QUIET NOW! BE STILL!

The world which is going into pieces is in need of peace in these days more than ever.  How can we make the world peaceful?  If the hearts of human beings received the peace of mind and heart, the whole world will receive peace.

Then, are we not at peace? Or in other words Are we at peace? Yes, without doubt, the answer is not!  We are not at peace.  We are not at peace with ourselves.  We are not at peace with our family, relatives, friends and with the nature.

Those who are at peace with God will have peace in the hearts which will bring peace everywhere.  God says, ‘Be still, know that I am God’ (Psalm 46:11).  When we are silence in peace, in that tranquility we will know God, hear him speak to us, experience his presence, love and guidance.

We are so noisy within us when problems, sufferings and pain come.  We shout, complain, perplexed, worried, and filled with anxiety like that of the roaring sea.  And still we forget that Jesus is on our boat.  We made him to sleep by worrying about ourselves, prioritizing our needs and desires.  When troubles surround us like stormy waves we make hell of noise.  When we come to Jesus wake him up, bring him into our hearts, into our lives, he looks at our worries, anxieties and he worries about our faithlessness in spite of his presence with us.  So, instead of speaking to us he turns to the nature and tells them and says, "Quiet now! Be Still!" (Mark 4:39).  He knows that the nature will obey better than us.  And it’s done.

He would like to say the same thing to us.  Are you sick, confused, and worried about so many things, in financial problem, dejected, despair… He says, "Quiet now! Be Still!" (Mark 4:39).  

Remember the people of Israel before taking a historical victory over the city of Jericho, God asks them to come round the city for seven days without making any noise, just observing silence in the presence of the Ark of the Covenant, in the presence of God.  They obeyed God and conquered the city.  In the same way if we obey his words and be silent in his presence with firm faith, depending not on our own, knowledge, wisdom and strength, be sure that you can be a conqueror of the problems and sufferings.   Do you believe?  Let it be done to you according to your faith.

“Though an army encamp against me, my will not fail; though war break out against me, I will still be confident.” (Psalm 27:3)

I COULD NOT RECOGNIZE YOU!

A 54 year old woman had a heart attack and was taken to
the hospital. While on the operating table she had a near death experience.
Seeing God she asked 'Is my time up?'
God said, 'No, you have another 43 years, 2 months and
8 days to live.'

Upon recovery, the woman decided to stay in the hospital and
have a face-lift, liposuction, breast implants and a tummy tuck.
She even had someone come in and change her hair color and brighten her teeth!
Since she had so much more time to live, she figured she might as well make the most of it.
After her last operation, she was released from the hospital.

While crossing the street on her way home, she was killed by an ambulance.
Arriving in front of God, she demanded, 'I thought you
said I had another 43 years? Why didn't you pull me from
out of the path of the ambulance?'

God replied:

'I didn't recognize you.'


Many times in many ways we always want to be like someone other than who we are.  In reality God wants us to be who we are.  He wants us to imitate his son Jesus Christ or the Saints and Mother Mary.  We try to follow anything new, everything fashionable, everyone except the above persons.  First let us ask the grace of God to be who we are as He created us and as He wants us to be.

YOUR CROSS - TOO HEAVY TO CARRY?

As I am doing my presentation on THE THEOLOGY OF THE CROSS IN PAULINE LETTERS, when I was making a research on the Cross, I found this beautiful story in a website.  As it is true in our life, I just thought of sharing it with you all.  Some of you who read may know this story already but it is worth treasure and reflect it over and over whenever we come across the feeling of the cross we carry is TOO HEAVY TO CARRY.

The young man was at the end of his rope. Seeing no way out, he dropped to his knees in prayer.

 "Lord, I can't go on," he said.
"I have too heavy a cross to bear." 

The Lord replied, 

"My son, if you can't bear its weight, just place your cross inside this room. Then, open that other door and pick out any cross you wish."

The man was filled with relief. 

"Thank you,  Lord, "

he sighed, and he did as he was told. Upon entering the other door, he saw many crosses, some so large the tops were not visible. Then, he spotted a tiny cross leaning against a far wall.

 "I'd like that one, Lord,"

he whispered. And the Lord replied,

" My son, that is the cross you just brought in."

When life's problems seem overwhelming, it helps to look around and see what other people are coping with. You may consider yourself far more blessed than you imagined. Please watch this video!

DO WE NEED GOD?

