Open the Door

"Look, I stand at the door and knock. If anyone hears my call and opens the door, I will come in to him and have supper with him, and he with me." - Revelations 3:20

Now with Christmas approaching, we are reminded to keep Christ in Christmas. We are reminded of the baby Jesus lying in a manger and how we need to pay attention to that infant and what He did in our lives. But all of you have gone past this and now are being called to a more advanced relationship with Jesus Christ. So now, during advent, I want you to instead think of the resurrected Jesus speaking to Saint John in the book of Revelations, saying, "Look, I stand at the door and knock." We all need to welcome Jesus in and finally open that door this time of year. Do away with the past and allow for Him to finally step in through the door, not just waiting for you outside while you decide what to do with your doubts and hesitations. And if you do this, He promises to come in to your heart and be with you. Who doesn't need healing? Who doesn't need the reassurance of a loving God? Who doesn't need direction and wholeness? This is what Jesus is knocking on your door to give you. Not to take anything from you, but to give to you what you have always been most in need of.

Today's Prayer:
Lord Jesus, I welcome You through my door. Sometimes it's scary to give up control to You, but I know in my heart that what You give me is life. Help me keep that door open and help others open it as well. In Your Name we pray, amen.

Lost Your First Love

"You have persevered and have suffered for my Name without losing heart. Nevertheless, I have this complaint against you: you have lost your first love. Remember from where you have fallen and repent, and do what you used to do before." - Revelation 2:4-5

For many of us, our relationship with God has reached its peaks and its valleys. When we're at our peak, our faith is so alive and we see God's hand in all things. And at the valleys, sin drags us down, the appeals of the world draw us in and we lose sight of God and occupy our time with other things. It is to people that are at these valleys that Jesus speaks to here. He accuses us of losing our first love, that is, that strong devotion we once had to Him. Remember how purely you believed at one point, how innocent you were in the presence of God. Do you still feel like that? Have you lost your first love? If you have, then Jesus says to go back to doing what you used to do before. If you would read the bible daily, go back to it. If you would pray the rosary daily, go back to it. Spend that time and give that dedication because Jesus will meet you half way and refill you with the Holy Spirit who will set your faith on fire. And He doesn't rebuke us here either; He reminds us that He knows us. He knows of our faith and all we have done for Him, but Jesus deserves so much more from us because He has done so much more for us. If you have lost your first love today, go back to how you used to be before in order to regain the joy of Christ.

Today's Prayer:
My Jesus, I have lost my first love and wish more than anything to have my heart filled with You again. Please forgive me for allowing my heart and my faith to get cold. I welcome You into my life. I make room for You so that You can grow in me. In Your Name we pray, amen.

An Exercise of Your Faith - Jesus Before You

"I saw someone like a son of man, dressed in a long robe tied with a golden girdle. His head and His hair are white as wool or as snow and His eyes are like flames of fire. His feet are like burnished bronze when it has been refined in a furnace. His voice is like the roaring of the waves." - Revelation 1:13-15

During his time in Patmos, the apostle John had a vision of our Lord Jesus Christ after His ascension into Heaven, in which He saw Him absolutely radiant in all of His glory as King. That's a really powerful image of Jesus but I have another which I'd like to share with you; one I'd like you to take a few minutes to pray and meditate on when you can today. It will help you meet Jesus in Your prayers.

When I meditate, I picture myself on a grassy hill on a beautiful spring afternoon. The breeze blows gently on the grass and flowers, and over a hill, I see Jesus walking over to me. He wears a long white robe and His dark brown hair reaches His shoulders. He comes closer and I see the warmth in His face as our eyes meet. He's come to meet me; He came specifically to see me. Without saying a word He sits next to me and looks me in the eyes with so much concern…He knows what I'm feeling…my pain, my joys, my fears, they don't need to be explained because with the way He's looking at me, I know He's able to fully comprehend all I'm feeling…and the emotions surface as the tears well up in my eyes. As a loving mother picks up her 4 year old child to hug, so does Jesus take me into His arms to hold me, and I let myself be embraced by my Lord who has already laid down His life for me. He says to me, "Peace be with you, I give you my peace," as He wipes the tears away. "Not as the world gives peace do I give it to you. Do not be troubled; do not be afraid. As the Father has loved me, so I have loved you; remain in my love (John 14:27, 15:9)." And there on the hill, my Lord consoles me and gives me peace, for I know He is forever by my side.

