Catechists Recollection

Catechists Recollection on Sunday, 17th November 2013 at St. Joseph Church, Mira Road (East). From 5 to 8 pm. By Fr. Sandeep Borges from Uttan.

More Than Just Bread & Wine!

In Roman Catholic churches, the faithful receive Holy Communion under the appearances of both bread and wine. The Holy Communion or the Sacrament of Communion, wherein, “bread and wine” are the elements represents the Body and Blood of Christ. It’s also known as the Lord's Supper or the Eucharist. In this Holy Eucharist, under the appearances of bread and wine, the Lord Christ is contained, offered, and received because He said “I am the living bread that has come down from heaven”.
These are the exact elements that even Jesus used when He gathered with the disciples at the Last Supper on Maundy Thursday. The “bread” should remind us of our unity in Christ that we all share from the one source, which is Christ, our Savior. God makes use of these physical elements so that we perform this sacrament with prayer and faith.

So, bread symbolizes the body of Christ which was sacrificed for believers. Wine represents the blood of Christ which was shed for believers. They are the "the Body of Christ" and the "the Blood of Jesus” which He shed for us. So, the Holy Eucharist is the Sacrament which contains the body and blood, soul and divinity, of our Lord Jesus Christ under the appearances of bread and wine.

Christ is truly present in the Holy Communion. When we receive the bread and wine of this meal, we receive His body and blood. The Holy Eucharist is the oldest experience of Christian worship at which Christ instructed His disciples to offer bread and wine in His memory.

Bread and wine are most suitable elements for the Holy Eucharist because bread and wine are being very nourishing. We take the Eucharist because the bread and the cup provide an opportunity to remember what the Father expects of His children and to renew one's commitment to obey. The Holy Communion is an observance of a commandment by Jesus. We take it in His memory because He says “Do this, as often as you drink/eat it, in remembrance of me”.

We observe Holy Communion because the Lord told us to. It’s as simple as that. We are to obey His commands: The Lord's Supper is a good time to stop and recall what Jesus has given us. Jesus’ blood cleanses us of sin. Starting with Adam and Eve, God required a blood sacrifice to cover transgressions (Genesis 3:21; Leviticus 17:11). But this was just a temporary solution, as the next offense required another sacrifice. Jesus was God’s permanent answer to the problem: He took upon Himself all sin - past, present, and future - and died to pay the full penalty.

When a believer receives salvation, he is consecrated - or set apart to the Lord. His sin is forgiven, and he receives eternal life as well as the indwelling Holy Spirit. But if he at times forgets that he belongs to the Lord, he may give in to temptation. The bread and the cup provide an opportunity to remember what the Father expects of His children and to renew one’s commitment to obey.

The Lord’s Supper is also a time to be in communion. We are connected not only with the Lord who saved us but also with past and present believers. Among members of God’s family, we find comfort and support, just as the disciples and the early church did.

The Lord’s Supper is a good time to stop and recall what Jesus has given us. Partake solemnly and gratefully.

Taken from "The Cup and the Covenant" by In Touch Ministries

And so, the million dollar question here is who should take communion?

When Jesus said, “Take, eat; this is my body” and “Drink of it, all of you, for this is my blood” he was speaking to his disciples (vv. 26–27). Communion is a sacrament only to be performed by Christians. Non-Christians should never take Communion as the Bible warns that those who take Communion in an unworthy manner will be guilty of disrespecting Jesus and bring judgment upon themselves (1 Cor. 11:27–29).


Why Is Practicing Communion Important?


As a Christian takes Communion, they are making a proclamation that they believe in Jesus as their Savior and have trusted in his sacrificial death for the forgiveness of their sins (1 Cor. 11:26). The act of taking Communion does not save a person, but rather demonstrates a person’s personal faith and shows that they have already been given salvation in Jesus. As such, Communion is to be done regularly as a worship act celebrating Jesus. Jesus said it is important for Christians to practice Communion as a way to remember him and his sacrificial death (1 Cor. 11:24–25).


How Should Communion Be Taken?

God gives Christians clear instructions on how to take Communion in the letter of 1 Corinthians. For I received from the Lord what I also delivered to you, that the Lord Jesus on the night when he was betrayed took bread, and when he had given thanks, he broke it, and said, “This is my body which is for you. Do this in remembrance of me.” In the same way also he took the cup, after supper, saying, “This cup is the new covenant in my blood. Do this, as often as you drink it, in remembrance of me.” For as often as you eat this bread and drink the cup, you proclaim the Lord's death until he comes.

Whoever, therefore, eats the bread or drinks the cup of the Lord in an unworthy manner will be guilty concerning the body and blood of the Lord. Let a person examine himself, then, and so eat of the bread and drink of the cup. For anyone who eats and drinks without discerning the body eats and drinks judgment on himself. That is why many of you are weak and ill, and some have died. (1 Corinthians 11:23–30)

To fully understand these instructions, we need to remember the context of the letter. When the Apostle Paul wrote verses 17–34, he was rebuking the church for practicing Communion sinfully (v. 17). Yet, these instructions still give a clear framework for all churches and Christians on how to practice Communion.


1. Communion must not be done in an unworthy manner (v. 27).


The Corinthian church had practiced Communion in an unworthy and sinful manner. Divisions and factions existed within the church while Communion was taking place (vv. 18–19). People were being selfish, acting self-centered, getting drunk and neglecting the poor and needy (v. 21). In all this, the sacrament was not being taken seriously, and the people were being disrespectful to Jesus and hurtful to each other (v. 22). These sins were so vile that God disciplined some of people within the church with sickness and death (v. 30).


2. You must examine yourself (v. 28).


Before participating in Communion, a person must examine all of his or her life for sin. This includes words, deeds, thoughts, and even the motives and intentions of their heart. If any unconfessed sin is found it must be dealt with, because the unrepentant Christian is not qualified to partake in Communion. Therefore, Communion should only be taken after a Christian has fully confessed to Jesus and laid the guilt of their sin at the foot of his cross. Anything less insults the sacrifice that Jesus made and disrespects God.


3. You must discern the body (v. 29).


Communion is a personal act but is to be done as part of a corporate worship experience. To discern the body means to consider all personal relationships within the church. If there is unresolved conflict or sin, it must be dealt with. If anyone takes Communion without discerning the entire body of the church they neglect others, cause disunity, and bring judgment upon themselves.

In closing, Communion is a sacred sacrament full of meaning, truth, and beauty. It has great value in the life of a believer and the life of the church. All Christians should take the act of Communion very seriously, out of reverence and gratitude for Jesus.


Excerpts from: http://marshill.com/2012/08/09/why-communion-isnt-for-everyone

Jesus’ Hidden Years

It’s written in the Bible that "And Jesus kept increasing in wisdom and in stature, and in favor with God and man" (Luke 2:52). That’s all we know and I often wonder what Jesus must have done in His so called “Hidden Years”.

Of this part of Christ's life all we read one more statement from the Holy Scripture: "And He went down with them, and came to Nazareth, and was subject to them (Luke 2:51). In these two sentences is contained the history of eighteen years of the life of Jesus Christ, the God-Man.

Jesus' first three decades of life were mostly hidden. The unknown years of Jesus (also called his silent years, lost years, or missing years). The phrases "lost years of Jesus" is usually encountered in esoteric literature. This is a remarkable puzzle because we have no record of what Jesus did then. There has been a lot of speculation, of course, but there is nothing specific.

Jesus remained hidden except that, as an artisan, he belonged to a middle-class family. The hidden life of Jesus is for us a perfect model of humility. He lived in poverty and lowliness: the Mother He chose was a poor woman; His foster-father was a carpenter; the town in which He spent the greatest part of His life was an obscure place despised by the Jews: "Can anything good come out of Nazareth?" (John 1:46).

For long years of obscurity in Nazareth, He was just "a carpenter's son". The hidden life of Jesus Christ is for us a perfect model of obedience: "And He was subject to them." The God of all created things, almighty and infinite, was subject to two poor and unknown mortals. He obeyed them in all things, promptly, constantly, cheerfully and with great love.

Let us model our obedience on this perfect pattern. If Christ the Son of God, God Himself, was content to be humble, poor, and unknown, to do common tasks day by day for the greater part of His earthly life, is there any reason why we should be ever trying to exalt ourselves, to attract admiration, ever to feed our vanity?

Excerpts from:
http://www.catholicbook.com/AgredaCD/MyCatholicFaith/mcfc032.htm

My Christmas wish

Do you know what I want for Christmas this year? All I want for Christmas this year is peace, joy and patience and I really, really mean it.

Peace

Peace is a sign of harmony characterized by the lack of violence, conflict behaviors and the freedom from fear of violence. I want peace in my mind, in my spirit, in my soul and above all, I want peace in the family. Inner peace (or peace of mind) refers to a state of being mentally and spiritually at peace, with enough knowledge and understanding to keep one strong and this time, I really want to achieve the calmness and serenity that comes with inner peace. I want to be patient. I know that this develops over time and I need to be patient. I guess, all these three things which I am aspiring for are interrelated. And so, I am challenging myself to be very intentional about how I focus my attention.

