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

FAITH….What Are You, Really?

Inspiration:   Acts 2:14, 22-33

Yesterday, the priest said, “Whatever elicits fear to you, it is not from God…” 

Fear is the opposite of faith. Ah…Faith….what are you, really? 

You are not just believing that a miracle will happen in my life. 

You are not just knowing that God will remove all my problems. 

You are not just trusting that God is my Knight in shining armor who will save me from all my difficulties and destroy my enemies. 

Faith…you are much, much more than these…

You are trusting that in spite of all my troubles in life, God will make me okay…

that He will heal the wound inflicted in me…

that God will catch me when I fall and never allow me to fall flat on the ground…

that He embraces me and gives me strength to endure everything…

Faith…you are trusting that God will not leave me in joy and in pain. 

Whatever may come to me, God will see me through. 

He is with me. 

Jesus’ resurrection is proof enough that He conquered all. 

He promised to take care of me. 

I should trust his word and try my best to fear nothing…

Faith, thank God for you…  

Celebrate Life!    

-luisadelacruz

SHHUSHH!!! THE WINDING ROAD...

Inspiration:       Matthew 6:7-15

Winding roads, like those in Baguio, Quezon and Bicol, they make me dizzy and vomit when descending them. Haaay, it’s always an ordeal for me….after the fun of vacation is the tense moment of travel home for me…But hey, that’s part of it for me. I just adjust. I drink bonamine and eat less before travel, also, I pray much…

The last time I came across a winding road, I was tense even before riding the bus. But I needed to faced this ordeal again so I could get home. 

While travelling, I closed my eyes, meditated, repeatedly and wholeheartedly prayed a five word prayer to keep my focus: “My Father, I adore you…” Voila! I didn’t get dizzy nor vomit. I got through! Yeheeeey!...

When we pray, we don’t need a lot of meaningless words…

We need our heart upon every word to give meaning to it. God surely answers a sincere prayer that doesn’t go against His will.             

Have a Cool Heart!

- luisadelacruz

I DO NOT FEAR….NOT BECAUSE I AM FEARLESS….

Bzzzzz! Bzzzz! Bzzzz! I look up and saw one, two, three…no, no, no…six to seven bees as big and as black as prunes, buzzing around, flower to flower. I was seated on a bench with flowering plants crawling above me and covering that area. Many flowers were blooming and those bees were having a party, sucking their sweetness.

Oh, my! I got scared. Oh, they were so big! What if they bit me, but they seemed so busy. Maybe they would not bother me if I would not bother them. Besides, I was there to reflect, God would not let me be harmed. 

That moment, I was in a retreat house in Novaliches. I woke up around 4:30 a.m. I took my bath and prepared for the day. I wanted to seek God’s Presence early in the morning before I would attend the 6:30 a.m. Holy Mass. By 5:30 a.m., I went down on that spot and sat. Smiling, having peace in my heart, waiting for my God to reveal His Presence.

I focused on the silence of an early morn. I felt the cool wind touch my skin. Darkness and brightness began to meet each other. A few birds started to chirp and greet the morning. Aaahhh, I love it…..Bzzzz! Bzzzz! Bzzzz! Then those bees came, and I got startled for a while. 

Hmmm….But then, as I thought of leaving that spot because I fear them, I opted to stay and let them be. I trusted God would protect me. I realized, then…."There are moments in my life that there will be scary bees which I will have to face. Even if they can scare me, I will not fear, not because I am fearless, but because I believe I have a God with me whom I can trust that He will not let any harm touch me."

With that, I smiled....allowed peace to return in me....thanked God for another Wisdom to live by....and I enjoyed the rest of my time with God....love it....

-luisadelacruz

THE FLIGHT

I close my eyes and I see an eagle

Soaring high in the sky...

He flies effortlessly

Trusting the wind beneath his wings.

How beautiful he is to watch

Gliding up in the sky so swiftly.

He looks like he so belongs there...

He has no fear of the heights....

He enjoys where he is.

I wonder how it feels to glide up there....

I stretch my arms on my sides...

I feel the wind under my arms,

so cool, so soothing...

The gentle wind carries me.

It's so peaceful up there.

Suddenly, I feel fear and apprehension.

But I heard a voice telling me,

"Let go....just let go..."

Slowly, I trusted the gentle Wind...

I allowed Him to carry me further

wherever he may take me....

It's so wonderful....

The experience is ecstatic as I glide....

The eagle and me are one....

The gentle Wind and God are one....

God carries me and I can trust Him.

I can glide peacefully and soar high.

I can totally trust Him.

God will keep me safe

in my journey until

He brings me home....

-luisadelacruz

THE BAMBOO AND ME

Last Saturday, we went to Touch of Glory Prayer Mountain in Antipolo. I was so excited to be there because for me, this is my encounter with God. It would be a day of silence alone with Him and sharing with the sisters with me towards the end of the day.

When we arrived there, I could feel the cool breeze. We checked out the place and saw the prayer cells where one can be so alone with God, inside a 1.0 meter by 1.20 meter cell. Well, I tried this twice and I was so concentrated that I almost fell asleep hahahaha!

We went down the stairs and there were prayer huts there where one can sit down surrounded by the trees and plants. You could hear the birds and see the insects. Ohhh! This works well for me. This was where I conversed with God.

You know what struck me most in what I saw there?

The bamboo trees. They look so tall approximately around 7 storey-high building. During our morning worship, before we separated, I already noticed them. In my solitary reflection, they stand out in my sight.

I remembered the story in emails about the bamboo and the fern. God said that the fern grew at once, but the bamboo took 5 years before it sprouted and grew so tall. It was strengthening its roots through the years. It became tall and prepared for the challenges of nature.

More than 5 years now, God had been changing me and transforming me. He did a great job. But I’m still in the process of transformation and purification. Well, this is a lifetime process. But I would like to be as the bamboo. It has strong foundation and can withstand challenges.

There were a few bamboos there that fell down, but not totally. You know why? Because the other trees caught them and supported them.

God revealed to me that deep in my heart, big fear is building up, fear for the unknown future. But He also showed me, that if I fall down, He would surely send help to keep me upright.

God is the God of the past, the present and the future. Nothing is impossible with Him. If He is with me, then I can be sure of success and victory.

He knows what is best, I just had to humble myself and follow His directions.
Like the bamboo, I could stand the challenges of life because God will be there beside me.

-luisadelacruz