Do Not Be Afraid!

Do Not Be Afraid!

Jesus said to the Twelve:
"Fear no one.
Nothing is concealed that will not be revealed,
nor secret that will not be known.
What I say to you in the darkness, speak in the light;
what you hear whispered, proclaim on the housetops.
And do not be afraid of those who kill the body but cannot kill the soul;
rather, be afraid of the one who can destroy
both soul and body in Gehenna.
Are not two sparrows sold for a small coin?
Yet not one of them falls to the ground without your Father's knowledge.
Even all the hairs of your head are counted.
So do not be afraid; you are worth more than many sparrows.
Everyone who acknowledges me before others
I will acknowledge before my heavenly Father.
But whoever denies me before others,
I will deny before my heavenly Father."

~ Matthew 10: 26-33

Reflections:

What things in this world, of which you worry about and yet unable to do anything about it?

In fact without an iota of doubt, we all worry and most especially about situations we cannot change, for instance, life and death, health and sickness, true happiness and sorrows, accidents, natural disasters, other kinds of calamities. What about one’s fate during a trip, whether it’s on land, air or sea? Then, what about the worries about tomorrow, that has not even come, let alone the today that is not yet over?

In a split of seconds, our destiny can be changed by circumstances beyond our control and these are the reality of our life here on earth.

These circumstances are causes of untold anxieties, leading to fear and lack of trust in God’s divine providential cares and plans for our lives. Nevertheless, in this Gospel, our Lord Jesus Christ is reassuring us of his ever present timely help, if only we can cultivate the habit of trusting, hoping and having faith in our Lord and our God.

What are the challenges that you are facing today?

Are you experiencing difficulties in your family, marriage or with bringing up your children the right way?

Are you going through unfulfilled dreams and aspirations in your career?

Are you about to compromise your faith in God, because, in your mind time is no longer on your side?

Are you experiencing barrenness in your life?

Are you being rejected, insulted and even suffering other forms of persecutions because of your faith in God?

Are you about to give up, because the burden is too much for you to handle?

Well, you are not alone!

Jesus Christ, our Lord and Savior is our compass and role model in dealing with the challenges of life and until we recognize this hidden secret, life on earth shall remain unbearable to us.

So, how do I emulate Jesus Christ, you may ask?

The prophet Jeremiah ( Jeremiah 20: 10-13), expresses his lamentation, when the almighty God told him to proclaim that only in God can we find the truth and love and prosperity and security we so much desires. His own people beat him up, rejected him and threaten to kill him for speaking the truth!

Jeremiah did not give up, instead, he was able to find courage and consolation in the Almighty and as a result moved by the power of God, he was able to say:

“But the Lord is with me, like a mighty champion:

my persecutors will stumble, they will not triumph.”

Saint Paul addressing the Romans (Romans 5: 12-15), emphasize the significance of the obedience of our Lord Jesus Christ in contrast with the disobedience of Adam! The later brought sin and death, whereas the obedience of Jesus Christ restored salvation to humanity! Therefore in order for us to emulate our Lord Jesus Christ we must be obedient to the law of God which is love.

Given the exponential manifestations of man inhumanity to man; killings, terrorism and other forms of hate crimes, stealing, corruption and inimical favoritism, the senseless wars, ethnic cleansing, and racism and chronic and acute intolerance, we may despair and begin to doubt whether our God really cares.

However, the reality is simply the truth and the truth is our God truly cares and love us so much that even the Sparrows that our God would not allow to fall to the grounds without his knowledge is worth nothing  more than us!

Actions:

We must act in reciprocation to the unimaginable and infinite love that God has for us!

No matter what you may be going through right now, the challenge to the Christian and lover of God is to turn to hope, rather than despair, faith, rather than doubt and above all turn to love rather than hatred.

Let us allow the love of God to transform our hearts today, so that we may continue to enjoy his divine mercy and grace, and trust that his divine providential cares and plans are enough to lead us through the darkness of this world, and bring us into the light of his goodness and ultimately into life everlasting.

Whenever we are faced with fears, anxieties and doubt, let us turn to Jesus Christ and experience the power of his crucifixion and recognize the fact that, if our God did not hesitate to offer his Only Begotten Son as the sacrificial lamb that brought us salvation, the Almighty will never hesitate to help us through our challenges and nor will our God forsake or abandon us.

