Our LOVE!

My People,

Good Morning! I wish you God’s Peace!

This will be my last article. Please bear with me as this message of mine gets a little bit lengthy. I am sorry. I am not tired of writing never can be, but its a matter of the heart. Praise God!

Do you love me? This is a question we all ask or want to ask of the person we love. We want to know how they feel.

I Love You! Three words! Eight alphabets! My goodness, what a change it makes to a persons life.

I love you. I always have and I always will love you. This love for you will never end. I love you…..  I DO!

This is my favourite song and this is what I like to sing when I think of LOVE – its a Don Williams number - I've Been Loved By The Best.

This is how I define faithfulness in a relationship-this is me and here I go-with saying I love you. I really really do. More than you will ever know.

I love you more than anything and everything in the world. And without you I’d be lost because you are everything that is everything in this world to me. So if you could hear me sing, this would be my love song to you.

Darling, if you ever leave me

Well, I'll just put my heart away
I couldn't love again, believe me
No one could please me anyway

And if another ever came along

I'd just turn them down 'cause after all
I've been loved by the best
I can't settle now for less
Why bother with the rest

Baby, I've been to the top, I guess
With you I have been blessed
I won't take nothin' less
I've been loved by the best

If you ever get tired of me
Well, I won't look for someone new
'Cause looking back on how you loved me
No one could measure up to you

And if they try to win this heart of mine

I just have to say, ''Don't waste your time'’
I've been loved by the best I can't settle now for less
Why bother with the rest

Baby, I've been to the top, I guess
With you I have been blessed
I won't take nothin' less
I've been loved by the best

When I look into your eyes I know
You're the only love I ever want'
Cause, after you and me
Baby, I can see Nothin' else could be even close

I've been loved by the best

I can't settle now for less
Why bother with the rest

Baby, I've been to the top I guess

With you I have been blessed
I won't take nothin' less
I've been loved by the best.

 

What a world would this be, if there was no love? Can you imagine that?

I have seen people use the sentence ‘I love you’ so often, that first it’s overly used and secondly it has lost its meaning to people. You cannot love your cat, dog and a human being with the same breath.

Love is sacrifice. You know why some marriages fail? Go back to the first sentence of this paragraph. Yes, ‘SACRIFICE’. Sadly people these day think of the ‘I’ factor.

Marriage is supposed to be ‘WE’. I don’t see that anymore. Okay so I need to correct myself. I see it very rarely. And its not only marriages, it could be any kind of relationships.

When you speak these words, “I love you”, it’s a commitment made. Would you stand by (be here for) the one you love? I’m asking? That would be what I would expect.

Love is forever-to the end of time.

 

The number 444 is my everyday number. I can see it from anywhere in the universe. So in a way the number does get my notice. In my Bible Pg. 444 – refers to the Book of Tobit - which took me quiet some time to figure out. But God always will lead you right.

The book begins with Tobit, an Israelite of the Northern Kingdom who was deported to Nineveh, who suffers blindness. He is faithful to covenantal worship and charitable works. The Lord rewards his faithfulness with wealth and a good position in the king's government. Yet a series of unfortunate circumstances leave Tobit poor, depressed and blind. He prays for death. Sarah in Media suffers torment and simultaneously she  prays for death . She has been married seven times but a demon killed each of her husbands before the marriage could be consummated.

The Lord hears the prayers of Tobit and Sarah. Because of their good life and prayers, God sends the Archangel Raphael (the angel of love) to help them. When Tobit asks his son Tobiah to go and recover a large sum of money he had deposited many years prior with his relative, Raphael joins Tobiah on the journey disguised as an Israelite named Azariah.

As the pair make their way to Tobit's relative, they catch a fish whose innards have healing properties. Then they stop at the house of Raguel, Sarah's father. Raphael convinces Tobiah to marry Sarah and they marry immediately. Tobiah uses parts of the fish to ward off the murderous demon and he survives the wedding night. Finally, Tobiah uses the fish's gall to cure Tobit's blindness (11:11).

Raphael heals Tobit of blindness, he protects and guides Tobias on his travels and he delivers Sarah from an evil demon. Tobit, Tobias and Sarah were beset by trials and difficulties to purify them, but they remained steadfast in their faith during the period of testing, and eventually enjoyed God’s blessings and mercy. All prayed for deliverance and God sent St. Raphael.

The message of the book is that God is both just and free. Suffering is not a punishment but a test. The believer is called upon to trust God and live his way. The book presents the sanctity of marriage, intercession through Angels, reward of good works, and parental respect, as well as the importance of prayer in our daily lives, fasting, and especially almsgiving.

