A GRATEFUL HEART

Let's start this year with Praise and Thanksgiving for all that the Lord has done, doing and will do.  As the Bible says "Let your praise exalt the Lord as best you can, he is greater than you could even express. Honor him with all your strength and do not tire, for you can never praise him enough." (Sirach 43:30) And in Eucharist prayer II we read that our praise does not add anything to the great glory of God but it only helps for our salvation.  So, let us praise and thank him, as far as we can.  As just give here a small sample which I found in a friends blogger, I share it with you..... you can add details of God's goodness to you and continue this prayer.... at least today.. try to recollect all the goodness of the Lord as much as you can and praise the Lord.

DEAR LORD,
Thank you for creating me as I am
Thank you for feeling my feelings.
Thank you for I found You.
Thank you for your will.
Thank you for all the joys along life's way.
Thank for every morning.
Thank you for making me able to serve You.
Thank you for my family.
Thank you for leading me through trials and fears.
Thank you for hope and faith.
Thank you for trust and love.
Thank you for changing my life.
Thank you for saving my soul.
Thank you for creating me whole.
Thank you for being my friend.
Thank you for speaking to me.
Thank you for watching my back.
Thank you for holding my hand.
Thank you for making me strong.
Thank you for creating everyday anew.
Thank you for having a plan for my life.
Thank you for hearing my voice.
Thank you for being you.
Thank you for accepting me as I am.
Thank you for taking me under your wing.
Thank you for my friends.
Thank you for coming in peace.
Thank you for keeping me warm.
Thank you for your loving touch.
Thank you for your golden hand.
Thank you for your rays of hope.
Thank you for your sunny smile.
Thank you for my home.
Thank you for giving me your voice.
Thank you for speaking through me.
Thank you for showing up every time.
Thank you for sharing your heart.
Thank you for allowing me to feel
Thank you for I am alive.
Thank you for making every second count.
Thank you for creating everyday a new beginning.
Thank you for your blessings...

Everyone is unique and different.  Everyone experience and enjoy the favor of God in a unique and different ways... so all cannot be put here.... just spend a few moments. And start this year with A GRATEFUL HEART.  

"GIVE THANKS WITH A GRATEFUL HEART, GIVE THANKS TO THE HOLY ONE, GIVE THANKS BECAUSE HE HAS GIVEN, JESUS CHRIST HIS SON. FOR US"

MAY GOD BLESS YOU ALL, ALL THROUGH THIS COMING YEAR 2011.

THE SAME OLD CHRISTMAS

Wow, it’s Christmas! How long I have been waiting for this! I have been preparing for this Christmas all through the Advent Season.

Preparing? Preparing What?

Mmm…. To make things new: I bought new serial lights to decorate inside and outside of my house, painted my house new, cleansed my house, decorated my house with flowers and gifts, new clothes, new gifts, new parties, new friends…. Oh, Everything is New.

Yes, Everything is new, except myself. Oh, sorry friends for being too selfish. Yes, Everything is new, except ourselves.  ‘Oh, Holy night, the stars are brightly shining’ – but still we are in darkness.  This is not the ‘Dark night of the Soul’ of which St. John of the Cross speaks off.  This is the dark corner of our soul which we refuse to open to the Light of the World to shine on us.  Why? The light was coming into the world and the people did not accept him (John 1:8-11).  The prophesies are true for they are spoken by God himself. 

Have we ever prepared ourselves for the coming of Jesus in our hearts. Preparing - I not only mean just going for confession and remaining the same but also trying to change our own selves, our attitudes, our behaviors, our characters.  We buy new gifts for our friends and relatives.  What gift do we give to Jesus on His Birthday?

Christmas comes every year anew, but we remain the same.  With our anger, malice, unforgiveness, revengeful thoughts, hurting others, with hurt feelings, hatred, jealousy, pride; with all these our souls are still stinking in darkness, but our outside world is lighted with shining flood lights.  I don’t know, whether the Child Jesus would be happy to be born into our hearts, homes, and in this world in such conditions. Imagine we are all happy, yet He, who is the reason for our happiness is sad.

It’s not just finding fault with us. We may justify telling that we can’t help it because we are human. Can we able to do that? Can we able to clean our hearts as we have prepared the inside and outside of our house with shining lights.  Yes, we can do it.  When we accept our weaknesses in humility we can do it.  For Jesus said, “in your weakness my strength will be known” (2Corinthians 12:9). And still we can do it ‘with Christ who strengthens us’ (Philippians 4:13)

Every year Christmas will come and go unless I (we) become new of myself (ourselves), it will be the SAME OLD CHRISTMAS.  When I am humble enough to forgive myself, love myself, accept myself; then when I forgive others – whoever it may be and whatever it might have been, when I love others – without any differences, and when I accept and appreciate others as they are for what they are; then the Christmas will be a REAL NEW CHRISTMAS for me and in the whole world THE STARS WILL BRIGHTLY SHINE.  And I am sure in such conditions the Child Jesus would be very much happy to be born in our hearts, homes and in this world again and again. And we, for sure, will celebrate A NEW CHRISTMAS every year.


