A humble spirit always ends up winning with God

The real world is no place for dreams." This is the view of many people in today's society. Many people may have childhood dreams but when the heat's on and you've got to decide between dream life or take care of today, many people settle somewhere outside the parameters of what they long to become. It's not easy to experience the pain and despair of rejection, isolation, betrayal, uncertainty, and other negative emotions that are associated with the road of pursuing dreams. Most people give in to the "real world" syndrome and find a paying gig that gets them through life and feeds the kids, while their dream lies shattered in their hearts.

"And it came to pass after these things that his master's wife cast longing eyes on Joseph, and she said, "Lie with me." But he refused and said to his master's wife, "Look, my master does not know what is with me in the house, and he has committed all that he has to my hand-How then can I do this great wickedness, and sin against God?" Genesis 39: 7-8

Joseph was given a dream by God as a young man and he embraced that dream. His first reward for being a dreamer was being sold into slavery by his brothers who were jealous of his lofty dreams. While he was in slavery, his master's wife became strongly attracted to him but when he refused to commit adultery with her, she made a claim that Joseph tried to rape her and he ended up in prison for not sleeping with his boss's wife. How ridiculous is that!

We learn that making the right choices and living a life of integrity will produce a great life for us but here we see the hard truth of where integrity and righteousness lands you on your road to living your dreams. Joseph is being tested here by God. Joseph was not on trial because of his actions with Potiphar's wife, he was on trial against his accuser, Satan, who questioned Joseph's loyalties and commitment just as he did with Job. Satan poses the question to every single dreamer out there; "Will you serve God even if you are punished for it?" But God also has a question that He poses in your unfair suffering, "Do you love your dream more than you love Me?"

You will come face to face with these questions if you plan on pursuing your dreams in life. So many people take short cuts to their dream when the temptation arises. People wake up one day and see that they've become a mutated version of what they originally hoped to become. You know the story- a young lady moves to the 'city of dreams' in hopes of becoming a big movie star just like her role model. After a couple of years of hard rejection and broken hope she begins to notice other 'opportunities' of making some fast cash in front of the cameras. She says that she's only doing this to get her through.

Most people start out with good intentions but the pain that is associated with the road of success either makes you or it breaks you. The road to success never leaves anyone the same way they came in to it. You will either grow bitter or you will grow better. You will either become a master of your experiences or you will become a monster on the road that leads to your dreams.

Joseph became a master of his experiences because he learned to master his thoughts, his feelings, and his emotions on a daily basis. Joseph learned 2 great things that helped him win in life. 1. Joseph overcame bitterness. He didn't get bitter because of his unjust treatment. He didn't seek to get even and get revenge on people. He didn't play negative scenes in his head every night like we sometimes do. I'm sure that he grieved over what is brothers had done and over what Potiphar's wife had done but he didn't dwell on these things.

He forgave these people and embraced mercy and love. We see Joseph's forgiveness when he finally makes it to the top and his brothers are in need of him. He embraced them with love and said "But now, do not therefore be grieved or angry with yourselves because you sold me here..." Genesis 45: 5

Joseph remained humble to God. While he was the master of Potiphar's house he didn't get cocky like others would have and say, "Why shouldn't I have my boss's wife, I run everything else here?" When some people get authority and temptation presents itself, they indulge, believing their own hype. Joseph didn't, we see that Joseph was actually humbled by his master trusting him with authority.

A humble spirit always ends up winning with God even if it doesn't win at the first. God always exalts those who humble themselves to His will even when it looks like you're being set up for failure.

If you can learn to overcome the bitterness that the road to your dreams will undoubtedly produce and can avoid pride, but instead choose to walk in humility when you are exalted, then you will be setting yourself up for real victory in life. If you can bite down and remain faithful to God and trust in His word even when you're suffering for following Him, you will be setting yourself up to achieve every dream of your heart and beyond.

Peace in the Midst of Persecution

The persecution of Christians is something very real in many parts of our world, and the following article is the testimony of someone from China who has experienced persecution first hand. This is the story of Ming; someone I knew sometime ago. The story goes in her very own words….

