Just a Random Thought: Be Humble, Don't be Self-Righteous

Whatever other people think of you or whatever you let other people see you do, at the end of the day, it is your personal relationship with our God that matters most.

#ThoughtsCrossingMyMindWhileTakingAGoodWalk

It is just in time after the Easter celebration to be reminded that we shouldn’t judge others, especially just by basing on whether they go to church or not; serve in communities or not; openly help others or not, et al. 

We should always keep in our hearts and gratefully remember that it is God who forgives us first even before we ask Him to and who calls us to come before Him, despite our sinfulness... He sees past our wrongdoings and our history. Whatever each of us does, it is only God who is entitled to judge each one.

God has His own right time and right way touching our hearts. Don’t feel superior over others just because you attend Mass, pray, or tithe... instead, let us learn from each other and help and inspire each other to live humbly and uprightly according to what God tells us to do (Bible), and most importantly, unceasingly thank God, thirst for His words, and humbly put them into practice.

Others are called to serve, some to preach, still others to undergo trials now in order to teach others by their experiences and bless others later, et al. God does not look so much at the greatness of our actions, nor even at their difficulty, but by the love & manner in which we perform them and the sincerity of our hearts. 

Whatever other people think of you or whatever you let other people see you do, at the end of the day, it is your personal relationship with our God that matters most.

It is between God and you. God reads your mind and sees your heart.

PS: For all those who exalt themselves will be humbled, and those who humble themselves will be exalted.—Luke 18:14 (The Parable of the Pharisee and the Tax Collector)

Lent: Understand Backward to Move Forward

This Lent, let us remember that when God looks at us, He looks at us with our future and not with our past, which is comprised of our history and layers upon layers of sins. So don’t give up on your journey towards God’s promised land, for God is never giving up on you!

We must know our roots and the vestige of who we are to know who we can be. Look inside to see what lies ahead.

The season of Lent is a very good period to retrospect and understand life backwards. Although we can contemplate everyday, Lenten season is the time for Christians to channel and focus most of our thoughts to the greatest love demonstrated by Jesus and the importance of humility for our proper growth.

Jesus loves us more than we can ever imagine! Some of us may not realize it now, but it’s okay. Our Lord God is patiently waiting for us to come home; and as He waits, His loving hands are at work in our lives for our good.

Imagine being betrayed by a loved one or a very dear friend. How painful is it? Judas did that to Jesus, who treated His disciples as His own family (Matthew 26:14). How about voluntarily taking on the punishment for something you did not do? Would you do it, to the point of being whipped? Jesus did more than that! He took all the whipping, wore the crown of thorns, was mocked at, carried the cross, and courageously allowed Himself to be nailed on the cross.

Can you see yourself washing the feet of your friends? Of course you can! (You may even think, “I can even manicure or massage them!”). Well and good! Jesus, the Most High, the King of Kings, demonstrated His humility by washing the feet of His disciples and wiped them clean. This King doesn’t love being in the seats of honor, instead, He loves serving others.

Jesus our Lord did all these things that we may do the same to our brothers and sisters. As it is written in John 13:

“Now that I, your Lord and Teacher, have washed your feet, you also should wash one another’s feet. ¹⁵ I have set you an example that you should do as I have done for you. ¹⁶ Very truly I tell you, no servant is greater than his master, nor is a messenger greater than the one who sent him. ¹⁷ Now that you know these things, you will be blessed if you do them.”

Humility is the mother of all virtues. It is through humility that we learn and we grow. With humility, we become generous and grateful. Because of humility we diligently work and give credit to whomever credit is due. Humility fuels us to love selflessly and genuinely.

Humility brings us more friends and wealth after we learn to righteously deal with others and after we nurture a big heart. It makes the last first and the servant greatest.

Whatever our status in the society is, in the eyes of God, we are all His children and are all given the opportunity to live a well-lived life. It is just up to us how we will live life—to obey God or trust our own wisdom.

Starting this Lent, may we take the time to open our hearts and open our Bibles to listen to what God is telling us. It is through prayer that we talk to God and it is by reading the Bible that we listen to God.

By listening to God’s word, we are able to know what is the real right and the real thing. With God’s guidance, we are able to establish our standard and parameters on how we must uprightly and joyfully live our lives.