Once again wish you all A MEANINGFUL MERRY CHRISTMAS.

JESUS OUR A - Z

WISH YOU ALL

 MERRY CHRISTMAS.

A - Advocate
B - Bridegroom
C - Counsellor
D - Doctor
E - Elder Brother
F - Father
G - God
H - Heaven
I - Insence
J - Joy
K - King
L - Light House
M - Master
N - Nectar
O - Oxygen
P - Peace
Q - Quietness
R - Redeemer
S - Saviour
T - Tower
U - Unique Partner
V - Victory
W - Wonderful Guide
X - X-mas Hero
Y - Yearning
Z - Zion

MERRY CHRISTMAS

CLICK ON THE PICTURE

IN HIS HANDS

My steps, my times, my plans, Lord, are daily in your hands
As a yielded servant, I wait on Your command.

I want to seek your kingdom and have You reign in me
So I can live before You as one who’s been set free.

I cast my cares upon You and trust You for each day
I want the way You planned for me to be what I obey.

I have no expectations, there only is Your will
No need to strive or worry, my heart needs to be still.

As I learn about You, I’ve come to realize
You do so many little things that take me by surprise.

Each day is an adventure as I set my heart on You
my heart’s in constant wonder as I see the things You do.

I’ll let You do Your work, Lord, please have Your perfect way
Thank You for Your mercies that are new for me each day!

# From My friend...

YOU CAN

No one is born as priest. "The pastoral care of vocations needs to involve the entire Christian Community in every area of its life.  Obviously, this pastoral work on all levels also includes exploring the matter with families, which are often indifferent or even opposed to the idea of a priestly vocation.  Families should generously embrace the gift of life and bring up their children to be open to doing God's will.  In a word, they must have the courage to set before young people the radical decision to follow Christ, showing them how deeply rewarding it is." (Pope Benedict XVI, Sacramentum Caritatis, 25)

Today, 15 December 2010, during the Holy Eucharist, Fr. Luigi Kerschbamer was sharing an inspiring Vocation Story which is true and much needed for todays society which is plunging away into a Godless state of life.

Once there was a young boy.  Like any other youngster he also was enjoying life.  But in the course of his life he got converted became a priest and later on became a bishop.  When he was a Bishop, he was visiting the Religious houses in his Diocese.  One day he went to a particular Religious sisters' convent.  He offered the Holy Eucharist for the sisters.  As he was distributing Holy Communion he saw an old sister coming at last to receive the Holy Communion.  When he saw that sister, it looked for him that he has seen her somewhere and looks very familiar face.  Immediately after the Holy Mass he asked the Superior of the House that he wants to meet the sisters.  It was arranged.  But when he went to address the sisters he could not find that particular sister which looked like familiar face to him. He asked the superior sister whether all the sisters are present.  The superior told no that one elderly sister is always busy in taking care of the animals in the cattle.  The bishop said that he wants to meet that sister.

When they were talking the bishop inquired about her work there.  And sister explained that previously she was a dancer in a disco club, but when she was touched by Jesus got converted and became a nun, from that time onwards as she was taking care of the cattle, she always praying for the vocations, especially for the youth who are caught up in the worldly allurements.  It was then the bishop remembered the place where he saw that sister. As usual, one day, he went to the disco club.  When he was singing, dancing and enjoying the life, the face of this sister flashed in his mind.  That was the moment of his conversion.  He got converted; changed his life, became priest and became a bishop.

Nobody is born as priest or religious.  Everybody can not become priest or religious.  But Everyone (YOU) CAN PRAY for the priestly and religious vocations.  You can share the blessings of priestly and religious anointing by praying for more vocations.  A sincere prayer for vocation will never go in vain.  Would you like to pray with me now for vocations?

LET US PRAY
We turn to you, Mother of the Church. Through your "fiat," you have opened the door which makes Christ present in the world, in history, and in individual lives. In humble silence and in total availability, you welcomed the call of the Most High. May there be many men and women in our day who respond to your Son's invitation, "Follow me!" Grant them courage to leave family, work, and earthly hope to follow Christ along the road that He walked. Mary, Queen of Apostles, pray for us and for an increase of priestly and religious vocations. Amen.


May the Queen of the Apostles, the Mother of the Church who trained her son into the Ministry of God inspire our young souls to become FISHERS OF MEN.

CARROT, EGGS OR COFFEE?

