Jan-B's Blog

 Lent- a time to reflect and reexamine our Faith. Covid made some turn to their Faith, seeking God's grace for solace; the thought of dying compelling a "revisit" on how their lives have been. Realizing there is more to life than money or fame when that reality hits, we turn to our Faith and seek the peace only God can give. 1 person said People with fame and wealth realizing their time was soon coming to a close saying " I am ready, I have made my peace with God" and a very rich man building a church now knowing his Faith has sustained and prepared him for that moment he would face his creator. Faith has been the center of my life. My mother a devout Catholic living her prayers in deeds, with us looking at our mother as Saints and our guiding light providing tranquility when facing uncertainties. Now reexamining our Faith to find renewed spirituality. Keep the Faith shaping the way we live our life. Covid strengthens our faith teaching us to share with those wh...

 St. Ignatius prayer for a generous Faith. Lord teach me to be generous. Teach me to serve You as You deserve: to forgive and not to count the cost, to fight and not to heed the wounds, to toil and not to seek for rest, to labor not to ask for reward, save that of knowing I do your will. Amen. St. Ignatius of Loyola said "Act as if everything depended on you; Trust as if everything depended on God"

 Typhoons cause floods. No man is an island. We can either be a mansion island of the indifferent rich or shanty island of the hopeless poor. Yet the islands of the rich and poor can jointly open towards solidarity - a change of mindset for the rich getting out of its comfort zone and the poor to getting out of it's despair. Typhoons and pandemic give so much occasions to live fraternity and charity. Us rich and poor joining in hands towards the spirit of bayanihan needing to have a face - the face of those closest to us, of others who are in need and those who can help. Charity isn't theoretical; it has a face and names in of both giver and recipient as they help each other in friendship. We clearly see Christ for Christ to know we are brothers and sisters open to all "Fratelli tutti" Dare to be God's heart in this world.

 Don't just be yourself. Always want to better yourself. There is no perfect life shit happens. Let's just adapt, plan and prepare. Define success for you. If not defined properly you'll not be happy with the results from your goals. Defining success is crucial cause a wrong definition can make you feel miserable and give you a focus on the wrong things.

I am a son of my Mother and so are you. Each one a son or daughter of a mother. Our choosing to always celebrate the December 8 feast of the immaculate heart of Mary. Loving our Mothers, Loving our Lady. All of us wish that our mothers be perfect and perfectly loved by us. As that's what all good children would do-to give Mothers the best and most perfect. That's a simple and filial reason our God granted Mary's immaculate conception. God is infinitely powerful. He can and so he did for Mary. May we imitate Christ, a good Son that never denies anything to our Lady. May we love Mary as Christ lovingly does by praying the Rosary everyday for the rest of our life. As she asked of us in each and every of her apparitions in Fatima. 

The start of 40 days of Lent. A time Christians are called to prayer, penance in confession, reflecting in our life and Christ's Passion. Yet, our believing and seeing must not be just looking at our faults and mistakes. Our reference and focus has to be Christ. Pope Francis saying Christ locked inside the Church and knocking as He wants to get out friend, as we are the Church reflecting if we might have locked Christ in our Heart... that we can blindly living our faith locked in our sad comfort zone unmindful of others. That focusing on our own Goals, we failed to focus on God; That using our standard we sadly failed to believe and see...through Christ...with Christ... and in Christ. Friends, instead of just opening our heart to God using our poor standard. we put our Heart in Christ's Heart... Then we can be Totus Christus, Totus Tuus.

 Have you fallen out of love lately that you shut yourself off? Let today be the day you open up again. To love and be loved. Father, Thank you for the greatest gift of all - Your love for me. Help me to open myself to Your love, by opening up to be loved by others and to love more and more. Happy Love Day! Our knowing every day is a day for loving. Valentine's a celebrated occasion in the world regardless of color or creed. We continue to live because we continue to love and be loved. By being continuously open Today is a day of love. The only way to be loved and to love again on this special love day is to hear God telling you "Ephatha" which means be opened. February 14, 2021

 Christianity is an intimate relationship with God made possible by grace. The longer you take to answer God's call- the farther the devil takes you away. The greatness of our vocation - is we are called to challenge the way to live a Christian vocation and our actual call to holiness. The vocation to Opus Dei (work of God) is to do Opus Dei, be Opus Dei cause of love called to renounce self; giving life to a Christian vocation of holiness for everyone. The attraction beauty of God, a life of self-giving faithful to love with a free-response giving Yes out of Love Vocation needs the Grace of God as the source and the Generosity of the person.

