Say Yes Mama Mary!!!

A humble spirit always ends up winning with God

2010-12-12T01:14:00.000-08:00

The real world is no place for dreams." This is the view of many people in today's society. Many people may have childhood dreams but when the heat's on and you've got to decide between dream life or take care of today, many people settle somewhere outside the parameters of what they long to become. It's not easy to experience the pain and despair of rejection, isolation, betrayal, uncertainty, and other negative emotions that are associated with the road of pursuing dreams. Most people give in to the "real world" syndrome and find a paying gig that gets them through life and feeds the kids, while their dream lies shattered in their hearts.

"And it came to pass after these things that his master's wife cast longing eyes on Joseph, and she said, "Lie with me." But he refused and said to his master's wife, "Look, my master does not know what is with me in the house, and he has committed all that he has to my hand-How then can I do this great wickedness, and sin against God?" Genesis 39: 7-8

Joseph was given a dream by God as a young man and he embraced that dream. His first reward for being a dreamer was being sold into slavery by his brothers who were jealous of his lofty dreams. While he was in slavery, his master's wife became strongly attracted to him but when he refused to commit adultery with her, she made a claim that Joseph tried to rape her and he ended up in prison for not sleeping with his boss's wife. How ridiculous is that!

We learn that making the right choices and living a life of integrity will produce a great life for us but here we see the hard truth of where integrity and righteousness lands you on your road to living your dreams. Joseph is being tested here by God. Joseph was not on trial because of his actions with Potiphar's wife, he was on trial against his accuser, Satan, who questioned Joseph's loyalties and commitment just as he did with Job. Satan poses the question to every single dreamer out there; "Will you serve God even if you are punished for it?" But God also has a question that He poses in your unfair suffering, "Do you love your dream more than you love Me?"

You will come face to face with these questions if you plan on pursuing your dreams in life. So many people take short cuts to their dream when the temptation arises. People wake up one day and see that they've become a mutated version of what they originally hoped to become. You know the story- a young lady moves to the 'city of dreams' in hopes of becoming a big movie star just like her role model. After a couple of years of hard rejection and broken hope she begins to notice other 'opportunities' of making some fast cash in front of the cameras. She says that she's only doing this to get her through.

Most people start out with good intentions but the pain that is associated with the road of success either makes you or it breaks you. The road to success never leaves anyone the same way they came in to it. You will either grow bitter or you will grow better. You will either become a master of your experiences or you will become a monster on the road that leads to your dreams.

Joseph became a master of his experiences because he learned to master his thoughts, his feelings, and his emotions on a daily basis. Joseph learned 2 great things that helped him win in life. 1. Joseph overcame bitterness. He didn't get bitter because of his unjust treatment. He didn't seek to get even and get revenge on people. He didn't play negative scenes in his head every night like we sometimes do. I'm sure that he grieved over what is brothers had done and over what Potiphar's wife had done but he didn't dwell on these things.

He forgave these people and embraced mercy and love. We see Joseph's forgiveness when he finally makes it to the top and his brothers are in need of him. He embraced them with love and said "But now, do not therefore be grieved or angry with yourselves because you sold me here..." Genesis 45: 5

Joseph remained humble to God. While he was the master of Potiphar's house he didn't get cocky like others would have and say, "Why shouldn't I have my boss's wife, I run everything else here?" When some people get authority and temptation presents itself, they indulge, believing their own hype. Joseph didn't, we see that Joseph was actually humbled by his master trusting him with authority.

A humble spirit always ends up winning with God even if it doesn't win at the first. God always exalts those who humble themselves to His will even when it looks like you're being set up for failure.

If you can learn to overcome the bitterness that the road to your dreams will undoubtedly produce and can avoid pride, but instead choose to walk in humility when you are exalted, then you will be setting yourself up for real victory in life. If you can bite down and remain faithful to God and trust in His word even when you're suffering for following Him, you will be setting yourself up to achieve every dream of your heart and beyond.

YesMamaMary Home - YesMamaMary

2010-11-24T04:19:00.000-08:00

YesMamaMary Home - YesMamaMary

Testimonial for Tierra de Maria 0001

2010-11-20T18:56:00.000-08:00

Tierra de Maria, First Saturday Healing Mass, January 2010

2010-11-06T08:52:00.000-07:00

What Is The Meaning Of Life?

2010-10-30T22:41:00.000-07:00

Throughout time, man has struggled with his own destiny. Where, in the scheme of things does man fit in? What is the human condition and is man accountable for his own conditional state? Is there a God that administers man’s fate? Can man be successful in love and business and still have an intimate relationship with God? Should man be uplifted to the world? Is mankind enslaved to evil? There are so many questions that plagues the mind of man. I remember as a child I used to feel like an orphan, lost and forgotten. I had a wonderful father, mother and two sisters, yet I felt as if I were alone in a foreign place. I would lie on the lawn at night and stare at the heavens, thinking, why am I here, where did I come from, what is my purpose? .As a childish mind would have it, I simply couldn’t see the reasoning behind my being. I felt God had abandon me, and I could not restore our relationship. Over time, I quit seeking God and became infatuated with the world. Even as the world became my reality the question was still in the back of my mind. I could not keep from wondering why and who I was. An awareness began to creep into my mind that added to the feeling of not belonging to the world. I will attempt to stay on course and tell you how I was enlightened and how my experiences may shed some light on you in your search for God. It is my best intention to convey some insight of reason through our shared position in God’s purpose

Please, LORD, Make The Confusion Go Away!

This text is an account of a confused boy turning into a wayward man and his struggle with his own condition and God’s involvement in it. Apparently, there are many questions that go unanswered simply because people do not ask or fear asking the questions in the first place. They fear rejection from their peers and worse they fear the answers to their questions because they don’t want to know their true condition. They see themselves as something, that in most cases, they are not. Sick is sick no matter if you know it or not. You can’t make it go away, so you may as well face it and work on getting well.

But as it is written, “Eye hath not seen, nor ear heard, neither have entered into the heart of man, the things which God hath prepared for them that love him.” 1 Corinthians 29

Our relationship to God’s creation is a mystery in our eyes, and God wants it that way because if everything were known, there would be no faith. People simply can’t understand that they are as much a part of the creation as dirt itself. Truly, mankind couldn’t take the full measure of God’s revelation that’s one reason why God protects people from knowing the creation. The fact is; we see hear and feel in narrow ranges. Most colors and sounds are outside of our range of experience. If man could hear and see everything, then God Himself would be revealed, and God said no man hath seen me. He is beyond our comprehension and we are humbled at His presence and fear his mighty power. Even lowly angles instill fear in man when they come into his presence.

And he said unto them, Unto you it is given to know the mystery of the kingdom of God: but unto them that are without, all these things are done in parables: 12That seeing they may see, and not perceive; and hearing they may hear, and not understand; lest at any time they should be converted, and their sins should be forgiven them. Mark 4:11

Ephesians 3:2 if, indeed, ye did hear of the dispensation of the grace of God that was given to me in regard to you, 3 that by revelation He made known to me the secret, according as I wrote before in few words 4 in regard to which ye are able, reading it, to understand my knowledge in the secret of the Christ, 5 which in other generations was not made known to the sons of men, as it was now revealed to His holy apostles and prophets in the Spirit

Ephesians 3:9 And to make all men see what is the fellowship of the mystery, which from the beginning of the world hath been hid in God, who created all things by Jesus Christ: 10 To the intent that now unto the principalities and powers in heavenly places might be known by the church the manifold wisdom of God, 11 According to the eternal purpose which he purposed in Christ Jesus our Lord: 12 In whom we have boldness and access with confidence by the faith of him.

YesMamaMary Home - YesMamaMary

2010-10-30T22:19:00.000-07:00

YesMamaMary Home - YesMamaMary

HOW TO LIVE A LIFE WITHOUT REGRETS

2010-10-25T03:16:00.000-07:00

"Twenty years from now you will be more disappointed by the things that you didn't do than by the ones you did do. So throw off the bowlines. Sail away from the safe harbor. Catch the trade winds in your sails. Explore. Dream. Discover." -Mark Twain

We have all met someone who came towards the end of their life and regretted not doing the things that they had always wanted and now they were too old to do it. In a sense they had missed the window of opportunity. You might say to yourself that it will never happen to you, that if you really wanted to do something you'd just go out and do it. That you'd be one of those rare specimens that lives for the moment without any regrets.

While indeed you would be rare, rarer are those who say they live without regrets and actually be right. The reality is that we all have wanted to do something but didn't because we convinced ourselves that it wasn't the right time, that you weren't ready or that you will do it one day. We are great at justifying why we don't follow our dreams, minimizing our dreams such that we expect less from ourselves and to dream small.

So if you think that you are doing everything you have always dreamed you would then you just aren't dreaming big enough for your life.

If you want to ensure that you won't be another soul that comes to the end of their life with a niggling regret then here are a few simple steps that you can do right now to make your life one without regrets.

Stop just meaninglessly living out your daily routine without questioning what you are doing. It's so easy for us to get caught up in our routine that we have come to take it for granted. Start questioning what it is you want out of life. You can start by taking an afternoon out from your normal routine and just find a quiet spot in a local park. Take out a notebook and pen and just start writing everything you want to do, experience or have in your lifetime. Keep writing and don't stop write as many as you can. But make sure you write them out as though failure is not possible, write out your wildest dreams you can think off.

Now that you have your dreams written down in your notebook, simply pick one or two and get started working towards them today. Take a little step everyday towards the achievement of that dream. For example if it is a travel related dream then maybe your little steps could be to get some brochures, research on what you need to do or bring, think about the money you need to save.

There is no reason why you cant be living your dreams everyday. Not only will it put some spark into your everyday routine but it also gives you something fun and exciting to work towards.

Mary the Ark of the Covenant

2010-10-18T06:09:00.000-07:00

Catholics honor Mother Mary with one hundred and fifty titles in the Litany of Loreto. Other than these are numerous venerable titles accorded her that the faithful accept as a given. Most of our Separated Brethren in the Protestant world however find the ascribing superfluous and consider these accolades as preposterous if not downright blasphemous.

One must first understand that all the Fathers of the Reformation – Luther, Zwingli, and Calvin – remained devotees of Mary even after breaking away from Rome. Over the course of a few years following their lifetime the succeeding generations of Reformers jettisoned the Marian dimension from Protestant Christianity. Five hundred years hence, we find Christians not only ignorant of the Biblical basis for Marian devotion but inimical towards it as well.

Catholics view the entire Sacred Scriptures as one single fabric; Old Testament verses find meaning and purpose against the panorama of Salvation History. Jesus Christ himself said, “I did not come to abolish the Law but to fulfill it.” And the Early Church Fathers realized in their study of that fulfilment that just as Old Testament types prefigured Christ, so too were types that pointed to people and events associated with his salvific mission. This typological principle at interpreting the Bible led Augustine to conclude: “The Old Testament is revealed in the New and the New Testament is concealed in the Old.”