A young woman went to her grandmother and told her about her life and how things were so hard for her. She did not know how she was going to make it and wanted to give up. She was tired of fighting and struggling. It seemed as one problem was solved, a new one would pop up. Her grandmother took her to the kitchen. She filled three pots with water and placed each on a high fire, and soon the pots came to boil. In the first pot she placed carrots, in the second she placed eggs, and in the last she placed ground coffee beans. She let them sit and boil; without saying a word. In about twenty minutes she turned off the burners. She fished the carrots out and placed them in a bowl. She pulled the eggs out and placed them in a bowl. Then she ladled the coffee out and placed it in a bowl. Turning to her granddaughter, she asked, "Tell me what you see." "Carrots, eggs, and coffee," she replied. Her grandmother brought her closer and asked her to feel the carrots. She did and noted that they were soft. The grandmother then asked the granddaughter to take an egg and break it. After pulling off the shell, she observed the hard boiled egg. Finally, the grandmother asked the granddaughter to sip the coffee. The granddaughter smiled as she tasted its rich aroma then asked, "What does it mean, grandmother?" Her grandmother explained that each of these objects had faced the same adversity: boiling water. Each reacted differently. The carrot went in strong, hard, and unrelenting. However, after being subjected to the boiling water, it softened and became weak. The egg had been fragile. Its thin outer shell had protected its liquid interior, but after sitting through the boiling water, its inside became hardened. The ground coffee beans were unique, however. After they were in the boiling water, they had changed the water. "Which are you?" she asked her granddaughter. - Author Unknown

JUDGE NOT

I was shocked, confused, bewildered as I entered Heaven's door,

Not by the beauty of it all, nor the lights or it's decor.

But it was the folks in Heaven who made me sputter and gasp -- 

the thieves, the liars, the sinners; the alcoholics and the trash.

There stood the kid from seventh grade 

who swiped my lunch money twice!

Next to him was my old neighbor who never said anything nice.

Herb, who I always thought was rotting away in hell; 

was sitting pretty on cloud nine, looking incredibly well.

I nudged Jesus, 'What's the deal? I would love to hear your take.

How'd all these sinners get up here? God must've made a mistake.

And why's everyone so quiet, so somber - give me a clue.'

'Hush, child,' He said, 'they're all in shock.

No one thought they'd be seeing you.'

JUDGE NOT.

Every SAINT has a PAST...

Every SINNER has a FUTURE!

YOUR PLAN Vs GOD'S PLAN

Somethings are beyond planning
And life doesn't always turn out as planned
You don't plan for a broken heart.
You don't plan for a failed business venture...
You don't plan for an adulterous husband
or a wife who want you out of her life.

You don't plan for an autistic child.
You don't plan for spinsterhood.
You don't plan for a lump in your breast.
You plan to be young forever.
You plan to climb the corporate ladder.
You plan to be rich and powerful.
You plan to be acclaimed and successful.

You plan to conquer the universe.
You plan to fall in love - and be loved forever.
You don't plan to be sad.
You don't plan to be hurt.
You don't plan to be broke.
You don't plan to be betrayed.
You don't plan to be alone in this world

You plan to be happy.
You don't plan to be shattered.
Sometimes if you work hard enough,
you can get what you want.
But MOST of the times, what you want
and what you get are two different things.

We, mortals, plan.  But so does God in the heavens...
Sometimes, it is difficult to understand
God's plans especially when His plans
are not in consonance with ours.

Often, when God sends us crisis,
we turn to Him in anger.
True, we cannot choose the cross
that God wishes us to carry,
but we can carry that cross with courage
knowing that God will never abandon us
nor send something we cannot cope with.

Sometimes, God breaks our spirit
to save our soul.
Sometimes, He breaks our heart
to make us whole.
Sometimes, God allows pain
so we can be stronger.
Sometimes, God sends us failure
so we can be humble...
Sometimes, God allows illness
so we can take better care of ourselves.
Sometimes, God takes everything
away from us so we can learn
the value of everything He gave us.
Make plans, but understand
that we live by God's grace.

# Unknown

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SPRITE OR SPIRIT?

THE REAL LIVING

Ps: 145:13(b) to 21.

The Lord is faithful in all HIS WORDS and gracious in all HIS DEEDS.

