You cannot serve God and money

"No servant can serve two masters. He will either hate one and love the other, or be devoted to one and despise the other. You cannot serve God and mammon.”  (Luke 16: 13)

What is mammon?  It could be any of the following:  health, family, money, job, tools, food, future.  God is the source of all these.  For most people, mammon means one thing - money.  In the Gospels, there is a contrast between dishonest, tainted wealth and genuine riches.   The Gospel invites us to seek genuine riches which cannot rust or be stolen by thieves.

"I say to the LORD,
you are my Lord,
you are my only good.

They multiply their sorrows
who court other gods.
Blood libations to them I will not pour out,
nor will I take their names upon my lips."  (Psalm 16: 2, 4)

When we serve God alone and not mammon, we abandon ourselves completely to Divine Providence. We practice total detachment from anything that can ensnare our hearts to idols.

What are some of the blessings of financial peace?

1. We avoid pride that tainted wealth brings
2. We depend fully on God for all our provisions
3. We live one day at a time
4. We avoid temptations to gluttony and lust
5. We avoid wasting time window-shopping for what to buy
6. We avoid buying things we do not need

When we serve God and not money, we learn to recognize times and seasons as God's appointments.  We learn to adapt to times and seasons joyfully.

"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.
I have the strength for everything through him who empowers me."  (Philippians 4: 12 - 13)

God is a proved Helper in trouble

"God is our refuge and our strength,
an ever-present help in distress."  (Psalm 46: 1)

Has God been for me a refuge and ever present help in distress?
To answer the question, I reviewed my life from the period I had the clearest memory (1970) to date (2012)  The answer is resoundingly YES.

God has always been my refuge and ever present help in all types of distress.  He is a well-proved help in trouble. Whether the distress involves family, health, finances, job, tools, food and future.  God is a very reliable Helper.  The amazing thing is that in over half of the period under review, God had always come to my help even when I was outside His law.  He love is not only constant but to very mysterious.

The Supreme Advantage of knowing Jesus

"[But] whatever gains I had, these I have come to consider a loss because of Christ.
More than that, I even consider everything as a loss because of the supreme good of knowing Christ Jesus my Lord. For his sake I have accepted the loss of all things and I consider them so much rubbish, that I may gain Christ"  (Philippians 3: 7 - 8)

But whatever gains I had....:Family, Health, Education, Finance, Property, Job, Food, Friends, I gave up because of the supreme advantage of knowing Christ.  Those forgotten gains gave false confidence.  Knowledge of Christ gave the one thing that is necessary.  The one thing that is necessary is the one thing I need:  the Holy Spirit.

The Holy Spirit reveals to me the person of Jesus, the Healer, the Feeder.  Jesus is all that we need.

There is a tide in the affairs of men.  All times and seasons are divine appointments.  Jesus is passing by today.

God is the source of all inspiration and power

"For God is the one who, for his good purpose, works in you both to desire and to work."  (Philippians 2: 13)

Abba Father, you are the source of all inspiration and power.  You give everything its place in the world and nobody can make it otherwise.  Fill me today with your inspiration.  Let my every work glorify you.  Amen!

The wedding feast of the Lamb is the Eucharistic celebration

"“Blessed is the one who will dine in the kingdom of God.”  (Luke 14: 15)

The dinner is the Church gathered in the Eucharist.

The Amplified Bible has this translation for the above scripture:
"(Happy, fortunate, and to be envied) is he who shall eat bread in the kingdom of God!"

The Eucharistic bread is available for us every single day.  Most of us can dine in the Kingdom of God every day.  Some do this.  But how many feel truly fortunate and to be envied for the privilege of dining in the Kingdom?

"Then the angel said to me, “Write this: Blessed are those who have been called to the wedding feast of the Lamb. And he said to me, “These words are true; they come from God.”  (Revelations 19: 9)

The wedding feast of the Lamb is the Eucharistic celebration.  To accept the gift to dine in the Kingdom, the Eucharist, is to accept the ultimate sign of God's favor.

"This I know: God is on my side.
I praise the word of God,
I praise the word of the LORD.
In God I trust, I do not fear.
What can man do to me?"  (Psalm 56: 10 - 12)

The Eucharist is the sign of God's abiding love for us.