All these will be possible for me with meditation, relaxation, sleep, massage and stress reduction. There is a lot of negative energy and craziness in this world, but I want to learn to live with inner peace. I have understood that inner peace comes from allowing every experience to be exactly as it is without any judgement. So I try not to judge nowadays. This has brought me calmness, peacefulness and energy that is priceless. I experience inner quietness in all aspects of my life and also a sense of harmony inside. Every day I am learning how to quiet my mind and find inner peace and happiness in any situation I am in.

It was prophesied that Jesus would be "the Prince of Peace" (Isa. 9: 6). In the Bible the word peace has a wide range of meanings. Basically it includes the ideas of wholeness, well-being, prosperity, and security. The Old Testament understanding of Peace is different and the principal word used to express the idea of peace in Hebrew Bible is 'Shalom'.

Joy

Joy may refer to happiness which is an emotion. The secular perception of joy is "lasting happiness." However, the Bible interprets joy very differently. The happy state that results from knowing and serving God is what joy is. A number of Greek and Hebrew words are used in the Bible to convey the ideas of joy and rejoicing. Joy is a state of mind and an orientation of the heart. It is a settled state of contentment, confidence and hope. Faith brings joy - therefore, since we have been made right in God's sight by faith, we have peace with God because of Jesus Christ our Lord. The Bible makes a distinction between happiness and joy. Joy is stronger and more spiritually dynamic of the two emotions.

The joy of Jesus was His absolute self-surrender and self-sacrifice to His Father— the joy of doing that which the Father sent Him to do.


Patience

Patience (or forbearing) is the state of endurance under difficult circumstances, which can mean persevering in the face of delay or provocation without acting on. Fortunately, patience is a virtue that can be cultivated and nurtured over time. Patience is a person's ability to wait something out or endure something tedious, without getting riled up. So I want patience at home and while teaching my students.

This virtue of the mind which is called patience is so great a gift of God that even in Him who bestows the same upon us, that, whereby He waits for evil men. The Bible has a lot of verses about patience and how it is an extremely important virtue that helps us wait on God’s timing. We find a lot of verses on being patient in Christ. The Bible patience verses are designed to help us slow down and focus on what God's Word says about waiting on the Lord. The word translated “patience” in this verse means “endurance.” A Christian runs the race patiently by persevering through difficulties.

Patience in the biblical sense, therefore, is not just a question of temperament or restlessness; patience is a way of thinking about and responding to the difficult.

Amen!!!

Feels like Christmas...

Come, just as you are...

"Come, Now Is The Time To Worship"


Come, now is the time to worship.
Come, now is the time to give your heart.
Come, just as you are, to worship.
Come, just as you are, before your God.
Come.


One day every tongue will confess
You are God.
One day every knee will bow.
Still the greatest treasure remains for those
Who gladly choose you now.


Come, now is the time to worship.
Come, now is the time to give your heart.
Oh, come. Just as you are to worship.
Come just as you are before your God.
Come.


One day every tongue will confess
You are God.
One day every knee will bow.
Still the greatest treasure remains for those
who gladly choose you now.


Come, now is the time to worship.
Come, now is the time to give your heart.
Come, just as you are to worship.
Come, just as you are before your God.
Come.


Oh, come. Oh, come. Oh, come.
Worship the Lord. Oh, come.


Come, come, come...

It already feels like Christmas...

Some favorite Bible quotations...

Found myself…

Sunday, Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday…what blissfully spirit-filled and blessed days these were in the arms of my Lord Jesus. Like I had written in one of my earlier posts, I was at Tabor Ashram (Kalyan) from 3rd to 6th November. And what a blessed Jesus experience I had over there. Hallelujah! Praise the Lord, I am spiritually full.

My mobile phone went dead and I couldn’t charge it. I was totally cut off from my three cuties but I was connected to them spiritually at all times. And what wonderful visions I saw while praising and worshipping the Lord. All the preachers and priests kept telling the retreatants that nobody will go from here without experiencing Jesus personally and this is what exactly happened to me. Hallelujah! Praise the Lord!

During the inner healing session on Tuesday, 5th November, sometime between 9-9:15pm, Jesus touched me! Literally! I was standing and praying little away from the crowd when suddenly I realized somebody putting a finger on my right arm. Exactly the place where it pains the most! I gave a jerk and opened my eyes. There was nobody. I was extremely scared. Soon I felt somebody pushing me forward and urging me to be closer to the group. I “felt” something. Fearfully, I joined the crowd. Again I started singing and praising the Lord and asking Him to heal me internally. But I was scared; extremely scared. For the first time in my life, I was scared in the presence of Jesus. I started shivering and sweating. I didn’t want to sing. I was crying very loudly. I wanted to get away from the crowd. I wanted to run away from this praise and worship. My whole body was in spasms and I kept bending lower and lower closing my ears. I was crying. Suddenly, I saw a vision of Mother Mary’s feet crushing the “evil thing” under her feet. Then I saw it on the floor encircling me. I was terribly scared. My whole body was paining and still I kept bending on the floor. Finally I was sitting on the ground in a foetus position. I was crying at the top of my voice. I was asking Jesus to heal me. I must have sat like that for almost 5-10 minutes. I thought I will never be able to walk.

Then suddenly the shivering and sweating stopped. The crying too stopped. I kept sitting with my hand on my head for quite some time. I wasn’t crying. Then I stood up as if nothing had happened and again joined the others in praise and worship. It was then that I realized that finally I was free. Jesus had touched me and healed me of my physical pain and also of all my internal pains! It wasn’t me shivering; it was the evil in me that was shivering at the command of Jesus. At Jesus’ command, he left me. It wasn’t I that was scared. It was the evil one in me that was scared of Jesus. At Jesus’ command, he had to leave me. I realized I “felt” Jesus. Hallelujah! Praise the Lord! I am free, I am complete, I am whole, I am changed, I am healed. Jesus healed me of all my internal and external wounds. Hallelujah! Praise the Lord!

I will forever sing the praises of my Lord for curing me completely. Hallelujah! Praise the Lord!

In these four days, I lost my voice because of so much loud singing and shouting. But Hallelujah! Praise the Lord! I have at last found myself!!!

Hallelujah! Praise the Lord! Thank you, Abba Father! Thank you, Jesus! Thank you Holy Spirit!

I love you Abba Father! I love you, Jesus! I love you, Holy Spirit!

Dressing Style

Every woman's dressing sense says something about her. And so does mine. I have realized that I have four distinct looks – one church only, second school look, third office look and fourth holiday with family look.

When I attend Eucharistic celebrations as Eucharistic Minister, I have to be extremely careful. For this, I have bought a lot of salwar kameezes which keeps me appropriately covered. Soon after this, I don the role of a catechist so this look suits me fine. There are young boys around in the class and I simply cannot afford to look too stylish and extravagant. I intentionally dress dull so that there are no implications and distractions in the classroom. I believe that since the time I have become a Eucharistic Minister, my dressing style has undergone a lot of changes and I love every bit of it. In my initial months, I was chastised for “immodest” dressing and since then I have learnt my lesson. I never attend any mass unless I am modestly dressed. That’s the thing for me.

So I have created my own dress style. While many clothing styles and options are available to today, there's nothing quite like owning your own distinct style. I never follow any so-called “essential fashion tips” that help me dress for the occasion. No matter where the winds of fashion change take us, I never get swayed by it. I know what looks good on me and I am extremely finicky about my dressing style. I have set certain golden rules on how to dress for myself. I guess these rules should be applicable to everyone no matter what age, life style, work or play or budget. We need to complement our personal style, because surely, the world is becoming more stylish, but is it at the expense of individuality?

Over time, almost everyone develops a preferred style of dress; this style is usually a reflection of who you are. I am a Eucharistic Minister, catechist, teacher, reporter, home maker and mother. There is some variation in style depending on whether it is church or office. Luckily for me, my curly hair will always and definitely be in-style and I am so happy that they have started growing! I just don’t need any expert style advice on how to dress for work. My dressing style reflects who I am. Fashion means different things to different people. It’s an expression of dressing style for women.

Dabur Chyawanprash

From yesterday I have started having Dabur Chyawanprash, the popular brand of Ayurvedic herbal preparation, with the anticipation that it will act as my daily energizer, rejuvenator and immunity supplement.

Needless to elaborate, Dabur Chyawanprash has anti-oxidant properties which strengthen a person’s body internally through defense mechanism, making the system immune. This chyawanprash has time-tested and age-old formulation with a number of herbs like amla. It also increases NK cells (Natural Killer Cells) and amongst the various benefits of Dabur Chyawanprash, a few are that it lowers cholesterol, removes toxins and improves a person's mood. Hopefully, it will help me improve my mood so that I will not be so very temperamental.

