APPRECIATING THE GIFTS OF GOD IN US

Upon rising in the morning:  Thank YOU, LORD, for this new day, this new life.
Help me to do YOUR HOLY WILL today.
Thank You for the strength, I can stand and walk, take me where You want me to be..
Thank YOU for clear vision, help me to see YOU in all YOUR creation: especially in those who need
my help today.
Thank YOU for the opportunity to lessen the burden of someone who's lonely, confused,  brokenhearted, frustrated, desperate, terminally ill, anxious, hungry, hopeless,  the  widow and the poor.
By listening to their complaints and helping them to make their own decisions and plans for
positive possible actions to solve their situation, I am building in them self-confidence and giving
them hope to carry on.  

Yesterday, I met someone in the St. Peregrine Shrine, a 42 year old lady.  My primary purpose of going to the shrine was only to take pictures of the relic of St. Peregrine, Our Lady of Sorrows, and the Adoration Room.  After taking pictures I sat outside to snack on some banana.The lady approached me asking what I was selling. I told her, "None.  I thought you are the one selling something in that yellow bag."  Then she started telling me her problem with her one and only daughter who did not finish her college and got married without her permission while she was abroad as a domestic helper just to help her daughter finish college.  As a single mom, desperate of what her daughter did, herself who can't forgive was left alone., and now with the only friend of 66 year old
woman. At first she was happy to find a house to stay, the house of this old woman who invited her to stay. As days passed by she could no longer bear the careless comments of the old woman on her favorite foods:  veggies and fruits.  Their tastes differs a lot, that is, the old woman always wanted meat which she can't eat because since she was a child her food was always veggies and fruits.  Now she feels sick of eating meat.  Everytime she cooks veggies, the old woman would call her "Baka" 
(Cow, in English), because she likes to always eat grass (veggies). We chatted for so long and in the end she was very thankful to me for my guidance. I saw her good points and appreciated them all.
She went home happily ready to serve the old woman who gave her shelter.

Thank YOU, LORD, for the gift of counsel, which helped me lessen the burden of that young lady who is a single mom and indirectly, her single housemate.  May they both live happily ever after.

REFLECTION:  Appreciating our God-given talents means practicing it; by practicing it we share it to others, the more we share it the more we are enriched.  Practice well and share well and all is well.
She trusted me !  That was our first encounter. Maybe because she just need someone to talk to who could help her find a house where she could possibly stay peacefully.  Or maybe she found me sincere and friendly.  Praise the Lord for all these gifts.


Most Loving Father, thank You for the gift of Your Son , His Cross and our Lady of Sorrows whose
sufferings inspires us to bear our own crosses and sufferings and pains which we daily experience from our need to eat and drink; the need to work for a decent living.  Thank You for the Holy Spirit Who help us love others for the love of You in Jesus name.  Amen.

Horseradish (Malunggay) the leaves are very rich in calcium and iron, and a good source of
potassium and ascorbic acid.  It's good to be a vegetarian.  Be.





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GARDENING IS FUN

It's Tuesday.  I've to be in the farm early.  Taking a public ride twice.  First, take a jeep from Woodhills to the terminal.  Then, take the metro express going to Holiday Park.  Upon arrival, feed the chicken and paid the water bill.  Thanks God, it's only the minimum. 

The weather is fine.  No rain, yet the soil still wet, I can do digging without much effort.  Plant more herbs:  chili (hot pepper), tarragon tea, italian oregano, green tea.  Add compost to the fruit trees, then harvest.  It's good to have happy  leafy vegetables for dinner with lemon grass, pandan and many more.  Guavas, oranges, yam, guyabano and atis made my homebound load pretty heavy.  And for Lola Bella, an ailing aged lady, some flowers of some herb called "Balbas Pusa", and Taheebo.

 It's fun to work in the garden although it's muddy, slippery and hot under the sun.

Reflection:  Love labor and do it well.  Great rewards will come sooner or later.
Share your abundant life to all who need it, like giving some of your harvest to the ailing and the aged.

