A Special Delivery

There are times where in we question GOD for making worst things happen. We tend to ask HIM why. But it only takes faith to understand that everything has its purpose. We need to trust HIM and believe that it is for the good.

Take time to read this story. I must say that it is really a beautiful one that would surely touched your heart.

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She jumped up as soon as she saw the surgeon come out of the operating room. She said: 'How is my little boy? Is he going to be all right? When can I see him?'
The surgeon said, 'I'm sorry. We did all we could, but your boy didn't make it.'

Sally said, 'Why do little children get cancer? Doesn't God care any more? Where were you, God, when my son needed you?'

The surgeon asked, 'Would you like some time alone with your son? One of the nurses will be out in a few minutes, before he's transported to the university.'

Sally asked the nurse to stay with her while she said goodbye to her son. She ran her fingers lovingly through his thick red curly hair. 'Would you like a lock of his hair?' the nurse asked. Sally nodded yes. The nurse cut a lock of the boy's hair, put it in a plastic bag and handed it to Sally.

The mother said, 'It was Jimmy's idea to donate his body to the University for Study. He said it might help somebody else. 'I said no at first, but Jimmy said, ' Mom , I won't be using it after I die. Maybe it will help some other little boy spend one more day with his Mom .' She went on, 'My Jimmy had a heart of gold. Always thinking of someone else. Always wanting to help others if he could.'

Sally walked out of Children's Mercy Hospital for the last time, after spending most of the last six months there. She put the bag with Jimmy's belongings on the seat beside her in the car.

The drive home was difficult. It was even harder to enter the empty house. She carried Jimmy's belongings, and the plastic bag with the lock of his hair to her son's room.

She started placing the model cars and other personal things back in his room exactly where he had always kept them. She lay down across his bed and, hugging his pillow, cried herself to sleep.

It was around midnight when Sally awoke. Lying beside her on the bed was a folded letter. The letter said:

'Dear Mom ,

I know you're going to miss me; but don't think that I will ever forget you, or stop loving you, just 'cause I'm not around to say 'I Love You'. I will always love you, Mom, even more with each day. Someday we will see each other again. Until then, if you want to adopt a little boy so you won't be so lonely, that's okay with me. He can have my room and old stuff to play with. But, if you decide to get a girl instead, she probably wouldn't like the same things us boys do. You'll have to buy her dolls and stuff girls like, you know.
Don't be sad thinking about me. This really is a neat place. Grandma and Grandpa met me as soon as I got here and showed me around some, but it will take a long time to see everything. The angels are so cool. I love to watch them fly. And, you know what? Jesus doesn't look like any of his pictures. Yet, when I saw Him, I knew it was Him. Jesus himself took me to see GOD! And guess what, Mom ? I got to sit on God's knee and talk to Him, like I was somebody important. That's when I told Him that I wanted to write you a letter, to tell you good bye and everything. But I already knew that wasn't allowed. Well, you know what Mom ? God handed me some paper and His own personal pen to write you this letter I think Gabriel is the name of the angel who is going to drop this letter off to you. God said for me to give you the answer to one of the quest ions you asked Him 'where was He when I needed him?' 'God said He was in the same place with me, as when His son Jesus was on the cross. He was right there, as He always is with all His children..

Oh, by the way, Mom , no one else can see what I've written except you. To everyone else this is just a blank piece of paper. Isn't that cool? I have to give God His pen back now He needs it to write some more names in the Book of Life. Tonight I get to sit at the table with Jesus for supper. I'm sure the food will be great.

Oh, I almost forgot to tell you. I don't hurt anymore the cancer is all gone. I'm glad because I couldn't stand that pain anymore and God couldn't stand to see me hurt so much, either. That's when He sent The Angel of Mercy to come get me. The Angel said I was a Special Delivery! How about that?

Signed with Love from God, Jesus & Me.

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Trusting the FATHER

Would you describe yourself as joyful, peaceful, and happy? Or do you find yourself constantly pursuing good works, accomplishments, or awards as a way to feel significant or valuable? If so, you may be living a life-filled with striving.

As Charles F. Stanley stated, people who live that way tend to believe they are unworthy before God or others. They don't allow themselves the so-called luxury of spending time just meditating on the Lord; they must be doing something they believe is vitally important. Many times, they feel tremendous guilt if they take even five minutes to rest.

Let me assure you of this: striving will never result in your salvation. Nor will it produce the inner quality God desires to see in each of us—trust in Him. Striving will drain your joy, peace, and contentment. It saps energy. It produces a constant feeling of inner exhaustion, which can produce feelings of depression and discouragement. But God's Word declares:

How blessed is the man who finds wisdom
And the man who gains understanding…Her ways are pleasant ways
And all her paths are peace. She is a tree of life to those who take hold of her,
And happy are all who hold her fast (Prov. 3:13, 17-18).