Wonder of wonders, just yesterday I bought the smallest jar of it and yesterday only I came to know that Dabur India has roped in Bollywood actor Madhuri Dixit as brand ambassador for Dabur Chyawanprash. Can there be anything more coincidental than this? And from yesterday again, I have started using Olay Total Effects 7-in-1 Normal Day Cream Spf 15 and this brand also is endorsed by her, my favorite actress since childhood. I have started liking her all over again – hopefully, a jar of Olay and a spoonful of Dabur Chyawanprash will bring in the benefits I have been yearning for.

Since nowadays I am embracing everything herbal, I pray that Dabur Chyawanprash will be my right choice as an ayurvedic dietary supplement. With its mixture of herbs infused with amla fruit and sesame oil, I want to feel healthy.

Moreover, whether I like it or not, I am getting older and need to take care of my health. And so, I need to boost my body's defense system with Dabur Chyawanprash. I don’t really trust allopathic medicines and so I thought chyawanprash, with its powerful combination of over 40 herbs and plant extracts in a base of amla, will be the right thing for me. After all, it’s a brand which has been existent much before I was born and I have known it since my childhood. I can trust it – if it fails to do any good, it will not harm either as it’s an ayurvedic herbal remedy to build immunity, without any side effects.

It also has calcium and iron which I really, really, need at my age. So I want to make it my most trusted name for not only me but my entire family's health. Just praying that it will enhance our immunity and keep us mentally and physically fit.

Now talking about Olay Total Effects 7-in-1 Normal Day Cream Spf 15, I have been using this cream since July 2010. I had to stop buying it when in April I realized that there was a threat in my earnings. I had to compromise with Olay and start using Garnier BB but its destroying the texture of my skin. It’s affecting my skin as my acne had started to come back. Yes, I know, Olay is expensive but it works wonder for my face. So I have decided to change BB and shift back to Olay. Though it’s expensive, I need it because I know it will refresh my face like earlier. By the grace of my super God, there are no immediate threats to my finances and I can afford Olay. Every time I go to the office, I buy something and so today I bought Olay and Chwasnprash for me.

"Beauty is eternity gazing at itself in a mirror" – how true! Like every woman, I also want to look good. So, nothing but the best cream for me! Women desire to turn back time to get their youthful skin back. So I am only a woman and I need Olay for my skin and I need change with every new life.

Jesus Christ the teacher

Jesus Christ is known as the Master Teacher. Jesus Christ is an example of everything good and perfect. A large emphasis on preaching insists that Jesus was not only a soft-spoken teacher, but a preacher of preachers. God has given us commandments, which teach us what is right and wrong and chart a way through life that will offer the greatest happiness. So, the Lord Jesus Christ, as the Great Teacher, is my perfect example as a teacher because He is still known as “teacher,” not as preacher.

Jesus Christ has left us many wonderful and outstanding examples to follow. One of these examples is that of His teaching. The doctrine of Jesus Christ is always up to date, new for each man. It is a personal teaching because it is directed to each one of us. Jesus is the greatest teacher ever in the history of this world. No other person even comes close to the power and influence of the teaching of Jesus Christ. Jesus Christ was regarded as a teacher and prophet. Jesus Christ referred to Himself as a teacher, others called Him “Teacher” and even His enemies recognized Him as a teacher. In the New Testament, Christ is referred to as teacher forty-five times. Jesus' teaching still has authority.

Tabor Divine Retreat Ashram

The verb for “retreat” means (of an army) withdraw from enemy forces as a result of their superior power or after a defeat. The noun form for “retreat” means an act of moving back or withdrawing. But I am interested in the spiritual meaning of this word and it means (according to my friend-in-need Wikipedia), the most simplest of terms as a definite time (from a few hours in length to a month) spent away from one's normal life for the purpose of reconnecting, usually in prayer, with God.

Although the practice of leaving one's everyday life to connect on a deeper level with God, be that in the desert (as with the Desert Fathers), or in a monastery, is as old as Christianity itself, the practice of spending a specific time away with God is a more modern phenomenon, dating from the 1520s and St. Ignatius of Loyola's composition of the Spiritual Exercises. Jesus fasting in the desert for forty days is used as a biblical justification of retreats.

So, according to the noun form, retreat means a place you can go to be alone, to get away from it all. And I will be doing exactly that. I am going to Tabor Divine Retreat Ashram for a four-day retreat and prayer from 3rd to 6th November. It was inaugurated on October 7, 1993 at Kamba village, Kalyan, and I am going there with some of my confirmation candidates. As Jesus said in Mathew 11: 28: “Come to me, all you that are weary and are carrying heavy burdens and I will give you rest”, I am going there to give all my burdens to Him and find rest for me.

I have heard a lot about this ashram but couldn’t be there earlier than this and so I really pray and hope that I will have a beautiful experience there. Tabor Divine Retreat Ashram, a branch of Potta Retreat Ministry, is a sacred home located at Kalyan in Thane District of Maharashtra under the Mary Matha Province of the Vincentian Congregation.

I am highly excited about it because it is away from the pollution of the city and I look forward to make this four-day retreat extremely memorable for me.

Sir 35:12-14.16-18

For the Lord is a judge who shows no partiality. He will not be partial toward the poor, yet he will hear the prayer of the oppressed. He does not disdain the plea of the orphan, nor the complaint of a widow. The one who serves God wholeheartedly will be heard; his petition will reach the clouds. The prayer of the humble person pierces the cloud, and he is not consoled until he has been heard. His prayer will not cease until the Most High has looked down, until justice has been done in favour of the righteous.

Rom 8:1-11

There is no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus. For, in Jesus Christ the Law of the Spirit of life has set me free from the Law of sin and death. The Law was without effect because flesh was not responding. Then God, planning to destroy sin, sent his own Son in the likeness of those subject to the sinful human condition; by doing this, he condemned sin in his human condition. Since then the perfection intended by the Law would be fulfilled in those not walking in the way of the flesh, but in the way of the Spirit. Those who live according to the flesh devote their attention to the things of the flesh, but those who live according to the Spirit devote their attention to the things of the Spirit. Flesh tends toward death, while the Spirit aims at life and peace. What the flesh seeks is against God; it does not agree, nor can it even agree with the Law of God. So, those who live according to the flesh cannot please God. Yet you are not under the control of the flesh, but of the Spirit, because the Spirit of God is within you.......

Rom 7:18-25a

I know that nothing good lives in me, I mean, in my flesh. I want to do what is right, but I cannot do it. In fact, I do not do the good I want, but the evil I hate is what I do. Therefore, if I do what I do not want to do, I am not the one striving towards evil, but sin which is in me. I discover, then, this reality: though I wish to do something good, the evil within me asserts itself first. For in my inmost self I take delight in the Law of God, but I notice in my body another Law challenging the Law of my mind and delivering me as a slave to the Law of sin written in my members. Alas, for me! Who will free me from this body destined to death? Let us give thanks to God through Jesus Christ our Lord!

Wondering...

...what’s stopping me from writing that I have started having lemongrass tea from last Sunday (October 20) onwards. The benefits of lemongrass are immense and to begin with, it’s a great herb for reducing a fever or relieving stomach cramps. It also aids in digestion, especially in children. So this is the list of reasons to feel good about my wondrous cup of lemongrass tea.

But much more than these, it is also known to have a calming effect on the body and that’s the main reason why I have started having lemongrass tea. I have come to know that lemongrass has a zesty herbal brew that can help promote sleep and improve digestion. Though my digestion is good the area where I really need help is sleep.

Let me take the liberty of my research on lemongrass and write that it grows wild in Southeast Asia and Africa. The native people of these countries have been using it for its medicinal purposes since ancient times. Hopefully, the medicinal values of this herb will do me a whole lot of good.

Some of the other lemongrass tea benefits include stimulation and relaxation and other health reimbursements that have been used for centuries by the people of Asia. Lemongrass tea, served hot or cold, makes a wonderful lemony refreshing drink. I like to have hot lemongrass tea as it is very simple to make and is both delicious and good for my health.

Since Sunday evening I have been having this refreshing and restorative drink, which is considered as a sacred herb by the ancients due to its magical healing and protecting properties. I really hope and pray that it’s actually having its magical healing on me as well because lemongrass is valued even today due to its ability.

So, along with green and Tulsi tea, lemongrass is fast becoming one of my favorite teas because of its calming and soothing effects. It’s a great after dinner tea but I mostly have it in the evening when I am dead tired. I really can’t vouch for it so soon, but hopefully sooner than later, I will be able to write more about the healing processes it will have on me.

Another good thing about lemongrass tea is that it’s aromatic and flavorful. It has a mild taste of sweet ginger which uplifts the mood greatly. My brand of lemongrass tea is Ty-phoo, UK’s finest since 1903. It’s actually a “green tea lemongrass tea” with a tangy, zesty and refreshing taste to it. This green tea infused with the intriguing lemongrass fragrance refreshes me naturally. Along with this, I have got a Ty-phoo green tea pack free as an introductory offer.

