It is God who Works through us

Where ever we are, what ever we do, realize that we are a new creation in Christ. It is no longer the human that is living in us but we are living in the life of Christ, we are breathing His breath. Hence let us leave ourselves back and move on as Christ. When we see others,let us see Christ in them. Whenever we do something, it is for Christ and in Christ that we do. This will make us humble, open in mind, unselfish and finding peace in everything.

It is God that chose us for His great mercy. Gods love found us out.

'"You did not choose Me but I chose you, and appointed you that you would go and bear fruit, and that your fruit would remain, so that whatever you ask of the Father in My name He may give to you."

                                                                     -John 15:16

Receive everything from the world through the hands of God. Then it shall remain in us with full satisfaction.
It is not our eligibility,but it is the grace of Almighty that has guided us all the days till now and is guiding forever.

 "You aren’t doing the talking, but the Spirit of my Father is doing the talking through you."

                                                                                                       -Mathew 10:20

Let us praise Him all through our life and give honour to Him, because Our Father has given us a love that can never dry up and is never comparable to anything....

Whatever you do in word or deed, do all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks through Him to God the Father.- Colossians 3:17

Whoever speaks should do so as those who speak God’s word. Whoever serves should do so from the strength that God furnishes. Do this so that in everything God may be honored through Jesus Christ. To him be honor and power forever and always. Amen- 1Peter 4:11

Praises to Lord always...

Reading

John 3:16

Psalms 139

"it is no longer I who live, but Christ lives in me"

Today the day began with Gods message,

" If Joshua gave the Israelites rest, God wouldn’t have spoken about another day later on.

Therefore, it’s left open for some to enter it, and the ones who had the good news preached to them before didn’t enter because of disobedience.  Just as it says in the passage above, God designates a certain day as “today,” when he says through David much later,

Today, if you hear his voice,
        don’t have stubborn hearts".- Hebrews 4:8, 6-7

The verses and the messages that shook the mind most was ,

1.  the ones who had the good news preached to them before didn’t enter because of disobedience and 

2. God designates a certain day as “today,” hence 'Today,if you hear his voice, dont have stubborn hearts'.

Are we in disobedience? Have we entered the 'rest' in God? Did we hear Gods voice today? Is our heart hard and stubborn?

God speaks to us every minute. But our hearts are hardened. It has become stubborn because of our selfish likes and desires. Our passion for our comforts has made us shrink in our heart. This is true when we think scientifically and spiritually. We are failing to recognize His voice. God again pleads to us not to harden our hearts. Atleast if we hear Him today, let us pray oh God help us to find your voice among the worldly rushes.

He wants us to enter 'rest' in Him. This is brings us to the real dimension of submission. God wants us to take rest in Him. He knows that the human nature is weak, the more the human try to achieve and conquer, the more he gets shaken off by the world. Humans have a limit till he can run, till he can squeeze himself for the selfish motives of pride and superiority, after which this humans will be spit out.

"You are the salt of the earth; but if the salt has become tasteless, how can it be made salty again? It is no longer good for anything, except to be thrown out and trampled under foot by men"- Mathew 5:13

God wishes that, let the human rest in Him with all our weaknesses and let God act for him or her, such that humans are a plate that carry God to serve His love for all. When we extend Gods wish to all the areas of our life....we see a marvel. When we go for work, it is not that we go but God. When we see others, we never see them but God. When we do something for others, it is not that we do, but God. We are reflecting God where ever we go. This is what He asks us to enter 'rest' in Him. When we do this we find ourselves in the state that Paul said,

'I have been crucified with Christ; and it is no longer I who live, but Christ lives in me; and the life which I now live in the flesh I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave Himself up for me." Galatians 2:20

We are the echo of the Lord. So we must need His voice in us always then only we can echo. Our heart and mind should be empty and pure to fill in completely with His voice. Then only we can reverberate perfectly.

 Even if we preach or advice Gods message we sometimes find ourselves unfruitful, God says, We must hear His voice first and walk in His ways shown by God to us, then only our fellow can hear us.  We must hear and follow His ways on the first hand and then lead our brothers and sisters towards this love, then only they can hear us.

Hence in this month of Rosary let us pray to Mother Mary,

Oh our dear Mother of God,  help us to rest ourselves in God as You did and find joy in it. Intercede for us to guide us along the path of true love of God and hear His voice, let His words break the hard heart of ours, and be the echo of God, reflecting Him everywhere. 

