How to Be a Blessing Magnet

-And I believe God's love is the most powerful magic in the universe. p14

-Don't wait for something to happen before you become thankful. p18

-Wealth is measured by how thankful you are. p19

-Thank God in advance for what He will do. p23

-God won't do for you what you can do for yourself. If He did, you wouldn't grow. p61

-You have enough to start something small. And as God sees you faithful in small things, God will give you bigger things. p65

-Supernatural miracles are happening every single day. At the right time, divine interruptions happen.God shows up. And He says, "Here's provision. Here's equipment. Here are solutions to your problems. Because this is not just your work. This is our work. We're doing this together. This isn't just your wish. This is our wish. We're wishing this together. This isn't just your plan. This is our plan! p68

-If God wants you to do something, He'll make the right people walk into your life. He'll send the necessary raw materials. He'll arrange everything. p70

-Let the flow of abundance push you to where it wants you to go. Because where it wants you to go and where you want to go are one and the same destination. p71

-The cross, by itself, makes no sense. Good Friday, by itself, makes no sense.The death of Jesus, by itself, makes no sense. But if you put together the cross and the empty tomb, it makes total, complete, glorious sense. p76

-For your trial is temporary. It will come to an end. But God's love is permanent. It will last forever. p86

ILoveLife Retreat and a story of healing..

"Do not hide your wounds. Expose it to the One who can heal it. God the Wounded Healer understands what you feel." - Arun Gogna (Today Is Your Day)

"It's been 15 years that my father died. I still can't accept that he's gone. I miss him." 

I was seated beside her(one of the attendees of ILoveLife Retreat whose name I'll not mention). 

My heart was thrumping while listening to her. I felt her emptiness and longing. 

"My father also died long time ago.", I told her. 

"I was 8 years old when he was murdered. But because of God's grace, I was healed. And He never left me. Everytime you miss him, just pray to God. Tell Him to hug your father for you. You'll be ok."
I saw some tears about to fall from her eyes. I silently said a prayer for her.

On our way back after the retreat, while on the bus, I heared her testimony. I was even shocked that she mentioned my name. She said that there was something in my words and hug. She felt God's love and healing through me. I even joked to her that I couldn't remember what I said. One thing I know, it's Him.

Now I know why I didn't join the earlier batch. The delayed has a purpose. He chose the perfect date to spend time with me and to use me as an instrument for someone's healing. God is amazing! All glory to Him. =)

P.S. She's now attending the Feast with her beautiful smile and a peaceful heart. 

What does being normal mean?

Photo Credit: Sakis

I grabbed my book as I waited for the plane to takeoff. Thankful that I was settled near the window area and nobody's sitting beside me. I opened the book and read some funny extracts. This made my travel enjoyable. Let me share it to you . Enjoy reading! =)

Compiled by Igor, the main character in  “The Winner stands Alone” by Paulo Coelho

"What does being normal mean?..."

1] Anything that makes us forget our true identity and our dreams and makes us only work to produce and reproduce.

2] Making rules for a war (the Geneva Convention).

3] Spending years at university and then not being able to find a job.

4] Working from nine in the morning to five in the afternoon at something that does not give us the least pleasure, so that we can retire after 30 years.

5] Retiring only to discover that we have no more energy to enjoy life, and then dying of boredom after a few years.

6] Using Botox.

7] Trying to be financially successful instead of seeking happiness.

8] Ridiculing those who seek happiness instead of money by calling them “people with no ambition”.

9] Comparing objects like cars, houses and clothes, and defining life according to these comparisons instead of really trying to find out the true reason for being alive.

10] Not talking to strangers. Saying nasty things about our neighbors.

11] Thinking that parents are always right.

12] Getting married, having children and staying together even though the love has gone, claiming that it’s for the sake of the children (who do not seem to be listening to the constant arguments).

12ª] Criticizing everybody who tries to be different.

14] Waking up with a hysterical alarm-clock at the bedside.

15] Believing in everything that is printed.

16] Wearing a piece of colored cloth wrapped around the neck, known by the pompous name “necktie”.

17] Never asking direct questions, even though the other person understands what you want to know.

18] Keeping a smile on your face when you really want to cry. And feeling sorry for those who show their own feelings.

19] Thinking that art is worth a fortune, or that it is worth absolutely nothing.

20] Always despising what was easily gained, because the “necessary sacrifice” – and therefore also the required qualities – are missing.

21] Following fashion, even though it all looks ridiculous and uncomfortable.

22] Being convinced that all the famous people have tons of money.