 The heart is the home of Gratitude this month of February. A grateful heart leads to loving connection the ultimate act of well-being. Though uncertain of the future, feeling and expressing gratefulness allows us to truly appreciate being in the precious present. As life itself brings pains and hardships, it is within us to create joy. Gratitude is it! Helping us remember good things that happen. Creating an optimistic attitude leading to happiness. Life is a matter of focus. Focus on abundance, feel abundant; Focus on lack, feel the lack...if you focus on what is missing, lacking, and painful in life. Gratitude helps us focus on what we truly need not want nor like. Making life simpler and uncomplicated and even just for the moment giving us a feeling of completeness. Positive feelings melt fears, anger, bitterness, and pains. Experience the gift of joy fostering the feeling of gratitude as a wonderful part of our daily lives... for Gratitude is the mother of Joy. I wish you peac...

 Is Jesus King in my heart? Do I read a favorite book, magazine or newspaper instead of opening the bible everyday and reading the word of God first? On some Sundays do I use lame excuses like household chores or watching the kids to skip only 40 minutes of Mass. Do I choose to be right instead of being Loving or turning away instead of choosing love. With pride and self-love with judgmental thoughts and gossip about others; easy to say "I Love You Lord". In reality we're guilty of always putting many things before Him. May Christ the King remind us the King reigning in our hearts not just in the universe...Honestly listing down the many things in our life that come before before God. So we let Him replace them with His presence. Take away Lord from my heart what's not from You. Send your spirit to conquer every corner of my heart and soul. The peace of Jesus be upon you. 

 I strive to emulate the qualities of people like my mother- Mamita whose lives are for God encountering God in the ordinary with the virtues of saintly patience and kindness despite difficulties and pains she encountered. Her win-win take on life despite trials inspires me to live with purpose. I value how she dug deep into Catholic teachings and traditions and how she always points to God's Love and Truth. She affects us personally and this is what propels us to our Mission to let others experience the same. She is my role model to imitate the Lord drawing me closer to Him. Everything she draws us closer to Him. May others too always see the Lord's face in her life. I know I have a long way to go. I love my Mommy so so much. Smile! You have all the reasons in the world. Take care! Kindness is always free. Life is more about giving than in receiving. 

 What makes the best people better than you? Focus! multitasking is 30% less effective. You can't be good at everything achieve big changes celebrating small wins starting with things you find interesting. Passion brings meaning and leads to purpose on what is your why and what defines you. 1 job skill can be a trap, learn a 2nd expertise. Si JanB Banson po ito Chairman ng Monark dealer ninyo po ng Caterpillar machines, forklifts, gensets at solar panels. Ano pa po ba ang maitutulong po namin po sa inyo to help you be more successful? Kailan po ang birthday niyo po? 

The power of hope  bless your life. hope is underrated. Between Faith, Hope and Love I agree the bible says Love is the most important and Faith is essential to salvation. In heaven, you don't need hope anymore. We're not yet in heaven. In Earth, Hope is crucial for survival in fact it is crucial for any kind of success. Do you have more problems when you grow closer to God. We have problems whether we're near to or far from God. The choice is - will you carry your problems with hope or will you carry your problems without hope. Go home with overflowing Hope in your life. 

 I am filled with courage to face all challenges in every area of my life for God is my constant companion and guide. Thank you Father for giving me all the richness of Your Kingdom and for the unlimited flow of good in my life. All your so-called tragedies, emergencies, crises, and challenges are opportunities for greater blessings. You just can't see the benefits accruing to you at the time they are happening. God is always working in the invisible to bring love and comfort.