14 The Lord upholds all (including us) who are falling and rises up all (including us) who are bowed down (under the heavy weight, of our suffering, shamefulness and sins)

15 The eyes of all (including us) look to Thee, and you give them their food (food- what is now necessary for our survival- spiritually and physically) in due season (the time which He considers appropriate)

16 You open your hand and you satisfy the desire of all the living things (This is the reason for us to live, our hearts desires to be fulfilled: for God does not perform His Acts of wonder, love and mercy for the dead. For the dead only mercy is shown and that too through us and not directly)

18 The Lord is near to all who call upon Him, to all who call upon Him in truth, (in all sincerity with no doubts and not intending to test Him)

19 He fulfills the desire of all who fear Him He also hear their cries, and saves them. (Is there diff between living and those fear Him .verse 16 says that He fulfills the desire of every living thing and 19 says those who fear Him, that means, living=who fear Him so He considers only those who fear Him- that is love Him and trust Him as a living person. It is by faith that honest man lives, so now let us ask ourselves a question? Are we alive or dead?)

The Lord says in Ezek. 33:11 the last line of the verse, for why will you die? (Turn back from your evil ways) What is evil in the eyes of the Lord? our Disbelief our Lack of Faith. Heb. 11:6 without faith it is impossible to please Him. For, whoever draw near Him, must believe that He exists and that He rewards those who seek Him.

TRY IT OUT

Think of a situation or a problem which frustrates you at present what, who or which Speak to it or him saying.

I believe in God almighty creator of heaven and earth, who has every authority over you. You are submitted to His Power. I believe in Jesus Christ only son of the Father, who became man for me, crucified, died, and buried and resurrected on the third day He has crucified you in the Cross with all your powers and venoms. You have no power over me and mine. I am in the Blood of Jesus, the Blood paid for me as my price. I believe in the Holy Spirit Promise and Gift of the Father through Jesus. The Fire of the Lord the Holy Spirit is upon me now, to protect me and upon you to destroy you. I believe in the Holy Catholic Apostolic church, founded by Christ strengthened by the Spirit, which has authority over you and you are under my foot by the grace I receive through her via the Holy Sacraments. I believe in the communion of saints who intercede me and earlier have over come your deception through their life of penance and martyrdom. I believe in the forgiveness of my sins through the blood of Christ and so I believe inspite of my unworthiness the Lord will never leave me nor forsake me and He will defeat you for me. I believe in the resurrection of the Body so that I kill the works of my flesh inflicted by you believing to join the heavenly choir with my resurrected body I believe in life everlasting and so I will not render to any of your deceptions. Praise the Lord.

WHY GOD, WHY?

Once there was a man living in a certain town. He is rather rich man in that town.  On that day when his children have gone to school and his wife went for office he is just about to go for his work.  As he is a devout Christian before going out he went to his prayer room and prayed fervently.  When he was on his way to his work, he saw a young beautiful poor girl with shabby clothes untidy hair.  The man got angry, rushed back to his house directly went into the prayer room and shouted at God. "Why God why? See, how beautiful that little girl is but why did you create her in a poor family, how she will struggle in her life?" God replied, "Wow, well done my dear son, I am so glad to know that you are concerned about others for the first time.  I appreciate your question but before I answer your question now you answer me.  Today you ask why I created that girl as poor.  But, in your lifetime, so far, have you ever asked, 'Why, Why Lord, you have given me so much wealth, or why did you made me rich?' Have you ever asked this question?"  The man bend down his head in shame.  God continued, "Hey, there is nothing to worry, and you are not the first one to do like this. All the rich people who are also Christians do the same thing. The reason why I made you rich is to help those who are in need.  So, that you will have a chance to love me really. 'For, whoever gives a glass of water to any one of these little children of mine will not go without reward' don't you remember". "Sorry, Lord. Sorry for my stupidity", said the man with contrite heart.  "There you are! Give and it will be given unto you! The measure you give the measure you will get."  He decided to adopt that girl and there came peace, joy and happiness in him and in his house.  Do you want to celebrate a meaningful Christmas? Help others who are in need in your own way. God will reward you and May the Child Jesus be born in our Hearts.

SOLEMNITY OF IMMACULATE CONCEPTION

WISH YOU ALL HAPPY FEAST OF 

IMMACULATE CONCEPTION OF MARY!

அமலோற்பவ அன்னையின் 

பெருவிழா வாழ்த்துக்கள்!

IMMACULATE CONCEPTION OF MOTHER MARY

Wish you all the Feast of Immaculate Conception of Mother Mary. Here are few lines said by the Protestant reformer Martin Luther....