23] Investing a lot in exterior beauty and paying little attention to interior beauty.

24] Using all possible means to show that even though you are a normal person, you are infinitely superior to other human beings.

25] In any kind of public transport, never looking straight into the eyes of the other passengers, as this may be taken for attempting to seduce them.

26] When in an elevator, looking straight at the door and pretending you are the only person inside, however crowded it may be.

27] Never laughing out loud in a restaurant, no matter how funny the story is.

28] In the Northern hemisphere, always wearing the clothes that match the season of the year: short sleeves in springtime (however cold it may be) and a woolen jacket in the fall (no matter how warm it is).

29] In the Southern hemisphere, decorating the Christmas tree with cotton wool, even though winter has nothing to do with the birth of Christ.

30] As you grow older, thinking you are the wisest man in the world, even though not always do you have enough life experience to know what is wrong.

31] Going to a charity event and thinking that it is enough to put an end to all the social inequalities in the world.

32] Eating three times a day, even when not hungry.

33] Believing that the others are always better at everything: they are better-looking, more resourceful, richer and more intelligent. Since it’s very risky to venture beyond your own limits, it’s better to do nothing.

34] Using the car as a way to feel powerful and in control of the world.

35] Using foul language in traffic.

36] Thinking that everything your child does wrong is the fault of the company he or she is keeping.

37] Marrying the first person who offers a position in society. Love can wait.

38] Always saying “I tried”, even though you haven’t tried at all.

39] Putting off doing the most interesting things in life until you no longer have the strength to do them.

40] Avoiding depression with massive daily doses of television programs.

41] Believing that it is possible to be sure of everything you have won.

42] Thinking that women don’t like football and that men don’t like interior decoration.

43] Blaming the government for everything bad that happens.

44] Being convinced that being a good, decent and respectful person means that the others will find you weak, vulnerable and easy to manipulate.

45] Being convinced that aggressiveness and discourtesy in treating others are signs of a powerful personality.

46] Being afraid of fibroscopy (men) and childbirth (women).

47] And finally, thinking that your religion is the sole proprietor of the absolute truth, the most important, the best, and that the other human beings in this immense planet who believe in any other manifestation of God are condemned to the fires of hell.

Crazy Love

 To journey with the poor is to journey with Jesus. - Rey Ortega

I'm blessed to read a very inspiring book like this. I pray that God will use this as an instrument for you to see His favorites; the poor, in a different way. Just like the author, may we all be like Jesus and be crazy in love with others. Be blessed! =)

Here are some of my favorite extracts:

- Since I cannot pray well, I decided to serve well. The only way I can worship God effectively and with meaning is by serving the poor. p13

- "When a poor die of hunger, it has not happened because God did not take care of him or her. It has happened because neither you nor I wanted to give that person what he or she needed...It has happened because we did not recognize Christ when He appeared under the guise of pain". -Mother Teresa p15

- We cannot in real conscience refuse to help a really needy person, even if in the process we "are fooled" by nine others. That beggar could be an angel whose wings turned invisible. Or Jesus in disguise tugging at our hearts, asking us if we could allow Him to eat for the day. p30

- "I've discovered something cruel in the streets: I see a lot of kid's eyes that no longer have hope in them. They just stare blankly at you. All hope is gone. I wonder why we can be so kind to our own children - but leave other kids to die. -Bo Sanchez p32

- ...we have to see Jesus in every person. p35

- To journey with the poor is to journey with Jesus. p39

- We become poor when we lose the capacity to feel the pain and hear the cries and see the eyes of hopelessness among the poor in our midst. p41

- For God loves the poor passionately. We are called to do likewise. p42

- What we do is less than a drop in the ocean. But if that drop were missing, the ocean would lack something. -Mother Teresa

- We just said yes to Him.
And God surprised us.  p74

- Love is free; it is not practiced as a way of achieving other ends. But this does not mean that charitable activity must somehow leave God and Christ aside. For it is always concerned with the whole man. Often the deepest cause of suffering is the very absence of God. - Pope Benedict XVI

- It is an act of obedience to God's command to reach out to the poor, to manifest our love for God by our love for the poor. p112

- Give because you want to, not because you have to. p113

- No one is so rich that he has no need of help from others and no one is so poor that he cannot give to others. p114

- A jobless father helping other jobless fathers. The poor reaching out to the poor. I believe this is what Christianity means. p117

Excerpt: Manuscript Found in Accra (Part II)

Help us to recognize the only one that is worth following: the one on which  
Love is to be found. - Paulo Coelho

Warning: This blog post contains spoilers. Please do not read on if you don't want to be spoiled especially for those who are planning to read this book.


