We are many Parts by Florence D’Costa

When either, we, our families, our church or our country face huge problems, we must believe that Christ lives and that He knows exactly what we are going through, WE MUST PRAY WITH FAITH and we will get answers.

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Mount Calvary

By Florence D’Costa

Every time we make the Stations of the Cross, are we making the journey that Jesus made on that fateful day, when he was condemned by Pilate to die on a cross, 2000 years ago?  Well, Jesus Christ died and he rose again victoriously, 2000 years ago.  He is now seated at the Right hand of God and He is constantly interceding for us.  So, why do we make the Stations of the Cross atleast once week,  during the Lenten Season?

Well, for me, I journey along with Jesus on that fateful day.  I journey along with His Mother Mary.   I journey with her as I can imagine how broken she was to see her only son being condemned, scourged, crowned with thorns, robed as a king and mocked as ‘The King of the Jews” and finally He was crucified and He died between two thieves.  The Son of God, the Son of Mary who was God and Man – who knew no sin, became SIN by carrying the sins of the world on His shoulders.  He suffered and died such a humiliating death on the cross BECAUSE OF HIS GREAT LOVE FOR YOU AND ME.  He was prepared to die for us, so that we might LIVE forever with Him in Heaven.

The Old Rugged Cross by Don Meon

What happens as I journey with Jesus and Mother Mary on that fateful day?  I relive the horror of that day.  I look into the eyes of Jesus as He carries his cross.  There is so much of pain in his eyes.  He suffers physical pain, pain of rejection, humiliation, he feels alone as he walks to his death.  Crowds are jeering at him women are crying for Him.  He meets his mother and their eyes meet.  No words pass from their lips but their hearts are wrenched in two.   Which mother on earth has witnessed her innocent son who committed no sin suffer and die such a humiliating death though He was Divine and yet Man.  No mother on earth, only Mother Mary.

On the cross His greatest suffering was when He carried the sins of the world on His shoulders, He cried, MY GOD, MY GOD, WHY HAVE YOU FORSAKEN ME.  You see Sin and God cannot be united and hence Jesus felt forsaken by His Father in Heaven.  Then Jesus said besides other things, IT IS FINISHED and He gave up HIS SPIRIT.

WHEN I look at Jesus dying on the cross, I know that after I have journeyed with Jesus and His mother, I cannot be the same person.  I know now that JESUS CHRIST has given me abundant graces to become a better person.  I have learnt to be ready to accept humiliation, suffering, ridicule etc all for the love of Jesus.  JESUS WAS GOD AND MAN AND HE WAS SINLESS AND HE SUFFERED AND DIED FOR THE WHOLE WORLD.  SO I MUST ALSO BE READY TO BE LIKE MY LORD AND MASTER.

Every Christian is persecuted in different ways and we must be ready to face persecution and so journeying with Jesus during His Most terrible Passion and Death is the best way for us to be strengthened TO BE LIKE OUR MASTER – JESUS CHRIST.

So my dear brothers and sisters in Jesus Christ REJOICE AND BE GLAD WHEN YOU ARE PERSECUTED FOR JESUS CHRIST ROSE VICTORIOUSLY FROM THE DEAD AND HE IS NOW SEATED AT THE RIGHT HAND OF GOD THE FATHER.  SO, WE WILL ALSO BECOME BETTER PEOPLE WHEN WE FACE PERSECUTION BUT WE MUST FACE IT WITH LOVE AND FORGIVENESS IN OUR HEARTS TOWARDS OUR PERSECUTORS.

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LOVE = THE CROSS

We are in the Season of Lent – It is a time to contemplate LOVE ON THE CROSS.  Today, let us simply sit quietly and look at the Cross. What do we see?  We see Jesus Christ, the Son of God, God and Man, hanging from a tree, INNOCENT AND SINLESS.

