family of Abraham, and those others among you who are God-fearing, to us this word of salvation has been sent. 27 The inhabitants of Jerusalem and their leaders failed to recognize him, and by condemning him they fulfilled the oracles of the prophets that are read sabbath after sabbath. 28 For even though they found no grounds for a death sentence, they asked Pilate to have him put to death, 29 and when they had accomplished all that was written about him, they took him down from the tree and placed him in a tomb. 30 But God raised him from the dead, 31 and for many days he appeared to those who had come up with him from Galilee to Jerusalem. These are [now] his witnesses before the people. 32 We ourselves are proclaiming this good news to you that what God promised our ancestors 33 he has brought to fulfillment for us, their children, by raising up Jesus, as it is written in the second psalm, ‘You are my son; this day I have begotten you.’
P S A L M
Psalm 2:6-7, 8-9, 10- 11ab
R: You are my Son; this day I have begotten you.
6 “I myself have set up my king on Zion, my holy mountain.” 7 I will proclaim the decree of the LORD. The LORD said to me, “You are my son; this day I have begotten you. (R) 8 Ask of me and I will give you the nations for an inheritance and the ends of the earth for your possession. 9 You shall rule them with an iron rod; you shall shatter them like an earthen dish.” (R) 10 And now, O kings, give heed; take warning, you rulers of the earth. 11 Serve the LORD with fear, and rejoice before him; with trembling rejoice. (R)
G O S P E L
Jesus promises us that He will prepare a place for us in heaven. What a great promise this is. It should be music to our ears and a great consolation to those who have worked tirelessly to proclaim the Gospel. He also tells us that He is the Way, the Truth and the Life. Let us grasp this truth with both hands and never let go as we seek to live our lives in, through and for Him.
John 14: 1-6
1 “Do not let your hearts be troubled. You have faith in God; have faith also in me. 2 In my Father’s house there are many dwelling places. If there were not, would I have told you that I am going to prepare a place for you? 3 And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come back again and take you to myself, so that where I am you also may be. 4 Where [I] am going you know the way.” 5 Thomas said to him, “Master, we do not know where you are going; how can we know the way?” 6 Jesus said to him, “I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me.”
my reflections
think:Do I live my life in, for and through Jesus?
www.kyregma.com
www.kyregma.com
The Devil Left His Bags
You put the devil out, but you let him leave his bags.
Never quite looked at it like this before...
You got out of a bad relationship because it was bad,
but you are still resentful and angry.
You let the devil leave his bags.
You got out of financial debt, but you still can't control
the desire to spend on frivolous things.
You let the devil leave his bags.
You got out of a bad habit or addiction,
but you still long to try it just one more time.
You let the devil leave his bags.
You said, I forgive you, but you can't seem to forget
and have peace with that person.
You let the devil leave his bags.
You told your unequally yoked mate that it was over,
but you still continue to call.
You let the devil leave his bags.
You got out of that horribly oppressive job, but you're still
trying to sabotage the company after you've left.
You let the devil leave his bags.
You cut off the affair with that married man/woman,
but you still lust after him/her.
You let the devil leave his bags.
You broke off your relationship with that hurtful, abusive
person, but you are suspicious and distrusting of every new
person you meet.
You let the devil leave his bags.
You decided to let go of the past hurts from growing up in an
unstable family environment, yet you believe you are unworthy of
love from others, and you refuse to get attached to anyone.
You let the devil leave his bags.
When you put the devil out, please make sure he takes his bags.
~Author Unknown~
www.mountainwings.com
Never quite looked at it like this before...
You got out of a bad relationship because it was bad,
but you are still resentful and angry.
You let the devil leave his bags.
You got out of financial debt, but you still can't control
the desire to spend on frivolous things.
You let the devil leave his bags.
You got out of a bad habit or addiction,
but you still long to try it just one more time.
You let the devil leave his bags.
You said, I forgive you, but you can't seem to forget
and have peace with that person.
You let the devil leave his bags.
