Saturday's Gospel: Light of God's Truth

Scripture: John 15:18-21

18 "If the world hates you, know that it has hated me before it hated you.

19 If you were of the world, the world would love its own; but because you are not of the world, but I chose you out of the world, therefore the world hates you.

20 Remember the word that I said to you, `A servant is not greater than his master.' If they persecuted me, they will persecute you; if they kept my word, they will keep yours also.

21 But all this they will do to you on my account, because they do not know him who sent me.

Reflection What does Jesus mean when he says "you are not of this world"? The world in scripture refers to that society of people who are hostile towards God and opposed to his will. The world rejected Jesus, and his disciples can expect the same treatment.

Jesus leaves no middle ground for his followers. We are either for him or against him, for his kingdom of light or for the kingdom of darkness. The prophet Isaiah warned that people who separate themselves from God because of their rebellion and spiritual blindness would end up calling evil good and good evil (Isaiah 5:20).

If we want to live in the light of God's truth, how can we rightly distinguish good from evil? True love of God and his ways draw us to all that is lovely, truthful and good. If we truly love God then we will submit to his truth and will for our lives. A friend of God cannot expect to be a friend of the world because the world opposes God. Jesus' demand is unequivocal and without compromise.

Do not love the world or the things in the world. If any one loves the world, love for the Father is not in him (1 John 2:15). We must make a choice either for or against God. Do you seek to please God in all your thoughts, actions, and relationships? Let the Holy Spirit fill your heart with the love of God (Romans 5:5).

living in truth

Living in truth is making the right choices. Here's what I mean. In the light of truth, you and I are able to see both truth and lie, both light and darkness-that which is simple, pure, and clear and that which is deceptive.

The secret, of course, is making the right choices every day. So? Watch those choices! Watch your decisions.

No married couple suddenly splits. Nobody becomes a cynic overnight. Nobody makes one leap from pinnacle of praise to the swamp of carnality. Erosion is slow and silent process based on secret choices. And isn't it remarkable?

If you don't stop yourself in the downward process, last week's wrong choice doesn't mean seem quite so bad this week. In fact, in a month's time it seems like not that bad choice at all!

the sink that lasts long

In my community of monks with different backgrounds and nationalities, it has always been a great challenge to really maintain the cleanliness of our kitchen and dining hall.

Because there are twenty hands that use the sink of the kitchen everyday, there is always that tendency for the sink to wear out, lose its luster and/or get rustic.

From the experiences of the brothers who are assigned to do clean-up after our main meal, it is always the sink that gets worn out first than the rest of the kitchen equipment. With this, I suggested to our house custodian to buy from an online site that provides and sells undermount sinks with durable and long lasting quality.


I specifically instructed our community custodian and marketing manager to acquire our sink replacement from this site because they have a good reputation and is business bureau accredited and aside from that, their same day shipping agreement gives comfort to customers and the utmost advantage they offer is that they absolutely offer extremely low prices. I told our custodian and marketing manager that this is the site we most need because our community is really trying to practice economic austerity!

intimate moments with God

From a distance, we dazzle up close, and we're tarnished. Put enough of us together and we may resemble an impressive mountain range. But when you get down into the shadowy crevices.. the Alps we ain't.

That's why our Lord means so much to us. He is intimately acquainted with all our ways. Darkness and light are alike to him. No one of us is hidden from His sight. All things are open and laid bare before Him: our darkest secret, our deepest shame, our stormy past, our worst thought, our hidden motive, our vilest imagination, even our vain attempts to cover the ugly with snow-white beauty.

He sees it all. He knows our frame. He remembers we are dust.

Best of all, He loves us still.

Friday's Gospel: True love is costly

Scripture: John 15:12-17

12 "This is my commandment, that you love one another as I have loved you.

13 Greater love has no man than this, that a man lay down his life for his friends.

14 You are my friends if you do what I command you.

15 No longer do I call you servants, for the servant does not know what his master is doing; but I have called you friends, for all that I have heard from my Father I have made known to you.