Martin Luther, the father of the reform talks about the Immaculate Conception

Three hundred years before it was declared Dogma, the Protestant reformer Martin Luther said:

"... so that while the soul was being infused, she would at the same time be cleansed from original sin ... And thus, in the very moment in which she began to live, she was without all sin." (Martin Luther's Works, vol 4, pg 694)

"God has formed the soul and body of the Virgin Mary full of the Holy Spirit, so that she is without all sins, " (ibid. vol 52, pg 39)

". . . she is full of grace, proclaimed to be entirely without sin. . . . God's grace fills her with everything good and makes her devoid of all evil. . . . God is with her, meaning that all she did or left undone is divine and the action of God in her. Moreover, God guarded and protected her from all that might be hurtful to her." (Ref: Luther's Works, American edition, vol. 43, p. 40, ed. H. Lehmann, Fortress, 1968)

for further readings please go to the website: http://www.davidmacd.com/catholic/mary_conceived_without_sin_immaculate_conception.htm

EMERGENCY PHONE NUMBERS

When you are sad, please call.......................................John 14
When you have sinned, please call...................................Psalm 51
When you are facing danger, please call.............................Psalm 91
When people failed you, please call.................................Psalm 27
When it feels as though God is far from you, please call............Psalm139
When your faith needs stimulation, please call......................Hebrews 11
When you are alone and scared, please call..........................Psalm 23
When you are worried, please call...................................Matthew 8:19-34
When you are hurt and critical, please call.........................1 Corinthians 13
When you wonder about Christianity, please call.....................2 Corinthians 5:15-18
When you feel like an outcast, please call..........................Romans 8:31-39
When you are seeking peace, please call.............................Matthew 11:25-30
When it feels as if the world is bigger than God, please call.......Psalm 90
When you feel Christlike insurance, please call.....................Romans 8:1-30
When you are leaving home for a trip, please call...................Psalm 121
When you are praying for yourself, please call......................Psalm 87
When you require courage for a task, please call....................Joshua 1
When inflation's and investments are hogging your thoughts,
please call.........................................................Mark 10:17-31
When you are depressive, please call................................Psalm 27
When your bank account is empty, please call........................Psalm 37
When you lose faith in mankind, please call.........................1 Corinthians 13
When it looks like people are unfriendly, please call...............John 15
When you are losing hope, please call...............................Psalm 126
When you want to know Paul's secret for happiness...................Colossians 3:12-17
When you are with big oppertunity/discovery, please call............Isaiah 55
When you want to get along with other people, please call...........Romans 12

ALTERNATE NUMBERS
for dealing with fear, call...................................Psalm 3:47
for security, call..................................................Psalm 121:3
for assurance, call.................................................Mark 8:35
for reassurance, call...............................................Psalm 145:18

ALL THESE NUMBERS MAY BE PHONED DIRECTLY. NO OPERATOR ASSISTANCE, NO BALANCE, NO SIGNAL, NO NETWORK AND NO MOBILE IS NECESSARY. ALL LINES IN THIS ROUT ARE ALWAYS CLEAR AND AVAILABLE 24 HOURS A DAY. FEED YOUR FAITH, AND DOUBT WILL STARVE TO DEATH.

Ready or not,
some day it will all come
to an end.

There will be no more sunrise,
no minutes,
hours or days.

It won't matter
where you came from
or what side of the tracks
you lived on at the end.

It won't matter
whether you were
beautiful or brilliant.

Even your gender
and skin colour
will be irrelevant.

What will matter is
not your success
but your significance.

What will matter is
not what you learned
but what you have taught.

What will matter is
every act of integrity,
compassion and courage.

What will matter is
not your competence
but your character.

What will matter is
not how many people you knew,
but how many will feel
a lasting loss
when you are gone.

Living life that matters
doesn't happen by accident.

It's not a matter of circumstance
but of CHOICE

IS GOD WITH YOU? YOU CAN CHECK IT NOW!

There is a way to find out if God is dwelling and working within us, says Benedict XVI: We can ask if we respond to offenses by forgiving and to hatred with love.

The Pope offered this discernment criterion today when he dedicated the general audience in Paul VI Hall to a reflection on Symeon the New Theologian.

The Holy Father said that the 11th-century monk "calls us all to attention to the spiritual life, to the hidden presence of God in us, to honesty of conscience and purification, to conversion of heart, so that the Holy Spirit will be present in us and guide us."

The Pope proposed that attention to our interior growth is "even more important" than the "just" preoccupation with our physical growth.

And interior growth, he explained, consists in "knowledge of God, in true knowledge, not only taken from books, but interior, and in communion with God, to experience his help at all times and in every circumstance."

Confirming Christ

Benedict XVI pointed to something Symeon experienced that confirmed for the monk that God was within him.

He recounted: "[Symeon] began to feel like 'a poor man who loves his brothers.' [...] He saw around him many enemies that wanted to set snares for him and harm him but despite this he felt in himself an intense movement of love for them. How to explain this?

"Obviously, such love could not come from himself, but must spring from another source. Symeon understood that it came from Christ present in him and all was clarified for him: He had the sure proof that the source of love in him was the presence of Christ and that to have in oneself a love that goes beyond one's personal intentions indicates that the source of love is within."

The Pope affirmed that Symeon's experience is important for us today, "to find the criteria that will indicate to us if we are really close to God, if God exists and lives in us."