Those who walk wisely will experience "pleasantness," peace, and happiness. Wisdom is likened to a tree—a living, long-lasting shelter that provides a place of inner rest against life's storm's and the heat of life's troubles.

Can a person live in joy, peace, and contentment every second of every day throughout life? No. Moments of panic, fear, discouragement, sadness, disappointment, or pain hit all of us from time to time. But joy, peace, and contentment can characterize your life as a whole.

When someone faces a difficulty, the wisdom of God reminds that person of these truths:

• God loves me unconditionally.
• God is in control.
• God has a reason for allowing this in my life.
• God is walking through this difficult time with me.

When we know with certainty that God is in control, that He loves us beyond measure, and that He is at work in our lives, we have the genuine capacity to praise and thank Him even in the midst of the most dire, discouraging, or depressing times. Our praise and thanksgiving create in us very alive feelings of joy and peace.

Take a look for a moment at what causes frustration, anxiety, and worry. Those who are without God—or who are rejecting God's wisdom—can't help but feel anxious because from their perspective, life is out of control. Their existence is solitary, marked by chaos, void of love, and lived moment to moment and feeling to feeling.

What a terrible way to live! Even if it's not carried to the extreme, such a belief system can weigh a person down.

At the very core of our self-image is the desire to be loved and regarded as lovable. Only God can fully satisfy that need. When we come to believe that He loves us and deems us worthy of His unconditional love, you and I have the foundation for a healthy, godly self-esteem.

Loneliness: Toothache of the Soul

Loneliness is one of life's most miserable experiences. Everyone feels lonely at times, but is there a message for us in loneliness? Is there a way we can turn it into something positive?

Sometimes loneliness is a temporary condition that departs in a few hours or a couple days. But when you're burdened with this emotion for weeks, months, or even years, it's definitely telling you something.

In a sense, loneliness is like a toothache: It's a warning signal that something is wrong. And like a toothache, if left unattended, it usually gets worse. Your first response to loneliness may be to self-medicate - to try home remedies to make it go away.

Busyness is a common treatment.

You may think that if you fill your life with so many activities that you don't have time to think about your loneliness, you'll be cured. But busyness misses the message. It's like trying to heal a toothache by taking your mind off it. Busyness is only a distraction, not a cure.

Buying is another favorite therapy.

Maybe if you purchase something new, if you "reward" yourself, you'll feel better. And surprisingly, you do feel better - but only for a short while. Buying things to fix your loneliness is like an anesthetic. Sooner or later the numbing effect wears off. Then the pain comes back as strong as ever. Buying can also compound your problems with a mountain of credit card debt.

Bed is a third response to loneliness.

You may believe that intimacy is what you need, so you make an unwise choice with sex. Like the prodigal son, after you come to your senses, you're horrified to discover that this attempt at a cure not only makes loneliness worse, it also makes you feel desperate and cheap. This is the false cure of our modern culture, which promotes sex as a game, as recreation. This response to loneliness always ends in feelings of alienation and regret.

The real message, the real cure.

If all of these approaches don't work, what does? Is there a cure for loneliness? Is there some secret elixir that will fix this toothache of the soul?

We need to begin with a correct interpretation of this warning signal. Loneliness is God's way of telling you that you have a relationship problem. While that may seem obvious, there's more to it than just surrounding yourself with people. Doing that is the same as busyness, but using crowds instead of activities.

God's answer to loneliness is not the quantity of your relationships, but the quality.

Going back to the Old Testament, we discover that the first four of the Ten Commandments are about our relationship with God. The last six commandments are about our relationships with other people.

How is your relationship with God? Is it close and intimate, like that of a loving, caring father and his child? Or is your relationship with God cold and distant, only superficial?

As you reconnect with God and your prayers become more conversational and less formal, you'll actually feel God's presence. His reassurance is not just your imagination. We worship a God who lives among his people through the Holy Spirit. Loneliness is God's way, first, of drawing us closer to him, then forcing us to reach out to other people.

For many of us, improving our relationships with others and letting them get close to us is a distasteful cure, as dreaded as taking your toothache to a dentist. But satisfying, meaningful relationships take time and work. We're afraid to open up. We're afraid to let another person open up to us.

Past hurts have made us distrustful.

Friendship requires giving, but it also requires taking, and many of us would rather be independent. Yet the persistence of your loneliness should tell you that your past stubbornness hasn't worked either.

If you muster the courage to restore your relationship with God, then with others, you'll find your loneliness lifting. This is not a spiritual Band-Aid, but a real cure that works.

Your risks toward others will be rewarded. You'll find someone who understands and cares, and you'll find others whom you understand and care about as well. Like a visit to the dentist, this cure turns out to be not only final, but much less painful than you feared.

I am happy!

Wake up in the morning with a smile in your heart. Thank GOD for this another beautiful day! No matter how rainy outside and stormy you feel inside, leave a room for hope in your heart. Be happy because this is a new day! New day for new things!

