NOT AT THIS TIME

Read: Romans 11:33–12:2

Be transformed by the renewing of your mind. —Romans 12:2

Isaiah 5-6; Ephesians 1

It can be quite discouraging for wanna-be writers to get their work rejected time after time. When they send in a manuscript to a publisher, they’ll often hear back in a letter with these words: “Thank you. But your submission does not meet our needs at this time.” Sometimes this really means “not at this time—or ever.” So they try the next publisher and the next.

I’ve found that the phrase This does not meet our needs at this time—or ever can be a helpful saying in my Christian walk to renew my mind and refocus my thoughts on the Lord.

Here’s what I mean. When starting to worry, we can remind ourselves: “Worry does not meet my needs at this time—or ever. My heart’s need is to trust God. I will ‘be anxious for nothing’ ” (Phil. 4:6).

When we envy what another person has or does, we can reinforce the truth: “Envy does not meet my needs at this time—or ever. My need is to give thanks to God. His Word says, ‘Envy is rottenness to the bones’ (Prov. 14:30), and ‘In everything give thanks’ ” (1 Thess. 5:18).

We can’t renew our minds by ourselves (Rom. 12:2); it’s the transforming work of the Holy Spirit who lives in us. Yet speaking the truth in our thoughts can help us to submit to the Spirit’s work within. 

For Further Thought
What are some areas you struggle within your heart?
Ask God to renew your mind that it might think like His.
Then keep reminding yourself of the truth. 

The Spirit of God renews our minds
when we review the Word of God.

Monera Cabiguin

Fast for Financial breakthrough

Debt. Unpaid bills. Not enough money to give or save. If you're struggling with financial problems, you may feel overwhelmed. Maybe you've prayed for God's help, but haven't yet experienced solutions.

Adding fasting to your prayers can bring about breakthroughs in even the toughest situations. As you fast, God can change your perspective to more clearly reveal His plan for your finances.

Here are some ways you can fast for a financial breakthrough in your life:

* Consider the different types of fasts. Think about which type of fast you would like to undertake, such as: giving up one or two meals a day (and praying during those times), giving up meat, giving up all desserts and snacks, consuming only juice, or abstaining from something other than food (such as television). Then think about how long you'd like to fast. Make sure you check with your doctor before fasting for any sustained length of time so you don't endanger your health.

* Make sure your requests are in line with God's will. Ask only for money that God wants you to have. Understand that sometimes it's a greater blessing to receive wisdom that you can apply to your financial decisions than to suddenly receive a large sum of money. Know that a transformed attitude about money will glorify God more than just winning the lottery. Be open to God's best for you without trying to manipulate Him.

* Reflect on biblical principles while you fast. Study the Scriptures to understand what God has promised about how He will provide for His children.

* Believe that God will answer you. Know that God looks for faith among people who ask Him to move in their lives. Realize that if you have even just a little bit of faith, God can use it accomplish a huge task.

* Fast and pray with other believers. Ask others to pray with you. Know that there is more power in the prayers of two or more believers who agree about their prayers than simply in one believer praying alone.

* Continue fasting and praying until you receive an answer. Realize that your answer may take time to come. Trust in God's timing and ask Him to help you be patient as you wait. Be persistent, knowing that God is pleased when you stay in regular communication with Him.

* Ask God to remove barriers of sin in your life. Use your fasting time to reexamine your relationship with God. Ask God to reveal any hidden sin in your life that is obstructing your relationship with Him. Then when He does, confess it and ask for His forgiveness so He will begin in hear and answer your prayers.

* Ask God to use your fasting to increase your faith. As you fast, ask God to grow a bigger faith in you that you can apply to all situations in your life (money-related, or not).

* Learn biblical stewardship as you fast. As you control your physical appetite while fasting, ask God to give you discipline to help you control other aspects of your life, as well. Pray specifically for wisdom as it relates to your money problems. Ask God to help you understand why you're in financial trouble and what, if any, unhealthy habits you need to overcome.

* Keep a journal during your fast. As you fast about your money problems, write down what you're learning about money management. Refer to your journal later to help you make needed changes in how you handle your finances.

* Acknowledge that all your money comes from God. Take the time to thank God for what He has provided for you or enabled you to earn.

* Distinguish between needs and desires. Ask God to teach you the difference between what you need and what you want. Ask God to clarify whether your lack of money is due to poor financial management or His call to a vocation that doesn't pay well. Pray for the strength you need to avoid greed and embrace contentment.

* Prioritize your expenditures. During your fast, ask God to guide you as you rank your budget expenses from highest to lowest. Use your rankings as a guide for deciding how to spend in the future.

* Fast and pray for the strength to avoid temptation. Be aware that Satan will try to tempt you financially in many different ways, such as by drawing you into materialism or distracting you so you direct your resources away from where God wants you to invest them. Ask God to give you the strength you need to always follow where He leads as you manage your money.