We see :

•          OBEDIENCE,
•          LOVE,
•          WILLINGNESS TO GIVE UP HIS LIFE FOR LOVE OF US.
•           SUFFERING
•           ONE WHO WAS CONDEMNED BY HIS OWN PEOPLE
•           HE ONLY DID GOOD FOR HIS PEOPLE
•           THE BLINDNESS OF THOSE WHO PERSECUTED HIM
•           GREAT HUMILIATION. HE WAS LAUGHED AND SCORNED AT.
•            FORGIVENESS –  “FORGIVE THEM FATHER FOR THEY KNOW NOT WHAT THEY DO”
•            THE PLAQUE AT THE TOP OF THE CROSS – “THE KING OF THE JEWS”
•            HE IS MORE THAN A KING.  HE IS THE KING OF KINGS.
•            HIS NAIL PIERCED HANDS AND FEET.
•            WE SEE THE SON OF MAN’S LASHED AND WOUNDED BODY.
•             LOVE FOR HIS MOTHER WHEN HE GAVE HIS MOTHER TO JOHN.

What is Jesus Christ saying to each one of us from the Cross :

•              I LOVE YOU.  I WILLINGLY DIED FOR YOU.
•              I WANT YOU TO LOVE ME IN RETURN AND TO LIVE FOREVER WITH ME IN PARADISE.
•               IT IS NECESSARY FOR YOU TO CARRY YOUR CROSS EVERYDAY AND FOLLOW ME
•               EVERY INDIVIDUAL DOES HAVE PROBLEMS AND DIFFICULTIES.
•               I WILL GIVE YOU GRACE AND I WILL PROTECT YOU.
•               I WILL CARRY YOU ON MY SHOULDERS WHEN YOU ARE UNABLE TO CARRY ON.                      YOU WILL THEN SEE ONLY ONE SET OF FOOT PRINTS ON THE SAND AND THOSE WOULD BE MINE.
•                DO NOT BE AFRAID FOR I AM WITH YOU TILL THE END OF TIME.
•                I HAVE WON THE BATTLE AGAINST EVIL AS I AM ALIVE – I AM THE RESURRECTED LORD.  I HAD TO DIE SO THAT I WOULD RISE VICTORIOUSLY.
•                I AM A WINNER AND SO ARE YOU.  BUT YOU MUST BE READY TO ACCEPT SUFFERING IN THIS LIFE.
•                I WILL GIVE YOU A CROWN IN THE NEXT LIFE AND FOR EVERY SUFFERING THERE I WILL PLACE A PRECIOUS STONE IN YOUR CROWN.
•                IF YOU LOVE ME AND ARE HAPPY TO ACCEPT YOUR SUFFERING AND PAINS, THE JOYS THAT YOU WOULD EXPERIENCE WITH ME IN HEAVEN WILL BE INDESCRIBABLE.
•                 FOR THOSE OF YOU WHO ARE TEMPTED TO WALK THE BROAD ROAD OF SIN, I APPEAL TO YOU TO TURN AROUND AND COME BACK TO ME.  THE BROAD ROAD LEADS TO HELL AND DAMNATION.
•                  SUFFERING CLEANSES, PURIFIES AND DRAWS YOU CLOSER AND CLOSER TO ME FOR I AM THE RESURRECTED  LORD.
•                  AS YOU COME CLOSER AND CLOSER TO ME, YOU WILL EXPERIENCE  LOVE, JOY, PEACE, FORBEARANCE, KINDNESS, GOODNESS, FAITHFULNESS, GENTLENESS AND SELF-CONTROL, PATIENCE, CHARITY, GENEROSITY AND CHASTITY.  I WILL CAUSE  ALL THE FRUITS OF MY HOLY SPIRIT WHICH YOU RECEIVED IN CONFIRMATION TO SURFACE AND BECOME VIBRANT IN YOU.
•                  MY DEAR PEOPLE, I LOVE YOU.  COME BACK TO ME AND MY FATHER WILL PROTECT YOU UNDER HIS WING.

MY ARMS ARE OUTSTRETCHED WAITING FOR YOU TO COME BACK INTO MY EMBRACE.

MY EMBRACE IS HEAVEN.  MY EMBRACE IS GRACE.  MY EMBRACE IS A HAVEN.  IN MY EMBRACE YOU WILL BE SAFE ON THIS EARTH AND IN THE NEXT.

COME BACK MY PEOPLE – COME TASTE AND SEE!!!!!!

D

Are you struggling in Your Marriage?

A reminder to those who have forgotten how happy they were on their Wedding Day and a reminder that you could recapture those happy times again.

