Smile. God loves you...

Imagine how God loves you most.

His love for you is bigger than the Pacific Ocean. His mercy is bigger than the entire galaxy. God will never give up on you. He’ll never get tired of talking with you. You’re a delight in His eyes.. In every journey He would always love to accompany you. He’ll sing sweet songs to you through the mellow sounds of the chirping birds.  

He would decorate your night with the starry sky and surrounds your sleep with calmness. A soft breeze then, will sweetly kisses your face as He will be watching you all night... He is waiting for you to wake up again. And for Him to present you another loads of heavenly blessings. Blessings of which man can never find it here on earth.  

When we are still inside our mothers’ womb, God is anticipating our birth with joy and excitement... There is a big feast in heaven when you were delivered. He is so proud in you, His best masterpiece, and the most beautiful creation. Your picture was set as wallpaper in His cellular phone. Your picture was used as screensaver of His laptop.

Every time we are down and sad, we may not know it, but God heart breaks. And He cries more than we do whenever we feel pain. In every trials and sufferings, He would carry you on His shoulder. Giving you strength and encouragement through the companion of your angelic friends. And even if the whole world leaves you alone, broken and hurting, God will never ever leave you. Why? It is because God is God of compassion and love.

God wants to date no one but you... God is completely in love with you that He has written your name in His heart. Do you know which the most beautiful moment of the day is? It is when you pray, because you are talking to the One who love you most... The most romantic moment in your life is when you have a date with your God in prayer..... He is excited to hear all your stories...

One morning a lonely person upon waking up from bed asked the Lord, "Jesus, how much do you love me?" The Lord answered, "This much." He stretched out His arms and died...

define your focus

• sometimes we don't hear the soft promptings of our dying soul... the longing of our soul was often neglected... some people tend to nourish their mortal body more than their soul. because we're too busy with the cares of this world we forget what is vital to life. the sanctification of soul guarantees true investment. some people work because of money. they work overtime at the expense of their health. because there are lot credit cards,mortgages, loans to pay. parents oftentimes spend most of their time in the work desk than being with their child. family bonding moments was often derailed because of capitalism, consumerism. thus, the so-called mans false sense of security and satisfaction. the gratification of sensual body pleasures often leads to a lost soul&weak spirit. it was written in the bible that, "what does it profit a man if he gain the whole world but loses his soul to eternal damnation?".

THE BEAUTY OF C ALAMITY

(REFLECTIONS NO. 7 of Romeo Ariston King G. Gatan)

Have you ever heard about the calamity of blessings? It sounds absurd, right?

Who hates flood? Do you like it when there is a storm? What about earthquake? In my own personal experience, I don’t want to subject myself and experience anything like that. There are times when we were caught off guard by these inevitable natural phenomena. We always pray and hope for a fine weather. No one of us would like to experience any calamity disastrous to life and property.

But, what if the Omnipotent One floods your life with heavenly blessings? What if the Omniscient One sends you a storm of spiritual wealth? He lets you experience a blizzard of joy. Don't you want to be shaken by peace and unity with high intensity? A strong magnitude of love rocking up your family life? Your volcano of forgiveness erupts, then a tsunami of healing wash out your pains, sweeps away your wounds. Don’t you also want to experience a great famine of pride? And how about a drought of greed? What about seasons of love? Surely, we all want to experience them.

Friend, in every adversity in life, God is with us. We may face the most difficult times in our live; still, we will never feel defeated because God is our refuge. God is our Protector. No storms can sink our boat. In every ordeal man is struggling to face, God is there to give us encouragement and strength to subdue it. God never sleeps. He is always awake, on guard in every moment of our lives. And God will not allow us to carry crosses which we cannot carry.

Blaming God for every trial or difficulty in life does nothing good for us. It is not our right to question and persecute God amidst every problem in life. In suffering, we share His agonies; in sickness we appreciate His wisdom; in pain, we realize it pales in comparison to his own

 Natural disasters remind us that we're not in control of everything. Through these calamities, people would value the power of God and that He exists, gathering as one family to help one another. In this way, generosity and compassion would once again abound everywhere.

On the other hand, we should not wait for a calamity, sickness or death to be re-united with family member. Let everyday be a day full of love. Help turn every sorrow into an inspiration, sadness into a joy. Seize the calamity of blessings every day.