All honors accorded to the Blessed Mother that Protestants find offensive are actually Christo-centric and Scripture-based. These ensue from her singular privilege as being the Mother of the Eternal Word. Without Jesus, Mary would just have been another woman, but the fact that she bore the Redeemer makes her no ordinary woman. The Church Fathers recognized several Old Testament types prefiguring Mary: Sarah, Rachel, Miriam, Deborah, Jael, Judith, Esther and the Ark of the Covenant – this last one, we can best appreciate in the Jewish roots of the Faith.

The Old Testament people of God venerated the Ark of the Covenant, a box of acacia wood adorned with winged cherubim and gilded with gold trimmings, which Moses fashioned upon God’s command. Why would the Israelites venerate a fancy gilded box crafted by human hands? Would that not be a violation of the First Commandment? Not so; what made the Ark of the Covenant an object of veneration were its contents: God’s Word inscribed in stone tablets, a dish of manna and the staff of the high priest, Aaron. These made the box divinely sanctified and an object of veneration. Scripture attests that God’s holy presence, the Shekinah, hovered over the Ark like a cloud day and night

(Exodus 40:31-34) as protector of Israel. The Ark was kept in a makeshift tabernacle-tent during their forty-year journey in the desert, led the People of God across to the Promised Land as the waters of the Jordan parted before it for their crossing, and won victories for them in the conquest of Canaan. They were invincible in all their battles with the Ark borne aloft by priests at the frontlines of every encounter.

As time passed the Chosen People repeatedly lapsed into infidelity to their Covenant with God. His holy presence that had been their protection–overshadowing the Tent of meeting in their desert sojourn and the Temple of Solomon in Jerusalem–was disregarded by the people, which brought on dire consequence of defeat, domination, and exile.

In 587 BC the Babylonians marched on to Jerusalem. The prophet Jeremiah took the Ark that was reposed in the Holy of Hollies and hid it in a secure place before the Kingdom of Judah fell to the Babylonians and brought it to a place...

Unknown until God gathers his people together again and shows his mercy. And then the Lord will disclose these things, and the glory of the Lord and the cloud will appear as they were shown in the case of Moses and as Solomon asked that the place be consecrated (2 Macc 2:5-8).

The temple was rebuilt on the return of the Jews from exile but there was no Ark in the Holy of Holies. It had been missing for six hundred years following the fall and exile. Missing until the proper time for disclosure of God’s mercy. Then came the day when Archangel Gabriel was sent to a lovely young maiden at Nazareth and the Divine Presence that had hovered over the Ark of the Covenant now overshadowed her.

No mortal was ever greeted by an Archangel in such a manner (Lk 1:35); incontrovertible proof from the Scriptures of Mary’s purity. And whereas the Old Testament Ark of the Covenant was simply an elaborate holy crate, the New Testament Ark that it had prefigured was the Immaculate Virgin Mother from whom Jesus, the Eternal Word, Eucharistic Manna, and Eternal High Priest took on flesh. The Word through whom all things were made as attested in John’s Gospel and professed in the Nicene Creed, created His Mother free from imperfection and stain of sin. Her womb the holiest place on earth to form His humanity, the first tabernacle, preserved virginally pure and undefiled – nobody desecrated the Ark of the Lord.

Through, with, and in Christ, the entire Old Testament is fulfilled. Mary, his Immaculate Mother is the true Ark of the Covenant. John in his vision of the heavenly liturgy while on exile at the Isle of Patmos first sees the Ark of the Covenant that had been missing since the Babylonian captivity and immediately thereafter a Woman wearing a crown of twelve stars appears (Rev 11:19-12:1). The Church Fathers identity this Woman as the Woman in Gen 3:15, the same Woman at Cana and at the foot of the Cross. Twelve stars represent the Apostles gathered around her in the upper room at Pentecost metaphoric of the Twelve Tribes encamped around the Ark of the Covenant.

Christians would do well to be devoted to Mary, remembering that as the Old Testament People of God were invincible against all their foes with the Ark of the Covenant leading the way in battle, all the more will they be victorious in the daily spiritual warfare against the forces of Hell with Mary showing the way.

“Ark of the Covenant, pray for us.”

THE FLOW OF SILENCE

2010-09-02T08:16:00.000-07:00

At the end of the day, bathing in the soft light of a candle, lying still on your favorite easy chair, surrender to the silence, and you will find within it, music to disappear in.

Understood the flow of silence, the eloquence that follows from an immersion into nothingness, the transcendence that slips behind suspended action like a shadow.

A famous writer once wrote: "You do not need to leave your room. Remain sitting at your table and listen. Do not even listen, simply wait, be quiet, still and solitary. The world will freely offer itself to you to be unmasked, it has no choice, it will roll in ecstasy at your feet."

In the Bible, in Psalm 24, it has been said, "Be still, and know that I am God."

When you enter the silence, you enter the holy place of the tabernacles of the most High, and all fear, trembling, and doubt ceases. Your restless feet no longer trouble the earth and the mountains of your troubles are carried into the depths of the sea of oblivion.

There is a river in the silence that will carry you into a power that is your very own. When you enter the silence, by learning how to rest and be still, you enter a new place, a virgin territory, where all that is discordant and broken in your life cannot come with you.

Usually, in the first half-hour nothing much happens. Your mind starts to unwind, like a weary warrior dismounting from a spirited horse. You set your shield down, lower your sword, and rest your aching limbs.

Then, in the next half-hour, you gradually descend into a place that becomes increasingly unfamiliar, where thoughts and feelings float by your amazed inner gaze with an alien majesty.

The convulsions of your life, the earthquake that throws the mountains into the sea, the roaring of the waves, the cataclysm of the tidal wave - these phenomena as well as any commotions and revolutions in your world need not shake the one who trusts in silence. Silence is a proven refuge.

Albert Einstein knew about the power of silence and changed the world by what he discovered in it.

Einstein borrowed the idea of the Gedankenexperiment, a thought experiment, from Ernst Mach, the German philosopher, and used it to see what would happen to light beams and gravity when viewed from different imaginary scenarios. He made his paradigm-shattering discoveries by immersing himself in silence and allowing his thoughts to travel where no human thought had ever gone before.

Strange things happen in silence. When the mind-body slows to an even, relaxed pace, thoughts attain a slow rhythm, and intuition arises to resolve paradoxes and invite resolutions and sort out juxtapositions in a unique and exhilarating way.

There is much evidence to show that at alpha and theta brainwaves, which happen in stillness and silence, new thoughts, new discoveries, and remarkable insights await.

Whether you are looking for the God of the mystics or the intuitive hunch that leads to ideas that can change your world, there is only one place you will find it: within. When you discover a resting place free of sound and distraction, you also discover yourself.

There is a world within deeper than an ocean, where archetypes roam and parallel lines do meet at infinity. It is the place where a single whisper can change your life entirely.

Silence is flow; it is music to disappear in; and it has a momentum to it that adds grace to your days and poetry to your life. Pursue it diligently and in your most frantic hour, it will rescue you like the brush of an angel's wing.

DO YOU KNOW THAT LIFE IS GOOD?

2010-08-06T05:39:00.000-07:00

We, as human beings, are suffering uselessly. We are walking around protecting, struggling and trying to force life. We are hurt and offended by someone's crooked face. We are wasting so much time and energy worrying about others approval or non-approval, scheming and manipulating and doing everything we can possibly think of to make everything go our way, so we can feel O.K. about ourselves. It is a recipe for failure and unhappiness and unless we learn a new way, we will continue to suffer. Aren't you tired of it? Haven't you suffered enough? Unfortunately, people still live in hell, they live in misery, with problems up one side and down the other and I can hear them say, "Life is good? Are you kidding? Get a grip!"

I want to wrap my arms around them and say, "No, really, there is another way. It will not be easy to remember, but there is something else going on if you can look hard enough, long enough and deeply enough. You, too, will see it, you will feel it and you will know without a shadow of a doubt, that the you, that IS you, is more than anything you could have ever imagined." Our journey is to remember, and, the remembering is good, oh, so good.

This is bigger than being a little positive now and again; this is about living in a completely different paradigm. It is living in the stream of blessing, harmony and flow. Who wouldn't want that? However, most will never do the inner work, most will never take that much responsibility for their life, for they would rather blame someone else and believe only in what they see as truth. We either wake up to the fact that we have something to do with creating our reality or we can continue to live in hell. It is that simple.

Well, that is not for me. Not that I haven't lived in hell and in limbo and everywhere in between. I have done my share of struggling and crying and have spent plenty of time "in the closet". What? You don't know what "in the closet" is? Ask my sisters, or your sisters, or your mother, or your father's mother; they will know. It is when you cannot take another minute of life. The closet is the darkest place in the house, and no one can find you. Yes, I can share my pain with you, but what is more important is how to transform our pain, take the gift, rise above it and begin to live the good life. Life is good when we are seeing it right. Life is good, even if it looks bad. Life is good regardless of what is going on right now. Life is good because you say so. And, if you say so, God simply knows "Yes". Your curriculum is your life. Your participation is not optional. The degree of your suffering is.

HAPPINESS AND SUCCESS

2010-08-02T06:25:00.000-07:00

Happiness and success are two concepts intertwined with one another. These are two of the most important ingredients that would eventually define a person's life.

If one would think about it, happiness and success are two things that are relative to a person's point of view since these are dependent on one's ideologies. Happiness and success relate to a target or reference point.

A person may say that he is happy because he just finished his studies or he just met a fine woman. A person may say he is successful because he was just promoted to a higher position. When one talks about happiness and success, a certain goal or perhaps an achievement is always the reference point.

A person will constantly ask himself if he is happy or if he can consider himself successful. Many people become depressed because they cannot seem to make sense of all the things that are happening in their lives. The most important thing to remember, when evaluating one's happiness and success, is that people need to limit their assessment using their own personal standards.

Often times, depression comes about because people rely so much on the expectations of others. Have you heard college students who don't do as well as they could because they don't like the course which they are in? They say that they don't really like the course because they were just forced by their parents or they had to take it for some other reason than because they liked it. Professionals also experience this kind of depression. Oftentimes, the workplace becomes a battleground wherein people live their lives according to the expectations of other people.

Again, happiness and success depend on one's own views. Let us look at a musician's point of view regarding happiness and success. A musician would love nothing more than to create music that comes from his soul. Depending on his ideologies regarding music, he can say that he is successful and happy with what he is doing.

A true musician wouldn't care less if his records sold millions or not, as long as his music stays true to its original intentions when the records were made. A musician can also look at happiness and success in terms of the number of people who patronize his music, if he truly believes that music is nothing if no one hears and appreciates it. It really depends on one's ideologies.

The only thing that we can infer from these two concepts is that these are mutually intertwined. One can say that success brings happiness and happiness is an essential ingredient towards success (i.e. Being happy with one's work will bring beautiful fruits of labor).

Happiness and success are two things that all people aspire for in life. There can never be a single definition for both of these concepts. Even dictionaries wouldn't dare give exact definitions for these words.

Perhaps, only the human heart can define these concepts. You will know when you are happy or when you can call yourself successful if your heart says so.

This is why the heart should always be consulted when making important decisions in life. Yes, of course, this is just a metaphor but we all know that the heart speaks reasons that the mind can never comprehend.

