Psalm 127-Success Depends on the Lord

I was going through the Lourdes Jubilee Souvenir and found this beautiful psalm:- (This quote from the Revised standard version)

Unless the Lord builds the house

Those who build it labour in vain

Unless the Lord watches over the city

The watchman stays awake in vain

It is in vain that you rise up early

and go late to rest,

eating the bread of anxious toil

for he gives to his beloved sheep

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Lo, sons are a heritage from the Lord

the fruit of the womb a reward

Like arrows in the hands of a warrior

are the sons of one's youth

Happy is the man who has

his quiver full of them

He shall not be put to shame

when he speaks with his enemies

in the gate.

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How absolutely true!! Everything comes from the Lord God, whatever we have, it is through God's grace and blessings,- our directions, where we are, our friends, our careers, our family, our peace, joy, happiness, our rewards, our everything-they all come from our Father in Heaven. Folks take some time and reflect on this beautiful psalm, indeed success and fruitfulness does come from the Lord God. Let us therefore, Pray, believe and Trust in the God of Creations, for only He knows what tomorrow holds for us; only He, God can smoothen and light up our paths in life.

A Wonderful Christmas Lunch Party with Friends and Relatives

A wonderful Christmas bash! The gathering of relatives and friends. Even those back from overseas made their way to this beautiful home of ours! A Bash that lasted right up to 8.30p.m. And it started around 11a.m.! Tiring but such a joy! In the early morning, it looked like rain but the good Lord, kept the weather beautiful- clear but not too hot and no rain! Can you believe that?? Wow!!Praise and thank you Lord God! We were worried the food may not be enough initially but at the end of the day, my fridge was jammed so tight, there is enough food to last us right into the Chinese New Year!!!! The blessing of the five loaves and two fishes!

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This will be the last time, I would be throwing "open house" functions and large gatherings of any sort folks. The spirit may be willing but the flesh and the body is weak. The old bones cannot stand the strain. 2009 onwards, it shall be strictly family affairs. Private rebonding sessions within the family itself.

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Father, I am immensely grateful for such a successful bash. Thank you for making possible this beautiful day.. Family togetherness ..rekindling of family ties and friendships...Cherish, lovely memories, lighting up my book of life....

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A Christmas Surprise -Mon 22nd Dec 08

The year is certainly closing with a lot of bangs, shockers and surprises for me! I had just taken my bath, and was just settling down to an assignment date with my computer dressed in my comfortable, and worn out night clothes, when suddenly from outside came the horns hooting and the voice of our BEC coordinator James Surin, yelling, carolling!! carolling!! Folks, you shocked the life out of me!! I was expecting no carollers to come by!! But to see such a big group, announcing the arrival of Christmas,especially the sweet and innocent faces of children! That melted my heart. Wow!! that was something- and the Christmas greetings, that was worth more than all the gifts in the world. Unexpected , a surprise but on reflection, sweet and Christian! Christmas and the heralding in of the season of Peace!

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GOD BLESS AND

MERRY CHRISTMAS FOLKS !!!!

In You Oh Lord, I surrender All

Into your hands Oh Lord God, I concrete my peace. my livilihood , my dreams, my rewards, my All. Father, that your strong bosom shelter and comfort me .Made smooth my paths and let peace and Joy fill all the days of my life., Lord. In Jesus Holy Name, Amen

Christmas

Christmas, cannot be Christmas, without the birth of Christ Jesus , the birth of a miracle called JOY, so associated with this Season of celebrations, the birth of Peace, Reconciliation and Love into the World. Folks, when you feel Joy, it really means:-

JESUS

Loves

You

Christmas, a time of reconciliation, not only with the Father in Heaven but our brethen here on earth, siblings, friends and yes, even those who hurt us. A time to forgive and forget and become friends once again.A new life.

Christmas also reminds me of the great faith and absolute trust Mary, the Holy Mother has in God, when she uttered "Behold, I am the handmaid of the Lord; let it be to me according to your word" Luke 1:38. She is the vessel who brought Christ into the world that sins may be washed cleaned, that the re-concilation process could begin in fulfilment of God 's plan for the world. Through her, Christmas was born, Christianity came into being, through her son Christ Jesus and for that, our gratitude should be boundless. To worship and love the Son, we must also appreciate and honour His mother. .

