Manna For Your Soul

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Gratefulness of Mind and Spirit

The day I learned about gratitude was the day I received abundance and peace in life. Gratitude used to mean merely being thankful. It seemed like such an easy word to practice, yet did I truly understand what it meant? Do you? Being grateful is not only a state of mind. It is a way of living, a way of being. One cannot live in gratitude and in negativity at the same time. Gratitude cancels out negativity and replaces it with blessings. A few years ago, my husband and I lived from paycheck to paycheck. While we always had food on our table and sent the kids to a good school, we couldn’t afford a car, we missed paying our mortgage a few times, we didn’t have enough to go out for fun and recreation, and we didn’t have savings. We depended on the HMO and life insurance provided by his company. Financial freedom was only something we dream of. It was difficult. In fact, the stress of it all almost drove my husband and I apart. Imagine the stress—we worked hard but we didn’t have enough to cover everything. We were thankful for what we had, yes, but we didn’t fully allow this thankfulness to rule our lives. We were grateful for our blessings, but we kept asking for more. The glass was always half-empty. Finally, by the grace of our Lord, something clicked into place and things took a 360-degree turn. Our thank-you’s became a way of living and of relating to others. We became more sensitive to what others might be going through in the privacy of their homes, and we become more compassionate. We became less judgmental too. Mind you, we did not get rich, but we felt the abundance in our lives. Today, there are still many things we save up for and we have many big dreams we want to achieve. These things, however, do not overshadow our appreciation for what we have in the present. Foremost in our list are the gift of family and the gift of good health. We thank the Lord for our material blessings, but more than anything else, we are thankful for the good Lord’s faithfulness. He didn’t only see us through what we thought was a dark and difficult time, but he carried us through victoriously. My husband and I always acknowledge the importance of the dry season we went through. We understand now that everything was to teach us a lesson, and that lesson is the power of gratitude. We went through those difficult times so we could appreciate where we are now—but, really, it wasn’t so difficult. The mind did its tricks on us—leading us to believe we were lacking, making us crave for more, and transforming us into insatiable people. The power of gratitude has made us better people, and our relationships inside and outside the family became stronger and more meaningful. More importantly, we live in the present and celebrate the steadfast love and faithfulness of the one true provider of all. We found the best source of contentment and peace—no material possession can replace the Lord in our lives. Such is the power of a grateful mind and spirit. It changes lives. Read the full article

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Money and How to Be a Blessing to Others

When parts of the cathedral of Notre Dame in Paris was ravaged by fire in April 2019, the whole world was left in shock and grief. Many feared the loss of important cultural, religious, and historical artifacts forever. Many couldn’t believe that the magnificent 850-year-old symbol of Catholicism in Europe was not invincible enough. Good news poured in, however, once the devastating fire had died down. The walls of the cathedral were preserved, and some 30 percent of all artifacts have survived the fire. What caused the biggest stir right after the tragedy was the amount of donations Notre-Dame received for rebuilding. A staggering $1 billion was pledged within twenty-four to forty-eight hours of the fire, mostly by France’s most elite and wealthiest men and women. Then the backlash started. An article from usatoday.com states: “A common position among critics: The mega-donations prove social problems could be quickly addressed if the wealthy were motivated to do so.” According to studies, almost half of the world’s population live on less than $2.5 a day. That means over three billion people worldwide live in poverty. Hence, the Notre Dame donation backlash. How could a cathedral inspire more philanthropy than those hungry and sick children in poverty-stricken countries? How could the wealthiest choose which cause is worthier to pledge to? How can such a wide margin of unequal wealth distribution exist in our society? These are but few of the questions raised by different organizations after the Notre Dame tragedy, questions that tainted the blessings Notre Dame received. While we cannot blame the protesters in France who took to the streets after the donations were made known, those of us who do not know the entire scenario would be wise to keep our opinions to ourselves. After all, sharing blesses both the receiver and the giver; however, when sharing is met with criticism, what becomes of the blessing? Most of us do not fully understand the extent of philanthropic works done by certain sectors of our society. Hence, resorting to criticism is an irresponsible and uncalled for response. Also, unless we are fully aware of how these sectors amassed their wealth, it is healthier to be grateful and focus instead on what we can do on our own. Some people were born with silver spoons in their mouths; others had to toil long days and nights to get to where they are now. Hence, what do you know about them that makes it easy to rebuke and criticize their actions? When you do such things, it reflects on the person you are, not on them. Therefore, money is a blessing. Sharing it blesses both the receiver and the giver. You do not need millions to help hungry and sick and poor people. As long as you are willing to share what you have—may it be money, time, love, or attention—you will be blessed for sharing. Read the full article