The Importance Of Now

2010-07-19T06:52:00.000-07:00

We often overlook the importance and power of the "now?. After all we can?t change the past because it has already happened and we can?t do anything about the future because it is yet to occur. So the only thing to which we do have any control over is right this very moment, the now.

Putting things off to do later only causes you to waste precious time and energy revisiting it in your mind. Thinking about it and thinking about it. How much more productive would it be if you just got it out of the way and allowed yourself and your mind to move onto the next thing.

They say that the thing that causes us to age the most is not our diet, our job or even peak hour traffic on Friday night. In reality it is the little nagging stresses that occupies our mind. In fact if you jumped out of a plan at 14,000 feet right now you would actually shave less years off your life through fear and stress than you would if you have something nagging at you like the need to clean the bathroom. The reason being is that if you put of the task of for this example sake of cleaning the bathroom and this goes on for days then it just keeps nagging at you in your mind. This slow stress situation is more harmful to your long term health than short burst of pure adrenaline and fear caused by skydiving out of a plane.

So if you have something that needs to be done today then find a way to start it and only go onto another task once it is completed. This actually helps with your discipline as you would actually get into a habit of doing things once. Rather than starting something and going onto the next task and then coming back to the original task your mind can stay focused on the issues of the current task without needless distractions. You will actually find you productivity improving.

By seeing the benefits of the now and the present we can use it to empower us in life and get things we want. We have the power to lose weight in the now by the decisions you make right now in getting it started. You have the power to quit smoking in the present by choosing not to smoke right now. If you think about it success is an accumulation of a continuous stream of decisions that eventually lead to the success outcome. So why not decide today to make a change in your life. After all what better way than to decide now.

HAPPINESS IS A STATE OF MIND

2010-07-07T20:43:00.000-07:00

Happiness is not some potion or spell. It is a belief system that we all have in us. Some people are just more aware that it is there.

As I walk down the street, I notice a woman walking by me, with a frown on her face. Her face looks aged to me. The frown makes her face look wrinkly and old.
I make it to my destination, the coffee shop. The owner is a happy guy that always greets me with a "Hi girl, How have you been". He always has a big smile on his face and people love talking to him because he’s always cheery.

What type of person are you? Are you a happy soul or a miserable one? If you were to show up at a gathering of friends, would they all welcome you with a big smile and be happy to see you. Or would they be like "oh great so and so is here". How you carry yourself shows in people around you. Your attitude can directly affect those closest to you.

How is happiness attained? First and foremost, you have to love yourself for who you are. Not everyone can have movie star good looks and abs of steel. That really, isn’t important. What is important is who you are on the inside. It is important for you to be positive about yourself, in order to feel happy.

It is a proven fact that people that are happy and use have a positive outlook on a daily basis are healthier than those with a negative attitude. A positive attitude can also help you heal faster. A negative outlook on life will cause you to be unhappy. Your unhappiness will cause stress and stress can wreak havoc on your health.

Another important factor to being happy is having friendships. Friends to spend time with and confide in will help relieve stress and make you feel needed. By playing sports, learning new hobbies or joining clubs, you will be able to make friendships. Friends are like having a support system set in place.

Having hobbies and interests are very important to being happy. Like the saying goes " all work and no play makes jack a dull boy". It’s important to have interests in life. They keep us motivated and happy. Just sitting in front of the tv all day will have the opposite effect. People need to have a hobbies to feel busy and motivated.
Relationships with family and loved ones is also a factor of happiness. If you are fighting with your spouse on a daily basis, that will create a lot of stress. If you truly want to be a happy person inside and out, you will need to nurture these relationships.

By simply reciting positive sayings and affirmations to yourself on a daily basis, you will start to feel better and have a brighter outlook on life. It works on you subliminally, slowly altering how you view yourself and life around you. In time you will build a positive outlook on life and achieve happiness.

THE FIRE IN YOUR SOUL

2010-07-07T01:48:00.000-07:00

Many people try to hold a raging fire within themselves, but it restlessly and relentlessly gnaws at their core. Some have tried to cover it up with alcohol, numb it with drugs, hide it with shopping, kids, work, or religion, or fuel it with sex. The Baby Boomers looked for eternal youth and to change the world. They thought they would never grow up, but they did. They thought they would change the world and they did.

The previous generation looked for the Ultimate Dream. Some found it. Many did not. The present generation seems to be seeking success. Yet, the gap between the "haves" and the "have-nots" widens. Each generation and each individual, in turn, searches for something, but it often slips from their grasp.

The fire carries both energy and discomfort. The key is to use the discomfort as a motivator and the energy as fuel.

Now we seek something and we don't seem to know what it is.

When we are connected to our roots and our souls, passion rises quickly and pushes us the next level of life or learning or love. It does not have to be love for a mate. It could be creative passion, fueling what we do for ourselves, work, community, or family. Anything where the totality of who you are is absorbed in the doing. This requires passion. To loose it, is soul death, or at least deep sleep. It will cry to be heard when it sleeps.

I've sometimes been afraid of my passion. It seems so fierce at times. I guess I fear it will consume me and nothing else will matter. I know that can happen. I've had a small taste of it when I work for hours into the night, so absorbed by my work that I forget time, sleeping, and eating. But, I also know that I must have time in my life to live the every day life of doing the mundane things that must be done. Balance is probably still the key, but you must not loose your passion all together. Your life will be too dry and dull without it.

Remember your first love? Nothing else mattered. You felt as if you would walk to the ends of the earth for that love. Remember that? While that first passionate, all consuming love does not last, it gives us a taste of a force within ourselves that carries tremendous energy. Look for your passion and it will find you.

REASONS TO PRAY

2010-07-03T01:00:00.000-07:00

First of all, what is prayer? Prayer is the act of communicating with God, with a higher power. It doesn’t have to consist of the standard prayers we learned as a child. A prayer can consist of a simple phrase or two. “Lord, I’m thinking of you today. Please brighten my day and assist me in all that I do.

”An essential aspect of daily prayer is the belief that you are communicating with God. It is also vitally important that you have faith that your prayers will be answered. Like:

“…prayer offered in faith will make the sick person well...” James 5:15

“Pray for each other so that you may be healed.” James 5:16

“Prayer produces prosperity.” Jeremiah 29:7

“Prayer provides wisdom.” James 1:4

“Prayer yields peace.” Phil 4:6-7

Personally, I like to engage in meditative prayer. My prayer of choice is the Rosary, which I say on a regular basis. A string of beads, called Rosary beads, are used to keep track of the prayers as they are recited. The Rosary allows me to focus on a particular subject as the prayers are repeated. Sometimes I’ll focus on my relationship with the Lord. Other times I’ll focus on a special request that I might have. In either case, I find it very relaxing, almost soothing. Although I have no proof, I believe that my blood pressure is lower when I engage in prayer. I also feel renewed and refreshed after a session of prayer. It’s similar to a form of meditation where a mantra is repeated over and over.

There are many reasons for praying, like:

Numerous scientific studies indicate that prayer can have significant beneficial effects. These studies have shown that
those who pray regularly tend to be happier, more peaceful, and healthier than those who don't.

Pray on a regular basis. That way, when the inevitable day comes and you finally arrive at the pearly gates, the Lord will recognize you.

Prayers are answered if you truly believe. This is the basis for the popular program called The Law of Attraction. In fact, the main thesis for this and the entire positive thinking industry is a quote taken directly from the bible:

“but most of all…all things you ask in prayer, believing, you will receive”.

Fight the Good Fight

2010-06-27T07:52:00.000-07:00

The world has a lot of negative people in it. Are you one of them? Do you expect the worst from situations? Do you criticize more often than praise? It does not have to be this way. A positive attitude can be as simple as changing the way you look at things.

The solution is simple but changing old belief patterns is not always easy to do. Most of us have been stuck in old belief patterns for quite some time. The problem with negative patterns is that they do not get us what we want out of life.

For example, we often believe the events of our past can pretty much predict our futures. With this being the case, we spend a lot of time worrying about our past and our future. By doing this we miss the opportunity to enjoy today.

So how do we learn to live in the here and now? What we often forget, is that we have a choice. We can choose to experience happiness instead of getting caught up in the chaos of negative thinking. Making the goal of peace of mind and happiness your single most important goal. When you catch yourself falling back into old negative ways, switch your focus back to your goal.

Other factors are also involved. For instance, we spent a lot of time trying to control others; their thoughts, their feelings, and their actions. We can only change how we see the world, other people and ourselves. Once again it boils down to what we choose to do.

We can also learn to see the goodness in ourselves, our relationships and in our work place. Happiness will come easier this way as opposed to finding fault in our world.

A part of having a positive lifestyle is sharing it with others. So you remember how good it feels to do something for someone else without being asked to do it. This is what is called an unconditional gift of love. Look for opportunities to do good deeds for others or give them praise for their abilities. Goodwill can be contagious.

Another factor needed for true happiness is forgiveness. Forgiveness is more than just telling someone, I forgive you, it comes from sincere intentions. This will free us from our negative feelings such as guilt, sadness, fear, anger and resentment.

Knowing these principles is one thing, living them is another. It takes time to change old ways of thinking but it is worth the time and effort. If we are willing to work at being consistent in what we think say and do, true happiness will be ours.

Peace in the Midst of Persecution

2010-06-20T05:36:00.000-07:00

The persecution of Christians is something very real in many parts of our world, and the following article is the testimony of someone from China who has experienced persecution first hand. This is the story of Ming; someone I knew sometime ago. The story goes in her very own words….

“I was at an underground house church worshipping, when four officers barged in and stood before me. Though I was frightened for a moment, my heart soon calmed. One of them struck me in the face, knocked me down, and then beat me with his baton. He did not stop until a woman of the church bravely intervened.

Then the officers cuffed me, confiscated my Bible, hymnbook, and notebook, and asked me many questions. I answered with wisdom from God, as promised in Matthew 10.19 & 20. But when they arrest you, do not worry about what to say or how to say it. At that time you will be given what to say, for it will not be you speaking, but the Spirit of your Father speaking through you.

They took me to the police station and cuffed me to a chair with a guard standing by. Through all their atrocities, I was not the least bit afraid, for I knew the Lord was with me. I prayed, Lord, I thank you because you are using this experience to make me feel more of your presence and witness your mighty works.

The next morning they asked me more questions, but could not find any fault in my answers. The officers then left me alone. During their absence, I was able to recover my Bible, hymnbook, and notebook. I was so glad to regain my most important possessions! Around noon two women of the church came to visit me. They requested my release, saying they were willing to take my place. I was greatly moved by their gesture. Around three o clock the officers took me for more interrogation before releasing me.

Back at the meeting place, I learned how my church family was praying for me. My heart was extremely grateful to the Lord for pouring His great love. I knew for the first time how much He cares. I can now join Job in saying, My ears had heard of you but now my eyes have seen you.”

This is just one story that occurs on a daily basis in many countries around the world. We do not always hear about this because in many cases the media and information outlets are carefully controlled by the authorities. I was moved by her story of faith, and I hope it might just move you too.