16 You did not choose me, but I chose you and appointed you that you should go and bear fruit and that your fruit should abide; so that whatever you ask the Father in my name, he may give it to you.

17 This I command you, to love one another.

Reflection What is the greatest act of love – of self-giving for the sake of another? Jesus defines friendship, the mutual bond of trust and affection between two or more people, as the willingness to give totally of oneself even to the point of dying for one's friends. How is such love possible or even desireable? God made us in love for love.

That is our reason for being, our purpose for living, and our goal in dying. God is love and everything he does flows from his love for us.He loved us so much, some might say even mistakenly say too much, by giving us the best of all gifts, the offering of his beloved Son who gave his life as the atoning sacrifice for our sins. God gave up his Son so that we might become his son, his adopted children.

Paul the Apostle tells us that we can abound in hope because God's love has been poured into our hearts through the Holy Spirit which has been given us (Romans 5:5). God's love has power to transform and change us so that we can be like him – merciful, kind, gracious, and forgiving. In God's love we find the fulness of grace, peace, life and joy. That is why Jesus came to give us abundant life through the gift and working of the Holy Spirit.

Jesus gave his disciples a new commandment – a new way of loving and serving one another. Jesus' love was wholly directed toward the good of others. He love them for their sake and for their welfare. That is why he layed down his own life for us to free us from sin, death, fear, and every thing that could hold us back from the love of God. We are to love others as Jesus has loved us. What is the essence of this new commandment? True love is sacrificial.

It gives all to the beloved. It holds nothing back. It is wholly directed towards the good of another. There is no greater proof in love than the sacrifice of one's life for the sake of another. Jesus proved his love for his disciples by giving his life for them, even to death on the cross. We prove our love for God and for one another when we embrace the way of the cross.

What is the cross in my life? When my will crosses with God's will, then God's will must be done. Do you know the joy and contentment of a life fully surrendered to God and consumed with his love?

Jesus called his disciples his friends. Jesus not only showed his disciples that he cared for them. He enjoyed their company. He ate with them, shared everything he had with them – even his most intimate thoughts. And he spent himself doing good for them. To know Jesus is to know God and to understand the love and friendship God offers each one of us. One of the special marks of favor shown in the scriptures is to be called the friend of God.

Abraham is called the friend of God (Isaiah 41:8). God speaks with Moses as a man speaks with his friend (Exodus 33:11). Jesus, the Lord and Master, in turn, calls the disciples his friends rather than his servants. What does it mean to be a friend of God? Friendship with God certainly entails a loving relationship which goes beyond mere duty and obedience. Jesus' discourse on friendship and brotherly love echoes the words of Proverbs: A friend loves at all times; and a brother is born for adversity (Proverbs 17:17).

The distinctive feature of Jesus' relationship with his disciples was his personal love for them. He loved his own to the end (John 13:1). His love was unconditional and wholly directed to the good of others. His love was also sacrificial. He gave the best he had and all that he had. He gave his very life for those he loved in order to secure for them everlasting life with the Father.

True love is costly. Those who truly love give the best they can offer and are willing to sacrifice everything they has for the beloved. God willingly paid the price for our redemption – the sacrifice of his only begotten Son. That's the nature of true friendship and love – the willingness to give all for the beloved. True friends will lay down their lives for each other.

Jesus tells us that he is our friend and he loves us whole-heartedly and unconditionally. He wants us to love one another just as he loves us, whole-heartedly and without reserve. His love fills our hearts and transforms our minds and frees us to give ourselves in loving service to others. If we open our hearts to his love and obey his command to love our neighbor, then we will bear much fruit in our lives, fruit that will last for eternity. Do you wish to be fruitful and to abound in the love of God?

getting the help of the fastest fundraiser

My community is composed of conscientious members whose main concern is for the upkeep of its members. An organization like my community is endowed with members who are willing to go beyond their limits just to be able to give the most effective fundraiser ideas for the ongoing fundraising program of my community.