Where have you gone wrong? Have you neglected to love each other in good times and in bad times?

AND BECAUSE OF THAT –

Are you struggling in your marriage?  Are you being taken advantage of?  Are you being walked all over?  You are not alone.  You definitely are not alone.  Jesus Christ is journeying with you.  I suggest you try and talk things over with your husband/wife.   Pray everyday on a personal level.  Pray as a family.

If the problem persists and the situation is really getting out of hand, then, I think it is time for you to approach a priest and seek help.  I am sure that he would suggest that you visit him with your spouse and you can be sure that HELP IS ON ITS WAY.  The Parish Priest will help you the best way he can.

So my dear married people who have stopped going to church for a very long time,  I would like to remind you that you are loved very much by a God and for those of you who have stopped going to Church and have stopped praying, I think it is time for you to come back to Church. Don’t stay home and become bitter.   Come back to Church, be friends with the Community and we as a Community will try to help you the best way we can.

Whatever be your problem, HELP IS ON ITS WAY but you must take the first step.  Come back to Church, talk to a Priest or to somebody whom you could trust in the Church Community and you can be SURE that YOU WILL BE HELPED.

 

Perseverance Builds Character

I would like you to read about “Perseverance Builds Character” by Steve Arterburn and down below are my comments.

Perseverance Builds Character

March 24, 2008 By

Steve Arterburn
For you need endurance, so that after you have done God’s will, you may receive what was promised. Hebrews 10:36 HCSB
As you continue to seek God’s purpose for your life, you will undoubtedly experience your fair share of disappointments, detours, false starts, and failures. When you do, you’re facing one of those inevitable tests of character. Don’t become discouraged: God’s not finished with you yet.
The old saying is as true today as it was when it was first spoken: ‘Life is a marathon, not a sprint.’ That’s why wise travelers (like you) select a traveling companion who never tires and never falters. That partner, of course, is your Heavenly Father.

The next time you find your courage tested to the limit, remember that God is as near as your next breath, and remember that He offers strength and comfort to His children. He is your shield and your strength; He is your protector and your deliverer. Call upon Him in your hour of need and then be comforted. Whatever your challenge, whatever your trouble, God can help you persevere. And that’s precisely what He’ll do if you ask Him.

Perhaps you are in a hurry for God to help you resolve your difficulties. Perhaps you’re anxious to earn the rewards that you feel you’ve already earned from life. Perhaps you’re drumming your fingers, impatiently waiting for God to act. If so, be forewarned: God operates on His own timetable, not yours. Sometimes, God may answer your prayers with silence, and when He does, you must patiently persevere. In times of trouble, you must remain steadfast and trust in the merciful goodness of your Heavenly Father. Whatever your problem, He can manage it. Your job is to keep persevering until He does.

Jesus taught that perseverance is the essential element in prayer. E. M. Bounds
Just remember, every flower that ever bloomed had to go through a whole lot of dirt to get there! Barbara Johnson
Perseverance is more than endurance. It is endurance combined with absolute assurance and certainty that what we are looking for is going to happen. Oswald Chambers Character builder
Are you being tested? Call upon God. God can give you the strength to persevere, and that’s exactly what you should ask Him to do.

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MY VIEWS ON SUFFERING WHICH LEADS TO CHARACTER BUILDING.

Suffering is part and parcel of this life.  We cannot escape suffering.  Suffering is necessary for mankind.  God allows suffering and through suffering He moulds human beings and shapes us into the kind of people that he wants us to be.

Different people suffer differently.

The suffering of the poor is different.  They lack food, clothing, clean drinking water etc and some children are deprived of education.  Those children who have lost their parents are deprived of all those things including Love.  Families that have been affected by Typhoons and Sunami have suffered tremendously and this is the time when the world comes in to play.  Social workers travel to these countries to be there in person to help those in affected areas.  

Some families have lost a few of their loved ones.  Some have lost all their loved ones and are left alone in the world.  Ofcourse this is tremendous suffering.  Our minds are not able to imagine such suffering.  But life has got to go on and this is where God comes in.  God so loved the world that He sent His only begotten son to die for each one of us, so that we would have eternal life.  It is beyond my comprehension as to why God had to send His only Son to die for us. He could have found another way of saving us but the Mystery is that God chose to send His Son to die for us.

