GOD IS JUST STANDING BY...AT TIMES...

Kenichi Shirahama (The Mightiest Disciple), this is a cartoon series about a good-hearted teenager who is being trained by his masters in combat arts. He undergoes hard training. He complains, wants to give up at times but perseveres. He uses what he learns only when necessary, most especially, to protect his loved ones. His masters never get involved in his fights. This is a master-disciple rule they strictly follow...though they get worried and concerned for Kenichi when he fights with the enemies. But what he didn’t know, they are always ready to rescue him when necessary...only when necessary…

At times in the midst of our troubles in life, God is so silent. We wonder if He even cares or listens to our prayers, but like Kenichi’s masters, God has trained us well before we encounter our problems, especially the heaviest ones. He is concerned for us and He is watching us in each of our battles in life, ready to rescue us when the need arises. wink emoticon Never lose hope, never give up! Put into action what you have learned from God and persevere. Put into action what you have learned from God and persevere. Always remember, you are in good hands. You have the greatest Master teaching you, training you and watching over you! 
grin emoticon God bless your training in life...Hyyyaaahhh!!!! grin emoticon

A MORNING WITH GOD....

Sunday morning, I asked the retreatants to be at the hall by 6:15 a.m. with their Rosary for our morning prayer. Oh, it was cold, still a bit dark. As I told them, they could come in their pajamas, even if they had not yet taken their bath, or they still have morning stars in their eyes. That would be okay, God will accept us as we come, as being the real us, who we are.

And so, I explained to them about the essence of the Glorious Mysteries and that we would be praying individually, slowly, chewing and chopping each word and each mystery, reflecting on them, while walking slowly and separately around the grounds of the retreat venue.

It was a very beautiful experience. They were such a wonderful sight to see. At times, some sat on a rock or stair step, pause in front a tree, or the image of Mama Mary, look up on the sky, then continue walking slowly again, holding the Rosary.

The time I gave them was 6:30 - 7:00 a.m., just in time for breakfast, though I anticipated that it may took them 45 minutes to do that because some may even be led to linger to staying in God's Presence after the Rosary. Oh, yes, it happened. They were in the dining area 7:15 a.m., there two by 7:30 a.m. They appreciated the experience.

After breakfast, as I wait for our gathering time, I reflected on my own experience in our morning prayer and wrote in my journal:

* As we started, I went to a gazebo and wanted to stay there and sit down as I pray. You see my right foot has a handicap from polio and I use a cane to walk. I didn't know if I can walk easily on the paths I would encounter since I would be alone. But the morning was oozing with God's Presence and I couldn't say no to His invitation to me. So I decided to get out of my comfort zone and slowly walked around while praying. I was glad I did......My comfort zones hold me back. They make me stagnant and prevent me to experience new and beautiful things in life.

* I pause from time to time, I look up, I look around and I also looked down. I saw new things, beautiful and not so beautiful ones, fresh plants and withered ones and cut trunks......Life is like that. It is given, there are good and bad sides so I have to accept everything and always look at the bright side to live happily.

* Along my path, I saw two stairs. I wanted to go up in both to see what was beyond, but as I assess the steps, I would not make it on my own, they were not cemented, not flat and there were no handrails. I could if I had somebody with me......In living my life and in my journey, I have to admit I have my limitations and that I need the help of people. I am not super human and only God can do everything. I have to be humble enough to admit my weaknesses and accept help from others.

* I came to an y-intercessection. One path where I came from, another would lead me towards the dining area, my destination and another would seem to take me further away with longer walk and I didn't know where it would lead me, but it was beautiful. I took the chance and walked on the latter path. It was just a short distance, a dead end, but with an open area, with an image of Mama Mary in the middle. I saw one retreatant seated near the image and praying. One was standing in the midst of our distance and was also praying. I was happy to see them quietly praying with reverence......Jesus wants me to be happy. He leads me to have site seeing in my journey in life to see the beauty of it. He surprises me with what is there and gives me the joy of His Presence in others as well as in His Mother.

* I went back to the y-intersection and took the path going to the dining area, my destination. But as I walked further, I remembered seeing the area from the hallway above. Oh, there will be a stair ahead, that was the only way I could proceed. I hesitated and thought of tracing back the path where I came from. But that would take me longer and more tiring for me. If I would take the stair, it would be harder for me but a shorter distance. So I decided to check out the stairs. It was cemented, there was a handrail though on the right side, but I could take it and I did......Sometimes in life, I think I can’t do something because I foresee or see the blocks, but if I do not check it out first and take the risks how can I know that I truly cannot do it, most especially if I am walking through it with God and He is the One leading me?

