God Of The Young...Sirach 25:3

"You have gathered nothing in your youth;
how then can you find anything in your old age?"

I opened the Bible and this verse sort of popped out and startled me! It made me remember Ecclesiastes 12:1 also: "Remember also your Creator in the days of your youth, before the evil days come, and the years draw nigh, when you will say, "I have no pleasure in them"

How important it is to build my relationship with the Lord as early as possible in my life!

Thank You Lord for letting me to know you now while I am still young. Help me gather more and more of You and may I always have You as my most precious treasure...Amen!

Eucharist...John 6:54-57

"God in his omnipotence could not give more, in His wisdom He knew not how to give more, in His riches He had not more to give, than the Eucharist."
- St. Augustine

Eucharist - So controversial a topic of debate especially today! Since I read this deeply brilliant quote from Augustine, I tried imagining any other means of fulfilling John 6:54-57:
"You can have no life in yourselves, unless you eat the flesh of the Son of Man, and drink his blood. The man who eats my flesh and drinks my blood enjoys eternal life, and I will raise him up on the last day. My flesh is real food, my blood is real drink. He who eats my flesh, and drinks my blood, lives continually in me, and I in him".

Can't see anything symbolic in these words of Jesus either...what amazing wisdom there is in God giving us the Eucharist!

Lord I am sorry for all the times I did not recognise Your Holy Presence in the Eucharist. Help me to receive You in a state of grace always, to have eternal life with You...Amen!

Love Always...Isaiah 54:10

"The mountains might shake. The hills might be removed. But my faithful love for you will never be shaken..."

I just imagined a mountain or a hill shaking and moving away from it's place...seems an absolutely unlikely event, maybe an improbably catastrophic earthquake might accomplish it.

And yet the Lord promises me even this event may come to pass, but His love for me will never be taken away...N E V E R!

Will I ever understand what kind of love this is?

Lord, how amazing is Your love for me! Help me remember this Word at all times and carry Your love to others...Amen!

Now Is The Time...Isaiah 55:6

"Seek the LORD while he may be found; call on him while he is near."

The most frightening situation I can possibly think of: I seek the Lord and He can't be found...imagine that!!

If I die physically without seeking the Lord, will there be a second chance for my soul? What if that's the time when the Lord can't be found no matter how much I search for Him?

Lord, help me to seek You as much I should in this life, when Your overwhelming mercy and compassion abound. For I know after this life on earth, I will face only justice...draw me close to You Lord, always be near me...Amen!

The Way Everlasting...Psalm 139:1,23,24

"O LORD, you have searched me and you know me......Search me, O God, and know my heart; test me and know my anxious thoughts. See if there is any offensive way in me, and lead me in the way everlasting."

My favorite Psalm! A prayer I love to pray - especially these verses. What a source of strength for me to know the Almighty God Himself is with me, watching me and looking out for me ALL THE TIME!

Lord You know me inside out...nothing of me is hidden from You. Thank You Lord for taking care of me continually even at times when I walk away from You.

Help me to be Your child especially when I am alone and only You are with me. Lord, whatever is found in me that is offensive to You, may it be removed according to Your Will...Amen!

As You Will Lord...Luke 1:34, 35, 38

"...'How will this be,' Mary asked the angel, 'since I am a virgin?'
The angel answered, 'The Holy Spirit will come upon you, and the power of the Most High will overshadow you. So the holy one to be born will be called the Son of God...'
'...I am the Lord's servant,' Mary answered. 'May it be to me as you have said.'"

From doubt to total submission to God's word - all it took for Mary was the promise of the Holy Spirit.

As for me, isn't God's promise already fulfilled? Have I not received the same Holy Spirit in Baptism?

Dear Holy Spirit, help me Lord to follow Mary's example and be God's servant always...Amen!

All I Need...Psalm 23:1

"The LORD is my shepherd, I shall not want."

I was watching this sermon on TV yesterday, at the end of which the preacher invited everyone to join him in a prayer. Somewhere during this prayer, he paused for a while for each of us to pray for a specific personal blessing.

I was pleasantly surprised to realise I couldn't think of anything to ask of the Lord. During that one instant....just for that one moment, I suddenly remembered Psalm 23:1 and this verse became truly real for me. I mean I genuinely felt satisfied with who I am and with what I have.

Thank you Lord for keeping me content and happy in you. You are truly Jehovah Jireh, my shepherd and provider. In times of need, help me Lord to remember this always...Amen!

The Father's Will...Matthew 18:14

"It is not the will of your Father who is in heaven that one of these little ones should perish."

The Father's will is NOT for me to be lost! Then my Father wants me to be saved for eternity with HIM...praise the Lord! It's so heartening for to know this: My Father in Heaven loves me!

I can decide to obey His Will and live or rebel and perish. I sense God asking me today - Have I decided to be lost or to be found?

Dear Holy Spirit, guide me today and forever to be in God's Will alone. Loving Jesus, be the center of my life that I may know the Father and be found in His Love, Lord let Your Will be done that I may not perish...Amen.