Whiter than Snow!

One time, while channel surfing, I saw this fantastic commercial on a Home TV Shopping. It was about a bleaching liquid that can remove any stubborn stain and can whiten your whites like brand new. The best in the world, they say.

Well, Excuse me, but two thousand years ago, Someone already claimed that title - and I think it'll stay with Him till Kingdom come.

Jesus' garments were so white when He was transfigured, no soap, detergent, bleach, or miracle liquid will ever do a better job.

That was how white Jesus was.
And would you believe?
That's how white you will be too.
No kidding.
One day, it'll just happen.
Imagine: every dark stain in your soul will be bleached, even most stubborn sins in your life!


O Most Holy One, before You I am an unworthy sinner. Cleanse my soul that I may radiate with the brightness of Your saving grace.

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What's your brand?

Today, there are many generic products in the market. There's a generic medicines, detergent, soy sauce, underwear, and so many others.

They're cheaper, and that's great. But there are risks. Some of these products, packed without any brand name, are produced by fly-by-bight factories. They can be lousy and downright dangerous.

Well, excuse me, but I'm not generic. Because my heart has a brand, and I want to scream His name, and let His cross be my banner, and His love be my battle cry.

I'm not a product of a fly-by-night company. No thanks. I'm a product of the Kingdom of God. The Almighty designed me, engineered me and fashioned me for His glory.

I dont come cheap either, because I was bought by the high price: the Blood of the Lamb.

Treat me with some class, okay?



Lord, many times, I don't see the beauty You have put within me. I treat myself like dirt when Your love has formed into gold. Give me Your eyes and let me see what You see in me!

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Sticky Situations.

A car cutting another vehicle.
Pedestrians crossing while the red light is on.
Cars taking the opposite lane.
Etcetera, etcetera, etcetera!
It's called Traffic, with a capital T.
Who causes it?
We do.
Just like life.
When I choose to short cut His plans.
When I ran away from His call.
When I stubbornly cling to how I want thing done.
When He gives me a red light and I still do it my way.
Result?
Jam! I get stuck!
Who causes it?
I do.
Lord, bring me back to the trafficless world.


Lord, let me recognize it when I'm stuck in my life. Show me the way home.

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In God's Will

It was something I ate, I guess. At first, I had difficulty breathing. I thought it was because of the weather. But then, tears started to fall from my eyes. In a few minutes, I was gasping for air.

I panicked, not knowing what to do. Luckily, a cab stopped in front of me and I was able to get a ride home. I arrived at home feeling the same, quickly I told my mom about what's happening to me. She gave me medicine, and in minutes, I was breathing normally again.

Later that night, I recalled what had happened. I began to think: What if my mom hadn't been at home at that hour? What if she didn't have any medicine around? What if there's no cab around? What if I fainted inside the cab? What if...

God, It had to be God and nothing else. I realized everything was God-planned, God-designed, God-prepared, and God-inspired!

If only we'll open our eyes, we'll find out that He protects and saves us 24 hours a day by a string of glorious miracles.


My eyes have seen the work of Your hands, oh Lord. My ears have heard of Your loving kindness. May I not forget to thank You for all that you have done for me.

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Tell the World of His Love - World Youth Day '95

I just remember the last World Youth Day that was hosted by the Philippines, the very first time that an Asian country hosted the event.

Youth pilgrims gathered from different parts of the world to worship together, learn of each other's cultures, and to talk amongst one another as "brothers and sisters." The event was celebrated with different activities including a "Barrio Fiesta," where assigned groups would gather to socialize and have fun. Masses were celebrated everyday in almost every Catholic Church in the Philippines.

It was attended by more than 5 million pilgrims.

I remember i was still in my senior year in high school that time, all catholic churches were so busy preparing for the event as well as preparing something for their delegates. It was such an overwhelming experience. It is as if, I'll be more closer to God, to Christ, it is as if, we need to prepare because Christ is visiting that day.

I don't know if we will still have the chance to host the event, in my life time. I wish, I hope and I pray.



