Here we are. . .

My people,

Good Morning, Sunshine! Ah! The Sun what a hard worker he is and he is always shining down on me and you.

Paul says in Ephesians 3:20- Now to him who by the power at work within us is able to do far more abundantly than all that we ask or think,

We serve an astonishingly, amazing and awesome God. There is none like Him.

 

When you love someone, you love them with all your heart. They are in your thoughts, in your heart and they are every fraction of a second. Every moment is a craving – a wanting, a desire to be with them. Love is an unexplainable ache in the heart. You just love and love and love. IT is a constant giving of self.

I would not write if I could not feel.

Have you ever loved anybody this much? Have you loved to feel the constant ache in your heart?

On the 16th of March, 2014 a Sunday, after the 10:15 am mass, as usual I sat back and I watched people walking away from their pews on their way out. Some of the people had their shoulders bent down with burden and their faces filled with worries.

 

Gods GRACE

When I thought I'd witnessed grace,
I knew I gazed upon Gods face.

When I'd felt my heart beat
When I saw the sky so blue,
I thought of all things wonderful
Oh God, I knew It was You.

Every time I see the sun shine,
Every thought of mine is I've not seen it all,
If my every thought is when I was standing
My thoughts would be of the Great GOD who made it all.

I'll keep a hold on these feelings
They are safely locked in my heart
And when they're needed
You just have to look at how we began...

And you know this is just the start.

 

 

 

This week, has been a Mission week in our Church, ‘Mt. Carmel’s’. And I loved every word the Priest had to say. It’s been 4 wonderful days. Would you believe I couldn’t catch the Priest name? Every word that he spoke was just God in His Majestic splendour saying ‘Everything will be alright’.
The 23rd of March, I learnt the Priests name, he is Fr. Erasto Fernandez. (Mission 17th March-22nd March 2014)

Abba, Father, thank You for this wonderful Priest and for the words You alone know. I love You!

The Mission was about how we must make our way to getting closer to the Holy Eucharist.  The main points:

• Love for God must be the top priority.
• The - I factor must diminish and Christ must increase.
• One must empty themselves of everything – in order to be filled with God.
• A life of complete surrender to the will of God.
• We must be willing to be broken-completely trusting God with the joy in our hearts.
• Listen and understand the Word of God.
• The Holy order (they are a representation of Jesus)-Obedience to the Priest. I know they walk on holy ground.
• Always putting others need before ours and loving everybody irrespective of race, creed or whatever biases we create.
• We must come in total Belief. To BELIEVE. (Remember, Jesus said, ‘Don’t be afraid, Just believe.’)
• A forgiving heart.
• We must pray as often as we can to the Blessed Sacrament.
• Be CHRISTLIKE.

 

There was a time in my life, when I skipped Church. I know how that sounds. I was never upset with God, I always believed but there were many things that were not right. Looking back I know I can’t change what I did. But I know this Jesus waited with me and strengthened me.

This is not easy to write, but write I must. On two different occasions, in my dreams, I had been a part of the mass celebrations and I received the ‘Body of Christ.’ I sensed it so strongly. I felt it. You could debate about it but it was never just a dream. I know my life is different.

 

Jesus meek and humble of heart, make my heart like unto thine.

 

I have witnessed so many marvels of God. They just keep coming to me. Do you know, God has been gracious to me?

God is good to everybody, if you would only listen and understand. IF you could only be a li..tt..le more patient. Could you? And would you try? I’ll try explaining. I hope for you to see, and know that we all need to wait for God’s SUDDENLIES!

I love babies. At some point in my life, I wanted to work in a crèche, with no vested interest, just the feeling of being in a room filled with kids.

God knows I believe so the dreams were just a push. Have you ever held your dreams in your hands, and then want to let go. I don’t think so.  It’s the same with holding your babies you never want to stop believing.

It’s about some 6 years or so, when related to some office work-charity bound, we had been to an orphanage run in Dadar, for boys. I cherish two particular moments here. We were playing games with the kids and one of the brothers had come for the weekend, it was a Sunday. The kids left the game and they all surrounded him and hung on to him with their life. I will never forget that moment. That is love.