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Reinforcing Faith in Marriage

In the United States alone, 40–50 percent of marriages end in divorce. What seems to be at the core of this social issue? Surely, not all marriages are worth saving. There are scenarios that necessitate divorce. For instance, when either the husband or the wife is abusive and puts the other in imminent danger, one should walk away without a guilty conscience. Indeed, marriage requires hard work from both husband and wife—and another key ingredient in any relationship: God. All marriages should be God-centered. What most of us forget after making our vows is that marriage is a sacred covenant between man, woman, and God. It is important then to make room for God in the relationship. When husband and wife go through the motions of life without acknowledging God, they are surely doomed, because the devil is tricky and knows exactly how to pull things apart no matter how beautiful they are in the beginning. Satan knows how to take advantage of even the smallest cracks in a marriage and magnify them out of proportion until, finally, both husband and wife couldn’t find their way back to the sacred vows they made. The devil may lurk behind a promising career and drain out the energy of either husband or wife so they would, at the end of a busy day, offer no interest, comfort, or pleasure to each other. Money too may be the devil in disguise when too much or too little of it becomes the center of the marriage, removing gratitude in the equation. Even kids and house chores do not escape the devil. He uses them to push husband and wife to their limit. Therefore, the person who does not anchor himself in God will struggle with the rigors of life. More so when two people of different backgrounds, opinions, and preferences are involved. The only way then for a marriage to flourish in grace and peace and prevent it from getting anywhere close to a divorce is to have a God-centered relationship. When both husband and wife find favor in the Lord, “Two are better than one, because they have a good return for their labor: If either of them falls down, one can help the other up. But pity anyone who falls and has no one to help them up. Also, if two lie down together, they will keep warm. But how can one keep warm alone?" (Ecclesiastes 4:9). When two people have a God-centered marriage, the world and all that is evil may try to take them apart, but they will find solace in the Lord and in his faithfulness. “And God is able to bless you abundantly, so that in all things in all times, having all that you need, you will abound in every good work” (2 Corinthians 9:8). Do not wait then for the marriage to turn sour before seeking out God and his graces. He should be present at all times in your married life—in fact, the very center of it. He should be the driving force that takes you through the day and the inspiration between all your interactions with your spouse.  “May the God of endurance and encouragement grant you to live in such harmony with one another, in accord with Christ Jesus, that together you may with one voice glorify the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ” (Romans 15:5–6). Read the full article

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The Willingness to Serve God

To serve God is what one wishes to do in his life. Yet as we age, we become acquainted with the struggles in doing so. Our willingness dwindles down until we no longer think that serving Him is significant to the grand scheme of life. Why is this so? There is evil in this world that makes us question honorable decisions. The more we question our decisions, the more we become hesitant to serve God. Hence, our faith shakes. We must, at all times, resist the forces of evil. But, how do we do that when it has its cunning ways to plant hatred and indifference in our hearts. For us to successfully repel evil, we have to focus on our faith. When a thought that questions our faith passes, we have to abandon the thought immediately. Such thoughts play tricks in your mind and may awaken more perilous thoughts. By focusing our energy in servicing the Divine, no ill thoughts will ever penetrate our mind. Moreover, no evil shall relinquish our loyalty and faith. However, it is not that easy. The journey to absolute redemption is fraught with struggles that make us question our purpose. We often reach the point where we don’t know how our purpose in life is in line with God’s plan. But, by accepting our fate, little by little the meaning of our purpose in life will unfold itself. Thereafter, the thoughts of facing yet future difficulties will fade away. All the worries and all the fear will become insignificant; there will be no evil to fear nor a future to worry about for the heart recognizes its divine purpose. So, when your willingness to serve God starts to diminish, don’t give up on hope. As the famous quote goes, “Pray hardest when it is hardest to pray.”   Have you read my article about A Heart Close to God? Read the full article