Here are some extracts that I've highlighted:

- For most people, generosity consists only in giving, and yet receiving is also an act of love. Allowing someone else to make us happy will make them happy, too.

- Everything that is spiritual manifests itself in visible form, and everything that is visible is transformed into spiritual energy.

- Because friendship is one of the many faces of Love, and Love is not swayed by opinions; Love accepts its companion unconditionally and allows each to grow in his or her own way.

- Friendship is like a river; it flows around rocks, adapts itself to valleys and mountains, occasionally turns into a pool until the hollow in the ground is full and it can continue on its way. Just as the river never forgets that its goal is the sea, so friendship never forgets that its only reason for existing is to love other people.

- Stay close to those who sing, tell stories, and enjoy life, and whose eyes sparkle with happiness. Because happiness is contagious and will always manage to find a solution, whereas logic can find only an explanation for

the mistake made.

- Elegance is not an outer quality, but a part of the soul that is visible to others.

- Elegance is achieved when, having discarded all superfluous things, we discover simplicity and concentration. The simpler the pose, the better; the more sober, the more beautiful. And what is simplicity? It is the coming together of the

true values of life.

- The simplest things in life are the most extraordinary.

Let them reveal themselves.

- The nearer the heart comes to simplicity, the more capable it is of loving freely and without fear. The more fearlessly it loves, the more capable it is of revealing elegance in its every gesture.

- Elegance is accepted and admired because it makes no

effort to be elegant.

- Fate is never unfair to anyone. We are all free to love or hate what we do.

- Success does not come from having one’s work recognized by others. It is the fruit of a seed that you lovingly planted.

- Success comes to those who do not waste time comparing what they are doing with what others are doing; it enters the house of the person who says “I will do my best” every day.

- Do not try to make the road shorter, but travel it in such a way that every action leaves the land more fertile and the landscape more beautiful.

- ..but a miracle goes beyond even that; it’s something that suddenly fills our hearts with Love. When that happens, we feel a profound reverence for the grace God has bestowed on us.

- Help us to know that when our legs are tired, we can keep walking, thanks to the strength in our hearts, and that when our hearts are tired, we can still carry on, thanks to the strength of our Faith.

- Help us to be humble when we receive and joyful when we give.

- Help us to recognize the only one that is worth following: the one on which Love is to be found.

- May our eyes open so that we can see that no two days are ever the same. Each one brings with it a different miracle, which allows us to go on breathing, dreaming, and walking in the sun.

- Because as long as we are intensely connected to the present moment, we will always be waiting anxiously for someone or something.

- although anxiety is part of life, never let it control you.

- ..but the great wisdom of life is to realize that we can be the masters of the things that try to enslave us.

- We must love. I am not speaking only of love for another person. Loving means being open to miracles, to victories and defeats, to everything that happens each day that was given us to walk upon the face of the Earth.

- But those who truly want the best for us want us to be happy, even if they can’t understand what we are doing, and even if, at first, they try to stop us from going ahead by means of threats, promises, and tears.

- But if a man understands that he is worthy of what he has struggled so long for, he will realize that he did not get there alone and must respect the Hand that led him.

- The true friend is not the one who says: “You wounded me today, and I am sad.” He says: “You wounded me today for reasons unknown to me and possibly to you as well, but tomorrow I know that I will be able to count on your help. And so I will not be sad.”

- We will all have to face many adversaries in our lives, but the most difficult to defeat will be the ones we fear.

- But do not fight in order to prove that you are right, or to impose your ideas or ideals on someone else. Accept the fight only as a way of keeping your spirit clean and your will spotless.

- Never repay hatred with hatred, but with justice. The world does not divide into enemies and friends, but into the weak and the strong.


See previous post Excerpt: Manuscript Found in Accra (Part I)

Excerpt: Manuscript Found in Accra (Part I)

We will not fear what happens tomorrow, because yesterday we had someone watching over us. 

And that same Presence will remain at our side. That Presence will shelter us from suffering. Or It will give us the strength to face it with dignity. We will go farther than we think. We will seek out the place where the morning star is born. And we will be surprised when we get there how much easier it was than we had imagined. 

- Paulo Coelho

Warning: This blog post contains spoilers. Please do not read on if you don't want to be spoiled especially for those who are planning to read this book.


Here are some extracts that I've highlighted:

- “Now that I am at the end of my life, I leave for those who come after me everything that I learned while I walked the face of this Earth. May they make good use of it.” 