PS: Though my heart was pounding, my fingers were shivering and I couldn’t make an eye contact with the congregation, I somehow managed to read the INTRODUCTION for the Rite of the Presentation of the Lord's Prayer mass at the church on the same day. Phew, it really takes a lot of courage to stand on the altar and read in front of thousands of people for a Sunday morning Eucharistic celebration (9:30 am). Guess, I can never muster enough courage to be a lector. Let me be happy with whatever I am. Everybody cannot do everything.

Rom 6:19-23

I am using simple words, because perhaps it is difficult for you to understand. There was a time when you let your members be slaves of impurity and ever increasing wickedness walking in the way of sin; convert them now into servants of righteousness to the point of becoming holy. When you were slaves of sin you were not under obligation to righteousness, but what were the fruits of those actions of which you are now ashamed of? The result of all that was death. Now, however, you have freed from sin and have become slaves of God. You are bearing fruit and growing in holiness, and the result will be life everlasting. So on one side is sin and its reward is death; on the other side is God and the gift freely given by him is life everlasting in Jesus Christ our Lord.

Infant Jesus Shrine

According to Wikipedia, a shrine is a holy or sacred place dedicated to a specific deity, ancestor, hero, martyr or saint. It’s a place where the above mentioned are venerated or worshipped as shrines often contain idols, relics, or other such objects associated with the figure being venerated. Shrines can be found in various settings, such as churches, and in the Roman Catholic Code of Canon law, canons 1230 and 1231 read: "The term shrine means a church or other sacred place which, with the approval of the local Ordinary, is by reason of special devotion frequented by the faithful as pilgrims”.

Another use of the term shrine in colloquial Catholic terminology is a niche or alcove in most – especially larger – churches used by parishioners when praying privately in the church. Shrines were always centered on some image of Christ or a saint – for instance, a statue, painting, mural or mosaic, and may have had a reredos behind them (without a Tabernacle built in).

In Mira Road (East), we have Infant Jesus (Child Jesus, Divine Infant, Baby Jesus, or Christ Child) shrine representing Jesus from his Nativity to age 12. And I go to this shrine every possible day of my life while going to school. Earlier I would sit and pray privately and also meditate over there, but nowadays because of lack of time, I am unable to do so. But I make sure that I go there every day without fail to at least say hello to Infant Jesus. But no matter how much I try, still there are days when I cannot go. But whenever possible I go and the thing which touches me the most is that no matter how many days pass by without me going there to pay my oblations, Baby Jesus waits for me to say hello to Him. No matter how tired, sad, upset, or angry I am, Infant Jesus is just the same. He always welcomes me with a smiling face and always has a smile on his face. I feel so nice the moment my feet touch the shrine. I experience an exhilarating feeling and I am always sure that whatever worries or tensions I carry with me gets surely crushed under His feet the moment I lay them down there. Every day I go to the shrine with a new problem and every day I find a solution for my problem. I never come home empty-handed, with the same problem lingering on my mind. It miraculously gets cured and solved.

“Knowing your purpose focuses your life. It concentrates your effort and energy on what’s important”

Read and shared these wonderful words on Facebook today.

Obviously, these words have got me thinking and that’s why this post.

Now, it’s but obvious and absolutely needless to say what my purpose has been and what I am focusing on in my life. There is always this emptiness in our lives which we try to fill up with all the wrong things and unfortunately, I too was doing the same thing. Then one fine day, I discovered Jesus. By concentrating all my efforts and energy in Him, I stopped feeling empty and the emptiness that used to bother me soon vanished from my life. From January 2012 onwards I have been focusing only on Jesus and have been trying to be as faithful to Him as possible. And because of this faithfulness and trust, Jesus has bestowed upon me the most wonderful blessing that could ever have been possible – PROJECT T.

And now, along with Jesus Himself, the purpose of my life is PROJECT T. Now I know the purpose of my life and I focus only on it. It gives me immense pleasure which I hadn’t known before and the emptiness which used to gnaw at me has just disappeared. This PROJECT T keeps me happy and sane and alive. Though there are sometimes some teething problems, I am ready to handle all these because this is something I love a lot and don’t want to let go off all that easily. Unless I am badly humiliated and kicked out, I am not going to leave my PROJECT T. It helps me concentrate in my life and I have put in a lot of effort and energy into it because I know and can also feel that it’s the most important and integral part of my life. I am ready to bring in changes in my daily routine to accommodate PROJECT T. Though it has no financial gains, it gives me psychological gain. It does a whole lot of psychological good for me. It’s like a drug for me – my happiness drug, my happiness quotient – my anodyne.

Rom 6:12-18

Do not allow sin any control over your mortal bodies; do not submit yourselves to its evil inclinations, and do not give any parts of your body over to sin as instruments to do evil. On the contrary, offer yourselves to God as people who have been brought from death to life, and let the members of your body be as instruments of uprightness. Sin will not control you again, for you are not under the Law, but under grace. What shall we say then? Are we to sin because we are not under the Law, but under grace? Certainly not. If you have given yourselves up to someone as his slave, you are slaves of the master whom you obey. Now that master may be either sin that leads to death or obedience that leads you to righteousness…………………

Rom 5:12.15b.17-19.20b-21

Sin entered the world by means of one man and through sin death, and in this way death spread to all humankind, because all sinned. We know that multitudes die because of the sine of one man, but how much more abundant is the grace of God and the gift he granted to the multitudes, though this one man Jesus Christ. If death reigned because of the disobedience of only one person, how much more will the gift of righteousness and life reign in those who receive the grace of God through the one man Jesus Christ. Just as one transgression brought sentence of death to all, so, too, one righteous act brought pardon and life to all. For as the disobedience of one man made many sinners, so the obedience of one man allowed many to be put right with God. But where sin increased, grace abounded all the more, and as sin caused death to reign, so grace will reign in its own time and, after putting us right with God, will bring us to eternal life through Christ Jesus our Lord.

Rom 3:21-30a

But now God’s way of putting people in right relationship with himself has been revealed. ….God put us right through our faith in Jesus Christ, and this is applied to all who believe. For there is no distinction of persons, because all have sinned and all have fallen short of the glory of God; and all are put right with God freely by his grace through the redemption effected in Christ Jesus. For God had given him as a sacrifice of expiation, through faith in his blood. ….it was to prove at the present time that he himself is righteous and that he puts right with God everyone who has faith in Jesus. Then what becomes of our boasting? It is excluded. On what principle? On the principle of keeping the Law? No, but through another principle which is faith. For we hold that people are made holy by faith and not by observing the Law. Otherwise, God would be the God of the Jews only; but is he not the God of Gentiles also?

Rom 2:1-11

You have no excuse, whoever you are, if you sit in judgment on others. For in judging your neighbour you condemn yourself, for you practice exactly what you are judging. We know that the condemnation of God will reach those who commit these things. Do you really think that you will escape the judgment of God, when you pass judgment on those who do such things and yet do them yourself? Are you taking advantage of God and his infinite goodness, patience and understanding, and do you not recognize that his kindness is meant to lead you to conversion? However, if your heart becomes hard and you refuse to change, then you are storing for yourself a great punishment on the Day of Judgment, when God will appear as the just judge. He will give each one his due according to his actions. He will give everlasting life to those who seek glory, honour and immortality through perseverance in doing good. But His anger and vengeance will be the lot of those who do not serve truth but injustice. There will be suffering and anguish for everyone committing evil, first the Jews, then the Gentiles. But God will give glory, honour and peace to whoever does good, first the Jews then the Gentiles, because one is not different from the other before God.

A CHRISTMAS CAROL

Yesterday after I finished writing the post on VANITY FAIR, I thought of writing a comparative analysis of my life after I left VANITY FAIR. After all, I am so very happy to be out of it and so, as a gesture of gratitude, I have decided to write a post on the current situation of my life. I have decided to name it as A CHRISTMAS CAROL because that’s what my life is post VANITY FAIR.

Well, A CHRISTMAS CAROL is a novella by my most favorite English author Charles Dickens, which was first published on 19 December, 1843. A CHRISTMAS CAROL is the classic tale that brought its protagonist Ebenezer Scrooge to life. Likewise, Jesus Christ, the reason of celebrating Christmas, brought me to life fourteen years ago. Looks like, this book is the only book which has been continuously in print since it was first published in the winter of 1843. What a commendable achievement!!!

A CHRISTMAS CAROL is an integral part of my life and I make sure to read it every year during Christmas. It just warms up my heart before Christmas. I get going every Christmas after reading this book. I kind of join the ghosts of Christmas Past, Present and Future as they lead the miserly Ebenezer Scrooge on a journey of transformation and redemption. Like Scrooge, who was a penny-pinching, mean, old man visited by three ghosts on Christmas Eve, Christmas celebration has changed my life as well. My life is no longer what it used to be during the miserable days of VANITY FAIR. I am so glad Charles Dickens created one of the most memorable Christmas stories of all times with A CHRISTMAS CAROL. I can relate with every aspect of this book.