You told your unequally yoked mate that it was over,
but you still continue to call.
You let the devil leave his bags.
You got out of that horribly oppressive job, but you're still
trying to sabotage the company after you've left.
You let the devil leave his bags.
You cut off the affair with that married man/woman,
but you still lust after him/her.
You let the devil leave his bags.
You broke off your relationship with that hurtful, abusive
person, but you are suspicious and distrusting of every new
person you meet.
You let the devil leave his bags.
You decided to let go of the past hurts from growing up in an
unstable family environment, yet you believe you are unworthy of
love from others, and you refuse to get attached to anyone.
You let the devil leave his bags.
When you put the devil out, please make sure he takes his bags.
~Author Unknown~
www.mountainwings.com
The Only Way to Get There
I just find this story very interesting. I will be travelling to the US from Germany for the first next month. It will be a long long trip. But I know like what the man says here, I can find a way to enjoy it!! absolutely..God bless me in my travel!! here is the story...hope everyone have a great weekend..!!
The Only Way to Get There
I was settling in my seat on a flight from Paris to Atlanta.
The lady next to me was from Kentucky. The flight was 10 hours.
"It's going to be a long flight," I remarked.
"It's the only way to get there," she replied.
It was A MountainWings Moment.
She was absolutely right.
There were other ways to get from Atlanta but they sure weren't any faster. Train, boat, car, bus, or some combination would get me back to Atlanta but surely not faster or more comfortable than the Boeing 777.
Some of your situations in life are like that.
You've a long way to go and it will take you a long time, but it's the only way to get there.
Once we realize that, the ride is a lot more pleasant.
The same trip a hundred years ago would have taken weeks or months.
I had nine movies to choose from.
I had dinner.
I had several channels of music to listen to.
I had my laptop computer on which I am writing this now.
I wasn't in first class, I was in coach and I am nearly six feet four (192cm). My knees were pressed against the front seat so I wasn't exactly in the greatest comfort possible.
Then the person in front of me leaned the seat ALL the way back.
My knees went "crunch."
The Kentucky lady sitting next to me offered to change seats since she wasn't as tall.
I was surrounded by both inconsiderateness and kindness, just as you are.
I simply slid my legs under the seat and managed quite well for ten hours.
If you have a long way to go
...in your relationship
...in your finances
...in your health
and even though you aren't in the greatest comfort possible, realize it's the only way to get there and the sooner yourealize that,
...the sooner you can lean back and enjoy the ride.
~A MountainWings Original~
www.mountainwings.com
The Only Way to Get There
I was settling in my seat on a flight from Paris to Atlanta.
The lady next to me was from Kentucky. The flight was 10 hours.
"It's going to be a long flight," I remarked.
"It's the only way to get there," she replied.
It was A MountainWings Moment.
She was absolutely right.
There were other ways to get from Atlanta but they sure weren't any faster. Train, boat, car, bus, or some combination would get me back to Atlanta but surely not faster or more comfortable than the Boeing 777.
Some of your situations in life are like that.
You've a long way to go and it will take you a long time, but it's the only way to get there.
Once we realize that, the ride is a lot more pleasant.
The same trip a hundred years ago would have taken weeks or months.
I had nine movies to choose from.
I had dinner.
I had several channels of music to listen to.
I had my laptop computer on which I am writing this now.
I wasn't in first class, I was in coach and I am nearly six feet four (192cm). My knees were pressed against the front seat so I wasn't exactly in the greatest comfort possible.
Then the person in front of me leaned the seat ALL the way back.
My knees went "crunch."
The Kentucky lady sitting next to me offered to change seats since she wasn't as tall.
I was surrounded by both inconsiderateness and kindness, just as you are.
I simply slid my legs under the seat and managed quite well for ten hours.
If you have a long way to go
...in your relationship
...in your finances
...in your health
and even though you aren't in the greatest comfort possible, realize it's the only way to get there and the sooner yourealize that,
...the sooner you can lean back and enjoy the ride.
