Daily Bible Reflections

June 22, 2011
GREATNESS, ARE YOU EXPECTING IT NOW?

But Abram said, “O Sovereign Lord, how can I know that I will gain possession of it? “ – Genesis 15:8

Back in the year 2000, when my girlfriend was frustrated with me in my failure to get two points (a sales requirement in a multilevel marketing company) I remember telling her, “Me? I’m always on the verge of greatness.” Strangely, that would calm her down.
While I said those words, I didn’t realize how powerful they were.
After six years in a company where I reached senior assistant manager, I got an early retirement and started anew as a manager elsewhere. Two years later, I left that second company and successfully worked for myself as an Internet marketer.
We will be known by the results or fruits of our lives, the Gospel says. And one way we can make sure that the fruits will be a great harvest is to change the words we use to describe ourselves.
I used to describe myself as on the “edge” of greatness. Now I say that my life is one marvelous miracle to another.
Now proclaim it for yourself: “I live a marvelous life!” Jomar Hilario (jomar.hilario@gmail.com)
22
REFLECTION:
How do you describe your future?

Lord, help me understand that Your plan for me is a marvelous life!

Daily Bible Reflections

June 20, 2011
HYPOCRITE

“How can you say to your brother, ‘Let me take that speck out of your eye,’ while all the time the plank remains in your own? You hypocrite!” – Matthew 7:4-5

During an interview, a presidentiable was saying we should stop speaking bad about others. He was later asked why he was running again when he had already lost in the past. His countenance changed as he recounted how he was cheated. He went on ranting about his political enemies. The interviewer reminded him of his earlier statement about not speaking ill of each other. The candidate was caught with his foot in his mouth and he was visibly embarrassed.
The word hypocrite comes from the ancient Greek plays where an actor would wear a smiling mask while delivering comic lines and change to a sad mask when saying tragic lines. The actor was called hypocritos.
All of us wear a mask at one time or another in order to be more acceptable to others. But time will come when all our pretenses will catch up with us. One of the lines in the movie Doctor Zhivago says, “Your health is bound to be affected if, day after day, you say the opposite of what you feel...” Sooner or later we shall be unmasked as we stand before God and we shall be held accountable for every word we have spoken in our life. Ronna Ledesma(ronnaledesma@email.com)
20
REFLECTION:
“Neither men nor angels can discern hypocrisy, the only evil that walks invisible — except to God.” (John Milton, Paradise Lost)

Search me, O God, and know my heart; try me and know my thoughts, and see if there is any wicked way in me…

Daily Bible Reflections

TRUE TREASURE

“For where your treasure is, there also will your heart be.” – Matthew 6: 21

Let me call her Edna. Born to a poor single woman and sold for P30 to a businessman, she had an ordinary childhood with her other stepbrothers and sisters. At an early age, she did not dwell on her past but decided to finish her studies, land a good job and live her life well. Today, Edna’s dreams are fulfilled. She married a good, rich man, who provides her with everything in life and more. She has her children and grandchildren who love and care for her. All of them support her in the life she has chosen.
Edna can sit down, relax and enjoy all her clothes, jewelry, cars, houses and other treasures that money can buy. But she has opted for the better life.
Every day, she goes early to church and helps out with the preparation for the Mass, sweeps the surroundings and helps the nuns in their kitchen work. She is a member of organizations that feed the hungry, give counsel, visit the sick and bury the dead of the poor. Often invited to be an officer of many other organizations, she prefers to be a hands-on worker, opening her heart and hands to those who need her. Her true treasure is in her heart, which is full of goodness and love. Chelle Crisanto (ellehcmaria@yahoo.com)
17
REFLECTION:
What you keep in this world — that is your earthly treasure. What you give away in this world — that is your heavenly treasure.

Remind me, Lord, when I forget to love and care for my brothers and sisters. Remind me also that my life should be for others and not for myself alone

QUICK HARVEST FORMULA

Let me say this much: he who sows sparingly will reap sparingly, and he who sows bountifully will reap bountifully. – 2 Corinthians 9:6

He was my real estate client and became a friend. I bumped into him in one of the shopping malls and he asked if I could visit him to ask for advice. It was the Christmas season and our calendar was full and our meeting schedule somehow could not fit. But a few days before Christmas, I gave him a call and he told me about his financial problems. He wanted to give his employees bonuses but his cash position was tight. He requested for a personal loan.
My husband and I prayed for discernment. I called him back to say that we were willing to loan him money and we had peace with our decision.
Not more than five minutes after I called my friend, the phone rang and the lady on the other line told me that I could pick up a commissions check the next day. This receivable had been overdue for more than two years and had been troublesome for me.
God’s timing was impeccable! When I planted a good deed, the harvest came immediately.Donna España (donna.espana@yahoo.com)
15
REFLECTION:
Do you want to be rich? Give and share. Be generous.

Lord, thank You for teaching me how to give generously because I know that You will replenish with much more what I give and share.