Christmas is an annual commemoration of the birth of Jesus Christ. The festival of Christmas celebrates the birth of Jesus Christ and conveys His message of love, tolerance and brotherhood. Jesus Christ, the founder of the Christian faith, was born on 25 December. I immensely enjoy the festive activities that include Santa Claus, carols and seasonal foods. Each year it just gets bigger and better than ever before! And that, of course, is the message of Christmas – we are never alone!!! Not when the night is darkest, the wind coldest, the world seemingly most indifferent. I am never alone now; I have with me the biggest reason of the season – JESUS CHRIST. My life has been nothing but A CHRISTMAS CAROL since 28th December, 1999.

For me, Christmas evokes pleasant memories of being with the family and exchanging gifts with them. For me, it’s all about fellowship. Christmas has been special in my life because it belongs to everyone and not just for the followers of Christ. John 3:16 brings the message of Christmas and the message of the gospel in one verse – "For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life".

Christmas touches my heart and soul with warmness, happiness and love I had never experienced in my family during the VANITY FAIR days. There is Love, Peace and Happiness – and that is the true meaning of Christmas. Jesus Christ came down on Christmas day to make everyone, especially me, happy with His own “Love, Peace and Joy”. On Christmas, I feel blessed with a heart that only knows to love my Lord. Every Christmas, Baby Jesus makes me happy which none of the noisy festivities could do fourteen years back.

May I get the blessings of faith, happiness and peace each Christmas Day! Christmas means a spirit of love, a time with the God of love. May the Christmas spirit bring in joy and happiness and peace to this world! Amen!!!

That is why, I love the book A CHRISTMAS CAROL, a short story of love, goodwill and mercy centering on Ebenezer Scrooge who receives three ghostly visitors. This book means a lot to me because just like Ebenezer Scrooge, the mean old miser, was given a second chance to do right after being haunted by three ghosts on Christmas Eve; I too have been given a second chance in my life. I have been made free from the captivity of VANITY FAIR. Like Ebenezer Scrooge, who undergoes a profound experience, I too have undergone so many things and I am really thankful and grateful to the Man who made it possible for me 2000 years ago.

Unlike the past, now I love the Christmas spirit. I wait for Christmas all round the year because my life is nothing but A CHRISTMAS CAROL. I am happiest at Christmas time because unlike the hard-hearted ego hassles and haughtiness of VANITY FAIR, there is only love all around. No wonder, A CHRISTMAS CAROL was the most successful book of the 1843 holiday season.

I would like to give out a message to anyone reading this – It's never too late to change. Don’t live in VANITY FAIR; make your lives A CHRISTMAS CAROL…!!!

VANITY FAIR

As a noun, VANITY FAIR in Bunyan's PILGRIM'S PROGRESS, means a fair that goes on perpetually in the town of Vanity and symbolizes worldly ostentation and frivolity.

Secondly, (often lowercase) VANITY FAIR is any place or group, as the world or fashionable society, characterized by or displaying a preoccupation with idle pleasures or ostentation.

And thirdly, (in italics), VANITY FAIR is a novel (1847–48) by William Makepeace Thackeray.

Today, when I was absentmindedly standing at the window, getting irritated by the loud festivity (read noise) everywhere, it suddenly occurred to me that fourteen years ago, I used to be a part of this noise. And the words that sprang up in my mind were VANITY FAIR. I kept standing at the window recollecting the years gone by. I felt that fourteen years back during the so-called “festivity” time; I used to be in VANITY FAIR. I used to be in a place or scene of ostentation or empty, idle amusement and frivolity. Nothing more!

Every year, during the idolatry days of my life, from the Sixth Day onwards, I used to be totally mortified. Mortified without any fashionable clothes to match the characters, and without any money to splurge like them! And because of this, I was highly looked down upon and it killed my mind and spirit. I hated them all – I still hate them all – nothing has changed. Today I was also watching Facebook postings of some of the Idolatry and I noticed that nothing has actually changed. The latest “news”, “photos” and “videos” are still on at VANITY FAIR. Characters are still appearing in garish make up and wearing flamboyant clothes morning and evening. They hardly take any break. There’s still that haughtiness and arrogance all around the place. Like I wrote, nothing has changed and never will. I repeat, I HATE THEM ALL.

The social life of this community, of this great country, spread all across the world in general, will keep symbolizing worldly frivolity. There’s something about them that made me not like this community right from the very beginning though I was born in one. Like in Bunyan's PILGRIM'S PROGRESS, this VANITY FAIR goes on perpetually in all the towns of this country that I have lived in.


Dunno why, this community is unable to give up its VANITY FAIR – no place or group is different from the other – all are characterized by a preoccupation of idle pleasure and ostentation during these Five Days. This vain and frivolous lifestyle, in villages/town/cities/metropolitans, and this manner of living, actually reflects the community’s values and attitudes. It kills the self-esteem of an individual. It had killed mine.

Like the novel by English author William Makepeace Thackeray, first published in 1847–48, satirizing society in early 19th-century, fourteen years back, I too was “without a Hero”. But thanks be to Lord Jesus Christ, He called me by my name and brought me to His own people. Now I am a sheep of His flock. I am chosen as His own people.

So as the manager of the performance sits before the curtain on the boards and looks into the FAIR, instead of sitting, I was standing and reviewing my wasted years. A feeling of gratitude swept all over me and I immediately thanked my living God for ending this VANITY FAIR for me. I am really thankful to the Good Lord for showing me the Truth, the Way and the Life. I am so glad that now I am no more a part of this scandalous and politically incorrect VANITY FAIR.

The author of this classic novel had introduced to the audience the beautiful, funny, passionate and calculating heroine – Becky Sharp. But the Author of my life rewrote the entire story for me fourteen years back and made it an unending and award-winning novel for me.

Thank you so much, Lord!!!

“Ah! Vanitas Vanitatum! Which of us is happy in this world? Which of us has his desire? Or, having it, is satisfied?” — VANITY FAIR

Praise Lord, I am and always will be!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

PRAYER

The word PRAYER derives from a 14th century French word (preiere) meaning "to obtain by entreaty".

"Prayer is the response of faith to the free promise of salvation and also a response of love to the thirst of the only Son of God" (CCC, no. 2561). Prayer is an indispensable element of every Orthodox Christian's life. Prayer, the lifting of the mind and heart to God, plays an essential role in the life of a devout Catholic. Without a life of prayer, we risk losing the life of grace….

Prayer is conversation with God; the intercourse of the soul with God, not in contemplation or meditation, but in direct address to him. People across the globe have been strengthened, assured and lifted up through prayer. Prayer and reflection are part of the fabric of our work at Catholic Charities. Through prayer we draw support and inspiration from God.

St. Paul’s Letters illustrate the importance of prayer. He tells us that we should “pray without ceasing”, yet sometimes or most of the times, our prayer takes a back seat. But majority of the time I insist on praying before going to sleep – it leaves all of us peaceful!


There have been times when we struggled with prayer. It seems even the Apostles turned to Jesus and said, “Lord, teach us to pray”. But I am trying to teach my children that they don’t have to say lengthy prayers and use too many words – just one line will do – Jesus will surely hear it!


I want to make prayer central to our life so that it can open the doors for us. God is waiting patiently on the other side of that door, at all times, in all situations, to join us – we just have to pray and call out to Him. He is forever there for us!


Prayer formed an important part of life for St Paul – he prayed at all times, night and day; he even remained awake late in the night to pray. We want to pray everyday and thank the Lord God for all the beautiful things He has given us.

Before daybreak the next morning, Jesus got up and went out to an isolated place to pray. (Mark 1) When life gets busy, you need more time to pray, to find clarity about what is necessary and what is not.

Yes Lord!!!

Celebrity

According to Wikipedia, a celebrity is a person who has a prominent profile and commands some degree of public fascination and influence in day-to-day media. Some of the synonyms of celebrity are hero, luminary, name, notable and personage. These nouns refer to a widely known person – it can either be a social celebrity; the heroes of science; a theatrical luminary; a big name in sports; a notable of the concert stage or even a personage in the field of philosophy.

I am nothing of the above but still I feel like a celebrity. I have been working since 1st February, 1996 – from the last seventeen years – but nowhere have I enjoyed this kind of celebrity status which I am enjoying in my new stint. Though I joined PROJECT T on 31st May, 2013 (Friday), the actual work began on 17th June, Monday. So, not even four months have been completed and I already feel like a celebrity here.

I always reach the premises before time but sometimes when I reach dot on time, on both sides of the gate are the Ss standing of all standards. All of them start wishing together and some of my own girl Ss keep showering compliments also. “Looking beautiful” is what I hear every day and chocolates and Oreo biscuits are what I eat everyday – they know my favorite chocolates and also know that I love Oreo. They know about my favorite color and keep asking about my favorite things. They are too eager to share their tiffin with me and come running to massage me whenever they see me in pain!

Though they are in the average age group of 7, they notice everything. They notice my handbag, clothes, lipstick color, hairstyle, nail polish color and even my teeth. They like everything I wear and do – once I had kept my hair open, so one of the elements quipped if I had been to the parlor!