- But what is knowledge? “It isn’t the absolute truth about life and death, but the thing that helps us to live and confront the challenges of day-to-day life. It isn’t what we learn from books,  which serves only to fuel futile arguments about what happened or will happen;  it is the knowledge that lives in the hearts of men and women of good will.” 

- ..there are neither winners nor losers; there are only stages that must be gone through. When the human heart understands this, it is free and able to accept difficult times  without being deceived by moments of glory. 

- Only he who gives up is defeated. Everyone else is victorious. 

- Defeat is for those who, despite their fears, live with enthusiasm and faith. 

- Without solitude, Love will not stay long by your side.  Because Love needs to rest, so that it can journey through the heavens and reveal itself in other forms.

- Solitude is not the absence of company, but the moment when our soul is free to speak to us and help us decide what to do with our life.

- Just as Love is the divine condition, so solitude is the human condition. And for those who understand

the miracle of life, those two states peacefully coexist.

- Nothing in this world is useless in the eyes of God. Not a leaf from a tree falls,  not a hair from your head, not even an insect dies because it was of no use.  Everything has a reason to exist. 

- A life is never useless. Each soul that came down to Earth is here for a reason. 

- The people who really help others are not trying to be useful, but are simply leading a useful life. 

They rarely give advice, but serve as an example.

- Joy. That is one of the main blessings of the All Powerful. If we are happy, we are on the right road. 

- travelers meet other people on the road who are feeling just the same.  As they talk, they realize that they are not alone; they become traveling companions and share their solutions  to various obstacles. And they all feel wiser and more alive than they thought they were. 

- The traveler continues his journey. He doesn’t complain of boredom now; he complains, rather, that he is tired. But at that point he rests, enjoys the landscape, and then carries on.

- Faith shows us that we are never alone. 

- And to those who believe that adventures are dangerous, I say, try routine; that kills you far more quickly. 

- The eyes are the mirror of the soul and reflect everything that seems to be hidden; and, like a mirror, 

they also reflect the person looking into them.  So if the personlooking into someone’s eyes has a dark soul, he will see only his own ugliness.

- A sunset is always more beautiful when it is covered with irregularly shaped clouds, because only then can it reflect the many colors out of which dreams and poetry are made. 

- “I am an instrument. Allow me to be an instrument capable of manifesting Your Will.” 

- ..only the person who accepts God’s plan with humility and courage knows that he is on the right road. 

- In order to hear Love’s words, you must allow Love to approach. 

- Sometimes, when loneliness seems about to crush everything, the only way to resist is to keep on loving. 

- every farewell comes a hidden hope.

- Because Nature is a manifestation of the Love of God. Regardless of what we do, Nature continues to love us. 

- Don’t give up. Remember, it’s always the last key on the key ring that opens the door. 

* And the day will come when those difficult moments are merely stories to be told  proudly to those who will listen. And they will listen respectfully and learn three important things:

Wait patiently for the right moment to act.

Do not let the next opportunity slip by you.

Take pride in your scars.

Scars are medals branded on the flesh, and your enemies will be frightened  by them because they are proof of your long experience of battle.  Often this will lead them to seek dialogue and avoid conflict. Scars speak more loudly than the sword that caused them.

* We will not fear what happens tomorrow, because yesterday we had someone watching over us. And that same Presence will remain at our side. That Presence will shelter us from suffering. Or It will give us the strength to face it with dignity. We will go farther than we think. We will seek out the place where the morning star is born.  And we will be surprised when we get there how much easier it was than we had imagined. 

* Pity those who think: “I am not beautiful. That’s why Love has not knocked at my door.” 

In fact, Love did knock, but when they opened the door, they weren’t prepared to welcome Love in. They were too busy trying to make themselves beautiful first, when, in fact, they were fine as they were. They were trying to imitate others, when Love was looking for something original. They were trying to reflect what came from outside, forgetting that the brightest light comes from within

* At such moments, Love appears and says: “You think you’re heading toward a specific point, 

but the whole justification for the goal’s existence lies in your love for it.  Rest a little, but as soon as you can, get up and carry on. Because ever since your goal found out that you were traveling toward it, it has been running to meet you.”

* Our dream, the desire that is in our soul, did not come out of nowhere. Someone placed it there.  And that Someone, who is pure love and wants only our happiness,  did so only because he also gave us the tools to realize our dreams and our desires. When you are going through difficult times, remember: you might have lost some major battles,  but you survived and you’re still here. That is a victory. Show your happiness and celebrate your ability to go forward.