~A MountainWings Original~
www.mountainwings.com
Monday
Bible Reflections from Kyregma
HEAVEN ON EARTH
“I am the bread of life; whoever comes to me will never hunger, and whoever believes in me will never thirst.” – John 6:35
“The Mass — and I mean every single Mass — is heaven on earth.” That’s what Scott Hahn said in his book, The Lamb’s Supper: The Mass as Heaven on Earth.
Even if I try to attend Mass regularly, I sure don’t feel that way every time. I get sleepy, distracted, numb. Of course, I also feel great — sometimes.
But I try to attend Mass daily, not because of my feelings, but because I believe I meet Jesus there. When I’m happy, I give thanks. And when I’m tempted or down, then I literally run to Mass for help. Afterwards, I get insight, a sense that everything will turn out right or that I am not alone.
When Jesus promised to nourish us with Himself in the Eucharist, it covered every area of our lives: emotional, spiritual and financial.
Next time we go to church, let’s be more aware where we are and Who we’re seeing. We might just see heaven come down. Joy Sosoban
REFLECTION:
“It would be easier for the world to exist without the sun than without the Holy Sacrifice of the Mass.” (Padre Pio of Pietrelcina)
Don’t let me attend Mass only out of duty, Lord. Let me love You in it.
WE LOSE PEOPLE WE LOVE
No one is dispensable. Each one of us counts. This is how God regards us. We are precious to Him. He loves us more than we know.
We only lose people we love. People we do not love do not count for us. We do not lose them because they do not matter to us in the first place. We do not notice the absence of people we do not love.
God loses us because He loves us. He loses us not because He does not care about us. He wants all men and women to be saved. But, as St. Augustine said, “God who created you without asking you will not save you without consulting you.” No matter how much God loves us, He does not force us to love Him back. If we stay away from Him, He follows us, He runs after us, and He even haunts us, but He never coerces us to remain in Him. His will is to love us, only to love us, always to love us.
Jesus came to personally tell us how much God loves us and so He wills that all men and women be saved. The Father’s will is for Jesus to save us and that not one of us be lost. Jesus gathers us in the Father’s love.
When we strive to preserve the gains of our salvation, we are like Jesus. When we exert effort not to lose anyone in our Christian community, we are like Jesus. When we value one another and never consider anyone dispensable, we are like Jesus. The name “Jesus” literally means, “God saves.” We continue to make the meaning of His name happen whenever we search out for the lost among us and love those who remain so that we may never lose them. For we lose only those we love. Fr. Bobby Titco
Reflection Question:
Is there anyone in my communitythat I am actually missing? Why?
Dear Jesus, You gather us together in the Father’s loving embrace. Preserve us from anything that may cause the Father to lose us. Deliver us from those who may snatch us from the Father’s love. Help us to search and bring back whoever He has lost and may we never be the cause of the Father’s losing any of His beloved children. Amen.
St. Gaucherius, abbot, pray for us.
1st READING
The persecution in Jerusalem will result in the preaching of the Gospel. Here we see that God is able to use even evil circumstances to spread the Good News. God will cause all things to work for the good of those who love and trust Him.
Acts 8: b-8
1 There broke out a severe persecution of the church in Jerusalem, and all were scattered throughout the countryside of Judea and Samaria, except the apostles. 2 Devout men buried Stephen and made a loud lament over him. 3 Saul, meanwhile, was trying to destroy the church; entering house after house and dragging out men and women, he handed them over for imprisonment. 4 Now those who had been scattered went about preaching the word. 5 Thus Philip went down to [the] city of Samaria and proclaimed the Messiah to them. 6 With one accord, the crowds paid attention to what was said by Philip when they heard it and saw the signs he was doing. 7 For unclean spirits, crying out in a loud voice, came out of many possessed people, and many paralyzed and crippled people were cured. 8 There was great joy in that city.
P S A L M
Psalm 66: - a, 4- , 6-7a
R: Let all the earth cry out to God with joy.
