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