The parable of the pencil...

A PENCIL MAKER TOLD THE PENCIL 5 IMPORTANT LESSONS JUST BEFORE PUTTING IT IN THE BOX :


1.) EVERYTHING YOU DO WILL ALWAYS LEAVE A MARK.

2.) YOU CAN ALWAYS CORRECT THE MISTAKES YOU MAKE.

3.) WHAT IS IMPORTANT IS WHAT IS INSIDE OF YOU.

4.) IN LIFE, YOU WILL UNDERGO PAINFUL SHARPENINGS,
WHICH WILL ONLY MAKE YOU BETTER.

5.) TO BE THE BEST PENCIL, YOU MUST ALLOW YOURSELF
TO BE HELD AND GUIDED BY THE HAND THAT HOLDS YOU.

We all need to be constantly sharpened. This parable may encourage you to know that you are a special person, with unique God-given talents and abilities. Only you can fulfill the purpose which you were born to accomplish. Never allow yourself to get discouraged and think that your life is insignificant and cannot be changed and, like the pencil, always remember that the most important part of who you are, is what's inside of you.

My Gospel Reflections for Friday August 6: Luke 9:28-36

My Reflections:
Why did Jesus brought along Peter, John and James to the mountain of Transfiguration? It was for them to see and experience what shall await them if they will not give-up and continue to be faithful to the teachings of Jesus.

It was a foretaste of heaven actually, but before heaven there shall be trials, before heaven there shall be persecutions and before heaven our discipleship might be severely tested. Test and trials are part and parcel of our Christian discipleship no one who choose to follow Jesus is exempt from it.

But after all the trials of our discipleship has been said and done with; there shall be an ecstatic experience of heaven for all of us.

So always be faithful to your discipleship and never allow the temptation of this world to distract you. ...

List Every Catholic should be Familiar with:

Please click on the link:

http://www.sanctepater.com/2010/07/lists-every-catholic-should-be-familiar.html

Four Boyfriends...

Once upon a time there was a girl who had four boyfriends.

She loved the fourth boyfriend the most and adorned him with rich robes and treated him to the finest of delicacies. She gave him nothing but the best.

She also loved the third boyfriend very much and was always showing him off to neighboring kingdoms. However, she feared that one day he would leave her for another.

She also loved her second boyfriend. He was her confidant and was always kind, considerate and patient with her. Whenever this girl faced a problem, she could confide in him, and he would help her get through the difficult times.

The girl's first boyfriend was a very loyal partner and had made great contributions in maintaining her wealth and kingdom. However, she did not love the first boyfriend Although he loved her deeply, she hardly took notice of him!

One day, the girl fell ill and she knew her time was short. She thought of her luxurious life and wondered, 'I now have four boyfriends with me, but when I die, will I be all alone?'

Thus, she asked the fourth boyfriend, 'I loved you the most, endowed you with the finest clothing and showered great care over you. Now that I'm dying, will you follow me and keep me company?
'No way!', replied the fourth boyfriend, and he walked away without another word.

His answer cut like a sharp knife right into her heart.
The sad girl then asked the third boyfriend, 'I loved you all my life. Now that I'm dying, will you follow me and keep me company?' 'No!', replied the third boyfriend. 'Life is too good! When you die, I'm going to marry someone else!' Her heart sank and turned cold

She then asked the second boyfriend, 'I have always turned to you for help and you've always been there for me. When I die, will you follow me and keep me company?'

'I'm sorry, I can't help you out this time!', replied the second boyfriend. 'At the very most, I can only walk with you to your grave.'
His answer struck her like a bolt of lightning, and the girl was devastated.


Then a voice called out: 'I'll go with you. I'll follow you no matter where you go.' The girl looked up, and there was her first boyfriend. He was very skinny as he suffered from malnutrition and neglect.

Greatly grieved, the girl said, 'I should have taken much better care of you when I had the chance!'

In truth, you have four boyfriends in your lives:

Your fourth boyfriend is your body. No matter how much time and effort you lavish in making it look good, it will leave you when you die.

Your third boyfriend is your possessions, status and wealth.When you die, it will all go to others.

Your second boyfriend is your family and friends. No matter how much they have been there for you, the furthest they can stay by you is up to the grave.


And your first boyfriend is your spirit. Often neglected in pursuit of wealth, power and pleasures of the world.

However, your spirit is the only thing that will follow you where ever you go. Cultivate, strengthen and cherish it now, for it is the only part of you that will follow you to the throne of God and continue with you throughout Eternity.

Thought for the day: Remember, when the world pushes you to your knees, you're in the perfect position to pray.

The Seven Habits of a Happy Marriage...

Please click on the link:

http://www.europe4christ.net/index.php?id=606

My Gospel Reflection for June 6 Sunday Solemnity of the Body and Blood of Christ: Luke 9:11-17

My Reflections:Today we celebrate the Solemnity of the Body and Blood of Christ (Corpus Christi) this is the same Body and Blood that we partake when we receive Holy Communion during the celebration of the Holy Mass.

There are countless stories about the miracles of the Body and Blood of Christ some are well known some are not there are even some that has not been told yet or perhaps it will never be told it will just be kept in the hearts and minds of those who adored and were enlightened by Jesus in the celebration of the Holy Mass and during their Perpetual Eucharistic Adoration.

In the gospel there were more than five thousand people who were following Jesus and they have no food to eat. So the apostles told Jesus to dismiss them so that they can find a place where they can stay and eat.