See previous post Excerpt: Manuscript Found in Accra (Part I)

Outlive Your Life

Photo Credit: melissademing.com 

"..when we love those in need, we are loving Jesus. - Max Lucado

I'd like to begin my review by sharing one of my favorite excerpts from this book.

The sheep will react with a sincere question: When? When did we feed, visit, clothe, or comfort you (vv. 34– 39)? Jesus’ answer will sound something like this. 

“Remember when you got off the subway?  It was a wintry Washington morning. Commuters were bundled and busy and focused on their work.  You were, too, mind you.

But then you saw me.  Yes, that was me! Standing between the coffee kiosk and the newsstand, that was me. I was wearing a baseball cap and a scarf and playing a fiddle. The mob rushed past as if I were a plastic plant. 

But you stopped. I knew you were busy. You looked at your watch twice. But still you stopped and remembered me. You stepped over to the coffee stand, bought me a cup, and brought it over. I want you to know I never forgot that.”

This is the second book I've read by Max Lucado.  No wonder his books are highly recommended in book reviews. "Outlive Your Life" is all about living a life with meaning and purpose by making a difference in the lives of others. Every chapter in this book also contains a prayer, reflections and action plans.


Here are some of my favorite extracts:

- Your life will never be lived by anyone else. p47

- We are created by a great God to do great works. He invites us to outlive our lives,
not just in heaven but here on earth. p57

- God doesn’t call the qualified. He qualifies the called. p71

- “Save one life. Save the world.” - Talmud p75

- “God has given us different gifts for doing certain things well” (Rom. 12:6)

- “I am the bread of life. Whoever comes to me will never be hungry again”(John 6:35)

- He has drenched his world in grace. It has no end. It knows no limits. p117

- Make sure you receive the bread. And once you do, pass it on. After all, if we don’t, who will?

- When believers agree, Jesus takes notice, shows up, and hears our prayers. p131

- No one can do everything, but everyone can do something. p136

- As you welcome strangers to your table, you are welcoming God himself. p153

- We still encounter people on the road. And sometimes we sense a peculiar
warmth, an affection. We detect an urge to open our doors to them.
In these moments let’s heed the inner voice. We never know whom we may be hosting for dinner. p163

- Cheerfully share your home with those who need a meal or a place to stay. God has given each of you
a gift from his great variety of spiritual gifts. Use them well to serve one another. (1 Peter 4:9)

- Works done in God’s name long outlive our earthly lives. p176

- First, kind eyes meet desperate ones. Next, strong hands help weak ones.
Then, the miracle of God. We do our small part, he does the big part, and life at the Beautiful Gate
begins to be just that. p182

- Imitate the disciples. Linger long and often in the presence of Christ.
Meditate on his grace. Ponder his love. Memorize his words. Gaze into his face.
Talk to him. Courage comes as we live with Jesus.

- To do a good thing is a good thing. To do good to be seen is not. p220

- Slay the desire to be noticed. Stir the desire to serve God. p223

- “Search me, O God, and know my heart; test me and know my
anxious thoughts. Point out anything in me that offends you, and lead me along
the path of everlasting life” (Ps. 139:23–24)

- His to-do list? Help for the body and soul, strength for the physical and the
spiritual, therapy for the temporal and eternal.
“This is my mission statement,” Jesus declared. p234

- no one can do everything, but everyone can do something. p247

- You’ve forgotten how big God is. p260

- Our big God blesses our small faith. p263

- Take time to remember. “Look at what you were when God called you” (1 Cor.1:26).
Remember who held you in the beginning. Remember who holds you today. p265

- “He must increase, but I must decrease” (John 3:30)

- What gift are you giving that he did not first give? What truth are
you teaching that he didn’t first teach? You love. But who loved you first?
You serve. But who served the most? What are you doing for God that he could not do alone? p269

- ..when we cross the field and cheer for the other side, everyone wins. p290

- God never sends you where he hasn’t already been. p308

- God calls us to change the way we look at people. p333

- Prayer requires minimal effort. No location is prescribed.
No particular clothing is required. No title or office is stipulated. p348

- Be sure to bathe your mission in prayer. p354

- He is still listening. Are we still praying? p358

-Who had time to notice beauty in the midst of busyness? Most did not. p364

- “We all float on the same ocean. When the tide rises, it benefits everyone.” p365

- ..when we love those in need, we are loving Jesus. p366

- The works of mercy are simple deeds. And yet in these simple deeds, we serve Jesus. p370

- None of us can help everyone. But all of us can help someone. And when we help them, we serve Jesus. p376

- "Expect no credit for good deeds." p414

Don't Forget the Bread

Photo: covingtonfumc.com

“I am the bread of life. Whoever comes to me will never be hungry again” -(John 6:35)

Extracts from the book Outlive Your Life by Max Lucado.