SINCERITY – A KEY ELEMENT OF LOVE

The best way to speak is to speak from the heart.  As the reckless words pierce like a double-edge sword, so the virus of a gossip spreads faster than the speed of light. Speak of the goodness of your neighbors but be silent as to their faults and weaknesses, for only God is the judge of what is a fault and a weakness.

Sometimes the so-called freedom of speech contributes to the noise pollution. When we examine our words, we will be bound to discover that a great deal is as good as trash. "Toxic" words can never be recycled. People are entitled to their very own unique opinion. But abuse of freedom of speech destroys mutual respect and sows hatred and discord.

To refrain from speaking ill of others is always a virtue. It is also a virtue to refrain from reviling those who have injured us. Speak of the virtues of your neighbor but be silent as to his faults and weaknesses. 

It does not matter if we are illiterate for what matters most is the love we have for our neighbor. We may be well versed in theology, knows the bible from cover to cover, from page to page, but what's its use if we have never mastered the art of loving the unlovable?

Any part chosen in the course of our life completes each other. What’s important is that we continue to endeavor making our life and others lives meaningful by love and compassion, generosity and affection.  Faith, hope and love are intertwined cardinal virtues which all of us should strive to have. We are just pilgrimage here on earth. Our true home is in heaven. If we only knew the happiness in heaven we will surely hold loosely the things on earth.

Let your love and compassion to everyone spread like a virus. And let your forgiveness be contagious to infect every offender so as to  lead to a global pandemic of  care and understanding.  Universal love will then reign in everyone’s heart and peace will rule our lives.

BEAUTY IN SIMPLICITY

Once in a while a person would dream of being in the limelight, yet the awareness of its vanity would take him more steps backward. Sometimes it’s good to remain in a view-deck watching people get awestruck by a glittering but transitory horizons in a world of fantasy. So many people lost their sanity in search of stardom...

I do not think that search for happiness lies in academic degrees.  The title that is conferred from achieving lofty academic achievements does not make life complete. Happiness can not also be found in secure health insurance coverage including a memorial plan. Earthly sense of security, powers, prestige and pleasures are but just vain pursuits towards fleeting satisfaction that obscure one’s real sense of security in getting closer and closer to God through prayers, humility, sacrifices and love.

A life can be much happier and less stressful if one remembers one simple thought: "We can't have all that we desire, but God will give all that we deserve."

Someone said that “We've learned how to make a living, but not a life. We've added years to life but not life to years.”   I perfectly agree  with that assertion. The rest of humanity must pay heed to the wisdom of this counsel.

The many tasks and problems we face each day may tire us, but being with God each day can bring us relief from stress. Let us be reminded that in the end, only three things matter:

1.  How fully we lived a meaningful life
2.  How deeply we loved, and
3.  How gracefully we let go of things not essential in life..

A heart that is full of love is much better than a head that is full of knowledge.

simple thoughts..: Rendezvous of the Almighty and man

simple thoughts..: Rendezvous of the Almighty and man: "Imagine yourself sweating it out in exerting every effort just to have a personal glimpse of one of the most powerful and influential perso..."

GOD’S BEAUTY AMIDST ADVERSITIES

Today will be another beautiful day, a day that brings an opportunity to love and to serve others. Today is my chance to fulfill what was not fulfilled yesterday. Today is the time to forgive.  I may not wake up tomorrow. We don't know when He will call me home. I will, therefore, make the best of it, to show compassion and kindness to everyone... I shall give your smile to every person I meet.

    "Dear Lord, most of us always desire a perfect situation, a perfect life..

Yet, You, my Lord do not grant us a perfect life. What you give instead

is a perfect heart in the midst of an imperfect life. Keep me to be cheerful,

smiling amidst imperfections and to enjoy Your wondrous blessings

every moment in time.. Amen” (Anonymous Author)

Today, before I say any unkind words, I will first think of the disabled born mute. Before complaining and getting tired of life, I will think of someone who left this earthly life. Before grumbling about the food on the table, I will imagine a dying street kid who has nothing to eat. And before complaining about my job, I will think of the unemployed, who eagerly wants my job.

Sunrise is a flash of a thousand bright smiles greeting me everyday, so I will try to keep smiling today and add brightness of the sky and the people around me. I will ensure that my heart that never hardens, a temper that never flares up, a smile that never fakes and a touch that never hurts.

