Every act of kindness makes a difference

So we must not get tired of doing good, for we will reap at the proper time if we don’t give up.

Galatians 6:9

Kindness doesn’t have to wait for someone to ask. Kindness moves on its own. When you are kind your heart is aligned with your words and this leads to action. Kindness results in doing things with a cheerful heart. Every act of kindness and compassion done by any man for his fellow Christian is done by Christ working within him.

I am a CHRISTIAN

source: Catholic Apologetics Institute of North America (CAINA)

Hear the word of God and do it

Who do you love and cherish the most? God did not intend for us to be alone, but to be with others. He gives us many opportunities for developing relationships with family, friends, neighbours, and co-workers. Why does Jesus seem to ignore his own relatives when they pressed to see him? His love and respect for his mother and his relatives is unquestionable. Jesus never lost an opportunity to teach his disciples a spiritual lesson and truth about the kingdom of God. On this occasion when many gathered to hear Jesus he pointed to another higher reality of relationships, namely our relationship with God and with those who belong to God.

What is the essence of being a Christian? It is certainly more than doctrine, precepts, and commandments. It is first and foremost a relationship - a relationship of trust, affection, commitment, loyalty, faithfulness, kindness, thoughtfulness, compassion, mercy, helpfulness, encouragement, support, strength, protection, and so many other qualities that bind people together in mutual love and unity. 

God seeks a personal intimate relationship with each one of us

God offers us the greatest of relationships - union of heart, mind, and spirit with himself, the very author and source of love (1 John 4:8,16). God's love never fails, never forgets, never compromises, never lies, never lets us down nor disappoints us. His love is consistent, unwavering, unconditional, unrelenting and unstoppable. There is no end to his love. Nothing in this world can make him leave us, ignore us, or withhold from us his merciful love and care (Romans 8:31-39). He will love us no matter what. It is his nature to love. That is why he created us - to be united with him and to share in his love (1 John 3:1). 

God is a trinity of divine persons - one in being with the eternal Father, Son, and Holy Spirit - and a community of undivided love. God made us in his image and likeness (Genesis 1:26,27) to be a people who are free to choose what is good, loving, and just and to reject whatever is false and contrary to his love and righteousness (moral goodness). That is why Jesus challenged his followers, and even his own earthly relatives, to recognize that God is the true source of all relationships. God wants all of our relationships to be rooted in his love and goodness.

The heavenly Father's offer of friendship and adoption 

Jesus Christ is God's love incarnate - God's love made visible in human flesh (1 John 4:9-10). That is why Jesus describes himself as the good shepherd who lays down his life for his sheep and the shepherd who seeks out the sheep who have strayed and lost their way. God is like the father who yearns for his prodigal son to return home and then throws a great party for his son when he has a change of heart and comes back (Luke 15:11-32). 

Jesus offered up his life on the cross for our sake, so that we could be forgiven and restored to unity and friendship with God. It is through Jesus that we become the adopted children of God - his own sons and daughters. That is why Jesus told his disciples that they would have many new friends and family relationships in his kingdom. Whoever does the will of God is a friend of God and a member of his family - his sons and daughters who have been ransomed by the precious blood of Jesus Christ.

Through Jesus Christ we become brothers and sisters - members of God's family

Lucian of Antioch (240-312 AD), an early Christian martyr once said that "a Christian's only relatives are the saints"- namely those who have been redeemed by the blood of Christ and adopted as sons and daughters of God. Those who have been baptized into Jesus Christ and who live as his disciples enter into a new family, a family of "saints" here on earth and in heaven. Jesus changes the order of relationships and shows that true kinship is not just a matter of flesh and blood. 

Our adoption as sons and daughters of God transforms all of our relationships and requires a new order of loyalty to God first and to his kingdom of righteousness and peace. Do you want to grow in love and friendship? Allow the Holy Spirit to transform your heart, mind, and will to enable you to love freely and generously as God has loved you.

"Heavenly Father, you are the source of all true friendship and love. In all my relationships, may your love be my constant guide for choosing what is good and for rejecting what is contrary to your will."

source: Kairos-EME, Don's Daily Email

Christian believe in ONE

ONE Lord, 

ONE Faith, 

ONE Hope, 

ONE Baptism,

ONE Holy Spirit,

ONE God and Father of all.

Therefore, abide in God and you will discover that your effectiveness in ministering to your family, your friends, your community, and your parish will grow and bear marvellous fruit.

Heavenly Father, 

bless all those You have called. 

May they see the dignity 

they have in Your eyes. 

Open their hearts to the treasure 

You have prepared for them. 

Amen.

Being a Christian like a Pumpkin? Happy Halloween

God picks you from the patch, 

brings you in, 

and washes all the dirt off you.

Then he cuts the top off 

and scoops out all the yucky stuff. 

He removes the seeds of doubt, hate, greed, etc. 

Then He carves you a new smiling face 

and puts His light inside 

of you to shine 

for all the world to see.

