As we look back .............

As time creeps toward rebirth I’m spending some time looking back at this year. It’s something of a tradition now to take this time between Christmas and New Years to reflect on our predictions for the year and how things came out. For the past few years I’ve taken this week as vacation and do some mini pilgrimages to my favourite shrines in the city such as to St Joseph's church , the church of The Sacred Heart and St Anthony's , a time I really look forward to. I don’t “work” this week, but this is the exception…although I don’t really think of my blog as work anyway.
2010 was a year of change for all sorts as we came out of a very tough 2009 and tried to redefine ourselves and what we called the “new normal”. The way we build and consume issues is changing. Maybe even more important the way many sources “do” their work is changing.

“But Mary kept all these things, and pondered them in her heart.” Luke 2:19
The Lord told Mary that life was getting ready to change in a big way. Her world was going to be turned upside down. And Mary did not turn away or refuse the will of God. Are'nt we thankful today that Mary was so faithful?
Mary was an amazing young woman and she did one thing that no one else has – give birth to and raise the son of God. While we are'nt Mary, we still should have one very important thing in common with Mary – we are all called to be faithful in carrying out the will of God.

" A BLESSED NEW YEAR TO ALL " !

Prayer of the day

Relax your mind and humble your heart to focus on Christ. Allow God to be the only person on your mind while you read this prayer. If we can take the time to read long jokes, stories, etc., we should give the same respect to this prayer.

Dear Lord, I thank you for this day.

I thank You for my being able to see and to hear this morning.

I'm blessed because You are a forgiving God and an understanding God.

You have done so much for me and You keep on blessing me.

Forgive me this day for everything I have done, said or thought that was not pleasing to you.

I ask now for Your forgiveness.

Please keep me safe from all danger and harm. Help me to start this day with a new attitude and plenty of gratitude.

Let me make the best of each and every day to clear my mind so that I can hear from You.

Please broaden my mind that I can accept all things.
Let me not whine and whimper over things I have no control over.

Let me continue to see sin through God's eyes and acknowledge it as evil.

And when I sin, let me repent,

and confess with my mouth my wrongdoing,

and receive the forgiveness of God.

And when this world closes in on me,

let me remember Jesus' example --

to slip away and find a quiet place to pray.

It's the best response when I'm pushed beyond my limits. I know that when I can't pray,

You listen to my heart.

Continue to use me to do Your will.

Continue to bless me that I may be a blessing to others.

Keep me strong that I may help the weak.

Keep me uplifted that I may have words of encouragement for others.



I pray for those who are lost and can't find their way.

I pray for those who are misjudged and misunderstood.

I pray for those who don't know You intimately. I pray for those who will delete this without sharing it with others.

I pray for those who don't believe.

But I thank you that I believe.

I believe that God changes people

and God changes things.

I pray for all my sisters and brothers.

For each and every family member in their households.

I pray for peace, love and joy in their homes that they are out of debt and all their needs are met.

I pray that every eye that reads this knows there is no problem, circumstance, or situation greater than God.

Every battle is in Your hands for You to fight.

I pray that these words be received into the hearts of every eye that sees them and every mouth that confesses them willingly...

This is my prayer.

In Jesus' Name, Amen.

My greetings and wishes for you friends

Dear friends ,

Recently , Pope Benedict XVI in his speech addressed to more than 100 ,000 young people gathered at St Peter's square , " You must never adapt yourself to a love reduced to a commercial good , to be consumed without respect for oneself and for others , incapable of chastity and purity . Much of the love proposed by the media and the internet is not love but selfishness and closure " .

As I reflected on those words of the Holy Father , I knew in an instant that he was talking to me . I do admit that I too have been caught up with the materialistic world and things that this sinful world had to offer me despite trying my very best to live a noble and humble life that I’m brought up to be . And I’m still working hard at it . This year thus far has been a rather challenging and downtrodden one but nevertheless , I never stopped singing my praises to the heavens above and can’t never stopped counting my blessings ( not too little not too many ) in any way . One of the main highlights of this year and my all time favourite , was my three week long trip to Europe and once in a life time opportunity ( adventure ) – to go on a mountain hiking trip at St Martin’s , Italy – thanks to my sister and her family . What an experience I must say ! And as in the coming years , I will be continuing with my studies since time is on my side and while my brain is still in the learning ‘ mode ‘ of gaining additional knowledge – I thought this is after all – a chance to broaden my horizon beyond the surface . I guess I will not bore you with my bitter moments that this year had to come by me .