While I know Jesus is strong and powerful, I also know He's my friend. So much more than a God, He's a companion that understands me fully and longs for the moments in which I pour out all I'm feeling to Him. He's there when no one else is. He's been the only one to never fail me and as much as I've betrayed Him, I know He'll always, always be there. Remain in His love.

Today's Prayer:
Lord Jesus, I love You. You are my best friend, not just a God. Thank You for walking with me and holding my hand through out my ups and downs. Help me to introduce Your love and friendship to those that need a true friend. In Your Name we pray, Amen.

No More

"God will be with them and wipe every tear from their eyes. There shall be no more death or mourning, crying out or pain, for the world that was has passed away." - Revelation 21:3-4

I woke up so tired today. It just feels like every day is the same thing and I'm not where I want to be. There are things that hurt me and trouble I see coming down the road. Life just gets too heavy sometimes and I wish I didn't have to deal. On the train, I listened to my iPod and this song "No More" came on and immediately grabbed me. I've listened to it so many times but today God wanted me to remember and understand the words in this song. Read these words and think about these words that gave me so much happiness, strength and comfort today.

"No More"
Lately I've been waking up with questions in the night/
Lately I've been waiting through a mass of how's and why's/
Lately I've been trying hard to walk by faith and not by sight...

Still I need to keep reminding me that for all eternity/
I am leaving this pain, far behind/
I am leaving these how's and these why's...

And there will be -
No more questions, no more sorrow,
You'll wipe away every tear I've ever cried/
And No more worries about tomorrow,
no more wondering what Your face looks like...

Lately I've been tired of this struggle to survive/
Lately its been raining awfully hard down deep inside/
Lately I've been straining just to see You through these, clouded eyes...

Still I need to keep reminding me that for all eternity/
I am leaving this rain, far behind/
I am leaving these clouds far behind...

And there will be -
No more questions, no more sorrow,
You'll wipe away every tear I've ever cried/
And No more worries about tomorrow,
And no more wondering what Your face looks like...

God let me feel today that my life is short. If I let go of my worrying, which gets me no where, He will take care of me while I am alive. We're here to struggle maybe only 75, 90 years max - after that, after all the pain and struggling, we'll be with God forever in eternity. It's not that I'm looking forward to dying, it's that all this we go through is temporary and what's coming up next is so much more important and so much better than anything we have here. So, don't worry. Only preoccupy yourselves with reaching the salvation of your souls which is closer than you think.

Today's Prayer:
Jesus, look at my pain and my sorrows and help me to make it through to where You are. I know my life is so short and You are more than worth the struggle and the wait. Grant me the desire of my soul to be with You in Heaven. In Your Name we pray, Amen.

The Devil

"Woe to you, earth and sea, for the devil has come to you in anger knowing that he has but a little time." - Revelation 12:12

In the beginning when God created everything, He showed to His angels His plans to exalt the human race to share in His kingdom. The angel Lucifer, also known as Satan or the devil, became enraged and rebelled against this because his pride would not allow a human to be higher than him in God's eyes. This caused the rebellion in Heaven in which the angel Michael fought against the devil and threw him out into the earth along with all the others that rebelled against God. All this Jesus showed to His apostle John in a vision and that's why John says woe to you, earth and sea, for the devil has come to you in anger knowing that he has but a little time. God did not cast the devil into Hell but here on earth, where like a furious lion he chases after us trying to lead us into temptation and sin so that he can rob us of the peace, joy, and eternal life the Lord wants to give us.