Christians often say that everyone has a need for God or has a "God-shaped hole" in them, but skeptics usually respond that while Christians may have a need to worship something, they themselves do not. What many people don't realize is that a person's need for God isn't always as obvious as a desire to worship or to believe they'll go to heaven when they die. Many of the needs and longings that we all share are actually things that prompt us to look for God and that can be fulfilled by him.
Need: Wisdom
We all know that we lack knowledge. Many of us wish there was someone very wise and mature that we could confide in and ask advice of, but no human knows everything or has experienced much more than a century of life. Even the people we respect and think of as wise are busy with their own lives; we can't interrupt them at any hour of the day or night and expect them to listen to all our problems.
God is of course omniscient and perfectly wise, but furthermore he is always available and willing to teach us wisdom (Jas 1:5, Mt 7:7-11). He's also provided the Bible to teach us and help us make wise decisions, specifically books like Proverbs and the New Testament Epistles (letters) (Pr 1:1-7, Ps 119:98-100, 104-105).
Need: Moral behavior
We all want to be better people, yet we know that we aren't perfect and often do wrong. If we try to become better people on our own, we'll inevitably fail. If we realize our limitations and turn to God for help, he is willing and able to enable us to overcome those limitations, resist temptation and do what is right (Rom 7:15-25)
Need: Justice
Who hasn't complained that life is unfair? Most of us want equality and justice in the world. We wish life were like the stories we read as children, where things turned out well for the heroes and the villains were brought to justice. Instead, we see the rich getting richer, the poor getting poorer, and people in general continue to be selfish and apathetic.
God is the one who gave us this longing for justice, for he endowed us with consciences. He will ultimately give just punishment to those who deserve it (after giving them a lifetime on Earth to repent), and those who accept him will live in a place where there is no evil or suffering (Mt 13:41, Rev 21:1-4, 22-27).
Need: Unconditional love and friendship
We want to be known and understood completely, and loved even if our deepest failings are revealed. Yet no human completely knows another, for everyone has things they don't reveal to even their closest friends, and things they don't even know about themselves. Likewise, no one is perfect, and no one can love another person perfectly.
God, who created us, knows each of us completely (Ps 139), and loves us enough despite knowing all the evil inside of us that he died for us (Rom 5:6-8).
Need: Fulfillment
Nearly everyone has a reason to get out of bed in the morning, and many people say they're happy without God. But what about fulfillment: an inner peace even in the midst of difficult circumstances, a certain knowledge of the meaning and purpose of one's life despite one's mortality, a true sense that our deepest needs have been met (as opposed to the temporary satisfaction of wealth, entertainment, success, praise, etc. that ultimately leaves one craving more)?
God created us for a purpose, and we will find fulfillment and peace when we do what he designed us to do, namely be in relationship with him and love and worship him. It was because of this fulfillment that Paul could write the letter to the Philippians, rejoicing while he was in prison and saying, "I have learned the secret of being content in any and every situation, whether well fed or hungry, whether living in plenty or in want. I can do everything through him who gives me strength" (Php 4:12-13). (from rationalchristianity.net)

DEVIL'S BEATITUDES

WISH YOU ALL EXTENDED BLESSED NEW YEAR GREETINGS!

Usually on New Year Day many of us take some resolutions to follow up in the coming year.  And some of us don't remember it after 1st of January, and most of us have confusion to what to make as a resolution.  I think this will help us to be aware and take a right resolution for this year and take us away from the devil and make us closer to God.  WATCH OUT! Whose side you are leaning on?

1. Blessed are those who are too tired, too busy to go to Sunday Mass! They are my BEST WORKERS, because they do not worship the One true God.

2. Blessed are those Christians who wait to be asked and expect to be thanked. They are MY BENEFACTORS, because they spread my message of pride.

3. Blessed are those who are touchy and stop going to Church. They are MY MISSIONARIES, for they bring others also to myside.

4. Blessed are the trouble makers. They shall be called MY CHILDREN because they spoil the unity and peace of the Parish.

5. Blessed are those who compalain. They are my most obedient LISTENERS, for they speak what I teach them.

6. Blessed are those who are bored with the Minister's mannerism for they are MY GOOD FRIENDS, because they cause others also to stumble.

7. Blessed are the Church Members who expects to be invited to his own Church for he is MY SLEEPING PARTNER, because they do nothing and it done it is half done.

8. Blessed are those who gossip because they are MY GOOD DISCIPLES. because they cause divisions.

9. Blessed are those who are easily offended for they are MY GOOD COLLEGUES. because they give up easily.

10. Blessed are those who do not give their offering for God's work for they are MY BEST HELPERS, because they cause damage in Evangelization.

11. Blessed are those who profess to love God but hate his brother for he is MY BEST BROTHER, because he is a lier.

12 Blessed are YOU WHO WHEN YOU READ THIS AND THINK THAT THIS IS ABOUT OTHERS AND NOT FOR YOURSELF. I'VE GOT YOU TOO, because you justify yourself.


SO...??? IT'S Y(O)UR CHOICE...