It is beyond my imagination.  God could have easily said, ‘Sorry, I cannot send my son to die for you and there is no other way, so all of you would have to perish’.  But He did not say so.  Imagine God’s Son dying on the cross, suffering so much humiliation, pain, torment and torture and the greatest suffering was that He allowed His Son, Jesus Christ who knew no sin to become SIN – to carry the sins of the world on His shoulders.  Then, furthermore, for a mother to stand by and see her son suffering and dying on the cross is simply horrific and unimaginable and that is what Mary did when she watched Jesus die on the cross.

Then again, in the bible we have the sufferings of Job.  He lost his entire family and fortunes and even his health.  Think of Abraham who willingly took his only son to be offered as a sacrifice. What suffering he would have gone through, mentally, and yet he was prepared to sacrifice his son because his love for God was tremendous.

Then, what about the suffering of the Israelites when they were slaves in Egypt.  Four hundred years of slavery is a very long time.  I guess we would find a lot of suffering in the bible. 

There is a lot of sin in the world – Horrific sin.  If only we were aware of all the sin in the world,  we would go mad and die.  So, there is suffering and death in the world because of sin.  There are no definite answers for questions regarding suffering.  All we can do is to look at Jesus who is God and Man and who knew no sin and did no evil and yet He died a humiliating death on the Cross between two thieves.  There is no answer but to live life only for God.  We must teach all peoples including children, especially those who live in areas where there is a lot of suffering to FALL IN LOVE WITH JESUS CHRIST who is the AUTHOR OF SUFFERING AND YET HE WAS DIVINE.  We are only human and every human being suffers in various ways in this world.  Great sufferings come to the rich as well and all their money cannot alleviate their suffering.

It is important in this life to remember that the earth is our temporary home and that we are on a very dangerous and difficult journey and anything terrible can happen to us at any time.  We are all journeying to Our Goal, HEAVEN.  We came from heaven and we are journeying back to heaven.  So while we are on earth, there would be a lot of perils that we would face but WE MUST HAVE OUR EYES FIXED ON OUR GOAL : HEAVEN.  Each individual would come across different types of situations where they can come across a lot of suffering but the GREATEST SUFFERING THAT PEOPLE SHOULD AVOID IS THE DEATH OF ONE’S SOUL.  Jesus Christ in one of His parables mentioned that it is BETTER TO GO TO HEAVEN WITHOUT OUR LIMBS THAN FOR OUR WHOLE BODIES TO BE THROWN INTO HELL.  IT IS IMPORTANT TO REMIND OURSELVES THAT OUR BODIES DO NOT MATTER, IT IS OUR SOULS THAT MATTER.  SO WHEN WE GO THROUGH TERRIBLE SUFFERING, WE NEED TO CLING TO THE CROSS & PRAY FOR GRACE TO BE SAVED. 

MY EXPERIENCE IS THAT THE WORLD IS A WONDERFUL PLACE TO LIVE IN.  WE DO NOT SUFFER ALL THE TIME. GOD HAS GIFTED US THIS WONDERFUL WORLD FOR US TO ENJOY AND BE HAPPY.  SO EVERY HUMAN BEING GOES THROUGH VARIOUS SITUATIONS AND EXPERIENCES IN THEIR LIFE.  WE ARE ALL CALLED TO THINK MORE ABOUT OUR SOULS THAN OUR BODIES.

WHEN WE HAVE A CLOSE RELATIONSHIP WITH JESUS CHRIST, WE DO EXPERIENCE DEEP DOWN IN OUR HEARTS A PEACE THAT SURPASSES ALL UNDERSTANDING.  HENCE IT IS IMPORTANT TO HAVE A CLOSE RELATIONSHIP WITH THE HOLY SPIRIT WHO WILL HELP US IN THIS LIFE.  IT IS ALSO IMPORTANT FOR THOSE PEOPLE WHO HAVE  PLENTY TO SHARE WITH THOSE WHO HAVE NOT.