* I remembered, as I packed my things before I went down for our morning prayer, I saw my excess clothes that I didn’t use. They just made my bag heavy, then the disciples of Jesus crossed my mind at that moment when they were sent two by two and was instructed by Jesus to bring nothing but their walking stick, not even an extra shirt…...Sometimes, I tend to bring more than I should for my own comfort. In life, there are things I think I need, but only to find out, they are just wants that I can live without. Or I bring things from my past that I should have let go long time ago because they are just extra baggage and they just burden me when I can travel my life light if I just leave them behind.

A journey is a path strolled with God from one area to another. As long as I remain in God as I travel, there is nothing to worry nor be afraid about….


What God inspired me to see as I reflected on my morning prayer experience is not only a lesson for me, but for everybody journeying in life. I pray God also touches your hearts and reflect on your own on these inspirations based on your own life. Always stay happy with God. Never leave Him out of your journey in life. Life is beautiful in spite of the certain circumstances we experience. We just have to look at them through the eyes of God. This can happen, if we humbly choose to let Jesus teach us to stay a child to the Father and allow growth in our relationship with Him. God bless your homes!

-luisadelacruz

HE KNOWS JESUS...

Inspiration:   Psalm 23

One Sunday, the priest told a story in his homily.

An excellent orator preached Psalm 23. He was so good that at the end, everyone was standing and clapping. After him, the old frail parish priest recited Psalm 23. When he finished, none was standing nor clapping, but everyone was in tears, so touched and awed.

One of them said, “The orator knows ABOUT the Good Shepherd…but the old priest…HE KNOWS JESUS, the Good Shepherd.”

Whatever we are doing, no matter how great they are, let’s not forget nor ignore our relationship, our intimacy with Jesus…

-luisadelacruz

WHEN I HEAR YOUR VOICE...

Dearest Jesus,

I am Your sheep and You are my Good Shepherd.

You take care of me and You love me so.

You know me and I know You.

Dear Lord,

When I get so absorbed with the beauty of the green pasture,

Or when I so enjoy the water of the stream,

Or when I wonder off and get lost,

Let it be, that when I hear Your gentle loving voice

When You call me,

I turn my head to Your direction

And follow You without delay.

Let it be my dear Shepherd

That I turn my head in a swift

And rest my loving gaze upon You…

Have a Gentle Soul!

-luisadelacruz

ARE YOU UP THERE?

I look up to the blue sky.

I saw clouds hugging each other.

I asked You, Lord: “Are You up there?”

Then the wind blew, gently touching my skin.

Aaah, yes, You are up there, Lord,

But You are also down here.

You are the wind that lovingly caresses me.

You are the flowers that put a smile on my lips.

You are the sun that shines on me.

You are the soft voice that comforts me.

You are my chair that cradles me.

You are the bird that serenades me.

You are my family who loves me.

You are my friends who embrace me.

You are the stranger who showed kindness to me.

You, oh Lord, are everywhere…

Oh, yes, even in my heart, Lord, I find You.

-luisadelacruz 

THE CHEF AND HIS FOOD....

 Inspiration:       Matthew 13:18-23

There’s an excellent Chef who cooks each meal from the best ingredients with love and care. His restaurant is simple, yet beautiful.

Some people ignore his food and prefer those in the food chains.

Others eat there but are more engrossed in talking.

Others enjoy his food, eats there for quite some time but go to new restaurants when they open. 

There are those who love his food. They chew it appreciatively and became friends with the Chef. They also invite people to eat there…

The Chef is God…the food is His Word…which customer are you?

A Sincere, Profound Heart! 

-luisadelacruz

...JUST TO SIMPLY MAKE YOU SMILE...

Inspiration:    Matthew 6:19-23; Philippians 1:20-24

Dearest Lord,

I took so many turns in my life.

I followed Your voice anywhere You called me.

There were times, I got lost

But You never allowed me

To go astray so far from You.

I walked through paths

Winding, steep, smooth, easy…

There were those less travelled

But I took them because You said so.

Even if I shed tears or roared laughter

As long as I journeyed with You,

I took the path…

One day, ever dearest Lord,

At the end of my journey,

I dream of being with You,

To spend my eternal life with You…

Aaah, that’s the ultimate dream I have…

I see death before as something so scary,

A snatcher of life…

But what is the beauty of this world

Compared to the magnificence

Of being cradled in Your arms,

Of seeing You face to face?