To Know GOD Is to Love Him

2010-06-05T18:20:00.000-07:00

Many years ago than I care to remember there was a popular song that went like this: "To know, know, know him, is to love, love, love him; and I do." It had a catchy tune and sounded romantic. After all, when you're in love with someone, you want to know all there is to know about that person. The more you get to know that person, the more you're likely to love him/her.

That's the way it is with God's Love. You cannot give unconditional love unless you have it, and you don't know you have it until you give it away. You see, God's kind of love is very patient and kind. It is not envious, proud, or hypocritical, and does not seek self-satisfaction, exasperation or evil thoughts. It hates wrong-doing, but always rejoices in the truth. Love will endure much, being ever faithful, hopeful, and dependable.

Is that a tall order, or what! If you are to measure up to that definition of love, than you may be tempted to give up before you start, right? It's no wonder that so many marriages, partnerships, friendships and families are broken up every day!
The big question is, how can you ever be so much in love forever, even when the other person's love grows cold? Could you love someone who does not know you and you know is far from perfect? Your answer to that might be: "Only God could do that!"

Make it your MASTERPIECE

2010-05-17T10:26:00.000-07:00

Developing an authentic lifestyle--one that truly reflects what is important to you in all areas of life--is a work of art. It is your personal statement to the world. Are you creating your masterpiece with both the intention and attention a great artist gives her creation?

Reflecting on the ideas and manipulating the materials over time, the artist begins to clarify the vision and, as the piece emerges, watches, refining her ideas, adding this, discarding that, reworking, until the materials begin to match the vision. Once the realization of the dream is glimpsed, work accelerates, and joy and passion carry the piece to completion. Isn’t that much like our lives?

Few artists receive their inspiration from attempting to fulfill someone else’s idea of what the clay, paint, rock, notes, words, fabric or wood might become. Imitation in art is only the tool of the student as the techniques are learned. The truly authentic work of art must come from within the artist, through the techniques and media, into reality.

Similarly, you cannot live the dreams of your parents, the desires of your friends or the visions of another with passion and integrity.

Great artists understand that their art is their personal expression, and is, therefore, unique. The artist values the medium for its potential to express the idea. The artist works diligently with it-- keeping the vision in view, making small adjustments, learning new techniques, experimenting--until the vision emerges in concrete form and becomes an extension of the artist. It is visible then to all who care to look. The piece bears the artist’s name and influences all who view it.

Sometimes, pieces do not please the artist and they are reworked, painted over, melted down, unraveled. These pieces have great inherent value. The artist’s vision is clarified, the materials better understood. This contributes much to the next project, the next work of art.

Sometimes, pieces become a legacy and influence many by their existence. These are the authentic works, the true expressions of the artist. These are the quality pieces, as Willa A. Foster, says, “Quality is never an accident; it is the result of high intention, sincere effort, intelligent direction and skillful execution; it represents the wise choice of many alternatives.”

You want your life to be of quality, filled with wise choices. Therefore, approach it with high intention, sincere effort, intelligent direction and skillful execution.

When creating a work of art, you must be present with it, fully engaged each moment, totally absorbed by the possibility you are actualizing and the potential you are exploring. This intense focus is required if you are not to be distracted by the myriad of seductive, and easy to justify diversions. It is a powerful process uplifting, inspiring, sometimes frustrating, satisfying, and, most of all, creative. When you are making a success of something, it s not work. It‘s a way of life.

Now, if by chance, you are thinking that viewing your life as a work of art, or a lofty contribution to the world, is impractical compared to a factual time-management, goal-oriented, bottom-line approach, please consider this. Every successful business, organization and corporation has two types of leaders, visionaries and administrators. Both are required. You need to be both visionary and administrator in your own life, to live a life of integrity, of wholeness.

RESTORATION

2010-04-21T09:02:00.000-07:00

We all know the parable of the prodigal son and how many sermons have been preached about repentance, from that parable. We are told that 'he came to himself and said, I will arise and go to my father, and will say unto him, Father, I have sinned against heaven and in thy sight.' In preaching, we speak of this as the first step in a changed life-as conversion, as repentance, confession, returning to God. But, as this is the first step for the prodigal, we must remember that this is also the step to be taken by His erring children-by all the ninety-nine 'who need non-repentance ,' or think they do not. Those Christians who do not understand how wrong their low religious life is must be taught that this is sin-unbelief; and that it is as necessary that they should be brought to repentance as the prodigal. You have heard a great deal of preaching repentance to the unconverted; but I want to try to preach it to God's children. We have a picture of so many of God's children in that elder brother. What the father told him, to bring about a consideration of the love that He bore him, just as he loved the prodigal brother, thus does God tell to us in our contentedness with such a low life: -'You must repent and believe that I love you, and all that I have is thine .' He says, 'By your unbelief, you have dishonored me, living for ten, twenty, or thirty years, and never believing what it was to live in the blessedness of My love. You must confess the wrong you have done Me in this, and be broken down in contrition of heart just as truly as the prodigal.'

There are many children of God who need to confess, that though they are His children, they have never believed that God's promises are true, that He is willing to fill their hearts all the day long with His blessed presence. Have you believed this? If you have not, all our teaching will be of no profit to you. Will you not say, 'By the help of God, I will begin now a new life of faith, and will not rest until I know what such a life means. I will believe that I am every moment in the Father's presence, and all that He has is mine?'

May the Lord God work this conviction in the hearts of all cold believers. Have you ever heard the expression, 'a conviction for sanctification?' You know, the unconverted man needs a conviction before conversion. So does the dark-minded Christian need conviction before, and in order for sanctification, before he comes to a real insight to spiritual blessedness. He must be convicted a second time because of his sinful life of doubt, and temper, and un-lovingness . He must be broken down under that conviction; then there is hope for him. May the Father of mercy grant all such that deep contrition, so that they may be led into the blessedness of His presence, and enjoy the fullness of His power and love!

IS LOVE AN EMOTION?

2010-04-03T02:12:00.000-07:00

Very often people confuse love and emotion. They are not the same, although there is a connection, because love is the highest expression of which we are capable, and it would be strange, therefore, if our emotions were not affected in some way. They may well be, although the effect on them can be felt as either positive or negative, and we have all had both kinds of these experiences.

Yet love essentially transcends the emotions and, in its essence, is fundamentally an act of will. (It should be noted in passing that, while in the world in which we live, "love" is frequently used as a synonym for "sex", love has no necessary connection in with sexual act). That act of will is quite independent of what we feel at the time we express love. Indeed, it could be argued that the expression of love is purer the lower is the involvement of our emotions. On the other hand, one could even more strongly argue that our expression of love is greater the greater the negative emotion we are feeling at the time we make the act of love (in the sense that what we are feeling is nothing like what we might imagine love for the other person to be).

When Jesus died on the cross he was certainly not having warm, gooey feeling. He was in dreadful pain: he had been scourged twice, had the crown of thorns thrust upon his head, made to carry his cross in a very weakened state, nailed through his feet and hands, and was then hanging in a position which constantly threatened to cause his suffocation. (They broke the legs of men crucified to prevent them raising themselves up in order to breath). His death was anact of love, the ultimate act of love, but it was also an act of will. We need only reflect on his inner struggle in the Garden of Gethsemane, in seeking only to comply with his Father’s will, to appreciate that.
At one level he was putting into practice his own teachings:

So in everything, do to others what you would have them do to you, for this sums up the Law and the Prophets. (Matthew 7:12).

It sums up the Law and the prophets because it is God’s ultimate law. If we are ever in any doubt as to how we should act in order to love another, we need only ask ourselves how we would desire them to act, were we in the same situation. The answer has nothing to do with how we feel. Indeed, if the situation is one in which we consider we have been, or are being, injured, it is likely that our feelings will be telling us to do exactly the opposite!

As Christians, we have taken up an option. Above anything else, it is an option of Love and it is therefore an option to love. We have no choice in the matter — whatever the matter happens to be. If it happens that our emotions are tending to move us in the same direction as our will, that is merely an accidental benefit. We are certainly glad of it because it makes our actions easier.

But we are never called to be people who are controlled by their emotions: that is to be enslaved by a facility which should be at our service in making decisions, decisions which we are led to and which are determined by the Holy Spirit. Indeed, theologians explain to us the nature of the Holy Spirit as being the love which exists between the Father and the Son.

Hence, when we are led by the Spirit we are led by love, and emotions do not enter into it.

Tierra de Maria, First Saturday Healing Mass, January 2010

2010-03-22T10:59:00.000-07:00

Are You an Ugly Duckling?

2010-03-18T09:47:00.000-07:00

Sometimes in life, we may feel like ugly ducklings.

We can't fit in. Our walk is not the right waddle and our squawk is off-key. In fact, we wonder if the other ducks are snickering behind our back.

Our life is an example of what does not work. And, in quiet desperation, we feel we may soon be down to nothing.

The original sin appears to have found its full manifestation in us.

But consider this: we may actually be swans.

And amongst swans, we fit in perfectly. Our feathers are the right shade, length, and texture, our gait is regal, our voice has a perfect pitch, and we swim with grace. And what we reflect is the original perfection.

Swans aspire to their spiritual splendor.

They recognize that this life is transitory and that they have a hunger to connect with the source of all life. In essence, a part of them wants to feel a connection with all of life.

They're really focused on reaching enlightenment itself.

It's a novel situation to be a human being, and when we grasp this simple concept, we aspire to move ahead in a different way than other people.

As a swan, you've realized for some time now that your beliefs will cause you to create or attract situations and events that you experience as your life.

It's your goal to explore your own belief system and you search to equip yourself with tools to modify those things of which you wish to change.

You must also seek to balance the understandings that you glean from world lessons, or experiences, as well as from word lessons, or intellectual understanding.

When you touch your true swan nature, I suspect, you will find an amazing love for life, and you will be a catalyst for positive change in the world. Your health, your relationships, your career, and your finances will all be touched and improved when you master deeper levels of your own consciousness.

Imagine feeling a profoundly deep connection to your own being, a connection that defies description. Imagine meeting others and see within them your own humanity and struggle for the light of truth.

As a swan, you aspire towards an experience of compassionate, accepting connection with all of life. You seek your own true power. In a world of lies, you seek truth.

If you find your life impossible right now--where you don't quite seem to fit in and things aren't going quite right for you--it may be that you're a swan pretending to be a duck.

It may be time to accept that a greater game than you had imagined is afoot.

Sometimes when you're down to nothing, your Spirit is up to something. The ugly duckling is about to recognize that it is a swan.

LOOKIGN THROUGH A WINDOW

2010-03-16T06:39:00.000-07:00

Living in today's metropolitan world of cellular phones, mobile computers and other high-tech gadgets are not just hectic but very impersonal. We make money and then invest our time and effort in making more money. Does it end? Not usually because we are never satisfied. How many times have we convinced ourselves that if only we had some more money, life would be so sweet? But then, after receiving a substantial raise, we realize that it wasn't enough and that we need more?

What Should You Do?
I have read many books on life such as Robin Sharma's Monk says this and the monk says that, and they all seem to say that money is not necessary. But it is. Can you do without cash and a lot of it? I know I can't.

So, I went to the neighborhood Rabbi and asked for advice that will help me find my true way in life. The rabbi nodded and took me to the window. "What do you see?" he asked me.