"The grain-to-bread process is a demanding one. The seed must be planted before it can grow. When the grain is ripe, it must be cut down and ground into flour. Before it can become bread, it must pass through the oven. Bread is the end result of planting, harvesting, and heating.

Jesus endured an identical process. He was born into this world. He was cut down, bruised, and beaten on the threshing floor of Calvary. He passed through the fire of God’s wrath, for our sake. He “suffered because of others’ sins, the Righteous One for the unrighteous ones. He went through it all —was put to death and then made alive —to bring us to God” (1 Peter 3:18)

...Make sure you receive the bread. And once you do, pass it on. After all, if we don’t, who will?"

My blessed Savior and Lord. I praise you for freely

giving me the Bread of Life. You replaced my

darkness with your light, my fear with your security;

and my despair with your hope. Remind me every day

Father, that the Bread of Life I have in Jesus comes to

me by your grace and through your love and that it

delights your generous heart when 1 tell others where

they can find and partake. Make me into an eager

ambassador of Jesus Christ. Turn my fear into

boldness so that heaven’s streets may be filled with

men and women who love the Savior, in part because

they first heard of his grace and mercy from my lips.

In Jesus’ name I pray amen.

The Time Keeper

“We all yearn for what we have lost. But sometimes, we forget what we have.” 
- Mitch Albom

We are always thinking about time. We count it by year down to its smallest measurement. Sometimes we wish it would speed up or slow down. But what happens if time stops?

This is a story of 3 people. One who wanted to stop time. Another who wanted to slow it while the other who wanted to extend it.

This is another book you can't put down once you started reading. Mitch Albom never fails to amaze me with his way of writing. Quoted from the book, “Remember this always: There is a reason God limits man’s days.” “What is the reason?” “Finish your journey and you will know.”

I recommend that you read this book. Journey with these 3 characters and life's great lesson. 

Here are some extracts from the book that I've highlighted:

-Man alone measures time. Man alone chimes the hour. And, because of this, man alone suffers a paralyzing fear that no other creature endures. A fear of time running out. -p27

-That night he observed a quarter moon through the clouds, and he used it to mark the moment, the light of the night they were wed. -p44

-Consider the word “time.” -p48

-Before you measure the years, you measure the days.p78

-Learn what you do not know...“Understand the consequences of counting the moments.” -p106

-He was watching Dor the way a father watches a sleeping son. p102

-“Learn what you do not know,” the old man said. “Understand the consequences of counting the moments.” p106

-People fretted over missed chances, over inefficient days; they worried constantly about how long they would live, because counting life’s moments had led, inevitably, to counting them down. Soon, in every nation and in every language, time became the most precious commodity.P135

-But man invents nothing God did not create first. p152

-Mankind is connected in ways it does not understand—even in dreams. P152

-“You marked the minutes,” the old man said. “But did you use them wisely? To be still? To cherish? To be grateful? To lift and be lifted?” p173

-“Remember this always: There is a reason God limits man’s days.”

“What is the reason?” “Finish your journey and you will know.” p174

-Then a French mathematician tied a string to a timepiece, put it around his wrist, and man began to wear time on his body.

-“What time is it?” became one of the world’s most common questions, found on page one of every foreign-language instruction book. p235

-But a man who can take anything will find most things unsatisfying. And a man without memories is just a shell. p270

-“We all yearn for what we have lost. But sometimes, we forget what we have.” p294

-But you grab a moment, or you let it pass. p313

-…knowing something and understanding it were not the same thing. p321

-And when hope is gone, time is punishment. p351

-What was the constant? Movement. Yes. With time there was

always movement. The setting sun. The dripping water. The pendulums. The spilling sand. p359

-…hurting ourselves to inflict pain on others is just another cry to be loved. p414

-Time is not something you give back. The very next moment may be an answer to your prayer. To deny that is to deny the most important part of the future.”

“What’s that?”

“Hope.” p425

-“Ends are for yesterdays, not tomorrows.” p426

-“With endless time, nothing is special. With no loss or sacrifice, we can’t appreciate what we have.” p450

-There was always a quest for more minutes, more hours, faster progress to accomplish more in each day. The simple joy of living between sunrises was gone. p453

-Man wants to own his existence. But no one owns time.” p453

-But fates are connected in ways we don’t understand. p459

-We do not realize the sound the world makes—unless, of course, it comes to a stop. Then, when it starts, it sounds like an orchestra. p467

-..someplace far away— someplace indescribable in the pages of a book—a man named Dor and a woman named Alli run barefoot up a hillside, tossing stones, laughing with their children, and time never crosses their minds.