But Jesus said to them: "Give them some food yourselves." And right there and then the miracle of the multiplication of the Bread slowly started to unravel before the apostles eyes with five loaves and two fish —they were able to feed more than Five thousand people.

The miracles of the multiplication of the loaves and fish emanated from the mercy and love of Jesus, let us remember that these people who’ve been following Him were the very same people whom He had performed miracles and healings: Jesus did not want them to go hungry and so He feed them all and they had more to spare.

These feeding of the multitude still happens today when we attend the celebration of the Holy Mass Jesus thru the priest during Holy Communion still gives us His blood and Body for us to partake.

Let us take notice of the actions of Jesus in the gospel: He looked-up to heaven, He blessed the bread broke them and He gave them to the disciples to give to the crowd who have nothing to eat. These actions are the very same actions that the priest does during the celebration of the Holy Mass during the second part of the Mass. (Liturgy of the Eucharist)

As Jesus was merciful and loving to the crowd in the gospel and to us also now; He wants us also to be His channel of mercy and love to our fellowmen. Let us remember this solemnity of the Body and Blood of our Lord by always making a big difference in the lives of those who are going hungry, those who have less in life, those who are poor in spirit and wealth and those who are already desperate because of poverty.

Let us be the living Body and Blood of Jesus. …

My Gospel Reflections for May 28 Friday: Mark 11:11-25

My Reflections:
Is it bad to get angry? Yes it is bad to be angry for the wrong reason/s—however if we get angry for the right reason/s then it’s not bad.

In the gospel reading for today we see Jesus got angry for the right reasons twice: first when He cursed the fig tree and the second one was when He went to the temple and He saw that the temple was not being used for worship instead it was being used as a venue for money changers and other commercial things.

Anger per se is not bad for so long as we can rightly justify the origin of our anger—let us remember that Jesus Himself got angry.

Let us ensure that the anger that we’ve felt will not stay long in our hearts for at the end of the gospel reading Jesus tells us to forgive anyone against whom we have a grievance so that our heavenly Father may in turn forgive us of our transgressions. ...

Life Is Like A Cup of Coffee - Inspirational Video Movie

My Gospel Reflections for Wednesday May 19: John 17:11-19

My Reflections:Anyone who knows that he will be permanently leaving the people that he loved will only wish the best for them.

In the gospel Jesus knew that the hour for His arrest is near and He knew very well that He will be permanently leaving His followers. That’s why He commanded them to God the Father for the Father to take care of them-that’s how much Jesus loved us He only want the best for us. He wants us to always be connected with God and be aware of His abiding love for us.

But the puzzle is this: there are some who purposely ignore the love of God—they know that the right way is to follow the way of God. But they choose to follow their own ways that leads them to sin.

We pray for their enlightenment that they would choose to embrace the love of God that is always there for them thru the celebration of the Holy Mass and thru the Sacrament of Confessions. ...

My First reading Reflections for Tuesday May 18: Acts 20:17-27

My Reflections:
In the first reading Saint Paul talks about the trials and difficulties in following Jesus—in spite of these odds Paul continued and he never allowed himself to be deterred by the trials. Until his death he remained true to his calling: To be a faithful servant of the Lord.

Some people have this misconception that the moment we decided to follow Jesus it will be a bed of roses already for our lives. It doesn’t work that way—the moment we decide to follow Jesus expect trials that would test the mettle of our discipleship.

We must be faithful no matter the hardship and trials for there will be a reward for us if not in our lifetime it surely will happen in our afterlife. …

My Gospel Reflections for Saturday May 15: John 16:23-28

My Reflections:
If we ask the Father though Jesus with faith we shall certainly receive it. However there are instances that God gives us answers that are somewhat hard for us to comprehend. However as we are enlightened by the Holy Spirit we shall realize that the incomprehensible was actually a blessing in disguise.

Think of the temporary setbacks that we encounter as we move forward with our lives—God gives us setbacks not to weaken us but to further strengthen us as we move-on with our lives.

Let us not waiver in asking God for guidance and help through; let us continue to trust our all knowing God for He knows what is best for us. …

My Gospel Reflections for Monday May 10: John 15:26-16:4

My Reflections:
Is it hard to testify on behalf of Jesus? It’s hard for some for some its not—those who can boldly bear witness has the Advocate in them to strengthen them.

How then can we have the presence of the Advocate in our lives? It is thru the deepening of our faith on Jesus. Based on my experience the Advocate or the Holy Spirit manifest its presence in our lives after we’ve known Jesus deeply after which we are enlightened to feel the presence of the Advocate in our lives.

It is therefore paramount that we exert effort to know Jesus deeply; let us not be content with the knowledge about Jesus that is feed to us. Let us exert personal effort to have a first hand knowledge about Jesus. ...

My Gospel Reflections for Tuesday May 4: John 14:27-31

My Reflections:
Peace is what is missing in most part of our world right now; peace is what is missing in some of the families now; peace is what is missing in some of us right now.

Who then can address the absence of peace? It’s Jesus! He gives us peace that nobody in this world can give us. even if life is hard once we have Jesus in our hearts there would be peace within us.

Even if life is uncertain we shall have peace because we’ve already accepted Jesus as our Lord and personal savior. …

When Jesus Said, “No”

Please click on this link:

http://blog.adw.org/2010/04/when-jesus-said-no/