Promptly, I answered, "I can see people walking to and fro and a blind man is begging for alms at the left corner."

The Rabbi nodded and guided me to a big mirror. "Now look and tell me what you see?"

"I can see myself," I man answered.

The Rabbi smiled. "Now you can't see anyone else. The mirror and the window are both created from the same raw material: glass, but because on one of them they have applied a thin layer of silver, when you look at it all you can see is your own reflection."

The Rabbi placed his arm on my shoulders. "Compare yourself to those two pieces of glass. Without the silver layer, you saw the other people and felt compassion for them. When you are covered with silver, you see only yourself."

I looked at the Rabbi and stared. "I don't understand."

The Rabbi continued. "You will become someone only if have the courage to remove the silver covering over your eyes in order to again see and love others." He patted me on my back and sent me on my way.

I have thought of what he said and come to the conclusion that he had a point. Yes. We need money and we should not aim to lead a moneyless existence; it’s pointless and will only cause our families and us much heartbreak in the future.

Instead, I suggest that we should follow the advice the Rabbi gave me. When we approach life through a silver covering, all we are able to see is ourselves. But discard that covering, and you will be able to see and feel everyone else.

In life, we are allowed to and should be able to look at both kinds of mirrors, but we should remember that a mirror reflects only us; a window is the door to compassion, health and true wealth. In other words, seek wealth by all means, but don't let it dissuade you from life, people, children and the poor and needy.

WHERE ARE YOU LORD???

2010-03-14T04:35:00.000-07:00

"Where are you, Lord when I need you most?" That cry has been heard since the fall of Adam and its consequences. Although sometimes it seems as if He is far away, God has always been there. Abel knew Him, Enoch walked with God, as did Abraham. Isaac, Moses, David and many others were all after God's heart and knew how to turn to Him for their needs and hear His Voice.

Then, in the fullness of time Jesus came and redeemed you by His sacrifice on the cross of Calvary. He is the Light that shines in the darkness (John 1). Call on the Name of Jesus. He is as near as the mention of His Name. He knows your needs before you even ask.

You can go to Him as a little child climbs on his daddy's knee. Jesus taught us how to pray by giving us what is widely known as the Lord's Prayer. Sadly, however, many people who recite it by memory do so without knowing the full context of the verse in the Bible. They may not realize that Jesus in the text immediately preceding this prayer warns his disciples not to pray repetitive words, as the Pharisees and others do. Instead, He teaches to go into your prayer "closet," a quiet, restful place undisturbed by the hustle and bustle of daily life.

The Lord's Prayer is so rich with so much food for spiritual thought. Meditate on each phrase and then formulate it in your own words. For instance, what does Our Father mean? Why don't you just say "father," "daddy," or "my father"? Might Jesus be explaining in those two words that you are to be mindful of the fact that he is also the "daddy" of the person who may have hurt you deeply? What would be better: reciting "hallowed be thy name" in old English or to praise Him spontaneously, telling Him how much you love Him and thanking Him for all that He has already done for you? Are you aware that He is coming very soon to take you and all those who have made Him Lord over their lives up with Him and that together with Him you will reign forever? Do you pray for the lost to come into His kingdom before that day, and for the fulfillment of His reign on earth and the eventual true Peace?

Just as He has declared every Word in the Bible, which is established in heaven and earth, when you pray do you acknowledge that every Word, for instance: "By His stripes you were healed," (Isa. 53:5) WILL come to pass here on the earth? Your part is only to acknowledge, speak, and believe it. When you ask for your daily bread, wouldn't it be good to thank Him for all His provisions including the ones you need right now?

When you go to God with a contrite heart, you will know that you are forgiven.

Every morning it is a good thing to thank Christ for His precious Blood, which is your covering us from any evil that may befall us. Reach out for His Wisdom in all things with praise on your lips at all times.

Yes, the Lord's Prayer is rich with instructions on how to come near to Him. You may want to open your Bible to it when you pray and meditate on it, phrase by phrase.

You will get a new revelation every time you do so and, best of all, you will experience His Presence!

PEACE IS A PROCESS

2010-03-09T03:50:00.000-08:00

There is a process of peace underway. Throughout the world nations are clamoring for peace. From Afghanistan to Iraq, Gaza and Lebanon we see destruction, violence and utter desolation. Israel is at the very heart of this process. Whether we understand it or not, the whole earth is embroiled in a spiritual battle. Although it seems like a number of unrelated wars between nations, nationalities, or religions, ultimately they are striving either for or otherwise against God's Kingdom to be established.

True Peace shall be established when the Lord returns and sets up His Kingdom in Israel. "Behold, I lay in Zion for a foundation a stone; a tried stone, a precious corner stone, a sure foundation." (Isa. 28:16)

Just as the Ark of the Covenant was built in the wilderness exactly to God's specifications, so Jerusalem is the pattern of the heavenly City of God will be established on earth. His will shall be done on earth as it is in heaven. (Luke 11:2) For every physical element on the earth there is a spiritual counterpart.

"I have made a covenant with my chosen, I have sworn unto David, my servant, thy seed will I establish for ever, and build up thy throne to all generations. My covenant will I not break, nor alter the thing that is gone out of my lips. Once I have sworn by my holiness that I will not lie unto David, his seed shall endure forever, and his throne as the sun before me." (Ps. 89: 3,4,34-36) Jesus is that seed, (Luke 3: 23-38) By His sacrifice on the cross, all nations can become grafted in and become the spiritual Israel.

"The desert shall rejoice, and blossom like the rose. It shall blossom abundantly, and rejoice even with joy and singing. Strengthen the weak hands, and confirm the feeble knees. Say to them that are of a fearful heart. Be strong, fear not: behold, your God will come with vengeance, he will come and save you. The eyes of the blind shall be opened, and the ears of the deaf shall be unstopped. For in the wilderness shall waters break out, and streams in the desert. And a highway shall be there, and a way, and it shall be called: The way of holiness; the unclean shall not pass over it. And the ransomed of the Lord shall return, and come to Zion with songs and everlasting joy upon their heads: they shall obtain joy and gladness, and sorrow and sighing shall flee away."

OUR ATTITUDES… CREATE OUR FUTURE

2010-03-04T01:55:00.000-08:00

Do you have a glad heart? Or, do you consistently worry? Are your thoughts filled with negative anticipation and worthless fears of tomorrow? Or do you wake up each day with a grateful heart that you are still alive and enjoying the grace of God?

Do you realize you are creating your future by the very attitude you posses?

In Proverbs 15:15: it says it this way, "All the days of despondence and affliction are made evil by anxious thoughts but he who has a glad heart has a continual feast regardless of circumstances."

We have an "either - or" situation here. Have a glad heart and a continual feast, or have your days made evil by "negative thinking." It's all an attitude.

Your attitude is supported by your beliefs and your beliefs are vital to your success or failure in life.

Jesus said, "As you have believed, let it be done unto you" (Matthew 8:13).

Whatever emotion you experience at any given time is supported by a particular belief. If you are experiencing joy, there is an underlying belief that supports that emotion. If you are experiencing discouragement, there is an underlying belief supporting that too.

If you know God is taking care of you and watching out for your best interest, then relax. Have a glad heart and know He is in control, for the peace of God surpasses all understanding.

If, for some reason, you are experiencing some negative emotion, your believing in something that is causing it.

So, the next time you're exuding a poor demeanor; slumped shoulders, shallow breathing, a sagging facial expression, just stop and ask yourself, "What is the belief that is supporting this behavior?" Once you recognize it, you can change it. It's just a decision.

Notice the phrase, "despondence and affliction." The word "despondence" means losing hope. As long as God is alive, there is no reason to lose hope. "He is able to do exceedingly abundantly above all we ask or think, according to the power that works in us.

This power that works in us is our faith. Jesus said, "According to your faith let it be done unto you" (Matthew 9:29). God gives us the “grace of abundance in anything”, but we were also given the freewill to believe or not to believe.

Remember, we create our future by the very attitudes we posses, so we need to remember this and always be careful to not worry and keep trusting in God.

A HEALING TOUCH

2010-03-04T00:30:00.000-08:00

Touch is of utmost importance in the healing process. Whether you're down with the 'flu or lying sick in a hospital bed, the one thing you crave most is a gentle touch, a warm hug, a mother's kiss on the sore spot with the assurance that it is all better. Yet, you are so often caught up with mixed emotions, like "I have the flu; I better not hug anyone." Let me share a story of a woman who was actually banned from society and as she was considered "unclean" according to the health law and custom of her day.

This lady had a bleeding condition for years and, after spending all her money on doctors, there was no hope left. But... she had heard of Jesus and how "he healed all that were sick." She had only one thing on her mind. She knew that she knew that she knew she would get healed . If only she could somehow break through the throngs of people following Him and get close to Him, she was convinced that she would receive her healing. She knew that she could be stoned to death for approaching anyone in her present condition. In fact, she was required to wear special clothing that set her apart so that everyone would know she was unclean. Giving no thought to the fear that was in her mind, she had only one goal, and that was to get her healing. Crawling low through the crowd, she strained and reached with all the strength left in her, all the while saying to herself: "if I may but touch the hem of his garment, I shall be whole." Over and over she repeated those words out loud. They empowered her to greater and greater faith. She saw in her mind's eye, and heard, the desired end result constantly.

There! She did it! She just touched the hem of Jesus' garment and instantly the bleeding stopped. Then a voice boomed through the crowd: "who touched me?" Jesus now turned facing her; his disciples surprised that He should ask the question with hundreds of people all around. Realizing He knew that it was she who had touched Him, she faced Him and acknowledged out loud to everyone what she had done and that she was healed. Jesus assured her: "Daughter, be of good comfort; your faith has made you whole. Go in peace" Although all sick people who had come to Him were healed, very few had the faith that she had, and Jesus knew this instantly. This woman received the healing she came for at the moment of her touch. Jesus, however, to reward her strong faith, went much further than healing her sickness. He declared that she was now also whole! That encompasses everything! Not only physical healing of one ailment, but also any other type of healing, like possibly her extreme fatigue due to the prolonged loss of blood, feelings of rejection, fear, and the depletion of all her finances. Every need she possibly had was met due to her faith!

Are you in need of a healing touch? Go ahead, speak out loud words of faith to yourself, like she did. Then, do not listen to the thoughts of doubt and fear and "can't do's."

Press in, reach out, and He will reward your faith!

LET SING TOGETHER FOR PEACE...

2010-03-01T05:40:00.000-08:00

HEARTBEAT OF HOPE

2010-03-01T05:35:00.000-08:00

The beating heart is a sign of life. Hope is what sustains that life. Yes, food, water, sunlight, these sustain life also but, it’s HOPE that really keeps you alive. Hope is what has brought you to today. Hope is what inspires us to move forward because we believe that tomorrow will truly be a better day. Tomorrow, will give you that new house that you have been saving for. Tomorrow, you will finally be able to spend time with your family – and, tomorrow is the day that you will receive your raise for a job well done. Hope is optimism. Hope is a belief that all your desires will be fulfilled and all your positive expectations will become realities.

