Hard Pressed

"Give thanks to the Lord, who is good, whose love endures forever….In danger I called on the Lord; the Lord answered me and set me free. The Lord is with me; I am not afraid; what can mortals do against me? ……I was hard pressed and falling, but the Lord came to my help." (Psalm 118: 1, 5-6, 13)

About ten years ago, when I was hard pressed and was in dire need of a job, money and accommodation, I confided the following to my journal:

"The Lord is good. I give Him thanks in all things and at all times. Yesterday, about 12.30 pm, Rod told me, "Obi, I have bad news. Alex and her mother are moving in. You have to move out by June 1^st. They are going to pay me $400.00 a month.' I went to my room and prayed: I am hard pressed but surely the Lord will help me. He is my strength and my courage. He has been my Savior in the past. In this transition, I will trust him."

I am glad to testify that things worked out marvelously.

 

 

Devotion

"They devoted themselves to the teaching of the apostles and to the communal life, to the breaking of bread and to prayers." (Acts 2: 42)

The companions of Jesus devoted themselves to:

• Teaching
  
• Communal life
  
• Eucharist
  
• Prayers
  

What do I devote myself to?

Awareness of God’s Blessings

"God of mercy, you wash away our sins in water, you give us new birth in the spirit, and redeem us in the blood of Christ. As we celebrate Christ's resurrection increase our awareness of these blessings, and renew your gift of life within us…." (Mass Prayer – 2^nd Sunday in Easter)

Our Father is God of mercy.

"Increase our awareness of your blessings." The Holy Spirit makes us aware of God's blessings in our life:

• The Eucharist
  
• Sacrament of Reconciliation
  
• Holy Spirit
  
• Word of God
  
• Prayer
  
• Peace and Tranquility
  
• Etc
  

Our love for God is in direct proportion to our awareness of God's love for us.

Thirst for Milk

"Like new born children you should thirst for milk, on which your spirit shall grow to strength." (1 Peter 2:2)

New born babies need milk to survive and grow. In the struggle for spiritual survival and growth, almost every Christian is a baby. Recently, I listened to a remarkable testimony from Princess Borghese on EWTN Journey Home program. After the Sacrament of Reconciliation that paved the way for her conversion experience, the priest urged her to attend Mass everyday in order to survive and grow. She took the advice and attributed her spiritual development and ministry to this fact.

I know what I have to do every day to survive and grow spiritually. I call this the 7-Way Plan. I shudder with fright at the thought of abandoning any of the elements of the 7-Way Plan.

The Great Commission

"Go out to the whole world; proclaim the gospel to all creation." (Mark 16: 15)

I scribbled the following thought on the above scripture in my journal in 1999:

"The Internet is a means of proclaiming the gospel to the whole world. Yesterday for the first time, I used Juno.Com to do the seed ministry. I believe that before long, I shall have Internet access here in casa.

Lord Jesus, you have given me this powerful tools right here in casa. Bless these tools. Through your Holy Spirit, lead me, guide me and use me to proclaim your message from here to the whole world."

The Lord answered me

"I praise you, Lord, for you have answered me…..

Give thanks to the Lord, for he is good, for his mercy endures forever. My strength and my courage is the Lord, and he has been my savior…" (Responsorial Psalm from Psalm 118)

The Lord answered me:

• Enterprise
  
• Casa
  
• Verdant Pasture
  
• Peace
  
• Protection
  
• Health
  

The Lord is my strength and my courage.