The Mother

We can call Mary 'Hail Mary' or 'Mother of God' or 'Blessed among women' only when we are filled and inspired by the Holy Spirit.

This is shown in Luke Chapter 2

Luke "41When Elizabeth heard Mary's greeting, the baby leaped in her womb, and Elizabeth was filled with the Holy Spirit. 42In a loud voice she exclaimed: "Blessed are you among women, and blessed is the child you will bear! 43But why am I so favored, that the mother of my Lord should come to me?"

We can do nothing without God!!

Draw me, Lord.

Take me,... force me, compel me to walk after you.

For I cannot follow you of my own accord.

On the contrary, even if you call me, you must also show me the path.

If you do not draw me, if you do not use your strength, I shall never succeed in following you.

-Blessed Paul de Giustiniani (Source: The Word Among Us)

God's first step is kind of like step #0 and ours is step #1(John 15:5 we can do NOTHING without Him!)

What dignity have we?

"What dignity have we? Sinners that we are, what dignity have we left?

Our only dignity is in the Cross of Christ, where our dignity was restored and sin's power on us broken.

Apart from the Cross of Christ we are stripped of all dignity."

Total Surrender

Mother Teresa used to say of acceptance:
“Every day we have to say yes. To be where he wants you to be.
Total surrender: If he puts you in the street—if everything is taken from you and suddenly you find yourself in the street—to accept to be put in the street at that moment. . . .

To accept whatever he gives and to give whatever he takes with a big smile.
This is the surrender to God.

To accept to be cut to pieces, and yet every piece to belong only to him. This is the surrender.

To accept the people that come, the work that you happen to do.

Today maybe you have a good meal and tomorrow maybe you have nothing. There is no water in the pump? All right.
To accept, and to give whatever he takes.
He takes your good name, he takes your health, yes.
That’s the surrender. And you are free then."
[1].Canadian Broadcasting Corporation interview with Mother Teresa

Power of God

I am not ashamed of the gospel. It is the power of God. (Romans 1:16)



However, like the power of the wind, the sea, or the sun, the power of the gospel doesn’t avail us much until we receive it with faith.
The extent that we believe in it and lay hold of it is the extent to which its power can work through us.
The choice is ours: We can be content that our sins are forgiven, or we can become ambassadors for Christ who are using our gifts to transform society.
We are all saints in the making.
As St. Catherine of Siena wrote, “If you are what you should be, you will set the whole world on fire!”

No petition is too small!!

No Petition Is Too Small! Through intercessory prayer, we can touch people all over the world. We should feel free to ask God for anything, at any time, in any situation. Our prayers can penetrate geographical, cultural, and political barriers, bringing the healing, saving touch of the Lord into countless lives and situations. Through prayer, we can reach the men and women who are fighting in war as well as the children in the womb whose lives are at risk. We can help our children and care for our elderly parents. We can change the climate in a home and the relationship between alienated friends—all through intercessory prayer.

As we pray, let’s take up the attitude of the “watchmen” described in the Book of Isaiah. In fact, let’s paraphrase this passage and apply it to us: “Upon your walls the Lord has stationed watchmen. Never, by day or by night, should you be silent in your intercessions. No, keep reminding the Lord. Take no time to rest for yourself, and don’t give God any rest either. Keep praying until the Lord answers all your prayers and makes his church the pride of the earth” (Isaiah 62:6-7).

No petition is too small for God, not even asking for a parking space on a crowded street or seeking relief from a little cold. Just be persistent. Ask your heavenly Father, and never stop asking.

http://wau.org/archives/article/persistent_prayer/

Unpardonable?

Read Zechariah 8:1-8

God had not abandoned his people.
In fact, no matter how far Jerusalem had fallen, no matter how grave her sin, Yahweh would remain faithful to his covenant with them. Forgiveness, healing, peace, and security would once more cover the land, and the people would once more be exalted in his eyes.

But it would not be all one-sided. Through Zechariah, God also gave instruction and guidance to the people. They were to speak the truth to one another. They were to put away plotting against each other and swearing false oaths. They were to treat one another with the integrity and respect due to members of God’s special, chosen people.

We can take great solace from the words of Zechariah. He teaches us that there is no such thing as an unpardonable sin. Neither is there any situation or challenge that is too big for God to handle if we turn to him. Even if we have experienced our own kind of exile by ignoring the many promptings of the Spirit, God is still with us, waiting for us to seek him once more. He is right beside us, ready to pour out his healing power. God’s love truly does endure forever. Have you experienced it yet today?

“Father, you are truly a God of compassion and mercy, slow to anger and abounding in love. Do not treat us as our sins deserve. You are a merciful God, and we are your people redeemed by the blood of your beloved Son. Father, we thank you and praise you for everything you have done in our lives!”

The insignificant

God moves and acts in whatever way He likes.
Most of the time, what He seems to like is the small,
the unexpected, the quiet, the ignored,
those that the world cannot imagine could ever do anything of value.

This was the way God worked in Mary’s life
and the way he works in ours.
In our small spot on this earth,
in the midst of our ordinary lives,
God moves. God calls. God invites

What am I?

What am I?

Once I didnt know you, O Lord, and I was a slave to sin.

One day you revealed yourself to me and made known to me the truth of your saving power that has set me free.

But today even after that I still sin, but not as a slave to sin but as a free person. And I ask, "Jesus did you really die for me to set me free from sin?"

Truth is that I have been set free and given freedom but I use it to get back to the same thing that had me a slave once.

What am I?

O, Lord help me feel really desperate to know you, help me really and truly realise my sin and how stained and leprous I am deep inside. Bring me to a realisation of my sins so that I realise how desperately I need you.

Jesus teach us to love as you loved. Amen!!!