Jesus is our peace

"In you O Lord, I have found my peace!" 

O Prince of Peace, you are my peace.  Let me be enveloped completely by your peace.  You promise us the peace which the world cannot understand.  Let your peace cover my family, health, finances, job, tools, food and future.

In you, O Lord, I have found my peace.

Jesus is able to save us always and everywhere

"Therefore, he is always able to save those who approach God through him, since he lives forever to make intercession for them."  (Hebrews 7: 25)

Jesus is always able to save us.  His name is Jesus, Savior.  Jesus says what it is and it does what it says.

He is supremely able to save us always and everywhere  because He is alive and lives forever.  Unlike the frail high priest, king or president, Jesus does not contend with any weakness or death.  He is always fully alive and all-powerful.

When we approach the Father through His Son Jesus Christ, we are assured of hearing and salvation.

Jesus my Savior, I trust in you.

Embrace my yoke and you will find the peace you crave for

"Take my yoke upon you and learn from me, for I am meek and humble of heart; and you will find rest for your selves."  (Matthew 11: 29)

What is this yoke of Christ to which He invites us?

Below is the yoke of Christ.  It is also called the Beatitudes:

“Blessed are the poor in spirit,
for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.
Blessed are they who mourn,
for they will be comforted.
Blessed are the meek,
for they will inherit the land.
Blessed are they who hunger and thirst for righteousness,
for they will be satisfied.
Blessed are the merciful,
for they will be shown mercy.
Blessed are the clean of heart,
for they will see God.
Blessed are the peacemakers,
for they will be called children of God.
Blessed are they who are persecuted for the sake of righteousness,
for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.
Blessed are you when they insult you and persecute you and utter every kind of evil against you [falsely] because of me.
Rejoice and be glad, for your reward will be great in heaven.h Thus they persecuted the prophets who were before you.  (Matthew 5: 3 - 12)

The beatitudes reflect the character of Jesus Christ. This is who He is.  This is how He lived.

"For my yoke is easy, and my burden light.” (Matthew 11: 30)

What makes the yoke easy and the burden light is grace.  The grace of God makes easy what is most difficult and revolting to nature.  It makes light what is most burdensome.  This is the secret of the saints.  Saints suffer imprisonment, persecution and even death because they have the grace of God to help them.  Without this grace, it is impossible for human nature to embrace these crosses.

Jesus Christ has promised us His grace if we embrace Him and His teaching.  With His grace on our side, all things become possible.  With our daily bread of this grace given at the beginning of each day, we are equipped to live fully for Christ in these areas of human struggle:  health, family, finances, job, tools, food and future.  Lord, give me this day my daily bread of your grace.  Amen!

If the Lord is my Good Shepherd, then I have everything I need

"The LORD is my shepherd;
there is nothing I lack."  (Psalm 23: 1)

If the Lord is my Shepherd, I shall not lack food, clothing, shelter and rest.  In truth, I shall have everything I need.  What is my experience?  My good shepherd has provided all that I need beyond my wildest expectations.

My Good Shepherd says to me:  "Fear is useless; what is needed is trust."  (Luke 8:50)  He also says to me:  "But seek first the kingdom (of God) and his righteousness, and all these things will be given you besides."  (Matthew 6: 33)  It grieves my heart that although not a single word of His promises has failed me, I still fear, worry and doubt.

"Why are you downcast, my soul;
why do you groan within me?
Wait for God, for I shall again praise him,
my savior and my God."  (Psalm 42: 6)

We are children of God here and now

"See what love the Father has bestowed on us that we may be called the children of God. Yet so we are. The reason the world does not know us is that it did not know him."  (1 John 3: 1)

Thank you Father for this immense privilege.  
Our response to God's love is in direct proportion of our awareness of His love for us.  Since this is true Father, grant me the grace to be fully aware of your love for me.  Grant me also the courage to respond fully.

