The Promise of Reaping with Songs of Joy

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Well, I believe this is really ringing out loud and clear as the direction and disposition I need to take during this particular life episode in response to this question "When you meet disappointment and failure, do you press upon the Lord, like Simon, to hear his word and to receive his command?".

It's such a blessing to be reminded about being built for more and, in response, to give more. 
:-D

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Sowing In Tears
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"Those who sow in tears will reap with songs of joy." - Psalm 126:5

Psalm 126 describes an interesting process that goes against our natural tendencies when we are taken into a difficult period in our lives. Whenever we are hurled into a crisis that brings tears, our tendency is to retreat or recoil in fear and hurt. However, there is a better way that God tells us to handle such times of travail.

Those who sow in tears will reap with songs of joy. "He who goes out weeping, carrying seed to sow, will return with songs of joy, carrying sheaves with him" (Ps. 126:5-6). God is telling us that if we will do what is unnatural for us in these circumstances, He will make sure that what we sow in tears will return in joy. This is one of the most important lessons I have learned when faced with difficult circumstances. Rather than sit back and allow self-pity and discouragement to consume us, we should plant seed during this time. Reach out to a person who needs a friend. Invest in the life of another. See where you can be a blessing to someone. Give of yourself.

The psalmist acknowledges that we are doing this while we are in our pain. However, during this time we are to sow seed. That seed will return to us in another form. Here is what will happen when we do this. "He who goes out weeping, carrying seed to sow, will return with songs of joy, carrying sheaves with him." We will receive joy and fruit from the seed that we plant during this time. Sheaves represent the fruit of a harvest. We will actually get a harvest from this seed.

"You must not let the circumstances destroy you! Too many in the Kingdom are counting on you to come through this because of the calling on your life!" Those were the words spoken to me by a friend one time when I was in the midst of a very difficult business and personal circumstance that was threatening to destroy me emotionally. This person saw what God was doing and the fruit that God wanted to bring from these circumstances. Sometimes we need others around us to push us through the difficult times. If you find yourself in a difficult place today, see where you can sow some seed. Soon you will be reaping songs of joy.

Praying for the Grace to be Faithful

“We are called upon not to be successful but to be faithful.” - Blessed Mother Teresa

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"Do not think that love in order to be genuine has to be extraordinary. What we need is to love without getting tired. Be faithful in small things because it is in them that your strength lies." - Blessed Mother Teresa

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Lord, grant us the grace to be faithful in whatever You have called us to do as we pursue Your will for us each day. May our hearts be filled with the desire to please You and to love and serve You and Your people through the talents and abilities You have blessed us with, no matter how small they may be. We lift unto You our offering of our  five loaves and two fish, asking that, in Your great love, You may multiply these and allow them to be used for Your greater glory. Amen.

Prayers and Aspirations for the Year Ahead

As another year unfolds, I pray that the Lord will allow us to experience opportunities to love and serve Him and His people more!

I pray that this year may be a year filled with abundant blessings, joy and hope as we continue our journey with Him!

Looking forward to a great year ahead! God bless! :-D

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 As the year begins, I am encouraged to aspire for great things this year, praying boldly for bold things to unfold in my life!

I am confident that the Lord will allow me opportunities to do great things this year all for His greater glory just like He did great things for me last year and even more.

My heart proclaims "The Lord has done great things for me and I am filled with joy." (personalized from Psalm 126:3)

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Christmas Greetings 2012

It is my fervent prayer that this Christmas may be filled with gratitude to the Lord for loving us so much that He allowed His only Son to be born into this world so we could open our hearts, mind and soul to His loving Presence!

May the good Lord encourage all of us to celebrate His gift of love and may this inspire us to proactively find opportunities to share the joy of knowing Him and experiencing His guiding and loving Presence to others around us!