“I was at an underground house church worshipping, when four officers barged in and stood before me. Though I was frightened for a moment, my heart soon calmed. One of them struck me in the face, knocked me down, and then beat me with his baton. He did not stop until a woman of the church bravely intervened.

Then the officers cuffed me, confiscated my Bible, hymnbook, and notebook, and asked me many questions. I answered with wisdom from God, as promised in Matthew 10.19 & 20. But when they arrest you, do not worry about what to say or how to say it. At that time you will be given what to say, for it will not be you speaking, but the Spirit of your Father speaking through you.

They took me to the police station and cuffed me to a chair with a guard standing by. Through all their atrocities, I was not the least bit afraid, for I knew the Lord was with me. I prayed, Lord, I thank you because you are using this experience to make me feel more of your presence and witness your mighty works.

The next morning they asked me more questions, but could not find any fault in my answers. The officers then left me alone. During their absence, I was able to recover my Bible, hymnbook, and notebook. I was so glad to regain my most important possessions! Around noon two women of the church came to visit me. They requested my release, saying they were willing to take my place. I was greatly moved by their gesture. Around three o clock the officers took me for more interrogation before releasing me.

Back at the meeting place, I learned how my church family was praying for me. My heart was extremely grateful to the Lord for pouring His great love. I knew for the first time how much He cares. I can now join Job in saying, My ears had heard of you but now my eyes have seen you.”

This is just one story that occurs on a daily basis in many countries around the world. We do not always hear about this because in many cases the media and information outlets are carefully controlled by the authorities. I was moved by her story of faith, and I hope it might just move you too.

To Know GOD Is to Love Him

Many years ago than I care to remember there was a popular song that went like this: "To know, know, know him, is to love, love, love him; and I do." It had a catchy tune and sounded romantic. After all, when you're in love with someone, you want to know all there is to know about that person. The more you get to know that person, the more you're likely to love him/her.

That's the way it is with God's Love. You cannot give unconditional love unless you have it, and you don't know you have it until you give it away. You see, God's kind of love is very patient and kind. It is not envious, proud, or hypocritical, and does not seek self-satisfaction, exasperation or evil thoughts. It hates wrong-doing, but always rejoices in the truth. Love will endure much, being ever faithful, hopeful, and dependable.

Is that a tall order, or what! If you are to measure up to that definition of love, than you may be tempted to give up before you start, right? It's no wonder that so many marriages, partnerships, friendships and families are broken up every day!
The big question is, how can you ever be so much in love forever, even when the other person's love grows cold? Could you love someone who does not know you and you know is far from perfect? Your answer to that might be: "Only God could do that!"

Make it your MASTERPIECE

Developing an authentic lifestyle--one that truly reflects what is important to you in all areas of life--is a work of art. It is your personal statement to the world. Are you creating your masterpiece with both the intention and attention a great artist gives her creation?

Reflecting on the ideas and manipulating the materials over time, the artist begins to clarify the vision and, as the piece emerges, watches, refining her ideas, adding this, discarding that, reworking, until the materials begin to match the vision. Once the realization of the dream is glimpsed, work accelerates, and joy and passion carry the piece to completion. Isn’t that much like our lives?

Few artists receive their inspiration from attempting to fulfill someone else’s idea of what the clay, paint, rock, notes, words, fabric or wood might become. Imitation in art is only the tool of the student as the techniques are learned. The truly authentic work of art must come from within the artist, through the techniques and media, into reality.

Similarly, you cannot live the dreams of your parents, the desires of your friends or the visions of another with passion and integrity.

Great artists understand that their art is their personal expression, and is, therefore, unique. The artist values the medium for its potential to express the idea. The artist works diligently with it-- keeping the vision in view, making small adjustments, learning new techniques, experimenting--until the vision emerges in concrete form and becomes an extension of the artist. It is visible then to all who care to look. The piece bears the artist’s name and influences all who view it.