"God's love grows in us if we are really united to him in prayer and in listening to his word, with openness of heart," the Holy Father explained. "Only divine love makes us open our hearts to others and makes us sensitive to their needs, making us regard everyone as brothers and sisters and inviting us to respond with love to hatred, and with forgiveness to offense."

YOU ARE MY HANDS

GOD IS GOOD ALL THE TIME, 

HE PUT A SONG OF PRAISE IN THIS HEART OF MINE, 

GOD IS GOOD, ALL THE TIME.

Praised be the name of the Lord now and forever.  I have been thinking to write this article for a long period of time.  At last I can do it now.

I remember a legend about the Second World War.  When the Second Word War was going on one of the Church was very badly damaged and the statue of Jesus lost it’s both hands.  When the War was over, the people gathered together under the guidance of their Parish Priest and decided to renovate the Church.  They collected money and the materials necessary for the rebuilding of the Church.  When the renovation was almost over, many people came to see the new splendor of the Church.  But they noticed that the hands of Jesus are not yet repaired and reminded the Priest to repair it before the rededication of the Church and the Priest agreed.  On the day of the rededication people gathered together with immense joy and were looking around the renovated Church it’s beauty was more than the previous one.  As they were wondering about the beautiful art work of the Church they noticed that the statue of Jesus is well painted but the still the hands of Jesus are missing and they got angry with the Parish Priest.  But at the foot of the statue they read that it was written ‘YOU ARE MY HANDS’.

Some say that this legend is true the others say it is not.  Whether it is true or not, but this legend made a greatest impact on me.  Once a man was travelling in a train and there were other three young men travelling together with him.  As the train moved on the three young men started opening their bottles and started converting the place into a mini bar to drink and play cards.  When they finished drinking they wanted to play cards.  But they were only three they need another hand – another person to play the cards.  They asked that man please give a hand so that we play.  And the man replied, ‘sorry I don’t have hands’.  They were terrified and examined the person that he is not handicapped.  They were angry and all the effect of the drinking dried up.  They, in angry tone, shouted, ‘are you made?’ took his hands and shook before his eyes and told, ‘here are your hands why can’t you come and join us’.   That man replied, ‘these hands are not mine’.  They were still confused, ‘what? Do you think that we are crazy? What do you mean?’ Again the man replied that the hands belong to Jesus.  He continued that once he was a big drunkard and lost most of his property in playing cards and gambling.  But now he was touched by Jesus and offered himself totally to Jesus as a priest and never uses his hand anything that displeases Jesus.  The three young men very much taken up by his witness and asked sorry and they prayed together.

Yes, ‘YOU ARE MY HANDS’ – ‘WE ARE HIS HANDS’.  Here I remember a poem written by St. Teresa of Avila which goes like this.

Christ has no body but yours,

No hands, no feet on earth but yours,

Yours are the eyes with which he looks

Compassion on this world,

Yours are the feet with which he walks to do good,

Yours are the hands, with which he blesses all the world.

Yours are the hands, yours are the feet,

Yours are the eyes, you are his body.

Christ has no body now but yours,

No hands, no feet on earth but yours,

Yours are the eyes with which he looks

compassion on this world.

Christ has no body now on earth but yours.

(Born in Spain, Teresa entered a Carmelite convent when she was eighteen, and later earned a reputation as a mystic, reformer, and writer who experienced divine visions. She founded a convent, and wrote the book The Way of Perfection for her nuns. Other important books by her include her Autobiography and The Interior Castle.)

How true it is! He needs you and me.  He wants to speak with people.  Do good things to his loved ones.  Even at times when we are surrounded by pains and perplexities he wants to console us.  For this he needs our hands, feet, eyes…etc..  He is looking for us to give him a chance to act upon.  He is longing to help others through you and help you through others.  We can give him a chance in all our activities, going an extra mile spending our extra time to Jesus.  Yes, give your extra time to Jesus and he will do extra ordinary things to you and to other.

I just started sending every week end the word of God text through my mobile to utilize my free text.  I started with just seven people.  The reply I received were amazing people were telling that they were touched by the word, some felt as though the Lord telling them exactly what they needed at that time.  This encouraged me very much and I continued to send.  But who will finance.  It’s the providence of the Lord, when he asks you to do something always he provides more than what you needed.  Now every weekend more than fifty people are being fed by ‘TODAY’S BREAD’ – the Word of God.  I felt this is a chance that I can give to Jesus to act upon his loved once.  God never expects us to do extra ordinary things just he expects us to do the ordinary things and he will make it extra ordinary.  As Christian I have to be another Christ.  How can it be possible without giving myself to Jesus?  So dear friends please give Jesus a chance to help others through you and help you through others.  You can do more than what you think of to Jesus in your own way.  It may be so small but for Jesus it is a biggest thing that he was looking for. WILL YOU BE HIS HANDS?