In a movie, I once heard someone say that the devil's biggest advantage is that no one thinks he exists and this is true. He does not come to you in a way you can identify, but he starts to rob you of happiness and peace subtly. When you don't pray or look to God, he lures you into things that bring pleasure to your flesh while the spirit of God dies within you and you don't even realize you are not living according to God's way. And when you do look for God he starts to bring you trouble. Those close to you hurt you and trials start coming into your life so that you abandon the path of the Lord. You will try to keep your eyes on God but when you do, that's when he will attack you the most and try to lead you to believe that God is the reason you suffer and that God doesn't listen to you.

The devil does this because he hates you and all blessings in your life he WILL try to destroy. The good news is that Jesus' death on the cross has crushed him and all those that follow the Lord will be strengthened by Him when they call upon His Name. This is why you have to keep praying and praying when you're going through trials so that the devil can't get a foothold into your life and convince you that God is not there! I am telling you in all truth today that God does exist and He does love you. Don't let the devil rob you of the good things God has in store for you! Be cautious and aware of all your actions, constantly asking if you are doing the Lord's will or if you're letting yourselves be convinced by the evil one.

Today's Prayer:
My Lord, You have given me life and the devil is trying to bring me sorrow and death. Give me the strength and determination to keep my eyes on You despite all of the lies the evil one throws at me and all the pain he is trying to inflict upon me so that I turn against You. Please help me to see his actions so that I may not be deceived and continue to praise Your Name always! In Your Name we pray, Amen!

Neither Hot Nor Cold

"I know your works: you are neither cold nor hot. Would that you were cold or hot! You are lukewarm, neither hot nor cold so I will spit you out of my mouth." -Revelations 3:15-16

Many people say that they aren't a very religious person, that they go to church when they can but that they don't commit any major sins so although they don't always pray, they're still a good person. This is a lukewarm person. Christ died on the cross and lived a life of humility, charity, faith and good deeds so that we be like Him and imitate Him in all things. With these words Jesus Himself is saying that you can no longer be in the middle. You are either someone who does not know of God or refuses to believe or you are someone who has accepted Jesus' message of love and faith and has decided to move on with their cross. Anyone else He will absolutely reject because there is no way anyone can be both and truly be a follower of God.

You have heard the call and you know the message. Ask yourselves where you stand today and if you are not hot, ask God for the grace to come to His side with fervor. It is time for you to establish who you are in the person of Jesus Christ.

Today's Prayer:
My Lord God, I am like Jesus says, lukewarm. I know Your message and what you want of me, but my life and the things in it don't let me be the person You have taught me to be. Help me and give me the strength and dedication to once and for all, firmly place my eyes upon You and be Your servant. In Your Name we pray, Amen.

The Worth of a Believer

"I know your worth; I have opened a door before you, which nobody can close, because you have kept my Word and have not renounced me, in spite of your lack of power." - Revelations 3:8

You know, nothing is as soothing as being with close friends and family, the people that really know you even though it might seem like nobody else appreciates you. Chief among the people on your side is Jesus Christ. In this passage, Jesus is saying that no matter what anyone thinks about you, or what they say about you to your face or behind your back, He knows you and loves you for who you are. He knows what you're worth to God. He also knows your weaknesses and how you struggle at times to do what He wants of you, but the point is that you try. That's why He has promised a great reward for you, a door He has opened that no one and nothing can close. This is the care the Lord has taken for you, even in your weak condition and lack of faith at times. So remember, when you're down, don't feel appreciated or are struggling, Jesus loves you as you are and is waiting to show you that door that He has opened for you.

Today's Prayer:
Thank You Jesus for loving me as I am with all my flaws and defects. I pray that You always give me the courage to stay firm in You day after day. In Your Name we pray, Amen.