The Lord has done this and it is marvelous in our eyes

"When Israel was a child I loved him,
out of Egypt I called my son.
The more I called them,
the farther they went from me,
Sacrificing to the Baals
and burning incense to idols.
Yet it was I who taught Ephraim to walk,
who took them in my arms;
but they did not know that I cared for them."  (Hosea 11: 1-3)

In the above scripture, the message could be:  God does all the work.  Baal takes all the credit.  How said!   The New American Bible titles the above scripture - 'The Disappointment of a parent.'  Mother and Father do all the work and the credit goes to an unknown friend of the child.  One important lesson I learned about the Holy Spirit is that He reminds us the marvelous things that God is doing in our lives.  Without this constant reminding, it is impossible to know.  If if you do not know, how can you give thanks?

Lord thank you for the Holy Spirit who reminds me of the wonderful things you do for me. (Psalm 118: 23)

How important is money to you?

How important is money to you?

Money has never  been very important to me.  All that I had ever wanted of money is what is sufficient for my need.  But the experience of debt which came  late in my life has made me more aware of the usefulness of money.  I have wondered from time to time what life would be like if I have no debt.  I know the answer.  If I have no debt, I would  be proud of my achievement.  Also absence of debt would make me more frivolous in my expenses.  Frivolity with spending of money come with much waste of time.

See what  debt has done for me:

1. Humility
2. Prudence with money
3. More time to enjoy life instead of constant windows hopping or bargain hunting. 

With the above, I can almost say with Paul:

"but he said to me, “My grace is sufficient for you, for power is made perfect in weakness.” I will rather boast most gladly of my weaknesses, in order that the power of Christ may dwell with me.
Therefore, I am content with weaknesses, insults, hardships, persecutions, and constraints, for the sake of Christ; for when I am weak, then I am strong." (2 Corinthians 12: 9-10)

Do you believe that you are earning what your job is worth? If not why not?

My believe today with regard to job and money is governed by three  scriptures particularly and many other scriptures in the word of God.

1. "Man does not live on bread alone.  There is life for him in every word that comes from the mouth of God."  (Matthew 4:4)

2. "Have no anxiety at all, but in everything, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, make your requests known to God.  Then the peace of God that surpasses all understanding will guard your hearts and minds in Christ Jesus."  (Philippians 4: 6-7)

3. "Stay away from the love of money; be satisfied with what you have.  for God has said, 
'I will never fail you.  I will never forsake you.'
That is why we can say with confidence,
'The Lord is my helper, so I will not be afraid.  What can mere mortals do to me?"  (Hebrews 13: 5 - 6)

Do I believe that I am earning what my job is worth?  In the light of the three scriptures above, the answer is yes.  I ask the Holy Spirit  every day to grant me inspiration and power for my work.  Recently, I have added a prayer for deeper trust in the continual guidance of the Holy Spirit.  It is one thing for God to guide you every step.  It is a totally different thing to believe in that guidance.
God's thoughts are not our thoughts.  God's ways are not our ways.  We are asked to walk by faith and not by sight.

"Arise, go to Zarephath of Sidon and stay there. I have commanded a widow there to feed you." (1 Kings 17: 9)

"Arise, go to Zarephath of Sidon and stay there. I have commanded a widow there to feed you."  (1 Kings 17: 9)

God's powerful and loving providence is in full play in the above scripture.  God who appointed ravens to bring food to Elijah when he was in hiding has now appointed a poor widow of Zarephath to fulfill the task.

In the Temptations in the Desert, Jesus gave us a scripture rich in God's providence.  He answered Satan who tempted Him to turn stones into bread:  "Man does not live on bread alone but on every word that comes from the mouth of God."  (Matthew 4: 4)

God is the first cause of everything.  Every other cause is a secondary cause.  It is up to the Primary Cause to use any cause He chooses to accomplish an objective.  Man can be fed with whatever means God chooses.  Bread is only one of the options.

In the case of the widow of Zarephath, God shows here  as throughout the bible and history His consistent predilection to use weak secondary causes to achieve mighty events.

"Afterward he journeyed from one town and village to another, preaching and proclaiming the good news of the kingdom of God.  Accompanying him were the Twelve  and some women who had been cured of evil spirits and infirmities, Mary, called Magdalene, from whom seven demons had gone out,  Joanna, the wife of Herod’s steward Chuza, Susanna, and many others who provided for them out of their resources."  (Luke 8: 1 - 3) 

Lord Jesus, help me to trust completely in your divine providence.

"All you who are thirsty, come to the water! You who have no money, come, buy grain and eat; Come, buy grain without money, wine and milk without cost!" (Isaiah 55: 1)

"All you who are thirsty,
come to the water!
You who have no money,
come, buy grain and eat;
Come, buy grain without money,
wine and milk without cost!"  (Isaiah 55: 1)

The offer of salvation is universal and free.  Everyone is invited. Although it is free, it is not cheap.  Juicy rich food is promised and not "wretched food."  Choice wine is made available for this Banquet of the Lamb.

Grain, water, wine and milk are types of the Eucharist.

In Numbers 21: 4 -5, the Israelites rejected the food given to them by God.
"From Mount Hor they set out by way of the Red Sea, to bypass the land of Edom, but the people’s patience was worn out by the journey; so the people complained against God and Moses, “Why have you brought us up from Egypt to die in the wilderness, where there is no food or water? We are disgusted with this wretched food!"  (Numbers 21: 4 - 5).

The wretched food they complained about is the manna, a type of the Eucharist.  In the Eucharist, Jesus Christ offers us Himself to be our food and drink.  The Church describes the Eucharist as "the sum and summary of our faith. 'Our way of thinking is attuned to the Eucharist, and the Eucharist in turn confirms our way of thinking."  (Catechism of the Catholic Church #1327)

The Church commemorates the gift of the Eucharist in the Solemnity of Corpus Christi (the Most Holy Body and Blood of Christ)

Do you like to take risks in investing your money?

Do you like to take risks in investing your money?

Today, I have little or no money to invest.  I am not a gambler by nature.  I do not take unnecessary risk in life.  If I have money to invest, I will never take risk on it.  This is because risk taking comes with fear and anxiety.  There are two scriptures that come to me right now on this topic:

"Have no anxiety at all, but in everything, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, make your requests known to God.  Then the peace of God that surpasses all understanding will guard your hearts and minds in Christ Jesus."  (Philippians 4: 6-7)

"Stay away from the love of money; be satisfied with what you have.  For God has said,
'I will never fail you / I will never forsake you.'
That is why we can say with confidence,
'The Lord is my helper, so I will not be afraid.  What can mere mortals do to me?'  (Hebrews 13: 5-6)

Risky investment creates the condition for anxiety and rejects the counsel of Philippians 4: 6-7.  Taking risk in investing money could also be a symptom of a heart that loves money.  This person has no trust in the loving and powerful providence of God.

The widow contributed everything because she understood that God is responsible for all her time, talent and treasure

"For they have all contributed from their surplus wealth, but she, from her poverty, has contributed all she had, her whole livelihood." (Mark 12: 44)

How much are you prepared to contribute to the Lord's work?  3%, 5%, 10% or more?  Jesus Christ praised the widow who was not content to contribute her leftovers but everything.  Although all she had is what has come to be known as the widow's might, she was willing to give it all.

The widow contributed everything because she understood that God is responsible for all her time, talent and treasure.  She trusted in God and knows that she would not be deprived by contributing all her worth.

Lord Jesus, take and receive all my time, talent and treasure as well as all my weaknesses.  I offer them all.  Help me by your grace to hold nothing back.  Amen!