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MERRY CHRISTMAS ONE AND ALL. HAVE A VERY

BLESSED NEW YEAR AS WELL!!!

A Salute for a sick relative. Request for Prayer

I visited a close relative yesterday in hospital and was given the bad news that he had only six months to live since his stomach was eaten away by cancer and food can only go in through a tube and discharged by tube as well. What amazes me was the way he took the news, so calmly and without any bitterness. His philosophy is,if it is time to go, go, after all life is only a role, a responsibility, and footsteps leading home and if the task is done and God calls, so be it.

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It is the attitude , I admire. While previously, I was annoyed that he would not rest but goes back to work after each discharge from hospital, now I understood and admire his spirit. Knowing the worse, he does not want to lie sick at home and just waste away. He wants to get as much done as possible. He wants to remain useful and strong until the last moment. He does not want to burden his family in any way. Death, it is nothing to to fear about. It is just the journey home to a better life and he seems to agree with me. But then with the precious time remaining, I do hope he and his family would spend cherish moments together to smell the roses and just enjoy each others' company. Of course he still harbours hopes of an alternate cure and I shall pray that he will find it in traditional cure. He is after all still young at sixty three, considering his mum at 88 is still around.

I pray that his steps home will be without pain and sufferings and God willing, it need not be the last lap and that he does find his cure and live for many more years ....God I pray for your mercy your comfort and your healing grace for a brave cousin stricken with cancer. In Jesus name Amen .Please say a little prayer folks, those who chance upon this blog, Thank you and God Bless!!!!!

A House and Home Blessed

A very funny thing happened today. We, the kids and I were fully expecting our very rev. parish priest for house blessing between 12 noon -1p.m. We thought we had all the time in the world to spruce up the house so we took our time tidying up. Slightly after 10.30a.m, the daughter of the house was busy scrubbing the dirt at the back portion of the house while the mother was busy putting the clothes in order upstairs. No way, we were going to let our VIPs see the untidy side of us! Or so, we thought!!!

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All doors,and windows were shut securely and we were about our tasks,when all of a sudden, Ding Dong!! the gate bell rang. The mother frozed. And So did the daughter. The son had a shocked look on his face.....Surely...this cannot be.. ....Then the bell rang again, this time a little more persistently. The mother, took a peep from upstairs and there standing outside the gate, was the parish priest and his buddy assistant, warm smiles spreading all over their.faces, despite having to stand out in the hot sun, waiting for our frozen limbs to react and spring into action to unlock the gate for them to enter. Omigosh!!All hell broke loose. The daughter and the son were yelling, " Mum,mum.... Father John is here, Father John is here....", come down quickly...and then she dashed to open all the windows and on the lights while the mother hurriedly rushed out to greet the much awaited VIPs, leaving the kitchen floor wet, sticky and dirty while upstairs, the clothes were hanging in disarray. It was in a cleaner and neater state before we started our operation " create " good impression stunts. Guess the warning our Lord gave us "to be prepared at all times, " took on an added significance today.. Last minute preparation works is a no no....

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We expected certain hours but obviously , the Holy Father in Heaven has other plans. I could just picture Him laughing at our antics. Running up, down and around like the cartoon figures you see in your comic strip..Children...children.. He must be saying, I know everything there is to know about you, what secret can you keep from Me and from my trusted servant? There is absolutely nothing you could hide from me. "My trusted servant shall come earlier than expected to your home... ." And so, He did, his trusted servant did come at a most unexpected time and methinks, he also saw more than we intended him to see.

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So there we were, sheepishly standing to attention before the altar, hair unkempt, body sweaty and clothes messy, praying together with our very patient parish priest and his very dear brother assistant.

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Simple and meaningful prayers inviting God's presence and blessings into this very beautiful home of ours and the continuous intercessions of our Holy Mother. Although our plans "to give a good impression" and at least offer some fruits to our VIPs did not happened, because we were found lacking in readiness, nevertheless, it could not take away the joy of having our house and our home blessed. Just Beautiful! Wonderful! Thank you and Praise You Lord, God! Despite the misadventure, if it could be called that, yours truly was in seventh heavens, .....finally the house was blessed after nearly two years....

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Thank you Father John for your patience and the simple but very meaningful house blessing and thank you Bro. Tony Mark for your kindness in bringing Father John over to bless our House and Home. God bless you both!!