Do not fear!

And so do not be afraid; for you are worth more than many sparrows indeed!

Amen!

Prayer:  Psalm 69

R. Lord, in your great love, answer me.
I pray to you, O LORD,
for the time of your favor, O God!
In your great kindness answer me
with your constant help.
Answer me, O LORD, for bounteous is your kindness;
in your great mercy turn toward me.

R. Lord, in your great love, answer me.

Peter Odeh @FocusInLove 6/25/2017.

Ref: Matthew 10: 26-33, Jeremiah 20: 10-13, Romans 10: 26-33

My Lenten Journey 2017: His steadfast love endures forever!

My Lenten Journey 2017:

His steadfast love endures forever!

And just like that, behold another Ash Wednesday celebration which marks the beginning of the 40 Days of fasting preparatory to the celebration of the resurrection of my Lord Jesus Christ!

The year 2017 have a special meaning to me particularly when I reflect upon my status in comparison to where I came from and where I am headed. It has not been easy, nevertheless through them all, my God has maintained his steadfast love, mercy and divine providence in my life.

This journey could not have been possible without my family and friends and especially the faith community and additionally the appreciations and rejections I experienced in my various contemplative posts on Facebook.

My temptations were many indeed; at home and away from home! I also have to deal with my sinful self and come to realize more than ever, my nothingness in comparison to God’s absolute greatness. Furthermore, during this period of Lent in the year of our Lord 2017, I also share a special relationship with my God in a way never done before. The proximity between my God and me was better than years before, and on various occasions, the almighty God has literally lifted me up from the valley of death, sorrows and disappointments.

Through this journey, my hands have been made strong, my heart steadfast in the Lord and my mind wiser than before in knowing about the indispensability of my God in my life. As the Lord lives, so do my faith, hope and love thrive irrespective of my circumstances.

I suffer a lot of spiritual and physical attacks; some nearly breaking me, however, my God did not allow the humiliation I suffered to cloud the eyes of my heart toward his infinite love and goodness to me.

Today is the last Friday before Holy Week and I am so glad that in spite of the fact that I may not have observed the Lenten season prescriptions of fasting, alms giving and prayer as I could have loved to, my little effort was more than compensated by my Lord and savior Jesus Christ, who I try to emulate on a daily basis. By his stripes we are made whole and saved from eternal damnation.

This Lenten journey has exposed my weaknesses and my complete dependent on my God for everything including breathe of life, and for this I am forever grateful to God.

One of my favorite narrative during this period of lent, even though there are uncountable spiritual narratives that continue to help my growth as a father and husband, brother and son, and above all an individual, searching to be a better follower of Jesus Christ is without doubt the STORY OF JESUS ENCOUNTER WITH MARY, MARTHA AND THEIR BROTHER LAZARUS!

As a result of Jesus Christ raising Lazarus from the dead, my faith which had been tested on various occasions has remained grounded in the Lord Jesus Christ. Daily I am reminded of the grace of God, His mercy and love and divine providence in my life.

Lazarus reminded me that there is indeed life after death!

Lazarus reminded me too that Jesus Christ is the Son of the living God!

Lazarus reminded me that none of my dreams shall die as long as they are in accordance to God’s will.

Lazarus showed me that faith in Jesus Christ must be accompanied by my actions in doing my part to bring it about.

The Lenten journey is a process and very much ongoing, and therefore I continue to pray and seek divine guidance, protection and mercy from the almighty God who has once more given me the opportunity to see this day.

Today I may not have all that I wanted in the world, nevertheless I am so happy, grateful and contented with what my God has given to me which is more than the world could ever give- the gift of eternal life through Jesus Christ, who is my Lord and the Son of the living God!

Prayer:

Dear God,

Thank you for my family and friends and especially for your church!

Help me never to harden my heart whenever I listen to your words of eternal life.

Touch me with your gifts of love, hope and faith and increase within me your generosity of mercy, compassion and charity.

Heal my wounds O Lord and God and comfort me in my distress.

Thank you for your divine providence in my life.

And thank you so much for making it possible for us to live and share in thy grace and bounty.