Without Hope, our future darkens and the shadow of death is seen crouching at the door. Hope gives us the will to go. We hope in what is “to be”. We hope in what “can be”. Why hope for what is? Why hope for what you already have?

Indeed, why hope for the present. The present is littered with broken dreams, foolish ambitions and missed opportunities. But despite all these, Hope is the herald of a brand new day. Hope proclaims, “yes, we can”; “yes, it is possible”! Hope gives you the breath of life to live another day. This is the “heartbeat of hope”.

In truth, I should pause for a moment and tell you this: That although Hope is filled with endless possibilities and personal triumphs, all who are driven by the heartbeat of hope well know, that Hope can also carry with it defeat, disappointment and heartache. We have all “hoped” and have experienced the agony of heartbreak and the tears of tragedy.

The heartbeat of hope gives us life today through our Heavenly Father, GOD. Today is already here. Tomorrow, …… tomorrow will bring with it the answer to all of our prayers and the fulfillment of dreams. Tomorrow will indeed be a better day!

STORY OF A MOTHER

2010-02-23T22:11:00.000-08:00

REVELATION IS EVERYWHERE PRESENT

2010-02-23T21:39:00.001-08:00

And whether or not our exact names are in the Bible, or mentioned in any of the books of the Old Testament, everyone of our names had already been written even before the beginning of the world, at a time when there is no time, in the eternal, non-beginning and non-ending, clasp of God. Because the mystery of creation is such that it continues to happen…in God’s realm, there is neither past, nor present, nor future.

But, to another topic…

In all of my travels to foreign countries, the first thing I seek is the road map to the nearest Catholic Church from wherever I am staying. And no matter how busy my work schedule may be, I will always find time to hear liturgical services, the Holy Mass, or, at the very least, make a visit.

I have also taken close notice of the different symbols used by other churches/religions to mark their own places of worship. And I remember that it was in India where the four largest religions coexist, where I saw all those religious symbols side by side.

The Hindu temples were everywhere — this religion predates Christianity by a thousand years or so. the oldest religion in the world, actually. There were even portable temples on mobile carts the way sidewalk vendors peddle their wares, with all those elaborate and ornate paintings and carvings of brightly painted images depicting the hundreds of deities/gods and goddesses that Hindus worship.

And then, in stark contrast, there loomed the large Muslim mosque (the typical onion dome) in the center of the city, containing no images at all, except for the soaring spire or minaret pointed skyward, toward the one God, Allah, who could never be reduced to a graven image.

Next, there was the Buddhist centers and small temples. They were sanctuaries of serenity and simplicity. Monks in saffron robes knelt in prayer and hummed chants and mantras, in the dark, quiet rooms of the interiors, suffused with the smell of incense. A gilded statue of Buddha dominated the room, his sly

smile expressing the Buddhist belief that the key to contentment lies in developing inner strength that allows one to surmount any suffering in life. There’s something quite Buddhist in my life. (I have also been to the Tibetan monasteries of the Himalayas, both in Katmandu and in Lhasa and the same simplicity and silence pervade the almost celestial ambiance).

And, then, there were the Protestant churches that did not believe in images. They most closely resembled the Muslim mosque in the structure of pillars and empty walls…although sometimes, there would be a Cross. In the Catholic Churches, there was a profusion of images and statues of as many saints as were presently venerated, images of Mother Mary, images of Jesus Christ, paintings of God the Father and the Holy Spirit as a dove or an eye inside a triangle…

But the predominant image was the CROSS.

Away from home on many occasions, and having been on the road for good two thirds of my life among different cultures and strange places, and still traveling, the Cross-acquired, for me, a new meaning.

Why do we use this image as a symbol for our faith? Was not the crucifixion of Jesus the most scandalous injustice ever done to any man, and to a God, at that?

We could have the image of the Resurrection…but why make the cross the centerpiece of our faith?

There is, of course, the simple fact that Jesus so commanded: “Do this in memory of me,” He said, clearly not wanting us to forget the Palm Sunday, the Last Supper, his suffering…And there lies the center of our faith: Jesus crucified formed the bridge between our human perception of a cruelly imperfect and indifferent world and our human need for God.

Our sense that God is present.

It was at the corner of that Bombay street, with pedestrians and bicyclists and farm animals swarming and smelling around me, as I stared at the Cross and all the other symbols of other religions, that I realized why the Cross had come to mean so much to Christians…The cross enacts for us the truth that there is hope when there is no hope.

The apostle Paul heard from God, “My God’s power is made perfect in weakness,” and then concluded about himself, “When I am weak, then I am strong.” That is why, he added, “I delight in weakness, in insults, in hardships, in persecutions, in difficulties.” He was pointing to a mystery, which goes several steps beyond the Buddhist way of coming to terms with suffering and hardship.

Paul spoke not of resignation, but of transformation. A crossing over…. To cross…. The very things that make us feel inadequate, the very things that plunder hope, these are what God uses to accomplish His work. For proof, look at the cross.

Because of the cross, I have hope. It is through the Servant’s wounds, that we are healed, said Isaiah — not his miracles. If God can wrest such triumph out of the jaws of apparent defeat, can draw strength from a moment of ultimate weakness, what might God do with the apparent failures and hardships of my own life?

Not even the murder of God’s own Son — can end the relationship between God and human beings. In the alchemy of redemption, that most villainous crime becomes our healing strength.

The fatally wounded Healer came back on Easter, the day that gives us a sneak preview of how all of history will look from the vantage point of eternity, when every scar, every hurt, every disappointment, will be seen in a different light.

Our faith begins where it might have seemed to end. Between the cross and the empty tomb hovers the promise of history: past, present, and future…”God weeps with us so that we may someday laugh with Him.”

What the apostles experienced in a small scale — three days, in grief, over one man who had died on a cross — we now live through on a cosmic scale. Human history grinds on, between the time of promise and fulfillment.

Can we trust that God can make something holy and beautiful and good out of a world that includes Iraq, Bosnia, Rwanda, Darfur, the inner-city slums and ghettoes, the jammed prison cells in the richest nation on earth? It’s Saturday on planet earth..will Sunday ever come?

That dark, Golgothan Friday can only be called “Good” because of what happened on Easter Sunday, a day which gives a tantalizing clue to the riddle of the universe. Easter opened a crack in a universe winding down toward entropy and decay, scaling the promise that someday God will enlarge the miracle of Easter to cosmic scale.

It is happening.

It is a good thing to remember that in this cosmic drama, we live out our days on Saturday, the in-between day with no name. On our tombstone, perhaps, we could have that word written: “Waiting.”

And so, celebrate the Cross…whenever you sign it over your face, and your body, remember the crossing over…of our humanity into the divine. That is the greatest truth of our faith, and it is so real.

A Tribute to Our Blessed Virgin

2010-02-19T21:14:00.000-08:00

Our Mother Of Hope

2010-02-16T05:19:00.001-08:00

In the village of Pontmain, about 30 kilometers to the north of Laval, a farmer was working in his barn with his little boys Eugene and Joseph Bernadette, aged 12 and 10. On the evening of 17 January 1871, the two boys were helping their father in the barn when the eldest, Eùgene, walked over towards the door to look out. As he gazed at the star-studded sky he noticed one area practically free of stars above a neighboring house. Suddenly he saw an apparition of a beautiful Lady smiling at him. Their father sees nothing, except three large bright stars forming a triangle in the sky. But Joseph also sees the Lady. She is wearing a long blue cloak strewn with golden stars; a black veil and a golden crown about 20cm wide with a red stripe in the middle. The lady is also wearing blue shoes and her hands reach out slightly to the side as on the Miraculous Medal. Undaunted, they call their mother, who also fails to see anything even after going back to the house for her eyeglasses.

There is nothing to it, declare the parents, and the boys are to get on with work and then come in for supper. After a quick meal, the boys still see the beautiful Lady, so the Sisters of the school are called. Again, they see nothing. The Blessed Virgin Mary smiled constantly and remained motionless in the same position until 9 p.m. The children, parish priest and a lot of parishioners have gathered together, Father Guerin commences to pray with the parishioners. Of course the first prayer is the rosary. At this moment the Lady becomes larger and the stars on Her cloak multiple and a lighted banner is unfurled under her feet. Later, two girls from a local school, Francoise Richer age 11 and Jeanne Marie LeBosse age 9, were brought and could also see the Lady, while a growing crowd of sixty adults, who had begun to pray the Rosary at the suggest of the local priest.

The parish priest of Pontmain starts to pray the Magnificent and golden letters appear on the banner, one by one and as if they were being written by an invisible hand. The village children say the letters one by one and when complete they read:

BUT PLEASE PRAY MY CHILDREN
The parish priest says:”we must pray to the Lady, making Her will known”. The people now pray the litany of The Blessed Virgin Mother. More words appear as they did earlier:
GOD WILL SOON HEAR YOUR PRAYERS
The fourth pray is the “Invoilota” When they get to the words “O Mater Alma, Christi Carissima”. The following words appear:
"MY SON"
All present are now very sure that it is The Virgin Mary and they pray the fifth prayer: "Slave Regina”. Whilst singing this sentence is finished off:

"MY SON IS WAITING FOR YOU"

These words are underlined. The sixth prayer is then sung. It is a traditional favorite of Pontmain: “Mother of Hope” and the people love to sing it loud and clear. This well loved title is part, of the prayer: "Mother of Hope protect our Frances; Pray, Pray for us!" Then Mary’s smile just glows with love and She lifts Her hands to Her shoulders whilst pointing to the little Red Cross which She
wears by Her heart.

The seventh prayer is “My Sweet Jesus” at this point forgiveness of all sins will be granted to those who with contrite hearts have first prayed the “Parce Domine”. An expression of suffering and pain appears on The Blessed Virgins Face and a crucifix is formed which She holds with both of Her hands. Both the cross and Jesus are red. Above the crucifix is a small beam on which appears: “JESUS CHRIST" in letters of blood, whilst Our Lady’s deep sorrow radiates out over the crowd. A star breaks loose from the sky and extinguishes the four candles, which surround The Lady. She never takes Her eyes off the Crucifix When the parish priest of Pontmain commences the “Ave Maria Stella” the crucifix vanishes and Our Lady returns to Her original pose. Two small white crosses now appear on Her shoulders where they seem to be implanted. Slowly a large white veil floats upwards, to finally cover the apparition completely. The Lady then disappears totally.

The Germans start to retreat and on the 20th of January general van Schmidt finally surrenders and on the 28th of January, just eleven days after the apparition, the peace agreement is signed. The message of Pontmain very clearly shows us the effect of the prayers of even a small Parish community. One should turn to prayer, especially in times of trails.

We remember Our Lady’s message in Pontmain very clearly. So now we can look at Her has She appears in the words of the hymns. ‘Mother of Hope, protect us…..pray for us: Mary raises Her arms whilst She looks at the small Red Cross on her Heart: This shows Our Lady to be very closely one with Her Son on The Cross-, thus She is Our Mother of Redemption. And will offer our prayers for us.

