Christ's Teachings and Counting Our Blessings Can Lead to True Peace in Life

May this image of a dolphin, the sea angel, reminds us of our quest for peace and an undying love and friendship with our neighbors in Christ Jesus ... as we 'share the light.'

Man was created by God. Whatever man makes, can be used to glorify his Creator, because all things in this world can be utilized by people who become willing instruments of God's love.

If we sincerely want to serve Him, one great way is to follow Christ's teachings with that extra effort exerted to render unconditional love with care, humility, understanding and forgiveness to all mankind and to be a strong instrument to one's salvation through faith.

We need to pray to God constantly in almost everything that we do which develops an intimacy within that bond with Him that was created through baptism with water and with the Holy Spirit.

It is the same kind of closeness that one builds up in a relationship with confidence and trust that grows through prayers and hymns that delight's our Almighty Father and God.

And through Jesus, His Son, as friend and guide, you will see many miracles and signs of his presence along the way.

Thanking God every now and then for things that come and happen in our life, good or bad, show our strong faith in Him that He is always there on our side, and if we think it is so heavy a problem we cannot handle, make no mistake about it, He is carrying our load or burden.

In Matthew 11:28-30, Jesus says, “Come to me all of you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest". If it is not for us, then it will not be for us. He knows what is best for us. Consider any rejection as an opportunity, an eye opener and perhaps, a reminder to keep us back in His flock.

So “therefore, do not worry about tomorrow for tomorrow will worry about itself. Each day has enough trouble of its own,” as Christ states in Matthew 6:34.

And would we prefer to dwell in the past rather than learn from it and move forward to become more productive in our work under God’s guidance? Are we not led to more troubles and conflicts, or to stress and sleepless nights that can cause illness upon us, or cause pain to others as we dig on and hold on to our past?

Are we not further troubled, led to temptation and sin to satisfy what is evil whenever we keep on blaming others for material things and mistakes of the past rather than count our blessings and be more forgiving?

Even Jesus admonished us to love our enemies.  Enmity is caused more often by too much pride and belief in our self than of God, and by worldly things that leads us to vanity and disillusion.

As in Luke 23:34, he forgave those who have crucified him on the cross, saying (in one of his great Seven Last Words), “Father, forgive them for they do not know what they are doing.”

This is, perhaps, one of the hardest things a man can do, to love your enemy, and seeing him becoming your friend. But the truth reveals that eventually, is this not more gratifying and healthy as peace and friendship abounds in your life?

And in Matthew 18:22 when Jesus was asked by Peter how many times shall we forgive, Jesus said to him in reply, "I tell you, not seven times, but seventy-seven times," or as much as you can forgive as God has always been forgiving, and not to abuse this as God knows who are sincere in their hearts in asking forgiveness, that they may truly repent and sin no more.

Our blessings are far more to count than what we may have lost. And our sufferings are but a trial of our faith in our Creator, and remember, pain is but in our body.  As long as the spirit endures along with our faith and trust in the Lord our God, there is nothing we should fear.

Opening our eyes to greet a new day every morning is more than enough blessing in itself. We have to thank God for the gift of life to enjoy.

Thanking God for all the material things in our life is the best manifestation of our understanding that He has blessed our life and that we are here in this life not only to satisfy ourselves, but others foremost.

As a parent, He guides us to become a good Christian example to our family and to others.  Christianity begins at home and in 1 Timothy 3:1-5, St. Paul defines the overseer as the "husband of but one wife, temperate, self-controlled, respectable, hospitable, able to teach, not given to drunkenness, not violent but gentle, not quarrelsome, not a lover of money. He must manage his family well and see that his children obey him with proper respect."  

And we can keep our family and community happy by sharing our God given talents, thoughts and treasures in this short and temporary life with that fervent hope of being blessed with a ticket to heaven in the afterlife.

Be that as it may, vigilance against temptation is still a must as the evil one is ever relentless and works overnight for the improper and selfish use of material things. Be wary that we do not become slaves to material things to profess vanity and pride or to instill violence and injustice with malice towards others eventually causing hardships and pain to many.

Let us be reminded always by what Jesus has said to his disciples in Matthew 6:24 that we cannot serve two masters at the same time. We choose only one … either God or Mammon (money or material things).

And Jesus tells us not to lose our soul by clinging to what is worldly or evil. In Matthew 16:25-26, he reiterates to his disciples, “For whoever wants to save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for me will find it. What good will it be for a man if he gains the whole world, yet forfeits his soul?"


In Matthew 5:37, Jesus encourages us to be honest when asked to answer either a "yes" or a "no," "Simply let your 'Yes' be 'Yes,' and your 'No' be 'No'; anything beyond this comes from the evil one." 


St. Paul further states in Philippians 4:8-9, "... whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable - if anything is excellent or praiseworthy - think about such things.  Whatever you have learned or received or heard from me, or seen in me - put it into practice.  And the God of peace will be with you."


[Refer to the Ten Commandments for further reflection and inspiration as we seek enlightenment in God's commandments.]

If we opt to be ruled by material things or by money, which the evil one prefers, can we ever attain satisfaction and peace in our life?

[Read on our post touching on guidance for children, "Teaching Children About Love and Obedience."]

You may read further our related post, "Putting God in Your Life Can Make a Big Difference," as we KJOH.

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