Sometimes, pieces do not please the artist and they are reworked, painted over, melted down, unraveled. These pieces have great inherent value. The artist’s vision is clarified, the materials better understood. This contributes much to the next project, the next work of art.

Sometimes, pieces become a legacy and influence many by their existence. These are the authentic works, the true expressions of the artist. These are the quality pieces, as Willa A. Foster, says, “Quality is never an accident; it is the result of high intention, sincere effort, intelligent direction and skillful execution; it represents the wise choice of many alternatives.”

You want your life to be of quality, filled with wise choices. Therefore, approach it with high intention, sincere effort, intelligent direction and skillful execution.

When creating a work of art, you must be present with it, fully engaged each moment, totally absorbed by the possibility you are actualizing and the potential you are exploring. This intense focus is required if you are not to be distracted by the myriad of seductive, and easy to justify diversions. It is a powerful process uplifting, inspiring, sometimes frustrating, satisfying, and, most of all, creative. When you are making a success of something, it s not work. It‘s a way of life.

Now, if by chance, you are thinking that viewing your life as a work of art, or a lofty contribution to the world, is impractical compared to a factual time-management, goal-oriented, bottom-line approach, please consider this. Every successful business, organization and corporation has two types of leaders, visionaries and administrators. Both are required. You need to be both visionary and administrator in your own life, to live a life of integrity, of wholeness.

RESTORATION

We all know the parable of the prodigal son and how many sermons have been preached about repentance, from that parable. We are told that 'he came to himself and said, I will arise and go to my father, and will say unto him, Father, I have sinned against heaven and in thy sight.' In preaching, we speak of this as the first step in a changed life-as conversion, as repentance, confession, returning to God. But, as this is the first step for the prodigal, we must remember that this is also the step to be taken by His erring children-by all the ninety-nine 'who need non-repentance ,' or think they do not. Those Christians who do not understand how wrong their low religious life is must be taught that this is sin-unbelief; and that it is as necessary that they should be brought to repentance as the prodigal. You have heard a great deal of preaching repentance to the unconverted; but I want to try to preach it to God's children. We have a picture of so many of God's children in that elder brother. What the father told him, to bring about a consideration of the love that He bore him, just as he loved the prodigal brother, thus does God tell to us in our contentedness with such a low life: -'You must repent and believe that I love you, and all that I have is thine .' He says, 'By your unbelief, you have dishonored me, living for ten, twenty, or thirty years, and never believing what it was to live in the blessedness of My love. You must confess the wrong you have done Me in this, and be broken down in contrition of heart just as truly as the prodigal.'

There are many children of God who need to confess, that though they are His children, they have never believed that God's promises are true, that He is willing to fill their hearts all the day long with His blessed presence. Have you believed this? If you have not, all our teaching will be of no profit to you. Will you not say, 'By the help of God, I will begin now a new life of faith, and will not rest until I know what such a life means. I will believe that I am every moment in the Father's presence, and all that He has is mine?'

May the Lord God work this conviction in the hearts of all cold believers. Have you ever heard the expression, 'a conviction for sanctification?' You know, the unconverted man needs a conviction before conversion. So does the dark-minded Christian need conviction before, and in order for sanctification, before he comes to a real insight to spiritual blessedness. He must be convicted a second time because of his sinful life of doubt, and temper, and un-lovingness . He must be broken down under that conviction; then there is hope for him. May the Father of mercy grant all such that deep contrition, so that they may be led into the blessedness of His presence, and enjoy the fullness of His power and love!

OUR ATTITUDES… CREATE OUR FUTURE

Do you have a glad heart? Or, do you consistently worry? Are your thoughts filled with negative anticipation and worthless fears of tomorrow? Or do you wake up each day with a grateful heart that you are still alive and enjoying the grace of God?

Do you realize you are creating your future by the very attitude you posses?

In Proverbs 15:15: it says it this way, "All the days of despondence and affliction are made evil by anxious thoughts but he who has a glad heart has a continual feast regardless of circumstances."