Thank You for Your light.

Now I see death as the only doorway

Towards my being with You.

But for now that I still live in this world,

Dearest Lord, my greatest dream

Is to “simply make You smile.”

If I fulfill this dream each day,

Then I shall be rewarded

Of my ultimate dream

Of eternally being with You.

My salvation is of great importance,

But life is all about You

And simply making You smile each day,

For me, is the essence of living…

Hugz tightest, my Beloved,

‘til the day we meet face to face.

Amen.

Have a Twinkling Soul!

-luisadelacruz 

WHAT I WANT IS YOUR CONSTANT LOVE....

JOHN 17:3 (New American Bible)
“Now this is eternal life, that they should know You, the only true God, and the One whom You sent, Jesus Christ.”

(Magandang Balita Biblia)
“Ito ang buhay na walang hanggan: ang kilalanin Ka nila, ang iisa at tunay na Diyos, at si Jesu-Cristo na Iyong sinugo.”

In Hosea 6:5-6 (Good News Translation), God says
“…What I want from you is plain and clear: I want your constant love, not your animal sacrifices. I would rather have my people know Me than burn offerings to Me.”

We breath,
we live,
we love,
we serve,
we attend Mass or gatherings…
we do many things for the Lord…
But above all these...

do we get to know God deeper and deeper, not for the pleasure of it but because this is what He wants?

If knowing God is eternal life, then knowing Him here on earth is a foretaste of eternal life…and when we come face to face with God in heaven where we can have full knowledge of Him, then shall we have eternal life in full union with Him…

Huwag tayo tumigil sa pagkilala sa Diyos.

Pleasures and joy in serving God are just means, getting to know Him lovingly in doing them is the end…   

Have a Moving Life! :-D

-luisadelacruz

LET'S REMINISCE WITH JESUS...

This Holy Week, let’s make a difference. 

Let us retrace Jesus’ life and walk on His footsteps…Let us retrace our lives and repent for our sins, thank the Lord for His love and goodness, and rejoice in the gift of salvation….

Allow God to transform us that as Jesus resurrects on Easter Sunday, we resurrect with Him, too and be a renewed person on Monday and through the rest of our lives…

Sounds the same as last year? The difference is: We do it this Holy Week with deeper love for God and much more depth of understanding of the meaning of what the Father, the Holy Spirit, and Jesus, the Son…what our triumph God had don for us…

This Holy Week, let’s reminisce and truly journey with Jesus…   

Have a Transformed Heart! 

A Promising Holy Week to You!

-luisadelacruz

  

MAKE ME COME TO YOU...WHENEVER I FORGET YOU...

Dearest Father,

make me come to You whenever I forget You…

Make me remember You whenever my focus is not on You…

May I eat, drink, bath, brush my teeth, wash my hands – 

nourish and take care of my body for You 

because it is the temple of Your Spirit…

May I work and do my tasks well for You 

because it is Your gift…

May I cook, water the plants, feed our pets, 

clean the house, wash the dishes for You…

May I serve, love, understand each of my family members for You…

May I look at people and help them for You…

May I breathe and live every second of my life 

loving and praising You…unceasingly…

May I always be aware of Your Presence 

in every being I see, hear and touch…

that a single moment which passes that I forget You…

a single moment I am apart from You…

a second I am not aware of You will seem to me…

a billion miles away from You 

of which my soul can never bear 

even just the thought of it…

Dearest Father, 

make me come to You 

whenever I forget You…Amen…

- luisadelacruz

THE PRESENCE WITHIN....

“The whole outside world…seemed to me to love and thank God: people, trees, plants and animals. I saw them all as my kinsfolk; I found on all of them the magic of the Name of Jesus. When I prayed, everything around me seemed delightful and marvelous. The trees, the grass, the birds, the earth, the air, the light…all things prayed to God and sang His praise.”

– THE RUSSIAN PILGRIM

The earth, the physical cosmos, is part of the body of God, shot through and through with divine Presence and hence worthy of our praise, our wonderment and our care. To honor and love God’s creation is to honor and love God.

When a person clings to the Lord and the Lord has pity and loves him, coming and clinging to Him, and he has the intention thereafter to remain constantly in the grace of the Lord, they become one spirit and one temperament and one mind – the person and the Lord.