The Lord is trustworthy in all His promises

"The LORD is trustworthy in all his words,
and loving in all his works."  (Psalm 145: 13)

This one thing I know for certainty:  The Lord is trustworthy in all His promises.  Today, I celebrate 5857 days of the Lord's faithfulness in the Enterprise.  From 1/5857 day, the Lord manifested His faithfulness one day at a time. His performance has exceeded  expectations in every area.  The one big area which has not been resolved is a WAIT situation and not a NO situation.  Thank you Jesus!  I will trust you everyday.  I will surrender every new day to your loving providence my: health, family, finances, job, tools, food and future.

"Today, as you see, I am going the way of all the earth. So now acknowledge with your whole heart and soul that not one of all the promises the LORD, your God, made concerning you has failed. Every one has come true for you; not one has failed."  (Joshua 23: 14)

Most fortunate are all who fear the Lord

"Blessed are all who fear the LORD,
and who walk in his ways.
What your hands provide you will enjoy;
you will be blessed and prosper."  (Psalm 128: 1 - 2)

There are two ways to fear the Lord:
You fear offending the Lord because of punishment.  You may also fear offending Him because He may withhold His blessings.
You may fear the Lord because you are keenly aware of His love and kindness towards you.  We call this reverential fear.

Both types of fear correspond to the human analogy of stick and carrot.
Fear the Lord, the Bible screams from every page.  It is not just good to fear the Lord.  Great blessings are attached to fearing the Lord.  The word of God declares you happy and very fortunate if you fear the Lord.  The Bible also teaches that it is not difficult to obey the commandments.  They are not burdensome especially when we consider that they come from a loving Father.

Let us fear the Lord.

Be kind and compassionate to one another

"[And] be kind to one another, compassionate, forgiving one another as God has forgiven you in Christ."  (Ephesians 4: 32)

Lord, you have been most kind, most compassionate to me.  You have not only forgiven all my sins but you have done much more:  You have wiped out the record of my sins and freed me from all guilt.  I acknowledge all this freely.  I do not consider myself an ungrateful man.  I want to do what you ask me to do as a show of my profound gratitude to you.  But if I fail, O Great God, it is not because of ingratitude.  It may be because of forgetfulness at the material time and my human weakness.  This is why I pray O Lord.  Grant me your grace at the time of need to remember what you have done for me and to act as you expect me to act.  Amen.

"But grace was given to each of us according to the measure of Christ’s gift."  (Ephesians 4: 7)

Lord, let me see

"Jesus said to him in reply, “What do you want me to do for you?” The blind man replied to him, “Master, I want to see.”
Jesus told him, “Go your way; your faith has saved you.” Immediately he received his sight and followed him on the way."  (Mark 10: 51 52)

"What do you want me to do for you, Emmanuel?"
Lord, let me see my present circumstances as you see them.
Let me see my health, my family, my finances, my job, my tools, food and future as you see them.

"Grant me Lord the serenity to accept the things I cannot change; the courage to change the things I can, and the wisdom to know the difference.  Amen."

"But grace was given to each of us according to the measure of Christ’s gift." (Ephesians 4: 7)

"But grace was given to each of us according to the measure of Christ’s gift."  (Ephesians 4: 7)

This grace which is given to us by the generosity and abundance of Christ is given to build up His Body, the Church.  What are these graces?  The principal one is the Holy Spirit, the One and Only thing we truly need.  But then we are given different ministries in the Church.  Some of these ministries are:  evangelization, teaching, outreach to the poor and needy in our parishes, lector, art and environment, Holy Communion ministers.  Each ministry provides a unique opportunity to serve Jesus and build up the Church.

In order to use our gifts and fulfill our mission, Jesus provides us with other gifts:  prayer, word of God, Eucharist, Penance, spiritual books.

Thank you Jesus for all these gifts.  Help me to make the best use of your gifts in building up your Church.

The Father chooses to reveal the mysteries of the kingdom to little children

"At that time Jesus said in reply, “I give praise to you, Father, Lord of heaven and earth, for although you have hidden these things from the wise and the learned you have revealed them to the childlike."  (Matthew 11: 25)

The Father chooses to reveal the mysteries of the kingdom to the childlike in spirit.  The saints are saints because they know the mysteries of the kingdom.  They understand something of the inner workings of the kingdom which the rest of us don't know.  This truth is exemplified in the life of the Little Flower, St Therese of Lisieux.  Although she died at the age of twenty-four, her spiritual autobiography is a classic.  Her complete trust and abandonment to God has a lot to teach the world.  St. Therese was declared a doctor of the Church because of the profundity of her spiritual insight and the simplicity with which she taught this lesson to the world.