Honestly, I enjoy these comments because I know they are still very young and innocent. Their minds have not yet been corrupted and whatever they say comes straight from their hearts. Nobody teaches them to say all these things to me – everything about them is fresh, natural and unpretentious. That’s what I love about them. And I love all 33 of them no matter how naughty they are or how much they irritate me.

Amen!!!

Its me...

Hallelujah...

Lord I stand in the midst of a multitude
Of those from every tribe and tongue
We are Your people redeemed by Your blood
Rescued from death by Your love
There are no words
Good enough to thank You
There are no words to express my praise
But I will lift up my voice
And sing from my heart
With all of my strength

Hallelujah hallelujah hallelujah
To the Lamb
Hallelujah hallelujah
By the blood of Christ we stand
Every tongue every tribe
Every people every land
Giving glory giving honor
Giving praise unto the Lamb of God

Lord we stand by grace in Your presence
Cleansed by the blood of the Lamb
We are Your children called by Your name
Humbly we bow and we pray

Release Your power
To work in us and through us
Till we are changed
To be more like You

Then all the nations will see
Your glory revealed
And worship You

Every knee shall bow
Every tongue confess
That You are Lord of all

Giving praise unto the Lamb of God
Giving praise unto the Lamb of God
Jesus Christ Lamb of God

I'm leaning on Jesus

Now what, what a fellowship; What, what a joy divine,
Leaning on the everlasting arms;
What a blessedness; What, what a peace is mine,
Leaning on the everlasting arms!

Chorus:
You know I'm leaning on Jesus, I'm leaning on Jesus,
I am safe and secure from all alarms!
Yes, I'm leaning on Jesus, I am leaning on Jesus
I'm leaning on the everlasting arms!

O how sweet to walk in this pilgrim way,
Leaning on the everlastin' arms;
O how bright the path, said it grows from day to day,
Lean, Leanin' on the everlastin' arms!

(Repeat chorus in background)
You know I'm leaning! Hey, I'm leaning!
Cause I'm safe, and secure from all alarms!
Yeah, I'm leanin', yes I'm leanin,
Leanin', ever leanin' on the everlastin' arms!

Oh! Now what, what have I to dread, what have I to fear,
Leaning on the everlastin' arms?
I have blessed peace with my Lord so near,
When I'm leanin' on the everlasting arms.

(Repeat Chorus in background)
Hmm, don't you know I'm leanin', ever leanin' on Jesus!
Well, I'm safe, so secure, from all, all alarms!
I am leaning, yeah, leaning!
Leaning on the everlasting arms!

A new commandment

A NEW COMMANDMENT
I give unto you,
That you love one another
As I have loved you,
That you love one another
As I have loved you.

By this shall all know
That you are My disciples,
If you have love one for another.
By this shall all know
That you are My disciples,
If you have love one for another.

You Are my friends if
You do what I command you.
Without my help you can nothing.
You Are my friends if
You do what i command you.
Without my help you can nothing

I am the true Vine,
My Father is the gardner,
Abide in me and I in you.
I am the true Vine,
My Father is the gardner,
Abide in me and I in you.

Now, Love is patient,
Nor arrogant, nor boastful.
Love bears all things, love is eternal.
Now, Love is patient,
Nor arrogant, nor boastful.
Love bears all things, love is eternal.

Spirit of the living God

Spirit of the living God, fall afresh on me.
Spirit of the living God, fall afresh on me.
Break me, Melt me, mold me, fill me, use me,
Spirit of the living God, fall afresh on me.
Spirit of the living God, fall afresh on us.
Spirit of the living God, fall afresh on us.
Melt us, mold us, fill us, use us,
Spirit of the living God, fall afresh on us.

Abba father…

Abba Father, let me be
Yours and Yours alone.
May my will for ever be
Evermore Your own.
Never let my heart grow cold,
Never let me go.
Abba Father, let me be
Yours and Yours alone.

All over the world….

All over the world the Spirit is moving
All over the world as the prophet said it would be
All over the world there's a mighty revelation
Of the glory of the Lord, as the waters cover the sea

All over His church God's Spirit is moving
All over His church as the prophet said it would be
All over His church there's a mighty revelation
Of the glory of the Lord, as the waters cover the sea

Right here in this place the Spirit is moving
Right here in this place as the prophet said it would be
Right here in this place there's a mighty revelation
Of the glory of the Lord, as the waters cover the sea

Psalm 25:4–5

"Show me the right path, O LORD;
point out the road for me to follow.
Lead me by your truth and teach me,
for you are the God who saves me.
All day long I put my hope in you."

Charles Dickens

“It is a far, far better thing that I do, than I have ever done; it is a far, far better rest that I go to than I have ever known.”
--Sydney Carton (A Tale of Two Cities)


I read these absolutely beautiful lines from Charles Dickens’ Facebook posting. Something similar has been working on my mind since a long time but I couldn’t put it so beautifully into words. Perhaps only great writers like Charles Dickens could do that. Now if I have to read in between these lines and understand the symbolical meaning of them, I will put it my way and say that for me, PROJECT T has been the “far, far better thing that I do, than I have ever done”. No matter how many frustrating moments I come across every day in the class, it has been the best thing of my life – honestly speaking, like everyone else’s life, in my life too there was an unknown emptiness which was filled by Jesus Christ. Then Jesus blessed me for repenting and being faithful to Him and gifted me PROJECT T. And I am ever thankful to God for giving me PROJECT T.

Then if I have to comprehend “it is a far, far better rest that I go to than I have ever known”, I would say that sitting at the feet of the Lord is the best rest I have ever known. When I am confused, I sit down at the feet of my Lord and surrender all my problems, pains and anxieties to Him. He crushes all the negativity of my life and gives me a new thinking and possibility.

So I have absolutely loved this line. I have a lot of things to write about this line. I feel a kind of proximity with this line. It explains my feelings and how well connected it is with the two most important current prospects of my life. As you must be aware, I have always considered St. Joseph Church as my second home and you know what, PROJECT T is nothing but an extension of our St. Joseph Church. PROJECT T is affiliated with St. Joseph Church, Mira Road (E). Can there be a greater blessing for me than this for being one of the faithful servants of Jesus Christ???

TULSI GREEN TEA

From this Sunday onwards, I have started having TULSI GREEN TEA. It claims to have a lot of benefits and hopefully, it will work fine on me. Keeping my fingers crossed!!!

Courtesy: ORGANIC INDIA

Tulsi Green Tea is a unique combination of Tulsi & Green Tea, which helps in weight reduction. Studies suggest that green tea boost metabolism and helps burn fat. Both Tulsi and Green tea are rich in antioxidants, which eliminates free radicals from the body and have a vast array of remarkable health benefits. Our wonderful combination of both the herbs helps in refreshing and energizing the body and mind. Tulsi Green Tea is good for body, mind and soul. Drink up and enjoy!


Enjoy the health benefits of Tulsi and Green Tea

Reduces Stress
Rich in antioxidants and other nutrients
Guards against cough & cold
Enhances stamina
Builds immunity
Eliminates toxins
Stimulates and revitalizes
Enhances respiratory functions
Stress Relieving & Slimming

A changed being in Christ...!!!

http://biblestudyplanet.com/7-things-that-change-when-we-follow-christ/

Courtesy:BIBLE STUDY PLANET


If anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; the old has gone, the new has come! – 2 Corinthians 5:17


When a person comes to faith in Christ there will be some evidence of this faith in their lives. You won’t see perfection in a Christian, but what you will see is something different in that person. You will see some evidence that a person has a relationship with Christ.


Now it’s very important to we understand that we aren’t talking about being saved by works. You aren’t a Christian because you don’t curse or smoke or cut people off in traffic or because you go to church or give money to charity.


Everyone sins and falls short of God’s glory, but through Christ we are forgiven of those sins. A Christian is someone who calls on Christ to save them from their sins. (Rom 3:23-26)


You’ll see these differences more clearly in some Christians than in others – we’re all a work in progress and we all grow in Christ at different rates. But eventually the person who is following Christ will:


1) Love Christ

We love Him because He first loved us. (1 Jhn 4:19)

2) Hate Sin

Hate what is evil; cling to what is good. (Rom 12:9)

3) Pray

Be anxious for nothing, but in everything by prayer and supplication, with thanksgiving, let your requests be made known to God; and the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus. (Phil 4:6-7)

4) Read and Apply the Teachings of the Bible

Do not merely listen to the word, and so deceive yourselves. Do what it says. (Jam 1:22)

5) Turn from the Works of the Flesh

The works of the flesh are evident, which are: adultery, fornication, uncleanness, lewdness, idolatry, sorcery, hatred, contentions, jealousies, outbursts of wrath, selfish ambitions, dissensions, heresies, envy, murders, drunkenness, revelries, and the like. (Gal 5:19-21)

6) Produce the Fruits of the Spirit

The fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control. Against such there is no law. (Gal 5:22-23)

7) Live by Faith

I have been crucified with Christ; 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 for me. (Gal 2:20)

Lady with a mission :)

God's spirit is in my heart
He has called me and set me apart
This is what I have to do
What I have to do


He sent me to give good news to the poor
Tell prisoners that they are prisoners no more
Tell blind people that they can see,
And set the downtrodden free
And go tell everyone
The news that the kingdom of God has come

Just as the Father sent me
So I'm sending out to be
My witnesses throughout the world
The whole of the world
Don't worry what You have to say
Don't worry because on that day
God's spirit will speak in your heart
Will speak in your heart

Fast Of Words: A Different Kind of Fast

Please read...!!!