1 Shout joyfully to God, all you on earth, 2 sing praise to the glory of his name; proclaim his glorious praise. 3 Say to God, “How tremendous are your deeds!” (R) 4 “Let all on earth worship and sing praise to you, sing praise to your name!” 5 Come and see the works of God, his tremendous deeds among the children of Adam. (R) 6 He has changed the sea into dry land; through the river they passed on foot; therefore let us rejoice in him. 7 He rules by his might forever. (R)
G O S P E L
The ultimate vindication for men and women of faith is the promise of the life to come. Faith helps make our worldly concerns seem small compared to the hope of heaven. Let us therefore fix our eyes on the things that await us in eternity rather than the things of earth.
John 6: -40
35 Jesus said to them, “I am the bread of life; whoever comes to me will never hunger, and whoever believes in me will never thirst. 36 But I told you that although you have seen [me], you do not believe. 37 Everything that the Father gives me will come to me, and I will not reject anyone who comes to me, 38 because I came down from heaven not to do my own will but the will of the one who sent me. 39 And this is the will of the one who sent me, that I should not lose anything of what he gave me, but that I should raise it [on] the last day. 40 For this is the will of my Father, that everyone who sees the Son and believes in him may have eternal life, and I shall raise him on the last day.”
my reflections
think:Let us focus on the things that await us in eternity rather than the things of this earth.
Friday
Bible Reflections from Kyregma
BREAD BROKEN FOR BROKEN PEOPLE
“Whoever eats my flesh and drinks my blood remains in me and I in him.” – John 6:56
There are different kinds of people during communion in the Mass. There are those who run to the communion line, jostling to be the first. They can be called the “Winners.” There are those who receive communion whispering softly, “Amen.” They can be called “Humble.” Others shout amen at the top of their lungs. They can be branded as “True Worshipers.” And there are still others who, after receiving the host, open their mouth wide to show it to their kids. They are called the “Evangelizers.”
Once, I saw a teenager who wildly waved hello when she saw someone familiar just after receiving communion. We can call that person “Miss Friendship.” And what about a young boy I saw who chewed the host as if it was bubble gum? That boy could actually wear a shirt that says, “Hungry for Jesus.”
It’s easy to judge some of these people as irreverent, inconsiderate or maybe, to an extent, even “sinful.” They should be taught how to properly receive Jesus in the Holy Eucharist, right? But in spite of their actions, Jesus knows them. He knows their brokenness.
And He knows that the broken bread in the Eucharist is for broken people. Arun Gogna
REFLECTION:
How do I give reverence during Holy Communion?
Lord let me be like You — accepting of others’ brokenness.
A GIFT AND A MANDATE
In yesterday’s Gospel, Jesus said, “The bread that I shall give is My Flesh for the life of the world.” Today, His hearers argue how He can give them His flesh to eat. But Jesus does not make excuses or declares an erratum. Instead, He stresses His claim even more: “I tell you most solemnly, if you do not eat the Flesh of the Son of Man and drink His Blood, you will not have life in you. Anyone who does eat My Flesh and drink My Blood has eternal life… For My Flesh is real food and My Blood is real drink.”
It is very clear, therefore, that Jesus truly intended to be food and drink for us. And this desire was of no equal importance to Him that He did not mind offending the sensibilities of His hearers.
We should give the same importance to the Sacrament of the Body and Blood of Jesus — the Holy Eucharist. With utmost adoration, we should approach it and receive it. By doing so, we afford Jesus the importance and adoration He deserves.
Jesus is our food. He wants us to feed on Him. He also wants us to feed others with Him. The more we consume Him, the more we become part of Him. The more we become part of Him, the more we should reflect Him to others. We reflect Him to others by living His life of total self-giving for the sake of others.
The Holy Eucharist is both a precious gift and mandate. Let us not forget fulfilling the mandate even as we always are mindful to receive the gift.Fr. Bobby Titco
Reflection Question: What does the Holy Eucharist command me to do?
