Life is like a Pendulum

Life is like a pendulum. You may be up now, and be down sometime.

Some people who came from the bottom ladder, will eventually be up the ladder of success, because they are driven to achieve the ladder of success no matter what. Some become snooty, trying to cover up for their humble beginnings, looking down on people who were like them once upon a time.

Some try to ingratiate themselves to those who have more than they have, to benefit themselves, but don’t care for the poor because they will not have any financial gain from them.

Be reminded of these passages from the Lord:

Proverbs 14:31

He who oppresses the poor shows contempt for their maker
But whoever is kind to the needy honors God.

Proverbs 22:9

A generous man will himself be blessed,
for he shares his food with the poor

And success goes to their head, show disrespect to the elders.

1Peter 5:5

Young men, be submissive. To those who are older. Clothe yourself with humility toward one another.

There is an idiom in Pilipino: “Kung ano ang taas ng lipad, siya ding lakas ng pagbagsakas”. (the higher you fly, the heavier is the fall.) This refers to people who have forgotten their beginnings and the help showered to them by their neighbor.

So you may be up now, but you will have to go down. Better learn from the wisdom of the Lord.

Give until it Hurts

I am applauding Warren Buffet and Bill Gates on their call to billionaires to give 50% of their wealth to charity.

Bill Gates used to be the 2nd richest man in the world and Warren Buffet the 3rd.
In 1996 Warren Buffet decided to donate 99% of his wealth to Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation and their family charities. Now, Warren Buffet is number one followed by Bill gates as 2nd.

If you give, it will be multiplied in return by our Lord. You cannot outdo God.

Our parish will be celebrating its feast honoring the hearts of Jesus and Mary tomorrow, June 20. It will be culminated by a mass con celebrated by Bishop Deo Iniguez, Jr. and the priests of the Caloocan Diocese.

Every year, we call on the generous donors to help the parish in its projects. And one of them is the construction of our four-storey, multi-purpose building which will be used as educational center for the community members, meeting room of our Ministries.

It has been over three years and the building is only three-fourths complete. the fourth floor construction has been held pending receipt of some more funds from donors. Our parish will be very happy to receive a portion of that amount that you are allocating for charity, for after all, this will benefit our poor community.

These are what the Lord says about giving:

Proverbs 18:16

16 A gift opens the way for the giver
and ushers him to the presence of the Lord.

Proverbs 28:27

He who gives to the poor will lack nothing,
but he who closes their eyes to them
receives many curses.

2 Corinthians 9:6-8

6 Whoever sows sparingly will also reap sparingly,
and whoever sows generously will also reap generously.
7 Each man should give what he has decided in his heart to give,
not reluctantly or under compulsion, for God loves a cheerful giver.
8 And God is able to make all grace abound to you, so that all things at all
time, having all that you need, you will abound in every good work.

Matthew 10;42

And if anyone of you gives even a cup of cold water to one of these little ones because he is my disciple, I tell you the truth, he will certainly not lose his reward.

Please send your check donation directly to Hearts of Jesus and Mary Parish at Nadurata St. & 7th Ave., Grace Park, Caloocan City, Philippines.

As my blog says, "Wealth in All Areas of Your Life", the Lord will respond to answer your needs, whether financial, relational, emotional, intellectual or physical.

I will be very happy to publish a testimony/ies about this gift giving, not for selfish reasons, but to let other people know that there is generous God who answers prayers, and He cannot be outdone.

Walk with the Lord

Pr 8:19 - 21

19 My fruit is better than fine gold;
what I yield surpasses choice silver,
20walk in the way of righteousness, along the paths of justice,
21 bestowing wealth on those who love me and making their treasures full.

There are people who amass wealth through immoral and illegal activities like drug trafficking, child prostitution, abortion, tax evasion, extortion,etc. And people are wondering why God allows this to happen, they seem to thrive. God is a loving and merciful God, whether you are a sinner(the lost soul) or righteous. He wants the sinners to repent and make restitution.

Are the people on the other side of the law happy? Aren't they anxious, that anytime they would get caught?

Walk with the Lord in the way of righteousness and your treasures will be full, and you will have peace of mind.

Amassing wealth by exorbitant interest

Proverbs 28:8

He who increases his wealth by exorbitant interest
amasses it for another, who will be kind to the poor.

In the Philippines, there are some usurious practices, like lending money called "five:six" (for every five pesos borrowed, the creditor earns one peso or 20% per month, payable in one month on a daily basis.) This is not legal though, but those who are really in need and do not have the capacity to borrow from financial institutions succumb to the loan sharks.

I notice that some lenders earn big money, but lose it eventually because of a lingering illness or accidents where the lender has to spend large sums of money.

Give and it will be multiplied in return.

When I was in need, I used to go to the PEA (Perpetual Adoration Chapel), daily. This was the time when I was at my lowest emotionally and financially. I would always ask for the Lord's message through the scriptures. These are the messages indelibly written in my mind:

1, Matthew 7:7-8

Ask and it will be given to you; seek and you will find; knock and the door will be opened to you. For everyone who ask receives; he who seeks finds; and to him who knocks, the door will be opened.

2. Jeremiah 29:11

For I know the plans I have for you, DECLARES THE Lord, plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future.

3.Luke 5:8

Don't be afraid, from now on you will catch men.

I used to think that I was self-sufficient, that I didn't need to bother other people about my needs, and I would rather be not bothered by others as well.
In other words, I was full of pride (one of the capital sins).

Before, I was so hesitant to give what I have, thinking that what I have would be diluted or diminished, The secret to having more is to give, because the Lord will give you back what you have given...multiplied!This is not only financially, but all areas of your life. But don't wrong anybody.

My thinking was, if you can do it, can also do it or if you hurt me, I can also hurt you. It was a "tooth for tooth and a nail for a nail" attitude. The Lord tested me and I became depressed, I have lost my love ones (left home).
If you are under this situation, the Lord uses somebody to reach out and bring you
back to His fold. He used two friends for me to attend the Life in the Spirit Seminars (5 times), attended prayer group meetings and was a daily visitor of the PEA.

The reason why we have to go Mass every Sunday is to celebrate with the congregation, our brothers and sisters in Christ. We should not be alone, we have to mix and help our brothers sisters in whatever needs they have.

The Lord has His mysterious ways on calling His prodigal children, His lost lambs.
He gave me hope, love, charity and direction.

As for catching men, the Lord led me to undergo spiritual formation to teach children and adults on the good news about our God.

So, suicide is not an option although it crossed my mind when I was at rock bottom and not yet molded.

Life is beautiful! We have different degrees of difficulties, but with God with us, nothing is impossible with HIM. But YOU HAVE TO ASK.