Forgive me my uncountable sins and grant me thy grace to sin no more.

Amen!

Most Sacred Heart of Jesus Christ, have mercy on me!

Immaculate Heart of Mary and Blessed St. Joseph, pray for me!

St. Martin de Porres and St. Therese of the Little Flower, pray for me!

Angels and saints of God, pray for me.

Glory be to the Father, Son and Holy Spirit.

Amen!

May God bless you all. Amen.

@FocusInLove

Africa’s Great Civilization : Origins

Uncover the origins of man and early human society in Africa with Henry Louis Gates, Jr.

http://www.pbs.org/video/2365964624/

Splendid!

Historians rank Barack Obama 12th best President

Historians rank Barack Obama 12th best President:

Survey

It’s only been a few weeks since former President Barack Obama left the White House, but presidential historians have already placed him on the right side of history.

AC-SPAN survey of 91 historians and presidential experts ranked the Democrat the 12th best leader in United States presidential history — just ahead of James Monroe and right behind Woodrow Wilson.

Another Illinois politician, former President Abraham Lincoln, claimed the survey’s top spot. He’s followed closely by George Washington, with Franklin D. Roosevelt rounding out the top three.

Experts who participated in the survey were asked to grade the presidents on 10 different facets of their terms in office, like “Crisis Leadership” and “International Relations.”

http://www.nydailynews.com/news/national/historians-rank-barack-obama-12th-best-president-survey-article-1.2976168

You Are The Light Of The World!

“You are the salt of the earth…..

You are the light of the world.”

~ Matthew 5: 13- 16

In our very complex, confused and divergent era, it is very difficult at times to narrow down the qualities that make us to be the “salt” and “light” of the world!

Without an iota of doubt, Christians in the practice of our faith have been overwhelmed with how often we fall short of our calling as disciples of Jesus Christ, and the most unfortunate aspect is the realization that some of these negative actions are perpetuated through an act of ignorance.

The prophet Isaiah today shares in our concerns and through divine prophesy was able to itemize what is needed to be the “salt” and “light” of the world. On our own, we can do nothing, however if we turn to God, the same Almighty will not deny us, but more than willing to offer us his grace and divine providence, mercy and perseverance to achieve the goals for which we are call upon to exercise for the sake of our faith in him.

Thus says the LORD:

Share your food with the hungry and open your homes to the homeless poor. Give clothes to those who have nothing to wear, and do not refuse to help your own relatives.

⁸ “Then my favor will shine on you like the morning sun, and your wounds will be quickly healed. I will always be with you to save you; my presence will protect you on every side. ⁹ When you pray, I will answer you. When you call to me, I will respond.

“If you put an end to oppression, to every gesture of contempt, and to every evil word; ¹⁰ if you give food to the hungry and satisfy those who are in need, then the darkness around you will turn to the brightness of noon.

Whatever environment you find yourself, God is asking you today to be the “salt” and “light” of the world.

Whenever you allow love, rather than hate to guide your actions, you are the light of Jesus

Whenever you act justly and with mercy and compassion, you are the light of Jesus

Whenever you support the poor and fill their poverty with you joy, you are the light of Jesus

Whenever you recognize others pains and self to resolve or reduce them, you are the light of Jesus

Whenever you treat immigrants and strangers as your own family, you are the light of Jesus

Whenever you stand with the downtrodden and helpless, you are the light of Jesus

Whenever you say no to racism, dogmatism and inhumanity, you are the light of Jesus

Whenever you see the poverty and humility of Jesus in mankind, you are the light of Jesus

Whenever you forgive your brother, you are the light of Jesus

Whenever you pray for your “enemies” too, you are the light of Jesus

Whenever you sacrifice for others, you are the light of Jesus

Whenever you become an instrument of grace to others, you are the light of the world.

In order to be a Christian, you must become poor- that is empty of pride and become full of humility, and then Jesus Christ can come in and dwell with you and fill you with his grace, which will enable you to be the “salt” and “light” of the world.

Therefore, as you step out today, let the Holy Spirit permeate your heart and help you to see JESUS CHRIST in everyone irrespective of their religion, greed and orientation, their color or race, their academic or social status and political inclinations.

