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...!!!