In the name of the Father, Son and Holy Spirit Amen.

Readings

Psalms 119

Mathew 11:27-30                              

"Who had the power to sin and didn’t,and could do evil but didn’t?"......

"Happy are the rich
who are without blame
    and who don’t follow after gold.
9 Who are they,
so that we might praise them?
    They have done wonders
    among the people.
10 Who has been tested by wealth
and been found perfect?
        For them it will be a reason to boast.
    Who had the power to sin and didn’t,
    and could do evil but didn’t?
11 The possessions of such people
will be secure,
    and the congregation will tell
    of their acts of charity."- Sirach (Ecclesiasticus) 31:8-11

  The verses that stands out is "Who had the power to sin and didn’t,

    and could do evil but didn’t?" can we do this in our life? There is temptations and chances that our mind slips off to small things that make us sin. Let us be vigilant in all times and ask Gods wisdom to fill us in our mind and thoughts so that we stay in connection with our Father always and He will give us power to win over such situations, transforming us each day to a pure creation ,Gods Dear ones.

CLOSER TO GOD

" Draw near to God and He will draw near to you"

                                                                   -James 4:8

The first thing that we have to do ,if we feel lost in Gods care is to check ourselves. We must examine our status, how far we are from God? When we try to dig out answer for this, we come to realize that, it was us who went far away from the love and care of God. 
Let us try this together in prayer, leading to realizations and humbling ourself through confession, breaking the boulders of actions in our way to God and gaining the freedom as the son and daughter of God the Father.If we feel lost from Gods love,stop what you are doing, give a rest to what is troubling your mind and think:

1. About our actions and activities that we did in our life that was not in union with Gods wish. Try to recollect the times that we did something that resulted in the loss of our unity with God. Scan our past days, to find out our chores that we did according to our own will and not with the wish of God. Once we realize this,let us say sorry, humble ourselves in confession, destroying all the claims of satan upon us due to our unrighteousness and get closer to God.

2. " Do not love the world or anything in the world. If anyone loves the world, love for the Father is not in them." 1John 2:15        By loving something in the world means, we are building an idol of the world in our heart and is longing for it, this reduces the love of our eternal Father in us. Everything in this world is created by our Father in  Heaven, and He has given it to us. Hence while in the world we must use everything of this world according to Our Fathers wish, giving thanks and praises to Him. So that we receive everything from His hand Pure and holy.

3. Seek for God sincerely in Our heart and then He will act for us.

"“Do you want to get well?”

 “Sir,” the invalid replied, “I have no one to help me into the pool when the water is stirred. While I am trying to get in, someone else goes down ahead of me.”

Then Jesus said to him, “Get up! Pick up your mat and walk.”  At once the man was cured; he picked up his mat and walked." John 5:6-9

4. The one who does not commit sin, even though there was good conditions for him to sin, due to the love of God in him, such persons will be loved and honored by God. Let us stand aloof from sin with the power of God in us that keeps us vigilant always through Holy Spirit.

Let us completely submit to Gods hands and ward off the worldly human. Let us reflect Gods love from us. Let God take our control and Mother Mary teach us the complete submission and humbleness and guide us and pray for us in our journey to God and Jesus. 

" Be perfect, therefore, as your heavenly Father is perfect." Mathew 5:48

Prayer

God our father, you know we are weak,help us to realize our ways and guide us to point it to you.Mother Mary help us guide us and pray for us in our life's journey and lead us in right way to Jesus love. Amen

Reading

Psalms 119:9-16

Psalms 119:33-64

The Assumption of Blessed Virgin Mary

-Mother Mary leads us to Jesus through Her prayers and intercession and guidance all our times and in hour of our death. Mother Mary has no prayer or wish of Her own, She intercedes for us in accordance with Lord Almighty and Jesus. The intercession She did in the wedding of Cana,

" His mother said to the servants, “Do whatever he tells you.”- John 2:5

-Mother Mary shows the perfect submission to God and with full proof belief in Him

"And Mary said, “Behold, I am the servant[f] of the Lord; let it be to me according to your word.” And the angel departed from her"Luke 1:38

-In Mary's song of praise, we find Her glorifying the Lord for everything She is ,