PREPARE THE WAY FOR THE LORD!

WISH YOU ALL A FRUITFUL AND BLESSED ADVENT SEASON GREETINGS.  MAY THE CHILD JESUS BE BORN IN OUR HEARTS AND IN OUR HOME. GOD BLESS

'SAY A WORD': THE CONFESSION OF FAITH BY THE CENTURION ON THE THE POWER OF THE WORDS OF JESUS.

The Gospel Reading of Monday of the First week of Advent speaks about the centurion whose faith was very much applauded by Jesus himself.  Though I have read this several times and heard in the Mass several times but as I listened on this day November 29, 2010, it gave me a different meaning.  And I started to reflect.  The centurion is not a Jew, He is Roman citizen. When he asked for help to cure his servant Jesus says that he will come in person and heal him.  Let us remember when the Canaanite women came pleading Jesus to cure her daughter Jesus says, “It is not right to take the bread from the children and throw it to the little dogs.” (Mt. 15:26) and refuses to help her telling that He came only to the people of Israel.  But, here, in this centurion’s case Jesus says that he himself will come and cure him.

The centurion though he has himself honored enough to welcome Jesus into his house he replied that he was not worthy to receive him under his roof then he goes on to explain about his authority and asks Jesus just to command, to say a word – which became the beautiful prayer that we recite in the Holy Mass every time.  Here I was struck with the words of centurion… why should he tell about his authority?  Was he boastful about his authority over his slaves? No, he just mentions to Jesus that if I, an ordinary man has such power for my words, how powerful the Words of Jesus.  That’s what he reminds to Jesus, that he is the Word Incarnate, the Word of the Father.  If an ordinary man speaks no one listens or obeys. But if a person in authoritative position commands even without his presence people obey.  Just the word of the commander in chief makes the soldier to obey even the commander is not present.  So, how much more Powerful would be the words of Jesus who is the King of the all universe.  Here, the Roman centurion teach me how powerful the Word of God, the Words of Jesus.  So, let us not disregard, or be careless regarding the promises of the Lord, or the Word of God.  Let us read the Bible every day and give a chance to Jesus to speak with us.  And let us pray with the centurion, “LORD I AM NOT WORTHY TO RECEIVE YOU (IN MY HEART) BUT ONLY SAY THE WORD AND I SHALL BE HEALED.” (Mt. 8:8)

DO IT ANYWAY

One of my friends was asked to prepare a power point presentation for a leadership programme.  Though it was asked at the last moment, still he tried his best putting up all of his resources and prepared the programme.  When the day arrived his presentation was not part of the programme and was ignored.  He was very much upset and dejected.  Sharing this to me he said that he will never do anything for that person again.

We all might have undergone such moments in our life.  And it is very painful when we put all our effort, energy, time and talent and when we see that it was not recognized and accepted we become discouraged and the immediate decision that we take is ‘I will not do it’.  When I experienced the same moment of desperation I too took the same decision that ‘I will not do it’.  But then I remembered a text message which I received few days before, which I deleted, run like this ‘DO IT ANYWAY’.  Now I wanted to know about that quote, ‘DO IT ANYWAY’.  And found out that it was Mother Teresa who said it.  And that passage made a very big impact on me.  And I decided to ‘DO IT ANYWAY’.  I hope you also want to know about it.  Here is it.  No matters whether you are understood accepted or recognized or not, just ‘DO IT ANYWAY’.

People are often unreasonable, illogical, 

And self-centered; 

Forgive them anyway.

If you are kind, people may accuse you 

Of selfish, ulterior motives;

Be kind anyway.

If you are successful, you will win some

False friends and some true enemies; 

Succeed anyway.

If you are honest and frank; 

People may cheat you;

Be honest and frank anyway.

What you spend years building, 

someone could destroy overnight; 

Build anyway.

If you find serenity and happiness, 

they may be jealous; 

Be happy anyway.

The good you do today, 

people will often forget tomorrow; 

Do good anyway.

Give the world the best you have, 

and it may never be enough; 

Give the world the best you've got anyway.

You see, in the final analysis 

it is between you and God 

It was never between you and them anyway.


Poem by Mother Theresa

For Fire of God Ministries - Philippines.

YOU ARE MY REFUGE!

LET ME LIVE IN YOUR THOUGHT

இயேசுவே!

உனக்காக வாழத் துடிக்கின்றேன்

உலகத்தின் சூழலில் தவிக்கின்றேன்

கரையும் ஒவ்வொரு நிமிடமும்

உன் கருணை வேண்டும்.

