TELL ME, HOW CAN I NOT LOVE?

Dear God, I thank you for loving me.

You loved me even though the one person I love is myself...

I was selfish, you you told me I love you.
I pretend to care for others and their needs,
but only to show that 'I am kind and generous.'
When in fact, i'm not. I only care about myself.

Yet you cared for me, like there's no other person in the world
 but You and me.
You gave me all that I need, You protected me from all dangers, embraced me in my loneliness, comforted my in my sorrow and pain.
YOU LOVED ME.

I go out to the world trying to be good,
But I cannot help myself getting angry at times,
 judge people, or even hurt a friend.
But You my Lord, never stopped greeting me with wonderful sunshine each day, or sending me smiles through friends and strangers.
You never stopped being a friend. YOU LOVED ME, despite of my being me.

I am proud and conceited, all I care is to
 hear people, 'You are great! You did well!'
And often forget that everything I am comes from You.
But still, You were never boastful and offended or demanded from me, 'Praise me! Thank me! Give glory to me, for I am your Creator.'
You were silent and proud of who I am. YOU LOVED ME.

I tell the world, ' I AM A FRIEND OF JESUS CHRIST!' But the truth, is I don't truly know You or could even walk straight with You on the path of righteousness. I just liked being attached to you.
 It is an honor.... a prestige... a title...

Honestly, I only want to experience happiness, those happy promises. Of feeling good being with You and other people.  I couldnt truly care for other people or even pray for them sincerely. To love others like You do. To suffer for them and with them, embrace pain because of love.

Yet, You never fail being a friend, You loved me despite of being me. You never let go of my hand. And never fail to whisper, I LOVE YOU.

I am impatient, never gentle, I am demanding. 
But You? ...You waited patiently for me. 
You never stopped being gentle and kind.

I couldnt stand enough to listen to long sighs of a friend, to listen intently with all ears and heart...Yet You? ...You would be happy or excited enough to hear about everything I have to say. YOU LOVED ME.

I shouted at You, 'I am a sinner! How can you even love me!!!'
You replied, ' You are my beloved child. Nothing can separate me from you. You are precious to me. And I LOVE YOU.'

At times, I felt ashamed of You. Ashamed to proclaim your love to my friends. To preach about how you loved me, that they may be able to allow themselves to be thoroughly loved by You.

But You never hid your face, or turned your back on me. You sit patiently at my side. Simply smiled, ' I will never leave you. You are my greatest friend.'

I serve others, I sometimes fool myself of being busy for you of doing everything for you. Yet , it seems at times I am not pleasing you. But You, you never demanded anything. You simply looked into my eyes and told me, 'ALL I EVER WANTED IS TO BE WITH YOU...'

I hurt you...
I can't seem to please you...
I abandon prayer at times...
I get mad at You!
I simply cannot forgive, like you can...
I often fail You....
I feel guilty...

Yet YOU NEVER STOPPED BELIEVING IN ME. NEVER STOPPED LOVING ME...

Of all these things of being me, inspite and despite of being just me. YOU LOVED ME..fully.

Tell me, HOW CAN I NOT LOVE?

HOW CAN I NOT HELP BUT LOVE?

HOW CAN I NOT HELP BUT SHARE ABOUT YOUR LOVE?


Friend, We love because God loved us first. (1John4:19) We cannot truly love, unless we experience how much God loved us personally. I am still moved to tears, upon writing this or even reading this over and over. Because, it is a reminder of His so much love for me, also for you. You can stay listening or read all day, hear about God's love. Know about God's love. But let me ask you, How did God loved you in your life personally? Look at yourself, look at your life. How did he loved you today? Enjoy listing about God's abundant love.

God bless you and know that everyday He gives us something to smile about each day. ;)

Point of Reflection: HOW TO BE A GOOD SHEEP?

Point of Reflection (GOOD SHEPHERD SUNDAY): HOW TO BE A GOOD SHEEP?
In order for us to become a good shepherd, we understand how to be a good sheep first.

1) KNOW the voice of the Shepherd

2) LISTEN 

3) FOLLOW the Shepherd
(John 10:27-30)


But in this present world, of so much noise and voices, how to know/recognize the voice and listen to? The voice is the VOICE OF LOVE and TRUTH. We hear Him through intimacy in PRAYER and conscience.  - Fr. Louie, Good Shepherd Sunday mass, St. Padre Pio Center

The Lord seldom scream, He whispers in a low and loving voice. So like the sheep, it won't scare them away.

Today we offer this sunday to all the Sheperds of the church, the missionaries, the guides, the priests,deacon, head of different ministry, other vocation, especially to our pope Francis who radiates humility and kindness.

" Lord, help me become a sensible sheep so i may always recognize your voice. listen and follow wherever you lead me.I also pray for my shepherd, the leaders, our pope that they may be, like Christ a good Shepherd who would lay down their life in love and service.amen."

Who is your First Love?

Early morning as I leave for work. A song popped up in my memory entitled First love. This was the song dedicated also to me by my pinakada best friend Lot2...I tried searching for the lyrics and guitar chords because she used to sing and play this with her guitar during breaktime in highschool back then in CMULHS, Musuan, Bukidnon.

FIRST LOVE

Remember when you first knew in your heart that He loves you
And all you wanted to do with your time is to spend it all with Him
Remember when you first knew in your heart you would follow
And all you wanted to do with your time was to always be with Him

Then everything seems brand new
All you wanted to do was to seek His face
Hear His words and hold Him deep within you

Chorus:

Your first love is here right now,
He will never ever leave you
He would never let you down
Your first love is here right now.
Remember and return to your first love

Oh Jesus is here, let Him hold you
Hold him close, hold him near you
No one loves you more, there's no one like the Lord!