Have a blessing and joy - filled Christmas! :-D

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Simbang Gabi 2012 - Major Takeaways (Days 7 - 9)

On this last day of Simbang Gabi 2012, I'd like to bring the curtains down on my Christmas novena journey as I share my last three major takeaways. It has really been a reflective and spiritually uplifting experience for me as the Lord has personally dealt with me through each mass.  

7th day of Simbang Gabi at EDSA Shrine - Major Takeaway - The Lord encourages to seek two things as evidenced in the Magnificat of Mama Mary:

1) To seek to have depth in our lives - to be able to know our purpose and meaning of our lives, to know what direction our lives are headed and to have the foundation of our lives solidly built on the Lord. It is not about the height (or the desire for people to hold us in high esteem according to the world's standards) nor width (or the desire to accumulate wealth and have an abundance of material resources so that people will be envious of your situation) but a desire to put depth into our lives and, therefore, come to understand the Lord's will for our lives even more.

2) To seek to have overflowing goodness and possess an overflowing spirit - to be able to well up with joy like Mama Mary in her Magnificat and to share this joy with others around us. When Mama Mary expressed her Yes to the Lord and the Lord blessed her, she was overflowing with joy and gratitude that she could not contain with in herself so she had to share it with someone like her cousin Elizabeth. In every circumstance in our lives, regardless whether it is a blessing or a difficulty, we want to be able to express gratitude to the Lord for giving us to the opportunity to experience His generosity, His mercy, His love and His faithfulness.

And so just like Mama Mary, I sing with joy:

My soul proclaims the greatness of the Lord;
My spirit rejoices in God my Savior!

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‎8th Day of Simbang Gabi (4th Sunday of Advent) at Ortigas Park - Major Takeaway - We hear the story of the Visitation again today. This story allows us to reflect and ask ourselves the following:

1) Do we still have room in our lives for the Lord or are we too preoccupied by the cares and the busyness that characterized this world? Can we still take time to come before the Lord in communion with Him and allow Him to fill our hearts and minds or is the hustle and bustle around us getting most, if not all, of our attention? The example of Mama Mary and Elizabeth allow us to see that the Lord was able to fill their emptiness (referring to their wombs) with fullness of life in the persons of their soon to be born sons Jesus and John the Baptist. Can we also empty ourselves so that we can be filled by the encompassing and loving Presence of the Lord?

2) When we experience blessings in our lives, are we excited to share these with others around us or do we just keep them (especially material blessings) to ourselves, for our own satisfaction? A proverb highlights that a joy shared is a joy doubled or multiplied. It seems that, with tragedies recently happening like Typhoon Pablo and the Sandy Hook Elementary School killings, a lot of people aren't experiencing a lot of joy but the Lord is challenging all those who have experienced blessings or have the opportunity to reach out and share, to go beyond themselves and experience their joy and their blessings being doubled or multiplied as they allow others in need to partake of the goodness they have received.

As we eagerly await the birth of our Lord Jesus Christ, the greatest gift, blessing and source of joy we could ever experience, let us allow the Lord to fill us with His loving Presence and allow the blessings that come from Him to overflow and be shared to others around us. As He gave of Himself to others, let us also give of ourselves.

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9th Day of Simbang Gabi at St. Therese, UPLB - Major Takeaway - Zechariah's Benedictus is a testament of faith in the Lord and communicates a desire to bless the Lord who has bestowed bountiful blessings on His people. This includes the blessing of the birth of Zechariah's son, John, who is concrete proof that the nothing is impossible with the Lord.

In response to the exceeding goodness of the Lord, Zechariah also blesses his son and conveys his understanding of how the Lord will use John to be "the voice in the wilderness" that will prepare the way of the Lord, the Messiah. We also want to be used by the Lord in the same way as John - to lead others to the Lord as we share our faith experiences and encourage and inspire others to share their own faith experiences with others.

This video challenges us to be more sensitive to others in need around us and realize that even just one small gesture of sharing, one simple act of kindness can make such a great impact on the lives of others. :-D

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nwAYpLVyeFU

May you experience the joy and hope of the Lord in this blessed Christmas season!