being persistent
you still remember last sunday’s gospel?
for those who no longer remember last sunday’s gospel, it is about the parable of the persistent widow. what does it teach us? well, it teaches us to be persistent . . . in what sense? the gospel reminds us to pray without ceasing.
in the gospel, we are presented a judge who does not fear god. yet, having a widow who persistently approaches him to ask for justice, the judge later on granted her the request. what can we learn from this? it narrates that no matter how evil a person may be, chances are he/she shall give in should we really persist. if an evil person can do that, what more with god? and so, as long as we continute to come to him, time will come and he shall grant them. we may all be very much aware of the passage "ask and you shall receive, seek and you shall find, knock and it shall be opened unto you." well, that’s basically it . . . 
trust me i’ve experienced that. to pray and ask something from god. sometimes, i’d wonder if he really listens because for the longest time, i feel he’s not responding to my request. although i sometimes wonder if my prayer shall be granted, i still continued . . . continued praying, that is. lo and behold! i got it now.
back in my religion classes in high school, i remember my teachers telling us that whenever we pray, god has 3 answers. first, yes and the request shall be granted; second, wait for the proper time that the prayer shall be granted; last, no but a better favor shall be given us.
to pray without ceasing . . . what does it imply? it just tells us to just have faith in god . . . no matter what.
i’d like to share another novena i did as i asked for my special request from god. this is the novena to the sacred heart. people claim that it is a very powerful novena and has never been known to fail. these prayers must be prayed 6 times for the next 9 days leaving 9 copies inside the church for 9 days as well. no, don’t get me wrong . . . i’m not using this blog as a chain message of some sort. i have my prayer granted already so i see no reason why i should place it here with that intention. my goal as i’m sharing this novena is to help you, guys. should you want to try it out, then feel free to do so . . .
i remember how i found this novena. i was texting a high school friend to help me pray for a special request. she later on informed me to visit our parish for the statue of our lady of manaoag is there. so i did . . . and as i was praying the rosary, i saw that novena. i figured god and mary perhaps are conversing with me through those things. i did the novena . . .
here it is . . .
NOVENA OF CONFIDENCE
O Lord Jesus Christ, to Your most Sacred Heart! Confide this intention (Mention your petitions).
Holy, look upon me, the do what your heart inspires. Let your Sacred Heart decide. I count on You. I trust in You. I throw myself at Your mercy.
Lord Jesus, I am confident that You will not fail me. Sacred Heart of Jesus, I trust in You. Sacred Heart of Jesus, I believe in Your love for me.
Sacred Heart of Jesus, I have asked for many favors, but I earnestly implore this one, take it and place it in Your Sacred Heart, so that when the Eternal Father sees it covered with Your most precious blood, he will not refuse it. It will no longer be my prayers but Yours.
O Sacred Heart of Jesus, I place my trust in You. Let me never be confounded.
NOVENA TO THE SACRED HEART OF JESUS
O most Holy Heart of Jesus, Fountain of every blessing, I adore You, I Love You, and with a likely sorrow for sins, I offer You this poor heart of mine. Make me humble, patient, pure and wholly obedient to Your will.
Grant good Jesus, that I may live in You and for You.
Protect me in the midst of dangers, comfort me in my afflictions, give me health of body, assistance in my temporal needs, Your blessings in all that I do, and the grace of a holy death.
NOVENA PRAYER
May the Sacred Heart of Jesus be adored, loved in all the Tarbernacles until the end of time. AMEN.
May the most Sacred Heart of Jesus be praised and glorified now and forever. AMEN.
Blessed be the Sacred Heart of Jesus, blessed be the Immaculate Heart of Mary, Sacred Heart of Jesus, pray for us and hear our prayers. AMEN.
(After this prayer followed by "OUR FATHER". Make eighty-one (81) copies of this and leave nine (9) copies at St. Clare’s pot for nine consecutive days. You will receive your intentions on or before the ninth (9th) day, no matter how difficult it may seem.)
pray with faith . . . pray without ceasing . . .