Mary's Song of Praise

 And Mary said,

“My soul magnifies the Lord,
     and my spirit rejoices in God my Savior,

for he has looked on the humble estate of his servant.
    For behold, from now on all generations will call me blessed;
 for he who is mighty has done great things for me,
    and holy is his name.
 And his mercy is for those who fear him
    from generation to generation.
 He has shown strength with his arm;
    he has scattered the proud in the thoughts of their hearts;
 he has brought down the mighty from their thrones
    and exalted those of humble estate;
 he has filled the hungry with good things,
    and the rich he has sent away empty.
 He has helped his servant Israel,
    in remembrance of his mercy,
 as he spoke to our fathers,
    to Abraham and to his offspring forever.”Luke 1:46-55

- Mary Mother lived in silence of holiness. Right from the revelation of the birth of Jesus, till Calvary, when Mother held Jesus's body in her hand we can see this silence. Which made Her serene and peaceful love of God.

" But Mary kept all these things, and pondered them in her heart."Luke 2:19

-The Ultimate sufferer.

Mother Mary through out her life, lived in the memories and thoughts of Jesus. Each incidents that happened in Jesus life, She joined together to form the perfect Rosary, which She recited as intercession for us sinners, to lead us to Jesus.

-The Mother that Jesus gave us through Lord Almighty.

"When Jesus then saw His mother, and the disciple whom He loved standing nearby, He said to His mother, "Woman, behold, your son!" Then He said to the disciple, "Behold, your mother!" From that hour the disciple took her into his own household.-John 19:26-27

We are all with this Mother. Jesus, when ascended to heaven gave us a friend 'The Holy Spirit' and a dear Mother 'Mary', so that we are never alone in this world. We must realize this and be in Her love and care with the Holy Spirit speaking to us how to reach Jesus nearer and nearer each day.

-The dear daughter of Lord. Mother Mary lived purely. She lived in spirit, controlling the weaknesses of the human body. Each weaknesses she submitted to Lord and gained strength from Him will full belief. This made God to crown Her for us to intercede and guide us in our weaknesses.

"And there appeared a great wonder in heaven; a woman clothed with the sun, and the moon under her feet, and upon her head a crown of twelve stars" Revelation 12:1

In this day of Assumption of Blessed Virgin Mary, let us understand our Mothers love to us and the continuous prayers that She is interceding for us. Mother Mary is the one who rows our life through all the struggles of this world, helping us to reach safely to our Lord and eternity.

Prayer

Remember, O most gracious Virgin Mary, that never was it known that anyone who fled to thy protection, implored thy help, or sought thine intercession was left unaided.

Inspired by this confidence, I fly unto thee, O Virgin of virgins, my mother; to thee do I come, before thee I stand, sinful and sorrowful. O Mother of the Word Incarnate, despise not my petitions, but in thy mercy hear and answer me.

Amen.

      

The Essence of Life

I don't get anything what I want. I never get satisfied. My mind hurts me of an unsuccessful person in me. I feel depressed, I feel frustrated. I get angry and I use my anger to rebel against my condition. I feel anger to my family members. I myself has given me a status of a well contained individual. But I find me unfruitful. I have may be more of everything but is left unused/waste. All because I feel I am unsuccessful.

In my limitations, I try to establish myself where ever I get into. But I find it left unnoticed. I try to do many things but I get blocked everywhere. I feel everything getting blocked. I feel to me like pouring water on an inverted pot. Oh, I am staggering in my way, I feel my feet trembling and falling into iniquities. What will I do? I feel terrible. This is when tears roll down my eyes, I look up and cry to someone, whom I feel is with me when I am alone and rejected, someone who was calling me all the time when I dint remember Him, yes the one who is with us always but we never try to know. OUR FATHER.. I start hearing a voice from Him. “My child you are sad because all these time you were living for you, you were taking care to become glorified as you., to establish the 'I'. YOUR PRIDE IS BLOCKING YOU OF EVERYTHING”

Isn't this FATHER marvellous? We feel Him when we are alone, when everyone leaves us or when we are completely shattered of this world. But the reality is that He is and was and will be with us all the time. We realise Him and His love only when we find ourselves helpless, it is at that time we feel that we are nothing, all that we have are mere mirage. If the essence in us is not there, all our gains and the thing that we feel we have attained and conquered are meaningless. This essence, I wish to proclaim as THE FATHER-SON-HOLY SPIRIT.

In our emptiness we discover and realize this Trinitarian Love, or in beautiful words it is only a humble heart that find this wonderful love.