Life is very complex but God is not a cruel God.  Man does not suffer 24 x 7.  He goes through various types of experiences in his life.  He smiles, laughs, experiences great joy, is exhuberant, enjoys a lot of excitement, cries, falls sick, has a mental break downs etc. etc. but man is not alone for Jesus Christ journeys with Man.

Problems and difficulties do not last forever in a man’s life. God is with us and the GREATEST JOY THAT MAN EXPERIENCES IS WHEN HE IS IN THE PRESENCE OF GOD.  We are runners in a race and we must be overcomers and keep on running till we reach our Goal : HEAVEN.

 

IT IS IMPORTANT FOR US TO BE REMINDED ABOUT THE WAY OUR ANCESTORS SUFFERED AND THOSE STORIES ARE IN THE BIBLE.  WE DO HAVE AWESOME STORIES IN THE OLD AND IN THE NEW TESTAMENTS.

WE NEED TO HELP CHILDREN WHO EXPERIENCE SUFFERING AT AN EARLY AGE TO UNDERSTAND THAT LIFE IS A JOURNEY AND THAT CHRIST WHO IS JOURNEYING WITH THEM WILL GRADUALLY  GIVE THEM THE ANSWERS THAT THEY ARE LOOKING FOR

AND THIS IS CALLED EXPERIENCE. 

I have been thinking about the word EXPERIENCE. What is EXPERIENCE?  Experience is a situation in our lives that has a beginning and after a period of time, journeying in that situation, we learn to live and be OVERCOMERS.                                                                                                                                                                                                     We do need God’s Grace to be an OVERCOMER, so it is vital for us to pray for one another. 1Jn 5

How to Stay In The Presence of God 24 x 7

Prayer is having a conversation with God.  When God talks, we listen.  When we talk, God listens.  What do we normally? We talk and talk and talk to God.  Well, what do we talk to God?  Well, I remember how I used to pray a very long while ago.  I would tell God my sob stories and how he was not taking good care of me, meaning THAT HE WAS NOT DOING WHAT I WANTED HIM TO DO FOR ME.  I would go on and on and on and I did not give Him a chance to answer me and when He did speak to me, I could not hear Him because I did not know how to listen.  I could hear when people spoke to me but I was stone deaf when the Holy Spirit would gently whisper to me.  I was so full of myself.  I stood on a little pedestal and I kept on telling God that He being God, He could make me happy by granting me all my desires.

Well, God had other plans.  He definitely did not like my plans.  He did have a blue print that He designed for me from ALL ETERNITY.  Do you think I was happy with His Blue Print?  No way.  Then began my wrestling with God, Night and Day.  My wrestling with God continued for a period of time.  He allowed, struggles and suffering to meet me Head On.  Do you think I was happy?  No way but I knew that God was  my only hope.  I could never leave Him nor Forsake Him.  I GUESS, HIS LOVE FOR ME WAS SO GREAT THAT HE DID NOT LET ME GO  AWAY FROM HIM.  I WAS IN HIS LOVING EMBRACE BUT I WAS STRUGGLING TO COPE BECAUSE NOTHING WAS GOING ACCORDING TO MY PLAN BUT EVERYTHING WAS GONG ACCORDING TO HIS (GOD’S PLAN).

I always had a passionate desire for the WORD OF GOD.  I was wanting to study Scripture for a very long time but the Catholic Church was afraid to allow us to read the Bible, leave alone studying scripture.  The Catholic Church held onto the Sacraments and the Protestants held onto The Bible (the Word of God).  Then like a miracle, one day I heard that the Charismatic Group was having Adoration once a week in Convent, which I attended.  Oh my God, those were such wonderful days.  I enjoyed every moment of it.  I enjoyed BEING IN THE PRESENCE OF GOD FOR ONE WHOLE HOUR once a week.  Then, our group attended a stay in Retreat at a Hill Station.  A very cool and beautiful place.  At this retreat the Word of God was preached and Oh My God, my eyes were opened.  You see, when I was in Grade One I learnt catechism but along the way I had forgotten the Question and Answer that I studied.  Who made you?  God made me.  Why did he make you.  He made me to Know Him, Love Him and Serve Him.  This was not explained to me in Grade One but at this retreat Fr Rebello explained it so well.  And later when I began to study scripture Sr Claude taught us in a very deep way.  While I was in Scripture Class I was definitely in GOD’S PRESENCE and I felt as though I was lifted upto Heaven.  Fr Rebello and Sr Claude taught me the same thing.  How would we get to know God.  Only through Scripture.  Right from the Old Testament to the New Testament we learn that God is Love.  But we Catholics remembered God as a punishing God.  Once we get to know God and that He is Love even in the Old Testament, we begin to fall in Love with Him.  Any human being can fall in love only when we know a person and Scripture teaches us that God is Love and He can be nothing else.  So, when we love Him, we will begin to Serve Him without any questions.