Lord Jesus, You gave us Yourself so that we, too, may give ourselves to others. Strengthened by Your gift of self in the Holy Eucharist, may everything we do always be life-giving. Amen.
St. Gemma Galgani, virgin, pray for us.
1st READING
Paul sincerely believes that he was doing God’s work by persecuting the Early Church. I believe this precisely because of the fact that he eventually converted to Christianity. This indicates his remarkable openness to God’s Word and the work of the Holy Spirit.
Acts 9: 1-20
1 Saul, still breathing murderous threats against the disciples of the Lord, went to the high priest 2 and asked him for letters to the synagogues in Damascus, that, if he should find any men or women who belonged to the Way, he might bring them back to Jerusalem in chains. 3 On his journey, as he was nearing Damascus, a light from the sky suddenly flashed around him. 4 He fell to the ground and heard a voice saying to him, “Saul, Saul, why are you persecuting me?” 5 He said, “Who are you, sir?” The reply came, “I am Jesus, whom you are persecuting. 6 Now get up and go into the city and you will be told what you must do.” 7 The men who were traveling with him stood speechless, for they heard the voice but could see no one. 8 Saul got up from the ground, but when he opened his eyes he could see nothing; so they led him by the hand and brought him to Damascus. 9 For three days he was unable to see, and he neither ate nor drank. 10 There was a disciple in Damascus named Ananias, and the Lord said to him in a vision, “Ananias.” He answered, “Here I am, Lord.” 11 The Lord said to him, “Get up and go to the street called Straight and ask at the house of Judas for a man from Tarsus named Saul. He is there praying, 12 and [in a vision] he has seen a man named Ananias come in and lay his hands on him, that he may regain his sight.” 13 But Ananias replied, “Lord, I have heard from many sources about this man, what evil things he has done to your holy ones in Jerusalem. 14 And here he has authority from the chief priests to imprison all who call upon your name.” 15 But the Lord said to him, “Go, for this man is a chosen instrument of mine to carry my name before Gentiles, kings, and Israelites, 16 and I will show him what he will have to suffer for my name.” 17 So Ananias went and entered the house; laying his hands on him, he said, “Saul, my brother, the Lord has sent me, Jesus who appeared to you on the way by which you came, that you may regain your sight and be filled with the holy Spirit.” 18 Immediately things like scales fell from his eyes and he regained his sight. He got up and was baptized, 19 and when he had eaten, he recovered his strength. He stayed some days with the disciples in Damascus, 20 and he began at once to proclaim Jesus in the synagogues, that he is the Son of God.
P S A L M
Psalm 117: 1bc, 2
R: Go out to all the world and tell the Good News.
1 Praise the LORD, all you nations; glorify him, all you peoples! (R) 2 For steadfast is his kindness toward us, and the fidelity of the LORD endures forever. (R)
G O S P E L
Jesus’ words once again become a point of argument. This particular teaching on giving His flesh to eat isn’t easy to accept. It will only be fully understandable after His earthly mission is completed. Jesus is not talking about mere food like manna in the desert. The food He gives is both real and spiritual, leading to eternal life.
John 6: 52-59
52 The Jews quarreled among themselves, saying, “How can this man give us his flesh to eat?” 53 Jesus said to them, “Amen, amen, I say to you, unless you eat the flesh of the Son of Man and drink his blood, you do not have life within you. 54 Whoever eats my flesh and drinks my blood has eternal life, and I will raise him on the last day. 55 For my flesh is true food, and my blood is true drink. 56 Whoever eats my flesh and drinks my blood remains in me and I in him. 57 Just as the living Father sent me and I have life because of the Father, so also the one who feeds on me will have life because of me. 58 This is the bread that came down from heaven. Unlike your ancestors who ate and still died, whoever eats this bread will live forever.” 59 These things he said while teaching in the synagogue in Capernaum.
my reflections
think: Do I believe in the reality of the Eucharist?
www.kyregma.com (04.11. 2008)
www.kyregma.com (04.11. 2008)
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