Go out and become the light that Jesus Christ want you to be, so that through you, many might be given the second chance of knowing the infinite goodness and love of the almighty God who created man and woman and the entire universe.

God bless you. Amen

@Focusinlove

Isaiah 58: 7- 10, Psalm 112, I Corinthians 2: 1-5, Matthew 5: 13 - 16

Women's Marches Against President Donald Trump

Women's Marches Against President Donald Trump

Millions of women gathered in Washington and cities around the country Saturday to mount a roaring rejoinder to the inauguration of Donald Trump one day earlier.... Source: Washington-Post January 21, 2017

Reflection: Let peace reign supreme. Amen.

@PeterNHelenodeh

In Celebration of the “Dream”: Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.

I will make you a light to the nations,

that my salvation may reach to the ends of the earth.

~ Isaiah 49:6

Dreams are made during the darkest moment in life and the life and times of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr., was not any different. We must keep dreaming for a better home, city and state, country and the whole world and for peace, love and unity among men notwithstanding our divergence.

Many have been written, said and reflected upon the life of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr., however in my heart and mind, nothing best prepared him for the task of becoming the sacrificial lamb for the downtrodden, the persecuted and those in bondage of physical and mental slavery and injustices as his complete faith in the almighty God.

It is therefore appropriate to quote from the prophet Isaiah prophesy about the “Light of the world” who was Jesus Christ and also those who chooses to follow in the path of the same light.

As a people we are being challenged today to worthily celebrate Dr. Martin Luther King Jr., Day by becoming a reflection of the idealism that led to his painful death and by faith his glorious martyrdom while witnessing to the word of God.

If you want peace as Dr. King desire, then become the peace that the world need!

If you want justice as Dr. King desire, then become the justice that the world need!

If you want love as Dr. King desire, then become the love that the world need!

If you want unity as Dr. King desire, then become the unity that the world need!

If you want freedom as Dr. King desire, then become the freedom the world need!

If you despise discrimination as Dr. King do, then stop discriminating!

If you abhor racism as Dr. King do, then stop being a racist!

If you want to dream as Dr. King did, then become the dream that the world need today.

In order to worthily celebrate Dr. King, we must be ready to put on the armor of God which abound where there is love, hope and faith, trust, obedience and humility, patience, perseverance and endurance, mercy, compassion and forgiveness and unity.

Happy Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Day!

@PeterNHelenodeh, @Focusinlove

FULL: President Barack Obama's Farewell Address (Jan. 10, 2017) Video

Thank you Mr. President Barack Obama

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EBR9JPSppZs&spfreload=5

My New Year -2017 Resolution: “Let Me Recognize the Presence of God”

My New Year -2017 Resolution: “Let Me Recognize the Presence of God”

Retrospectively, the year 2016 could be aptly defined as the Year of Divine Providence in my life! The almighty God visibly intervened over and again from one circumstance to another situation and when I felt it was all over, I was reminded that with God it is never over.

Through it all, come rain and come sun shine, the God I served did not fail me nor did the almighty God abandoned me, instead, through divine providence, he took care of all that concerns me and behold I am here today on this first day of the New Year 2017 to testify of the goodness of the Lord in the land of the living.

My New Year Resolution for 2017 is to “Recognize the presence of God in all my thoughts, words and actions, and in the interactions with mankind.

Thanksgiving for the year 2016

On several occasions we all experience the inability to thank God for all the goodness that he has bestowed on us, and therefore it is essential for me to use this opportunity to reflect upon the uncountable instances that I ought to gratefully thank God for being God in my life.

For the uncountable times that the almighty God has forgiven my sins, I thank you O Lord, my God!

For the uncountable times that the almighty God was the healer in my life, thank you.

For the redemption of my life through the sacrifice of Jesus Christ, I thank God.

For the compassion, love and mercy of the almighty God, I thank you.

May the many times I have  taken these blessings for granted and yet you O Lord, my God still forgave me, I thank you.

Above it all, for the gift of life, I thank you my God.

Priceless and Precious We Are!

Our society want us to believe that we are worthless, useless and disposable by virtues of the price tag that is on our head, when we are without sickness, homeless, hungry and in need of help! We trash babies through abortion as if they are manufactured goods gone badly! We kill one another through wars and other man made crises that transform the lives of others into perpetual refugees and aliens.