So , where did the year go ? Suddenly it is December ...............again - and we realize with giant strides we started in January and within a blink of an eye , 2010 is on it's back !

A big " THANK YOU " to you all for the huge impact you had on my life this year . Especially for all the support and e-mails I received ...........................without you , I'm sure that 2010 would have been extremely boring.

I wish you a magical Christmas filled with abundance of loving wishes and wonderful thoughts .

May 2011 BE FILLED WITH JOY AND PROSPERITY ^_^ !

Should you be travelling during this time.....please take care!

With warmest regards & greetings

Blessed Christmas everyone !

Mary Did You Know

th

A mother's concern

A Mom was concerned about her kindergarten son walking to school. He
didn't want his mother to walk with him. She wanted to give him the feeling
that he had some independence but yet know that he was safe. So she had an
idea of how to handle it.

She asked a neighbor, Mrs. Goodnest, if she would please follow him to
school in the mornings, staying at a distance, so he probably wouldn't
notice her. Mrs. Goodnest said that since she was up early with her
toddler anyway, it would be a good way for them to get some exercise as well, so she agreed.

The next school day, Mrs. Goodnest and her little girl, Marcy, set out
following behind Timmy as he walked to school with another neighbor boy
he knew. She did this for the whole week. As the boys walked and chatted,
kicking stones and twigs, Timmy's little friend noticed the same lady
was following them as she seemed to do every day all week.

Finally he said to Timmy, "Have you noticed that lady following us to
school all week? Do you know her? " Timmy nonchalantly replied, "Yeah, I
know who she is." The friend said, "Well, who is she?"

"That's just Shirley Goodnest" Timmy replied, "and her daughter Marcy."
"Shirley Goodnest? Who the heck is she and why is she following us?"
"Well", Timmy explained, "every night my Mom makes me say the 23rd Psalm
with my prayers, 'cuz she worries about me so much.
And in the Psalm, it says 'Shirley Goodnest and Marcy shall follow me
all
the days of my life,' so I guess I'll just have to get used to it!"

The Lord bless you and keep you; the Lord make his face to shine upon
you,
and be gracious to you; the Lord lift His countenance upon you,and give
you
peace. Numbers 6:22-26

May "Shirley Goodnest" and "Marcy" be with you today, and always

I asked GOD...................

I ASKED GOD

I asked God to take away my pride,

And God said, “No.”

He said it was not for Him to take away,

But for me to give it up.


I asked God to make my handicapped child whole,

And God said, “No.”

He said her spirit is whole,

Her body is only temporary.

I asked God to grant me patience,

And God said, “No.”

He said patience is a by-product of tribulation,

It isn’t granted; it’s earned.


I asked God to give me happiness,

And God said, “No.”

He said He gives blessings,

Happiness is up to me.


I asked God to spare me pain,

And God said, “No.”

He said, “Suffering draws you apart from worldly cares

And brings you closer to Me.


I asked God to make my spirit grow,

And God said, “No.”

He said I must grow on my own,

But He will prune me to make me fruitful.

I asked God if He loves me,

And God said, “Yes.”

I asked God to help me love others

As much as He loves me,

And God said, “Ah, finally you have the idea.”

2nd Sunday in Advent

The Gospel today according to Matthew ( 3 : 1- 12 )



In due course , John the Baptist appeared ; he preached in the wilderness of Judea and this was his message ;

" Repent , for the kingdom of heaven is close at hand " . This was the man the prophet Isaiah spoke of when he said :


A voice cries in the wilderness ;

Prepare a way for the Lord ,

make his paths straight .


This was John , wore garment made of camel-hair with a leather belt round his waist and his food was locusts and wild honey . Then Jerusalem and all Judea and the whole of Jordan district made their way to him and they were baptised by him in the river Jordan , they confessed their sins . But when he saw a number of Pharisees and Sadducees coming for baptism he said to them , " Brood of vipers , who warned you to fly from the retribution that is coming ? But if you are repentant , produce the appropriate fruit and do not presume to tell yourselves , " We have Abraham for our father , ' because , I tell you , God can raise children for Abraham from these stones . Even now the axe is laid to the roots of the trees , so that any tree which fails to produce good fruit will be cut down and thrown on the fire . I baptise you in water of repentance , but the one who follows me is more powerful than I am , and I am not fit to carry his sandals ; He will baptise you with the Holy Spirit and fire . His winnowing-fan is in his hand ; he will clear his treshing floor and gather his wheat into the barn ; but the chaff he will burn in a fire that will never go out " .