Sunday, March 30, 2014

Outgrow Not Overcome


I was talking with a good friend of mine and we were sharing on the topic of struggles and he shared something about how good it is to be honest with oneself and be open with close friends who can be accountable to you. He told me also that it’s not about overcoming but outgrowing our struggles. I like the idea actually, not overcome, because overcoming connotes something out of our own struggle but outgrowing means we journey with God and by His grace, we are strengthened along the way. We cannot overcome struggles on our own, struggles will always be there but we can outgrow it by Gods grace. This was very clear when Saint Paul’s in his 2nd letter to the Corinthians 12:7-8, asked God to take away the thorn in his flesh but God said, “My grace is sufficient for you…”

by aats

Monday, March 24, 2014

Losing Courage and Confidence


Losing courage and confidence is one of the worst thing can ever happen to someone. It imprisons a person from realizing dreams and desires and disables someone from doing the right things and saying the right words. If we lose courage and confidence, we need outside encouragement. No matter how we try we can never do it on our own. We need God and others to bring in it back; God, for grace to overcome fear and others, for support to build up confidence.

by aats

Wednesday, March 19, 2014

He Took Mary Home

The story is told in Matthew 1:16,18-21,24 about Joseph having found out that Mary is pregnant wanted to divorce her quietly. However, an angel appeared to him in a dream and encourages him to take Mary as his wife because the child was born by the Holy Spirit. Joseph upon waking up took Mary home as his wife.

Joseph could have been very much aligned with God because he was able to identify the message as one coming from God or else he could not have just took the risks of marrying a pregnant woman. He has a discerning heart and the good thing about him is that it did not end there, he match it with obedience. The moment he received the message he got up and obeyed. He took the risks because for him it was worth it. Mary was worth all the love he can give and much more when he learned that inside her womb was love Himself. Who can say no to it?

For an undiscerning heart it was a risky, dangerous and shameful decision but for a man of God like Joseph it was a perfect, loving and joyful decision to make. Only a man of God can fully grasps the message of an angel.

He slept with anxiety and woke up affirmed, he took home the love of his life, Mary and got much more, the love himself in her womb. He built, cared, nurtured and protected his family. It was love that that made him decide to take home Mary as his wife and it was the same love that made him a model father and husband.


Saint Joseph help us to become more discerning so we can truly hear Gods message as much as you did. Amen.

Feast of Saint Joseph

by aats

Wednesday, March 5, 2014

Shape Up

There’s this phrase “shape up” that means to improve ones behavior. It’s a bit of a strong word if used for someone who has been doing bad things, it can really mean you are messed up and you need to change.


Lent is a time for self-reflection, looking with honesty the things we need to change and the things we need to improve on. It is a grace filled season that provides opportunity for transformation. So, if one way to wake and shake us up is to use some strong words to make us realize the need for change then the message of lent is “shape up!”

by aats

Ash Wednesday


The message of Ash Wednesday is humility. It is telling us that no matter how high we put ourselves, in the end we will all be ashes. So all things may be good but without humility, what is it of value?

by aats

Monday, March 3, 2014

When Men Reach The Limit


We have heard the phrase, “Do your best and God will do the rest.” We may be frustrated at times on goals not met, dreams not realized and desires not fulfilled. We exclaim, ‘I have done everything I can and still nothing happens!” In a world full of challenges all we need is to do our best. When men reach the limit of possibility God starts what is impossible.

by aats