Month: March 2014

This morning was just an ordinary day, the same wake up and go to work day.  I was not expecting anything  unusual to happen during my normal commute to work.

I usually continue my morning prayer during this morning commute.  While driving, I just thought about praying to the Lord to keep me and my family out of accidents today. I normally pray for safety and deliverance for me and my family, but I don’t specifically pray for safety from accidents.

About 5 minutes later, I saw a pedestrian wanting to cross, so I stopped to give way.  The vehicle behind me also stopped.  A few seconds later, I heard a loud screech and saw in my rearview mirror that the vehicle behind me got rear ended.  I was waiting for my turn to get hit by the vehicle behind me.  Nothing, I got out and noticed that both vehicles were pushed to the right, leaving my van untouched.

God is everywhere, if you are looking for ways for the Holy Spirit to manifest in you, it is in the little moments where you think of something, where the Lord speaks to you.

Thank you God for being everywhere, you are truly amazing!

As we begin this season of Lent, as children of God, we are called to deny ourselves. Sacrifice our own desires and live for Christ.

Lent is a reminder from the Lord inviting us to follow Him, walk with Him, be with Him, and suffer with Him. We bear our crosses willingly and whole heartedly. When we fast, we offer the things we love because of the One we love. 

Not only is lent a time to suffer but a time to repent. A time to renew our relationship with the Lord in almsgiving and in prayer. We offer our time and gratitude denying ourselves because of the One we love. 

In these 40 days of lent we are given the opportunity to journey closer to the Lord. We are given this time to practice patience, putting others needs before ourselves, speaking and listening to God, and reflecting on the beauty of the life He has given us.

As the 40 days go by, each day will be harder to deny ourselves more for Christ. Remain faithful and always make choices with a joyful heart that reflects God.

“Remember, that you are dust, and unto dust you shall return.”

We do not belong to the world and the world does not belong to us. Detach yourself from worldly things and follow Christ. We belong to Christ as Christ is One with us.

 

Benedictus Deus in Saecula

So, Ash Wednesday is tomorrow. Its about that time to think of that “FAST” we are to give up.

What will yours be? Candy? Chocolate? Facebook? Instagram?

What does this fast mean to you? …

…This form of “Discipline” during this lent season.

Lent is a special time of prayer, penance, sacrifice, and good works in preparation for the celebration of Easter. So will this fast be something good for our souls and prepare ourselves more fervently for Christ’s ultimate passion? Will this fast make us a better person permanently?

Or will this fast be something stop after lent, which might continue darkening our souls?

Back to discipline.

In my younger days, I was disciplined A LOT because my parents and sisters knew I was and would get in a lot of trouble. They did it out of love for me… because they cared. I was so blind to see that this discipline was not only for a period of time, but it was enforced for me to come out of the darkness and become a better person for the future.

This fast not only shows love to our God but it’s actually a gift from God for us to become better sons and daughters for Him. He cares. He loves. He will do anything to show it. Sacrifice is one way, if not the ultimate way.

Our fast, if we give it up for the greater glory of God, lets tough it out. Lets not act like those Pharisees back in the day who found loop holes. Lets also pay special emphasis on becoming more spiritual, attending mass more often, having a good confession, spending time in Adoration and just ultimately loving and sharing God’s more.

For this 2014 Lenten season, I pray that our lives are renewed with a deeper understanding of Christ and relationship with Him.

Deo Gloria.

 

I’ve been here in Texas for a few days now and just having all this time alone…a lot of thoughts hit your mind.

I guess I realized this;

Just the way the Lord carefully places certain things in your life…imagine how timely those situations came whether at the time it was a victory, or even a struggle. Imagine where you are now…or at least for me anyways, you realize how active the Lord was in every single second of our lives..

Sure, there are a lot of things we need to learn, heal from, reflect on…but at least know this…

You are still here today. You can handle whatever is front of you. There are people God has placed in your life that are there for you. Never give up. Keep Praying. Keep giving more of You, to love all of Him.

Lord, may I always be motivated by You. Inspired by You. To love like You. To be like You. To accept like You have accepted.

Deo Gloria

The last four years of my life have really been life changing.  Of course, ever since we joined CFC in 1999, our life as a family has never been the same.  But the last four years have been amazing.  It made me see the special calling that the Lord has for our community in Canada, missionaries to the rest of the world!

Just listening to the Mission Volunteer and Fulltime Pastoral Worker applicants pour out their hearts and willing to give their all for God, has left me amazed.   How in the world, at their age, can these young adults think of giving up practically everything for the Lord?  How fortunate are they to see what life in this world is really all about!

The next 5 years (from our 20^th year to our 25^th year of the Family Ministries in Canada) will be mind blowing, here’s why:

CFC Canada will be a mission centre, building and sending missionaries to the rest of the world, our problem will be having more Mission volunteers that we can ever imagine (and that’s a Great problem to have)!

The mission in Canada will be on fire, everywhere you go and everywhere you look you will see the face of Jesus in CFC and the Family Ministries in parishes, in schools, in universities, in towns and cities, in all provinces and territories!

Go (CFC Canada), therefore, and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, 

AMDG