Let God Surprise You Today!

"There is no surprise more magical than the surprise of being loved. It is God's finger on man's shoulders."- Charles Morgan
From my rooftop, I looked up the sky early this morning and it was so magnificently blue, so clear, so beautiful,  and utterly peaceful. As above, so below! Never lose that gift of wonder. What is God's surprise(s) for you today?

Source of Image: 1st-birthdaycakes.com

“As a child, we always wanted surprises, whether it was a piece of candy, a little toy from the store, or perhaps a trip to our grandmother's. It doesn't take too much to make a child happy. But, as we grow older, the cost of the surprises seem to be more and more. It comes to the point most surprises don't excite us anymore. The flowers lose their smell, and they become limp, after a few days. The candy is never the right kind of chocolate. The clothes never fit. And, who gets cards anymore?

BUT 'Daddy' has endless surprises. He wants you to come to Him, abide in Him, and the surprises are yours for the asking. He loves you more than anyone could ever love you. His tenderness goes beyond that we can show to each other. He says come sit with me, love me with a never-ending love, and I will give you your dreams, and be with you always. What better surprise, than to have Him show up when you most need comforting!”

-Barbara Sanders

Do you want to be blessed by more surprises this Lent? Come and join us in this recollection-workshop!

                                                                              ROAD TRIP

Finding God in Your Life's Journey

March, 16, 2013; 8am-5pm

Venue: Quezon City, Philippines

Fee: P800 per person w/ lunch and snacks

For questions and to reserve a place call 7819140 or send an email to: 

wholeingcenter@yahoo.com.ph

v  walk prayerfully through the many phases of your life

v  discover God as your constant companion on your journey

v  reflect on your transitions in the light of the Paschal Mystery of Jesus

v  uncover the gifts of these transitions
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Of Humble Service

In the gospel reading of February 25 we see Jesus talking to the crowd and to his disciples. Let us put ourselves in the place of his audience. As we intently listen to him,   he turns his gaze upon us and lovingly and yet with firmness,  reminds us among other things of this: 

"The greatest among you must be your servant.

Whoever exalts himself will be humbled;

but whoever humbles himself will be exalted.”-Mt. 23:12

Let's pray for a gift of humble service to all flowing from a genuine love for Jesus who's spirit is in us.  

Source of Image: blogs.nsb.org

Source of Image: bradhoffmann.blogspot.com

The Attitude of  Servant. (Mat. 23:1-12)

Join us in our spiritual retreat:

ROAD TRIP

Finding God in Your Life's Journey

March, 16, 2013; 8am-5pm

Venue: Quezon City, Philippines

Fee: P800 per person w/ lunch and snacks

For questions and to reserve a place send an email to: 

wholeingcenter@yahoo.com.ph

v  walk prayerfully through the many phases of your life

v  discover God as your constant companion on your journey

v  reflect on your transitions in the light of the Paschal Mystery of Jesus

v  uncover the gifts of these transitions

Going Up the Mountain with Jesus

On the Second Sunday of Lent we see Jesus taking Peter, James and John up on a mountain to pray. Mountain is sometimes used as a metaphor to depict huge challenges that we humans have to surmount, sometimes, on a daily basis, something that we tend to avoid or resist. However, in most Gospel accounts, mountain is a place of prayer and a place where Jesus has transfigured.

Source of Image: hooray2u.com

True, going up a steep mountain is difficult; confronting problems head on is not fun; and going through any transforming process is no picnic. Yet, atop the mountain, we pray, and we find peace. We meet God and those difficulties are transcended and we experience our own transfiguration as we are strengthened and received assurance that, indeed, the Lord is bigger than the biggest of our problems for He is our light and our only salvation. Come, let us go up the mountain with Jesus and pray. . . where the peak could be found in every heart, our inner sanctuary.  Join our spiritual retreat . . .
                        
                                                                              ROAD TRIP

Finding God in Your Life's Journey

March, 16, 2013; 8am-5pm

Venue: Quezon City, Philippines

Fee: P800 per person w/ lunch and snacks

For questions and to reserve a place send an email to: 

wholeingcenter@yahoo.com.ph

v  walk prayerfully through the many phases of your life

v  discover God as your constant companion on your journey

v  reflect on your transitions in the light of the Paschal Mystery of Jesus

v  uncover the gifts of these transitions
************************

Feeling So Confused, Lost, Weary And In Need of Prayer Support? There is power in praying together and for others. Let our intercessory team pray with and for you. "Where two or three have come together in my name, I am there among them."- Matthew 18:20 Your name will be included in our daily prayers and masses. Sign up in the form below. Name: Email: We value your privacy. Your info are secured with us. We won't share them with anyone.

click here for your free autoresponder

Are you seeking for a sign?