Fast Of Words: A Different Kind of Fast

The Heart-Mouth Connection

PLEASE READ...!!!

The Heart-Mouth Connection

:)

Yesterday, I was feeling a bit sentimental about the entire thing, but today I feel relieved. Today, I have been doing my regular office work and the thought that I don't have to upload news anymore, has actually brought in a feel good factor for me. I, somehow, feel nice that from now on, I will not have to hunt for specific news articles anymore. Its really a nice feeling after a really grueling experience with the apex body.

Coming to think of it, I can recall all the humiliation and struggle that I had to go through since 2009. Since its an online thing, the apex body expected me to upload news articles at any part of the day - I have even uploaded news really late in the night - but there had never been a word of appreciation. But every time I made a mistake, all hell would break loose for me and I really, really had to go through a tough time. I am so glad that all these have finally come to an end.

I will not be reporting live for fashion shows and exhibitions; I won't have to upload press releases! Whoa, really an exhilarating feeling!!! Oh yes, I will sometimes miss the one-day trips I had to take occasionally but that's absolutely fine with me. I do agree that because of the trips, I could travel by air and stay at posh hotels but trust me, life is much more than that. Yes, I traveled to different places like Delhi, Jaipur, Surat and the likes, but at heart, I am a homely person and for me, my home is the best place on earth. So, surely, I will not be missing any of these things.

And like I wrote yesterday also, just because I shouldn't be missing any of these things, I have already got into an industry for which I had subconsciously been yearning since my childhood. Right now, that's the best thing in my life after my family and my home and I really, really, don't need anything else. I love the way things are right now. Thank you so much, Jesus, for being extra loving to me all the times. Amen...!!!

:(

And with this, my seven year stint with the gems and jewellery industry comes to an end. I had known it long back in April itself but it came as a rude shock when I couldn’t upload today’s news in the morning. I had thought I could upload one last news piece on the last day. This industry has been my most favorite industry and I am certainly feeling sentimental.

Even Jesus knows how sentimental and vulnerable I am and that is why, much before this stint could come to an end, He shifted me in my yet another favorite industry – education. So I know even if I don’t have one thing, I still can be happy because I have something equally nice.

All good things come to an end. But in my case, God has been gracious to me and already began a good thing in my life much before the previous one could come to an end.

Thursday, 30th September, 2004

September 30 is the 273rd day of the year (274th in leap years) and this is the day in the year 2004 our piglet was born. The economic scenario, in the 3rd quarter of 2004, the world economy grew by around 3.2%. I am unsure of this but the one thing I am sure of is that my body percentage had also been increasing this year because of the cute piglet in my womb. Google research tells me that there was a lackluster environment in France. Even in my case, there was a lackluster situation. I lacked all lustre because of my pregnancy. In God-knows-where Lunlunta, the copper cables that carry local telephony were stolen on this day, leaving two villages without telephones. Hehehe…

So you see, worldwide there was chaos and something similar was happening in our world also. A child was to be born – there was pain and anxiety and then total happiness around 7:55 pm when the pink piglet, Goldie, was finally born and was taken in a green plastic tray for bath. Ah, what joy and happiness and peace I experienced.


And today we celebrate her ninth birthday. How time flies!!!

1 Corinthians 13

If I speak in the tongues of men or of angels, but do not have love, I am only a resounding gong or a clanging cymbal. 2 If I have the gift of prophecy and can fathom all mysteries and all knowledge, and if I have a faith that can move mountains, but do not have love, I am nothing. 3 If I give all I possess to the poor and give over my body to hardship that I may boast, but do not have love, I gain nothing.

4 Love is patient, love is kind. It does not envy, it does not boast, it is not proud. 5 It does not dishonor others, it is not self-seeking, it is not easily angered, it keeps no record of wrongs. 6 Love does not delight in evil but rejoices with the truth. 7 It always protects, always trusts, always hopes, always perseveres.

8 Love never fails. But where there are prophecies, they will cease; where there are tongues, they will be stilled; where there is knowledge, it will pass away. 9 For we know in part and we prophesy in part, 10 but when completeness comes, what is in part disappears. 11 When I was a child, I talked like a child, I thought like a child, I reasoned like a child. When I became a man, I put the ways of childhood behind me. 12 For now we see only a reflection as in a mirror; then we shall see face to face. Now I know in part; then I shall know fully, even as I am fully known.

13 And now these three remain: faith, hope and love. But the greatest of these is love.

Feeling proud :)

Today's art class...

AMEN!!!

New Eve/Nova Eva

Often we hear Jesus being called the New Adam and Mother Mary as the New Eve. One of the many doctrines of the Romanists that find no place in the Word of God is that of Mary as the “New Eve” and it is my favorite topic of research.

The first insight regarding the Blessed Virgin Mary, the mother of Our Lord Jesus Christ, which was given by the Church Fathers was the vision of Mary as the New Eve. It is Mary’s obedience to God that makes up for the disobedience of Eve. In the mystery of the Annunciation the Virgin Mary takes the role of the New Eve. The Virgin Mary is the New Eve who resists the lies of the serpent and whose son Jesus, too is obedient to God. MARY, THE NEW EVE, FREELY OBEYED GOD.

Before the great mystery of the incarnation, Mary spoke her 'yes' and was faithful to God. She became a handmaid of the Lord. Eve's disobedience introduced spiritual death into man's history. Mary's faith-filled obedience to God blazes a new path toward life in Jesus. Mary, as the mother of the Savior, the mother of God and the Church, she is therefore the New Eve. Her “yes” balances the first Eve's “no”. As Eve had believed the serpent, so Mary believed the angel. It was Eve's “yes” to Satan (and “no” to God) that began the Fall, and it was Mary's “yes” to God at Annunciation that began the Salvation story. Furthermore, Mary as “Eve unfallen” and the true “Mother of All the Living” is more than simply the “New Eve” who redeems Eve. The theme of Mary as the new Eve carries deep theological dimensions.

And last Sunday i.e. on 15th September, I had a presentation for the Confirmation class on this very topic. It was the first time that I could be comfortable and confident with a PPT. Feeling great!!!

L’Oreal Shampoo

Till now I had been a loyal die-hard Dove shampoo fan but I have been facing serious hair fall issue for a while now. So I wanted some change in my hair care. I needed a shampoo that could give my hair extra strength and yet be so gentle because my hair deserves the best possible care.

I neither have been paid by them to write this nor I am their brand ambassador, still I will write that after Dove, one shampoo which I can vouch for is L'Oréal Paris. I usually don’t use conditioners as it doesn’t agree with my hair but by mistake I had bought L’oreal conditioner instead of shampoo and I must say that both the conditioner as well as the shampoo is working wonderfully for me. Now it has become one of my favorites.
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I have started using Advanced Haircare Total Repair 5 Restoring Shampoo by L'Oreal Paris. I can actually make out that it instantly repairs damaged hair, split ends, weakness, roughness, dullness and other hair problems. I was on the lookout for the perfect shampoo to suit my hair and I am glad that I could hit upon this expert hair care range at L'Oreal Paris. Now I am regularly using the conditioner and other hair care treatments for healthy, shiny hair as the brand has expert formulas for all hair types.

Hopefully, my hair which had been thinning for quite some time now will grow normal. My curls will look beautiful like earlier and my hair will always be at their best at all times. I hope that my hair becomes smooth and sleek with all the nutrition and protection I am providing them now. The slogan for L'Oreal shampoo is 'Because you're worth it' and I hope that the shampoo will be worth my hair.

1 Tim 1:12-17

I give thanks to Christ Jesus, our Lord, who is my strength, who has considered me trustworthy and appointed me to his service, although I had been a blasphemer, a persecuter and a rabid enemy. However, he took mercy on me because I did not know what I was doing when I opposed the faith; and the grace of our Lord was more than abundant, along with the faith and the love that are in Christ Jesus. This saying is true and worthy of belief: Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners, of whom I am the worst. For this reason I was forgiven, so that in me, the worst of sinners, Christ Jesus might display his generous patience as an example for all those who would believe in him and obtain eternal life. To the King of ages, immortal, invisible, the only God, honour and glory forever and ever. Amen!

LIVING WATERS FLOW ON

Living waters flow on
Sweep away my pain
Bring your healing to my heart
Help me love once again

Cares and worries get me down
Fear of failure fills my day
When I'm lost and all alone
Help me Lord to find Your way

People knocking at my door
Strangers seeking love and care
Never let me turn them down
Teach me gently how to share

Children come into my life
With their laughter and their song
When will I become like them
Teach me Lord to sing along

Living waters flow on
Sweep away my pain
Bring your healing to my heart
Help me love once again.