- KERRY WALTERS

AN INTIMATE PRAYER:       Dearest Jesus, please always fire up my desire to continuously cling to You and be aware of Your Loving Presence…as if I will die, if it stops…

 - luisadelacruz

THE END IS NOT THE MEANS....

A day came when I realized

the essence of this thought:

All of one's dreams

are of no true genuine value

if one does not dream

of truly experiencing God

in the simplest

of one's daily life....

and breathing moments....

Everything is just a means

pointing out to God,

the end must only be,

should only be,

no other than

intimacy with God....

There are many things in life

pointing out to experiencing God

but they are not the encounter itself,

if we fall into the trap

of perceiving them as such,

we miss the true target

 of our existence....

What God wants

is for us to know and love Him

(Hosea 6:4-6)

 as a child to a father.
Everything is just a means,

the end is intimacy with God

in our daily life

every breathing moment we have....

-luisadelacruz

A QUIET MOMENT...

Inspiration:   Psalm 42:1-2

Dear God, You designed my mind to seek You.

You designed my heart to love You.

That is why there is a deep longing within my being

For my Divine Source and Destination.

I am restless until I rest in You.

I am discontented until I find satisfaction in You.

I am lonely until I find joy in You.

I hunger and thirst for You,

The One where the roots of my being came from.

Why desire those that this world offer,

When all I have to desire is You alone.

When I come naked face to face to nothingness,

I find that there is no such thing,

For in nothingness I find everything

Because I find my dearest God,

And You are everything my whole being needs.

From my creation to my death, I belong to You.

I am Yours.

Though You are hidden from my sight,

Let not this world blind me to this truth…

As a deer longs for the cool water

So my soul longs after You, oh my God…

My soul thirsts and You alone can satisfy this thirst…

You are my joy-Giver,

The Apple of my eyes,

My Beloved…

To You alone will my Spirit

Bow down and yield…

My Lord, My God…

-luisadelacruz

LOVE STORY (Where Do I Begin)

 

....watch....the greatest love story ever told....

 

 John 3:16
 
LOVE STORY (Lyrics)

Where do I begin?

To tell the story of how great a love can be 

 The sweet love story that is older than the sea

 The simple truth about the love he brings to me

 Where do I start?

Like a summer rain that cools the pavement with a patent leather shine

He came into my life and made the living fine

And gave a meaning to this empty world of mine

He fills my heart

He fills my heart with very special things

With angels' songs, with wild imaginings

He fills my soul with so much love

That anywhere I go, I'm never lonely

With him along, who could be lonely

I reach for his hand, it's always there

How long does it last? 

Can love be measured by the hours in a day?

I have no answers now, but this much I can say

I'm going to need Him till the stars all burn away

And He'll be there

TODAY I CHOOSE TO PLEASE GOD....AND....

What pleases God, I shall do today that I can put a smile upon His marvelous face....

I shall thank Him even for little blessings:

Food on the table

A ride to work or school

Money to pay my fare

The janitor who smiled at me

The computer that I use

For having ears to hear
Eyes to see

Feet to walk

Hands to touch and hold….

Today, I shall eat healthy food to take care of the body He gave me.

I shall love my family more than I did yesterday.
I shall be kinder to people I see on the streets.
I shall not judge strangers even my boss and officemates.

I shall compliment people and speak only of kind words….

Oh, there are many ways that I can please God in my everyday life even just in a little loving….I'm pretty sure you can also find your own ways, too.

There's just one most important thing that I should not forget: My intention is not to please anybody, not even myself…. 

What pleases God, I shall do today and tomorrow and the days after to put a smile upon His marvelous face….because I love Him….

-luisadelacruz

WHY ARE WE NEVER SATISFIED???

“To get something you never had, you have to do something you never did.”

This was part of a text message I received middle of last week. It struck me. I started thinking of what I want, one after another popped in my mind. But then a question stopped me: ‘Is it possible for anyone to live without wanting anything?’

            This echoed in my mind for the rest of the week. Last Saturday, I read this in a book by Michael Marsch: 

“The more I have, the more plans I have. I have everything – except time. My appointment calendar is full. All the possible dates are taken. There just isn’t time for anything more. But if riches are so desirable and if it is characteristic of all who have them that they have no time, why did God become human among the poorest….? Why not something spectacular?”

            Yeah. People always want something but when they have it, they want something bigger than that. We are never satisfied, we are never contented. So my nagging question came back again to me. If there’s such a level in life of wanting nothing at all, I would like to reach that level. It would be great! I can live peacefully and happily ever after!