Photo: Abellardo Morell

Be Still

Photo: Grazel Gorriceta

How good it is to pause!
Lord, I would like to slow down right now.
Why so much commotion?
Why so much frenzy?
I do not know how to stop.
I have forgotten to pray.
Now I close my eyes and
wish to talk to you, Lord.
I wish to open up myself to your universe,
but my eyes cannot bear to stay closed.
I feel a frantic agitation invade my entire body;
it comes and goes, a prisoner of haste.
Lord, I would like to stop right now.
Why such a hurry?
Why such unrest?
I cannot save the world.

I am merely a drop of water
in the immense ocean
of your marvelous creation.
What is really important
is to seek your presence.
What is really important
is to stop from time to time,
and to proclaim your greatness,
your beauty, your splendor, and your love.
What is urgent is to listen to you
and to let you speak within me,
to live in the depth of things
and to take the time to look
constantly for you in the
silence of your mystery.

My heart continues to beat,
but in a different way.
I am doing nothing,
I am not hurrying,
I am simply before you, Lord.
And how good it is to be before you. Amen.

Source: Prayer and Life Workshops

How To Live A Life of Miracles

Photo: SVP

Don't allow your problems to stop you from living a life to the full. - Bo Sanchez

I got this book as freebie in my second year of subscribing Kerygma Magazine. 3 lessons I've learned after reading this book: 1. Everyday is a miracle. 2. I am a miracle. 3. I can be a miracle to others.  


Here are some quotes I've highlighted:

-When people around you curse --turn a deaf ear. Transform their curses to become inner fuel to reach your goals. p54

-God never sees a failure, only a champion in you. p55

-Problems and promises go together. Your problems are standing in front of the promises of God. p60

-If you want success in your life, you have to be vision-oriented, not problem-oriented. p61

-If you want God's promise of abundance to happen in your life, you have to dirty your hands. -p62

-If you want a blessing from God, you don't give up. You do whatever it takes to get it. Do what you have to do one more time but do it in a different way. p65

-When we fail, we automatically think we're losers. No we're not. You can never be a loser because you come from God. 

-When we mess up, God still looks for something good to look at and celebrate that part of us. p66

-Don't allow your problems to stop you from living a life to the full. p69

-No one is a victim unless you allow yourself to be one. Nothing can stop you from living life with joy. p81

-If you want to live a life of miracles, unforgiveness is one thing that must be thrown away. p88

-Forgiveness is, first of all, a gift I give myself. p96

-Wish blessing upon those who hurt you -- and that blessing will comeback to you. p100

-So imagine a gigantic tank of blessings that's filled to the brim. God has given every blessing you need in your life already. That tank has your name on it. It's yours! All you have to do is open the faucet. p102

-Give sacrificially. Not to earn brownie points with God. Not to avoid curses. But because you love. p107

-It isn't the percentage that matters but how much is left after you give. p108

-The happiest people in the world are the givers. p112

8 Ways to Succeed in Your Work and Bless the World - Bo Sanchez

Photo: chicquero.com

1. Get a Champion's Attitude 
- Let your light shine before men, that they may see your good workd, and glorify your
Father which is in Heavean. -Matt 5:16

2. Follow your Gifting
- where are you effective? What do you do that when you do it, you actually bless people?
- Neglect not the gift that is in you. -1 Timothy 4:14

3. Be Totally Dependable
- Lazy hands make a man poor, but diligent hands bring wealth. - Proverbs 10:4

4. Serve your Leader
- be consistent
- be your leader's #1 problem-solver
- don't complain. Offer a solution.
- see Jesus in your boss. Serve him

5. Think Like an Entrepreneur
- understand why you do what you do

6. Build Relationships
- leadership is bringing people with you.

7. Always Innovate
- increase your learning

8. Be a Person of Integrity
-  You show that you are a letter from Christ...-1 Cor 3:3

Source: "Powertalks" How To Bless The World With Your Work" (trulyrichclub)

Remember the Cross

Photo Credit: Flickr (Anosmia)

"I am the Lord who heals you." - Exodus 15:36

I entered the room with a heavy heart .It was silent. There were only few people inside praying.