–GI 30682
Religion | Comment (0)the fern and the bamboo
i’m happy . . .
you know, many would be aware of how chaotic the early months of this year turned out to be. at times, i would question when god would stop from giving me more trials and struggles.
but then, as what many people would tell us . . . god won’t give us trials we can’t surpass, right? maybe, that’s it . . . and it’s now i realized it has helped me . . . it will help me . . . to become a better person . . . much stronger than i was before . . . emotionally, i guess.
during one of those "struggling" moments in my life . . . those moments when i just couldn’t understand why more trials or stresses in life occur, someone sent me this e-mail. i’ve kept this story in mind . . . it helped me . . . for since that moment on, i just tried keeping in mind that time will come that i shall rise as well . . . higher than the others.
let me share with you the story of "the fern and the bamboo"
One day I decided to quit…I quit my job, my relationship, my spirituality…. I wanted to quit my life. I went to the woods to have one last talk with God.
"God", I said. "Can you give me one good reason not to quit?"
His answer surprised me.
"Look around", He said. "Do you see the fern and the bamboo?"
"Yes", I replied.
"When I planted the fern and the bamboo seeds, I took very good care of them. I gave them light. I gave them water. The fern quickly grew from the earth. Its brilliant green covered the floor. Yet nothing came from the bamboo seed. But I did not quit on the bamboo.
In the second year the fern grew more vibrant and plentiful. And again, nothing came from the bamboo seed. But I did not quit on the bamboo.
"In year three there was still nothing from the bamboo seed. But I would not quit. The same in year four.
"Then in the fifth year, a tiny sprout emerged from the earth. Compared to the fern, it was seemingly small and insignificant.
But just six months later, the bamboo rose to over 100 feet tall. It had spent the five years growing roots. Those roots made it strong and gave it what it needed to survive. I would not give any of my creations a challenge it could not handle.
"Did you know, my child, that all this time you have been struggling, you have actually been growing roots? I would not quit on the bamboo. I will never quit on you.
"Don’t compare yourself to others." He said. "The bamboo had a different purpose than the fern. Yet they both make the forest beautiful.
"Your time will come", God said to me. "You will rise high"
"How high should I rise?" I asked.
"How high will the bamboo rise?" He asked in return.
"As high as it can?" I questioned
"Yes." He said, "Give me glory by rising as high as you can."
I left the forest, realizing that God will never give up on me. And He will never give up on you.
Never regret a day in your life.
Good days give you happiness; bad days give you experiences; both are essential to life.
–Author Unknown
maybe my time has come . . . and i’m ready to face the challenge . . . not wanting to fail god . . .
you know, the day god granted me my blessing . . . i received this message . . .
psalm 55:22
"cast your cares on the lord and he will sustain you; he will never let the righteous fall."
later during the day . . . i received a blessing from god . . .
god listens . . . he cares . . . he loves me . . .
–GI 30682
Religion | Comment (0)fulfillment of a promise
i had an intention . . . i wanted it badly that i just hung on to my faith . . . letting god take over . . . through the intercession of mary and the saints, the angels, my guardian angel, and the other departed.
well, i did make novenas to a couple of saints . . . those novenas which i’ve heard had this remarkable record of fulfillment.
and so, one of the saints i’ve done novenas to is saint clare . . .
the novena to saint clare was said to be powerful . . . and on the third day of your novena, you can expect your petition to be granted. on the ninth day of your novena, you must publish it . . .
true enough, i got my wish on the third day of my novena . . . and although tomorrow is my ninth day . . . i’d publish my account now.
guys, especially those people who’ve got intentions . . . i’m sharing this with you . . . i got my wish . . . my prayer . . . something i’ve long wanted from way back . . .
novena to saint clare
ask saint clare for 3 favors, 2 impossible, and say nine hail mary’s and the following prayer for nine days with a lighted candle.
prayer: may the sacred heart of jesus be praised, adored, glorified and loved today and everyday throughout the world forever. amen.
pray whether you believe or not. publish on the ninth day. your request will be granted no matter how impossible it may seem.
believe me, guys . . . i got mine
–GI 30682
Religion | Comment (0)