The other, would be of this little lonely boy, who sat separately and did not play with anyone. When I went up to him, he was hesitant. I told him, if you want to sit quiet, I will sit quiet too. And we will just be two quiet people. I think we sat like that for 5 to 10 minutes. He came closer to me and sat. Then he started getting a little bit free. He began to talk, I asked him his name. Daniel, that’s what he said. I carried him, made him sit on my lap. He gave me petal of flowers, and asked me never to forget him. I told him, I never will. It began to pour and the kids were running for the shade. I stopped them, I held Daniel close, opened the palm of his hands and said keep it open, all the kids did, I asked them to watch for raindrops – I told them with every drop God loves you. Daniel showed me his hand, and there was not a drop, I told him most lovingly we both can’t see the drop but its there, infact a handful. I told him whenever it rains don’t run, it’s just a way of God saying He loves you. And I will always love you Daniel. You are forever in my heart.

I am blessed with Daniel and Emmanuel (this is a promise of God to me-God chose their names) and God asked me to offer them back to God. And I offered them to God with love. I had nothing and God remembered me.

One of my most beautiful dreams is that of my sons, I will cherish the moment of holding Daniel in my arms, and of watching Emmanuel be the mischievous one. From the moment of my dreams and forever I will always love you D & E.

 

 

Grace. It is the free and unmerited favour of God.

Anything that is in me, that is not pleasing to God, is the ugliness that needs to be discarded. Being a people pleaser, wanting attention all the time, creating reasons to be paid attention to, these are not Godly behaviours. Jealousy over what others have, bitterness of heart, criticizing people these are all that makes the heart of a person ugly in nature.

 

“From the desire of being esteemed and from the desire of being preferred to others… Deliver me Jesus.”

 

When you compliment a person, for whatever reason you praise the Creator, you praise God for them. When you criticize, you are telling God that He did not do a fine job? Have you never realized?

 

 

After a Praise and worship session, you feel completely uplifted. Half an hour into it and you could bring the Berlin Wall down if it existed. That’s the power of praising God with a grateful heart.

JOSHUA 6:20 STATES - So the people shouted, and the trumpets were blown. As soon as the people heard the sound of the trumpet, the people raised a great shout, and the wall fell down flat, so that the people went up into the city, every man straight before him, and they took the city.

God told Joshua (leader of the Israelite people) to have the armed men march around the city once each day, for six days. On the seventh day, the assembly marched around the walls of Jericho seven times. At Joshua's command, the men gave a great shout, and Jericho's walls fell down flat! The Israelite army rushed in and conquered the city.

Joshua felt unqualified for the task of taking over for Moses, but God promised to be with him every step of the way, just as he had been for Moses.

 

As time goes by, your heart begins to grow weary don’t let anxiety get the better of you. When the time is in motion, strange and unpredictable things have to be in motion too.

At Gibeon, Joshua had got into a battle with the enemy and was outnumbered. God had already promised Joshua victory. Joshua began to overcome the enemy but the sun started to go down.

The Bible says that Joshua called out to the sun and commanded it, "Sun be still!"

The Sun stood for the longest time in the course of history.

I believe that God longs to see us obtain the victory so much that He wants us to believe that it is achievable through Him.

Don't ever give up. God is about to move on your behalf in a mighty way.

God is a God of SUDDENLIES.

 

 

 

Whenever, I receive the Holy Eucharist (Holy Communion), I feel my heart beat loud. I feel a complete rush. And on my way back home, I feel wonderful. How can I not?

I mean, we know it is the body of Christ. But have you thought really hard?

Before I receive the Holy Eucharist, I ask Jesus to come into my heart.

After I receive I say thank You, Jesus, Son of God, for coming into my heart. There is power in the word because it comes from a belief in God.

We don’t have to roam the world to search JESUS, HE is the most humble of all. HE waits for us at the Eucharist.

Will you come? Know the power that is CHRIST.

There are dreams that God has has put in your heart that you have not seen come to fruition. You are still holding on to the promises of God. It has been a long and a weary journey.

Don't lose courage and don't lose hope because God is about to rise up and do a fast and sudden thing!

God is the author and finisher of our faith. What God has started, God will finish.

Remember, God is a God of SUDDENLIES!

Always, EXPECT THE UNEXPECTED!!!
 

 

 

With all my Love,

For Love Prevails!
AnitA.

 

 

 

 

Here we are

Here we are my love together again
Here where we should have always been
We are together, where we were meant to be
Together as one just you and me

While we were apart it seemed so wrong
I longed for you a whole life long
I ached to be with you so much
To hear your voice to feel your touch

And now at last we're here together
In love for now and forever.

PRAYER:

Abba, Father, keep me obedient and always faithful. Remember, this your servant.
Mama Mary keep me humble, I pray. Amen.

17th March-20th March 2014-Thank You, Abba Father and for everything and for LOVE!