From that day on I stopped wrestling with God and I began to SERVE HIM.  GOD WON and did I lose?  NO, I ALSO WON BECAUSE NOW I KNEW MY GOD, THEN I FELL IN LOVE WITH HIM AND FROM THAT DAY ON I BEGAN TO SERVE HIM WITHOUT ANY GRUMBLINGS AND MUMBLINGS.

So, a word of advice to all my readers.  If you are having struggles and sufferings in your life, this is the time to begin wrestling with God.  Never leave Him.  Keep on questioning Him and the Listen, He will answer you through His Word.  In fact He has answered you already through me.  Go for a WORD OF GOD RETREAT and God will talk to you through His Word.  He will answer all your questions and He will remove your all your doubts.

It is very important to get to know your God because when you get to know Him, you will fall in love with Him and then you will serve Him without any questions.

Now that we believe and trust in God a 100 percent, we have already begun to LIVE IN HIS PRESENCE.  My advice to everyone is, no matter what we are doing in our lives.  Whether, we are sleeping, eating, bathing, studying, crying, laughing, playing sport, working or praying etc, we need to be aware that we are in HIS PRESENCE.  HE NEVER LEAVES US.  JESUS CHRIST IS FAITHFUL AND HE IS ALWAYS WITH US, THUS PLACING US INTO HIS PRESENCE but it is very important for us to know that we are in His Presence all the time.  You might ask me, what about the times when I commit grievous sins, I am sure He would leave us.  Yes, when we commit grievous sins, we open the door of our hearts and we send Him out.  Yes, when we commit Mortal or grievous sins, He leaves our heart but never our side.  He stands outside the door of our hearts and He knocks and knocks and knocks.  John 3:16 ‘For God so loved the world that He sent His only begotten Son that whoever believes in Him may have eternal life.’ Jesus Christ was born in a stable for love of mankind and then He carried His Cross to Mount Calvary where he suffered and died and let us not forget that on the Third day He arose victoriously from the dead and He lives and reigns and He is seated at the Right Hand of the Father in Heaven where intercedes for us.  The Holy Spirit is with us and through Him we are in God’s presence.

I will now give you a few important points to follow to ensure that we are in His Presence all the time.

1.     Pray in the morning, before and after meals, night prayers, personal prayer and family prayer.  You can also pray The Divine Office.                                                                                                                   2.     Try to go for daily Mass and if that is not possible, atleast for Sunday Mass.                                                                                                           3.      For those who are not able to attend daily Mass, you can atleast read the Catholic readings for the day.  You may go to : http://www.ewtn.com.au/daily-readings.

If you are faithful to God and if you continue to have a conversation with Him.  You talk, God listens, God talks, you listen.  Be true to God in everything that you do and you will REMAIN IN HIS PRESENCE 24 x 7.  If you fall into grievous sin, be sorry, go for Confession and God will enter your heart again.   ALWAYS REMEMBER THAT JESUS CHRIST NEVER LEAVES YOUR SIDE BECAUSE OF HIS GREAT LOVE FOR YOU.  IF YOU ARE SUFFERING WITH ANY KIND OF SINFUL ADDICTION, DO NOT GIVE UP HOPE, PRAY AND SEEK HELP IN THE CATHOLIC CHURCH.  CATHOLICS ARE ALWAYS READY TO HELP THE BEST WAY THEY CAN.  REMEMBER THAT YOU ARE NOT ALONE.  GOD AND HIS PEOPLE ARE WITH YOU.