Please click the picture if you want to listen to the theme song of the World Youth Day 1995.

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Let Christ Take You Beyond Discouragement!

There was this guy who writes about the pain his wife went through as a breast cancer victim.

His wife was 28 years old and had just given birth to their fourth child. From healthy and productive, she became weak and helpless.

But would you believe? Despite all these, there was no bitterness in his wife. Only acceptance, because she threw herself to God's mercy. She praised and thanked God for all the little blessings amid all her pain and suffering.

When his wife died, leaving him and their four very young children, he described how he drew strength from Christ alone and went from discouragement to joy. Through the loss of one of the most precious and loved persons in his life, Christ was magnified.

Just like us, we lose so many things in our lives. Loved ones, jobs, friends, fortunes, even cherished dreams. These loses inflict deep, gaping wounds in our hearts. So that we search for Jesus, the only One who can heal those wounds.



Oh Lord Jesus, I don't understand why, but I thank You for all the losses i have suffered in my life. I need you Oh Lord that I will make my life shine bright for You!

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My Father...

Since I was a small kid, I've been harboring feelings of bitterness, anger and hatred towards my Dad. Somehow, I felt that he didn't love me enough, the way he should have loved me.

As the years went on, little did I realize that these sentiments and grievances were leading me nowhere. I failed to see the goodness of God for all the good things that he has given me, and instead, just chose to dwell on my feelings of resentment.

Then came the turning point.

I allowed God to completely take over my life and banish from my heart all pride, all coldness, al hurts that have sund in deep down. At that point, I was able to experience true love, and unconditional one, and learned to trust Him totally.

Yes, my father loved me after all. But more than this, my Heavenly Father loved me from the beginning - even during times when I'd question Him and doubt His ove.




Lord, forgive me for the times I doubted Your presense in my life. I am sorry for my unbelief. May I learn to trust in You alone!

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Heal Me, Oh Lord!

Are you sick?

Did you know that there's a link between your spirit and your body? If the spirit is sick, it will show in the body. Diseases can signal the state of the heart. If bitterness, anger and hatred reside in our hearts they will show in the body through cancer, hypertension and the like. That's why Lord Jesus said, "Your sins are forgiven" before saying, "Be healed of your paralysis."

If you want healing in your body, examine your spirit.

Don't just deal with the symptoms: the cold, the cough, the tumor, the asthma, the pain...

Deal with the cause: the anxiety, the unforgiveness, the jealousy, the depression, the anger, the sins...

First, let Lord Jesus heal our heart.

Next, let Him heal our body.

What a great idea to start the New Year, right?

Let's seek for spiritual healing to obtain healing in our body!


Lord, I acknowledge all my sins, I know You're faithful and just and will forgive my sins and cleanse me from every wrongdoing!

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How is your relationship with God?

All of us are wounded from time to time by those we love. And certainly we all do the wounding ourselves too.

I wasn't pleased with the situation we have in our Clan and with some of my friends. I wondered if I had fallen out of favor with God. Why we are having problems?

But the first thing that pops up in my mind was "How is my relationship with God?"

I just realized this logic: If my relationship with God was right, then I won't be terribly bothered by all these storms in my life. I must first settle my own relationship with God, allow Him to give me the ability to love, which i know will take considerable time. And then, in my room, and within my heart, I fell before God and chose to love.

When we are hurt of distressed in our relationships - let's keep our eyes on God, on Jesus. Before we ask "How are my relationships with others?" first ask " How is my relationship with God?" for He will never withhold all that you need to cope with your biggest relationship difficulty.


Oh Lord, I thank You for Your forgiving love which I use to forgive and love all those that have hurt me and my family...

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PRAYER OF A GRATEFUL HEART

Almighty and provident Father,
I thank You from the bottom of my heart
for this wonderful thing that has happened to me
I know it is the result of Your goodness towards me
and I pray that I may accept it as I should.
In a world filled with so many sufferings and sad occasions,
I am fortunate to be blessed in this way.
I offer You my sincere gratitude
and promise to remain united with You
In good times and in bad.

