WANNA BET?

God has done a lot of wondrous and amazing things during the time of Moses and even up to the present time. It is undeniable that God continues to show signs, wonders and miracles in our lives. We simply have to examine ourselves closely and ask the same questions in today's 1st reading. Although we had not been in Egypt when those things happen, I am sure and it can not be denied that there had been times in our lives when we were in almost the same plight as the Israelites, in desperate need, great distress and have seen the saving glory and power of God. A promise is a promise. Surely our God knows how to keep and fulfill it because he is God. No one can deny that God has done great things for all of us and is displayed throughout the universe. Whenever we look at all the things around us and really fix in our heart the truth that there is none like our God then we are safe and secure in His loving care. Just remember that we are bound to keep the statutes and commandments of the Lord God and everything else will follow. Amen. Hallelujah!

Deuteronomy 4:32-40

...‘Did anything so great ever happen before? Was it ever heard of? 33 Did a people ever hear the voice of God speaking from the midst of fire, as you did, and live? 34 Or did any god venture to go and take a nation for himself from the midst of another nation, by testings, by signs and wonders, by war, with his strong hand and outstretched arm, and by great terrors, all of which the LORD, your God, did for you in Egypt before your very eyes? 35 All this you were allowed to see that you might know the LORD is God and there is no other...You must keep his statutes and commandments which I enjoin on you today, that you and your children after you may prosper, and that you may have long life on the land which the LORD, your God, is giving you forever.”

The words remember, meditate and discover what is made known to us are key words in today's psalm that we do not just say and think about but we really need to take action. These are things that can really help us in improving our relationship with God.

P S A L M

Psalm 77:12-13. 14-15. 16 and 21

R: I remember the deeds of the Lord.

...yes, I remember your wonders of old. 12 [13] And I meditate on your works; your exploits I ponder. (R) 13 [14] O God, your way is holy; what great god is there like our God? 14 [15] You are the God who works wonders; among the peoples you have made known your power...

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. We have several selves we have to lose our sinful selves. St. Paul in Gal. 2:20 said, it is no longer I who lives. No coexistence but Jesus should take over.  There can never be anything more rewarding than possessing the greatest treasure in the whole wide world. Are you willing to give up everything just to take hold of it. If you are wise and smart then you must carefully decide what you consider most precious for you. Indeed, what does it profit a man to gain the whole world and suffer the loss of his soul. It's wiser to invest on treasures that will benefit our soul instead of material wealth. Wanna bet? There are very difficult situations in life that we simply have to experience and go through. But whatever it may be it is of great consolation if these difficulties, trials and hardships that we are confronted with and encountering are offered to God as a form of sacrifice that will make us whom God meant us to be. If we know that we are always conformed and aligned with God's will and plan in our lives to become a pleasing sacrifice before Him then nothing that we go through and suffer is in vain. If man recognizes, acknowledges and gives tribute to the goodness of a person how much more can God give to those who faithfully follow and obey Him. Amen. Hallelujah!

 Matthew 16:24-28

24 Jesus said to his disciples, “Whoever wishes to come after me must deny himself, take up his cross, and follow me. 25 For whoever wishes to save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for my sake will find it. 26 What profit would there be for one to gain the whole world and forfeit his life? Or what can one give in exchange for his life? 27 For the Son of Man will come with his angels in his Father’s glory, and then he will repay everyone according to his conduct.