I decided to sit on a chair beside the wall so no one would notice me. I closed my eyes while taking a deep breath. It was difficult to say a prayer. Then without noticing, I was already crying.

I felt Someone was starting at me. I opened my eyes and I looked at Him. He was also lonely. It was Jesus on the Cross. And while staring at Him, deep in my heart I could hear Him saying,

"My child, remember the Cross? I've been there. I have conquered. I will take care of your friend. I will take care of his healing. And it would be soon."

I continued sobbing but felt relieved.  I knew that the comfort I've felt that moment would be the same comfort He would give to my friend.

I don't know what you are going through right now. Just don't give up. Jesus conquered! And God will be glorified through our trials. Always.

Just remember the Cross. 

40 Stories of Passion

Photo: SVP

God defines success in a radically different way than the world defines it. 

For Him, success may not necessarily mean material wealth or political power.

 In it's essence, success means being faithful to love. - Bo Sanchez

I came across my old journal the other day and found some notes I've written from this book.
Here are the 40 inspiring quotes from 40 inspiring people. Find out who they are and be inspired by their stories.

1. “My faith in God. I held on to Him because I had nothing left.”
2. I can survive losing everything for as long as the Lord is with me.
3.  Given Riches At Christ’s Expense
4. When you want to earn, if you have the passion and love for what you do, hard work is no longer a sacrifice. It will become joy. What’s important is you love what you’re doing.
5. Today is Friday but Sunday is coming. I've learned that the sun will shine tomorrow no matter how dark the night is right now.
6. Counseling is all about empathy. That’s what heals others. And because I've been through pain in the past, I can feel the pain of others.
7. I try to love everybody. I see in them Jesus, my Beloved whom I desire to love more and more. That is my strength
8. Live a simple lifestyle. Avoid stress. Don’t have too much worries. Pray.
9. It’s such a joy to serve. It feels good.
10. If you want to succeed, make people more important than things.
11. If you see the poor as your family, you won’t give charity. You will love them. And when the Filipino loves, he’ll give his all –not just charity.
12. In the name of obedience, I said yes. That is the Christian life.
13. I’m very happy! Especially when I see people coming back to His love. I’m reminded that I am a vessel of His love.
14. All around me, there are so many opportunities to serve, aside from my job.
15. I realize that God has really called me to sing for Him & for His people. So my dream is that one day, I’ll be singing in front of the Lord – in heaven.
16. I believe this is what God wants me to do. So I do it with passion. It transcends whether I will succeed or not. Because it’s not about me, it’s about Him.
17. I answered his call, and today I have found what I was looking for.
18. I realized that life is much more than a great job and a big house. Life is so unpredictable and so short. So I decided to do what I wanted to do now.
19. I’m just a channel of His Spirit doing what He wants me to do. Since the Lord has been faithful. Once he tapped you for a mission, there’s no turning back.
20. While I have the opportunity to love, I will love, because life is so fragile.
21. I saw a vision. It was Jesus wearing a crown of thorns with blood all over His face. He was looking at me – loving me. He just kept looking at me, and I knew what He wanted me to do. He wanted me to surrender all my resentments, all my anger, all the range within me. Today, I can easily forgive people.
22. Through the years, I've also learned that when you serve Him, He equips you with all you need.
23. We sacrificed. We lived simply.
24. I’m a husband first, a father second and a leader third. If I keep those three in order, I’ll be successful as husband, father and leader.
25. My parents loved me despite everything. I want to be blessed so I can be a blessing to others.
26. He answered my prayer according to His will.
27. We should give the best for God. My work is a lesson in faith. Try to serve one person at a time.
28. He knew what I needed, and so he gave her to me – a woman who deeply loves the Lord.
29. And as for my work, I believe that God is my real boss. So I need to do it with excellence.
30. From seeing God as a Punishing Judge, I now see Him as a Best Friend and a Merciful Saviour. How can I be afraid?
31. Deep in my heard, I wanted to bring young people to God.
32. That’s why I’m here on earth loving God is the meaning of my life.
33. Isn't it amazing how God works?
34. At the end of each day, I want to sleep soundly, having offered my work well done to my Creator.
35. Perhaps one day, He will still heal me. But even if He doesn't, I've surrendered my  life to Him. I will continue to trust Him.
36. We are who we are now because of the miracles He gives us every day.
37. I try to use every opportunity God has given me to encourage.
38. I enjoy my ministry more than my work.
39. When you give charity because you love, you don’t feel that pain. You only feel the joy of giving to someone you love.
40. I had many years of deep pain, but through it all, I always felt God’s nearness.