BE TRANSFORMED

Today’s readings have become so memorable for me because they were the same readings on the occasion of my 1st SCRC Convention that I attended in August 31, 2008 and also happened to be my son’s birthday. I have felt tremendously the blessings that I received with the rest of the congregation from the SCRC Convention. I am very confident that they have been securely extended to our family and loved ones. I could still recall how my friend Bernadeth who was very sick at that time received healing from the Lord during the convention. I praise and thank God for activities like the SCRC that continue to enrich the life of the faithful. The new anointing from the Lord and the unforgettable first time experience which I felt in my heart back then have confirmed, affirmed, renewed and transformed everything that I hold dear in my heart and all other things whether it is good or bad as I have perceived it, up to this very moment. Amen. Hallelujah!

Jeremiah 20:7-9
...But then it becomes like fire burning in my heart, imprisoned in my bones; I grow weary holding it in, I cannot endure it.

Only the love of our Lord God can satisfy all our longings and desires. Nothing can separate us from the love of God. We can never find true satisfaction unless we find Jesus. “My soul is restless until it rests in You” (St. Augustine) Amen. Hallelujah!


Psalm 63:2, 3-4, 5-6, 8-9
R: (2b) My soul is thirsting for you, O Lord my God.
1 [2] O God, you are my God whom I seek; for you my flesh pines and my soul thirsts like the earth, parched, lifeless and without water.

No amount of wealth, fame and glory in this world can satisfy our longings. What are we doing on this earth? We are here to know, love and serve God. Where is our God? He is nearer to us than we are to ourselves. He is in the depths of our being every moment of day and night. St. Augustine said, "It is in knowing God that we know of ourselves." To know and to love God is to do the same for ourselves. We love our family, friends and work but do we stop at the gifts and miss the Giver. Remember, however weak or wayward or wicked we may be, God is madly in love with us whether or not we love Him because His nature and name is love. In an act of love he drew us out of nothing in the yesteryears and that love has sustained and enveloped us every single moment of our life. It is an act of love that we are still able draw the next breath of life. The moment He cease to love us for an instant, we will cease to be. How easy it is to put ourselves in the center of the universe. All we think about is our comfort, health, wealth and work. We are not the center of the universe, God is. We are here on this earth for a few fleeting years in which to serve God. St. Theresa of Avila took a private vow or oath never to waste a moment of time. She knew that the moment which secured heaven for the good seed would secure it for us too. Amen. Hallelujah!


Romans 12:1-2
...be transformed by the renewal of your mind, that you may discern what is the will of God, what is good and pleasing and perfect

Our journey with God is a continuous struggle to allow God's will to happen in our lives. We should strive to succeed in our transformation and achieve to have the mind and attitude of God. Amen. Hallelujah!

Matthew 16:21-27
...You are thinking not as God does, but as human beings do..