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A Heart Close to God

A heart that is close to God is one that resists the ceaseless deeds of evil. No matter the temptations that aim to destroy the relationship with God, a good heart knows God’s ways and does not waver. In this age, however, people act on personal desires more than on God’s will. And the consequence? Entropy. Decadence brings great pleasure to humans that it becomes difficult to compromise our growing desires with the path of the righteous. Well, it only becomes difficult if you lack time for faith training. Fortunately, it is never too late to go back on the path God has designed for you. Yet, the challenges that lie ahead may require you to surrender your greatest desire that does not parallel with God’s. For a heart to become close to God, you have to submit to His ways. This means untethering yourself to the desires that have restricted your spiritual growth. You may not realize it, but earthly desires narrow your perspective and therefore impede growth. The shallow, selfish wants corrupt the soul and if tolerated, you obliviously cultivate evil in you. But what good is pleasure if it destroys you in the end? The pleasure in following the direction of God is much greater than any earthly pleasures. The pleasures of the divine are eternally gratifying. Unlike earthly pleasures, they echo throughout your whole existence and throughout the life after this. Our wants here on earth are merely fleeting and so is the satisfaction they bring. A heart close to God recognizes these human thirsts and yet resists without falter. We have to train our hearts to do just the same. Let us rejoice in the walk toward divinity and practice restraint from indulgence in the plans of evil until it becomes a hobby.   Have you read my article about Delighting in God's Ways? Read the full article

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Delighting in God's Ways

Growing old paves ways to dreams and opportunities that we never thought we could achieve. As the list of possibilities goes on, we often find ourselves in sheer confusion about what our heart truly desires. As a result, we get lost along the way and remain unsure of which the right path is. The more lost we are, the more we realize how we just want to live a fulfilling life. To do so, there is one certain way: delighting in God’s ways. It’s normal for us to set goals and dreams for our own benefit. However, we also have to understand the depths of these goals. Anyone can just dream about becoming a doctor because it pays great, or a flight stewardess because all you have to do is look pretty. As we dream of such professions, we often fail to see the underlying significance of these jobs. More often than not, a dream dreamt with a blind and shallow desire pushes us to the point of profound realization: Is there anything more to this profession than money? By taking some time to pray and ask for God’s guidance, we will eventually know which the right path is for us. Plus, He will reveal to us the depths of our goals. Having stated that, the feeling of emptiness from the profession of our choice will eventually fade. He is the bringer of enlightenment. He shows us the way to a fulfilling life and, sometimes, it may take quitting the job we currently have. Although we cannot conceive God’s ways, our guts would tell us to follow them. A heart filled with faith would recognize in an instant the manifestation of His mysterious ways. God builds the right path for us and it is in His ways where we get to experience a life of fulfillment. When you feel lost and unhappy with your decision, ask the Lord’s guidance—it’s just a heartfelt prayer away.   Have you read my article about The Culture of Malice and Deceit? Read the full article

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The Culture of Malice and Deceit