Abba Father, I thank YOU for the abundant blessings of today.  Bless us more and more so we can share to more people who need.  This I ask through our Lord.  Amen.

King Orange, Mandarin Orange, or Tangerin Orange.  (Rich in Vitamin C).

TODAY: HAVING FUN IN THE FARM

The day is fine. 
God made the sun shine. 
The smiling sun is not quite hot.
 The soil dried up a bit, yet it is soft enough to dig.
 I chanced to plant oregano around  to fill up empty spaces. 
And beautify the place.

It's fun working in the farm
And do my best to heal the land.
I love this job
Planting herbs, fruit trees and shrubs.
Produce in time the fruits and veggies we need
for rich or poor, young and aged.

Camote tops, we have so plenty,
Gotu Kola, lemon grass, and tarragon tea.
Horseradish trees, jute, cayenne,amaranth,
with camote tops comprise the the super five veggies
So happy to see them growing with different fruit trees.

Planting is enjoyable and I'm having fun in the farm.
Praise the Lord for the land to work with..

Reflection:

 Do you like to work in the farm?
Our world today is  beset by many ecological problems
we have abused our resources, flooding everywhere,
our planet so polluted, how can you help to solve this problem?

Thank YOU, LORD, for planet earth,
for people taking care of plants and help us heal our land.
Stay with us, LORD, help us restore the cleanliness, purity and beauty of our planet.
May all the people bless you more and more
with all other creatures in this world to honor and glorify YOU, our Triune God forever and ever.
In Jesus' name.  Amen. 

Soursop (Guyabano-Ilk, Ibn, Tag.) eaten raw when ripe is rich in sugar, Vitamins B and C, contains phytosterols, saponins, mineral salts, tannins.
Green fruits may be cooked like jackfruit., such as ginataan,or lumpia.
Propagation:  seed, could be marcotted and grafted

SEPTEMBER 15, 2012 FEASTDAY: OUR LADY OF SORROWS

THE WORD OF GOD

"THIS CHILD IS DISTINED TO BE THE DOWNFALL AND THE RISE OF MANY IN ISRAEL, A SIGN THAT WILL BE OPPOSED -  AND YOU YOURSELF SHALL BE PIERCED WITH A SWORD - SO THAT THE THOUGHTS OF MANY HEARTS MAY BE LAID BARE."  (Luke 2:34-35)

HIS MOTHER SAID TO (JESUS):  "SON, WHY HAVE YOU DONE THIS TO US?  YOU SEE THAT YOUR FATHER AND I HAVE BEEN SEARCHING FOR YOU IN SORROW."  (Lk.2:48)

"COME, ALL YOU WHO PASS BY THE WAY, LOOK AND SEE WHETHER THERE IS ANY SUFFERING LIKE MY SUFFERING."  (Lam. 1:12)

The Seven Sorrows of the Blessed Virgin Mary

1.  The Prophecy of Simeon
2.  The Flight into Egypt
3.  The Three Days Loss of Jesus
4.  Mary Meets Jesus on the Way to Calvary
5.  Mary at the Foot of the Cross
6.  Mary Recieves into Her Arms the Lifeless Body of Jesus
7.  Mary Beholds Her Divine Son Laid in the Tomb


REFLECTION:
Are you devoted to our Lady of Sorrows? 
Do you have recourse to Our Mother of Sorrows in times of pain, suffering, and despair?
Do you encourage others to this Devotion to the Mother of Sorrows and make Her your patroness at the hour of death?

Mary, most holy and afflicted Virgin, Mother of Sorrows and Queen of Martyrs,  pray for us now and at the hour of our death.  Amen.

EMBRACING THE CROSS

"WHOEVER WISHES TO COME AFTER ME MUST DENY HIMSELF, TAKE UP HIS CROSS, AND FOLLOW ME."  (Matthew 16:  24)

Praise the Lord, my cross is not as heavy as that of Jesus.  Insults, mistreatments, harsh persecutions, misfortunes that seem insuperable, sickness, poverty, afflictions, oppressions, inconvenience, my own weaknesses  are nothing compared to the sufferings  of Jesus Christ.  My only solution to these is to follow the example of Jesus:  to endure wrong and insult with all patience  as He endured them in the judgment -hall; to be meek and humble in all my trials as He endured them before His judges; to love my enemies even as He loved His murderers and prayed for them upon the cross; to glorify God and do good to my neighbors even as He did in every mystery of His suffering.