Happy Halloween 

(31 October) 

Trick or Treat

Christian living is love

"The secret of Christian living is love. 

Only love fills the empty spaces caused by evil." 

~ Pope Francis ~

Start attending Masses now. Don't be a FBPO Christian

FBPO Christian - For Burial Purpose Only Christian, those who never bother or take masses seriously. They may only attend 2 or 3 masses in a liturgical year like on Good Friday, Easter, and Christmas or in some cases none at all.

"Mass is boring." 

"I don't get anything out of Mass, why should I go?" 

"Why can't I just pray alone?" 

These are common feelings, 

especially among young people 

but among many adults as well. 

What's our respond?

Jesus said, "Do this in memory of me."...

In JESUS name, we pray that our FBPO brothers and sisters will change, realise, thirst for the word  of GOD, hunger for the Eucharist and start coming for masses regularly.

CCC, 2192 states: "Sunday . . . is to be observed as the foremost holy day of obligation in the universal Church". "On Sundays and other holy days of obligation the faithful are bound to participate in the Mass"

CCC, 2168 states: The third commandment of the Decalogue recalls the holiness of the sabbath: "The seventh day is a sabbath of solemn rest, holy to the LORD.

CCC, 2177 states: The Sunday celebration of the Lord's Day and his Eucharist is at the heart of the Church's life. "Sunday is the day on which the paschal mystery is celebrated in light of the apostolic tradition and is to be observed as the foremost holy day of obligation in the universal Church."

CCC, 2181 states: The Sunday Eucharist is the foundation and confirmation of all Christian practice. For this reason the faithful are obliged to participate in the Eucharist on days of obligation, unless excused for a serious reason (for example, illness, the care of infants) or dispensed by their own pastor. Those who deliberately fail in this obligation commit a grave sin.

CCC, 2185 states: On Sundays and other holy days of obligation, the faithful are to refrain from engaging in work or activities that hinder the worship owed to God, the joy proper to the Lord's Day, the performance of the works of mercy, and the appropriate relaxation of mind and body. Family needs or important social service can legitimately excuse from the obligation of Sunday rest. The faithful should see to it that legitimate excuses do not lead to habits prejudicial to religion, family life, and health.

A Bible is must for every Christian

There is a difference between owning a bible and reading one. Every Christian family or individual should have a bible and finding time to read God's Holy Words is absolutely necessary. The Bible is necessary for us knowing "God's Words" (the gospel), in helping us maintain our spiritual life, and for knowing God’s will (message from God).

Faith only comes by hearing the word of God, go to the Scriptures, His inspired word, to learn of Him and Jesus Christ, His only begotten Son who lived and died for us. Allow the scripture generate faith in your heart and then manifest that faith by submitting in obedience to the gospel, God's power unto salvation so that we might be added to Christ's church, the body of the saved and have the hope of eternal life. Eternal salvation comes only through belief in Jesus Christ, He is the Word and He is one with God.

Deuteronomy 6:6-7

6 These commandments that I give you today are to be on your hearts. 7 Impress them on your children. Talk about them when you sit at home and when you walk along the road, when you lie down and when you get up.

Hebrews 11:6

And without faith it is impossible to please God, because anyone who comes to him must believe that he exists and that he rewards those who earnestly seek him.

Hebrews 6:18

God did this so that, by two unchangeable things in which it is impossible for God to lie, we who have fled to take hold of the hope set before us may be greatly encouraged.

Jeremiah 33:3
Call to me and I will answer you, and will tell you great and hidden things that you have not known.

Our private time spent with the Lord is NEVER a waste...

Charity as a Christian

Charity includes love of God as well as love of man. As a virtue, charity is that habit or power which disposes us to love God above all creatures for Himself, and to love ourselves and our neighbours for the sake of God. Thus, when a person with the virtue of charity in his soul assists a needy neighbour on account of the words of Christ, "as long as you did it to one of these my least brethren, you did it to me". The obligation to perform acts of charity is taught both by revelation and by reason.

Hence charity is not to be performed as under the compulsion of law, but freely and spontaneously. The gift should be from the heart, for "God loveth a cheerful giver"

Each of you should give what you have decided in your heart to give, not reluctantly or under compulsion, for God loves a cheerful giver.

2 Corinthians 9:7

For you know the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, that though he was rich, yet for your sake he became poor, so that you through his poverty might become rich.

2 Corinthians 8:9

The direct assistance of individuals by individuals makes possible that exchange and the equalization between giver and receiver spoken of by St. Paul, and promotes that mutual understanding and mutual sympathy which are especially necessary in our day. 

People are in need of help on a daily basis, and you can help by donating money to the less fortunate, helping at a soup kitchen, donating food or clothing, writing encouraging notes, volunteering at your church, and so on. Look for needs and help fill them. 

Supporting people in need, and demonstrating Christian charity does not require special knowledge or even large amounts of money. You can make a difference with just a small donation. Take this first step......