WOOF! WOOF! WOOF!....SHHHHH....

Dogs have body clock. When it’s eating time, one starts barking non-stop, others will follow and they sometimes don’t listen to their owners. They only stop when food is served. 

This is the same problem in today’s world. It’s too noisy, most people never listen and they never stop until they get what they want even to the inconvenience of others. 

Moral values, generosity, love, patience, piety, etc. go through a needle’s hole before reaching the hearts. People are too busy this days and most have no time to pause and be quiet for a little while.

But pausing is really important. The busier we are, the more we need pauses and silence in our life. Why? Because too much noise can drain us, can drown us and can cloud our mind. The danger with this is our focus can turn to ourselves. Without us noticing it, our world may be already filled with "I," "Me," and "Myself."

Quiet times help us keep focus on the divine and listen to His voice.

Hopefully, we can allow ourselves to gradually change and treat ourselves with silennce from time to time that we can wait on God, our divine Owner and listen more to Him. 

Have a Pure Heart!

-luisadelacruz

THE WEEDS IN US...

Inspiration:       Matthew 13:36-43

Have you ever wondered why is it sometimes we are good, sometimes bad? Aminin man natin or not, me di maganda sa atin (Whether we confess it or not, there is something bad in us), right? 

That’s why we undergo purification process as Jesus transforms us. 

Like in the parable of the weeds. God allows the good and bad to grow in us and when we are ready for the change, one by one, area per area, those bad in us, which are the weeds, will be pulled up. 

It can be very painful, our ego can be badly hurt, but pulling them up will reveal who we truly are – God’s children.  

Have a Dazzling Soul!

-luisadelacruz

MIRROR, MIRROR ON THE WALL...

Inspiration:       Matthew 7:1-5

“Mirror, mirror on the wall who is the fairest of them all?”  This is the famous line of Snowhite’s stepmom…

Mirrors, magical or not, they reflect our visual beauty. Kaya nga (That's why) every day we face our mirror to see if artistahin na ba ang itsura natin (we look like like an actress or actor), hahahaha! 

But did you know that it’s possible to use the mirror to deeply see yourself? You can sit or stand in front of it, look yourself in the eye, deeply look into your heart and seriously have a talk with your inner self….Weird?? Scary?? Nah!!! 

But, on second thought, it’s scary for us if we won’t like what we will discover about ourself….the “who we truly are” thing reality….

In Gospel of Matthew, Jesus is saying look at our log in the eye first, before at the speck in others’ eyes…So, before judging others, kasama dito (including) your family and loved ones, stoooop!!! 

Look at yourself first in the mirror and say, “Mirror, mirror on the wall, what do I need to change in me to make me beautiful inside and out?”…And let your inner eye see who you truly are. 

Well, seriously, you know what I mean…Have a joyful week, my friend!          

Soar High With God!

-luisadelacruz

GOD'S 24/7 NEWS CAMERA

Inspiration:       Ezekiel 18:21-28; Matthew 5:20-26

When we watch the news, often times, we see around 90% or more bad news against the good news. At times, we even see brutal murders or things we couldn’t imagine a human being could do…

Sad how many people cling to this world as if there is no God who sees what we are doing and who doesn’t get hurt of what we do…

Just imagine, if you are in God’s shoes and you love people so much as your very own children and you watch the newsflash of what they are doing to each other, and they do not listen to you…What will you feel? …

If you would see your life and your heart on news through God’s eyes…are there things there you will be ashamed of for Him to see? 

Let’s take this journey through Lent as a chance to unveil our hearts before God and reconcile with Him and the people we offended…Let’s start with God, then to our families, then to others…

Let’s be aware that we are on God’s news camera 24/7. 

May He watch more good news in our lives than bad news…

Have a Dazzling Soul!

- luisadelacruz

TASTE YOUR LENT....

I’m sure the ash mark of the cross on your forehead last Ash Wednesday is now erased…

As the priest said, even if this is so, what can not be erased is the change and transformation that happens in your heart. 