During the “Parce Domine” Mary pleads with us to offer Jesus Christ our Redeemer to God The Father. By offering Holy Mass as thanks to God Our Father for His Son Jesus Christ Our Lord. The red cross with the red Corpus, the bloody letters and the lighted candles on either side point once more to The Holy Mass. Finally during the “Ave Maris Stella” we see Her as She appears on the Miraculous Medal, giving very generously and the two small white crosses implanted in Her shoulders, speak to us of ‘Triumph’ though Gods Intervention. At Pontmain, Our Lady shows us that She can hold back Her Sons Arm, if we listen to and obey Her Messages.
Joseph Barbadette became a priest, a member of the Congregation of the Oblates of Mary Immaculate, while his brother Eùgene became a secular priest. He was assisted by one of the girls who had seen Mary as his housekeeper, with the other, Jeanne-Marie Lebossé, becoming a nun. A large basilica was built at Pontmain and consecrated in 1900.

"This apparition in Pontmain is fully approved by the Holy See: February 1875"

WHO IS JESUS???

2010-02-04T04:21:00.000-08:00

Pip has requested me to help us all internalize the Bible, to have you read through my e-mails and get some touches of the celestial wonders that surround us, but which we often ignore, forget, or are too busy to notice. What a lovely way to continue our e-mail conversations from this threshold of the Divine...without sounding like the fire, thunder and brimstone of the angry God Who cast the tablets of the Commandments as Moses descended the mountain.

Because, today, our God's words are no longer written on stone by the fire of lightning and with our trembling fears of a wrathful God. He has written His commands in our hearts...take a look.

And, so, let me begin by helping us all to see... and you can join me by simply reading through my e-mails, or, and this is even better, by writing back your own thoughts...for all of us to share.

Do you know what Jesus looks like?

I have worked with television as a broadcaster for two decades and have this expertise at describing events and personalities...mostly heads of states and governments, kings, tyrants, dictators, and first ladies. I counted the number of such world leaders I have interviewed -- more than 50 of them, mostly in their pompous offices or imperial thrones, complete with a retinue of security secret service agents standing guard at my every move, making sure that I have no hidden weapon that could harm their leader.

But, I never imagined ever doing an interview of Jesus. In the open field under a hot sun, dust in my nostrils and straining to listen to what He has to stay in the midst of crowd. Or, weaving my way inside a room where He asked a man to rise up from a debilitating illness. But not in a Palace -- this Son of God. Not in a huge office -- this creator of the universe. Not with bodyguards, but with twelve, smelling of salt wind men who could hardly even speak good grammar (some were just fishermen).

How would I have described Him? Was He tall, dark and handsome? From what I have read about Him, I gather that His charisma must have been strong enough to have been able to attract thousands of people who would listen to Him (and without a sound system, mind you) for hours, sometimes days, as he talked (preached, was the word they used) about something absolutely strange to them (at that time).

Remember, we already know the outcome of Christ's life today...but let's look at His life as though we were doing a reportage (a television coverage, from my perspective, that is) of this man who claims to be God. Join me as I walk us through the path of this man's life.

Visualize this: a man walks down the street, and you have the people calling out in His name in exclamations, like an athlete, perhaps, who has just made the victory for your favorite game.

We, who live two thousand and five years after Jesus, know the sound of cheers and shouts. We see this on television with football or basketball games. You yourselves have sat in stadiums shouting out the name of your favorites.

It wasn't very different, then, I think.

I have studied His gestures and words in the Gospels and the many books that they have spawned. Yet no amount of my readings gave me a glimpse of Jesus in the flesh. A poet said it beautifully: "Those of us who look for Jesus cannot see past our own noses."

If He were alive today, would he be a six-foot-six-inch 260-pound defensive tackle who would always make big plays and would be hard to keep out of

the backfield for offensive linemen?

Would He approximate Nelson Mandela, or Martin Luther King, Jr., or Abraham Lincoln, or Brad Pitt, or Harrison Ford?

Who is this Jesus?

Jesus Himself did not offer much proof of his identity. Take it from me as an investigative journalist, and I tell you He dropped clues here and

there, but He also said, after my discovering some evidence, "Blessed is He who takes no offense at me."

See that? To a remarkable degree, this man throws it back at us.

So, all those stories we read from the four great writers of the Gospel, all those records of Paul in his letters to people all over his ministry...all lead to just one truth: Jesus is for each of us to discover.

Examine me. Test me. Learn about me. And then, you decide who I am. That's what He is saying.

I leave you with that, my dearest everyone. You don't have to be analytical about this, simply close your eyes whenever you can, maybe before going to sleep, or while you're at work and resting a while, or in a restaurant and waiting for your order. Think in your mind's eye of what Jesus would look like. Not the pictures you see in holy books or the movies. You. Your thoughts. Your own version of His looks.

Believe me, even as you begin to imagine His face, you will cry from the sheer magnitude of the thought.

I intend to tell you more, but for now, you try and make your own discoveries. That is, if you would really like to know who Jesus is.

Tribute to the Blessed Mother of God

2010-01-20T23:08:00.000-08:00

THE LADY OF OCTOBER

2010-01-20T21:18:00.000-08:00

First Nun:

Nothing remotely suggests what the moon has tried to conceal:

at the foot of the mountain we found a penitent,

clinging to his nightshirt,

counting his fingers and crying.

Weeping under the shadow of the moon, but the shadows

failed to hide his tears, and the moon

shone like the witch hysterical

over the waters on his cheeks.

Second Nun:

Somewhere in the crowded city we heard

the song of the Lady hugging the walls

of an old cathedral.

A song of sorrow asking to be heard

above the waves of crowded city's

voice: It was asking to be heard

because the city suffers from a famine

there is no wheat coming from the fields

the earth has turned a yellow color --

now dry and ruinous.

First Nun:

But the moonlight could not hide his tears.

Second Nun:

The birds from the city have

fallen with the rains.

The song of the Lady re-echoes

through the grief and the glory:

"We cannot sleep the nights. Our eyes

are parched. The days are hot and long

carrying an emptiness more

than the hallow

in our stomachs,

and I know that death is not far from us."

First Nun:

He wept for his sins and wet the earth

beneath his knees.

But his tears were salt, and the earth

bore no root, no green, not even

a stir opening to the small, small drops.

Second Nun:

Only She lamented the hunger of the city.

The people knew they were starving

but were too busy to care why or where

to ask for food. For the city, it is true,

has much oil for its cars, and

power for its lights.

In that mass of machines where everything

opens and closes, moves and stops --

the growing of the grass, the trees,

the stir of the wind,

the temper of the sea, the thunder

from the mountains -- all these echoes

of heaven

are not heard.

Two Nuns:

Hunger in a penitent’s soul

is all the pain the dry season brings.

Tears by the mountains huddled

what manner of man is this that kneels

by the stone, and strikes his breast

with sounds like prayer?

The voice of prayer that goes beyond

the fire in the breast

beyond the swell of watered eyes.

The voice of prayer that comes

from a sanctuary

of stillness, where a Child could

dwell between the metal and the spirit.

A condition of complete simplicity

where a world is complete before the Altar

and a heart without a world, simple.

First Nun:

Who shall tell the people?

Second Nun:

Before the Black Sea, there were thirty pairs.

Part II

The Lady:

From the Blessed St. John

a message to thee from the Truth,

the source from which God's creation began:

"I know of the doings, and find these

neither cold nor hot.

Being what thou art, lukewarm,

make me vomit thee out of my mouth.

See where I stand at the door

Knocking: If anyone listens to my voice

and opens the door, I will come in

and visit him, and take my supper with him.

Chorus:

Listen you who have ears, to the message...

The Lady:

...The Spirit has for the people."

They have ruined the churches,

and many have died...

Chorus:

...without prayers for their graves

The Lady:

...unheedful of the bitter waters

Chorus:

...of Hell.

The Lady:

Who shall tell us what to do?

When hearts like doors have closed themselves

and the streets have crowded with cheerers

mocking a Man riding a donkey,

the tide of the traffic has thickened

over the square;

Does not a Child come up to the Man

that He may ask

For all to hear: "Unless you become

as little children, you shall not enter

my kingdom."

What, no child?

Chorus:

Was that laughter?

First Nun:

Hail Mary

we turn to Thee.

The Lamb of God, behold!

rebuked by electronic robots

and computing machines.

Second Nun:

Holy Mary,

behold our vineyards: the clusters

look rich and ripe,

but when gathered and pressed before

His judgment...

Chorus:

...Lord, hear our cries.

Have mercy. Have mercy.

Two Nuns:

The vintage from the earth gave no wine.

Not one single drop

for the Figure on the Cross

That shed His last for them.

The Lady:

The crop of this earth is dry.

Go to the nuns. Ask them to pray.

First Nun:

The world is neither the convent

nor the church door, only.

Second Nun:

The Lord did not die for the convent

nor the church door, only.

Chorus:

The sinner by the stone mountain

with his false confessions has been

invited for dinner.

Go, tell him to dress himself

and attend

the banquet of the Lord,

and there,

pour out his grief’s the penance

may be anointed over his forehead

and he may go

to the square in the morrow to proclaim:

"I can see! I am blind no more!"

The Lady:

In the square, the people are too busy

feasting with their gold.

They do not seem to starve for food.

They do not seem to go blind, or deaf,

or mute,

or sick with the palsy.

What then?

Chorus:

Shall the blind man made seeing,

the sinner pardoned,

be heard over the waves of traffic and noise?

When the temper of the tide shall rise

and fall,

when the earth shall be open and made green

when the birds come homing from the South

when the sharp sickle of the Angel gathers

the world’s vintage

shall the people in the square

pause from their hurry and look to the sky

bending their knees in prayer to cry:

"Lord, are we not worthy?"

Part III

Chorus:

Nothing remotely suggests

what the moon has tried to conceal:

At the foot of the mountain

we found a penitent clinging to his

nightshirt, counting his fingers

and crying.

Weeping under the shadows of the moon,

but the shadows failed to hide

his tears and the moon shone

like the witch hysterical over

the waters on his cheeks.

Two Nuns:

Bend the knees before the Sanctuary

and make the voice of prayer

strike the breast to

Open! Open! Open!

The Lady:

"If anyone listens to my voice

and opens the door, I will come in

to visit him, and take my supper

with him.

Listen, you that have ears,

to the message

the Spirit has for the people!"

--------------------------

Father Ting, This was published in the "Varsitarian" official organ of the University of Sto. Tomas and was submitted and won the Palanca the same year it came out. I was finishing my course in philosophy at the time. Even then, I already had attempts at being a St. John of the Cross. A poetic attempt, albeit puerile. The papal book "Memory and Identity" is with the Father Provincial of the Order of the Blessed Sacrament. He was our parish priest at the Carmelite Convent for six years and with his promotion is now back with his central office. The discalced Carmelite friars have not taken over the daily masses at the Gilmore Convent. I will try to retrieve it. "Memory" refers also to our personal recollection of the life of Christ, the history of the Church, the struggles of humankind through wars and natural calamities -- all must be part of our recollection in order that we can "Identify" with Christ in humanity's failings, trials, struggles, victories and triumphs, and with each other together with the communion of saints that have gone before us. Without memory we do not have our identity. Without remembering the past of the Old Testament and the New Testament, we have no identity in the now. Our identity is our collective history. We are one in many memories; and all our memories identify us.

rita

PROJECT RELIEF… RE:LIFE

2009-10-12T06:15:00.000-07:00

ONE HOPE, ONE LIFE, ONE FAMILY AT A TIME

The suffering of a people spares no one who has a heart and hope is the touch of healing.