We have an "either - or" situation here. Have a glad heart and a continual feast, or have your days made evil by "negative thinking." It's all an attitude.

Your attitude is supported by your beliefs and your beliefs are vital to your success or failure in life.

Jesus said, "As you have believed, let it be done unto you" (Matthew 8:13).

Whatever emotion you experience at any given time is supported by a particular belief. If you are experiencing joy, there is an underlying belief that supports that emotion. If you are experiencing discouragement, there is an underlying belief supporting that too.

If you know God is taking care of you and watching out for your best interest, then relax. Have a glad heart and know He is in control, for the peace of God surpasses all understanding.

If, for some reason, you are experiencing some negative emotion, your believing in something that is causing it.

So, the next time you're exuding a poor demeanor; slumped shoulders, shallow breathing, a sagging facial expression, just stop and ask yourself, "What is the belief that is supporting this behavior?" Once you recognize it, you can change it. It's just a decision.

Notice the phrase, "despondence and affliction." The word "despondence" means losing hope. As long as God is alive, there is no reason to lose hope. "He is able to do exceedingly abundantly above all we ask or think, according to the power that works in us.

This power that works in us is our faith. Jesus said, "According to your faith let it be done unto you" (Matthew 9:29). God gives us the “grace of abundance in anything”, but we were also given the freewill to believe or not to believe.

Remember, we create our future by the very attitudes we posses, so we need to remember this and always be careful to not worry and keep trusting in God.

WHO IS JESUS???

Pip has requested me to help us all internalize the Bible, to have you read through my e-mails and get some touches of the celestial wonders that surround us, but which we often ignore, forget, or are too busy to notice. What a lovely way to continue our e-mail conversations from this threshold of the Divine...without sounding like the fire, thunder and brimstone of the angry God Who cast the tablets of the Commandments as Moses descended the mountain.

Because, today, our God's words are no longer written on stone by the fire of lightning and with our trembling fears of a wrathful God. He has written His commands in our hearts...take a look.

And, so, let me begin by helping us all to see... and you can join me by simply reading through my e-mails, or, and this is even better, by writing back your own thoughts...for all of us to share.

Do you know what Jesus looks like?

I have worked with television as a broadcaster for two decades and have this expertise at describing events and personalities...mostly heads of states and governments, kings, tyrants, dictators, and first ladies. I counted the number of such world leaders I have interviewed -- more than 50 of them, mostly in their pompous offices or imperial thrones, complete with a retinue of security secret service agents standing guard at my every move, making sure that I have no hidden weapon that could harm their leader.

But, I never imagined ever doing an interview of Jesus. In the open field under a hot sun, dust in my nostrils and straining to listen to what He has to stay in the midst of crowd. Or, weaving my way inside a room where He asked a man to rise up from a debilitating illness. But not in a Palace -- this Son of God. Not in a huge office -- this creator of the universe. Not with bodyguards, but with twelve, smelling of salt wind men who could hardly even speak good grammar (some were just fishermen).

How would I have described Him? Was He tall, dark and handsome? From what I have read about Him, I gather that His charisma must have been strong enough to have been able to attract thousands of people who would listen to Him (and without a sound system, mind you) for hours, sometimes days, as he talked (preached, was the word they used) about something absolutely strange to them (at that time).

Remember, we already know the outcome of Christ's life today...but let's look at His life as though we were doing a reportage (a television coverage, from my perspective, that is) of this man who claims to be God. Join me as I walk us through the path of this man's life.

Visualize this: a man walks down the street, and you have the people calling out in His name in exclamations, like an athlete, perhaps, who has just made the victory for your favorite game.

We, who live two thousand and five years after Jesus, know the sound of cheers and shouts. We see this on television with football or basketball games. You yourselves have sat in stadiums shouting out the name of your favorites.

It wasn't very different, then, I think.

I have studied His gestures and words in the Gospels and the many books that they have spawned. Yet no amount of my readings gave me a glimpse of Jesus in the flesh. A poet said it beautifully: "Those of us who look for Jesus cannot see past our own noses."