Malice and deceit are two things that a man learns as he ages. The two have existed for so long and have been passed down from generation to generation as if a culture. No matter how aware a man is of the ill things they bring, he still weaves his actions with malice and deceit. What is in these two that we are unable to stop them? The culture of malice and deceit offer us shortcuts to things we desire that we have troubles in possessing. For example, you paint others black so you can appear brighter to the crowd. When people buy your opinion, you tend to get aroused, leading you to make up stories about other competitors. You have deceived the crowd through your convincing speeches at the same time bring down others. Thereafter, the chances of winning the competition favor you. Our impatience to the things we desire in life breeds to ill thoughts. The only thing we can think about are the quickest methods of satisfying our desires. Hence, we abandon our morals and disregard the certain consequences of our actions. If there’s a shortcut, why bother to take the long way? We may not feel the gravity of the consequences yet, but they will inevitably come. Malicious and deceitful acts are doors to man’s greatest mishaps. Moreover, our tolerance for these actions is detrimental to our spiritual health. They set the conscience on fire and would forever disturb us. Little by little, we become consumed of our own doing and then karma strikes fatally. Surely, that is not the life we want. When we desire something, we have to keep our patience and acknowledge the ways of God. We should keep our eyes fixed on our goals with a virtue-filled heart. Also, our desires may not be what we truly need in life. If you fail to achieve it, find your inner peace (rather than nurse a grudge) for God always has a better plan for you. Delight in the ways of God and achieve your heart’s desires with the absence of malice and deceit.   Have you read my article about A Godless Life – How Could Life Then Have Meaning? Read the full article

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A Godless Life – How Could Life Then Have Meaning?

Have you ever wondered how life would turn out if we forget about God? Can a person with a godless life even endure the trials of time? If so, how? “Because thou hast forgotten the God of thy salvation, and hast not been mindful of the Rock of thy strength, therefore shalt thou plant pleasant plants, and shalt set it with strange slips: In the day shalt thou make thy plant to grow, and in the morning shalt thou make thy seed to flourish: but the harvest shall be a heap in the day of grief and of desperate sorrow” (Isaiah 17:10-11). To live a life without God’s guidance is a life fraught with distress. A godless life simply is a life devoid of all meaning. No matter what nonbelievers do to give meaning to their life, they just can’t seem to find it. Life can never have any meaning if we take out the most significant part of it, God. Moreover, God’s absence in their lives makes it ten times harder for them during tough times. They don’t know who to seek, especially when other people have turned their backs on the nonbelievers. In their isolation, they don’t acknowledge God’s guidance. As a result, the intensity of their suffering increases as time passes. Sometimes, their problems lead to other problems and therefore become unresolvable. As troubles close in on us, we need only patience and trust God’s way. Our faith in him grants us clarity that helps us see through our problems. This clarity also refers to our perspective in life and thus see the true meaning of life, realizing the very purpose of our existence. There is no better way to live life to the fullest than to live it in the name of God. This is why we have to have faith in His ways even if we do not see Him. He may not have presented himself to humanity, but He is very much alive.   Have you read my article about Self-love and Faith Always Come Together? Read the full article

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A Godless Life – How Could Life Then Have Meaning?

Have you ever wondered how life would turn out if we forget about God? Can a person with a godless life even endure the trials of time? If so, how? “Because thou hast forgotten the God of thy salvation, and hast not been mindful of the Rock of thy strength, therefore shalt thou plant pleasant plants, and shalt set it with strange slips: In the day shalt thou make thy plant to grow, and in the morning shalt thou make thy seed to flourish: but the harvest shall be a heap in the day of grief and of desperate sorrow” (Isaiah 17:10-11). To live a life without God’s guidance is a life fraught with distress. A godless life simply is a life devoid of all meaning. No matter what nonbelievers do to give meaning to their life, they just can’t seem to find it. Life can never have any meaning if we take out the most significant part of it, God. Moreover, God’s absence in their lives makes it ten times harder for them during tough times. They don’t know who to seek, especially when other people have turned their backs on the nonbelievers. In their isolation, they don’t acknowledge God’s guidance. As a result, the intensity of their suffering increases as time passes. Sometimes, their problems lead to other problems and therefore become unresolvable. As troubles close in on us, we need only patience and trust God’s way. Our faith in him grants us clarity that helps us see through our problems. This clarity also refers to our perspective in life and thus see the true meaning of life, realizing the very purpose of our existence. There is no better way to live life to the fullest than to live it in the name of God. This is why we have to have faith in His ways even if we do not see Him. He may not have presented himself to humanity, but He is very much alive.   Have you read my article about Self-love and Faith Always Come Together? Read the full article

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Self-love and Faith Always Come Together