The horrendous devastation that typhoon Ondoy (Ketsana) has caused in the Metropolitan Manila area and the adjacent provinces have changed the condition of many lives. The waters had nowhere to go because the rivers, the lake, the floodways are clogged with mud and debris. All the contents of homes were reduced to smithereens by the fury of the currents. And while we try to do our best to gather from the murky residue whatever else may be salvaged, the damage is beyond retrieval.

Project RELIEF…RE:LIFE is a long term holistic approach addressing the families whose sorrows are more severe, than the loss of property, but also the loss of a loved one: a child, a mother, a father, a sibling…or, in some excruciating instances, the loss of children, parents, a whole family, all mercilessly drowned by the rampage of the currents and the waters that swelled in a matter of minutes to the rooftops. The horrifying scene was beyond words: outstretched hands above the fury of the floods, desperately flailing for help…a family on a raft that violently smashed the underbelly of a bridge instantly perished in full view of those who desperately attempted rescue…the sight of a father who frantically foraged the hillside hoping that the lifeless, muddied body of the young boy he already held in his arms was not his son…a woman found seated and dead in her living room when the waters subsided, her eyes still staring in shock. And there were more.

Acts of God??? As I see it...

2009-10-03T07:21:00.000-07:00

Typhoon Ondoy or Ketsana as its international name, has already claimed many lives and left thousands homeless.

We all have innumerable reasons for the causes of this calamity but when there is nothing left to blame, we blame GOD! The wrath of God? Why did God do this? Wow! What an excuse!!!

So I sit here and ask, why would a merciful and loving God allow all these things to happen? Having gone around during the height of the typhoon… people were drowning, screams could be heard from the roofs of their homes, hopelessly pleading to be saved… homes crumbling amidst the raging waters. Read the rest of this entry >>>

FOR GOD IS THE ONLY HEALER

2009-09-14T10:09:00.000-07:00

The secret to LIFE and all its blessings lies in our own hands, in our own hearts. Do we believe that we divine creatures of GOD that we deserve all that we need for to live a glorious life?

To this “SECRET” we hold the very key.

All we need is to BELIEVE ….”For by our faith we shall be healed”.

The most powerful healing is when we receive the Lord in Holy Communion during the celebration of the Holy Eucharist. We manifest our faith when we pray “Lord I am not worthy to receive you but only say the word and I shall be healed.” We are all empowered with the gifts of the Holy Spirit and one of them is the gift of healing. For as long as we are willing to be used as instruments of GOD we will be able use our gifts to pray over our loved ones and ourselves.

We cannot be anything less than our true nature as the beloved children of God, because we are. It is only in the ignorance of the truth about our god-given gift of healing that we fail to claim its’ reality in our lives. Without the strength of our faith and love for God, we will always feel less than what we truly are. Inner turmoil will get the better of us when we are faced with burdens and adversity. Read more

SEPTEMBER 8, 2009…IT’S MAMA MARYS 2025TH BIRTHDAY!!!

2009-09-06T11:01:00.000-07:00

Beloved Child of Mary:

Jesus loves you!!! Mama Mary loves you!!!

SEPTEMBER 8, 2009…IT’S MAMA MARYS 2025TH BIRTHDAY!!! What a delightful and joyful day it is for us all of us. It is another day when we all join as one to celebrate the birthday of our Universal Mother…MAMA MARY!!!

The Mama Mary’s Movement Foundation Inc. together with all Mama Mary’s beloved children are preparing another exciting and fun-filled celebration in her honor. Now on its 11th year, HAPPY BIRTHDAY MAMA MARY 2009 celebration will be held in Tierra de Maria, Nature’s Park. Simultaneously we will be launching the Mama Mary’s virtual family online on September 08, 2009.

We have been celebrating for years now that is why we invite you once again in making this celebration another joyous and meaningful one. Your love for Mama Mary encourages us to seek your support by sharing your time, talent and treasure. There is so much to be done. We can only do so much. We need you.

Assist us by participating or contributing to any or all of the following:

Gather your friends and loved ones to join us in celebrating Mama Mary’s Birthday through her Birthday TV Masses:

Sept 7 at 9:00 pm at Channel 13

Sept 8 at 9:00 am at Channel 9

Sept 8 at 3:00 pm at Channel 4

Join us in praying the Prayer Power for Change every 12:00 noon daily

http://www.mamamary.com.ph

Help us to continue our Project Hope Programs

http://www.mamamary.com.ph/healing_livelihood_projects

Send your prayer petitions and mass intentions

http://www.mamamary.com.ph/healing

Requests for Healing Pray-Over

http://www.mamamary.com.ph/healing

Organize a group of 10 or more to form your Hail Mary decade praying the seed love devotion

http://www.mamamary.com.ph/healing_seed_love-devotion/

Join our Mama Mary’s Online Family

Please check out our main website and our blogs

http://mamamary.com.ph

http://www.yesmamamary.blogspot.com

http://www.yesmamamary.wetpaint.com

http://www.yesmamamaryweebly.com

http://www.yesmamamary.tumblr.com

http://www.squidoo.com/yesmamamary

And join our online social networks and be updated with our latest programs and events

http://www.facebook.com/tierra.demaria

http://www.blessedmothermary.ning.com

http://www.en.netlog.com/TierradeMaria

http://www.yesmamamary.multiply.com

http://twitter.com/YesMamaMary

http://twibbon.com/join/Power-Prayer-for-Change

See the compilation of all our pictures through the years of service at:

http://www.flickr.com/photos/yesmamamary/

See our Healing Videos at our Youtube Channel at:

http://ww.youtube.com/yesmamamary

Hoping for your YES MAMA MARY!!!

Let us all together say…

“HAPPY BIRTHDAY MAMA MARY”

Please help us by forwarding this message to all your family and friends!

Remember Mama Mary love you, Jesus loves you, we love you... God Bless you all!!!

Mama Mary's Movement Foundation Inc.

Tierra de Maria, Nature's Park, Tagaytay City, Cavite, Philippines.

http://mamamary.com.ph/

+6346 860 1942 / +63917 328 6279

HEALING-Seed Love Devotion

2009-08-17T03:35:00.000-07:00

Amidst these troubled times, in this highly commercialized and materialistic world, in the course of our daily lives, we are faced with so many trials, persecutions, physical, emotional, financial and spiritual problems. When you feel things are becoming very complicated and solutions are becoming humanly possible… Be not afraid, it’s very simple, seek the powerful intercession of Mama Mary. Prayers is the solution to our problems! “I say to you, all the things whatever you ask for in prayer, believing, you shall receive” (Matthew 21:22). Our Blessed Virgin Mother, the Mother of God, Our Mother, Our Mama Mary is calling us to respond to Her pleadings through Her message: PRAY PRAY PRAY, it’s getting very, very, very late, the conversion is too slow, bring souls to my Son. In response to Mama Mary’s call, the Mama Mary’s Movement responded through the “Seed-Love Devotion”. A simple, yet powerful, daily devotional prayer habit that may make the difference in your life.

The seed-love devotion is a daily devotional prayer habit of praying ONE HAIL MARY AT ONE O’CLOCK FOR ONE ANOTHER. It is the forerunner in bringing about a highly motivated program with the vision to involve the collective masses into a prayer crusade. This is the power of united prater. This video was broadcasted daily in the philippines through ABC Channel 5.

Mama Mary lead us in prayer...

2009-08-06T10:16:00.000-07:00

We, the Filipinos are Mama Marys beloved children. She has shown Her maternal love for our predominantly catholic country by way of various manifestations and miracles throughout the islands. This affection is best reciprocated in the loving name we have given our Blessed Virgin Mother… “Mama Mary”.

In turn, She has called the people of the Philippines “My children”. In recognition of this close personal relationship, the Philippines have been consecrated to the Immaculate Conception and Our Lady of Guadalupe. The Filipino people have paid tribute to Her through countless titles and devotions. Remember, irregardless of so many titles, there is only one Mama Mary... THE MOTHER OF GOD!

It is then only befitting for us to join together in prayers of gratitude and thanksgiving to our beloved "Mama Mary" for interceding for our needs and petitions to her Beloved Son, Jesus. And one of the best ways to give back this gift is to pray the rosary as taught by our blessed Mama Mary to St. Dominic. The Rosary is a reminder of important events in the life of Jesus Christ and our devotion to the Incarnation of our Lord and His Blessed Mother.

As we journey through the mysteries of the rosary: joyful, sorrowful, glorious and luminous mysteries we commit to memory our Lord's Incarnation, His passion and death and then his resurrection from the dead and eventually His transfiguration and the institution of the Holy Eucharist. In so doing, the rosary allows us to grow into a deeper understanding and appreciation of the mysteries of the life of our Lord and to help encourage us into a life of faith. Through the power of the rosary, the Blessed Mother leads us to her Beloved Son Jesus.

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HAIL MARY, full of grace

2009-07-29T09:19:00.001-07:00

SEED LOVE DEVOTION

2009-07-28T22:02:00.000-07:00

Say, Yes! Mama Mary!

2009-07-20T09:32:00.001-07:00

OUR YES TO MAMA MARY IS OUR YES TO GOD. INDEED A SOLEMN ONE.

Amen, is of course, a more solemn form of saying “yes”. It literally means, “so be it”. We often find Jesus opening his solemn statements with, “Amen, Amen, I say to you”. In the Old Testament, every covenant, every oath is always accompanied by an “amen” to indicate truthfulness, authenticity and honesty in the pronouncements made. But when we say “yes” to Mama Mary, we just can’t really help having thoughts whether that “yes” has the strength of the biblical “amen”. Or in the first place, could we really make such a solemn covenant of commitment to the devotion, to the cause or even for instance, to the daily recitation of the Rosary? Are we a “Jesus” who would prefix any statement of ours about anything that deals with the Marian devotion with such a solemn word? How far and deep can we say the real “yes” to Mama Mary.

Or is it “yes” to Mama Mary, which of essence here or could it be more of Mary’s “yes” to God’s initial crack at the final phase of the eternal plan of salvation during the Annunciation, rather than our own unconvincing positive remark – oh yes? Let us see what Mary’s “yes” is all about. Mary’s yes was a “fiat”, “fiat mihi secundum verbum tuum”, in Latin and it literally means, “be it done to me according to your Word”. So, “fiat” means, “be it” or “so be it”. Isn’t that the same as “amen” – the solemn word of divine commitment?

Now we can see the character of the fiat and the amen. Both are solemn pronouncements or statements made by God and man in a partnership of commitment to serve and save. God had said ‘Amen’ to mankind by sending Jesus in our midst as Saviour. The Book of Revelation is right when it called Jesus as the “Amen of God” (Rev. 3:14). God made a solemn commitment to mankind. But it was always in partnership with an equally solemn commitment from man himself. And that’s Mary’s role.