The person who really loves me sees what a mess I can be, how moody I can get, and how hard to handle me, but still welcomes me in his or her life...  The greatest event in life is to have someone who does not lament over my faults and weaknesses and still gives me unquestioning care and love. When someone never gives up on me, then I am luckier than a lottery jackpot winner... Love is the greatest force ever known to humankind.

I will strive not just to exist, but to live a full life. I will not be a "frozen' delight like those of towering magnificent icebergs.  It's cold and lifeless. Too often I underestimate the power of a touch, a smile, a kind word, a listening ear, an honest compliment, or the smallest act of caring, all of which have the potential to turn a life of someone else’s for the better

Rendezvous of the Almighty and man

Imagine yourself sweating it out in exerting every effort just to have a personal glimpse of one of the most powerful and influential persons named in the Forbes magazine.  You will be subjected to rigid background check. You have to make an appointment, which will give you a slim chance to meet this human deity.

I know of Someone more powerful who is always available, patiently waiting to talk with you with much eagerness than you can ever imagine. He is the Author of your life. Sometimes man thinks that the most fulfilling spectacular event in his life is to have a conversation with one of the top most powerful and influential people in this world. Little did he know that having participated in an accolade is nothing from having a conversation with God, the highest being.

In our wildest dream, we would sometimes aspire to personally meet some celebrity or dignitaries. What if you were invited by the greatest leader in the world? What if you will have a lunch together be it in the White House or a royal palace? And the event will be covered by the media and telecast. That would be a privilege, an honor, a milestone in your life.  But on your way, a street-child summons you inviting you to his dilapidated hut? What will you do?

God is restless until we rest in His bosom. Remember the parable of the lost sheep? God’s loving embrace enables us to feel the care and unconditional love that only He can offer. Our Christian life means the inseparable love of God and of our neighbors..

When God prompts us, there's no way we will not give in. We can always readily sacrifice the entire "Isaacs” of our life. There is nothing to lose, everything is a gain. What if He also wants us to be the new Zaccheus or transform us from Saul to Paul? Definitely, there will be a joy in heaven. Every angel will celebrate.

Why are many people ashamed to speak about the Most High, our Lord Jesus? The King of Kings. The Lord of Lords. The Author of our life. What if He will also be ashamed of us before His father? We can then become an outcast.  Let every day be, thus, an appointment, a rendezvous, with the Eternal Father.

you can be a winner or a loser. it's your choice

When you hear someone saying a contemptuous word such as “you’re such a loser! You will never learn your lesson”. Then most likely your heart goes out to that person who is referred to as a loser.  

Loser. It’s a very negative word. It’s degrading for the person to whom it refers. And that hurts a lot.  But who really are the losers? When can we say a person is a loser?

Losers can be each one of us. We may not know, but there are times when we ourselves have become losers of this world. In varying degrees, in different aspects, everyone is offered the opportunity to become a loser. Everyone is presented with a group in the taxonomy of people..

Losers are a group of people who only look for their own interest. These people are so absorbed by their own selves. Losers can be referred to someone who is arrogant. When you crush the weak then you are a loser. When you oppress the needy, the marginalized, then you belong to the group called losers. A loser can be a person who is so full of pride and who is always delighted to see the sufferings of others. When a worldling boasts of his/her enormous achievements, that one can be called a loser. Loser in such a way that he neglects to praise the small accomplishments of his subordinates.

When you do not forgive in spite of the apologies that have been offered to you, then you are a loser. When you sow discord and disharmony in a family then you can be called a loser. A wealthy business tycoon is said to be a loser when he withholds support or assistance to his needy lowly gardeners and drivers. That irresponsible student who by his/her frequent experience has developed the skills of cheating during exams is a loser. Public or private vendors are losers when they set their weighing scale to deceive their “valued” customers. Fixers are no-doubt to be classified as losers.

A politician who takes part in the pyramid scheme of corruption is said to be a loser. An irresponsible journalist who by any chance fabricates and monopolizes a story is said to be a loser. A government employee who abandons his post and delegates his responsibility to his subordinates is a loser. When you become a threat to a peaceful society, you are a loser. When you live a life of infidelity, you’re a loser. When you cheat your partner you are such a loser. When you have an inordinate desire for riches and unlawful pleasures then you are such a loser. When fame and popularity enters enters your head and you don't want your feet to touch the ground anymore, then, you are a loser.