Tobiah arose from bed and said to his wife, “My love, get up. Let us pray and beg our Lord to have mercy on us and to grant us deliverance.” She got up, and they started to pray and beg that deliverance might be theirs. He began with these words:

“Blessed are you, O God of our fathers; praised be your name forever and ever. Let the heavens and all your creation praise you forever. You made Adam and you gave him his wife Eve to be his help and support; and from these two the human race descended. You said, ‘It is not good for the man to be alone; let us make him a partner like himself.’ Now, Lord, you know that I take this wife of mine not because of lust, but for a noble purpose. Call down your mercy on me and on her, and allow us to live together to a happy old age.” They said together, “Amen, Amen,”.

MORAL: The truth and the power of love are in the ability to place oneself between the forces of good and evil, because love is confident of being victorious. Love conquers all the obstacles.

Chapter of Tobit illustrates-how God cares for those who love Him. It shows Him rewarding human faithfulness with His faithful deliverance. They have to undergo trials to experience deliverance. Tobit and Sarah suffer but God delivers them in the end. Raphael was sent to heal Tobit and Sarah. What we learn from this chapter is the importance of prayer and we also learn that God delivers.

 

When sending greeting cards my mom would add all the names of our family, and would also add the name of the child she was expecting in brackets (brother). This happened when my mom was expecting for 3 of my brothers. I am speaking of my moms faith.

The 3^rd of May, it was for me the longest day in a very long time. I sat with a friend of mine, and what she told me, I won’t reveal it here. But she was in a terrible anguish. The reason I know is because after talking with her, I just felt all of her misery, all of her hopelessness. And no matter how I tried, the pain simply would not go away. This is not the first time I have experienced something of this sort. By the time, I reached home, I was just glad that somehow I started feeling somewhat better. I did pray for her.

The 3^rd of May, is the day my brother was called to his eternal home up in Heaven. My brother wanted for God to remember him and God did call him home. My brother loved Mt. Carmels Church and he would often go for the 7:30 p.m.

As I saw Fr. Warner celebrating the mass, it simply relaxed me completely. I will never forget. Thank you, God!
 

I have this habit once I have updated my topic on my blog, I return back to read it. I was adviced by the ‘Holy Spirit’ not to read the new topic (God’s Sign… Part 2) on my blog till the *condition* was fulfilled. And on the 3^rd of May, just on entering the Church, I noticed the part of the condition sitting there, and with that there was an additional blessing that of hearing Fr. Warner’s mass. Obedience to the Holy Spirit is a pre-requisite.

John 14:13-14 states: “Whatever you ask in my name, I will do it, that the Father may be glorified in the Son; if you ask anything in my name, I will do it.” - from the Gospel of the day and for the date 27^th April, 2013 as mentioned in my topic God’s Sign…. Part 2.

The 4^th of May, I am waiting to hear from the ‘Holy Spirit’. I attend the masses in the morning, and in the evening and nothing.

The 5^th of May, Today being Sunday, I attend the morning mass and the evening again. It’s been a silent day.

The 6^th of May, I attend both the morning and the evening. Nothing. What do I do?

I know I trust God, with all my heart. I wait and so as I wait I say, PRAISE GOD! Then I reflect on Exodus 14:14 - The Lord will fight for you; you need only to be still.”

Being Still – is nothing but to wait and I am waiting with my arms outstretched and with a heart full of expectations. David says there are three things to do as you wait –

Wait quietly -- “I wait quietly before God, for my hope is in him.” Psalm 62:5 

Wait patiently -- “Be still in the presence of the Lord, and wait patiently for him to act.” Psalm 37:7

Wait expectantly -- “I wait expectantly, trusting God to help, for he has promised.” Psalm 105:5

And this is so important: you must expect to hear from God. Expect for Him to give you an insight; this is the faith factor where you wait expectantly. Waiting on God is never a waste of time. In fact, it's some of the best time you are ever going to invest in your life.

To live the Gospel value - very difficult.

To follow Christ - not going to be easy.

To love Jesus - is to love every one. It takes God’s strength to love. Are you open?

You can’t choose to love and whom to love. You know when you really are like Jesus, it’s not difficult to love. Everybody is huggable to me. Okay there are always exceptions, and there are some people who make me really mad. But this is what JESUS always tells me love anyway.

Jesus gave us a commandment: “A new command I give you: Love one another. As I have loved you, so you must love one another. By this everyone will know that you are my disciples, if you love one another.” John 13:34-35

“You must love the LORD your God with all your heart, all your soul, and all your mind.” He added, “A second is equally important: ‘Love your neighbor as yourself’” Matthew 22:39

It is hard to define love, in just a sentence. That would be no justice at all. I guess the best place to start would be in chapter I Corinthians 13.