சவாலான வாழ்வுதான் இது

சாதிக்கத் துடிக்கின்றேன்

உன் துணையின்றி 

சருக்கல்களே மிஞ்சுகின்றன.

துரிதமாக நகரும் உலகில்

பரிதாபமாக நிற்கின்றேன்

நான் நினைப்பதற்குள்

அனைத்தும் நிறைவுபெற்றுவிடுகின்றன.

உன் நினைவில் மட்டும்

நித்தமும் வாழ

வழியொன்று சொல்வாயா?!?

HIDE AND SEEK

நிழலான இவ்வுலகில்

நீற்குமிழியான என் வாழ்வில்

வண்ணங்களாய் வந்து போகும்

உறவுகள் எத்தனையோ!

வதங்கி விழும் மலர்போல

வாசம் வீசும் வாழ்வதனில்

வந்து போகும் வருத்தங்கள் 

எத்தனை எத்தனையோ!!

சொந்தம் நூறு வந்தாலும்

சோர்வுமிகும் சோலைஇது

எந்த இடம் சேர்ந்தாலும்

ஏக்கம் மிகும் வாழ்க்கையிது!!!

நான் எதையோ தேட

நீ எனையே தேட 

இந்த கண்ணாமூச்சி விளையாட்டில்

கட்டப்பட்ட கண்கள் யாருடையவை?!?

MY GRACE IS SUFFICIENT FOR YOU

Doll for sister, White Rose for Mother....

Hello, as I found this touching story coming round in my e-mail, I thought of sharing it with you.
You might have read this article earlier. Nevertheless, Spend some time to read this! decide how you can help to spread the message.

I was walking around in a Big Bazar store making shopping,
when I saw a Cashier talking to a boy couldn't have been more than 5 or 6
years old.

The Cashier said, 'I'm sorry, but you don't have enough money to buy this doll.
Then the little boy turned to me and asked: ''Uncle, are you sure I don't have enough money?''
I counted his cash and replied: ''You know that you don't have enough money
to buy the doll, my dear...'' The little boy was still holding the doll in his hand.

Finally, I walked toward him and I asked him who he wished to give this doll to.
'It's the doll that my sister loved most and wanted so much. I wanted to Gift her for her BIRTHDAY. I have to give the doll to my mommy so that she can give it to
my sister when she goes there.'

His eyes were so sad while saying this. 'My Sister has gone to be with God.
Daddy says that Mommy is going to see God very soon too, so I thought that she could take the doll with her to give it to my sister.

'' My heart nearly stopped.. The little boy looked up at me and said:
'I told daddy to tell mommy not to go yet.. I need her to wait until I come
back from the mall.'

Then he showed me a very nice photo of him where he was laughing.
He then told me 'I want mommy to take my picture with her so my sister
won't forget me.' 'I love my mommy and I wish she doesn't have to leave me,
but daddy says that she has to go to be with my little sister. '
Then he looked again at the doll with sad eyes, very quietly.

I quickly reached for my wallet and said to the boy.
'Suppose we check again, just in case you do have enough money for the doll?'' 'OK' he said, I hope I do have enough.'
I added some of my money to his without him seeing and we started to count it.
There was enough for the doll and even some spare money.

The little boy said: 'Thank you God for giving me enough money! '
Then he looked at me and added, 'I asked last night before I went to
sleep for God to make sure I had enough money to buy this doll,
so that mommy could give It to my sister. He heard me!'' 'I also wanted
to have enough money to buy a white rose for my mommy, but I didn't dare to ask
God for too much. But He gave me enough to buy the doll and a white rose.

My mommy loves white roses.'
I finished my shopping in a totally different state from when I started...
I couldn't get the little boy out of my mind.. Then I remembered a local news
paper article two days ago, which mentioned a drunk man in a truck, who
hit a car occupied by a young woman and a little girl. The little girl died right
away, and the mother was left in a critical state. The family had to decide whether
to pull the plug on the life-sustaining machine, because the young woman would
not be able to recover from the coma. Was this the family of the little boy?

Two days after this encounter with the little boy, I read in the newspaper that the young woman had passed away.. I couldn't stop myself as I bought a bunch
of white roses and I went to the funeral home where the body of the young
woman was exposed for people to see and make last wishes before her burial.

She was there, in her coffin, holding a beautiful white rose in her hand with the
photo of the little boy and the doll placed over her chest.
I left the place, teary-eyed, feeling that my life had been changed for ever.

The love that the little boy had for his mother and his sister is still,
to this day, hard to imagine. And in a fraction of a second, a drunk
driver had taken all this away from him.

PLEASE DO NOT DRINK & DRIVE.

Now you have 2 choices:
Forward this message & spread awareness
OR
Ignore it as if it never touched your heart.