Our sure solution to all our sufferings:  is to practice the virtues of patience, humility, meekness, and submission to the Father's will as Jesus said in His agony in the garden:  "My Father, if it is possible, let this cup pass from Me; yet, not as I will, but as You will."  (Matthew 26:  39).  Withdrawing a second time, He prayed again,  "My Father, if it is not possible that this cup pass without My drinking
it,Your will be done!"  (Matthew26:  42).

Reflection:  When accused falsely, do you keep calm and bear it patiently?

May all sinner follow Jesus Christ as the Blessed Virgin Mary followed Him all the way of the cross,
and may our Most Sorrowful Mother obtain for us the grace to hate sin even as He hated it in the agony in the garden; and, obtain for us some portion of Her compassion that for the love of Jesus we
may obtain eternal life in Heaven blessing the Father, Son and Holy Spirit forever and ever.  Amen.



 

ALONE WITH GOD

Thank You, Lord, for today.  Jesus, come with me to the farm and tell me what to do there. 

There are so many things to do in the farm, I need  guidance from God.  As usual,  I gather some veggies to chop for chicken feed.  After feeding the chicken, I got the chance to take pictures of  my favorite plants:

 Gumamela

Oregano

Pepper

Gotu Kola

Pandan

SEEKING THE FACE OF GOD IN NATURE

"LET THE EARTH BRING FORTH VEGETATION:  EVERY KIND OF PLANT THAT BEARS SEED AND EVERY KIND OF FRUIT TREE THAT BEARS FRUIT WITH ITS SEED IN IT."
And so it happened:  the earth brought forth every kind of plant that bears seed and every kind of fruit tree the bears fruit with its seed in it.  God saw how good it was.  -Genesis 1:  11-12

"HE CAUSETH THE GRASS TO GROW FOR THE CATTLE
AND HERBS FOR THE SERVICE OF HUMANITY." -  Psalm 104:14

The Holy Face of Jesus from the Holy Shroud of Turin
Jesus to Sister Maria Pierina de Micheli
"I wish that  My Face, which reflects the deep pains of My soul, the sorrow and love of My Heart, be better honoured.  Who contemplates Me, consoles Me."
Holy Face Center and Convent
1111 R. Hidalgo, Quiapo, Manila, Philippines

Seek the face of God not only in pictures but also in all His creation:  persons, places, vegetation, and most especially in the HOLY EUCHARIST.

 God bless you.  Mama Mary loves you.

SEEKING JESUS' HOLY FACE

Way back in 1981 up to 1990, I nursed my elderly and sickly mother.  She was suffering from asthma since the age of two from a freak accident ( falling in the Abra River ) while she was carried by their domestic helper. Since then, she suffered asthma attacks all her life till her death  no matter how many doctors were consulted.  She went to Cebu with a sibling to teach at the age of eighteen.    She was a very religious woman, and so devoted to our Lady of Mount Carmel.  She a had a few little prayer booklets which she prayed daily and the Most Holy Rosary of the Blessed Virgin Mary.  She was a woman so dedicated to service that even when she was sick and aged till the age of eighty, when we were in my sister's place,  she'd do her chores daily.  Sweeping the front yard, washing her clothes, assisting at the little sari-sari store my sister owned.  Time came she could no longer do her chores.  She had to rest.  the family doctor diagnosed her terminally ill.  Due to asthma, it was always hard for her to breath.  Her coughs dry and hard made my cry to God for help.  I am helpless in this case.  She never complained of her sufferings, pains, and poverty.   She calmly longed for heaven and eternal rest.