Lord, give me a childlike mind and heart and fill me with the mysteries of the kingdom.

God is able to accomplish far more than we ask or imagine

"Now to him who is able to accomplish far more than all we ask or imagine, by the power at work within us, to him be glory in the church and in Christ Jesus to all generations, forever and ever. Amen."  (Ephesians 3: 20 - 21)

God is able to give us far more than we ask or could imagine possible.  When I reflect on the Enterprise, I find that God's blessings have exceeded expectations in almost every area:  Casa, SFJ, STM, EDU.

The two areas where things have not worked out according to plan, I now fully accept and embrace as God's will for me.  Because I accept and embrace God's will in these two areas, I see and I appreciate God's wisdom.  "Let it be done to me according to your word."

"O God, grant me the serenity to to accept the things I cannot change; the courage to change the things I can, and the wisdom to know the difference.  Amen!"

More than that, we rejoice in our sufferings, knowing that suffering produces endurance, and endurance produces character, and character produces hope, and hope does not put us to shame, because God's love has been poured into our hearts through the Holy Spirit who has been given to us

"More than that, we rejoice in our sufferings, knowing that suffering produces endurance,  and endurance produces character, and character produces hope,  and hope does not put us to shame, because God's love has been poured into our hearts through the Holy Spirit who has been given to us." (Romans 5:3-5 )

"Count it all joy, my brothers, when you meet trials of various kinds,  for you know that the testing of your faith produces steadfastness. And let steadfastness have its full effect, that you may be perfect and complete, lacking in nothing." (James 1:2-4)

God grant me the serenity to accept the things I cannot change; the courage to change the things I can, and the wisdom to know the difference.  Amen!

My destiny is in your hands

"Riches and glory are from you,
and you have dominion over all.
In your hand are power and might;
it is yours to give greatness and strength to all."  (1 Chronicles 29: 12)

O My God! What a joyful truth.  All riches and glory come from you.  You are the source of all inspiration and power.  You give everything its place and nobody can make it otherwise.  In your hands are all power and might and you share it with whomsoever you please.  What you start you finish, come what may.  All things serve you.

Dearest Father, why do I allow my heart to get troubled after considering the above truth?  Grant me your peace always and everywhere in all things.  Thank you Father.

"Let the peace of Christ control your hearts; Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly."  (Colossians 3: 15, 16)

"Incline your ear to me;
make haste to rescue me!
Be my rock of refuge,
a stronghold to save me.

For you are my rock and my fortress;
for your name’s sake lead me and guide me.

My destiny is in your hands;
rescue me from my enemies,
from the hands of my pursuers."
(Psalm 31: 3-4, 16)

You fool, this night your life will be demanded of you

"But God said to him, ‘You fool, this night your life will be demanded of you; and the things you have prepared, to whom will they belong?’
Thus will it be for the one who stores up treasure for himself but is not rich in what matters to God."  (Luke 12: 20 - 21)

Lord, grant me a heart for your genuine riches.  Fill me with faith, patience, wisdom, humility, courage, peace and contentment.

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

Lord, may you exercise absolute reign and authority in my life.  100%!   Help me to trust your providence completely and never doubt that you will always and everywhere provide all that I need.

"The LORD is my shepherd;
there is nothing I lack."  (Psalm 23: 1)

Thank you Jesus for the roof over my head and the food on the table this day.

"Unless the LORD build the house,
they labor in vain who build.
Unless the LORD guard the city,
in vain does the guard keep watch."  (Psalm 127: 1)

I like this promise.  Build my house O Lord.  Watch over all my assets.

"LORD, my allotted portion and my cup,
you have made my destiny secure.
Pleasant places were measured out for me;
fair to me indeed is my inheritance."  (Psalm 16: 5 - 6)

O My God, how you have blessed me today with so many good promises.  Help me to remember all of these in the course of this day.