"When the crowds were increasing, he began to say, " This generation is an evil generation; it seeks a sign, but no sign shall be given to it except the sign of Jonah. (Lk 11:29)

For as Jonah became a sign to the men of Nin'eveh, so will the Son of man be to this generation. (Lk 11:30)

Source of Image: bhmpics.com

If Jesus is not enough sign for this generation who or what else would be enough? Could it be the realization of our dreams? The fulfillment of our desires? Or could it be the incessant having; non-stop doing to amass power, fame, wealth, comfort and pleasures;  or is it the outside validation that we long and seek for? If  these are the signs that we're looking for, then, we still need to suffer more, until such time that we come to acceptance, surrender and realization that, indeed, there is no other sign that will be enough and forthcoming except Jesus. . . the only sign there is and the only one that we'll ever need!

As one popular preacher used to say, "Whatever it is that you're going through right now, God is enough for you." And I also recall one of his usual affirmations, "May magandang mangyayari sa 'yo." Or, "Something good is going to happen to you!"

Come walk with Jesus as we join this recollection/workshop- Road Trip: Finding God in Your Life's Journey. Send email to wholeingcenter@yahoo.com.ph or text (097) 794 5354, or call 781 9140. Remember: "May magandang mangyayari sa 'yo." Don't delay. Reserve now! Spots for the retreat is fast filling up. Places are so limited.

Feeling So Confused, Lost, Weary And In Need of Prayer Support? There is power in praying together and for others. Let our intercessory team pray with and for you. "Where two or three have come together in my name, I am there among them."- Matthew 18:20 Your name will be included in our daily prayers and masses. Sign up in the form below. Name: Email: We value your privacy. Your info are secured with us. We won't share them with anyone.

click here for your free autoresponder

"I fear not Oh Lord, for you are near!"

"I seek Yahweh and he answers me, frees me from all my fears.  Fix your gaze on Yahweh and your face will grow bright, you will never hang your head in shame." - Ps. 34:4-5

Source of Image: deborahbrasket.wordpress.com

In today's Responsorial Psalm we hear the psalmist opening up his chants with a deep fervor of rejoicing. His is a testament from old (for nothing is new here) that no one who'd seek Yahweh will ever be refused . . . for all who seek Him have been found. They have indeed already been blessed and liberated on a moment by moment basis. 

Only genuine reliance upon God will ever free us from all our fears. But are we ready to accept this kind of freedom? Do we really want to be freed from our fears? Or, have we been so accustomed and so identified with our own fears that they have  become more real than God's love for us?   

Dear friends, it's time to let go and experience the freedom that only Yahweh can give. Let us heed the psalmist wise counsel: "Fix your gaze on Yahweh and your face will grow bright, you will never hang your head in shame." Fix your gaze upon God so that you might live fearlessly and all the rest will follow. . . including material blessings, fulfilling relationships and a blissful life. It cannot be otherwise for God can never be outdone in kindness, greatness and generosity.

Come and allow us to help you make one step farther in your journey. Join our mini-retreat: Road Trip- Finding God in Your Life's Journey- especially offered to guide our pilgrim hearts this Lent. Scroll down below on previous posts for details.

Retreats . . . God Filling Up My Boat

Attending the Holy Mass on a relaxing and calm Sunday afternoon, I heard the homilist  say - "Complaining, doubting and seeing only the negativities of life and the world around you . . . is coming back to shore with an empty boat."  "Giving up and allowing hopelessness to overcome you is coming home empty handed with no joy to bring home."  What does this account got to do with a spiritual retreat?

Source of Image: goodsalt.com

Yet,  just like when the apostles who were so distraught for not catching any fish, have  allowed Jesus into their boat and obeying his command for them to cast down their net, doing so despite their misgivings . . . then, after a while, looking back again at the net, they saw it suddenly teeming with fish. And their boat,  which was then empty  . . . is now filled with catch.

Let Jesus come into your boat; heed his invitation and put out your net of faith. Come home with a boat full of aliveness.  To go on a retreat is a way of saying "yes" to that invitation of Jesus so that he may come into your boat. . . you and Jesus together  . . . in this journey of life.

"The unexamined life is not worth living". - Socrates