As we know God more and more, we will realize that God is not a limiting Father. We will learn that God is the God of fun and freedom. When one knows what he must do, he can freely decide and act upon His decisions.

This Lent, let us remember that when God looks at us, He looks at us with our future and not with our past, which is comprised of our history and layers upon layers of sins. So don’t give up on your journey towards God’s promised land, for God is never giving up on you!

If you think you’re now on a boat rocked by huge waves, remember that God will never let you sink. If you think life is throwing you dirt to burry you, shake it off, step up, shake it off, step up until you emerge to the surface victoriously. God meets us at our point of need, and God is never early nor late to rescue us. God gives us the freedom to utilize the blessings we receive from Him, and more importantly, God is always on time to meet and save us.

Let us allow God hold us, instead of us holding unto God, for God never lets go.

Starve your body and feed your soul! A seed must first die in order to grow and continue bear fruit. In the same way, if we want to grow and continuously improve in any area of our lives, we must intentionally deny ourselves and willingly take up our cross daily. Simply put, we must be humble enough to acknowledge our need for God and confidently face each challenge life throws at us knowing God is always holding us.

Know God and His commands. God prefers obedience than sacrifice; acknowledgement than offering.

Let us check our hearts and know how we must live our lives.

In whatever situation let us all remind ourselves, WWJD--"What would Jesus do?"

Enjoy your quality time with our Creator and Savior! Blessed and meaningful Lenten season!

~Ut In Omnibus Glorificetur Deus~ 

Flash Fiction: Sinner and Saint

Healthy love is like cathecting a beautiful flower—watering just enough, basking in the sun and relaxing at night, and admiring one day at a time; otherwise, it drowns and dies or it withers and dies.

Too much of anything is bad.

Enduring things for the sake of love is martyrdom.

You are the apple of my eye. I accept everything about you, even your series of lies and goodbyes.

Yes I know you lied, and you keep on lying still.

“You sinner, you distorted saint!,” said the small voice inside me.

Your are the best gift I ever received. Our bond is the best thing that ever happened to me. I learn a lot from the emotions you bring—joy, pain, excitement, and sadness.

“You blind, you fool!,” said the small voice inside me.

“Remove your blindfold; let your honest eyes see. Take off your hat; let your mind soar the heights of heaven. Unchain your big heart; let your love reach out to the many deserving—your family, your friends, including yourself.”

I lay in bed perplexed and vexed. I hate you little voice for resurrecting the truth I daily ignored. Perhaps now is the time to face what is long overdue. I retrospect. I denied. I bargained. I accepted.

Too much of anything is bad.

Enduring things for the sake of love is martyrdom.

True love is none of the above. True love is just enough of everything and enjoying things because of love. Healthy love is like cathecting a beautiful flower—watering just enough, basking in the sun and relaxing at night, and admiring one day at a time; otherwise, it drowns and dies or it withers and dies.

Now I tear my blindfold—I can clearly see; I throw the cap—my mind at peace; I break the chains—my heart relaxed. Now I can boldly discern.

I was a sinner, I was a distorted saint.

I am a winner, I am a learned saint.

Flash Fiction: My Sound of Music

...i live to love.

Lub-dub lub-dub lub-dub. Suffocating. Drowning. My heart beats fast. My chest tightens at the mere thought of you. I lie down in bed, your face flows in every direction my eyes point at. I get up, my soles tickle and I feel as if I am walking on a cloud.

Bang. Smitten. Rolling head over heels. Dead. I can no longer move and breathe at the mere sight of you. I take a step, I feel like falling. As you come closer the air becomes tighter. I feel like a fish out of water. Your presence holds me at gunpoint.

Sighhh. I exhale audibly in relief. Now I am jumpy. I whistle out of joy now that you walk beside me. Holding my hands softly yet so tightly, with your fingers entangled with mine. Our arms brush each other.

Whewww. I let out my breath some more. Now, chest more relaxed. You told me I am your life. I am so lucky, I whispered to myself. Now, I snap back. Still suffocating, but no longer dying coz of your presence. I am pumped up. The person I love holds me as his life.

I will take good care of myself, whatever the situation is. I will live. I am here to stay, because I want to shield your life and keep it at its finest.

Lub-dub lub-dub I live to love.