And in spite of this negativity, is it not ironic that, while a healthy individual may seems so worthless, yet, mere medical intervention to replace an organ can be as expensive as 100 times what is needed to prevent such procedure in the first place. For instance, as a healthy man, I was denied health insurance for lack of enough income and yet, my body parts can be sold to replace another organ in a wealthy individual to the amount of Millions of Dollars in such procedures as Kidney, liver, and lungs transplants!

In order words, when we take our health for granted, look no further than to visit the hospital where our sick brethren are waiting in line for organ donation to at least prolong their lives on earth.

Our life is priceless and precious before our God and irrespective of our circumstances, we must recognize the essential fact that our God has given to us and freely too.

Consequently, in the year 2016, I thank God, the almighty, the alpha and omega, and the beginning and the end for his steadfastness, infinite goodness and divine providence, love and mercy.

Demand and Supply

We are always searching for avenues of satisfaction, always wanting something new to add to our material possessions, however the more we acquire the less happy and satisfied we become! This fact is mostly obvious because, we fail to recognize God in what we have. Rather than appreciate what we have and thank God for the blessings, our focus is drawn to what we do not have and therefore essentially creating a gulf of insatiability that no human demand and supply can ever satisfy.

Majority of us are very unhappy because we cannot have the things that are making the other majority unhappy! For instance, we are unhappy because we claimed not to have enough money; regrettably those who have the so called money are unhappy because unfortunately the same money does not bring them the happiness they initially anticipated that material wealth could offer.

In the same fashion, we are unhappy with our job forgetting that there are millions without a job, we don’t like our home, paying little or no attention to the homeless and our parents are not Hollywood stars and that is a reason to be unhappy, whereas Hollywood parents are regretting the fact that some of their children are not what they expected them to turn out to be.

The economic law of Demand and Supply does not apply when satisfaction is the goal and the reason is simple: Man was created for the purpose of worshiping God and their lie the ultimate source of true satisfaction.

When I think about all the oxymoron of life, I have no choice but to seek the path that will guarantee me lasting satisfaction in this world and in the one to come!

My New Year-2017 Resolution is therefore to RECOGNIZE GOD’S PRESENCE, for in so doing, I will be granted both physical and spiritual understanding, knowledge and wisdom to be happy no matter my physical and emotional and spiritual states of body and mind.

Expectations- 2017

This New Year-2017 shall be termed the Year of Divine Glory and Manifestation! Last Year -2016 was evidently and rightly judged as the year of Divine Providence because without any form of income for over three years, the almighty God took control of my family and sustained us through the 365 days that accounted for that year. Every second, minutes and hours, every day, week and month the Almighty intervened over and again to protect us from harm.

For over three years without Health insurance, God kept us healthy.

For over three years without income, God paid for our mortgage and other bills

For over three years without the resolution of the immigration matter, God kept the flame alight

For over three years of injustices, God’s justices kept us in hope, peace and love.

For over three years without the ability to support my families and friends, God sent benefactors to help.

For over three years of being cheated by immigration attorneys, costing us over $40, 000.00, yet the almighty God gave us a forgiven and loving hearts and we were able to focus on Jesus Christ.

These situations did not break us down because our God did not forsake nor abandoned us, instead through his divine providential cares manifested in the uncountable benefactors he sent to us, we were made strong, hopeful and filled with divine happiness, joy and we rejoice daily in his love for us.

The expectations of the New Year- 2017 is obviously the manifestation of the glory of our God, because the Almighty has proved beyond reasonable doubt that he is the protector of the just and he will never put to shame those who called upon his name in times of need.

Thank you O Lord, my God for behold the joy of the Lord is my strength.

PRAYER:

Dear God,

Please help me to emulate the Blessed Virgin Mary, the Mother of God who trusted in your divine providence, love and mercy and said “YES” to the message of the angel Gabriel.

Help me to say “YES” to your prompting!

Help me to recognize your presence in my life!

Help me to recognize you in my families, friends and in mankind!

Help me to recognize you in all my undertakings!

Help me to recognize you in those who are in need of you, my God.

Thank you, my Lord and my God, as I seek you in my life. Amen.

@focusinlove @peternhelenodeh