Deliver me, JESUS!

 

My people,

Good Morning! This is what Isaiah says in 26:3 - “You will keep in perfect peace him whose mind is steadfast, because he trusts in you.”

“From the desire of being esteemed and from the desire of being preferred to others… Deliver me Jesus.”

 

This has been the longest 2 weeks of my life. It’s been hard. The road is a long and winding one. It matters to me that there is a finish line. And really it is crucial to hold on. Have you toiled so much for something in your life? Given it all your best. All you need to do is sit back and watch it come to fruition.

Jesus meek and humble of heart, make my heart like unto thine.

 

Life is indeed full of surprises! IT is to the one who believes in God.

I am a wretched sinner.  I have committed my fair share of mistakes. Learnt that one can make a mistake – and that’s really the easy part. The most difficult is to watch that a single mistake can be so hurting to someone else, it can break their heart.

 

The hardest thing to do is be humble. I have this in my nature to be point blank. You could say, being bold is not something that is not in my character, because it is by God’s grace and nothing of my doing. For I am but dust and to dust I will return. If someone does injustice of any kind to anyone or me, I would never be quiet about that. I have always battled my way and never have I battled without God. The other day when someone, said something as harsh as what this person said, there were 2 reasons I did not do anything, firstly it was because God was teaching me a lesson in Humility and second this person, is who I call friend. Later on I realized there is a whole lot to humility but this is what I had to begin with.

 

Jesus meek and humble of heart, make my heart like unto thine.

 

It’s not that if you are bold, you are not humble, but that’s the whole thing really. It’s your trust in God, to be on the call of God- His will, becomes your way. Your heart  moves in rhythm with His.

 

Every heart is so precious to God. You hurt any one and you hurt God. And you hurt God bad.
 

When people pass paper ads, circulars or whatever you may call them, I take it and thank them. Thing is they have been given a job to do.

When I am a distance away I watch some people pass by carrying the circulars (ads) with them, and some just pass by walking ahead like no ones there. I watch the expression of the one giving the pamphlets and when someone takes it there is that spark on the face. I don’t want to miss any opportunity of bringing a smile on someone’s face. I know each time I do that, God smiles too. And that is so wonderful. Wonderful, because I bring a smile on God’s face.

 

We are given so many opportunities everyday, we fail to see. We find it so difficult to implement change. But we are fast to see when someone misses the queue? Why is that?

We want the world to be perfect, but will do nothing by ourselves to make the change happen?

 

On a Saturday, I was waiting for my bus and it was late by a good 20 minutes or so. Anyway, when the bus did come, I just uttered, “this late”. The bus driver looked at me with his 100 watt smile and oh boy, that did it. I thought okay, you are happy then I’m happy too. And when getting off the bus, as usual I thanked him and I saw him surprised. He surprised me with his smile and I surprised him with a thank you…

 

I hear people nag the whole day through. I watch them get so excited when they have to tell someone else’s tale first? I don’t think they ever know how painful it is to the person who gets to hear how they are being talked about?

I don’t ever encourage back talk (talking about a person in their absence) but it happens. And its disturbing to watch people enjoy such things, but they do.

 

I hear certain people can always be negative about any given situation. It’s like they never want to believe in anything good that can come. No matter how much you encourage them, they just want to live feeling sorry for themselves and bitter about everything.

 

 

Opinions they do matter. But they must be given in the right attitude. Sometimes we are too eager to give our opinions to others. We don’t even look back to see if our opinions, have kept them going or given them a scar that time may not heal?

 

Speak when you are spoken to and never out of turn. When you do it only shows good mannerisms.

Never be abusive and have a control on your temper. Being abusive does not help.

So what is it that needs to be broken in us? Things like rebellion, stubbornness, pride are a few areas of disobedience that can keep God’s anointing from working through us. And when we are led by our fleshly impulses, we are not being led by the Holy Spirit. It’s so important for us to grow up and mature in Christ so we can be what God wants us to be.

 

God does what He does, is who He is, and gives all things to the whole of all He made.

Thus He leads by Example to that which He asks us to be. Hence we can follow a God who knows where and how to get where we must go.

He speaks truth first. If we know a truth, it is because He has made it known – revealed it, opened our ears or eyes or minds to see it. If we do not, it is because He has not yet deemed it time for us to know.

 

Have you watched ‘Bruce Almighty’? If you have, there is this actor Morgan Freeman who plays the character of God. I love the way he utters the words “Its Gooooood”. I love that. Life is good, when you believe in a God who is good all the time.