Unchanging God

"The more unfaithful we are to our commitments and promises to God, the more faithful God appears to his promises to us."

For God doesnt break his promises. He is ever faithful and unchanging.

Hebrews 13:8 Jesus Christ the same yesterday, and to day, and for ever.



No matter how much people change, or the church changes, or the music goes beyond what we want, GOD never changes. He's the same yesterday, today, and forever, because He said so in His Word. He's there, ready to take us under his wings, whenever we need consoling. His Word and the Holy Spirit is our link with him in our lives, constantly. His Word is our guide, and the Holy Spirit is our teacher. He always answers prayers; perhaps he doesn't answer them the way we want or in our time frame, but as someone said today, He always answers, and He is never, ever late!


Revelation 1:8 I am Alpha and Omega, the beginning and the ending, saith the Lord, which is, and which was, and which is to come, the Almighty.


Heavenly Father, when all the world is changing, we know we can rely on you. Help us to put our complete trust in you. In Jesus name, we pray. Amen.

You are my strength

We ought to pray to and invoke the Holy Spirit,
for each one of us greatly needs His protection and His help.

The more a man is deficient in wisdom, weak in strength, borne down with trouble, prone to sin, so ought he the more to fly to Him who is the never-ceasing fount of light, strength, consolation, and holiness.

Jesus, God's Son, took my place

Jesus, God's Son, took my place

I was guilty with nothing to say

And they were coming to take me away

But then a voice from Heaven was heard

It said "Let Him go and take me instead"

I should have been crucified

I should have suffered and died

I should have hung on the cross in disgrace

But Jesus, God's Son, took my

Crowns of thorns,

the spear deep in His side

And the pain it should have been mine

The rusty nails were meant for me

Oh yet Christ took them and let me go free

I should have been crucified

I should have suffered and died

I should have hung on the cross in disgrace

But Jesus, God's Son, took my place

God alone is enough!!!

"Perfect love drives out fear." 1 John 4:18

Perfect love. God is Perfect Love.

Jesus drives out all feelings of fear, insecurity, hurt, brokenheartedness.

For Jesus is love.

God alone is enough

Let nothing upset you,let nothing startle you.

All things pass;God does not change.

Patience wins all it seeks.

Whoever has God lacks nothing

God alone is enough.

-St Teresa Avila

Above ALL

But in that very hour of His passion and cross, before they had come to the cruel act of His slaughter and the shedding of His blood, what violent abuses He listened to with patience, and what shameful insults He endured!

He was even covered with the spittle of His revilers, when, but a short time before, with His own spittle He had cured the eyes of the blind man.

He Himself suffered the lash, in whose name His servants now scourge the devil and His angels. He who now crowns the martyrs with eternal garlands was Himself crowned with thorns; He who now gives true palms to the victors was beaten in the face with hostile palms; He who clothes all others with the garment of immortality was stripped of His earthly garment; He who has given the food of heaven was fed with gall; He who has offered us the cup of salvation was given vinegar to drink.

He the innocent, He the just, nay rather, Innocence Itself and Justice Itself is counted among criminals, and Truth is concealed by false testimonies.

He who is to judge is judged, and the Word of God, silent, is led to the cross. And although the stars are confounded at the crucifixion of the Lord, the elements are disturbed, the earth trembles, night blots out the day, the sun withdraws both its rays and its eyes lest it be forced to gaze upon the crime of the Jews, yet He does not speak, nor is He moved, nor does He proclaim His majesty, even during the suffering itself.

He endures all things even to the end with constant perseverance so that in Christ a full and perfect patience may find its realization.

And after such sufferings, He even still receives His murderers if they are converted and come to Him, and with a patience instrumental in saving man, this kind Master closes His Church to no one.

Those adversaries, those blasphemers, those persistent enemies of His name, provided they do penance for their offense, provided they acknowledge the crime committed, He not only receives and pardons, but admits to the reward of the kingdom o£ heaven.

What can be called more patient, what more kind? Even he who shed the blood of Christ is given life by the blood of Christ. Such is the wonderful patience of Christ.

Who am I?

Who am I? I am the child of God.

But how can a sinner like me be called a child of God?

"It is not because of who I am(a sinner) but because of what God has done (sent His only Son Jesus Christ do die for us). It is not because of anything that we have done but because of who God is (His love and His mercy for us."

Lyrics:

Who am I? That the Lord of all the earth,Would care to know my name,Would care to feel my hurt.

Who am I? That the bright and morning star,Would choose to light the way,For my ever wandering heart.

Bridge:Not because of who I am,But because of what you've done.

Not because of what I've done,But because of who you are.

Chorus:I am a flower quickly fading,Here today and gone tomorrow,A wave tossed in the ocean,A vapor in the wind.

Still you hear me when I'm calling,Lord, you catch me when I'm falling,And you've told me who I am.

I am yours.I am yours.

Who am I? That the eyes that see my sinWould look on me with loveAnd watch me rise again.

Who am I? That the voice that calmed the sea,Would call out through the rain,And calm the storm in me.

Not because of who I am,But because of what you've done.

Not because of what I've done,But because of who you are.

I am a flower quickly fading,Here today and gone tomorrow,A wave tossed in the ocean,A vapor in the wind.

Still you hear me when I'm calling,Lord, you catch me when I'm falling,And you've told me who I am.I am yours.

Not because of who I am,But because of what you've done.

Not because of what I've done,But because of who you are.

I am a flower quickly fading,Here today and gone tomorrow,A wave tossed in the ocean,A vapor in the wind.

Still you hear me when I'm calling,Lord, you catch me when I'm falling,And you've told me who I am.

I am yours.I am yours.I am yours.

Whom shall I fear?Whom shall I fear?'Cause I am yours.I am yours.