We can also become a winner. If there are losers in this world, there are also winners. The whole world abounds with great people, with winners.These are the Champions of our era. When you love unconditionally then you are winner. When you have a selfless love then you are a winner. When you look into the interest of others before yourself then you’re a winner. You are a modern hero when you extend helping hands to all mankind. You’re a winner, you are a champion, and you are a hero when you have love in your heart for your fellow...

crooked justice system failed again

First, they have no right to decide if someone lives.  But they did, and it was a very poor decision.
Life is sacred and it should never be taken as a substitute for punishment of a crime committed, regardless of the gravity, regardless of the law. Life was not created, only to be terminated by the ill decision of any ruling party. Who are you to decide on someone's life? What kind of power do you have to pass a rigorous, final and irrevocable verdict onto someone? Who gave you the right to claim one's life? Were you the one who made that person? Were you the one who created that person? Were you the one who gave life to that person, in order for you to claim it? People owe their lives to no one, except their Creator..

There are so many potent solutions to eradicate drug trafficking. There are so many effective ways to impart a lesson to someone. Man can never correct a mistake by another mistake. Such law is a crooked law. What is legitimate about the death penalty? They may appear to be guilty, or declared to be guilt; still, no man of any position, of any rank should put an end to someone's life.

Gone are the days of massive POW torture and execution. Gone are the infamous days of gladiators. Who really can be a malefactor to be hanged in the gibbet? They could receive the penal servitude by hard labor but why the shameful death sentence? If the reason for issuing the death penalty is to let the whole world fear your government, then there is something wrong with your government. If the sole purpose of your terrible executions is to let the whole world know how fierce and solid your law can be, then, there is something wrong with your judicial and penal code system. What is the difference between a murderer and an executioner?


 By moral standards, is it not more illegal to pass a death sentence to someone? Were you not likened to a common criminal? Who is blameless, who is not guilty of any crime, of any violation? Who can throw the first stone? Washed your hands before the multitude the moment you signed and approved the verdict.  The convicted suspects are not really the shameful ones. But those who have prescribed the law, those who approved the final verdict.

Love unceasingly

Love the unlovable. Only then can you call yourself a true disciple of Christ. God desires mercy not sacrifice. We will become a liar if we say that we love God whom we have not seen and yet we hate our brethren whom we see. Sometimes it is easy to love others who are a thousand miles away than to love those whom we rub elbows with. It is easy for us to love those who are far away than those with whom we dine at the table. Today if you hear His voice, harden not your hearts so says the psalmist. Why then, are we so stubborn when it comes to love?

A key to happiness is through and by love. We can never be happy without peace and we can never attain peace if we do not have love for others. Our hearts are said to be fertile, a conducive place for sowing love. In the end, we desire to harvest peace not hatred. What's the highest gesture of love one can ever freely execute? St. John wrote, "there is no greater love than for one to lay down one's life for his friends..." (spoken by Jesus Christ)

The song goes like this, "Love is something if you give it away. give it away. you end up having more.  It’s just like the magic penny. Hold it tight and you won't have any. Lend it, spend it and you'll have so many.."

Really, what reward will you get if you only love those who love you? if you do good to those who do good to you; what credit is that to you? God chose to die for ALL.  He does not say "this love is exclusively for..."

People’s ingratitude

Very often when we are caught in a great dilemma, when we are experiencing trials, when we are steeped in trouble, we would question God, "Why me Lord? What have I done wrong to you? Why us Lord? I don't deserve this. You're unfair!"

When there is a personal loss of a love one, we question God, “why him Lord, why not those bad evil…?” we bargain with God and indignantly question His Divine governance.
 
And the lament continues as if we are litigating God and blaming Him for the unexpected nightmares....
We easily blame God for our misfortunes. We accuse Him when we are trapped in the quagmire of filth. Our mouth never runs out of blasphemies. We express to God all of our grudges as we harbor hatred towards him.

But when we are in the limelight, when the harvest is abundant, when we are on cloud nine we seem to forget God and we don want our feet to stand on the same ground on which we were used to stand before.. 


Whenever we experience such popularity because of our big and highest achievements in life that we no longer want to make a glimpse from our humble beginnings and from our past, we tend to forget the supports of our brothers and sisters below. When the lucrative job is profiting much, when we are healthy, we never utter a song of gratefulness, of praise.

