Thursday, September 15, 2011

I have left an open door before you


I have left an open door before you


"I know your works (behold, I have left an open door before you, which no one can close). You have limited strength, and yet you have kept my word and have not denied my name." (Revelation 3: 8)
Why include this scripture as part of the PL scriptures? The promise, "Behold, I have left an open door before you, which no one can close," appealed to me very much. I had seen the door of employment shut in my face in 1994. I had desperately waited in vain for another door to open. One day, I heard this elocution in the depth of my heart: "All you need is the Holy Spirit." It took probably a couple of years to realize fully the significance of this revelation. Gradually I came to realize that the Enterprise and SFJ may well be the open door.
I delight in the fact that he who opens the door is Jesus. Once He opens, nobody can close. I also like the part of Revelation 3: 8 that says, "I know your works." The thought that Jesus knows where I am and what I am doing is gratifying. Then He continues, "You have limited strength, and yet you have kept my word and have not denied my name." O Lord, what can I say? It is truly difficult for me to appropriate Revelation 3:8 fully. All I can say at this point is that I desire everything you say in it. I know I have limited moral strength; I have limited physical strength; I have limited financial strength. I know I depend on you entirely for everything for everything, at every time and in every place. I want to keep your word and never  deny your name. I want you to have your eye of mercy on me every second. Thank you Jesus for the promise in Revelation 3: 8.

Wednesday, September 14, 2011

If God is for us


 "31 What then shall we say to this? If God is for us, who can be against us? 32 He who did not spare his own Son but handed him over for us all, how will he not also give us everything else along with him?" (Romans 8: 31 - 32)

This is an incredible logic.  To demonstrate his love and concern for you, God gave up his son, Jesus Christ.  Now, what can be more valuable than his son, Jesus?  In other words, God wants us to put his Son on one side of the scale and whatever desire or hope we have on the other side.  How does that tally?  The answer is clear.  In giving us his Son, Jesus, God has given us everything.

I know for certain that God is for me in the Enterprise.   I will fear nothing.  I trust his wisdom and power.  Every day, I am getting more and more ready to trust and to obey.

“Moses said to God, ‘Who am I to go to Pharaoh and bring the Israelites out of Egypt?’ ‘I shall be with you.”  (Exodus 3: 11 – 12)

Who am I to do the work of God?  - I shall be with you.
If God is with me, then it is accomplished.  If God is with me in the Enterprise, then it is accomplished. 
And surely God is with me.

Tuesday, September 13, 2011

All things work for good


"28 We know that all things work for good for those who love God, who are called according to his purpose.   29 For those he foreknew he also predestined to be conformed to the image of his Son, so that he might be the firstborn among many brothers.  30 And those he predestined he also called; and those he called he also justified; and those he justified he also glorified." (Romans 8: 28 - 30)

If you obey God’s commandments, if you delight in the Lord and His ways, then you can say, “I love God.”  The promise in Romans 8: 28 – 30 is for you.  Put simply, the promise says, “You are fully insured. Have no fear of any circumstance.  Fear is useless.  What you need is trust.”

The doctrine of God’s Providence is one of the sweetest teachings in religion.  In the Christian Bible, we observe how Divine Providence works in the lives of those who love God.  Some examples are Abraham, Jacob, Joseph, Moses and David.  God planned all circumstances to work for good for them.  Apostle Paul exclaimed in amazement:   "12 I know indeed how to live in humble circumstances; I know also how to live with abundance. In every circumstance and in all things I have learned the secret of being well fed and of going hungry, of living in abundance and of being in need. 13I have the strength for everything through him who empowers me." (Philippians 4: 12 - 13)

Monday, September 12, 2011


Seekfirst


"33But seek first the kingdom (of God) and his righteousness,* and all these things will be given you besides” (Matthew 6: 33)

Matthew 6:33 is my key scripture par excellence.  This is the scripture that gave me my business name:  Seekfirstweb.  Seekfirstweb has today three domains, seekfirstweb.com, seekfirstweb.org and Seekfirstwb.net.  It has one Blog, Seekfirst Blog.  The idea went back to a journal entry in 1996.  I reproduce below this journal entry:

SeekFirst
“But seek first the kingdom of God and his righteousness, and all these things will be given you besides.”  (Matthew 6:33)
On the 1st of November 1996, I confided the following to my journal:
[Yesterday at Mass, I made the resolution to attend daily Eucharist as from 11/01/96.  I regard this development as a big grace and I thank the Blessed Virgin Mary for it.  I see it as the first fruit of the October devotion.  My prayer to God is that since I am not capable of carrying out such a lofty resolution on my own, that he should provide me with all the physical and spiritual strength I need to carry it out.
I recall the miracle of my friend, Carrena who told me in 1992 that for over 10 years, he had attended Mass everyday without missing one day.  May God give me the same blessing not just for 10 years but for the rest of my life.
The October devotion was concluded yesterday with the Mass novena in the last 9 days and the extra Rosary during the month.  How do I feel now about my prayer request?  Very confident.  For one thing, I have come to know more about the Blessed Virgin Mary form the book of Fr. Francis Ripley, “Mary, Mother of the Church”, which I bought on October 25th.  I came to realize as I never did before that it is God’s will that all graces come to us through Mary.  I also learned of the constant teaching of the Church articulated so well by many pontiffs that Mary is very powerful in her intercession on our behalf. 
I started the devotion this October asking for one favor and one favor only:  the total success of the Enterprise.  In the concrete, I seek for the following graces:
·         A burning zeal to see the will of God accomplished in my life with regard to the Enterprise.
·         To seek God’s will and not mine in every detail of the Enterprise.
·         Faith that is firm, unwavering and constant that God is for me and with me in this project and therefore success is guaranteed.
·         Patience to wait for God’s time, realizing that everything that happens takes place when God chooses.
·         Wisdom to know what to do and when in every step in this project. 
·         Humility to totally depend on God for everything vis-à-vis the Enterprise.
I have sought for these graces through the intercession of the Blessed Virgin Mary.  I believe I will get everything I asked for and more.
I feel deeply encouraged by the grace for the daily Eucharist.  To me it is like “seeking first the kingdom of God and all that he requires of me” and then challenging God to fulfill his promise to supply all my needs.
Today marks two weeks since the commencement of the Enterprise.  Looking back at everything that has happened so far, I thank God that I am benefitting from the preparation I made.  I am following my scripts closely.  Considering how things have gone so far, it appears as if the Holy Spirit is in a hurry to establish for me his priority in the Enterprise.  The thrust and emphasis of my effort have been spiritual development.  Although I have spent time thinking of money and security, these thoughts are clearly secondary.
With the blessing of the daily Eucharist, I know for certain that I am heading in the right direction.  God will fulfill his word to me at the right time.  “All other things shall be mine without the asking.  For the Father knows that I need them.  And indeed, for this reason, he has placed me here.”  This is my belief.  Praise the Lord.  Alleluia!]
It has been 10 years since I wrote the above reflection.  Reading this again today in 2006, I marvel at God’s faithfulness.
Today, September 12, 2011, I reread this journal entry with great emotion.  Matthew 6:33 is still my key scripture.  I am growing in seeing that this scripture contains everything I need in life.  If I believe what I read and teach what I believe and practice what I teach, all will be well with me.  Help me Jesus.