This made me anxious to seek the ways for her to avoid purgatory.  I longed for her and me to know God more and more so we can recognize Him at the moment of death.  God is so good. I found the picture of the Holy Face of Jesus from the Holy Shroud of Turin.  Mama was very happy to see this.

In God's providence, I became a member of the Crusaders of the Holy Face of Jesus.  I am so very to have this devotion.

 Thanks God, she died a happy death on the first Tuesday of October after recieving the last sacrament and all of us, her children and grandchildren having privately ask and give her forgiveness.  We gathered around her to pray the "OUR FATHER" as the priest told us.  The Chaplet of Divine Mercy was never forgotten.

Seek the Face of God not only in holy pictures, but also in the face of the poor, the sick, the lonely, the brokenhearted, the sinner.

Most Holy Face of Jesus, stay with us and save us.  Amen.

Speaking for Jesus

"My brothers, if everyone of you has a word of exhortation for the people, please speak."  -Acts 13:15.  I'm a member of the organization called Crusaders of the Holy Face of Jesus, Sto. Rosario Parish Chapter, Cebu City.  Every Tuesday we have this Holy Hour in Honor of the Holy Face of Jesus. In it, we have a Bible Reading and someone is asked to share his/her thoughts about the reading.  Sometimes I volunteer, other times the community requests me to share. 

It's not that easy to share reflections,so deep inside me,  I' d ask Jesus to help me speak the rights words that His message be delivered properly and correctly.  Just imagine, me talking to souls who needs direction towards God.  Praise the Lord, I am able to share them my faith experiences and inspirational thoughts from my spiritual readings like "My Daily Bread,"  "The Imitation of Mary," some books written by Bro Bo Sanchez,  didache, kerygma, and many many more.  

May You find time to know Jesus more by contemplating on the Holy Face of Jesus from the Holy Shroud of Turin.  Our Lord to Mother Maria Pierina de Micheli, said:  "I wish that My Face which reflects the deep pains of My Soul, the sorrow and love of My Heart be better honored.  Whoever contemplates Me, consoles Me.  Everytime My Face is contemplated, I will pour out My love into the heart of those persons and by means of My Holy Face, the salvation of many souls will be obtained." 

Anyone who wish to know more of the Holy Face of Jesus may contact the sisters in the Holy Face Center and Convent at 1111 R. Hidalgo St. 1001 Quiapo, Manila, Philippines tel. no. 735-97-17 or  you may order a copy of the book entitled "The Treasure of the Holy Face of Jesus" from the Holy Face Association P.O. Box 1000, Station "A"  Montreal, Quebec, Canada H3C 2W9.  

 I praise the Lord, from reading these books and praying them, Jesus made me ready to speak boldly for Him the right message at the right time to the right people who need it. 

Do you wish to speak for Jesus? Or when asked to share your insights, are you willing?  Speak for Jesus and with Jesus. 

Let us pray:  Thank You Jesus, for the opportunity to speak for you.  May you help all people to speak for you so that many souls will be saved.  Remind each of us that we can do great things in Your Name.  Amen.

 St. Joseph of Cupertino, pray for us, and all who study the Holy Shroud of Turin where the Holy Face of Jesus is taken.

Thanksgiving

One day, I returned from work in the farm tired, so tired  from digging and removing hardened weeds.  I felt a toohache on my front upper jaw.  I felt sick and chilly the whole night.   The next day, I woke up to see a very funny swollen face  .I thanked the Lord for it.  I thought, at least , I'll accept it for the love of God, in reparation for sins of humanity and mine.    I offered it to Jesus in reparation for sins commited against His Holy Face.   That day, when it was time to go to the farm,  thanks God, Arlyne (Farm owner),showed compassion.  She served me food and antibiotics and took me to the dentist to get the tooth extracted until my face went back to normal again and the gums got healed.  Through the kindness of Veronica Arlyne Borromeo, God showed His goodness  to me and His Divine Providence.  I Praise the Lord for all these blessings.   Many Many Thanks to our Good God the Father, the Son and the Holy Spirit.  Lord, may I  glorify You by accomplishing the work You've given me to do.














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