IF YOU ARE A CATHOLIC AND HAVE NOT GONE TO CHURCH IN A VERY LONG TIME, THEN, NOW IS THE TIME TO RETURN.  MEET A PRIEST, GO FOR CONFESSION AND MASS, PRAY AND MEET WITH FAITH FILLED CATHOLICS  WHO ARE WAITING TO BEFRIEND YOU.

GOD BLESS YOU ALL!

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Are you Sad Today?

I listened to Our Lord Jesus Christ this morning and He inspired me to write.  Are you Sad today?  What has happened to make you sad and depressed.  I know that feeling.  It is terrible.  My advice to you this morning is to immediately stop doing what you are doing.  Close your eyes, quieten yourself.  Let all the background sounds fade away.  Be still and listen to your heart beating.  Forget yourself and forget what is troubling you.  Just see Our Lord Jesus Christ standing before you.  He is dressed in dazzling white clothes.  His shoulder length auburn hair is blowing in the wind.  He is looking down at you for He can see you either sitting or kneeling before Him.  You are having your gaze on Him and He is smiling at you.  He now picks you up in His arms and He is holding you to Himself.  He says, TRUST ME and give me all your burdens and troubles and I will give you rest.  Jesus Christ said in Mt 11: 28-29  “28 Come unto me, all ye that labour and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. 29 Take my yoke upon you, and learn of me; for I am meek and lowly in heart: and ye shall find rest unto your souls.”
He is now holding you close in His loving arms.  He is your healer, your comforter and your Saviour.  Rest in His arms for a while and received His Peace which surpasses all understanding.  When you do feel rested enough and peaceful, give Him that which is troubling and bothering you and trust that He will take care of you.

Now, that you have given Him that which is troubling you,  my sincere advice is to forget your problem and begin living from today, this minute as if you have no problem because you really do not as you have given your problem to Jesus Christ.  Look into His eyes and thank Him for His blessings.  Now, you can open your eyes and continue with your work.

My sincere advice to you is whenever you feel troubled or bothered, you can go into the presence of Jesus Christ and give him your problems and be sure that He will handle the situation better than you and He will take care of you and your problems.

Lord, Deliver Me!

Be that One…..

My dear readers, for me personally the words
are very inspiring and very comforting.  Many
of us take things for granted and we keep wining
about the things we do not have.

Today, let us make an effort to appreciate all
that we have and all that we have been created
to be and let us make a difference in this
Wonderful World today.

St Elizabeth of Portugal – July 4, 2012

St. Elizabeth of Portugal

Feast Day: July 04
Born: 1271 :: Died:1336

Elizabeth was a Spanish princess and the daughter of Constantia and King Pedro III of Aragon. She was named after her great-aunt St. Elizabeth of Hungary. Elizabeth was beautiful and very lovable. She was well brought up and went to Mass every day.When she was just twelve, she married King Denis of Portugal. So she became Queen Elizabeth of Portugal when she was not even a teenager. She was a charming wife and her husband was fond of her at first, but soon he began to cause her great suffering.Though a good ruler, he did not have his wife’s love of prayer and virtue. In fact, his sins of impurity were a disgrace and well-known throughout his kingdom.St. Elizabeth tried to be a loving mother to her children, Prince Alphonso and Princess Constance. She was also generous and loving with the people of Portugal and spent time helping the sick and the poor.Even though her husband was unfaithful, she prayed that God would change his heart. Elizabeth trusted God and refused to become bitter and angry. She strengthened her own prayer life and followed the Franciscan spirituality.A little by little, the king was moved by her patience and good example. He began to live better. He apologized to his wife and showed her greater respect. In his last sickness the queen never left his side, except for Mass. King Denis died on January 6, 1325.He was very sorry for his sins and his death was peaceful. This gentle woman was also a peacemaker between members of her own family and between nations. She rode out into the battlefield and was able to prevent war on two occasions.

After the king died Elizabeth gave her wealth to the poor and joined the lay Franciscan order. There she started the monastery of the Poor Clares, living a life of poverty, performing loving acts of charity and penance. She was a wonderful model of kindness toward the poor.

St. Elizabeth of Portugal died on July 4, 1336 of a fever. After her death, many miracles took place at her tomb.

Reflection: “If you love peace, all will be well.’ St Elizabeth

holyspiritinteractive.net/dailys… 

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