As you start the day just say “I want to be happy today!” Don’t worry about things, fill your heart with joy and never let anger go unto you. When things seems like getting wrong, control it! Control as you say “I am happy!” You’ll surely see the difference.

Being happy is a matter of choice. Nothing is impossible if you wanted to. It is about strength of mind and willpower to make yourself happy. Let go of the things that makes you sad, lift all your worries and concerns to GOD and you’ll certainly feel better.

“God will make a way,” is a song which I really find nice. It’s like I have to worry no more because God will always be there carrying me all throughout. I believe in HIM, and I know He’ll guide my every steps.

God will make a way
Where there seems to be no way
He works in ways we cannot see
He will make a way for me
He will be my guide
Hold me closely to His side
With love and strength for each new day
He will make a way He will make a way

By a roadway in the wilderness
He'll lead me
And rivers in the desert will I see
Heaven and earth will fade
But His word will still remain
He will do something new today.

Praise GOD! YOU’re so good!

Prayer at Work

My Heavenly Father, as I enter this workplace, I bring YOUR presence with me. I speak YOUR peace, YOUR grace, YOUR mercy and YOUR perfect order into this office. I acknowledge YOUR power over all that will be spoken, thought, decided, and done within these walls.

LORD, I t hank YOU for the gifts YOU have blessed me with. I commit to using them responsibly in YOUR honor. Give me fresh supply of strength to do my job. Anoint my projects, ideas, and energy; so that even my smallest accomplishment may bring YOU glory. LORD, when I am confused, guide me. When I am weary, energize me. When I am burned out, infuse me with the light of the Holy Spirit. May the work that I do and the way I do it bring faith, joy, and a smile to all that I come in contact with today. And oh LORD, when I leave this place, give me traveling mercy.

Bless my family and home to be in order as I left it. LORD, I thank YOU for everything YOU’ve done, everything YOU’re doing, and everything YOU’re going to do.

In the name of JESUS I pray, with much love and thanksgiving.

Amen.

Beautiful Prayer

This is a beautiful prayer.

“GOD, I don’t understand it, but I trust YOU. And I am not going to spend all my time trying to figure out why certain things have happened. I am going to trust YOU to make something good out of it. YOU are our good GOD, and I know YOU have my best interests at heart. YOU promise that all things will work together for my good and for the good of my family. Amen.”

Isn’t it relaxing? After I’ve prayed it, I felt much better. Try it, it works…

Are you tired?

We all get tired! It may be of different reasons, but we all get tired at times. We get lost! We don’t know what to do and find ourselves missing from nowhere. We feel weary and burdened by many things in life.

What could be the problem? Some get tired of their work probably because they don’t find meaning in them. They feel empty! Some feel like they are a failure. Some are burnt out. Something is missing in it, maybe a spiritual way of looking at one’s work. Some are burdened with the need to prove themselves all the time; proving they are worthy, better, and, successful in everything. Others are tired of meaningless relationships, fulfilling everyone else’s expectations or just being right and doing the right thing all the time. Some might be weary of taking care of an aging parent or a sick family member. One might be weary of an indifferent spouse, a rebellious child or abusive parents. Others might be too tired of their repeated failures in whatever attempts they do to better themselves and their relationships.

It was actually what the Holy Gospel last Sunday is all about. Matthew 11:28 says “Come unto me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest.”

As Father Ron started his homily, he requested all to look at the person beside us and ask this question, “Are you tired?” I smiled, and even say “YES!” And, although it seems like I’m joking, but it’s the truth. I’m tired!!! For many reasons, I guess… many things to think about. I worry too much; I think that’s the main problem.

But as Father Ron continues on his preach, he emphasized the advantages of being a child. A child does not worry, and has no problems at all. He depends on his family, the elders. He doesn’t keep problems, hatred, or any negative thoughts on his heart. He remains pure and innocent.

As he proceeds, he said how important it is to live like a child, to feel like a child. We should depend unto the LORD. What is missing on us is “trust!” Trust HIM, and there is nothing to worry about. Live with Jesus in your heart and everything will go on light. As you pray, always say “I entrust everything to you, LORD.. Kayo na po ang bahala.”

Whether we are only half-weary or almost wiped out or totally tired and burdened, the great invitation of Jesus continues to echo in our heart: Come to me and I will give you rest. In me you will find rest. You don’t need to prove yourselves worthy. I love you in spite of and even in your unworthiness. I have made you worthy. Stay with me even for a short while and I guarantee that you will be renewed and regain your strength.

The loving invitation of Jesus is extended to everyone. We see here the great compassion of Jesus for all those who are ready to give up. Included in this invitation are those who are lost and do not know what to do with their own life, those who want to stop by the wayside and rest from the rat race of competition and accumulation.

Come to the heart of Jesus. There you will find love like no other. There you will find rest.