If He were alive today, would he be a six-foot-six-inch 260-pound defensive tackle who would always make big plays and would be hard to keep out of

the backfield for offensive linemen?

Would He approximate Nelson Mandela, or Martin Luther King, Jr., or Abraham Lincoln, or Brad Pitt, or Harrison Ford?

Who is this Jesus?

Jesus Himself did not offer much proof of his identity. Take it from me as an investigative journalist, and I tell you He dropped clues here and

there, but He also said, after my discovering some evidence, "Blessed is He who takes no offense at me."

See that? To a remarkable degree, this man throws it back at us.

So, all those stories we read from the four great writers of the Gospel, all those records of Paul in his letters to people all over his ministry...all lead to just one truth: Jesus is for each of us to discover.

Examine me. Test me. Learn about me. And then, you decide who I am. That's what He is saying.

I leave you with that, my dearest everyone. You don't have to be analytical about this, simply close your eyes whenever you can, maybe before going to sleep, or while you're at work and resting a while, or in a restaurant and waiting for your order. Think in your mind's eye of what Jesus would look like. Not the pictures you see in holy books or the movies. You. Your thoughts. Your own version of His looks.

Believe me, even as you begin to imagine His face, you will cry from the sheer magnitude of the thought.

I intend to tell you more, but for now, you try and make your own discoveries. That is, if you would really like to know who Jesus is.

Tribute to the Blessed Mother of God

THE LADY OF OCTOBER

First Nun:

Nothing remotely suggests what the moon has tried to conceal:

at the foot of the mountain we found a penitent,

clinging to his nightshirt,

counting his fingers and crying.

Weeping under the shadow of the moon, but the shadows

failed to hide his tears, and the moon

shone like the witch hysterical

over the waters on his cheeks.

Second Nun:

Somewhere in the crowded city we heard

the song of the Lady hugging the walls

of an old cathedral.

A song of sorrow asking to be heard

above the waves of crowded city's

voice: It was asking to be heard

because the city suffers from a famine

there is no wheat coming from the fields

the earth has turned a yellow color --

now dry and ruinous.

First Nun:

But the moonlight could not hide his tears.

Second Nun:

The birds from the city have

fallen with the rains.

The song of the Lady re-echoes

through the grief and the glory:

"We cannot sleep the nights. Our eyes

are parched. The days are hot and long

carrying an emptiness more

than the hallow

in our stomachs,

and I know that death is not far from us."

First Nun:

He wept for his sins and wet the earth

beneath his knees.

But his tears were salt, and the earth

bore no root, no green, not even

a stir opening to the small, small drops.

Second Nun:

Only She lamented the hunger of the city.

The people knew they were starving

but were too busy to care why or where

to ask for food. For the city, it is true,

has much oil for its cars, and

power for its lights.

In that mass of machines where everything

opens and closes, moves and stops --

the growing of the grass, the trees,

the stir of the wind,

the temper of the sea, the thunder

from the mountains -- all these echoes

of heaven

are not heard.

Two Nuns:

Hunger in a penitent’s soul

is all the pain the dry season brings.

Tears by the mountains huddled

what manner of man is this that kneels

by the stone, and strikes his breast

with sounds like prayer?

The voice of prayer that goes beyond

the fire in the breast

beyond the swell of watered eyes.

The voice of prayer that comes

from a sanctuary

of stillness, where a Child could

dwell between the metal and the spirit.

A condition of complete simplicity

where a world is complete before the Altar

and a heart without a world, simple.

First Nun:

Who shall tell the people?

Second Nun:

Before the Black Sea, there were thirty pairs.

Part II

The Lady:

From the Blessed St. John

a message to thee from the Truth,

the source from which God's creation began:

"I know of the doings, and find these

neither cold nor hot.

Being what thou art, lukewarm,

make me vomit thee out of my mouth.