“Love never gives up. Love cares more for others than for self. Love doesn’t want what it doesn’t have. Love doesn’t strut, doesn’t have a swelled head, doesn’t force itself on others, isn’t always “me first,” doesn’t fly off the handle, doesn’t keep score of the sins of others, doesn’t revel when others grovel, takes pleasure in the flowering of truth, puts up with anything, trust God always, always looks for the best, never looks back, but keeps going to the end. Love never dies...” I Corinthians 13:4-8

Take the first part of that verse, love never gives up. I ask God to enable me to never give up. He is the only one who can empower me to do so. Then I stand on His Word. Philippians 4:13, I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me. Whatever I have, wherever I am, I can make it through anything in the One who makes me who I am.

OUR GOD IS AN AWESOME GOD! NOTHING IS TOO DIFFICULT FOR HIM and His grace is sufficient for us. He will never leave us nor forget us. Seasons change...and things pass. One thing is for sure, God is faithful and true to His promises even when at the time it seems He has forgotten us, nothing can hide us from His love.

While Paul was spreading the Gospel in Asia, he was locked up and the Christians there turned their back on him.

When things get tough and those who you thought would hang in there with you, leave you out, it can be painful. It was the Church folk who left Paul.

God always has someone there to help you in your time of need. Paul was so appreciative of the help he got that he asks the Lord to have mercy not only on this brother but on his whole household. Paul asked the Lord to give Onesiphorus' household mercy. This is what Onesiphorus did for Paul that you and I should do for other people in need. Here is the first of the four things that Onesiphorus did for Paul while he was locked up

Paul says in verse 16 that "he often refreshed me". It is a blessing to have someone who is a breath of fresh air. It is great to have somebody who revives your spirit rather than kills it.

Paul, tells us in verse 16 "and he was not ashamed of my chain." Paul was saying that Onesiphorus was not embarrassed by the fact that Paul was locked up and in chains for the Gospel. He had compassion and embraced his brother in pain and we too need to do the same. When we do this we become Christ like.

Paul says in verse 17 that when he arrived in Rome, Onesiphorus sought him out diligently and found me". We have to have the spirit of Onesiphorus and be diligent in seeking those who are lost and in need even when it is risky.

Paul goes onto pray again for Onesiphorus in verse 18. When you are good to people their prayers will always be with you. Paul prays again, "Lord grant to him that he may find mercy from that Day". Day here is the Day of Judgment. There will be a day when the Lord is going to judge the world and send his wrath. Paul is saying “cover him Lord he is one of the good ones.

God knows well of what you do for those in need. It don't matter if anyone else doesn’t know, the Lord knows and He will reward you.

Be a Titus to someone who’s downcast in spirit. Pray to have the spirit of Onesiphorus, who sought out the hurting to bring them to healing. Think of it: You’ve been given all the power of heaven to refresh a hurting believer, someone who needs the consolation that God has given uniquely to you. Yes, there are people who need you and the Lord intends your past consolations to bring refreshing to them. Call that someone today and pray for them and encourage them.

I wish you an Ephesians 320 ‘Now unto Him (God) that is able to do exceeding abundantly above all that we ask or think, according to the power that worketh in us.'

So with all my faith in God, hope-that never stops, and love in my heart, I know my prayer has come true, I found you.

With all my love,

For Love Prevails

AnitA.

 

PRAYER: Like Joshua, may I be able to stand in Your presence, and dare to ask with boldness and faith from You, for that which You have in Your will for me. Like Noah, may I see Your will come to pass in my life. Teach me to be like Abraham, to be always obedient to Your Holy will. And like David, may I sing Your praises forever.

And Abba Father, most of all teach me to be like Jesus, to be ever so humble, to completely be obedient to Your Holy Will, and to love You with all of my heart, Forever and Ever. Amen.

Abba, Father, remember me your servant. Keep me always obedient and faithful to You always, Amen.

 

REMEMBER: This God is my God, The Almighty God, this is the God to whom I come. This God is the One whose promises I am counting on. Whatever my predicament may be, as soon as I compare it with the circumstances surrounding the miracles of the sun, there can be no doubts.

 

The PROMISES:  

Unforgettable memories: Saturday, September 29, 2012.

Day 1: 18th September, 2012. 1313
Day 2: 19th September, 2012. 1313

Day 3: 20th September, 2012. 1313

On the 3rd day when I saw the number again it just was a reconfirmation. And what followed it on the third day, itself was the Reading from the 1st book of Corinthians 13:1-13.