Well, as of this writing, Fr Christian, the official fundraiser manager of my community and the community's cellarer, has gone over lots and lots of ideas for possible fundraising campaign and mind you, he even went to the point of considering the possibility of a cheerleader fundraising activity and program that will enable the members of the community to actively participate in it and at the same time make the fundraising campaign a resounding success.

Likewise, I am glad that I got friends who are undoubtedly all out to help and assist our community in its fundraising program that's why they gladly brought fasttrackfundraising to my attention and indeed, it gave me ample opportunity to get to the bottom of our fundraising campaign.

Lastly, they also brought to my awareness this one site which is called as the Mint, and this site absolutelty assisted us sooth our difficulties in relation to our fundraising campaigns. Thankds to the Mint and the fasttrackfundraising, they were absolutely Godsent to our community's economic survival making our lives possible!

fainthearted prayerlife

I used to make excuses for my faint hearted prayer life. But God convinced me that I was not being honest with myself. The real reason my prayers were weak was that my faith was weak. In my heart, I did not believe that God could do anything about the messes all around me.

I decided I didn't want to stay where I was, essentially disbelieving God's omnipotence. So I launched an assault on my own lack of conviction. I located almost every biblical passage that emphasized God's ability to accomplish anything He desires.

God is capable of handling any problem we could bring Him. Treating planets isn't much of a problem for Him. Neither is raising the dead. Nothing is too difficult for God to handle. But He's waiting for us to recognize His power and ask for his help

Thursday's Gospel: Way of the Cross

Scripture: John 15:9-11

9 As the Father has loved me, so have I loved you; abide in my love.

10 If you keep my commandments, you will abide in my love, just as I have kept my Father's commandments and abide in his love.

11 These things I have spoken to you, that my joy may be in you, and that your joy may be full.

Reflection Do you know the love that produces immeasurable joy? Jesus speaks of the love which the Father and he have for those who belong to him. We can never outgive God in love, because he has loved us without measure. Our love for him is a response to his exceeding mercy and kindness towards us.

Paul the Apostle tells us that we can abound in joy and hope because God has poured out his love into our hearts by the Holy Spirit, whom he has given us (Romans 5:5). In God's love we find the fulness of grace, life, peace, and joy. Jesus gives his disciples a new commandment – a new way of love. We are to love others as Jesus has loved us. What is the essence of this new commandment? True love is sacrificial.

It gives all to the beloved. And there is no greater proof in love than the
sacrifice of one's life for the sake of another. Jesus proved his love for his disciples by giving his life for them, even to death on the cross. We prove our love for God and for one another when we embrace the way of the cross.

What is the cross in my life? When my will crosses with God's will, then God's will must be done. Do you know the joy and contentment of a life fully surrendered to God and consumed with his love?

the best selections

Living above the circumstances of life is the best and foremost option to follow in these moments when there is so much turmoil in the economic condition of our society. Businesses closed shops, manufacturers got bankrupt and many more adverse effects of the global recession that has totally engulfed our global economy.

As for now, let's get ourselves a respite from these anxieties and worries by this breather: let's talk about family living and home development.

This will makes sense as everyone now has momentarily focused their attention from the maddening issues around us to the soothing balm of home and family living issues. Well, in connection with these, there is one site in the net that offers a wide selection of items in home furniture.

They carry all the famous well known brands that are available in the market. Most of all, they offer all their products with free shipping and without sales tax in any of their products.

Come to think about it. Getting the best home furniture to decorate the only dwelling place that gives comfort and peace will absolutely ease our tired minds and hardened hearts from the anxieties brought about by the economic distress which is going on around every corner of our economic world.

the only one, the right one

God's way is right. It doesn't always make sense- in fact.. it is often mysterious. It can seldom be explained. It isn't always pleasurable and fun. But I have lived a long enough to realize that His way is always right.

