WHAT MATTERS...

 Inspiration: Sirach 40:18-27

Masaya ka ba sa work mo? (Are you happy with your job?)
Sa family mo? (With your family?)
Sa araw-araw mong ginagawa? (With what you do everyday?)
Pagod at bagot ka na ba?  (Are you already tired or irritated?)
Honestly, masaya ka ba?... (Are you happy?...)

Last Saturday, I watched a true story about Xerces and his younger brother, Ponso. They were very close but family problems and goals in life estranged them. Xerces is intelligent, finished college and worked for the family. Si Ponso, hirap mag-aral (had a hard time studying) and was contented with a simple job and doing household chores…

One day, Ponso died in an accident. The whole family was surprised, madaming nakiramay na natulungan ni Ponso at mga friends nya (many came to pay respect, those whom Ponso had helped and also his friends). Xerces realized as he cried:

“Ako ang mas matalino, pero si Ponso ang marunong sa buhay…” ("I am the intelligent one, but Ponso is the one who knows how to live...")

Nakakaiyak ang story nila…(They;re story is so touching...)

Sabi ni (As per) Peter Ng Kok Song, Singapore Finance Professional, who belongs to World Community for Christian Meditation:

“What matters more is being happy, not successful…
Success is just one ingredient of happiness…
Happiness is discovering and fulfilling your purpose in life…
I am not sure if I am successful, but I am sure I am happy because I found meaning in my work and I have experienced being loved and to love…”

Have a Smiling Heart! 

-luisadelacruz

ROAD TRIP EXPERT

Inspiration: John 16:12-15

One thing I learned in browsing on videos that could help me learn more about our business is:

There are lots of ways, tips, guidelines, and seminars done by experts. There are mentors I can ask. Nadaanan na nila (They had passed) the road I’m travelling now. All I have to do is magsipag (be industrious), listen and learn from them to avoid many mistakes and to equip me…to equip me…to persevere and not quit...

The same thing goes in real life. Jesus sent the Holy Spirit to reveal the truth about God and about life. He guides us to the road that leads to truth and along that road, He uses road signs to help us: the Scriptures, lives of saints, inspired books, situations, lives of people like us, the teachings of the Church, and more…

Kaya lang madalas (But most often) we miss the road signs kaya naliligaw tayo (that's why we get lost), nahihirapan (find it hard), nadedelay (get delayed) in our travel.

Hey! Let’s give the Holy Spirit our full attention, wherever He is leading us, it’s 101% sure na makabubuti sa atin (that it's good for us), sa ating buhay (our lives), and sa ibang tao (other people)…and it’s always leading us closer to God…
 
Have a Marvelous Road Trip!

-luisadelacruz

TAKE A PAUSE

Inspiration:   John 6:26;   Hosea 6:5-6

 “…you are looking for Me because you ate the bread and had all you wanted, not because you understood my miracles…” – Jesus, John 6:26… 

In life, I have discovered that it is important to pause from time to time and examine my intention - whether it is on our business, work, service, my simplest tasks, etc – Why? 

To see if my intentions are still pure or not…Am I doing them already to satisfy myself or my needs, my ego? Or to please others? Or feel just obliged?...Or am I still doing them purely for the love of God and in humble obedience to Him? 

Am I happy because I am proud of myself? Or people satisfy my social needs? Or am I happy because I made God smile?...

There are many times I fail on these questions. I am like those looking for Jesus because they ate plenty. It’ s just a great thing that I have a forgiving God who reminds me, catches me and helps me get up when I fall….

FOOD FOR THOUGHT: 

It is important to always pause and examine our intentions that we will not fail to understand God’s miracles in our lives and what He truly desires from us (Hosea 6:5-6)   

A Sweet-Smelling Path for you!

-luisadelacruz

THE MARK I SHALL LEAVE BEHIND....

I walk on the face of the earth.

It is a privilege not a burden on me.

Life is simple actually

But my earthly desires

And the world around me

Make it complicated.

I was born naked with nothing

But my small, frail body.

I shall die and

This body shall be nothing.

What will be left is my soul.

I am just a pilgrim in this world,

A passer by as it is.

But I can leave my essence behind,

The mark that will somehow

Make a difference

On those I met along my way…

Whether it will be something grand or not

Hopefully, the mark I shall leave

Is the mark of God…

Not of the enemy…

Nor of myself…

That when I am gone,

God will be remembered…

And deeply loved…

-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

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