I pray, may this year’s 40 day Lent be more meaningful to us than last year that when it ends, we become more a child of God than when we started… 

ISAIAH 48:6-7 “The kind of fasting I want is this: Remove the chains of oppression and the yoke of injustice and let the oppressed go free. Share your food with the hungry and open your homes to the homeless poor. Give clothes to those who have nothing to wear, and do not refuse to help your own relatives…”

Lent is a perfect time to take the hand of Jesus and journey to your interior self where He can grant you deep healing, then you can resurrect with Jesus on Easter…

Don’t let this chance just pass by…

Namnamin natin ang bawat araw (Let us tastefully live each day)…for God…for our greater love for Him…       

Have a Sweet Lenten Journey!

- luisadelacruz

Site to visit:   www.iamacatholicbyheart.blogspot.com

LET'S HIBERNATE...

Hibernation is a protective mechanism whereby certain animals reduce their bodies’ activity and sleep through winter. They prepare by storing extra fat several weeks before the onset of hibernation. When temperatures drop, the animals’ pulse rate and breathing drop to a minimum…To hibernate is to pass the winter in a resting state…(Webster’s Dictionary) 

Do these animals stop growing?

No!...In fact, when they wake up they are bigger and more mature than before…

Jesus, after being presented in the temple, went back to His hometown, grew and became strong, full of wisdom (Luke 2:22-40). No account of His activities until He was all grown and started His public ministry. Look at what He did…

Like the animals, most especially like Jesus, we also need to hibernate from time to time…not to inactively rest, but to grow in wisdom and maturity while listening to God and resting in His arms…       

Have a Teachable Heart!

- luisadelacruz

THE PRISONER AND MY SOUL

When a person is brought to the court and proven guilty, even if he shows genuine remorse, he still is sentenced to imprisonment as punishment to his crime. If he has good behavior, then his sentence will be lessened even paroled… 

In one confession before, my penance was to pray and do good deeds. That’s easy, I can do that… 

As I remember that today, I now understand what was meant by my penance. 

Like the prisoner, as I show repentance, I was forgiven, but the eternal punishment to my soul is still there. That’s the consequence of my sin, the justice of God…

But if I do good deeds, by God’s mercy, my soul’s suffering when I die will be lessened or better yet I will be paroled by God and I shall enter heaven. 

In the 2 Samuel 16:5-13, King David knew this, but he also believes in God’s love and mercy… 

Let’s take care of our soul, no matter how many times we fall into sin, let’s sincerely strive to stand up each time by God’s grace…

Have a Twinkling Soul!

- luisadelacruz

THE DEVIL....THE SIN....AND US....

Lucifer (Light-bearer) is one of the most gifted of all angels. Under his leadership, the sin of pride turned many of the angels away from God, and there rang through heaven the awful cry, "We shall not serve!"

And thus hell began. Because hell is, essentially, the eternal separation of a spirit from Almighty God. There was no second chance for the sinning angels. Because of the perfect clarity of their angelic minds and unhampered freedom of their angelic wills, even the infinite mercy of God could find no excuse for the sin of the angels. They understood what the full consequence of their sin would be. With them there was no "temptation," in the sense in which we ordinarily understand the word. Theirs was what we call a cold-blooded sin.....For them there was no turning back; they did not want to turn back. Their choice was made for eternity. There burns in them an everlasting hatred for God and all His works.

“Satan” is a Hebrew word which means “adversary” or the enemy of mankind. The devils possess a keenness of intellect and a power over nature such as is unknown to mere man. A devil is 100% evil, 100% hatred without even the faintest pinpoint of good anywhere in his being. 

But THE DEVIL CAN NEVER FORCE US TO COMMIT SIN. He cannot get inside the human soul and manipulate it to suit himself. He cannot destroy our freedom of choice. He cannot, so to speak, make us say "yes" when we really want to say "no."

There is no power on earth or in hell that can make us sin. We still have our free will. It is our choice – and no one can force that choice upon us. 

It is by conquering temptation that we acquire merit before God. It is through temptation, met and defeated, that we grow in holiness.

We shall not, of course, win our battles by ourselves. We must have God's help to reinforce our weakened wills....Frequent confession, frequent Holy Communion and prayer (particularly in time of temptation) will make us strong against any temptation - provided we do our part.  

- Excerpts from The Faith Explained 3rd edition 

by Leo J. Trese, a well-known Catholic apologist and spiritual writer 

(see also Catechism of the Catholic Church paragraph 391-395, 1849-1851)

Site to visit:   www.iamacatholicbyheart.blogspot.com

A BRIEF ENCOUNTER

One day, I had a meeting. I took my bath. The water was a bit cold but refreshing to my skin. I hurried up, I didn’t want to be late. As soon as I was finished, I went out of our house and waited for a jeep.