I believe that not until we embrace God's sovereignity will we have the ability to reason our way through life. Until then we will be too significant to us. And we will churn and wrestle and struggle our way through this Christian life, trying too hard to please people rather than living it relieved and relaxed in His plan.

looking your very best

Have you tried goin to dallas hair salons where the center of salone innovations is located? You must try them. They are awesome.

cutting edge

Vision is on my endangered character quality list, along with courage and discipline. The reason is simple : it takes too much work to be a visionary. It's much easier just to go with the flow and do what's expected. It takes courage to break out of conventional thought patterns. It takes confidence and daring to risk failure with a new idea or approach. Visionaries tend to fail many times before they ever succeed, and most people would rather be safe and secure.


It also takes a lot of old-fashioned perspiration to be a visionary. It takes discipline to sit down with a pencil and paper and vow not to get up from your desk until you come up with five new ways to do something.

It takes endurance to get on your knees and stay there until God supernaturally ignites a fresh thought in your mind. it takes hard work to plan for what could happen in five years in your business, family, marriage or ministry.

But developing vision deepens and strengthens our faith.

It is the cutting edge of ones faith.

doing business is an effective means

Life in the present times is toxic and troublesome. We cannot deny the fact that our life's expectancy depends on the kinds of environment that affects our daily living like the economic and financial which actually dominate the most out of our lives.

At this point and time, it is only the best decision to get to to bottom of doing small business seo. This will help our life sustain its breath and live above its circumstances.

Wednesday's Gospel:Fruit of the Holy Spirit

Scripture: John 15:1-8

1 "I am the true vine, and my Father is the vinedresser.

2 Every branch of mine that bears no fruit, he takes away, and every branch that does bear fruit he prunes, that it may bear more fruit.

3 You are already made clean by the word which I have spoken to you.

4 Abide in me, and I in you. As the branch cannot bear fruit by itself, unless it abides in the vine, neither can you, unless you abide in me.

5 I am the vine, you are the branches. He who abides in me, and I in him, he it is that bears much fruit, for apart from me you can do nothing.

6 If a man does not abide in me, he is cast forth as a branch and withers; and the branches are gathered, thrown into the fire and burned.

7 If you abide in me, and my words abide in you, ask whatever you will, and it shall be done for you.

8 By this my Father is glorified, that you bear much fruit, and so prove to be my disciples.

Reflection Why does Jesus speak of himself as the true vine? The image of the vine was a rich one for the Jews since the land of Israel was covered with numerous vineyards. It had religious connotations to it as well. Isaiah spoke of the house of Israel as “the vineyard of the Lord” (Isaiah 5:7). Jeremiah said that God had planted Israel “as his choice vine” (Jeremiah 2:21).

While the vine became a symbol of Israel as a nation, it also was used in the scriptures as a sign of degeneration. Isaiah’s prophecy spoke of Israel as a vineyard which “yielded wild grapes” (see Isaiah 5:1-7). Jeremiah said that Israel had become a “degenerate and wild vine” (Jeremiah 2:21).

When Jesus calls himself the true vine he makes clear that no one can claim their spiritual inheritance through association with a particular people or bloodline. Rather, it is only through Jesus Christ that one can become grafted into the true “vineyard of the Lord”.

Jesus offers true life – the abundant life which comes from God and which results in great fruitfulness. How does the vine become fruitful? The vinedresser must carefully prune the vine before it can bear good fruit. Vines characteristically have two kinds of branches – those which bear fruit and those which don’t.

The non-bearing branches must be carefully pruned back in order for the vine to conserve its strength for bearing good fruit. Jesus used this image to describe the kind of life he produces in those who are united with him – the fruit of “righteousness, peace, and joy in the Holy Spirit” (Romans 14:17).

Jesus says there can be no fruit in our lives apart from him. The fruit he speaks of here is the fruit of the Holy Spirit (see Galatians 5:22-23).

There is a simple truth here: We are either fruit-bearing or non-fruit-bearing. There is no in-between. But the bearing of healthy fruit requires drastic pruning. The Lord promises that we will bear much fruit if we abide in him and allow him to purify us. Do you trust in the Lord's abiding presence with you?