Everyone acknowledges the thought of self-love. However, the definition of self-love comes in a variety that its original meaning eventually pales into insignificance. Self-love means to look after oneself. Others’ definition of it has become rather an excuse for indulging in hedonistic pleasure. In so doing, they spoil themselves by satisfying their earthly desires. They feed the hunger within them only to discover it’s a hunger they can never fill. There is evil in this world that tricks us into believing that self-love is an indulgence to earthly and sinful desires. It creates confusion to bait faithful people away from the path that God has set for us. As a result, the definition of self-love then becomes an attachment to the vanities of the earth. To care for oneself requires faith in God. We have to trust His words and prevent ourselves from growing obsessed with all things vain. His plans and ways for us are far greater than any man could ever desire. The amount of material things we possess in this world is by no means a way of measuring how much self-love we have. A heart who surrenders fully to God will never waver in abandoning the earthly things he possesses. His love for himself paired with his faith allows him to clearly see the infinite vastness of God’s love. No earthly desires could ever measure up to it. Loving ourselves means believing and trusting in God with all our heart. His ways encourage us to live a healthy life — mentally, physically, and spiritually. Faith is the foundation of self-love. In order for our love for oneself not to be deceived by evil, we need to fortify our faith. How do we do it? By putting faith into action, we recognize the deceitful intentions of evil. An unwavering faith keeps its focus on God’s glory.   Have you read my article about Defining Self-concept with Faith? Read the full article

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Defining Self-concept with Faith

As we age, our concept of oneself develops — the way we perceive ourselves. There are factors that influence the development of self-concept. According to studies, these are the things that affect or define self-concept: appearance, media, education, gender, culture, peers, parents, religion and faith, and environment. One may argue that self-concept does not concern faith; on the contrary, it is a major factor. How so? There comes a point in our lives where we suffer from an existential crisis. Some cases result in abandonment of faith; hence, there is a sharp decline in how they see themselves. To them, life is meaningless and that it is only futile to make an effort to give meaning to it. We exist to suffer and die. That is all there is in their thinking. Faith, on the other hand, enlightens individuals the purpose of their existence. The more they practice their faith, the more they bring their true self into the clear. When faith suffers from the magnitudes of evil, the perception in oneself suffers as well. Our worth diminishes over time until we think of our lives as unworthy of being lived. We no longer acknowledge our greatness and our role in the world. A surge of ill thoughts hit our self-image and self-esteem, resulting in a severe decline in the definition of oneself. A steady and fortified faith not only allows us to acknowledge our worth, but it also encourages us to make an impact on the greater welfare. A self who lives by the principles of the divine reaches greater heights. God brings clarity amid all the confusion in this world. Our faith in Him and loyalty in His principles protects us from negative factors that poison our self-concept. Hence, in defining ourselves, we must never take our faith in God lightly for it is faith that sculpts a man his true self and thus have a better concept of himself.     Have you read my article about Deviating from the Right Path Has a Grave Effect? Read the full article

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Deviating from the Right Path Has a Grave Effect

We often wonder how life will unfold as we start deviating from the right path. The path that God has declared to us to walk. Even when we were young, we already knew about the grave circumstances ahead once we wander off the right path. More often than not, curiosity gets the best of us and explore what lies ahead in the infamous path of earthly sins. After all, “it is natural for humans to falter since no one really lives a perfect life.” It is indeed natural for us to fall short; however, people often use the phrase as an excuse before they do something sinful. Constantly excusing ourselves for committing mistakes will eventually destroy our conscience. Thereafter, we rationalize our sinful actions while claiming that the right path is just a hindrance to living fully. Ladies and gentleman, this is the beginning of our faith’s collapse. How Deviating from the Right Path Affect People There are a lot of factors that shake a person’s faith. All of these factors are rooted in an obsession over earthly vanities. For example, gambling. We know that gambling is prohibited in the bible. A person’s first victory in it pulls him to gamble more. Thereafter, he comes at a losing streak and grows frustrated each time he loses. Yet he continues to play and finds it hard to stop the deed. From this, he’s too frustrated and distracted to put God and his family first. All he cares about is winning. This obsession is consuming, leading him to a series of mishaps. Despite being aware of the certainty of consequences, we, at times, persist in folly. Out of frustration, logic becomes a blur and we blame God for the consequences of our free will. At this point, we are unable to see the significant things in life and we meet Hell’s parts even before the afterlife. However, we can always rise from the pit of distress from our doings. Through sheer determination and stubborn resilience and with God, redemption awaits us. But before you do that, you have to contemplate on your fault and learn from it. Of course, the first step is always the hardest but it is nevertheless attainable. So, urge yourself to come back to the right path and rejoice in the promised bliss of The Divine. Read the full article

