General:
- Glory to God in the Highest (published: Tabor Voice, Nov-Dec 2002; Divine Light, Dec 2003)
- Living in the Will of God (published: Tabor Voice, Jan-Feb 2003)
- What we should do this Lent (published: The Examiner, March 2003)
- Lost your reputation? Rejoice! (published: Divine Light, July 2004)
- The Potter & His Clay - A Spiritual Analogy
- Death on an Easter Sunday
- How Jesus saved us from the fire next door
- God isn't deaf
- Get on a Barnabus trip
- A Year Older and a lot less Wise (Part 1 of the Birthday Trilogy)
- He sang to me (Part 2 of the Birthday Trilogy)
- The Value of Intercession (Part 3 of the Birthday Trilogy)
- Do you want a FREE GIFT that can never be taken from you?! (Dec 2003 / Jan 2004)
- Love is in the air... (February 2004)
- Was it worth it all? (March 2004)
- I Confess... (April 2004)
- The Beautiful Blessing of Christian Fellowship! (May 2004)
- Power Evangelize! (June 2004)
- 'Best Friends' till the end (July 2004)
- Family Matters (August 2004)
- Do you know WHY you believe? (September 2004)
- You're going to be let down (October 2004)
- Praying with the Holy Pope (November 2004)
- Hang in there (December 2004) (published: Divine Light, Jan 2005)
- Just like that. And you're gone (January 2005)
- The Divine Lover of My Soul (February 2005)
- Is it ever "too late" to do right? (March 2005)
- To Emmaus, or back again? The choice is yours! (April 2005) (published:Divine Truth, April 2007)
- Bear Much Fruit (May 2005) (published: Divine Light, July 2005)
- Holiness and the Heart of Love (June 2005)
- Spiritual Boot Camp (July 2005)
- Abundant Life! (August 2005)
- Unanswered Prayers? (September 2005)
- Trust in the Lord! (October 2005)
- Persevere! (December 2005)
- New Resolutions this New Year (January 2006)
- 'Having it All' = Having Jesus (February 2006)
- He Understands (April 2006)
- My Invisible Tattoo (September 2006)
- Cardinal Justin Rigali ~ "Glorify God in Your Body" (October 2006)
- A Fattened Calf for me (December 2006)
- How to come out of a Spiritual Downward Spiral - Part 1 (January 2007)
- Jesus is Alive. Need Proof? ( October 2007)
- Biblical Catholics (November 2007)
- Religion or Spirituality? (September 2008)
- Lessons from the strange race between the Tortoise and the Hare (October 2008)
- How to react when Spiritual Leaders fall / backslide: (November 2008)
October 2005
Trust in the Lord!
Four days ago, as I sat before the Blessed Sacrament praying, I felt the Lord telling me "Tell 'X' that I love him very much".
'X' happens to be someone I knew - a gentleman, early sixties. Recently after retirement he started attending Holy Mass daily. Though I never would label him the 'religious' kind, it pleased me more & more to see him at daily Mass & once or twice I've even spotted him before the Blessed Sacrament.
Nevertheless, when the Lord said these words to me, I was a little hesitant. 'X' was not in the renewal & would wonder what was wrong with me... surely he'd think I was mad!
Still, that evening I looked out for him after Holy Mass & was a bit relieved he was not there. The whole thing soon slipped out of my mind.
Then yesterday after Mass I ran into 'X' - rather 'X' called out to me to say hello. I asked the Lord in my mind if He still wanted me to tell him & on receiving an affirmative reply, I cautiously started...
"I hope you don't think I'm little mad," I said "but a few days ago as I was praying the Lord asked me to tell you that He loves you"
"When was this exactly?" he asked me.
I thought and replied it was three days before that.
"Ah! Then I know why He told you that" said he. And he told me what happened to him three days prior.
He was riding his scooter when suddenly he got very dizzy. He actually dropped the bike into a ditch and was so woozy he couldn't even stand up straight. He told me that he kept asking everyone around to help him, but that no one came. Finally he managed to get to place nearby and call for help.
The reason? Diabetes. "My insulin probably had risen very high" he told me "Still I know the Lord protected me!"
One part of me was praising God for His wonderful love & protection and another side of me was very amazed.
The reason? Yesterday morning a close friend of mine was told by his doctor that he possibly had diabetes. He took a blood test & I think I was more nervous than he was all day yesterday & today.
While praying for him I remembered something Fr. Naickomparambil (the Founder of the Potta Ministries) taught. "Always pray for many other people who have the same problem". So I lifted up a 100 other people who had - or who possibly had diabetes in prayer.
I realised as I talked to 'X' that I had unknowingly probably prayed for him too! How truly wonderous is the Lord!
Not only had the Lord protected 'X' from a potentially dangerous situation, but in doing so He revealed to me that He would also protect my friend I had been (unnecessarily!) worrying about.
The tests results took their time, but when they came (earlier tonight) they were negative - my friend does not have diabetes.
As I sat pondering these two incidents many lessons seemed to jump out at me. A few of them:
* I should trust the Lord enough to do (& say) exactly as He tells me. The results are truly wonderous!
* I shouldn't worry what people think, if I'm following the Lord's instructions. He never lets those who trust in Him be put to shame.
* I should trust the Lord - that He truly answers prayers & that I should pray for people in similar situations & problems.
* I should trust in the Lord to take care of my loved ones. After all He loves them more than I do!
Trust in the LORD, and do good;
so shalt thou dwell in the land,
and verily thou shalt be fed.
Delight thyself also in the LORD:
and he shall give thee
the desires of thine heart.
Commit thy way unto the LORD;
trust also in him;
and he shall bring it to pass.
(Psalms 37:3-6)
October 2005