 

With all my Love,

For Love Prevails!
AnitA.

As people we may be shy, fearful of being hurt or even in need of encouragement to reflect greater boldness.
Paul in 2Timothy 1:7 reminded Timothy of this, saying: “God gave us not a spirit of cowar...but that of power and of love and of soundness of mind.”
Paul had been given power to encounter foes and dangers of all kinds so that he did not shrink back in fear. He was given power to endure severe trials and persecutions. Rather than looking to his possessions, Paul looked to God to satisfy his needs. The result was contentment.

“Don’t do anything from selfish ambition or from a cheap desire to boast, but be humble toward one another, always considering others better than yourselves. And look out for one another’s interests, not just for your own.” -Philippians 2:3-4

As King of God's heavenly regime, Jesus "will rescue the poor who cry for help, Also the lowly one and whoever has no helper. He will have pity on the lowly and the poor, And the lives of the poor he will save. From oppression and from violence he will rescue them, And their blood will be precious in his eyes.” Psalm 72:12-14

 

 

 

“Learn from me, for I am meek and humble of heart.” Matthew 11:29

This is the great Revelation of the Heart of Jesus: "I am meek and humble of heart."

Jesus Christ is the Word of His Father who reveals Him. His teaching is all about the knowledge of the Father and He teaches us the way we must go in order to get to the Father.

Jesus is the Son of God, true God and true Man. He came into the world to redeem it. The Incarnation is for the Redemption of souls. By His sufferings, He has reconciled us with God the Father.
 

Sometimes, in our zeal to reform other people’s lives, we use criticism and condemnation. We become harsh, self-righteous and this does not help. In this passage, we are reminded to minister to one another, in gentleness, as Jesus did.
 

Jesus never hurt anyone, never treated anyone bad. He is always understanding; He gave hope to everyone.

As Christians, we should not be looking down at or judging anyone as what we think them to be the wayward.
 

Our role as Christians is essentially to lead others to God, and the best and most effective way to this is by imitating Jesus who was meek and humble of heart.

Let this be our prayer today: “Jesus, meek and humble of heart, make my heart like unto thine.”

 

This is the model of humility Christ gave us:

Have this mind among yourselves, which is yours in Christ Jesus, who, though he was in the form of God, did not count equality with God a thing to be grasped, but emptied himself, by taking the form of a servant, being born in the likeness of men. And being found in human form, he humbled himself by becoming obedient to the point of death, even death on a cross.  Philippians 2:5-8

When the world just comes round you, when you want to be a people pleaser, when you want to be a part of the crowd , start with this line:

“Jesus, grant me the grace to desire it.”

There are two ways that we focus on growing closer to God during the Lenten season: abstinence and fasting.

Abstinence is the act of “doing without” or avoiding something.

Fasting is the act of doing with less. Fasting and abstaining, through the lent season is an important reminder of what it means to suffer and through this suffering we understand the incredible sacrifice that Jesus Christ made for us.

 

PRAYER:

Abba, Father, keep me obedient and always faithful. Remember, this your servant.
Mama Mary keep me humble, I pray. Amen.

 

This I know. . .

 

My people,

Good Morning! This is what John says in 14:27-“Peace I leave with you; my peace I give you. I do not give to you as the world gives. Do not let your hearts be troubled and do not be afraid.” 
“May the Mother of Jesus and our Mother, always smile on your spirit, obtaining for it, from her Most Holy Son, every heavenly blessing.”- St. Padre Pio.

 

Love, it holds infinity, it is magnanimous and no matter how well you define it, there will always be something in addition to it. At best it is indefinable.

 

I and my brother loved this song, this is what the song does it gives you a jumpstart. So the song ‘Tubthumping’ is not really about the words or maybe the first paragraph with the chorus are. It's about the words and the beat that gives it the zing effect. It motivates you to be up and doing. But if you are trying to stay away from liquor, I suggest this would not be the song for you.

We'll be singing
When we're winning
We'll be singing
CHORUS:
I get knocked down
But I get up again
You're never gonna keep me down
I get knocked down
But I get up again
You're never going to keep me down

I like motivational songs. I like a good message and this is what this song says: I’m ready for whatever is in store. I’m not giving up. Try as much as you want, but I’m gonna get up again and there is no way, I will ever stop. I will keep singing my way to victory. I am going to win. So I might be down for a while, but I will rise.

 

I am no Quitter. I believe in a Heaven that has all the answers to the questions, we fear to ask or think why ask?