May You be praised forever and ever.
Amen.

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MERRY CHRISTMAS!!!

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Humility or Pride?

Humility is a strange virtue, it is when we think we are humble that we are proud, and when we admit our pride that we are humble.

There was this guy who sought enlightenment from God about a truth of his faith. He fasted, he prayed, and he tried all he could to humble himself to become worthy of His grace. But nothing happened! So he fasted, prayed and humbled himself some more. Still nothing. Finally, after the third try he gave up and rose to visit a priest friend who might help him understand this truth of his faith.

At this point, an angel appeared in his dream to give him the enlightenment he sought. The angel told him that in his attempt to humble himself, his pride remained and he got no closer to God. But when he admitted his inadequacy and started to go to his priest friend to seek help, it was this act of humility that brought down God's grace.

This guy now learned that one aspect of humility is accepting that we need others - that we are not self-sufficient. More importantly, this act of seeking help from someone else is a reflection of our need for God. And that is what we can call, Humility.


Teach me the right kind of humility - where I can be very strong and yet so focused in loving You and others.

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Take me as I am...

I find refuge and sanctuary while praying to God. I admit, my feelings sometimes are not always joyful. I sometimes feel sad and sometimes feel rebellious. But I bring all of these negative emotions to the feet of Jesus in prayer, believing that He will answer me.

This does not guarantee though that I will always get my answer in an instant. Sometimes, I have to keep on praying with these negative emotions for months!

But then, they are like seasons, after awhile, the winds blow and the clouds disappear – and I feel happy again.

But the important thing is that no matter what the season may be in my life – I keep on praying.

No matter what the condition of my heart is…

I pray with my sadness, I pray with my anger, I pray with my tears. And I pray with my loneliness.

And yes, I pray with my joy as well.

And you know what? God understands. He takes me as I am!



How can I always pray with joy when I am laden with problems at home and pressure at work? Lord, rescue me! Give me your joy.

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Been Seduced and Tempted!

Let me tell you about a friend.

He has been blessed with so much abundance.

Talents, character, intelligence and good looks.

He’s got all it takes, it seems.

He’s your “super man” come alive.

Oh, a few more of his blessing: Abundant women. You see, women adore him. They think of him every second. Their walls are filled with his pictures. They seem to lose consciousness when they see him. Their feet don’t touch the ground after chatting with him.

But along with all these, he has remained single for the Lord. Yes, you read it right, Celibate! Can you believe that?!

He has been seduced and tempted into many a relationship, but each time, he has turned them down graciously.

Now you might ask, “Why in heaven is he doing this?”

I forgot to mention another blessing he has.

Deep faith.

No wonder.



Oh Savior Jesus, we have many illusions and deceptions in this world. Free us from all our anxieties that block us from being totally Yours.

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I did this because I love you...

How does it feel to be embraced?
Wonderful isn't it? It is like being cradled, and deep within your heart, it feels so good to listen to the breath of love. Oh, how lovely it is that someone loves you!

One day, the embarrassment of my past dawned on me as I prayed. And with this, I realized the sins I've committed because of a mistaken love and false gods.

I envisioned the nail on His right palm pierce deeper because of my sins. I recalled all the sins in my past and felt how much hurt I have brought him.

I looked at Jesus and saw fresh wounds.

I cried in shame. It seemed as if His wounded body was His way of showing me He was there for me - in the course of my sufferings.

On the cross, Jesus looked at me with so much love and on His lips were words of comfort: "I did this because I love you."

Hearing those words, it was as though my soul passed out -but graciously caught by the embrace of His love.

And in that embrace, I rested and was at peace.




Oh Lord, forgive me if I depend on other things that do not come from You. Wash me clean from these influences, Lord!

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The Imperfect Me...

I just survived from a recent depression. Caused by so many disappointments, unanswered prayers and unmet expectations from friends and family. And because of such unfortunate events, I was left wondering if God really did exist and could ever hear my cry and hear my pleas.