See where I stand at the door

Knocking: If anyone listens to my voice

and opens the door, I will come in

and visit him, and take my supper with him.

Chorus:

Listen you who have ears, to the message...

The Lady:

...The Spirit has for the people."

They have ruined the churches,

and many have died...

Chorus:

...without prayers for their graves

The Lady:

...unheedful of the bitter waters

Chorus:

...of Hell.

The Lady:

Who shall tell us what to do?

When hearts like doors have closed themselves

and the streets have crowded with cheerers

mocking a Man riding a donkey,

the tide of the traffic has thickened

over the square;

Does not a Child come up to the Man

that He may ask

For all to hear: "Unless you become

as little children, you shall not enter

my kingdom."

What, no child?

Chorus:

Was that laughter?

First Nun:

Hail Mary

we turn to Thee.

The Lamb of God, behold!

rebuked by electronic robots

and computing machines.

Second Nun:

Holy Mary,

behold our vineyards: the clusters

look rich and ripe,

but when gathered and pressed before

His judgment...

Chorus:

...Lord, hear our cries.

Have mercy. Have mercy.

Two Nuns:

The vintage from the earth gave no wine.

Not one single drop

for the Figure on the Cross

That shed His last for them.

The Lady:

The crop of this earth is dry.

Go to the nuns. Ask them to pray.

First Nun:

The world is neither the convent

nor the church door, only.

Second Nun:

The Lord did not die for the convent

nor the church door, only.

Chorus:

The sinner by the stone mountain

with his false confessions has been

invited for dinner.

Go, tell him to dress himself

and attend

the banquet of the Lord,

and there,

pour out his grief’s the penance

may be anointed over his forehead

and he may go

to the square in the morrow to proclaim:

"I can see! I am blind no more!"

The Lady:

In the square, the people are too busy

feasting with their gold.

They do not seem to starve for food.

They do not seem to go blind, or deaf,

or mute,

or sick with the palsy.

What then?

Chorus:

Shall the blind man made seeing,

the sinner pardoned,

be heard over the waves of traffic and noise?

When the temper of the tide shall rise

and fall,

when the earth shall be open and made green

when the birds come homing from the South

when the sharp sickle of the Angel gathers

the world’s vintage

shall the people in the square

pause from their hurry and look to the sky

bending their knees in prayer to cry:

"Lord, are we not worthy?"

Part III

Chorus:

Nothing remotely suggests

what the moon has tried to conceal:

At the foot of the mountain

we found a penitent clinging to his

nightshirt, counting his fingers

and crying.

Weeping under the shadows of the moon,

but the shadows failed to hide

his tears and the moon shone

like the witch hysterical over

the waters on his cheeks.

Two Nuns:

Bend the knees before the Sanctuary

and make the voice of prayer

strike the breast to

Open! Open! Open!

The Lady:

"If anyone listens to my voice

and opens the door, I will come in

to visit him, and take my supper

with him.

Listen, you that have ears,

to the message

the Spirit has for the people!"

--------------------------

Father Ting, This was published in the "Varsitarian" official organ of the University of Sto. Tomas and was submitted and won the Palanca the same year it came out. I was finishing my course in philosophy at the time. Even then, I already had attempts at being a St. John of the Cross. A poetic attempt, albeit puerile. The papal book "Memory and Identity" is with the Father Provincial of the Order of the Blessed Sacrament. He was our parish priest at the Carmelite Convent for six years and with his promotion is now back with his central office. The discalced Carmelite friars have not taken over the daily masses at the Gilmore Convent. I will try to retrieve it. "Memory" refers also to our personal recollection of the life of Christ, the history of the Church, the struggles of humankind through wars and natural calamities -- all must be part of our recollection in order that we can "Identify" with Christ in humanity's failings, trials, struggles, victories and triumphs, and with each other together with the communion of saints that have gone before us. Without memory we do not have our identity. Without remembering the past of the Old Testament and the New Testament, we have no identity in the now. Our identity is our collective history. We are one in many memories; and all our memories identify us.

rita