I believe that most often, we look at a circumstance and declare that it is impossible.

I know and believe that God can and will do the IMPOSSIBLE! God is a God of IMPOSSIBLES!

 

 

When you do not deal with a circumstance and or leave it undone, because of a fear, you give the upper hand to the enemy (the devil). The first time it happens, you walk away thinking the problem is too big for you. The second time it happens, you start wondering why on earth did this happen again and why me? And the third and the fourth, and you come to believe that it has come to be a part of life.

The enemy will always start with a notion, never knowing what it is that we will eventually fear. So if something happens for the first time, our tendency is to shrink back. We get too fearful. We believe in the circumstance. We speak about that moment with everyone we come around. We have no control over our mouth or our actions.

Every time that we do not deal with this circumstance we give the devil the upperhand. This is when he takes charge and calls the shots. As time goes by the situation worsens, making your suspicions grow even more stronger. And let me tell you your insecurity grows too. You become depressed, and resentful.  

The devil will knowingly attack you over and over and over. He now knows your weakness. Years pass by. You have lived with this fear and it has a complete grip on you. It has a dominant say in your life. You are a slave to your worst fears.

 

 

 

When ever you face a situation, do not fear. Deal with it in the name of God. God is bigger than all of our problems put together.

Do not magnify your fear. Magnify God.

Remember, God is bigger than your worst fear or problem.

We live in a world that is used to everything at a press of a button. We want things easy. We don’t know how it is to love, what it means to sacrifice and what it means to trust God?

 

This is what Fr. Ashlyn, said in his opening statement of his homily on Sunday for the 6:00 pm. Mass. I quote Franklin D. Roosevelt “Only Thing We Have to Fear Is Fear Itself”.

Think about it, if we did not fear, we would be pretty much able to see that beyond that road, is a Paradise for beholders.

Often we fear the unknown. The devil would like us to be where we are. Because when we are comfortable with where we are, we are not doing any damage to him.

  

 

It’s Ash Wednesday, and the beginning of the lent season-it’s a day of fast and abstinence. It’s not a day for you to announce to every Tom and Harry that you are on a fast. It is a part of repentance, of turning away from sin and back to God.

During the lent season, its not uncommon to hear people boast of their fasting or of how they only eat fish or veggies. It’s great, I do appreciate that, but really do you have to go and announce that to every one? Shouldn’t it be that you keep a fast and only your Father in Heaven, knows about it.

Matthew 6:16-18 states- "And when you fast, do not look dismal, like the hypocrites, for they disfigure their faces that their fasting may be seen by men. Truly, I say to you, they have received their reward. But when you fast, anoint your head and wash your face, that your fasting may not be seen by men but by your Father who is in secret; and your Father who sees in secret will reward you.

 

I love simplicity and humility.  I love simple – uncomplicated people.

 

John the Baptist calls for the people to repent and he baptizes them in the river Jordan, thus preparing the people for the coming of the Messiah. John wants everyone to know that there’s someone who is "more powerful" and will baptize them "with the holy Spirit". Look at what Jesus does. Jesus goes to the river to be baptized by John. Jesus acknowledges John’s efforts. That’s acknowledgement from the Son of God. And the Father acknowledges ‘His Son’ and John the Baptist by saying of Jesus, ‘This is my Beloved Son’ in whom I am well pleased.

What an acknowledgement from the ‘Holy Trinity’.

Mark 1:11 states - and a voice came from heaven, “Thou art my beloved Son; with thee I am well pleased.” 


 

My heart is moved, at the sight of a leper.

Mark 1:40 states- And a leper came to him beseeching him, and kneeling said to him, "If you will, you can make me clean."

Look at this man and what he asks of Jesus and the way he puts his words across. Look at his faith. How marvellous. We don’t see this kind of faith? Do we?

 

Fr. Ashlyn always begins the Bible class with the words LISTEN and then somewhere in between he goes on to say, Be opened.

When you begin to read the Bible, you would need to pray to understand Gods message and then to understand and imply the message in your life. God is always speaking, how the message comes and through whom, for that you need to keep the doors of the mind always open.

Be open to Gods wondrous and amazing ways. You are loved by the Almgighty God.

With all my Love,

For Love Prevails!
AnitA.

 

This I know. . .
This I know to be true,
So I waited and waited,
I waited an eternity for you,
Just to be the one
to say, “I love you”.

  

PRAYER:

Abba, Father, keep me obedient and always faithful. Remember, this your servant.
Mama Mary keep me humble, I pray. Amen.