“God opposes the proud but gives grace to the humble.”-1 Peter 5:5

We always think we are someone important and we feel a need to get noticed and recognised everywhere. But we never think or realize that, the actual reason we are being recognised is because of the Gods mercy that is upon us and He is within us. In this stage, let us think about the donkey who carried Jesus in the streets of Jerusalem. All those who gathered were praising and singing spreading fresh leaves and flowers through out the way it passed. Is this donkey so important or famous that it was praised a lot? No, the praises and welcome that it got was because of the Jesus whom he carried on his shoulder

By bowing humbly for the master and carrying Him on the back, the Donkey walked in the streets of Jerusalem. An envelop of praises, showers of leaves and flowers that carpeted the street- this was what the donkey was guided into. It walked all the way that its master asked to walk carrying on the back. But the donkey did this with submission, silence and satisfaction, succeeding in the wonderful mission assigned to it by the Lord Almighty. This should our mentality while living this life on earth.

It is God who is assigning us the plan/duty of life. He selects us for a mission. While progressing in this, we should be like the Donkey. We must be always aware that the World see Jesus while looking us, the world hear Jesus while we speak, the world feel Jesus in us while we help them. We must reflect Jesus while we walk through our life. The goodness, praises, comforts life the carpeted street of Jerusalem that we experience is only because Jesus is living in us. We must recognise it and walk humbly with perfect submission, carrying Lord in our heart to successfully complete Gods plan for us and working for Him untiringly with silence.

“You did not choose me. I chose you. And I gave you this work: to go and produce fruit—fruit that will last. Then the Father will give you anything you ask for in my name. -John 15:16

Hence let us realize this and humble ourselves before the Almighty without whom we are nothing. Let us always remember in everything we do that it is God who build us everyday and everytime,He is our Father who loves us and cares us every second of our life.

Prayer

Lord thank you for helping us realize our value because of You in us. Help us to humble ourselves before everything and everyone so that we remain as Yours forever. Amen

Reading

John 15:1-17

Sufferings- A Great Weapon

"For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life." 
                                                                         -John 3:16

Our dear Father gave us Jesus,to show us how to live in this world as His children and to teach us how to defeat the worldly powers and temptations to reach to our everlasting home with eternal life. He gave us Jesus, through His great sufferings and sacrifice, to save us and purify us from the claims of satan and to receive the new life of His Holy Spirit so that now we are living with the life of Jesus.

Hebrews 2:15-18 says to us that;

'Jesus became like these people and died so that he could free them. They were like slaves all their lives because of their fear of death. Clearly, it is not angels that Jesus helps. He helps the people who are from Abraham.  For this reason, Jesus had to be made like us, his brothers and sisters, in every way. He became like people so that he could be their merciful and faithful high priest in service to God. Then he could bring forgiveness for the people’s sins.  And now he can help those who are tempted. He is able to help because he himself suffered and was tempted.'

Jesus was sent with the great plan of God the Father that through His sufferings and sacrifice, all His children are saved. This is our mission that God showed us through Jesus. We,through our life not only intend our salvation but the salvation of many souls through us. Because sufferings are a great weapon to fight against the powers of the world. The worldly powers cannot fight against the weapon of sufferings. We understand this from the book of Job.Even in great suffering Job remained in God and believed in Him.

When we are in any suffering, physical, mental or anything, we must never brood on the cause and state of our suffering. what we must do during that condition is that, submit our pain and suffering to the Cross of Jesus and for the many people who can be in the same state as we are. We must then pray for their deliverance along with our suffering. The cross of Jesus Christ is the promise of hope to Resurrection. Along with us God is delivering many souls. Never waste any of our sufferings, the strong power and belief that we attain during this times are the ones that make us complete in God.

"God—the one who made all things and for whose glory all things exist—wanted many people to be his children and share his glory. So he did what he needed to do. He made perfect the one who leads those people to salvation. He made Jesus a perfect Savior through his suffering."-Hebrews 2:10

Suffering is a time given for us to realize many things. It is a time that we realize that we as Gods children has to encounter this from the powers of the world,but if we submit it to God,He is there with us to help us in this state. Suffering help us to realize Gods love to us and His presence for us. It is the time we get closer to God.Hence let us use our sufferings of this world for good.

Prayer

Lord, when sufferings and pain encircle us help us to submit it to your Cross and for the many who are in the same state and give us strength to to renew ourselves through the pain and fight against the evil so that we are being molded complete as You. Amen

Reading
Psalms 16
2 Corinthians 12:7-10