Your First love is here right now
Remember and return to your ..First love

HIS PLAN FOR YOUR MATE

You long to give yourself completely to someone...
Have a deep soul relationship with another...
To be loved thoroughly and exclusively

BUT GOD SAYS

NO, not until you are satisfied fulfilled and content
With being loved by Me alone...
With giving yourself totally unreservedly to Me...
To have an intensely personal and unique relationship with Me alone,
Discovering that in Me is your satisfaction to be found,
Then you will be capable of the perfect human relationship
 that I have planned for you.

You will never be united with another until you are united with Me.
Exclusively of anyone or anything else,
exclusively of any other desires or longings,
I want you to stop planning...
    stop wishing and allow Me
   to give you the most thrilling plan existing....
One that you cannot imagine.

I want you to have the best.
Please allow me to bring it to you.
Just expect the greatest things..keep listening and learning
Just wait. that's all.

DON'T BE ANXIOUS. DON'T WORRY.

Don't look around at the things other have gotten
    or that I have given them.
Don't look at the things you think you want.
Just keep looking off away and up to Me
    or you'll miss the things I want to show you.

And then when you're ready,
I'll surprise you with a love far more wonderful than what you dream of

You see, until you are ready and until that one I have for you is
Until you are both satisfied exclusively with Me and the life I have prepared for you,
You can't experience the love that exemplifies your relationship
and thus, PERFECT LOVE.

And dear one, I want you to have this wonderful love in my time.
I want you to see in flesh, a picture of yourself with Me.
and enjoy materially and concretely that everlasting union of beauty,
  perfection and love that I offer you with Myself.

Know that I love you utterly. Believe and be satisfied. :)

Listen!!!

The book of Job is the story of a good man who suffers total disaster - he loses his children and property and afflicted with a repulsive disease. Although God loved Job, his faithful servant. He allowed Satan to test his faith. What if Job lost everything? Job was still faithful, but wants to prove to God that he was innocent, that he don't deserve such cruel punishment. His friends, Bildad, Zaphar, Eliphaz listened to his complaints and tried to explain Job's suffering. (Book of Job, GNT)

But a bystander named Elihu, a young man who was filled with the Spirit of God said to Job, 

"Why do you accuse God of never answering our complaints? Although God speaks again and again, no one pays attention to what He says" - Job 33:13-14

This was very striking for me, after reading the book of Job. I heard my own complaints, but was awed by the magnificence of God. Yes, who knows the mind of the Lord? It's too great for us. The speeches made by Elihu to Job shouts, listen!!(read through Speeches of Elihu Job 32-37). I myself, was quieted with my complaints...especially when God finally answered Job.

finally, let me share to you a beautiful prayer of humility from Job

I know, Lord, that you are all powerful; 

That you can do everything you want.

You ask how I dare question your wisdom

when I was so very ignorant.

I talked about things i did not understand,

about marvels too great for me to know.

You told me to listen while you spoke

and to try to answer your questions.

In the past I knew only what others had told me,

But now I have seen you with my own eyes.

So I am ashamed of all I have said

and repent in dust and ashes.

                                                     - Job 42:2-6

I still do complain to God like Job, at times. Or choose to listen what I only want to hear. or worse, don't listen at all on what He wants to tell me or what He wants me to do!

But as God loved me, He was patient and try to deliver messages through readings, reflections, through friends, the Mass and other people. Sometimes even gave unfortunate events, just to make us STOP and LISTEN. This made me soo grateful and loved by Him.

Be still my friend....pause and be silent. What was God's message to you today?..Listen. =)

God bless you!

be more inspired through this page like : http://www.facebook.com/IAmACatholicByHeart

FROM ONE FRIEND TO ANOTHER

I am sharing with you one of the beautiful prayers, we prayed about love and friendship. Before reading this...Assume yourself facing a special friend or you may think about your family, brothers or sisters, friends, more so those you find difficult. In the same way, you are facing Jesus.

I Thank God, I have you. God Bless you friend. I LOVE YOU.

  GOD IS LOVE - " We cannot love God, whom we have not seen, if we do not love    others, whom we have seen." - 1 John 4:20

  FROM ONE FRIEND TO ANOTHER
                            
Friend, I don't know how to tell you,
How much I love you
And how much I need you.
I love you because I see you are happy
And because with Love, 
You listen to my words
and keep my lengthy secrets
I love you because, you approach me with respect,
You accept my silence or my outbursts,
You lift me when I fall
And encourage me in my dreams.
You are not scandalized by my sin
Nor condemn me for my limitations.

I need you brother, sister
To receive your advice,
To give what I have,
To share my faith, 
To tell you what I feel.
And to sing with you.

Thank you my friend,
For the transparency of your heart, 
and because through you, I can see
the serene, broad, happy, neat
great Big smile of God himself.

(taken from "My Brother and Sister", retreat for PLW Guides, 
January 11-13, 2013 at Holy Spirit Mission Retreat Center, Tagaytay)

POINT OF REFLECTION: ONLY THE HUMBLE CAN COME BEFORE GOD

According to St. Therese of Avila, one of the shortest and powerful prayer before God is 'Help'

'Suffering and trials are part of being a disciple of Christ. God never promised a life without burden. Because it's like a camel with no humps, is not a camel at all! 
- Thursday mass, EDSA Shrine (Matthew 11:25-30)