            But as I reflected more on it and asked God about it in prayer, I discovered, there’s no such thing. It is innate in man to have this deep longing for something that as he grows, he search and search and search….so this can be satisfied. But in his search, what he finds never satisfies his deep longing and so he searches for bigger things, but with the same result. The fact is, man can never find what he is truly searching for in this world.

 

            Why? Why can’t we be satisfied? Why can’t we find this in this world? Because if we do, then the more we will want to live in this world and not leave it someday to go to our Father in heaven….the more we will not strive to grow even if we are designed to grow inside and outside our being. The more we will get attached to dear life and never long for an eternal life and meet God face to face.

            God planted that deep longing in us when we were formed, a longing not really for worldly things, but for what? What is that want that we truly must have?

            As I reflected that Saturday morning, I ended up with one answer – wanting God more than anything else in this world….but in wanting God, it cannot be avoided to also want what He wants for me. I can find satisfaction in whatever this world can offer me if I can only be contented and happy with what I have and what I achieve. But this world can never satisfy my deep longing for God, His embrace, His awesome Presence of which we are meant to experience.

There’s nothing wrong with plans and riches, nor in doing great things, as long as they don’t prevent you in your pursuit of deepening personal relationship with God, as long as He is the center of everything in your life….This is the biggest dream we must have above our big dreams. 

My Dreams

Once I heard a priest reflect: “The deep longing we have in our hearts is the reflection of the deep longing of God for us.”

….I believe him, God loves us so much and He longs that we may love Him back....but our focus always is somewhere else, not on God who truly deserves our love and attention….

PRAYER OF THE HEART:

My Beloved Father, may I want only You and what You want for me. May I be contented and satisfied with what this world can offer….except in my deep longing for You and Your desires. May I find You as my need above all the basic needs that my physical body requires. 

My Dearest God, grant that my inner self thirst and hunger for You alone that I shall ache and feel like dying without Your Presence in my daily earthly life. In Jesus Name I pray, by the power of Your Spirit. Amen.

 -luisadelacruz

MY SIMPLE DREAM....

My life's dream is just simple….to know God and love Him each day more than the day before. If I can achieve this, I will know His ways and I can possess habitual sensitivity of the Lord and introduce Him to people in a personal way, many will genuinely love Him.

A simple dream, but it is so hard to achieve because of the many temptations that force me to be pulled away from this dream of mine….It is just great that God is so patient with me and never ceases to forgive me. His arms are always open to receive me....to accept who or what I am....Where can you ever find that kind of love? 

When i die, that is the ultimate fulfillment of my dream because I can really be with God. I can truly see Him face to face and fully know Him. That is my joy....My simple dream....

....I (Jesus) will see you again,

and your hearts will be filled with gladness,

the kind of gladness, that noone can take away from you.

John 16:22 

WHAT MORE CAN I DESIRE.....

What more can I desire, oh God

but Your awesome Presence.

When things distract me,

when other desires fill my being,

pierce my heart with the pain

of not having You....

Let the longing of my soul

cry out for You alone.

Let there be emptiness

that only You can satisfy.

Make me restless, oh God

that I may only find my rest in You.

Let nothing take Your place

in the depths of my being.

What more can I desire....

You are enough....

Nothing matters as long as I have You.

You are my life, the air I breathe.

Your beauty is everywhere.

Let not busyness or other people blind me.

Your voice constantly calls my name.

Let not the noise of this world

make me deaf.

My peace and my joy is in You, alone.

What more can I desire, oh God.

You are enough....

-luisadelacruz  041411  6:05pm

(Written during a two-day silent retreat

in this very spot as I sat on the swing.)

INTO THE FATHER'S ARMS

INTO THE FATHER'S ARMS

Inspiration: Luke 15:1-32

From His arms, I came . . . . In this world, I grew.

As a little child, my innocence kept me close to Him.

He is Papa God to me.

Gradually, I got busy with my toys . . . .

With Growing up . . . .

Later, I got drowned with this world

As I work and got exposed to worldly things . . . .

Sigh, Papa God became a distant Being . . . .

One day, I felt a longing in my heart . . . .

An emptiness . . . .

I searched and searched 'til I ended up

Face to face with Him . . . .

I am ashamed to get near

But His arms are open wide, inviting me to come.

Finally, I run to Him,

His arms wrapped tightly around me . . . .

Tears fell from my eyes.

I smiled.

I am at peace.

I am home . . . .

In the arms of my Father God . . . .

luisadelacruz