We never think of thanking God during our sunny days. 
When we are so blessed much, we never dare to question God, “why me Lord?". When the days of our lives are perfect and wonderful we tend to have known no God at all. There is no such one as Provident God in the days of our fullness.

I am hurt

Lord please help me not to get tired of loving. I am wounded. It pains my heart, but please remind me that You died for every person. Let me always remember that I am not better than others. That I am not the only person here on earth. It takes time to know another. I am a sinner myself, so it’s not right for me to judge and condemn. Give me the strength to patiently bear such attacks and outrages. Defending myself might cause some troubles and will only prolong the issue.  Rather help me uphold peace. Give me enough courage to embrace another and not to hold anything against someone.

  

Help me face accusations with a forgiving heart. Sometimes all I need is to cast all my sorrows on Your heart. Help me embrace offenses the way You embraced the Holy Cross. Let me see You in every suffering that I experience. Sometimes I feel like giving up. Sometimes I feel like I want to get even. But upon contemplating your sufferings when you were here on earth, it dawned on me that it is still a virtue to be like a meek lamb. Help me to be merciful to others as You are merciful to me. Teach me to be truly forgiving and embrace others as angels. Let the flame in my heart be ablaze with more love to others. My tears are nothing compared to Your tears and the sweating of Your blood during Your agony. Pierce my heart to hold each person dearly to my heart no matter the gravity of the offenses exacted upon me. I thank you Lord for the “angels” in my life. I can hardly reciprocate their kindness. Their sterling comforts and inspirational words of encouragement help in the drying of my tears…

be not influenced...

Some people walks here on earth with their eyes blindfolded. They could not see the beauty of the world. They could not recognize the magnificent beauty of every swaying trees, of the chirping birds, of the cool breeze that caress their cheeks. These same people could not just see the goodness of someone. They love to complain about everything. They love to murmur. It seems though that everything for them is an irritant, like a stingy thinner solution. They could not accept the capabilities of everyone.  For them, there is no such thing as strength. They love to grumble. To downgrade people is their habit of interest. All they can see are miseries and that’s why misery sticks to their life. These pessimistic people love to blame others of their misfortune. Oftentimes they pass crucial judgments with no known valid reasons. They could not appreciate life’s adversaries, or the very life itself. Everything for them is stingy. And these same people can never embrace trials and sufferings in life. They could never see the bright side of every poverty. They could not see the success beyond every failure. Who would like to live with these breed of people? Who would like to be with this people? Nothing is delightful to their eyes.  And when you come across with these obnoxious people, certainly your life will be profoundly altered if unguarded. Perhaps your first hour of the day will be doomed already. 

breaks all walls of division

Why do people afraid to love? It’s so easy to love a mutual friend. But to love a stranger, it already entails difficulty. To love a snatcher, already poses some difficulty. To forgive a killer who killed massacred your husband, your only son is another story. To love an obnoxious co-employee who always obstructs your promotion is another story. We often reason out that it is a foolishness to love the unlovable. We are afraid to appear ridiculous to the eyes of the skeptics that’s why we can never love a traitor. We would reason out, “Why should I love him? He cheated on me many times. . Why should I love him? He betrayed my trust.” And there goes all the alibis of not loving a person.  We then grumble, “Why should I love that bastard? That **** wasted all my earning and squandered my saving to all his illicit affairs.”  So see how we immediately sin when we are angry. Instead of forgiving we rather commit sin by name callings. Instead of accepting apology we philosophized that it is illogical to love an erring person.  It is easier to love people at a distant than to love this seemingly unruly person whom we rub elbows with. It’s so easy to love people who are thousand miles away than to love people whom we dine with in the table. Sometimes too, we set criteria before loving a person.


 People are afraid to love because they think they might be rejected.  People are afraid to love because the love they give might not be reciprocated. And because of the responsibility it implies in loving, a person will never dare to love. You can not love without giving. You can not love without serving. You can not love without sacrificing your time.  When you love, you have to offer everything, even your life. You can not say you love that person if you are not willing to forgive him. You’re a bogus person if you say “I love you, but I can not forgive you”.  The funny thing about human is that, after hearing an advice, we sarcastically counters “well, that’s God! And I am not like Him to forgive that easy. So, it’s my prerogative to forgive or not to forgive.”   See, how fickle minded sometimes we could be. Ever heard someone saying, “He deserves it! It is his own fault anyway.” Then at the end we hear somebody says “serves her right!”