Col 1:15-20

Christ Jesus is the image of the unseen God, the firstborn of all creation, for in him all things were created, in heaven and on earth, visible and invisible, whether thrones, rulers, authorities, powers; all things were made through him and for him. He is before all things and in him all things hold together. And he is the head of the body, the church; he is also the first, the firstborn from the dead, that he may be the first in everything, for God was pleased to let all fullness dwell in him. Through him God willed to reconcile all things to himself, whether things on earth or things in heaven, by establishing peace through his blood shed on the cross.

TEACHERS DAY

Thus goes an old saying: “School is our second home and teachers are our second parents”

Teachers' Days (or Teachers Day) is intended to be a special day for the appreciation of teachers. Teacher's Day in India is held on September 5, on the birthday of Dr Sarvepalli Radhakrishnan, India's second President and a teacher by profession. He was also one of the most distinguished diplomats and scholars. So Teachers Day is celebrated as a mark of tribute to the contribution made by him toward the society.

Teachers have an influencing role in the life of every student. They are like beacons of light, guiding students in the formative years of their life. There was this one and only teacher named Archana in Bhilai who was ever good to me. She is my all time favourite teacher as instead of doing good, all others could only humiliate me some way or the other. But she was always good to me.

I left Bhilai in 1989 and sadly, till last week, I didn’t know anything about her. I did a bit of research on her and have found her on FB. She’s still in Bhilai and aging gracefully. She looks extremely charming. I have sent her a friend request but I really don’t know whether or not she will accept it.

As Teachers' Day aims to raise awareness of the importance of the role played by teachers all over the world, today with a sincere heart I want to pay reverence and gratitude to her for her selfless effort in shaping my mind. I firmly believe that a teacher should be a person like her who always helps everybody to get the knowledge and always stand beside the students when they have problems. I really thank her for being the best teacher of my life. Like I wrote before, she’s the only one who never ever humiliated me. She is just one that teacher. Others always managed to hurt me in some way or the other.

Thanks to FB, I have found so many classmates from sector 5 school and a few teachers as well. I always thought I will never be able to find her because I only remembered her name (Archana) and that she was my class teacher in 1988-89 (Std VIth C). And that’s it. I didn’t remember anything more about her but hey hold on, if our intentions are good; one can find anything in this world. So I have at last able to find her out in this whole wide world. And so today I feel like appreciating my most popular and beloved teacher. How I wish I could speak to her!!!

In my heart, she has a high regard and respect. On this Teacher's Day, I express my love and gratitude for my dear teacher. Therefore I have searched for Archana Miss with great enthusiasm. She was the only teacher who made me feel good about myself. And the biggest teacher who makes me feel good is obviously Jesus Christ, the greatest teacher ever – who was, who is and who will be.

Happy Teachers Day to both of them!!!

PS: Yesterday had a nice and memorable time with the Ss of the “Project T”. Totally overwhelmed by their love, affection and words – truly these came straight from their hearts.

Surprise Visitor

We had a surprise visitor on the night of 3rd September, 2013. I have not been keeping well since a long time and especially this week has been extremely bad for me. I keep getting excruciating back and shoulder pain and all my joints are stiff. I find it extremely difficult to do any work and it’s exceedingly difficult to even go anywhere out of the way. So when I had to attend the bimonthly Eucharistic Ministers meeting last night, I just didn’t want to go. But somehow I dragged myself as I hadn’t attended the last meeting as well. I didn’t want to miss it this time. Luckily, the meeting wasn’t at all boring and got over well before time.

So, while I was coming home, I met our loving parish priest, Fr. Michael. While I was talking to him, he expressed the desire to come home with me. How could I say no to him? He didn’t even allow me to inform my daughters about his visit as he wanted to give them a surprise. And so, my daughters had a surprise visitor last night.

He found Googaa “coyest” and Goldie to be having an “enigmatic smile”. He was very happy to know that we have not yet started giving them any pocket money and found it extremely delightful that they have their own savings account opened from the money they got during their respective baptisms. He found it really nice that whenever we are in urgency, they give us loan and we repay them later on. He said he will mention these all in one of his forthcoming sermons.

After Fr. Michael went away, I kept pondering about the whole incident and these Biblical words sprung up in my mind - “Behold, I stand at the door and knock. If any man hears my voice and opens the door, I will come in to him, and will sup with him, and he with me”. And that’s what He did last night. He paid my daughters a surprise visit in the form of our much loved Fr. Michael. They were extremely surprised to hear a cat meowing outside the door and further surprised when the cat happened to be their very own Fr. Michael. Truly, Jesus can come at any time and within any given generation. Nobody can know the exact time and day. We have to be alert.

So, feeling humbled and blessed and very happy as Fr. Michael prayed for peace and happiness in our home and on the kids also. Fr. Michael has such a magnetic character – all kids love him and love to go around with him. He loves them all equally and knows each one of them by face and name. He has kind and appreciative words for all of them and is never seen with a grumpy face. He is just adorable.

1 Thes 5:1-6.9-11

You do not need anyone to write to you about the delay and the appointed time for these events. You know perfectly well that the day of the Lord will come like a thief in the night. When people feel secure and at peace, the disaster will suddenly come upon them, as the birth pangs upon a pregnant woman, and they will not escape. But you, brothers, are not in darkness, so that this day will not surprise you like a thief. All of you are citizens of the light and the day; we do not belong to night and darkness. Let us not, therefore, fall asleep as others do, but remain alert and sober. For God has not willed us to be condemned but to win salvation through Christ Jesus our Lord. He died for us so that we might enter into life with him, whether we are still awake or already asleep. Therefore, encourage one another and build up one another, as you are doing now.

Sir 3:17-18.20.28-29

My son, conduct your affairs with humility, and you will be loved by those who are acceptable to God. The greater you are, the more you should humble yourself, and thus you will find favour with God. For great is the power of the Lord, and it is the humble who give him glory. For the sufferings of the proud man there is no remedy, for the roots of evil are implanted in him. The wise man reflects on proverbs; what the wise man desires is an attentive ear.

And I always thought I couldn't draw...

Drawn on 30th August, 2013...Friday...

Triple Celebration...

Four months until the fourteenth Wedding Anniversary day and I am really excited about it. Almost all the clothes shopping are done and now only buying few tidbit items remain on the list. That will be done after Goldie’s birthday.

As I wrote in one of my earlier posts, this year I will be sporting an ethnic look for the Triple Celebration and so I have been busy stitching/buying a lot of salwar kameezes. Yesterday, I collected from my tailor three salwar kameezes which have been bought keeping the need of the situation. All three look fabulous and I hope I am able to enjoy wearing them.

Good Morning...

My second art class...

Tea

From a Tetley green tea drinker, with lemon and honey, I am metamorphosing into a regular Indian tea enthusiast. I am neither a city lover nor someone who enjoys a cup of tea during conversations – my tea walk is just to engage my senses.

For one of those who had not yet embraced the tea-drinking habit, I guess it’s not too late for me to start brewing a batch! Since ancient times, tea has been touted to help with everything from headaches to depression. Like coffee, tea isn’t harmful for health. Tea contains a small amount of natural fluoride, a chemical that can help prevent tooth decay.

Green tea has increasingly become a very popular drink with me because of its immensely powerful health benefits. Tea has a unique set of natural chemicals that provide various therapeutic benefits. Tea is by far the most potent health drink ever – it fights heart diseases, cancer, and even overweight. For centuries, tea has been used in alternative medicine to treat everything from cancer to constipation. Well, so a good cup of tea (made by me) not only tastes great and soothes my soul but is also very good for me.

As tea is the most commonly consumed beverage in the world, I always thought I would become “common” if I drank tea. But I am wrong. Now I know why people like drinking tea. I had always been latte-obsessed but tea is gaining ground in my life as I am learning more about its benefits.

But well this is a shocker. Health experts say that if you are drinking tea for health reasons, tea without milk is a better choice. So, are we Indians drinking eat the wrong way all these centuries? Everyone knows that drinking tea can reduce the risk of heart disease and stroke but according to German scientists (something not everyone knows) only if milk is not added to the brew. Yet another research says that adding milk to a cup of tea can destroy its ability to protect against heart disease. Drinking tea could help you lose weight, new research has found – but the effects are cancelled out if you add milk.

So now I am really confused. Should I be listening to the scientists who say that tea is better when we take it purely without any sugar and milk as it serves as a good vasodilator to clear the channels of the heart? Hmm, though by embracing this tea-drinking habit, I join two billion tea drinkers in the world, I really don’t know which kind of tea will be beneficial for me. Nevertheless, welcome to the land of the tea drinkers!!!

PS: Just found out that according to a new research, a lifetime of tea drinking can significantly reduce the risk of ovarian cancer in later life.