If God really is God, then why all this agony? Sometimes I think that God takes perverse pleasure to see me suffer. Am I that unlovable that even God can't love me?

Then I started rebelling against Him. I was actually starting to doubt his existence. I stopped praying for a time, not even going to church to hear mass every Sunday as an act of rebellion. Though I continued serving Him, I was like a stiff robot. I knew I was drifting away. How can I love someone who can't love me?

Yet in all these, one truth kept coming back to me.

He still see me as His child.

A hurting child.

A rebellious child but a very precious one for Him.




Lord, accept my imperfections, my unfaithfulness, my imperfect love, my imperfect soul. Let me feel your love in your surprising ways!

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Where is He?

Seek Him not in the confines of comfort.
Seek Him rather in sacrifice.

Seek Him not in an island of security.
Seek Him rather in the fray of battle.

Seek Him not in the seat of power.
Seek Him rather in the humblest dwelling.

Seek Him not in the well dressed people.
Seek Him rather in the tattered clothes of the street children.

Seek Him not in the grandest and elegant things.
Seek Him rather in the little things that are essential.

Seek Him not in an hour of personal gratification.
Seek Him rather in a moment of sharing.

Seek Him not only on the 25th of December.
Seek Him rather in the Christmas of every day.




Oh Lord, why is it so difficult to find You? Is it because I'm really not searching for you? Or am i searching in the wrong place and circumstances? Lead me Lord, Oh Lord!

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Follow me... Do as I say!

It was one of the many Retreats I've attended, and we had this activity where I was blindfolded. Then my, assigned partner took me around, told me what to do and pulled me all around the room.

When it was my turn to blindfold my partner, I became naughty. I took him outside, on rough roads, rocky paths, muddy streets and humpy floors! All the while, my partner was telling me that he didn't trust me. So I tried to explain and consoled him, telling him not to worry even if the roads were bad - because I'll never allow him to get hurt. We ended the activity with so much lightness in our feeling.

When I joined the Catholic groups, it was as though I was blindfolded too. My friends teased me. My problems are still there and worries and frustrations kept flowing in my life. It was pretty dark and I could barely see what was in store for me.

But it was God were telling me, "I'm holding you, don't be afraid, have no worries. Just follow Me. Do as I say. Everything is dark for you now, but you'll have to trust me - you'll see light forever for I will never allow you to get hurt.


Let me listen when You're asking me to follow oh Lord and grant me the courage to follow You in the darkness!

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God is Unfair!

My whole life screams this truth!!! You don't believe me, do you?

First, He showers me with grace and mercy particularly during time when I'm not in the "right path" with Him. So is God unfair? Certainly!

Second. He recycles what i consider trash and unnecessary, my disappointment, heartaches, illness, temptations, and embarrassments - as instruments for my personal edification and sanctification, thereby making me a better reflection of the One who created me. So is God unfair? Definitely!

Third, I don't deserve His love, care and attention and yet He sent His only Son to be the atonement for my sins and have earned in the process the right to call God Father. So is God unfair? Amen!

God's mercy exceeds His justice.

Imagine if He were fair. I'd be wailing and gnashing my teeth by now.



Jesus, fill my heart with your unfairness. I want more of it, Lord. Don't give me what I deserve. Give me what Your Son Jesus Deserves.

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Vampires or Jesus?

“I wish normal people have a heart that vampires do. Once they fall in love… they never fall out of love…” - Twilight

Very famous line now... but for sure and am very sure that it would be nicer if we say...

"I wish normal people have a heart that Jesus does. Once He falls in love... He never falls out of love..."

As a Christian, I firmly believe in this... that no matter what we do, no matter how hard we commit sin, that we even get to a point of turning our backs from Him... He (Jesus) is still there... waiting for us, always extending His hand and opening His heart for all of us... He never fails to love us, not even thought of disowning us... because for sure, He will never fall out of love for us.

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