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Facing Life’s Difficulties with God

There comes a time in our lives when life’s difficulties become too great that we get a taste of utter defeat. All calls for help becomes a shout at the void, and we think everyone has abandoned us. During such times, our train of thoughts become negative that we can no longer seem to appreciate life. Ironically, it takes a deep hurt to appreciate life in all its grandness. The impediments in our lives are necessary for our growth and for the fortification of our faith. There is no perfect life, and we are all doomed to suffer, although not forever. We only suffer forever if we choose to abandon our faith in God. Faith is something we have to guard during the reign of the dark. Darkness would forcibly and violently shake it. We have to endure these passing troubles and believe that we’ll get through all of them. If we think we are close to defeat, we should realize that defeat only happens when we allow the idea of defeat to affect our faith. For example, you failed in your class and went home to your parents fighting. To make things worse, you find out that your closest friend died. The weight of these trials could shatter a heart into smithereens, especially when you refuse to talk about them. Some people even question their faith. In such a situation, they assume all hopes have abandoned them. Little do they realize that they have given up on themselves and have turned their back on God. In this instance, they have allowed defeat to poison their minds even if it has not happened. Hence, everything falls apart. With God, no evil will ever conquer us. All we have to do is be patient and have faith in Him and in ourselves. He has designed humanity with the capability to endure every trial and to conquer every feeling of defeat. So believe in yourself and keep your faith in God for these are the things that bring you comfort from grief and redemption from evil. Read the full article

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Breaking the Cycle of Despair

The indifferent cruelty of life often drives us to the point of sadness where it’s hard to break through. A great volume of grief can overwhelm us that it creates an endless cycle of despair. However, this cycle can be broken if our devotion and faith endure all the pain that comes at us. As we know it, enduring something that potentially breaks us is a challenge with little chances of winning. For example, the loss of a close family member or a best friend surely leaves a deep wound. We say time heals, but, to some, all it does is the dull the pain away. Some of us think we’ll never fully recover from our despair and that we’ll never be happy again. This way of thinking will eventually leave us questioning our faith in God. How then will we break the cycle of despair with a faith in question? Hold on to Faith to Break the Cycle of Despair It’s understandable for us to question the world when the suffering overwhelms us. However, questioning our faith means not allowing ourselves to recover. Without faith, our griefs or sorrows will become an endless cycle of despair. Surely, we want to break the cycle of despair for us not to be blue again. To do so, we have to hold on to faith. It is what charges us with endurance to get through another day. Also, faith makes us understand our own despair so that we can slowly accept it. This marks the first step to our wounds’ healing. Sufferings and pains are natural events that are never worthy of abandoning faith. We have to remind ourselves that the deepest hurt makes the most significant lesson in life. Faith is what gives us clarity when everything becomes a blur. So, cling to it to learn the ways of living a fulfilling life and therefore create an endless cycle of happiness. Read the full article

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Humanity’s Redemption: Commitment to God's Will