Tuesday's Gospel: True Peace

Scripture: John 14:27-31

27 Peace I leave with you; my peace I give to you; not as the world gives do I give to you. Let not your hearts be troubled, neither let them be afraid.

28 You heard me say to you, `I go away, and I will come to you.' If you loved me, you would have rejoiced, because I go to the Father; for the Father is greater than I.

29 And now I have told you before it takes place, so that when it does take place, you may believe.

30 I will no longer talk much with you, for the ruler of this world is coming. He has no power over me; 31 but I do as the Father has commanded me, so that the world may know that I love the Father. Rise, let us go hence.

Reflection Do you know the peace which passes all understanding (Philippians 4:7)? In his farewell discourse Jesus grants peace as his gift to his disciples. What kind of peace does he offer? The peace of Christ is more than the absence of trouble. It includes everything which makes for our highest good.

The world's approach to peace is avoidance of trouble and a refusal to face unpleasant things. Jesus offers the peace which conquers our fears and anxieties.

Nothing can take us from the peace and joy of Jesus Christ. No sorrow or grief, no danger, no suffering can make it less. Jesus also speaks of his destination and ultimate triumph over the powers of evil in the world. In the eyes of the world the cross stood for shame, humiliation, and defeat.

Jesus went to the cross knowing that it would lead to victory over the powers of sin and of Satan. Jesus also knew that he would return to his Father in glory. The cross brought glory to Jesus and to the Father and it is our way to glory as well. In the Cross of Christ we find true peace and reconciliation with God. Do you live in the peace of Jesus Christ?

Monday's Gospel:God and His word

Scripture: John 14:21-26 [alternate reading: John 14:6-14]

21 He who has my commandments and keeps them, he it is who loves me; and he who loves me will be loved by my Father, and I will love him and manifest myself to him."

22 Judas (not Iscariot) said to him, "Lord, how is it that you will manifest yourself to us, and not to the world?"

23 Jesus answered him, "If a man loves me, he will keep my word, and my Father will love him, and we will come to him and make our home with him.

24 He who does not love me does not keep my words; and the word which you hear is not mine but the Father's who sent me.

25 "These things I have spoken to you, while I am still with you.

26 But the Counselor, the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in my name, he will teach you all things, and bring to your remembrance all that I have said to you.

Reflection Do you know the love that surpasses all, that is stronger than death itself (Song of Songs 8:6)? In Jesus' last supper discourse he speaks of the love he has for his disciples and of his Father's love. He prepares his disciples for his imminent departure to return to his Father by exhorting them to prove their love for him through their loyalty and obedience to his word. He promises them the abiding instruction and consolation of the Holy Spirit.

Saint Augustine says the Lord loves each of us as if there were only one of us to love. God’s love for each of us is as real and tangible as the love of a mother for her child and the love of a lover who gives all for his beloved.

God made us for love – to know him personally and to grow in the knowledge of his great love for us. How can we know and be assured of the love of God? The Holy Spirit helps us to grow in the knowledge of God and his great love.

The Spirit enables us to experience the love of God and to be assured of the Lord’s abiding presence with us (see Romans 8:35-39). The Holy Spirit also opens our ears to hear and understand the word of God. Do you listen attentively to God's word and believe it? Ask the Holy Spirit to inflame your heart with the love of God and his word.

The measured tree overflows.

Luxurious journey through rvs

I heard about motorhome or rvs in showbiz news. I was wondering what motorhome looks like as it was my first time to hear about it that is why I was really amazed by the pictures I have seen. It is like you are just in your real home enjoying the same stuff but at the same time you are moving from one place to another.

No wonder why so many of our celebrities were acquiring a motorhomes nowadays. Simply because they can also experience the comfort of their own home eventhough they are in a far away location shoot. Motorhomes are vehicles that are fully equipped with all the furniture and the gadgets that a person uses at home.

The motorhomes are available in a number of sizes and different types of furnishings. The cost of the motor home is depending on the size and the furnishings. Not to mention that having one rvs , they can really enjoy comfortable and luxurious journey.