God's Message for Today

We went to Padre Pio's shrine today to attend Sunday mass. I am recovering from a problem which my husband and I recently face and so I ask God to help me discern his message for me. During the homily, the priest mentioned about the word metanoia. The word itself has so many meanings: in thelogy it means repentance, in rhetoric it means correction and in psychology it means healing. I knew right there and then that all these meanings are directed to me.
I had asked the Lord for his message to me, what he wants me to do with my situation and its pretty clear to me that I need to repent and forgive myself and not be disappointed with the decision I made. I need to correct the ill feelings I had been carrying since that day happened and I have to ask and seek the Lord to heal and cleanse me.
This incident also made me realize of the things I have which I know I have taken for granted--my family. I have to find happiness in the small things I have and learn to cherish the. I need to re-assess my motivation of why I want to work abroad--is it really because I want to gain experience or is it because of my pride as I want to prove myself to other people? We both have stable jobs and a well-off life but why did I not see this and I yearned for more?
It dawned on me, I never asked help from God. I forgot to pray at night and I never went to mass when life was easy for me. I think God gave this bend on my road to let me know that I still need Him, that HE is still God.
Now, I will live my life one day at a time, with each day showing appreciation to the Lord and his blessings-big or small. I will try everyday to reform and be contented. I swear to always say my prayers in the morning and at night and for thank him for everything-be a blessing or a problem. I also promise to attend Sunday masses from now on.
I thank PAdre Pio for interceding for me, for bringing me God's message.
Truly, God in his own time, will answer our heart's desire.

Padre Pio's Feast Day

Pray. Hope and don't worry.

Today is the feast day of my beloved Saint- Saint Pio of Petrelcina.

Schedule of Masses for St. Pio's Feast Day

His Eminence, Ricardo Cardinal Vidal will not be celebrating Mass on the 23rd due to health reasons. Below is the updated list of Mass celebrants:
10:00 AM - Rev. Fr. Victor Emmanuel Clemen
12:15 PM - Bishop Raul Martirez
5:00 PM - Bishop Teodoro "Ted" Bacani
7:00 PM - Rev. Fr. Daniel Allan Samonte

Prayer of Healing (Mind, Body & Spirit)

Pray this prayer with faith and trust in your heart.  If you are praying over someone, add the name of the person.)

Dear Lord, I know that there is no sickness You cannot heal.  You know all things, You can do all things and I know You love me very much.  With faith in Your promise that whatever we ask in prayer, You will grant us if it will be good for our soul.  I come before You to ask for the healing of my body, mind, emotions and spirit.  Touch me now where I am hurting most.  Only You know what kind of healing I need most right now.  Let the grace of Your divine love flow and spread to the different parts of my body reaching the inner recesses of my being.  Comfort me in my pain and anguish.  Correct any malfunctioning of my body organs.  Melt with Your healing love any abnormal growths.  Arrest all further spreading of all sick cells and replace them with healthy cells.  Root out all unresolved hurts, resentments, fears and feelings of despair and frustration.  Heal all painful memories and repercussions of traumatic experiences.  Grant me the grace to accept this trial and suffering as a share in Your own sufferings and offer this for the salvation of my soul and those of my family and loved ones.  Forgive me for all my sins and fill me with Your love, peace, joy, kindness and generosity.  Let me realize the deeper meaning of my sickness and trial and lead me closer to You as I find comfort in Your loving heart.  Let me find joy and peace amidst my suffering, and with eyes of faith, see the blessing and victory that await me.  And then, dear Father, after I have been healed, may I be a witness of Your healing power and bring glory, honor and praise to You.  This I pray in Jesus’ name through Mary and all the saints.  Amen.

Prayer for Cleansing

Heavenly Father, in the Name of Jesus Christ, our Lord and Savior by the power of the Holy Spirit, we pray that the cleansing power of the precious Blood of Your Son come upon us right now.  Purify us and wash us clean with the Blood of Jesus from the top of our head down to the very soles of our feet.  Let this Blood penetrate the very marrow of our bones to cleanse us from any entanglement from whatever spirit we have come in contact with during the course of our intercession.  Anoint us with the gifts of the Holy Spirit and refresh our body, soul and spirit.  And may the sign of Your Holy Cross drive away all evil spirits from us.  (Make the sign of the cross.)  In the Name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit.  Amen.

Bible Verse About Crying

John 14:1-31

“Let not your hearts be troubled. Believe in God; believe also in me. In my Father's house are many rooms. If it were not so, would I have told you that I go to prepare a place for you? And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again and will take you to myself, that where I am you may be also. And you know the way to where I am going.” Thomas said to him, “Lord, we do not know where you are going. How can we know the way?” ...