There is one thing that we ultimately crave for: humanity’s redemption from sins. However, there are times when we feel so lost that we don’t know what we do. Plus, being unable to resist temptations sometimes augments the struggle to humanity’s redemption. After all, we are just humans and have a great tendency to falter. Yet, redemption is still within our grasps despite the faults we commit and the sin that poisons our souls. We have always been told since were young to commit our lives to the will of God. We are aware that this is humanity’s redemption. But, as time goes by, this task slowly becomes a blur until we completely forget about it. Our focus turns to earthly desires that we think matters so much in our lives. Oftentimes, an obsession to earthly desires eventuates to reckless selfishness. Do Earthly Desires Matter More than Humanity’s Redemption? Let’s face it, once a fancy thought comes into our mind, we sometimes lose sight of our purpose in life. Thereafter, our desires grow exponentially until they become our obsession. When we obsess over things, we grow selfish and inconsiderate. All we care about is ourselves and our desires. Do selfish desires outweigh our redemption? Desire, as we know it, can deceive us about the pleasures it grants us. We even aggrandize our desires by regarding them as our redemption in life. And, when we do satisfy our desires, we begin to realize our vanity. What has now become of commitment to God’s will is but a task we barely recognize. There is a feeling of a growing emptiness we don’t understand. However, it is never too late to go back to the path of the just. Before we do that, we have to reflect deeply on our mistakes. In so doing, we begin to realize what truly matters. Our selflessness inspires others to act on love and kindness. Let go of the earthly desires and abandon all sinful obsessions. We have to focus on the greatest redemption of all—our redemption from the grasp of evil. No earthly riches will ever outweigh our redemption. Read the full article

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Rising Again after Grave Faults with God

Life offers us extreme pleasures that either keep us contented or lead us to destruction. Oftentimes, the hedonistic and sinful pleasures draw out the evil in us. Thereafter, we spiral downward but barely notice our fall as we still are too high from our sinful addictions. As we near to the rock-bottom of our despair, we feel our periphery closing in on us until everything becomes black and distorted. Rising again may seem impossible. The sinful earthly pleasures come at a fortune of a price. The short-lived happiness that these pleasures grant us will never atone to the price we pay. After all, what are empty joys to an impenetrable bleak life? A life deprived of faith, love, and purity. Rising Again with God As we hit rock-bottom, we become ashamed of ourselves that we refuse the help of others. We want to find the way out all by ourselves and prove the path out of the hell-hole is bearable. Yet, the longer we refuse the help of others, the more dreadful the situation becomes. However, the journey to rising again is very much possible with God’s help. Yet, as we resort to calling God, our evil-infested minds would think if God would forgive us after all we’ve done. This cynicism weakens the heart and thus discourage ourselves to call upon the Mighty. God’s absence in our being would mean total helplessness from the malevolence of supreme evil. Without Him, no amount of hope will ever find its way into us. Call upon the name of God and feel the rotten guilt in your heart washed away. His mercy and unconditional love will put an end to all your sorrows. It is through this instance when you will realize the absolute pleasure in life—the sense of belonging in God’s love. Through God, rising again from human damnation is rendered gracefully possible. Fear not the shame and doubts that evil forces upon you. He will never abandon you and will always listen to your call for help. Read the full article

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God's Might against Ill Temptations

Evil accurses the goodness of man by tempting him to do deeds weaved with ill intents. We are aware of these temptations. However, there comes a time when our resistance grows weary. As a result, we give in to these temptations. To combat these, we have to remind ourselves of God’s might. Evil draws back in fear from God’s might. We must, at all times, recognize God’s might that resides in each of us. And, this is the reason why we should never give in to these ill temptations. Acknowledge God’s Might inside Us While there are others who have fallen as victims to the temptations of evil, there are those whose resistances are too great that they don’t give in. These are the people who are aware of God’s might. They know that within us resides the holiness of God. That stated, they acknowledge this part in us with a seeing faith. Temptations draw out our desires and use them against us, especially if we can’t contain these earthly desires. An addiction to and an obsession with something are detrimental to faith and thus to life. Moreover, splurging on these earthly desires draw you out from the path of the just. Thereafter, you wander far away and end up losing yourself and even the people you love. Ill temptations give you a taste of an ephemeral high that feeds your desires—just enough to intensify hunger. It really is hard not to succumb to these temptations, especially if we get a taste of them. Yet, if we are reminded of God’s presence inside us, not only can we resist these temptations—we’ll find our way back to the path of the just. No odds of malevolence are too overwhelming vis-a-vis God’s greatness. You are greater than these temptations because God is within you. Let that divinity shine through the darkness of malice. Read the full article