The ride I got had no passengers yet. On its next stop, a lady rode and sat opposite me. Then two poor kids started shouting the destination of the jeep. One was smaller than the other, they maybe around 9 and 11 years old. They seem to be brothers. They have similarities.

They were wearing dirty clothes. The shade of their skins was dark from constant exposure from the sun everyday. The slippers of the older one were old and much bigger than his feet.

When we started to move, they both got inside the jeep and sat beside me. Oh! Really sat beside me, arm to arm, the older boy beside me . . . our skin touching. I twitch a bit, I stiffened, held my breath, they smell like they spent the whole afternoon under the sun.

I thought, “Oh no! Kakaligo ko lang (I just took my bath), I feel so fresh!”

But you know what? God instantly corrected me. God humbled me. As I remembered that He loves them, that the poor is close to His heart especially the children, I felt ashamed.

Slowly, I relaxed. I didn’t try to twitch any part of my body anymore. I began to experience compassion as I look at the two kids conversing, smiling and joking. I didn’t mind anymore their smell. I allowed my skin to touch the skin of the kid. I allowed my clothes to touch his clothes.

In a short while, the jeep stopped and they egress . . . they were gone . . .

Such a brief encounter, they didn’t even notice me. They had a world of their own . . . But you know what, in that very brief moment God used them to touch my heart. He reminded me of the continuous transformation He is doing to me so I can slowly learn to feel what He feels for them . . . to see what He sees in them . . . to love them as He does . . .

They are total strangers to me, but in them flows the breath of God, the same breath that gives life to me. They are dearly loved by the same God who loves me with the same love . . . They are my little brothers . . . Whew! I was real close that time to snobbing God. I sure pray, I will always be open to be changed by Him each day.

MARK 12:28-30 A teacher of the Law was there . . . he came to Him (Jesus) with a question: “Which commandment is the most important of all?” Jesus replied, “The most important one is this: ‘Listen, Israel! The Lord our God is the only Lord. Love the Lord your God with all your heart, with all your soul, with all your mind, and with all your strength.

. . . but He didn’t just stop there . . . He continued . . .

MARK 12:31 The second most important commandment is this: ‘Love your neighbor as you love yourself.’ There is no other commandment more important than these two.”

-luisadelacruz

SLICE OF LIFE

One time, I was peeling a green Indian mango. I have another one on the container waiting to be peeled. With it were two reddish tomatoes. As I gradually let the teeth of the knife slide over the mango, it’s a bit yellow color appeared. Wow! Looks delicious!

As I removed all the green skin, I diced it all over with the knife, then sliced it. Now I got little cubes of mango on a tiny bowl. I did the same with the other.

I got the two tomatoes, let the teeth of the knife go through them as I diced them, too. I put together the mangoes and the tomatoes. I put some bagoong. Mixed them. Ummmm, yummy! This is very delicious combined with fried fish.

In peeling the mango, a thought came to me. It’s like the change we want in our life. Drastic change most of the times bring a sharp teeth of knife that peels off our emotions, mind, heart, spirit, our very being . . . our life . . . and so much more.

Why? Well, for major change to happen to us . . . we need to give up things that we are so used to. We get to sacrifice our comfort zone. Yeap! The comforts we so love because we feel safe in there and so cozy. We are familiar of all its corners. Yaiks! For change to happen, we’ve got to step out of it!

Change is full of unknowns that we don’t want to face. But if we want to taste the delicious side of life that it can bring us . . . we allow the knife to skin us and remove the garbage and the things that need change within us and in our lifestyle. We also allow it to slice our life so we can find out the beauty waiting for us. Ouch!

Yes, there are ouches . . . but you’ll find sooner or later, they are worth it. The combination of all the unknowns can turn out into several successes, big or small. Then, voila! You can now enjoy the delicious blessings of life through change . . . that God has been offering to you since time immemorial.

Well, if we will not take a deep breath . . . haaay! . . . and act on it, we will never know . . . No pain, no gain, my friend! It’s never too late for anyone to change!

Success is not the absence of problems and challenges, but it is stepping forward in spite of their presence in your path . . . Happy Change!

-luisadelacruz